FASTING MATTERS: THE POWER OF A FORGOTTEN DISCIPLINE

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In an era where spiritual exercises are increasingly overlooked, Pastor Ronnie Floyd is urging Christians to rediscover the transformative power of fasting — and how to overcome both the physical and spiritual challenges that inevitably come with the practice. 

Floyd, former lead pastor of Cross Church in Northwest Arkansas and the 61st president of the Southern Baptist Convention, recently released his latest book, The Supernatural Power of Prayer and Fasting. He offers a biblical and practical guide to a practice he believes is critical for addressing both personal and communal challenges.

“Fasting makes you much more sensitive to the Holy Spirit the longer you go,” Floyd told The Christian Post. “Do I understand all that? Absolutely not. I think it’s a mystery. I think that’s where the supernatural power of God steps in and begins to speak to you in a way that most often is not done.“

Though rarely highlighted from the pulpit, Floyd noted that the Bible references fasting 57 times, with 69 mentions of the practice. “The very word means, ‘shut mouth, not eat,'” he explained.

“I believe that fasting is abstinence from food with a spiritual goal in mind. When God places something on your heart, whether it is a burden, whether it is a decision, whether it is a real problem going on right at your job or your family or finances, or whatever it may be, there may be three or four things God has on your heart, and He may choose to use fasting to call you into addressing those things.”

Fasting, the pastor stressed, is an oft-overlooked spiritual discipline that has profound relevance today. He challenged churches and pastors to embrace fasting as a response to societal and spiritual crises.

“In this day and time, I’m convinced, personally, that one of the greatest ways the Church can answer this moment in American history is to pray and to fast and to be the salt and light,” he said. 

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“We know we should pray for our country, but we also … need to fast in our country. I would urge every church, every pastor, every church leader to consider your involvement personally, but also your involvement, collectively as the Church of Jesus Christ.”

The 69-year-old has seen the power of fasting first-hand. His commitment to fasting began during his college years and deepened as he faced significant life challenges, including his wife Jeana’s battle with cancer in 1990. 

“We had two little boys, and Jeana was diagnosed with cancer, and the initial reports of that were really, really difficult for us to understand and very challenging into what may be lying ahead,” he recalled. 

“God put on my heart to pray and fast the very week she was diagnosed, for my wife and for her healing. … I would carry an index card with me, and I would write that Scripture on an index card, and that’s what I would look at every time I was very frightful, every time I was pursuing God. I would just go to my knees, and I would ask God to heal my wife. Through God’s grace, through God’s favour, He chose by His sovereign and providential will, to heal Jeana.”

A turning point in Floyd’s ministry came in 1995 when he undertook a 40-day fast for personal revival, revival in his church and revival in America. The experience, he said, profoundly changed him and his congregation.

“That day, God moved so profoundly that the church got a new pastor, and the pastor got a new church, and neither one of us changed our geographical location because God can do more in a moment than we can ever do in a lifetime,” Floyd said.

Floyd said fasting can seem intimidating or even strange to those unfamiliar with it — “people think you’re a little weird when you do it,” he said.

However, he distinguished between cultural trends like intermittent fasting and spiritual fasting.

“Our goal is not to lose weight on a spiritual fast,” he stressed. “Your goal is to pursue God in Heaven. … Someone who is walking with Christ could even use intermittent fasting … but make it a spiritual journey for yourself by looking at it in relationship to self-control.“

He also emphasized the practicalities of fasting, encouraging people to start small and seek medical advice for extended fasts. His book includes 40 devotionals and five appendices designed to guide readers through their fasting journey.

Beyond personal transformation, Floyd emphasized that fasting can unify and strengthen communities, particularly in times of crisis.

“When we face natural disasters or tragedies, we can call a fast for a day, join together in agreement, and pray over these things as we fast.”

In his book, the pastor describes fasting as both a spiritual and physical battle. He uses Ezra as a biblical example of prayer and fasting.

In Ezra 8:21–23, Ezra exemplified fasting and praying as a powerful spiritual response to dire circumstances, demonstrating humility, dependence on God and faith in His guidance and protection. 

