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There are two types of fasts. One type, a proclaimed fast, is one which is declared. For instance, a pastor announces that he is calling his entire congregation to voluntarily refrain from food for a certain length of time. The purpose for the fast varies. Most often it is for a time of special prayer.

Another example of a proclaimed fast is a husband and wife who agree to refrain from marital relations for a specific period of time to give themselves to prayer and fasting.

Paul speaks of this in 1 Corinthians 7:5, "Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency." This is a proclaimed fast, a time of mutual consent where both you and your spouse may fast at the same time.

Second Chronicles 20 records a proclaimed fast and the results it achieved. During the reign of Jehoshaphat as king of Judah, word was brought to the king that a vast army was marching toward Jerusalem to attack Judah. The people were called together into the temple and a fast was declared. They determined not to eat until they had heard from the Lord.

Jehoshaphat prayed, leaning on the promises of protection and deliverance God had made to Abraham and his descendants. In answer to his supplication, the Spirit of God spoke through a Levite and gave them instructions. By following the directions, the victory was theirs. A proclaimed fast will put you in the position to hear from God to receive guidance for a specific situation.

The other general type of fast is personal, one which is not announced to anyone. Always consider your family. The other members of the household may not want to go on a fast with you. Arrangements need to be made for their meals, especially if you are the one who prepares them.

Here are some guidelines: Jesus said, "Moreover, when (not if, fasting is not optional) ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto man to fast. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward" (Matt. 6:16).

We are not to make our fasting conspicuous. We should dress, groom and conduct ourselves in a normal fashion so that we do not call attention to what we are doing. The purpose of fasting is not to influence God into acting in our behalf. Abstaining from food does not impress Him. Its purpose is to shut off the influence of our flesh in order to be in tune with the Spirit.

Fasting helps us to receive from God but does not push God to action. We don't have to do anything to move God to exercise His power for us. He has already paid dearly for that privilege.

The problem is not on God's unwillingness to help us; it's not His inability to intervene on our behalf. The problem is our spiritual density - our inability to receive what God has already done for us at Calvary. Fasting is a tool we use that puts us in a position to be more spiritually aware and "tuned in" to God, so we can better receive from Him.

Rewards of Fasting
"But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly" (Matt. 6:17-18).

"Shall reward thee openly." That is an outright statement of promise right from the lips of Jesus Christ. When you fast, you have a reward coming.

What would that reward be? It is certainly not a pat on the back for not eating. The reward is whatever motivated you to fast. Whatever it is, establish it by faith and proclaim it before you ever enter the fast. Expect to receive it. God will see in secret and you will receive openly.

We are also promised prosperity and abundance in the middle of depression. Those things have already been provided in Christ. Our fasting merely puts us in a better position of receiving them because we are not letting our flesh dominate us. When we truly put God first in every area of our life, then we license Him to be our Provider of all things.

If done properly, fasting can be beneficial both physically and circumstantially, as well as spiritually. Reap the full benefits of fasting and see the difference it can make in your personal life, as well as in your ministry.

For quick reference, here is an outline of the proper way to fast:
  1. Decide the purpose of the fast before you begin.
  2. Proclaim the fast before the Lord. Once you have made that firm commitment, you will stick by it.
  3. Believe before the fast that you will receive the reward promised by Jesus in Matthew 6:18. You are not going to receive because you fast. You will receive because you believed in faith. Fasting is an assistance to receiving.
  4. Minister to the Lord while you are fasting. Ministering to the Lord in praise and worship will keep your spirit active and build you up. You will need additional strength to bear up (Col. 3:16; Eph. 6:19; Acts 13:1-3).
  5. Minister to others during and after the fast. During your fast minister to others only as God leads you to do so. Always be available. But remember, fasting is a period of preparing yourself for greater ministry.
  6. Expect assistance from the angels. The angels ministered to Jesus, and you can expect help from ministering servants, too, by faith. Shut off your feelings, act on your faith. Confess that the angels are attending you. Continue to thank God for it. They are licensed not only to assist you where you are but also to work for you throughout the world, wherever your influence is needed.
When you do these things according to God's Word, you will see and reap the results of it for years to come. You will think that you must surely be the most blessed person in the world. Things will come to you for which you have not even prayed or asked God.

It has happened to me, and God told me later that these things came to me because I had exalted Him months before. He was working in my behalf, and I was then reaping the fruit of the seed which I had sown.

"Moreover when ye fast...thy father which is in secret...shall reward thee openly" (Matt. 6:16-18).

Excerpt permission granted by
Eagle Mountain International Church, Inc.
aka:  Kenneth Copeland Ministries

Author Biography

Kenneth Copeland
Web site: Kenneth Copeland Ministries
 
For the last 50 years Kenneth and Gloria Copeland have been passionately teaching Christians all over the world how to apply the principles of faith found in God’s WORD to their lives.
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