During our last teaching on fasting, we basically covered the overall aspect of fasting
and its benefits.
Today, I wish to underscore that fasting is a spiritual principle and protocol for soliciting answers and divine reinforcement from the spirit realm.
Firstly, fasting is a spiritual principle whose purpose is not just to rejuvenate or restore the individual spiritually. More importantly, it is a way of summoning the spirit realm for help or answers to certain confusing earthly or spiritual issues. For example, whenever the nation of Israel faced war with their enemies, the whole country would usually join in fasting to seek God's guidance before engaging in battle, as seen in 2 Chronicles 20:3.
In another instance, when Israel faced oppression and plunder from their enemies, and they were confused about the reasons behind it, they fasted to seek God's guidance for their confusing problems, Ezra 8:23.
Many people are unaware that fasting is a spiritual principle; it isn't limited to godly matters. As a result, fasting can also invoke demonic or evil powers and knowledge. Typically, most Christians associate fasting only with Godly things. However, 1 Kings 21:7-13 states, "And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? Arise, eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite."
8 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and the nobles in his city dwelling with Naboth.
9 And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people:
10 And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die.
11 And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters she had sent unto them.
12 They proclaimed a fast and set Naboth on high among the people.
13 And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city and stoned him with stones, so that he died.
After reading this passage of scripture, we must ask ourselves, who was the nation of Israel fasting to? The entire fast was based on lies; Jezebel sent two men as witnesses against Naboth, who apparently lied to him. How is it that the Elders and nobles of the city could not discern that this fast was not of God? Finally, how is it that in every case where Israel fasted, the result of the fast would be that God would send a prophet to declare what would be a consequence of the fast? However, in this case, no prophets were involved, and no answers from God about what Naboth's outcome should be. In fact, it appears as if they went through a political procedure to officially execute Naboth that was fueled by demonic fasting.
This evil fast, of course, allowed them to be advised and controlled by Satan. However, for the most part, just like many of us today, when we hear the term fasting, we think it is automatically Godly. I have read many books by pastors who were once witch Doctors or witchcraft workers, and via their own admission. At the same time, they were a part of the occult; they would go on arduous fasting to summon the help of more extraordinary demonic powers to do their evil bidding.
I will take it a step further. As you may recall, the Prophet Isaiah was confronted by the children of Israel about a particular fast they had observed, but nothing came of it afterward. Here is what the Prophet Isaiah, as an oracle of God, said to the children of Israel:
"Why have we fasted, they say, and you do not see it? Why have we afflicted ourselves, and You take no knowledge [of it]? Behold [O Israel] on the day of your fast [when you should be grieving for your sins]. You find profit in your business, and [instead of stopping all work, as the law implies you and your workmen should do], you extort a total amount of labor from your hired servants.
The facts are that you fast only for strife and debate and to smite with the fist of wickedness. Fasting as you do today will not cause your voice to be heard on high.
Is such a fast as yours what I have chosen, a day for a man to humble himself with sorrow in his soul? [Is true fasting merely mechanical?] Is it only to bow down his head like a bulrush and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him [to indicate a condition of the heart that he does not have]? Will you call this a fast and an acceptable day to the Lord?" Isaiah 58:3-5 Amplified version.
Question! Could someone be making evil fasting against you and, as a result, blocking or hindering your future blessings?
Kevin L A Ewing
ewinglakevin@icloud.com
kevinlaewing.blogspot.com