“The enemy is doing everything he can to keep this powerful weapon hidden,” he said. “You’re going to literally be battling with evil in your life over those issues. Let’s say that somebody fasts and prays to save their marriage or fasts and prays because they have a child away from God, and they really need God’s intervention. Some things are so heavy out here that people carry. … But listen, God is with you if you’re pursuing this in a biblical way.”

With The Supernatural Power of Prayer and Fasting, Floyd said he hopes to inspire Christians to embrace fasting as a vital spiritual discipline. 

“Fasting in prayer doesn’t mean that God always is going to answer your prayer in the way that you want that answered,” he said. 

“Fasting and prayer put a peaceful resolve in your heart. Fasting and prayer transform your heart so that you trust in God’s sovereign and providential will for your life; ‘I’m good with whatever God does that I’m fasting and praying about.’ That’s where the peace is, and that’s what fasting and prayer can do.”

GOD ANSWERED PRAYER FOR OUR NATION – REPORT FROM CANBERRA DECLARATION

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Last Friday, the Canberra Declaration (Protecting our Australian Values) launched the October Month of Prayer and Fasting for Family and Nation. The same day, Gladys Berejiklian resigned as NSW Premier. This was not an outcome we had specifically prayed for or foreseen. As far as Australia’s premiers go, we would have said that Berejiklian was one of the better ones.
Nevertheless, Berejiklian chose not to use her voice for the voiceless when it needed most. Almost exactly two years before her resignation, she had waved through horrendous abortion legislation that made abortion-to-birth legal in NSW. As Silvana Nile this week wrote, “It is a sobering reminder that we serve a God of Justice. He hears the cries of our hearts and He hears the cries of the blood on our land.”

On the 2nd of October, our 25-hour prayer event concluded. On the same day, the media began reporting that the most likely successor to Berejiklian would be Dominic Perrottet. Though the corporate press sought to smear him for his Catholic faith and large family, that is not God’s assessment.

Dominic and Helen Perrottet with five of their six children

Perrottet has an excellent track record on Christian values: he voted against the abortion bill and is a strong opponent of the euthanasia law that members of his party are seeking to push. New South Wales can only benefit from having a man of faith, a loving husband, and a father of six children at the helm.
Over the following two days, the Deputy Premier John Barilaro and senior cabinet minister Andrew Constance also resigned from the NSW parliament. Both of these men had been strong proponents of both abortion and euthanasia. As leader of the NSW Nationals, Barilaro oversaw an egregious erosion of values in what was once a Christian country party. We’re not sure how to summarise these events but to say that God has been cleaning house.
Early this week, Dominic Perrottet won his party’s ballot 39-5 to be confirmed as the 46th Premier of NSW. Normally we don’t comment in such detail on state politics, but it is hard not to see the hand of God as we have fasted and prayed for breakthrough in Australia and for Australia’s families.

Surely, this is enough evidence to encourage all Prayer Groups to persevere in prayer for their nation. I am confident that Kurt and Warwick of Canberra Declaration (www.canberradeclaration.org.au) are, as are their growing number of prayer warriors.

GROWING IN GOD

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Ways to stay focused on God’s agenda for your life

1. Holy Spirit Journal: Once you decide to record all the moments the Holy Spirit cautions/blocks/directs/inspires events during your day you will discover the significance of these experiences/miracles. Take your H.S. journal with you so you can jot down the incidences whilst still fresh in your mind and you do not forget to thank God for them. He will love that you do. Too frequently, we miss those God-moments that, whether they seem large or small, are truly phenomenal. Also, take time to review them at the end of every day, the Holy Spirit may give you fresh revelation something you missed at the time.

2. Before every new challenge, every new day, pray. Pray and fast if necessary. Remind yourself of God’s faithfulness! Every prayer He has answered. Replay every victory He has given you before you make a critical decision. Make sure you have “put on the whole armour of God each day so that you can stand against the evil forces of the devil.” Ephesians 6:10  The devil and his minions will do their best to get you thinking negatively to produce the wrong outcome.

3. Keep a visual image of what you’re aiming for—the outcome the Bible promises. Do this and watch what happens.

What are some daily habits you employ to stay connected to the Holy Spirit and living eternal now?

available on Amazon as an ebook or trade paperback edition or request one from me at ron@bakb.com.au and make a donation on Home page

PRAYER AND FASTING

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Terry and Barbi Franklin are seeing the results of prayer and fasting in God’s church. God is doing something new in the USA. Also, I am not sure what it is, but God is about to bring something good out of the recent election. I sense we are in for a surprise as God exposes both deception and corruption. For Christians, it will be obvious that God did it and He will get the glory He deserves.

