All Things Are Possible

by bob Brasset

"This book is a treasure chest of truth and wisdom to give depth to those of us who are learning to step out in faith and to develop our spiritual gifts so that we can minister to a greater depth of anointing and effectiveness in a sick and needy world.

"Only believe," Smith Wigglesworth used to say repeatedly in his meetings. "I struggled with that," says the author, Bob Brasset. "It seemed that the more I believed with my own mind, my thoughts, and my strong desire, the less I saw. Then, one day, I discovered that there is a vast difference between mentally believing (or comprehending) something and believing with our hearts. This believing with our hearts, or heart-felt faith, I have called anointed believing."

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Healed of Pancreatitis

December 2004

"Hi Bob and Sue, I was really disappointed to miss the last two meetings. However the last meeting I attended I received an amazing healing..."
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Miraculous Healing!

I was near death!
My husband called it the greatest miracle he had ever seen. We had been co-pastors for several years. One day, I became ill. The sickness progressed. My doctor, a Christian man, was unable to find the source of my illness. I became weaker and weaker. The pain and debilitation increased. Then, my body systems and vital organs began to shut down. continue...

What an awesome God we serve!
Over the years we have experience the Lord's Extreme Healing at our meetings. The deaf heard, the lame walked, even the skeptics and doubters have been confronted with signs, healings and miraculous displays.

More Miracles in Oregon, Canada, and California

God healed me at the River Glory Healing Conference
Read more about this conference...

Fasting Releasing Miracles and Power

(from An Adventure in Healing Training Manual Module 2 Bob Brasset with acknomledgements)

"Atomic Power Through Prayer and Fasting" is the title of the book that is credited by many revival historians with releasing the Latter Rain Movement in 1944-45. It also contributed greatly to the great healing revival that was released in that same time frame, according to those same historians.

"And nothing shall be impossible to you , this kind goes not but by prayer and fasting."
Matthew 17:20-21

If you followed a recipe to bake a cake, but decided not to add salt or some other ingredient, you would ruin the cake. It would taste terrible.
God gives us a recipe so "nothing shall be impossible." It's prayer and fasting. You cannot improve on God's formula. There are no short cuts with God.
One pastor made the following statement:
"In 1989 I called our church to a public fast each month for three days. As we continued this regularly each month, I noticed God's power increasing. At first there didn't seem to be a noticeable difference, but after a year, our church was filled with new people. There was revival in the air. Our offerings doubled. Also, we began to see miracles of healing. People were healed of cancer, diabetes, and other diseases. Fasting really works."

However, fasting is not the answer. Jesus is the answer. Fasting is a weapon in the Christian's arsenal. I personally believe that it is one of the most powerful weapons outside of God's Word. Groups of Christians have come to us at Extreme Healing with the following question, "We are having some success at getting people healed, but are not seeing cancer healed. What is the key? My answer is that, if you come to an impasse with an incurable illness, perhaps you need to count the cost. Consider whether or not you (corporately or individually) need to go on an extended fast.
This chapter will introduce you to the biblical concept of fasting. If you are considering an extended fast, consult your doctor first.

The Fasted Lifestyle

Jesus Told Us to Fast


A) Perhaps the main reason we should fast is because Jesus told us to fast.

"And Jesus said unto them, can the children of the bride-chamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast."



Matthew 9:15

The bridegroom represents Jesus. The children of the bridegroom were the disciples and followers of Jesus while He was on earth. "When the bridegroom shall be taken" speaks of Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension to heaven. "Then shall they fast" says after Jesus' mission on earth is accomplished "then" shall "they" (His followers, all Christians, His church) fast. We are to fast to carry on the works for the Kingdom that Jesus started by His fasting and prayers.

B) Fasting was a pattern that Jesus set before us.

After Jesus was baptized in the Holy Spirit, He fasted 40 days in the wilderness. "Afterwards He was very hungry." It does not say He was thirsty, so He probably had plenty of water to drink.

He also taught on fasting in Matthew 6, 9, and 17; Mark 2 and 8; and Luke 5 and 18. Jesus set a pattern for all believers to follow by seeking God with fasting.

C) Christ taught fasting .

In His "Sermon on the Mount" (Matthew 6) Jesus taught about giving, praying and fasting. These are foundation stones of the church. A believer gets his needs met by these three principles of faith.

