Fasting breaks the Yoke

Overcomes the Power of the Devil

Copyright by © September 27, 13

Pat Holliday, PhD

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CONTENTS

Chapter One

Personal Fasting

Chapter Two

Fasting and Deliverance

Chapter Three

Following Jesus

Chapter Four

Overcoming

Chapter Five

Armor of God

Chapter Six

Apply the Armor of God.

Chapter Seven

Directed by the Holy Spirit

Chapter Eight

Fasting Power

Chapter One

Personal Fasting

New Christians are like babies that have to learn to live in a new supernatural environment. They have to establish a different connection with the powers of darkness after salvation. Once they were will dupes to these devils; they were his slaves. However, they are now the sworn opponents of the legions of Hell. They must be taught how to defeat these evil powers. Whoever they were before they became Christians; adulterers, idolaters, horoscope readers, witches, warlocks, fornicators; they must not have any delusions about the devils’ reality or their hostility. They must not fear them. They must believe that the devils’ no longer have any power over them.

HIS GRACE SUFFICIENT

The Grace of God

A true saint is a divine landscape or picture, where all the rare beauties of Christ are lively portrayed and drawn forth. He hath the same spirit, the same judgment, the same will with Christ.

Thomas Watson

"For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast,” (Eph. 2:8, 9).

The definition of grace is simply, "God's unmerited favor toward man."

All spiritual blessings come to us through the Lord Jesus and that leaves man out of it!

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy, he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,” (Tit. 3:4, 5, 6).

"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ," (Jn. 1:17).

His grace sufficient, (Acts 15:11).

“That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life,” (Tit. 3:7).

“Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines, for it is a good thing that the hearts be established with grace not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein,” (Hebr. 13:9).

The supreme manifestation of God’s grace, the focal point in the history of salvation, is the cross of Jesus Christ. The significance of this act is viewed under several figures of speech in the New Testament (see Atonement). Whether it is spoken of as a ransom paid to redeem enslaved man, an acquittal before the divine bar of justice, or a victory over sin and death, it is clear throughout the effective powers in salvation belongs to God and not to man.

Salvation is a free gift of God granted to lost and undeserving men who trust in the righteousness of Christ and humble themselves in submission to his will. Saint Paul gave us a powerful illustration of the truth that in Jesus Christ all of us are brought together and made one.

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus,” (Gal. 3:28).  [1]

         It’s a new bloodline, a new breed.

         The New Creation is a being that exists that never existed before.

According to; “… because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God …” (Rom. 8:21).

Webster Dictionary says, “Anything created; especially something original created by the imagination in vision.”

         The unsaved human condition is spiritual death, as shown in (Eph. 2:2).

         Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience . . .”

The Apostle Paul depicts the spiritual transformation.

         “So also is the sown incorruption; it is raised in incorruption,” (II Cor. 15:42).

         God’s righteousness is placed within your spirit.

         Your spirit was dead to God but now, and it’s infused with His life and power!

The Apostle Paul reveals the supernatural union with God.

“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature,” (Col. 1:15).

Paul explains the work of Christ in redemption that delivers His believers from the curse of the law.

We read “Christ has redeemed me from the curse of the law; being made a curse for me . . .  that the blessing of Abraham might come to me,” (Gal. 3:13-14).

Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the law and the deliverer of all who receive His blood sacrifice.

The thing that is so wonderful is that we are going to know Christ, really know Him, for the first time.

Paul wrote it like this, (Rev. 20:6) says “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death that hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”

         Your spirit is resurrected from being dead to God.

         You become new, totally clean, pure, undefiled, unpolluted, and not guilty!

“It’s God’s desire that your life agrees with his word, I am a faithful man, so I shall abound with blessings,” (Prov. 28:20).

“My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus,” (Phil. 4:19).

Recognize that God does not patch up the old life.

         He calls upon you to reckon it crucified, (dead in Christ).

         You receive from Him a new life.

         You must spiritually cultivate it.

Your relationship with God s in obedience and learning of His ways through the Word

         Your new life will have all the Characteristics, which belong to it.

The Word of God tells us in (Eph. 4:13), “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.”

The depth of this new life is shown in Ephesians, “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,” (Eph. 4:13).

         God wants you mature and free.

The Bible states “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, shall also freely give me all things,” (Rom. 8:32).

We have everything we need to grow in the fullness of Christ! (II Pet. 1:3).

FREE IN CHRIST

You are free in Christ!

Jesus said in “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

If the devil can deceive you into believing you’re not free, you won’t experience the freedom which is your inheritance,” (Jn. 8:32).

         You can be free from deep spiritual, mental and emotional turmoil.

         The truth will set you free.

         Once free, you will quickly mature!

For example, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage,” (Gal. 5:1).

CHRISTIANS SAFE

         The Lord Jesus that lives inside of the Christian terrifies the devils.

         The devils cannot touch them but they will try to seduce them.

         If they become a serious Christian, the devils will target them.

         The Christian at times will experience great opposition.

         The Christian should call upon the name of Jesus and ask the Lord to send warring angels to protect them.

CONNECT TO JESUS AND HIS WORD

They must read the Bible and lean upon the Lord in obedience.

Fasting has real result for us personally: (Isa. 58: 8, 9)

         Light in our Souls.

         Quick Road to Health.

         Righteousness of God imparted.

         Greater Anointing of God

         Prayers Answered immediately

         Ask the Father to Send His warring angels to overcome the demons

         Expect assistance from angels



"Then the devil leaveth Him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto Him,” (Matt. 4:11).

"Are they not all ministering spirits, set forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation,” (Hebr. 1: 14)?"

BRINGS FLESH UNDER SUBJECTION

Fasting helps to bring your flesh under subjection to your spirit and the Word of God.

"But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway," (Cor. 9:27).

THE BLOOD OF JESUS

We find the nature, design, need and results of the atonement purchased by Jesus at the tremendous price of His own blood, shed willingly on the cross in the Bible.

Webster’s dictionary defines the word atonement: The reconciliation of God and man though the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ is preparation for an offense or injury, satisfaction, the exemplifying of man's oneness with God.

“Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied,” (1Pet.1:2).

“And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel,” (Hebr. 12:24).

HEART IS THE CENTER OF LIFE

It is the attitude of a heart sincerely seeking him to which God responds with blessing (Jn. 3:6; Rom. 14:6, 17; I Cor. 15: 50).

         Out of your heart flow the issues of life.

         These forces are the life forces for every area of your life.

"My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto mine sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh,” (Prov. 4: 20-23).

“A sound heart is the life of the flesh; but envy the rottenness of the bones," (Prov. 14:30).

The word heart referred to means mind.

We do understand that in a believer’s life the battleground is the mind. Therefore, it makes sense to guard, and keep it with all diligence. However, we must realize that these forces originate and come from God and His Word They are then birthed to our understanding within our spirit and brought to the understanding of our mind.

         They then must be put into practice within our lives by our will do the will of God.

         Give the mind a chance to be built up by putting the Word of God into our spirit.

         Mediating on it until we get a clear understanding of what the Holy Spirit is teaching us.

         Paul as little demand as possible on the spirit and mind by the flesh.

         This requires discipline, see (Rom. 12: 2; Eph. 4:17-32; Col.  3:5).

FASTING FOR SCRIPTURAL REASONS

Fasting should not be practiced for unscriptural reasons: (Isa. 58: 1-5).

         To win an Argument with someone or to prove a point.

         To Protest for a cause.

         To show people and God how humble and holy we are.

         Fasting in itself is of no spiritual value (Isa. 58; Jer. 14:12; I Cor. 8:8).

Wash your face and anoint yourself each morning, praising the Lord for the work that He is doing in your life.

"Moreover, when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance; for they disfigure their faces that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you. They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash they 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. 6:16-18).

Only fasting that is done with the right motive that of glorifying God, can be pleading in His sight. (Isa. 58; Zech. 7: 5-6; Matt. 6:16-18; Lk. 18:9-14).

THERE ARE TWO GENERAL KINDS OF FASTING

Proclaimed fast

This is a fast called by the leader of a group or the Pastor of a church.

It is entered into by the entire group or congregation.

"And Jehospaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah…" (II Chron. 20:3).

"Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry, (make known publicly or announce), unto the Lord . . . " (Joel 1:14).

Personal fast;

A fast in which an individual enters into; it may be for special purpose or it could be on a regular basis.

"Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest,  anoint thine head, and wash  thy face; that thou appear not unto men  to fast, but unto the Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth thee in secret, shall reward thee openly,” (Matt. 6:16-18).

THE OPEN REWARD

Believe for the reward . . .  not the punishment

The reward

The heritage of Jacob; (Deut. 32: 9-14)

Jacob was found in need and the Lord brought him to the place of plenty.

