Six Things Fasting Does For Our Prayers

"For truly I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you. But this kind (of demon) does not go out except by prayer and fasting." Matthew 17:20,21 (NASV)

Jesus' disciples had been trained in spiritual healing and casting out demons and had been practicing God's medical mercy on many people when they were approached by a man and his son. The son was given to seizures, akin to epilepsy. When the disciples applied their training to the boy, his seizures continued. The disciples consulted with their master as to the reason.

Jesus responded with an encouraging lesson on faith and some further instruction, in advanced spiritual healing techniques. Apparently there are some strongholds of the devil that do not respond to ordinary methods. That's when more serious spiritual weapons are necessary. And fasting, paired with sincere and repentant prayer, is one of those advanced weapons.

What kind of strongholds might need those advanced spiritual weapons?

1. A long-standing grudge
2. An addiction
3. Unbelief
4. Prejudice
5. Childhood hurts
6. Abuse

We will study six things that fasting does for our prayers in Ocheltree Group this week. If you would like to do a little preliminary study, please read these passages, shared in a sermon by Dr. Adrian Rogers:

1. Fasting strengthens our prayers: Joel 2:12; Jer. 29:13
2. Fasting subdues self: Ezek. 16:49
3. Fasting stays the judgment of God: Jonah 3:5,10; Jer. 18:7,8
4. Fasting stops God's enemies: 2 Chron. 20:3,4,24,29
5. Fasting seeks God's guidance: Acts 13:2
6. Fasting shatters strongholds like bitterness, resentment, fear and bad habits: Isaiah 58:6

--Posted by Mama O.