However, because the church has not taught fasting, many opportunities to the church have been lost. This is the time to seek God diligently with prayer and fasting. Derek Prince once stated that there are some things God has for us that are never received except by prayer with fasting.

D) Fasting brings one closer to Christ than any other process.

Fasting enables one to be clothed with the full Baptism of the Holy Spirit and with fire. When Moses was on Mount Sinai with God, he fasted for forty days. God's presence filled his life and when he came down the mountain, "Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him."
E) Fasting was the a powerful tool Jesus used when combating Satan.
When Christ came face to face with Satan, He used the spiritual weapon at His disposal. Fasting was a major one. This same weapon is also available to believers today.

Jesus knew demons and devils would try to destroy God's plan and purpose for your life. This is the reason He demanded, "then shall they fast." This is one of the most powerful weapons we can use against the kingdom of darkness.

F) Jesus declared fasting gives believers power to cast our devils.
"This kind can come forth by nothing, except by prayer and fasting."

Mark 9:29

Jesus told His disciples, some devils' powers are only broken through fasting and prayer. The church in North America is facing strong demonic powers as New Age Philosophies make inroads. If we are to see God's power released, we must add fasting to our arsenal of spiritual weapons.
A number of years ago, a lady was brought for help that was bound spiritually. She had been a beautiful woman with a prosperous husband and wonderful children. An older woman convinced this lady it was the will of God to leave her husband and family to they could travel and minister together.
A religious spirit had totally deceived this mother. She was under a spell. After four months of being gone, the husband kidnapped his wife from this older woman and brought her for prayer. Her face was drawn. Her eyes looked glazed.
Ministry was given but there seemed to be no change. The husband was told to bring her back the next day and fast for her complete deliverance. The next day, she was totally see free. Her countenance changed immediately. She became her normal self and the demons of deception were driven out of her.

Today, their marriage is still successful and the past is as though it never happened. This miracle happened after fasting.

G) The power of God was manifested in Christ after He fasted.

Immediately, after being baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit to spend forty days fasting in the wilderness. Mark 1:12 says, "the spirit drove Him." He was "led" and "driven" to fast.

"And Jesus being full of the Holy Spirit returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being forty days tempted of the devil, and in those days he ate nothing; and when the days were ended, he was hungry."
Luke 4:1-2

There is a significant difference in the terminology used by Luke to describe Jesus before and after His fast. At the beginning, in Luke 4:1 we read, "and Jesus, being full of the Holy Spirit.." At the end of His fasting it states in Luke 4:14, "And Jesus returned in power into Galilee."
When Jesus went into the wilderness He was already full of the Holy Spirit. But, when He came out of the desert, after fasting, He returned in the power of the Spirit. It appears the full potential of the Holy Spirit power was manifested in Jesus' life after his fasting was completed. Fasting was the final phase in the preparation for Jesus to enter His public ministry.

H) The same spiritual principles that apply in Christ's ministry also apply in the ministry of His believers.
"He that believes on me, the works that I do shall you do also..." John 14:12
By this Jesus opens the way for His disciples to have the same type of miracle ministry He possessed. However, in John 13:16, He also says, "the servant is not greater than his Lord, neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him."

This applies to all areas of the ministry including the preparation. If fasting was necessary for Jesus' preparation, it must also play a role in the disciples' preparation, and indeed, in ours.
I) Fasting is one way Jesus coveted spiritual gifts.

1 Corinthians 12:31 declares, "but covet earnestly the best gifts." 1 Corinthians 14:1 says, "desire spiritual gifts."
These speak of the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit listed in the 12th Chapter of First Corinthians. They include gifts of healing, faith, working of miracles, tongues, interpretation of tongues, prophecy, word of knowledge, word of wisdom, and the gift of discerning of spirits.

We are told to "desire" these and "covet" these gifts. "Thou shall not covet" is the tenth commandment in the Old Testament.
We are not to covet our neighbor's wife, house, possessions, material gains one has worked for. We are not to desire what belongs to others. It is a sin.
However, when it comes to spiritual power and gifts of God, we are to desire, covet, and earnestly ask for these gifts of the Holy Ghost.
God's power is not in limited supply. There is enough to go around to all mankind. 1 Corinthians 12:7 says, "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal." God is not exhausting His power by sharing it with you through the gifts of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus went into the wilderness to fast and pray for 40 days, Luke says, "Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost." After fasting this period Luke goes on to say in Chapter 4:14, "And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit." After the fast the gifts of God were in operation in his life. Before he fasted there were no miracles-now He begins His miracle ministry.


