The Sure Way to Freedom

What the Bible says about God as a Rewarder- pt 3

God rewards fasting with freedom. Usually I like to find a funny story, often from other preachers, about a subject. As I looked for funny stories about fasting-I could not find any. I guess people are not laughing about it. I do know I would like to change the name of fasting to slowing though. I must admit there have been many times I found myself just waiting around for the fast to be over…the time passes so slow. I'm always waiting to charge the refrigerator.

When Jesus began his earthly ministry He started it with a fast. It says that after He was baptized by John the Baptist and He was "full of the Spirit," He went into the desert and was tempted by the devil. After He returned, having completed his fast and time of temptation, the bible says He "returned in the power of the Spirit," and began His ministry. You see that fasting did not make Jesus weaker, it made Him stronger! And so it is with us.

This is significant because winning real spiritual wars involve this weapon of fasting. The prophet Daniel fasted and prayed (see www.iccenter.org for more about Daniel's 21 day fast) for the benefit of his people Israel, and during that time a war was going on about an answer for God's people. Michael the archangel and evil powers were in a battle. When the answer finally did come at the end of the 21 days the angel said that the answer had been sent on the day Daniel began to pray, but was "held up" by the war with evil powers.

Jesus once told his disciples about a father, whose child was being tormented by evil forces, and could not be helped by the ministry of the disciples. Jesus said that the evil power over the girl could only be overcome by prayer and fasting.

"When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!" Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" So He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting." (Mark 9:25-29)

There have been times in our lives where people we loved and wanted the best for were destroying their lives by unseen but real evil powers. My wife and I would set aside special days to fast and pray for them. The freedom did not come instantly but it did come. Remember Jesus said if we would fast that our heavenly Father would reward us openly. There are few rewards better than seeing someone you love freed from torment.

Could this be what someone you love needs? Could it be what you need? What about a marriage that is falling apart? What about problems in your family, church, or place of business? Does someone you love have an addiction or do you? Like that boy who was freed, like Daniel who received answers for the nation he loved, like the Son of God who “returned in the power of the Spirit, maybe you need to God's reward that comes when we fast. What He has done for others He will do for you.