STANDING IN THE GAP

Fasting is for Seasons

Isaiah shows how the condition of the land when God does not have an intercessor. The entire nation will fall into darkness. However, God is faithful and He seeks for a man to accept the responsibility to stand before His throne to plead for His people.  (Isa. 60:2). “For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.” Then we see in the previous chapter, (Isa. 59), God pleading for someone to stand in the gap for His people, P.H. Davis

The Bible shows 35 fasts  . . . 1 . . . meal . . . 1 day . . . 4 . . .  days . . . 10 days...21 days . . 40 days.

         Fasting should leave off things other than food: (Isa. 58: 3).

         Exacting all of our labors.

         Fasting is for reasons:

         Under chastening (II Sam. 12:16-23).

         Under Judgment (I Kin. 21:27; 3).

         In need (Ezra 8:21).

         In danger (Est. 4).

         When Worried (Dan. 6:18).

         In Spiritual conflict (Matt. 4:1-11).

         Desperate in Prayer (Acts 9); 8).

         In trouble (Acts 27:9, 33).

         Finding Pleasures.

STEPS IN FASTING

Decide what the purpose of the fast is and stick to that theme during the fast.

Note:  The enemy would like nothing better than to get you sidetracked from the intended purpose; he will give you what you may think is revelation knowledge. This information may seem good and look important at that moment, but is meant to lure you away from the purpose of the fast.

         Paul said all things are lawful, but not all things are expedient.

         Remember Satan used the Word of the Lord to tempt Adam and Jesus.

         Every Cult uses the Word of God in a demented manner.

There have been times that I have fasted and would receive what I thought was God's revealed will in a situation, but as I prayed, the Holy Spirit would  allow me to see the error of the message.

         Then the Holy Spirit would reveal God's perfect message.

         Then the Holy Spirit would reveal God's perfect plan for the occasion.

         Every time this would happen, I would be able to see the pitfall of what the enemy had tried to reveal as the Word of the Lord.

You must always depend on the Holy Spirit and check out everything you receive; everything that happens in the supernatural is not of God.

HOW DO I FAST

Abstain from food

         Take only liquids, (water, juices, etc.)

         (Again remember, this is a personal fast).

A unique experience, strenuous work requires more intakes of liquids and nutritional substances.

Fasting for extended periods of time requires nutrition and liquids to keep the body from dehydration.

Chapter Two

Fasting and Deliverance

SUBMITTING TO GOD

“Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. 22 For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.23 So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was entreated of us,” (Ezra 8:21-23).

OBEDIENT

For the obedient, (Hebr. 5:9)

“For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things,” (II Cor. 2:9).

“Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ . . .” (Eph. 6:5).

FORGIVENESS

Ask the Lord to forgive you.

Cleanse yourself by putting the blood of Jesus between you and the detestable practices whereby believing or using in which we become defiled.

         Renounce the occult condemn Satan and all his agents of hell.

Believe God to nullify and make void all the curses and works of evil that have come from your involvement in the world of darkness.

All items associated in any way with occult involvement (which is any sinful practice) must be destroyed to the uttermost, not only in the spiritual but in the physical.

Forgiveness is a must.

During the fast the Holy Spirit will bring to your remembrance unconfessed sin.

When this occurs, if you want God's best and perfect will be accomplished from the fast, you must confess and repent.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness,” (I Jn. 1: 9).

“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any; that your Father also which is in Heaven may forgive you of your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in Heaven forgive your trespasses,” (Mk.11:25, 26).

Forgive Yourself

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit," (Rom. 8:1).

Moses delivered a nation from bondage of slavery and he was so devoted to his people, he was actually asking God to strike him dead and wipe his name out of the Book of Life rather than God to kill the disobedient people! He was demonstrating that the number one reality of intercession is death to your flesh and love for the people. Many times, he is shown struggling in prayer because of the condition of his people.

Fasting has a special effect on our ministry to others :(Isa. 58:6, 7).

         To loose the bands of wickedness.

         To undo the heavy burdens.  .

         To let the oppressed go free.

         To break every yoke.

         To deal bread to the hungry.

         To shelter the poor.

         To minister to our loved ones.

"Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of Him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance,” (Ezra 8:21, 23, 31).

"So we fasted and besought our God for this: and He was entreated of us. Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelveth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the devil, and of such as lay in wait by the way.”

REPENTANCE AND CONFESSION OF SIN

When the word  repent is used of humans beings, it ordinarily indicates a complete change of character, a forsaking of one’s past existence and an acceptance of a whole new approach to life.

“Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance,” (Matt. 3:8).

“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire,” (Matt. 3:11).

When John the Baptist came with the spirit of Elijah, he proclaimed repentance as the necessary condition for escape from the imminent Judgment and entrance into the kingdom of God.

Repentance affects the whole man.

It is not merely an exchange of one set of external actions and observances for another but it’s an inward turning, a recognition and disavowal of one's sin coupled with the embracing of a new way of life, a life in conformity with the teaching of Christ, a life characterized by "fruits meet for repentance.” See (Acts 2:37; Acts 16:30; II Cor. 7:9-10; Mk. 4:17; Mk. 1:15).

Repentance and Confession of sin, (I Sam. 7:6; I Kin. 21: 27-29; Ezra 10:6; Neh. 1: 4-7; 9; 1-3; Jer. 36: 6-10; Dan. 9: 3- 5, 20; Jonah 3: 5-10).

RENOUNCE AND DESTROY

Renounce evil things which are in abomination unto God, and believe the blood of Jesus to break the bondages.

THE MIND, BODY AND SOUL

The mind, body and soul; such items may be clothing, jewelry, books, documents, charts, cards, games, symbols, emblems, statues, idols, images, fetishes, works of  art, blankets, certain devices, etc.

“Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you. Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you,” (Josh. 7:11-13).

RECEIVING OF HEALING

Receiving of healing, (I Sam. 1: 5-11, 18, 20, II Sam. 12: 15-16, 22-23; Isa. 58:8: Acts 9:9, 17-19 7).

SPIRITUAL CLEANSING

Cleanse yourself as well as your home or any adjacent buildings, shops, offices, Devil.

         He will try to put fear upon you to stop you.

         Call a strong Christian friend for prayer.

         Destroy burn, crush and grind to a fine powder, melt, bury, or cast into the sea.

         Command these articles never to be found until the Great Judgment Day of God.

Apply the precious blood of Jesus declaring to Satan that the Blood of Jesus destroys to the uttermost all the powers of darkness. Gifts from your ancestors which are connected in any way with an occult practice destroy all these items.  These would include any items connected with Masonry and other secret societies. Jesus breaks the curse that is handed down from generation to generation by the possession and use of these items.

"For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me," (Gal. 3).

THE MODEL

Do I Have a Model to Follow?

Christ. Apostle Paul says "Imitate me; as I imitate Christ," (I Cor. 11:1).

         We need a model before us as a goal.

         Self-life is the natural man, the human personality, not yet controlled by the Spirit of Christ.

         It includes the reasoning, emotive, physical body and volitional aspects of a person.

Paul exhorted the Ephesians believers to "put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceptive desires; to be made new in the conviction of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to imitate God in true righteousness and holiness," (Eph. 4:22-24).

The old way of thinking and doing; guided by the natural man and his responses, is to be superseded by the new self, a fresh spiritual identity empowered by the Spirit.

After giving our lives to Christ, we deal with a mixture of old habits, thoughts, and temptations alongside our new life. Surely, the natural instincts of sexual drive, appetite, pain, and the biochemical processes of the body remain the same. What takes place in the Christian is a transformation from natural man to spiritual man.

         Any honest person will readily admit that sanctification involves time.

         We are all in process, dependent upon God's patience and our corporation with His Word.

Corinthians loved their own minds and bodies, which were highly developed. This self-love always results in immorality, which Paul attacked head on. The answer to their pleasure seeking, carnal spirit was the powerful Holy Spirit. The change of position from their rational, sensualistic nature to the "better way" of the Spirit, the "better way" of real love, and solid proof of Christ is through his resurrection.

Corinthians is a strong book, addressed to sophisticates comparable modern people who trust their own intellect, money and power, and who also, throw morals to the wind.

         Reversal of this worldly persuasion requires more than conversation.

         First, the Holy Spirt must "convict of sin," See (Jn. 16:8).

         Next, the Spirit gives a new set of values, gifts, and a new love (13).

The embodiment of all these principles is found in Christ, who turned their "deadly" way into a new life.

         Is Jesus alive today?  Is He there for me, daily?

         Fasting places our flesh under subjection to our spirit.

"But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good for evil," (Hebr. 5:14).

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound  more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and righteousness that comes through Jesus  Christ to the glory and praise of God,” (Phil. 1:9-l1).

         We must prepare ourselves spiritually.

         We are in a spiritual warfare.

         Fasting breaks the power of the powers of darkness.

         Fasting does not change God or His Word.

         Fasting always changes us.

         If we understand what happens when we fast,

         We can become more effective as intercessors and better tuned into the spirit realm.

         What about fasting in New Testament times?