The way Jesus coveted spiritual gifts was to fast.

One pastor relates the following story:

When I was beginning my ministry, I desired the gifts of God and fasted three days.
During this time it was winter and I had to dig up a frozen water line into the parsonage. I was exhausted and very week. That night when I went to church God gave me a word of knowledge that someone was deaf. This was the first time in my life this had ever happened. I was so excited and spoke out as I had seen other ministers do. "Tonight there is someone here who is deaf and God is going to heal you."

I looked over my small congregation. There were only about thirty people. I knew every one of them well. There wasn't anyone who was deaf as far as I knew.
I quickly prayed, "Oh God, why couldn't you have told me a headache or back pain. Why start me out with a hard one-deafness. Besides Lord, there's no one here who is deaf!' No one responded. I was very embarrassed. So I invited anyone who wanted prayer to come forward. A lady came and asked for prayer for her husband to get a job. And as I began to pray I noticed she wore a hearing aid.

"Are you deaf? You're wearing a hearing aid."

"Yes, I lost my hearing when I was three years old. I can't hear thunder if I don't have this hearing aid," she replied.

I prayed for this lady. I mean I really prayed as never before. God healed her! She could hear a watch tick.

"Desire earnestly the best gifts."

The new testement church and fasting

Fasting Puts One into the Mainstream of What God is Doing

Cornelius, the Roman soldier, was a good man, well respected in the community of Caesarea. He gave to the poor, and prayed often. However, he was totally out of touch with what God was doing.

Not far from Caesarea was Jesus the Son of God. The greatest event ever had taken place and Cornelius was totally out of touch. He missed it. But, when he fasted, he was put in the center of what God was doing on the earth.

"Four days ago, I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing." Acts.10:30

I am convinced many wonderful Christian ministers, workers and teachers are not in the mainstream of what God is doing. Many have missed the outpouring of what God is doing. They must fast and pray. Then God will show them His direction.

When Cornelius fasted God sent him Peter to enlighten him and pray he would receive the Holy Spirit.

Fasting Allows God to Give You Fresh Revelation

".Peter went upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour; and he became very hungry, and would have eaten; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, and saw heaven open."

Acts 10:9-11

Many times God forces us to fast even when we don't want to. This was the case with the children of Israel in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 8:2-3). Peter in Joppa wanted to eat, but the food wasn't ready.

Often food clouds what God wants to say to us, so he keeps us from eating to reveal to us His revelation.

While Peter is on this partial fast, he sees a vision of a sheet with unclean animals on it. God tells him to rise and eat, and what God has cleansed not to call common. He follows God's direction to go to Cornelius' house and delivers the Gospel to the Gentiles.

God Called Paul While Fasting

When Saul of Tarsus was on his way to Damascus to imprison Christians, Christ appeared to him and he was blinded. Taken to Damascus, Paul fasted without water or food for three days.

During this time, God spoke to Ananias to go pray for Paul to be healed and to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Paul was healed and called to preach as Ananias laid his hands on him.

God Separated His Apostles as They Fasted

"Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger and Lucius of Cyrene, and Mandren, which has been brought up with Herod the Tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit 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."

Acts 13:1-3

There were five teachers and prophets in Antioch fasting and praying, including Saul and Barnabas. During this time God said, separate for me Barnabas and Saul for the work which I have called them.

Saul and Barnabas began their missionary journeys. While they were in Iconium, they were called Apostles.



"But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held the Jews, and part with the Apostles." Acts 14:4

Notice in the preceding chapter they are referred to as prophets and teachers, but after fasting and prayer, they are now called Apostles.

There are many people of God called to positions of power and authority. But they will never obtain the level God planned for them because they never sought God with fasting and prayer.

Every New Testament Church was Established Through Fasting

"And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed." Acts 14:23

Barnabas and Paul established churches all through Asia Minor and had many converts. Now they were to establish leadership in every church. In every case, they prayed with fasting as the churches were put in order.

Fasting is not just an Old Testament concept, but a New Testament weapon.


Fasting Brings a Blessing to the Whole Church

Jesus emphasized public fasting over private fasting (Matthew 6). When one fasts privately there is an anointing for whatever the individual's need is. If there is sickness, an anointing to heal is present. If God's direction is needed, it will come, and so on.