In the video below Terry and Barbi Franklin tell us about what they see happening in Tennessee. Revival is breaking out among churches in Rogersville Tn. Through a statewide effort, 1,000 churches are participating in a call for prayer and fasting. It has now exploded into revival services controlled by the Holy Spirit across the region.

NATIONS AT THE CROSSROADS

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THE NATIONAL AND GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER AND REPENTANCE

Jonathan Cahn delivers a sobering message to the USA (and the world) in the nation’s capital, Washington. Thankfully, because of Jesus, it can be an exciting, inspiring, eternal message, it all depends upon you. What you do with Jesus decides your eternal destiny.

The USA stands at the crossroads: God’s shaking of the USA has been escalating since He first took His hand of protection off the nation in 9/11/2001 with the terrorist strike on the foundational and economic capital, New York, and the defense capital, Washington.

The Day of Solemn Assembly was chosen by God and it is in the Jewish Calendar, unknown to the organisers. It is Rosh Hashanah and it marks the start of the Jewish High Holy Days leading up to Yom Kippur. It marks the beginning of the 10 “Days of Awe,” in which Jews focus their attention on repentance and reflection leading up to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, considered to be the holiest day of the Jewish year. This day of return, repentance is a prophetic moment. a time of reflection on one’s actions of the past year and sincere repentance for those sins.

Has America passed the point of return? Unless it does return and repent, judgement will only escalate, and eventually lead to the wrath of God being poured out when the Scroll of Revelation is opened. The Trumpet and Bowl judgements are then unleashed on an unrepentant world. This is just prior to Jesus return to earth to begin His Millennial reign from a restored Jerusalem.

TIME TO REPENT TO STAY JUDGEMENT

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“Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly; Gather the elders And all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, And cry out to the Lord….Now therefore, says the LORD, ‘Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.’  So rend your hearts and not your garments; return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm. Who knows if He will turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind Him… Then the Lord will be zealous for His land, and pity His people. The Lord will answer and say to His people, “Behold, I will send you grain and new wine and oil, and you will be satisfied by them; I will no longer make you a reproach among the nations.” Joel 1:14, 2:12-14, 18-19

More good advice from Pastor Jeff Daly of http://www.repentday.com

“Do you want to be an overcomer?  Today is the day to decide and begin to follow God’s instructions.   If we repent, we have hope that He may relent from the judgement we deserve as a nation—continuing to murder children in the womb, sanctifying same sex marriage, taking the Word away from our children, replacing it with lies about their gender.  (That is  just the beginning of a long list you and I could add to). It’s time to repent, personally and corporately— as a local church, a community, a state, a nation.  Our forefathers knew how to do this.  Where is the call for this spiritual solution for a pandemic that has spiritual roots?  Even as we wait for national leaders in the church and government to call for repentance, join me in using this time to continue to repent, to pursue His purity. 
He calls us to be ZEALOUS to repent. (Revelation 3:19).

As you dine with Him, His Holy Spirit will support you to examine old sin patterns.  Just ask Him where to begin. At any point you can exercise your free will to discard that pattern, that false filter, that stronghold, change your thinking, replace it with  His Word. As you submit to His love and authority He will lead you as the Good Shepherd beside still waters, restoring your soul, leading you in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. He calls you and me to be holy just as He is holy.”

As we begin to repent,  JOY will surface. This JOY will be a great witness to bring others into the Kingdom, those currently afraid and lost given the pandemic. . The joyful light in our eyes and in our voice will be a beacon: 
Proverbs 17: 22: ” A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.”
Proverbs 12: 25 ” Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.”  Proverbs 15: 13: ” A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.”

THE TIDE IS TURNING AS WE PRAY

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Christians must continue to join together in corporate agreement. In the midst of extremist views and divisive rhetoric, the tide is turning as the Ekklesia of God rise with a united voice on behalf of Australia.