BRIDEGROOM

Fasting was not required of the disciples of Jesus because (He), the Bridegroom was with them, (Matt. 9:14; Mk. 2:18; Lk. 5:33).

But Jesus spoke of a day when there would be a place for fasting. *Matt. 6:16-18) Not 'if,' but "when ye fast . . . "), (Matt.  9: 14:15; Lk. 5: 34-35).

         Fasting has Scriptural Purpose

         Aids in prayer (2 Sam. 12:16-23).

         Humbles the soul (Psa. 35:13).

         Chastens the Soul (Psa. 69:10).

         Aids in times of temptation (Matt. 4: 1-11).

         Rewards openly (Matt. 6:16 - 18).

         Attains power over Satan (Matt. 17:14-21).

         Crucifies appetites (I Cor. 7:5).

Fasting is closely related to prayer and reading of the Word.

         Seek the Lord; pray much in your own understanding and in the Spirit.

         If you do not have the in filling of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues, then receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

"For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the Things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God, which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teacheth; comparing spiritually things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit God. For they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned," (I Cor. 2:11-16).

"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints,” (Eph. 6:18).

"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou prayest, enter into thy closet and when thou has shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly," (Matt. 6:6).

         During the fast get alone with the Lord: spend much time (at least one hour per day) reading the Word God.

         Memorize and confess aloud the passages that will encourage and establish you in victory in Christ.

"And they overcame him (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death,” (Rev. 12:11; I Sam. 1:6-8, 17- 18; Neh. 1:4; 9: 1-3; Dan.  9:3, 20; Joel 2:12; Jon. 3:8; Lk.  2:37; Acts 9:9, 11; 10:30; 13:2; 14:23; I Cor. 7:5).

         To be done in a manner of humility and secrecy. (Matt. 6: 16-18; Lk. 18: 9-14).

         If possible play cassette tapes or records of the spoken Word of God.

         Listen to and sing songs of praise and worship.

This will bring you victory.

Get encouraged.

         Be made strong in the power and might of the Spirit of God!

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God…" (Rom. 10:7).

Chapter Three

Following Jesus

FASTING

"If my people, which are called by my  name, shall  humble themselves, and  pray, and seek my face, and turn  from  their wicked ways; then will I hear  from heaven, and will forgive  their sin, and will heal their  land," (II Chron. 7:14).

         Do this to make room for God in your life.

         Success depends on accurately hearing God's voice and discerning his mind.

We all long for this clarity and anointing, to see as God sees and to be about his business how can I know the difference between his thoughts and intentions as distinct from mine, or anyone?

(II Cor. 1:20) "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen unto the glory of God by us.”

         Not some, but all the promises!

         Not were, not will be, but Are!

Paul declared: "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended  of Christ Jesus . . .   I press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ  Jesus," (Phil. 3:12, 14).

Paul acknowledging that he had not attained, should put to flight any self-confidence that the rest of us might entertain about already having attained.

         Self-discipline; run for the prize, (I Cor. 9:24).

         Do I discipline my Christian life?

“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,” (I Cor. 7:5).

“He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity,” Job 36:10.

         Self-indulgence has no place (I Cor. 10).

WHEN SHOULD I FAST?

Jesus Christ is our Master, the One Who leads, who gives commands. And we don’t have to wonder what He wants us to do, for God has revealed.  His will to us in the bible. As we learn its principles and specific commands, made known to us by the Holy Spirit we are to obey them exactly and without question; when we obey.

FAVOR, WISDOM AND GRACE

Fasting to ask God to change course: (Ezra 8:21-23) -- why would this matter to God? Because God cares that we care.

When King David had been caught by Nathan the Prophet in his evil deed of murder and adultery (II Sam 12), Nathan ended by forgiving David of his sin, but telling him that the son born from this relationship was to die (II Sam. 12 13:-14). David took his sorrow over this to the Lord in prayer and fasting and tears, laying on the ground, doing nothing else for a whole week (try doing that when you're the sole leader of a nation). But this did not save his son. Once the baby died, David immediately got up, washed and clothed himself, went to worship, and then went to eat. This puzzled the people around him: shouldn't he be fasting over the child's death? David's answer showed how deeply he understood what he was fasting for : [2]

"While the child was alive, I fasted and wept, thinking, 'Who knows, maybe the LORD will be gracious to me so the child may live.' But now that he has died, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again," (II Sam. 12:22-23)?

David was fasting and weeping out of love for his son, the son his own evil deeds created, the son his own evil deeds killed. He had already come to hate the great sins that he did. He had already mourned as terribly as he could. It was now his task to lead a nation (God's own covenant people), follow God, and comfort Bathsheba who was also mourning over the child that was hers as well as his. But he can't do any of that while he's on the ground starving and wailing. The time for fasting was over; the time for renewed living was at hand. By setting himself right with God, David was once again blessed by God, as the Lord took that twisted relationship and made from it David's eventual heir, Solomon. [3]

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly,” (Psa. 84:11).

SEEK HIS WISDOM AND GRACE

It is best to get alone with God.

"The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit," (Psa. 34:18).

         Pray in the Spirit and understanding.

"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God," (Rom. 8:26, 27).

Carry your copy of the word with YOU and Read it.

"Heavens and earth shall pass away; but my words shall not pass away,” (Mk. 13:31).

         Fast unto the Lord; to seek his favor, his wisdom and grace.

         Fasting, coupled with prayer, destroys doubt and unbelief.

         Fasting will give strength power, and make you more sensitive to the voice of God.

         The ordination of elders and commissioning of apostle to ministry, (Acts 13:3; 14: 23).

         Intercession for the people of God, (Exod. 24: 18, Deut. 9:8-9, 12-20, 23-27).

         Humbling and chastening of self, (I Kin. 21: 27-29; Psa. 35: 13, 69:10).

         Seeking the Lord and His way, (Judg. 20: 26-28 11 Chron. 20:3: Ezra 8:21-23).

PETITIONING GOD

Petitioning God to withhold His hand in judgment, (Deut. 9: 18, 25; Isa.  58:9).

         Preparation to receive word from God. (Deut. 9: 18, 25:Isa. 58:9).

         Spiritual deliverance, (Isa. 58: 6: Mk. 9: 29, Matt. 17:21).

         Seeking assistance in time of fear. (11 Chron. 20:3);

         Mourning another's death (II Sam. 1: 12, 3:35).

DO NOT TRUST YOUR FEELINGS

Do not trust your feelings

         They change.

         Stand on God’s promises in the Bible.

         They never change!

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out,” (Jn. 6:37).

FASTING IS IMPORTANT

Fasting is an extremely valuable and important facet of the Christian life; but it is not an infallible means of "getting what we want" from God.

         Example: (II Sam. 12: 15-23) (David's son died).

         (I Sam. 15:22), Obedience is better than sacrifice.

         Concern for another's safety, (Dan. 6: 18).

         Faced with threats on one's own life. (Est. 4: 3; 9: 1-3).

         Seeking protection (Ezra 8: 21-23).

         Lacking material provision; in need. (I Cor. 11: 27).

         While fasting, be honest; withhold nothing from the Lord.

You came to Jesus for cleansing and the Holy Spirit will show you the many things that you may need to confess, repent of and renounce. This is what the Holy Spirit wants to do, so confess and be free.

"For whom the Son of God hath set fee is free indeed," (Jn. 8:36).

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God,” (Rom. 12:2).

"In the development of the renewal of the redeemed man, the forces of evil seek any factor of the fallen life, whether fleshly or soul to keep functioning. As the believer becomes "spiritual,” and is more united in actual spirit-union with the Lord of Glory, is more able to escape the power of evil spirits. Then the believer becomes equipped to recognize them and war against them," Jessie Penn-Lewis[4]

SATAN IS A DECEIVER

The world is in need of self-denying intercessors, people who will sacrifice their time for the church and the nation in prayer.

         Revival will come on the wings of prayer.

We must return to God’s way concerning the issues of our country.

Territorial warfare must return to God’s people to bring revival to the church.

Moses’s intercession is epitomized when he was chosen to lead God’s people.

He said, “Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin, and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written,” (Exod. 31:31).

He will deceive the very elect if we fail to confirm what we hear or receive with the Word of God.

         Proclaim the fast before the Lord.

         Believe that you receive the reward. (Matt. 6:18).

         Minister to the Lord and thank Him for the reward.

Minister to others:

         Praise and Thanksgiving.

While praising and rejoicing, expect and believe for continued help and blessing.

"Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, rejoice. Be careful for nothing: but in everything by prayer and supplication and thanksgiving let your requests be known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally Brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report: if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these thing."  (Phil. 4:4, 6-8)

.

         During the fast; only as lead by the Holy Spirit.

         "With good will doing service as to the Lord, and not to men,” (Eph.  6:7).

         Always expecting and look for someone to minister to following the fast.

"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ As we have  therefore opportunity, l let us  do good  unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith,"  (Gal. 6:2).