However, if one fasts with a body of believers there are many needs represented-sickness, financial blessing, family problems, etc. There is now an anointing for all these blessing to manifest to the entire church body. There are greater financial, spiritual, and physical blessings in the church than before. So if you are fasting for healing and another is fasting for finances, they receive your anointing and you receive theirs.

Jesus gave the parable of the workers who went to work in the fields. The ones who worked all day were paid the same wages as those who worked for a short time. (Matthew 20).

On a long public fast, people who will participate in any way (a half fast, partial fast, etc.) can receive as great a blessing as the one who fasts totally.

Fasting is One of the Keys to Church Growth

Years ago, in Korea at the world's largest church, someone asked Madame Che, the pastor's mother-in-law, the secret to church growth. Madame Che pastored Prayer Mountain and dedicated her life to prayer and fasting. She replied, "Fast, fast, fast, pray, pray, pray!"

One pastor commented "When we began to have organized public fasts, our church doubled in size and offerings in three years. There are many fine church growth keys, but often we major in the minors and exhaust all our energy into programs of the flesh. But prayer and fasting ministries are of the Spirit and get God's attention in a hurry."

John the Baptist Fasted

John the Baptist was a member of the group called The Essenes. They advocated fasting to purify themselves and commune with God. This was one of their primary healing methods. The Essene Gospel of Peace, transcribed by Edmond Bordeaux Szekely from the third century Aramaic manuscript, suggests that Satan, his evil spirits, and his plagues will be cast out of our being by fasting and prayer. The Essenes believed that disease came from Satan (they claimed it took three days without food to starve Satan) and from sins upon your body. To bring God into their life more completely, they would fast on water and "go to the waters (stream or lake) and find a hollow reed, insert it in our rear ends and flush the evils from our bowels."

Paul Set the Pattern for Fasting for All Church Leaders

"In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often in cold and nakedness."

1 Corinthians 11:27

Fasting was a part of Paul's spiritual discipline. Notice he prayed all night (watchings) often and practices many different types of fasts.

This is a pattern for all believers to follow. Our lives must be tough, spiritually, to do the work God has called us to in this generation.

Early Church Leaders Fasted Often

Martin Luther fasted much. Luther was often criticized because he fasted so often. Much of his translation of the Bible was made while Luther was on long fasts.

Demon possessed people were brought to him for prayer. And with great prayer power, he casts the devils out. According to church historians, many were healed through his prayers.

John Wesley taught the Methodists to fast. John Wesley would not ordain nay Methodist preachers that would not fast two days a week. On Tuesday and Thursday, the early Methodists would fast. Historians agree that the zeal and revival of the Methodists kept England from having a bloody revolution such as France experienced.

Fasting Caused Entire Cities to Come to Christ

Jonathan Edwards was the leading figure during "The Great Awakening" in the United States. His sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" put the fear of God in all of New England. Out of this revival, Bible colleges such as Rutgers, Dartmouth, Brown, and Harvard were established for the training of young men and women to evangelize the North American Indians.

Often John Edwards is pictured supporting himself by holding onto a pillar in the church as he delivered his famous message. According to historians the facts are he was so weak from fasting that he had to support himself in order to deliver his message. His body was weak, but the anointing was so strong, entire cities came to Christ.


FASTING OPENS THE DOOR TO GOD'S POWER

Fasting Gives the Exact Anointing Needed

Regardless of the need, fasting will bring the right anointing to solve the problem. If one has a financial need and fasts, God brings a financial miracle. If there is a physical problem, fasting brings the anointing that is needed to heal the sick. Fasting releases the exact power of God to meet any need you have.

Fasting Enables One to Remove Obstacles Prayer Alone Would not Remove

"If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say unto this mountain, be removed; and it shall be removed; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting."

Matthew 17:20-21

Most mountains, hindrances, and problems can be removed through prayer. The main reason believers have obstacles in their lives is because they do not pray.

However, sometimes we face big mountains, and big hindrances, and big problems. In these situations prayer alone is not enough. Fasting helps remove big difficulties.

Fasting Helps Produce Faith

"But what does it say? The word is near you, even in your mouth, and in your heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if you shalt confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

Romans 10:8-10

Faith must be released out of our mouth. Our source of faith is the Lord, but unless we speak it with our mouth, it will do us no good.

The same organ we speak with is the same organ we eat with, our tongue. Fasting and faith are first cousins. They are related. The tongue speaks faith and eats food. Some unbelief cannot be broken without fasting.

