“He must become greater; I must become less,” said John the Baptist of the Messiah.
This coming Sunday our church will enter into a time of prayer and fasting! Throughout the scriptures we see examples of people fasting (going without food) in order to petition God in heaven to intervene on their behalf. Let’s face it, fasting isn’t for the faint of heart; it’s for those people desperate for God’s intervention. It’s for people who are willing to go without food in order for God to satisfy spiritual needs. Fasting raises an outcry to heaven that says, “more than food, we need YOU.”
There’s another side to fasting—it’s just as hard and just as radical. Fasting teaches us to suffer. This may come as a surprise. We live in the 21st century and it would seem humane to eliminate as much suffering as possible—True. Yet the Christian Church has a long tradition of asceticism and self-refusal. Of course self-punishment is not Biblical, and of course we don’t do physical harm to our bodies in the process of fasting. That is why we fast within the measures that are appropriate to our personal limits. But Peter teaches us “whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.” Fasting gives our spirit and our will a workout. It makes them stronger and more capable of suppressing physical desires, so that when the moment of temptation comes we are ready to say “no” to ungodliness; “the grace of God…teaches us to say 'no' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled” (Titus 2:11). Fasting teaches our spirit to rule over our bodies. And that is a timeless kingdom message, even if our American way of life is used to indulging our carnal desires of envy, fear, malice, bitterness, competition, and sensuality.
There is still another side to fasting—and this is the glorious side! Fasting is a key to breakthrough. It’s experiential and mystical; I can’t explain it with words. When I spend time focusing on the Holy Spirit and prioritizing his goals over the goals of my physical appetites, I find my spirit becomes more alert, awake, hungry, expansive, and capable of containing more of God. I find there is spiritual power and freedom that becomes available through the process of really prioritizing God’s Spirit. Fasting can lead to greater intimacy with God, breakthrough from addictions, supernatural answers to prayer, divine appointments, and a shattering of the enemy’s lies and strongholds.
More than ever, our nation needs us to be alert and full of God’s power. More than ever, I need God to flow out of me where I have nothing of personal value to offer. John the Baptist captured this sentiment so well when he said, “he must become greater, I must become less” (John 3:30). I invite you to join me in preparing for this coming week in petitioning the God of heaven to fill us with his power and his Spirit. We need him more than ever.
Tags: fasting; john 3; power; breakthrough; key; spirit; self-denial; hungry; food