         The result of putting the flesh out of the way is:

(Eph. 3:20),  "Now unto Him that is able to do  exceeding abundantly above all that we can think or ask, according to the power that worketh in us . . . ”

God is within us and works from within our flesh is a channel of the power of God.

This power is developed within our spirit by the Holy Spirit as we yield ourselves and grow in the Lord

We have been guilty of alienation, when we use the term "Channel" a mental concept is birthed into our mind of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit being outside of us.

         The Holy Spirit operates from within.

         When the flesh becomes clouded up with carnality, sin, bad attitudes, forgiveness, works of the flesh, etc., then we stop the flow of God. (See Rom. 8:13; Gal. 6:8; Gal. 3:5).

“Then the fruit of the Spirit begins to become evident in our lives,” (Gal. 5:22-25).

BELIEFS IN SATAN AND DEMONS

Originally created as a covering cherub and given great powers and beauty, the angel known as Satan the Devil became transformed into the Adversary through pride, leading him into rebellion against the government of God. From the angels first estate here on earth, he led one-third of his fellows to attack God in heaven, who cast them down to earth in defeat where they remain restrained to this day. As the god of this world and man's mortal enemy, Satan now uses his power and beauty to deceive all of mankind. He and his demons, though they have already been defeated and their fate is sealed, are doing all they can to frustrate God's purpose for man.

Scripture References:

(Ezek. 28:14-17; Isa. 14:12-15; Jude 6; II Pet. 2:4; II Cor. 4:4; Rev. 12:4, 9; Lk. 22:31; Eph. 6:12; Jude 13; Rev. 20:10). [5]

FASTING FOR BATTLE

“Although he is a dark sinister foe dedicated to the damnation of humans, I think he knows that it is no use trying to dam a forgiven and justified child of God who is in the Lord's hands.  So, it becomes the devil's business to keep the Christian's spirit imprisoned. He knows that the believing and justified Christian has been raised up out of the grave of his sins and trespasses.  From that point on, Satan works that much harder to keep us bound and gagged, actually imprisoned in our own grave clothes." W.Tozer  [6]

         The Day Star Falls

         The Bible says very little about the origin of evil.

         The writers are only permitted a brief glimpse now and then into the mystery of the fall of Satan.

         Isaiah tells us how the "Day Star,” as Satan called, fell from grace through pride. [7]

         How are you fallen from heaven, 0 Day Star,

         Son of Dawn!

         How you are cut down to the ground,

         You who laid the nation low!

         You said in your heart,

         I will ascend to heaven;

         Above the stars of God

         I will set my throne on high;

         I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far north;

         I Will ascend above the heights of the cloud,

         I will make myself like the Most

         High.' (Isa. 14: 12-14).

The other reference to Satan is even more oblique.

         It comes in Ezekiel:

         Moreover the word of. the Lord came to me: "Son of man,”

         raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him,

         Thus says the Lord GOD'.

         'You were the signet -of perfection,

         Full of wisdom

         And perfect in beauty.

         You were in Eden, the garden of God;

         very precious stone was your covering,

         carnelian, topaz, and jasper,

         chrysolite, beryl, and onyx, sapphire, carbuncle, and emerald;

         and wrought in gold were your settings

         and your engravings

         On the day you were created

         they were prepared.

         With an anointed guardian cherub

         I placed you;

         you were on the holy mountain of God;

         in the midst of the stones of fire

         you walked.

         You were blameless in your ways

         from the days you were created,

         till iniquity was found in you.

         In the abundance of your trade

         you were filled with violence

         and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing

         from the mountain of God,

         and the guardian cherub drove you

         out from the midst of the stones of fire

         Your heart was proud because of

         your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for

         the sake of your splendour.

         I cast you to the ground;

         I exposed you before kings,

         to feast their eyes on you.

         By the multitude of your iniquities,

         in the unrighteousness of your trade

         so I brought forth fire from

         the midst of you;

         it consumed you,

         and I turned you to ashes upon the

         earth in the sight of all who saw you.”

In both these passages we see that the Fall of Satan is attributed to pride and vanity. And Satan is not an ugly monster with Horns but "perfect in beauty" in his original state. No wonder he is able to masquerade as an angel, of light! There is not much written about Satan or his agents the demons in the Old Testament.

We have to wait for the Light of the world to appear before the darkness is fully, exposed.

Alan Richardson says”: Until the Age of Enlightenment (A.D.1650-1780) in an objective personal devil and his minion was all but universal among theologians. "Today. However, it is generally recognized that belief in Satan, the Leader of the fallen angels, etc., is not a satisfactory answer to the problem of evil.

It still leaves us to ask the question how evil got into the world which God created and saw "very good." But as a pictorial way of representing the existence of superhuman evil forces in the universe, Satan and his hosts call our attention to a very important question for theology. [8]

Chapter Four

Overcoming

DESTROY AND BREAK BONDAGES

Fasting, prayer, praying in tongues, offering thanksgiving, rejoicing and hearing, reading, believing, speaking and obeying the Word of God will destroy and break bondages of addiction and bands of wickedness.

It will destroy the work of torment, oppression, possession, vexation and works of curses.

         Spells and hexes are broken and their works are destroyed.

         Ungodly desires are destroyed such as alcohol, drugs, homosexuality, inordinate sex, gambling, pornography, tobacco, etc.

"And in every province, wither-so-ever the King's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth in ashes,” (Est. 4:3).

“The son was brought to the disciples and they could not cast out the evil spirit,” (Matt. 17: 14-21).

Note: Jesus did not rebuke the father but the disciples for their unbelief. The subject for fasting is unbelief, not the spirit.

Fasting helps destroy unbelief and make us aware of the power of God available to believers today. However, God will only give you what He can trust you with and what you prepare yourself to receive.

FASTING FOR WRONG REASONS

Fasting from food is not dieting. It's not a divine weight-loss plan. Treated that way, it could be a thin disguise for an adult version of anorexia, a psychological eating illness which has strong physical effects on the body. Many people have died because of this abuse of fasting. If you're overweight because you have no self-discipline about eating or exercise, then short or selective fasts may be helpful as part of the larger process of developing self-discipline about food -- but spiritually helpful due to the discipline, rather than the weight loss.[9]

Fasts are not for self-punishment. The Qumran sect and some apocalyptic Jews of Jesus' day took on extreme food-free periods, in hopes of making themselves pure before the end-times arrived. They would sometimes prohibit marriage and require abstinence from foods. To the early Christians, this made no sense. They thanked God for God's good creation, including all kinds of food. And they would not stand for setting a new law over themselves, since Christ has just freed them from the burdens of the law. Some folks of their era (and ours) sought to enter into the drug-like experience which happens as the body gets seriously weakened by the fast. More often, they have a sadistic drive to destroy themselves. Many monks, especially from Europe's Middle Ages, and also many holy people of other major religions, believed that one should force one's body into submission to God. But self-punishment is a form of self-destruction and self-hatred. This attitude bleeds over into everything else about the way you think of yourself and your body, even when you are not fasting. God didn't love you and then tell you to go hate yourself. God wants you to see you and your body through God's eyes -- as being well worth loving. Or perhaps, you might dare treat The Almighty Creator as a fool for loving you? This is true of both foods and people: God did not create mistakes.

It is also not right to harm yourself in a way that might make you a burden to others who would have to give you physical care. Mohammed was a strong believer in fasting as a discipline, but even he had to act against the extreme fasting of his Companions in Medina when it weakened them up to the edge of death. The lengthy Ramadan fasts are only for daylight hours. King Saul put his soldiers under oath of death not to eat, leaving them too weak to succeed. His son Jonathan understood how wrongheaded this was, but his disobedience almost got him killed by his own father. Thus, do not fast in a way that seriously harms your health.

Isaiah 58:3-12

The members of Isaiah's audience were fasting for all the wrong reasons! They fasted to get things from God and hypocritically appear righteous. God says, though, that we should fast to free others from their sins, to intercede with God for their healing, to help provide for their needs and to understand His will. Fasting is a tool of godly love we are to use for the good of others, and any benefits we derive from it are wonderful blessings! On the Day of Atonement, we fast to implore God to bring to pass the greatest blessing of all upon ourselves and the world: unity, oneness, with Him! [10]

In our continuing study on the holy days, we have seen the plan of God broaden from our personal redemption and removal of sin in Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread to the founding of the church and giving of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Trumpets picture the return of Christ, the changing of the saints into immortal spirit beings and God's judgment on all mankind. But one more hurdle must be overcome before salvation can be made available to everyone. God must remove the archenemy, Satan the Devil, to produce unity between Him and humanity.

The Day of Atonement depicts the accomplishment of this step in God's purpose. Though this prodigious feat deserves our joyous praise and thanksgiving to God, Atonement is the most solemn of the seven festivals. On this day, Christians fast—afflict their souls—to show that only when man sees himself in proper comparison to God will he have the right-attitude to be truly at one with Him. When Satan is bound and men live humbly before God, then God's Word and Spirit will work wonders among the people of the world!