God spoke to Joshua to tell the people as they were ready to invade Jericho, "You shall not shout or make any noise with your voice, nor shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I say to you, 'shout."

Joshua 6:10

There are different types of fasts. God commanded the people to fast by not speaking. For seven days they could not speak.

Fasting increases your faith as you allow God's presence and His words to you saturate your mind.

Fasting Pleases the Spirit

There is a battle between our natural and our spiritual man. When we fast, the flesh is subject to the authority of the spirit. We are able to hear and decipher more clearly the leading of the Holy Spirit.

When the flesh is pampered and exhausted, the spirit is under subjection to the flesh. Fasting enables the spirit man to exert himself to his rightful position.

Isaac, the covenant man with God, was not sensitive enough to know God had chosen Jacob over Esau. His eyes were blinded. The reason was, "and Isaac love Esau because he ate of his venison." Genesis 26:28

Isaac's flesh deceived his spirit. He listened to his stomach. Fasting puts us in a position where our Spirit is more alert to hear God's voice.

Fasting is the Spiritual Method to Bring a Revival

"And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions."

Joel 2:28

This passage speaks of a revival that affects the young and the old. It says it will come to pass, "afterward". After what?

"Afterward" is used much like the word "then". If you will do this, then these blessings will happen in your life. Before "afterward" can take place, there are some requirements.

These requirements are:



"Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly." Joel 2:14

Fasting happens before the blessings of "afterward" can happen. Joel is saying that, "if you will fast and have the people seek Me with public fasting, then afterwards, I'll send a revival." God is sovereign but there are scriptural patterns.

There is a price for revival. It is often, if not always, fasting and prayer.

Fasting Helps One get Victory Over the Sins of the Flesh

After Jesus is received in our lives, His precious blood cleanses us from all our sins. However, often there are sins of the flesh such as uncontrolled anger, habits, lust that must be conquered. Fasting enables one to undo sins of intemperance after Jesus' blood has washed our sins away.

Fasting is a Form of Humbling One's Self and Will Prevent Many Chastisements of the Lord

1 Kings 21 tells the story of how Ahab fasted. The death sentence was announced to Ahab because he took Naboth's vineyard.

"So it was, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his body and fasted and lay in sackcloth, and went about mourning. And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite saying, 'See how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring calamity in his days; but in the days of his son, I will bring calamity on his house." 1 Kings 21:27-29

Fasting is the Way David Came Back to God

When David committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband killed, God was greatly displeased. When Bathsheba's baby was born, it was very ill. David fasted for seven days. The baby died but God saw David's humility and gave them another child, Solomon.

Fasting is the biblical way to humble oneself before God.

Fasting and Its Related Terms are Mentioned One Time for Every Three Times Prayer is Mentioned

For every two sermons you hear on prayer, you should hear one sermon on fasting.

However, God has a more acceptable plan. He has a plan to bless you, a plan to heal you, and a plan to protect you.

Proper Fasting will Help You Receive Spiritual Gifts.

When Peter came to Cornelius' house the Baptism of the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles. We know it is God's will for non-Jews to operate in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, because they did so at Cornelius' home.

However, before the gifts were poured out, Cornelius had been fasting four days. Probably the people he invited had also been instructed to fast. We know one cannot earn any gift from God. It is a gift, not something we are paid because we fast.

On the other hand, there are spiritual laws we must follow to be saved, to be healed, to receive God's gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well as any other blessing from God.

It appears fasting brings us to a place where these spirituals gifts are poured out. At least this was the precedence in the Gentile church.

Fasting Breaks Satan's Power From Withholding God's Word

Satan is defeated by the Word of God. He is constantly trying to hinder the Word so you will lose confidence in the Bible. Fasting, however, intensifies God's Word in such a way that Satan is unable to block its truth.

Daniel read Jeremiah the prophet and how the Jews would return to Jerusalem after seventy years. It had been the space of time, but the fulfillment had not taken place.

Daniel fasted for 21 days. During this fast, the archangel, Michael, came to fight against a demon power, "the prince of Persia". This demonic commander was holding back the promise from Jeremiah from being fulfilled. His power was broken when Daniel fasted.

