In last week’s article, the two basic elements of a fast were outlined: abstaining from food, and spending dedicated time with God in prayer daily, either corporately, or individually.
Our bodies scream out for dominion over our being. When we sympathize and give in to our urges and cravings, temporary pleasure gives way to guilt and condemnation. A sure way to contend and gain victory over the desires of the flesh, is to have a clear objective, and make good use of certain weapons in our spiritual arsenal.
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. - 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Our weapons are unconventional, at best. Forgiveness, is one of the most powerful of all our weapons. Agreement with God’s word is another very powerful weapon (this implies that we need to be habitual students of the Bible). Unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ is another. Worship, praise, and thanksgiving are also included in our powerful arsenal.
A weapon in the hands of a novice is not executed with as powerful an effect as when wielded by a seasoned veteran. Therefore, we must drill with our weapons much like soldiers do in the military.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. - Ephesians 6:10-18
Pause and think about the scriptures here. Let Holy Spirit speak to your heart about how they can apply to your life, and how you can implement these weapons.
Jesus stepped up to a new level after fasting, from being filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1) to being filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. This enabled Him to accomplish the mandate of the kingdom. I believe He was modeling something significant that we can do. Fasting is the important component in moving from filling to power. Through fasting we have the power to overcome habitual sins, and launch an offensive to overcome the attacks of the enemy.
Turn to Psalm 91, and use it as a prayer of protection over yourself and your family. And, as we wield our weapons, let’s bolster ourselves for sure victory as He fills us with His power during this fast.
Shoulda Coulda Woulda
...every living person has regrets. “If only I worked harder on my project, I could have been promoted”…“If only I had said sorry, then my kids wouldn’t hate me”…“If only I went to graduate school…if only I married him then I would be happy…if only, if only…”. Do any of these ‘if onlys’ sound eerily familiar?... read more
United We Stand - Hillsong
In a word, this CD is “awesome”! If you’re looking for a good, all around CD that has a bit of everything, this is it. It’s got some great, high energy worship, with songs of more intimate praise as well as moments of “selahs”, where you’re just being still before God... read more
The Roots of Endurance is a challenging and thought-provoking book. It tells of the strength that three heroes of history evidenced in the face of difficulty. John Newton, Charles Simeon, and William Wilberforce. But this book is not a brief biography of these men. It is, instead, a study in how they dealt with the difficulties each faced... read more
Possessing Your Inheritance is like an easy-to-read roadmap from wherever you are to that most desirable of destinations – namely, your personal, unique inheritance in Christ... read more
How to Pray for Healing
“Bible-believing Christians certainly acknowledge that God is all-powerful. They use, without hesitation, the theological term “omnipotent” when describing God. However, we in [North] America sometimes have a difficult time bringing a practical application of this belief into our daily lives. Even in life-giving churches, the great majority of members rarely, if ever, see sick people instantly healed when they pray for them... read more
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Many of us have been confronted about our faith and the claims made in God's Word. We try our best to answer questions and rebut any erroneous claims, but we may sometimes get frustrated by our inability to provide a satisfactory response to some of the tougher questions... read more
Is That Really You, God?
Have you ever questioned yourself on hearing God's voice, whether it is for a life changing decision or a passing thought? Have you ever been inches away from your goal and wondered, "Is this really you, God?" If so, then... read more
Shoulda Coulda Woulda
United We Stand - Hillsong
The Roots of Endurance
Possessing Your Inheritance
How to Pray for Healing