1.        Is Atonement a commanded feast of God, (Lev. 23:26-32).

Comment: God emphasizes this day's solemnity by threatening death to those who fail to afflict their souls or who do any work on this day. Nothing is more important than being at one with Him!

2. What is it to "afflict your souls"? (Isa. 58:3). [11]

WHAT IS CHRISTIAN FASTING?

"First, let [fasting] be done unto the Lord with our eye singly fixed on Him. Let our intention herein be this, and this alone, to glorify our Father which is in heaven." John Wesley  [12]

Fasting is abstaining from food for a restricted time. Its physical purpose is to purge the system of “rubbish.” Its spiritual purpose is to seek the Lord with all the heart for some specific need. What is Christian fasting? Biblically, fasting is abstaining from food, drink, sleep or sex to focus on a period of spiritual growth. Specifically, we humbly deny something of the flesh to glorify God, enhance our spirit, and go deeper in our prayer life.[13]

Prayer and Fasting - A Definition:

Prayer and fasting is defined as voluntarily going without food in order to focus on prayer and humbling yourself before the Lord to fellowship with Father. Prayer and fasting often go hand in hand, but this is not always the case. You can pray without fasting, and fast without prayer. It is when these two activities are combined and dedicated to God's glory that they reach their full effectiveness. Having a dedicated time of prayer and fasting is not a way of manipulating God into doing what you desire. Rather, it is simply forcing yourself to focus and rely on God for the strength, provision, and wisdom you need. [14]

Isaiah condemned hypocritical fasting, (Isa. 58) and so did Jesus, (Matt. 6). Yet, both practiced fasting. Jesus fasted 40 days before He began His earthly ministry, (Matt. 4) and recommended it to present-day disciples, (Mk. 2:20).

Jeremiah 52:4-11

The end that comes around for Zedekiah is not gentle. Jeremiah 52:4-11 records the tragedy. Just as Jeremiah predicted, the Babylonians renew their siege. Eighteen months later, in July, the city burns. Capturing the ever-fearful Zedekiah as he flees, the Babylonians bring him to Nebuchadnezzar's operational headquarters at Riblah. There he sees his sons die before his conquerors blind him, bind him, and transport him to Babylon, where he remains until his death.

He had the opportunity to avoid that end. But Zedekiah, though born into privilege and of family, possessing by those tokens the potential for power, remains paralyzed by an egocentrism that comes to circumscribe his whole character. As a result, he loses all but his daughters, and even those he never sees again. Because he is too fearful to obey God, he misses the opportunity God offers him for his safety, as well as the safety of his family and of his capital. [15]

Fasting humbles the soul, “But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom,” (Psa. 35:13)

Brings revival, “And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,” (Neh. 1:4).

Cures unbelief, “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting…” (Matt. 17:21).

OVERCOMES THE DEVIL

“Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward a hungred. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said if thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, it is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, it is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 and saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11 then the devil leaveth him and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him,” (Matt. 4: 1: 11).

FAITH NEEDS PRAYERS

Prayer Needs Fasting

Spiritual power is the greatest power in the universe. The source of power is God Himself.

         Fasting is an important part of an intercessor life.

(Psa. 62:11), says, “God has spoken once; twice have I heard this that power belongeth unto God.”

         This spiritual power can do things no other power can do.

The New Testament tells us that Christians continue to face the enticement of evil, and at a times struggle with demonic forces.

Paul, Peter, James, and Jn. all forewarn us to be on guard against the schemes of the evil one.

The Christian's life is to be characterized by the praise of God's goodness and glory, not by unbelieving anxiety. But when evil crosses our path, we are called to expose, resist, and overcome it.

         To deny or dodges biblical warnings is to ignore a central portion of truth.

DELIVERS FROM DEATH

Paul was fasting, (Acts 27). “And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: 17 which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksand’s, strake sail, and so were driven. 18 And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; 19 and the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. 20 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away. 21 But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. 22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. 23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, 24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. 25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. 26 Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island. 27 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country; 28 And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms. 29 Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day. 30 And as the ship men were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the fore ship, 31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. 32 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.’

BRINGS AWAKENING

The early Methodists fasted on Wednesdays and Fridays and brought awakening to England and America.  (Isa. 58) gives many benefits of true fasting. [16]

This book was written to give Christians the answers to receiving spiritual help for their physical, spiritual, financial needs and their unsaved families.”

The Christian Church must know that there has been a cultural-spiritual revolution that has been happening since the 60s and it may appear that powers of darkness are winning!  From the White house to the local governments, godlessness powers are ruling. Eastern and the New Age religions are capturing the multitudes.  There are millions of young people who were raised in the church have been led away from their Christian foundations and into seeking other gods that their forefathers never knew. Due to the sexual revolution to the occult rebellion of Satanism and witchcraft, spiritual life is continuing to decline. Many Christian parents are confused and disheartened concerning answers to this problem.

As a minister, my telephone rings incisively with concerned Christian parents whose children are entrapped by the powers of darkness. They are without hope and just don’t know what to do. An example of one of these calls came from Jane: She was hysterical when she called. “I am going to commit suicide,” she exclaimed, weeping uncontrollably.

“Why?” I asked. “What is happening?”

“It’s my daughter.  She’s going to become a witch. I raised her in the Christian church . . .” She was uncontrollably weeping.

Now dear, Jesus can help with your problem.

“You don’t understand, she was raised a Christian and I don’t know what to do. My pastor doesn’t know what to do either. Someone told me to call you.”

I consoled her and told her that a Christian has hope. “We have many promises from God’s Word concerning our seed. God is not a man that He can lie.” I prayed with her and then taught her a quick course in spiritual warfare. For weeks, I joined Jane and continued to pray and fast for her daughter. Soon, Jane’s daughter returned to her Christian faith through the devotion and faith her mother.

Jane came to me with a repentant heart and was saved, filled with the Holy Spirit and received deliverance!

Many have strayed away from the house of faith and have been captured by the evil spirit of this age. The Internet, television, magazines, books, movies are promoting everything from eastern religions to Satanism. The free sexual explosion is capturing multitudes through glamorizing homosexuality and perversions of all types. Drug abuse, alcoholism, adultery, gambling, homosexuality, fornication, pornography, all these evil deeds are sins against the flesh, against society, and against the laws and commandments of God. These are serious sins that will lead our rebellious children into the pit of hell. Every Christian family now sees members entrapped by the powers of darkness. I tell you millions are facing the deaths of infidels while many church people are seeking after some spiritual thrill or physical manifestation of a shake or wiggle and wants to just dance and sing.

The Bible warns that believers should seek after spiritual wisdom from the Lord and follow His ways. “Woe to the rebellious children, declares the Lord, who execute a plan, but not Mine, and make an alliance, but not of My Spirit; in order to add sin to sin; who proceed down to Egypt, without consulting Me, to take refuge in the safety of Pharoah, and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt,” (Esra. 30:1, 2).

There are shipwrecked believers falling on all sides. God’s greatest concern is not what Christians are surrendering into-but what they are slipping away from! Multitudes of Christians, including many pastors, deacons, ministry, people, kings and leaders are losing their faith and confidence in the power of Jesus’ name! They are turning away from Jesus Christ as the unequaled-unrivaled answer to everything. They are dropping away from a childlike faith in Him alone as the answer to all life’s problems. There is a wholesale turning with a view to methods, psychology, human expertise, and the philosophies and doctrines of men. [17]

The American Christian is caught in supernatural spiritual warfare that many are losing because of a lack of godly spirituality and knowledge. The fantasy book author, C.S. Lewis said, “The next best thing to a damned soul is a sterile Christian. Occultist work is cloaked in secrecy. Satan hates exposure.” [18]

Many church people seem to hate his exposure also. Therefore people possessed or oppressed by Satan are told to go to a psychiatrist. Many find themselves languishing in mental institutions. While the casualty list grows, we find many church people only interested in what Christianity can do to prosper them!

Only Judgment Day will tell the tales of horror of the damned because of the slumbering saints of our day. More and More, I see confused, bewitched people come through prayer lines seeking relief from demonic occult bondage. As I minister to these poor souls, many times, church people stand in unbelief that such powers even exist!

May God help us in these hours of darkness; every ounce of Satan’s territory that you take for Christ is a battle.  It’s a struggle. It’s a spiritual warfare. We are end-time saints living in a demonized world which is the same demonized world that the first saints were living. They were fearful of devils and witchcraft power because they knew the power of Jesus. They acknowledged their reality and by taking spiritual authority over them, they vanquished them.

Today, we must stand in Christ’s power and battle for souls, as well as, having concern for our sons and daughters. Jesus said, “And I say also unto thee that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it,” (Matt. 16:18).