How many times would God's promises be fulfilled in our lives if we had only persevered with fasting? Mahesh Chavda has fasted for 40 days many times in his ministry, at least once per year for the past 15 yearsl

Creation Refers to Fasting

God created the earth in six days. He rested on the seventh. Could He be speaking to us to give our bodies a rest from food and the digestion process by fasting one day a week? When you fast one day a week, you follow the pattern of the creative week God has set before us. We are not suggesting a legalistic pattern. Ask the Holy Spirit for His guidance.

Manna Speaks of a Pattern of Fasting

The manna fell six days and on the seventh, there was no food. So the people had to gather enough on the sixth day for the Sabbath. Could God have been speaking to the Hebrews to fast once a week? Possibly this was a pattern God was trying to get His people to follow voluntarily.

Fasting Becomes a Constant Prayer

To pray involves physical energy. Jesus said, "When you pray say." However, when you fast often your energy level is at a place (at times) you are too exhausted to pray. David said, "..I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into my own bosom."
Psalm 35:13

In other words, David's fast was a constant prayer as long as he fasted. Fasting, like praying, is a physical and spiritual act.

Fasting Enables You to Get Your Financial Needs Met

11 Kings 7 tells the story of the Syrians laying siege to Samaria. The city ran out of food. There were some who reverted to cannibalism. They were forced to fast.

Elisha, the Prophet, delivered the Word from the Lord. "Within 24 hours, flour and barley would be sold for pennies at the gate."

There were some that believed and some who laughed. One of the king's officers made fun of Elisha, "If the Lord made windows in heaven, is the only way this could come to pass."

Elisha replied, "You will see it with your eyes, but you will not eat of it."

There were four lepers who sat at the gate of the city and they decided to go to the Syrian camp. They found it deserted. The Lord had made the Syrians to hear chariots and they fled in fear, leaving their food and possessions behind.

When Samaria heard about it, they stampeded to the camp. As they did so, the king's officer who laughed at Elisha was trampled to death.

There have been many times I didn't have enough money to meet our needs. But in every case, when we have fasted and prayed about it, God has provided for our needs.



"I will make your bones fat."

Isaiah 58:11

God will bless you in ways you do not know about.

"Call on me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, you knowest not of." Jeremiah 33:3


There are great and mighty blessings God wants to reveal to us as we call on Him.

Fasting Puts Us in Position to Find the Perfect Will of God

"I beseech you brethren by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God."

Romans 12:1-2

We are to present our bodies unto God. One of the ways we present our bodies is through fasting. When you fast you do it unto the Lord. You are experiencing hunger and sacrificing pleasures to draw closer to God.

God promises to show us His good, acceptable, and perfect will. The good will of God is when a person accepts Christ. He turns from his sins and follows Jesus. This is good.

This decade is a time when God is revealing His great power. God has moved in a gentle way in times past. God emphasized different parts of His nature from time to time. But during this decade, He wants to demonstrate His awesome power.

As you follow Jesus, you also realize God has a perfect plan for your life. Sometimes this in only revealed as you fast. Many wrong decisions in marriage or business could have been avoided if only God's perfect will would have been implemented.

Fasting Brings About Supernatural Healing

When Hannah couldn't have a child, she refused to eat and sought God. The Lord honored her prayers and gave her a baby boy, Samuel.

All through the Bible God has honored fasting and prayer with miracles in healing.

Jesus is the miracle worker and is very much in the healing business today, as He was while here on earth.

One of the great promises in the scriptures that specifically pertains to fasting is Isaiah 58:8, "...your health shall spring forth speedily."


God promises healing to people who will fast. A member of the healing team reports:

Years ago, we were on a three day fast at Prayer Mountain. We were conducting a miracle service. A lady came and asked for prayer concerning a growth on her leg.
The tumor was a large as a grapefruit. After the service, when she returned home, she felt for the growth, but it had disappeared. She returned to show us the healing. In the place where the growth had been was an indention. It looked as if a doctor had removed it by surgery. (The doctor's name is JESUS!)

Almost every type of sickness has been healed when people fast three days - cancer, diabetes, infertility, and other sicknesses.

One of the Greatest Reasons for Fasting is that It Brings Victory

A Christian leader and evangelist makes the following statement.

For over twenty years, I have fasted between 50 and 75 days each year. To be honest, in the natural, I hate to fast. But what I dislike worse, is being defeated by Satan. He said, "When you fast and pray, you can defeat even the strongest devils. They will flee from you. You don't have to be afraid. You have the name of Jesus. The power of that name becomes greatly multiplied in your life when you seek Him in prayer and fasting."