The Word teaches that God has given us a spiritual armor but that it is our responsibility to put the protection on. (Eph. 6:10-18). That’s where Satan is getting the victory. We, many times, are not putting our armor on. We are not using our weapons, fasting, prayer, using the Name of Jesus, the power of the Holy Ghost and fighting the battle of faith. We are simply not doing what the Word of God says . . .  The Word works every time. God doesn’t fail. [19]

The believer that prayer and fasting is the answer to the rebellion that has been rising steadily over our families.  The Lord has given us great power to tear down the strongholds of the evil one. He is on our side and wants us to move in great desire to war for our love ones as well as, those who are lost in the world.

While the power Satan and all the powers of darkness are setting the stage for the New World Order by destroying the faith of many, God is calling his Saints to new compassion, coupled with a strong desire to forge forward with their Commander-in-Chief to enter into the spiritual war.

To many Christians who call themselves “His people,” must answer the call to rid their homes of the TV idol, to shut down rock and roll and music of the devils, to get serious about total surrender, is all a novel message. It is a little on the entertaining side to them, thy love to hear it, to “amen” it. But it does not affect them. They continue to follow the lusts of their hearts. You see, they are liberated, not under legalism and refuse to permit the Holy Spirit to probe their inner man about its seeping corruption in their lives and homes. [20]

God’s message to the church now is this: “Your one last hope, your only strength left; is to return to me with all your heart; repent, trust me only! Turn aside from Egypt, the world --- pray and fast!”

Chapter Two

Necessities for Fasting

Unless you are born again, you have no hope of enjoying the glories of heaven or escaping the terrors of Hell. "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God," (Jn. 3:3).

The new birth is a requirement by Jesus Christ's redemption.

Entirely, any poor sinner can do to be saved is to repent and receive the finished works of Lord Jesus.

"Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh to the Father but by me,” (Jn. 14:16).

"Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God,” (Jn. 3:3).

"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned," (I Cor. 2: 14).

ONE WAY

"Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature; For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him, and for him. And he is before all things and by him all things consist,” (Col. 1:15-17).

"I and My Father are one," (Jn. 10:30).

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I Am," (Jn. 8:58).

“Jesus is the only door,” Jn. 10:9.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber,” (Jn. 10:1).

“But he that entirety in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep,” (Jn. 10:2).

“Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep,” (Jn. 10:7).

“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture,” (Jn. 10:9).

THE ONLY SAVIOR

The only Savior, (Acts. 4:12)

We must believe that Jesus is God in the flesh, reconciling the world unto himself.

Yes, Jesus is the Savior!

He came to set the captives free!

He died on the cross for your sins!

“Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins,” (Acts 5:31).

“Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus,” (Acts 13:23).

“And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world…” (1 Jn. 4:14).

“To the only wise God our Saviour, be  glory and majesty, dominion and power, both  now and forever, Amen,” (Jude 25).

Chapter Five

Armor of God

IN DEFENSE OF THE TRUE DELIVERANCE MINISTRY

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Eph. 6, 10-12).

This is what spiritual warfare is about.  Jesus must be the center of a person’s life. One must know Him from the power of the Word of God, because of His triumph; His people can win their war.

JESUS IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER

The Deliverance ministry is a serious and supernatural work of the Lord Jesus Christ in a person’s life. It is a most needed ministry in the American Christian Church today. Bible deliverance ministry is to set captives free so that they can then serve Jesus Christ. Deliverance drives the demons out… bring the person into a commitment to Jesus… leads them to the Holy Ghost…. And then teach them the Word of God to be holy and build Christian Character…

He gave the power and authority His followers to go.

The name “Jesus” is the legal right of absolute authority.

His power is

“Far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come,” (Eph. 1:21).

His power is above all power.

In order for a believer to be consistently led of the Holy Spirit, and thereby, be continually sowing to the Spirit, they must of necessity, be filled with the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth.

“Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" (I Cor. 15:57).

"You are to cling to the Lord your God... for the Lord your God is He who fights for you, just as He promised you. So take diligent heed to... love the Lord our God." (Josh. 23:5-11)

“Our God, wilt thou not judge them? For we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee. And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children,” (II Chron. 20:12-13, 12).

CHRISTIANS MUST BE PREPARED AND EQUIPPED FOR SPIRITUAL WARFARE

From the earliest times men wore and used devices for the protection of the body in battle. the apostle Paul spoke of the armor in a figurative sense, with reference to righteousness as a protection to the follower of God against the assaults of evil or temptation.  They take upon themselves the whole armor of God, Helmet, Salvation; Breastplate, Righteousness; Girded Loins, Truth; Shod Feet; Shield, Faith, (Eph. 6:13-17).Shows what wonderful provisions’ God has made for His warriors.

Jesus said in (Matt. 12:23-33). Satan is not going to allow anyone to destroy his work without putting up very strong counteraction. His control must first be neutralized before Christians can release his captives. Jesus asks this penetrating question, “How can anyone enter a strongman’s house and carry off his possession unless he first ties up the strongman?”

Then Jesus told us that we could enter his house. (Matt. 12:29). The King James Bibles reads, “bind the strongman.” Indeed, binding the strong man is the first basic PRINCIPLE of spiritual warfare. In fact, before any warfare opposing powers and principalities and wicked rulers and evil spirits can be won to release the nation, cities, individual, family, the strongman must be defeated, (Matt. 18: 18. 19. 20).

Once Satan’s power is bound, Jesus enters freely enters into his house and carries off Satan’s possessions.  The territory is delivered and Satan loses control. The Greek word for spoil occurs in two forms, Diapazo and harapzo, which means “an intensive spoiling, plunder and snatching away.” Luke 11-22, the Greek word Skulon, conveys “arms stripped from a foe.” Putting it simply, Satan is stripped of his weapons, (Lk. 11:21, 22).

The Greek word Deo means literally ties or fasten, to arrest or paralyze. The Christian reclaims everything that he has stolen. Other words, Christians aggressively binding the power of demons and prohibits them from the carry-forward their assignments.

Matthew 9:32-33, “They brought to HIM a dumb man possessed with a devil (demonized). When the devil was cast out, the dumb spoke. The multitudes marveled, saying, "It was never so seen in Israel."

Matthew 12:22, “Then was brought to HIM one POSSESSED WITH A DEVIL (demonized), blind and dumb. HE healed him, so much that the blind and dumb man both spoke and saw.”

Matthew 17:14-21, “There came to HIM a certain man, kneeling down to HIM and saying, "LORD, have mercy on my son, for he is a LUNATIC and sore vexed; often he falls into the fire and often into the water. I brought him to YOUR disciples and they could not cure him. Then JESUS answered, "O faithless and perverse generation; how long shall I be with you? How long shall I endure you? Bring him here to ME." Jesus rebuked the DEVIL. He departed out of him. The child was cured from that very hour. Then the disciples took JESUS aside and said, "Why could we not cast him out?" Jesus said, "Because of your unbelief. I say to you, 'If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, 'Remove here to there', and it shall move. Nothing shall be impossible to you. However, this kind goes not out, but by prayer and fasting."

Mark 1:32-34, “They brought to Him all who were sick and those who were DEMON-POSSESSED (demonized). The whole city was gathered together at the door. He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. He did not allow the demons to speak.”

If that’s what he was taught, its lunacy…. The only thing demons have to submit to is the name of Jesus and they must leave if the person belongs to Jesus and has repented… You have no biblical authority to talk to them. The Bible forbids us to talk to demons.

MORE THAN ONE-THIRD OF JESUS’ MINISTRY WAS DELIVERANCE

“He went throughout all Galilee preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons,” (Mk. 1:39).

"But JESUS noticed that a crowd [of people] came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, You dumb and deaf spirit, I charge you to come out of him and never go into him again. And after giving a [hoarse, clamoring, fear-stricken] shriek of anguish and convulsing him terribly, it came out," (Mk. 9:24 and 25).

Notice, the above deliverance did not take hours, a week or a year…. Instantly, the power of Jesus just overcame the powers of the demons.

DECEPTION

The Holy Ghost inspired Apostle Paul warned us: “Let no one deceive you,” (2 Thess. 2:3). It is clear that Christians can be vulnerable to deception and we must not forget it. We must be on guard and protect ourselves against deceit. There is deception everywhere in the religious world. We must be alert.

PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS

The Deliverance ministry is a serious and supernatural work of the Lord Jesus Christ in a person’s life. It is a most needed ministry in the American Christian Church today. This article is written by a man who is discerning the merits of the importance of the deliverance from the point of view of man who experienced it under the teachings and interpretations of the false ministers of the Third Wave Movement.

Jesse Penn-Lewis (1861-1927, The Divine Commitment to Jesse Penn-Lewis, “The Magna Carta of Spiritual Liberty Romans 6, "The sixth chapter of Romans is the Magna Carta of spiritual liberty (Magna Carta document acknowledging rights: a document that recognizes or guarantees rights, privileges, or liberties). It reveals God's plan of deliverance through the Cross of Christ. Every babe in Christ needs to know the truth of this passage of Scripture. Romans 6 very clearly explain the basis of deliverance. Only by understanding what it means to have died with Christ (Rom. 6:3-8), and what it means to put to death the 'deeds of the body' (Romans 8:13), can the believer live and walk and act through the Spirit, and in this way become a spiritual man..."

Her Commission: to Proclaim the Message of the Cross. "I saw that God had given me a specific commission to proclaim the message of the Cross, at a time when it had almost ceased to be referred to in the pulpits. I saw also that God miraculously opened doors before me to proclaim this message, which no man could shut. God had committed this message to me, and at whatever cost, I must go forward." [21]

Jessie Penn-Lewis gives a report of this spirit in the Wales revival: "The counterfeit of the Presence of God is mainly felt upon the body, and by the physical senses, in conscious 'fire,' 'thrills,' etc. The counterfeit of the 'Presence' in the atmosphere is felt by the senses of the body, as 'breathe,' 'wind,' etc., whilst the mind is passive or inactive. The person affected by this counterfeit will be moved almost automatically to actions he would not perform of his own will, and with all his faculties in operation. He may not even remember what he has done under the 'power' of this 'presence.'"[22]

"Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil," (Eph.  6:11).

THE ARMOR OF GOD

Ephesians Chapter 6 shows that Satan is constantly making war on the saints. He has methods, ways and means, strategies, plans by which he intends to thwart God's work. Since Satan is a created being, he is not like God in being all-knowing, all-powerful, and ever-present.

Theologians call these attributes omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence. Satan appears to be omnipresent because he has a demonic army assisting him in his warfare.

There is only one devil, but there are many demons.

The Apostle Paul gives us a very clear picture of what is going on in the spirit world. He tells us to: "Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil," (Eph. 6:11).

"Wiles" (in Greek  methodeias) simply means his plans, schemes or methods used to entice, enslave or entrap men's souls into sinning nullifying the work of the Holy Spirit.

The first level under Satan is a group of commanders called principalities or princes, beings who have power to guide his affairs.

The prince of Persia (Dan. 10:13) resisted Michael the archangel when he was sent to speak to Daniel. Could this suggest that Satan has a prince over every nation to fulfill his plans? Under each national prince are other princes who guide his plans from the government to the educational systems and throughout structure of society.

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places," (Eph. 6:12).

WE WRESTLE

(Greek, pale) - Not against flesh and blood, not against saints or even unsaved human personalities. Behind the raging battle, these ungodly manifestations come after friend or foe in order to create unsavory conditions. Satan's structure is disclosed in this 12th verse:

"Principalities" - (archas). These are rulers, spirit-beings of very high rank in Satan's kingdom.

"Powers"- (exousias) Authorities . . . These powers have delegated authority from principalities of Satan himself to destroy the work of God in the saints,  also to destroy the work of saints for Christ.

"Rulers of the darkness of this world," (koshokratopas). These are spirit-world rulers.

They are responsible for ruling the nations of the world.  They keep people in spiritual darkness, (See Dan. 10:13).

The "wrestling" that goes on between the forces of Satan and our Lord, continues in the heavenlies and its manifestation is evident on earth.

Satan knows that his time is short and so he is pouring out everything that he has at his disposal to hinder the fulfillment of Bible prophecy and steal as many souls as possible before the return of our Lord.

How tragic and heartbreaking it is to see believers reeling and staggering under Satan's assault.

People are hungry to see Christ's power displayed!

They want to see solutions to their problems.

They want to see lives regenerated by the Gospel, marriages saved, drug addicts converted, churches on fire with the power of the Holy Ghost.

When and where the Word of God is preached they will see these things!

There is power in God's living Word!

Chapter Six

Apply the Armor of God.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty thru God to the pulling down of stronghold," (II Cor. 10: 3, 4).

CHRISTIAN SOLDIER

(Eph. 6:10-18), the Christian Soldier.

Be Strong with spiritual power expecting God to be our strength.

Saints are to be immovable, and steadfast in the faith dressed in their full armor.

HELMET OF SALVATION

Helmet of salvation (I Thess. 5:8).

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, “(Eph. 6:17).

“But let us, who are of them day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation,” (I Thess. 5:8).

BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Breastplate of righteousness, (Phil. 1:11).

“Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness,” (Eph. 6:14).

“But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation,” (I Thess. 5:8).

Loins girt about with truth (Rev. 1:13).

“Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness...” (Eph. 6:14).

“Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace,” (Isa. 52:7).

“And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace,” (Eph. 6:15).

SHIELD OF FAITH

Shield of faith.  (Prov. 26:18.).

“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked,” (Eph. 6:16).

SWORD OF THE SPIRIT

Sword of the Spirit (II Thess. 2:8).

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” (Eph. 6:17).

PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT

Praying in the Spirit (Phil. 4:6)

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints…” (Eph. 6:18).

Protect and cover the mind from doubt and unbelief.

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ,” (II Cor. 10:5).

“Through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling (covering) of the blood of Jesus Christ,” (I Pet.1: 2).

SEEKING GOD

Prayer is the characteristic activity of the Christian. It is impossible to contain the dimension of this experience in a single definition. It is the communication between man and God. It is the opening of the skylight of the soul to the life that is above. One writer said, “In prayer God invites us to live with Him.” Prayer offered in faith is one of man’s most powerful resources. “Transference of Spirits,” Pat Holliday, PhD

         Be willing to deny your physical desires.

         Humbly and earnestly seek His face when fasting

Affliction

         Need of guidance?

Oppression

         Seeking God . . .

Confessing personal or corporate sin.

         Supernatural intervention.

Spiritual Warfare

         Resist the Devil

         Fast that pleases God,” (Isa. 58).

“Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed free . . ." (Isa. 58:6).

Chapter Seven

Directed by the Holy Spirit

HOW LONG SHOULD I FAST

If this is a Proclaimed Fast, it is directed by the Holy Spirit; it could be one day a week for several weeks, two or three days, etc. (When a proclaimed fast is entered, the Pastor or leader of the group usually sets the time to be fasted).

         In studying the fast in the Bible, most went from sundown to sundown, (24 hours).

         A personal fast is left up to the individual.

         If you have doubt about the length of time, then take it one day at a time.

         Ask God every day if you should continue; or if you have no specific time  span then set a number of days or meals you will fast.

         God will honor your desires and obedience to know Him.

WHAT IF, AFTER I HAVE SET A TIME TO FAST, I SHOULD BREAK IT?

Recognize this as sin, confess and ask forgiveness from disobedience take up the fast and continue.

         Don't let the enemy badger you, once sin is confessed and you have asked forgiveness, you are forgiven.

WHAT IS THE FASTED LIFE?

The fasted life is when you set aside things you enjoy doing such as: Reading the morning paper, hunting, fishing, social meetings, television, etc., and spending the time normally spent doing these things alone with God.

This means NOT DOING THEM AT ALL FOR THE TIME SET FORTH.

         A person can fast things besides food.

         Never fast if the doctor has warned you against fasting due to various health reasons!

         You may fast pleasant or favorite foods.

         The fasted life is the cutting back or completely out of your diet certain things.

         It might be you are a heavy eater; you could begin to eat less at each meal.

         This will help bring the body and appetite under subjection to your spirit-man.

         In doing this you have made quality decision.



Remember: When you fast, you must include prayer;

         It is called PRAYER AND FASTING.

         If you fast without prayer, you will just be dieting.

         You can pray without fasting but you have brought no discipline to the flesh.

The flesh must give way to the spirit.

There are many books available on fasting. Some were not written in wisdom. They give no regard to health during the fast.

         Choose what you read carefully.

TOTAL SUBMISSION

It is of the utmost importance that the fasting person should approach the fast with a reverent attitude of mind, regarding the Spirit of the Lord and His Holy Word.

         Seek to understand the deep things of God.

"Submit yourselves therefore unto God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you," (Jam. 4:7).

         Always fast for the proper motives.

"In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths," (Prov. 3:6).

"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplications for all saints…" (Eph. 6: 18).

READ THE WORD

"If ye abide in me and my WORDS abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you," (Jn. 15:7),

“Give the Father praise for all He has done, plus what He is going to do,” See (Phil. 4:4, 6, 7, and 8).

"As they ministered, (worshiped), to the Lord, and FASTED, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.  And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away."

MINISTER TO THE LORD

They received revelation knowledge and information concerning their ministry and will of God in their lives,” (Acts 13: 2, 3).

         See (Dan. 10:2-9).

“Paul received words of comfort and instruction during the time of trouble,” (Acts 27: 21-25).

Chapter Eight

Fasting Power

FASTING SCRIPTURES

"But as for me when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting," (Psa. 35:13).

"When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to me reproach,” (Psa. 69:10).

"Now the King (Darius) spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee. Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting,” (Dan. 6:16b, 18).

"Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry unto the Lord, Alas for the day! The day of the Lord is at hand," (Joel 1:14, 15).

"So the people of Ninevah believed God, and proclaimed a fast; and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. And God  saw their works that they had turned from their evil  way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them, and he did it not," (Jonah 3:5, 10).

"Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted 40 days and 40 nights, he was afterwards a hungered," (Matt. 4:1-2).

"And they said unto him. Why do the disciples of John Fast often, and make prayers,” (Lk. 5:33)?

"Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer," (I Cor. 7; 5).

"Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer, thou shalt cry, and He shall say, here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day; and the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones; and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of  water, whose waters fail not,"  (Isa. 58:8-11).

TAKE AS LONG TO BREAK A FAST

AS YOU TAKE FOR THE FAST; DRINK PLENTY OF WATER.

PRAY!

HOW TO BECOME BORN AGAIN

Accept God's Word that He loves you and wants to give you an abundant life.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life," (Jn. 3:16).

"I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly," (Jn. 10:10).

Accept God's word:  that you are a sinner; and this separates you from God: that you must truly repent or "turn away" from sin.

"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."

(Rom. 3:23). "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord . . .  " (Rom. 6:23).

"But God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us," (Rom. 5:8.)

Accept that Jesus Christ is our only contact with God.

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (Jn. 14:6).

"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus." (II Tim. 2:5).

Receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord by your personal invitation. "But as many as received Him to them gave he the power to become the sons of God," (Jn. 1:12).

"Behold I stand at the door and knock; If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come into Him . . . " Christ speaking.

Do you feel Jesus moving in your heart right now? This how He knocks. Jesus wants in! (Rev. 3:20).

Will you receive Christ right now? You can be saved in seconds! Open the door and Pray:

Dear Father, I'm a lost sinner.  I repent. Please forgive me and come into my heart and save me. Thank You for saving my soul! In Jesus' name, Amen.

If you are backslidden, say the same prayer. The Lord loves you and will forgive you.

Obedience is the practical acceptance of the authority and will of God, including both the inward glad submission and the outward expressing of actions, reactions, words and thoughts.

Disobedience is evidence of rebellion and distrust in God, preference to self-will and the lack of surrender to and desire for the will of God in all things. God expects obedience (Deut. 11:26-28).

To choose Christ is to choose obedience, (Jn. 14:15, 21). To become disobedient is to sin or rebel against God's expectation and rights (I Sam. 15:22, 23).

"Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known," (Deut. 11:26-28).

ABOUT PATHOLLIDAY, PhD

Patricia Holliday, PhD, was called into the ministry in 1975 and has ministered worldwide.  She received her PhD at Southeastern Theology Seminary, Jacksonville, Florida, 1993.  She is the President of Miracle Outreach Ministry. She appears on many international television and radio shows.

Miracle Outreach Ministries is an international ministry. Miracles, signs and wonders, healing, and deliverance follow this ministry. Her latest evangelistic trips include Ghana West Africa, Italy and Jamaica where many miracles happened.

Among her many political activities, she ran for the Florida State House of Representatives in 1972.  She was elected State Committee Woman for her part and is a lobbyist in Tallahassee.  She was a founding member and has officiated in many women’s groups; Minute women of Florida; the Ponte Vedra Woman's Club; and the Four Foundation Inc., a home for non-delinquent girls in Duval County. She helped to organize two women's interdenominational fellowships.  She has ministered worldwide in foreign lands.  Dr. Holliday, is listed in  Who's Who of  the Woman of the World;  Who's Who in America Politics; Dictionary of International Biography; Marquis Who's Who in the South and Southwest - Marquis  Who's Who of American Women and Who's Who in American Religion Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in the World.

Dr. Holliday is a member of the International Platform Committee as a noted lecturer. Recently she founded Miracle Outreach Ministries, a street church that feeds and clothes the poor.  She is the author of the following books; Holliday for the King;  Be Free;  Born Anew; The Walking Dead;  Signs Wonders & Reactions;  The Solitary Satanist;  Marriage Answers; New World Aftershock; New Age Humanism”; and Entertaining Angels of Light; Can Women Preach? ;  Spiritual Warfare Armor; Spiritual Warfare Amour; Spiritual Warfare Weapons; Battling Territorial Spirits; Transference of Spirits; Transference of Spirits; Devils Believe and Tremble”; Experiencing Jesus; The Witch Doctor and the Man — Fourth Generation Witch Doctor Finds Christ! Dancing On the Edge of Hell; Experiencing Jesus; Deliverance Manual Vol. I & 2; Family Deliverance Manual; Steps to Fasting; Spirit of Idolatry; Is Halloween Pagan?; New Creation; From Curses to Blessing Vol. 1, 2 & 3; Angel Fire; New Age Messiah; Baptism of the Holy Spirit; Women Messengers of Jesus Christ; Gods of the Stars; Healing is for Today; How to Be Born Again; Living on the Edge of Hell. Can Witches be saved? And Born Anew.

Pat's websites:

Pat's Facebook page

Miracle Internet Church

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CURRENT ISSUE

05-15-10 Demonic Heredity Strongman DECEPTION OF THE ELECT

Books by Pat Holliday, PhD

Amazon.com: Secrets of the New Life (POWERS HIS MYSTERIES) eBook: Pat Holliday: Kindle Store Edit

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DELIVERANCE SCRIPTURES

“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD,” (Isa. 54:17).

“And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance,” (Gen. 45:7).

“And he was sore athirst, and called on the LORD, and said, Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised,” (Judg. 15:18)?

“Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper,” (II Kin. 5:5:1).

“And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the LORD's deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them,” (II Kin. 13:17).

”And they set themselves in the midst of that parcel, and delivered it, and slew the Philistines; and the LORD saved them by a great deliverance,” (I Chron. 11:14).

“And when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance; and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak,” (II Chron. 12: 7).

“And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this,” (Ezra 9:13).

“For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this,” (Est. 4:14)?

“Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore,” (Psa. 18:50).

“Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah,” (Psa. 32:7).

“Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob,”(Psa.44:4).

“We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen,” (Isa. 26:18).

“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call,” (Joel 2:32).

“But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions,” (Obad. 1:17).

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,” (Lk. 4:18).

“Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection,” (Hebr. 11:35).

“And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance,” (Gen. 45:7).

“And he was sore athirst, and called on the Lord, and said, Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised,” (Judg. 15:18)?

“Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper,” (II Kin. 5:1).

“And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the Lord's deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them,” (II Kin. 13:17).

“And they set themselves in the midst of that parcel, and delivered it, and slew the Philistines; and the Lord saved them by a great deliverance,” (II Kin. 13: 16-`8; I Chron. 11:14).

“And when the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance; and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak,” (II Chron. 12:7).

“And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this,” (Ezra 9:13).

“For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this,”( Est. 4:14)?

“Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore,” (Psa. 18:50).

“Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah,” (Psa. 18: 49- 50).

“Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob,” (Psa. 44:4).

“We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen,” (Isa. 26:18).

“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call,” (Joel 2:32).

”But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions,” (Obad. 1:17).

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,” (Lk. 4:18).

“Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection,” (Hebr. 11:35).

[1]

[2]  http://www.spirithome.com/fasting.html#repent

[3]  ibid

[4] Jessie Penn-Lewis, War on the Saints

[5] . http://www.spirithome.com/fasting.html

[6]  W.Tozer

[7] Spiritual Warfare, Michael Harper, Logos International, Plainfield, New Jersey 07060, pg 17.

[8]  ibid., Alan Richardson, Holliday.....

[9] http://www.spirithome.com/fasting.html

[10]  Richard T. Ritenbaugh

http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/18793/eVerseID/18793

[11]  ibid

[12]   *Sermons On Several Occasions* (Epworth, 1971), p.301

[13]  http://www.allaboutgod.com/christian-fasting.htm

[14]  http://www.allaboutprayer.org/prayer-and-fasting.htm

[15]  http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/20283/eVerseID/20284

[16]  Jesse Penn Lewis, War on the Saints

[17]  The Great Apostasy, David Wilkerson, Newsletter 5/7/86, P.O. Bx 260, Lindale, Texas 75771.

[18]  . The fantasy book author, C.S. Lewis

[19] The Walking Dead, Pat Holliday, Ph.D., 9252 San Jose Blvd., 2804, Jacksonville, Fl. 32257.

[20]  ibid.,

[21]  Jesse Penn-Lewis (1861-1927, The Divine Commitment to Jesse Penn-Lewis, “The Magna Carta of Spiritual Liberty Romans 6,

[22]  ibid

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Personal Fasting

Chapter Two

Fasting and Deliverance

Chapter Three

Following Jesus

Chapter Four

Overcoming

Chapter Five

Armor of God

Chapter Six

Apply the Armor of God.

Chapter Seven

Directed by the Holy Spirit

Chapter Eight

Fasting Power