Fasting is a Type of Mourning

Jesus said, "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." (Matthew 5:4). A part of mourning is to fast. Mourning is to take upon oneself the grief of God over sin and the hurts of humanity.

When Jesus was questioned about fasting in Matthew 9:14, He related fasting was Bible mourning.

"Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast? And Jesus said to them, 'Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from the, and then they will fast."

Isaiah 61:3 promises blessings to those "who mourn in Zion," "beauty for ashes, oil for mourning." "the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." Mourning is always followed by the oil of joy and the garment of praise.

Another way to say "blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted" could be "happy are they that fast, for their prayers shall be answered."
Fasting is a "Feast of Joy"

If one goes on a 21-day fast, the question they must ask themselves is, "At the end of 21 days, will food have done me more good than fasting?"

Zechariah the prophet was given a revelation in Zechariah 8:19:

"The fast of the fourth month, the fast of the fifth, the fast of the seventh, the fast of the tenth, shall be joy and gladness and cheerful feasts for the house of Judah."

These fasts commemorated various tragedies in the history of Israel. The fat of the fourth was a time of mourning when Jerusalem was captured in 587 BC. The seventh month fast was probably the Day of Atonement, or some believe it honored the assassination of Gedaliah, Judah's governor after Jerusalem's fall.

But Zechariah's word from God was not to be saddened, but cheerful because God was going to restore and bring a feast of joy.

Jesus said, "When you fast, anoint your head and wash your face." (Matthew 6:17). This says to look as if you were not fasting. In other words, be happy to fast.

When one begins a fast, don't be fearful. "I hate to go on this fast." You need to have great excitement-"I can't wait for this fast to begin. God is going to do such great things in my life!" Have a sense of peace and even of joyous expectation.


Fasting Delivers From Immorality

We are living in a period where many Christian leaders and lay people are falling into sexual sins. Adultery, and all kinds of immorality bring a great wound to the spirit.

The blood of Jesus forgives instantaneously, but often there is a healing process that takes time. When a leader or pastor falls into this type of lifestyle the church asks him to step down from his duties until there is a restoration.

A person becomes dull to God's voice. One cannot have the voice of God when they have committed sexual immorality. Samson shook himself and knew not the Spirit of the Lord had left him.

"Thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods. When I fed them to the full, then they committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots houses. They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbor's wife."



Jeremiah 5:7-8


Fasting helps heal wounded spirits. David committed adultery with Bathsheba and when their child was dying, David fasted seven days. God forgave David; and their next child was Solomon.

Fasting Brings a New Anointing

"And Jesus said to them, can the children of the bridegroom mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. No man puts a piece of new cloth onto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up takes from the garment, and the tear is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles, else the bottles break and the wine runs out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved."

Matthew 9:15-17
Sue and I have grapevines on our property. Once we made wine from those grapes. The remainder of the wine was left in the back of the basement and, was forgotten, and began to ferment. One day there was an explosion and wine covered the basement floor.

When Jesus tells about the old wine skins not being able to hold the new wine, he tells it in conjunction with fasting. Old wine skins could not hold the expansion of the fermenting wine. It would break and crack and spill out the wine. So the wine dresser would take oil, and rub and renew the old wine skins. As he would anoint the cracks and dried skins with oil they would become like new.

"To Anoint" means to rub on. Shepherds would anoint their sheep with oil. As they rubbed the oil on their flocks it would repel the bugs.

We are children of light; and light attracts bugs. Christians attract devils. They come at us with troubles, sickness, and problems. The new anointing keeps the devils off.

When Cornelius fasted four days God spoke to him to send for Peter at Joppa. Peter was on the housetop praying. The Bible says, "He would have eaten, but while they made ready he fell into a trance."

Peter was on a semi-forced fast. God told him to expect a new wave of revival among the Gentiles.

Along with the new anointing upon the early church, God poured out His power to non-Jews. Many could not change with the new anointing. In Acts 11, Peter was brought before the Council at Jerusalem to explain what happened.

When revival broke out in Antioch, Barnabas went there. In Acts 13, they fasted and the "Holy Ghost said, separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I called them." Soon the anointing, and what was happening in the church, moved from Jerusalem to Antioch.

Notice this new anointing came upon the people who were fasting-Peter, Cornelius, Saul, Barnabas-the fasting church in Antioch.

God is doing many new things. Fasting helps us move with God so we aren't left behind.