South Australian Christians asked the nation to stand with them and pray, and it resulted in increased effectiveness of prayer as tens of thousands joined their voices to help in the fight to stop the SA abortion bill to full term. To those who interceded for the Walk for Life and the 39 Days of Mercy, Heaven has heard and freedom for the unborn is the answer – a turning of the tide away from the shedding of innocent blood.

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Adelaide- You truly were a ‘voice for the voiceless’ today! Over 3000 gathered in Adelaide this morning to stand and walk for life.

Many Prayer Groups have been calling for prayer and fasting particularly at this time for the unborn, in dire danger of the radical abortion bills that have swept Australia. Groups such as Canberra Declaration have done a fine job of initiating and coordinating prayer at this time.

The following scripture is appropriate:

“We feel a personal responsibility to continually be thanking God for you, our spiritual family, every time we pray. And we have every reason to do so because your faith is growing marvellously beyond measure. The unselfish love each of you share for one another is increasing and overflowing!”
~ 2 Thessalonians 1:3 (TPT)

MY HOUSE WILL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER

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At Jesus resurrection, the Scriptures clearly reveal that God, our Heavenly Father, enthroned Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all government and authority, all power and dominion, and any title or sovereignty that can be named.

“that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesian 1:17-21

The amazing thing is we share this position on the throne with Jesus, “even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” Ephesians 2:4-6

Sadly, most have not received this revelation which the Holy Spirit, through the scriptures, makes available to us, so instead of reigning as kings, we find ourselves still toiling as slaves.

Similarly, God declared to Israel in Exodus 19:6, the purpose for which he redeemed them from Egypt; “And you shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.” “A kingdom of priests” speaks of a dominion restored – kingship in place of slavery. God offered Israel a double privilege: to minister as priests and to reign as kings. For the most part , the nation failed to live up to God’s gracious promises. A few of the OT  saints were the exception such as Daniel.

To those redeemed by faith in Christ, God renews the calling He gave to Israel. In 1 Peter 2:5 Christians are called “an holy priesthood” and our ministry is “to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” In 1 Peter 2:9 Christians are further called “a royal (or kingly) priesthood. In the book of Revelation the same phrase is applied twice to those redeemed by faith in Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:5-6 and Rev. 5:9-10).

Such is the double ministry that Jesus now exercises at the Father’s right hand. As King, He rules. As Priest, He intercedes: “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25

The “spiritual sacrifices” offered up by us are the various forms of prayer – particularly worship and intercession. As priest we share Jesus ministry of prayer and intercession. If we would rule as kings, we must serve as priests. The practice of our priestly ministry is the key to our exercise of our kingly authority. It is through prayer and intercession that we administer the authority that is ours in the name of Jesus.

In Psalm 110: 1-4 David paints a picture of Christ reigning as king and priest together with His believing people. Verse 2 describes the way in which Christ’s kingly authority is exercised: ” The Lord shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion; Rule in the midst of Your enemies”.

This is the situation in the world today. The enemies of Christ have not been finally subdued, they are still actively at work opposing His rule and His Kingdom. However Christ has been exalted and given authority over them all. Thus He rules now “in the midst of His enemies.”

In the world the forces of evil are rampant on every hand rejecting the authority of Christ and opposing the work of His kingdom. But “in the midst” Christians (the church) need to assemble in divine order as kings and priests. Out of our assembly the rod of Christ’s authority, exercised in His name “is sent forth” through our prayers. 

Want to be challenged on role of prayer in the lives of Christians then listen to Jim Cymbala on My House Shall Be Called A House Of Prayer.

POWER OF PRAYER & FASTING

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Every pastor needs to see this video. Four cities where Satan had control of its citizens, sin and lawlessness abounded. In every case, it took one or two, usually pastors coming into the city who realised that they could do nothing to change the situation and that unless God turned up nothing would change. Desperate prayer and fasting followed. God made His presence known and with faith and persistence transformation took place. In many cases at great cost, even martyrdom, but God was responsible for the transformation and He certainly gets the glory. You will be blessed and hopefully challenged by this God inspired video.

GOD APPOINTS OUR LEADERS PART 2

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More on God’s intervention in the leadership of Australia as an answer to much prayer going on in this nation. A time for rejoicing, YES! but also a time for us share the good news and expand our efforts with renewed prayer and fasting. Listen to what Warwick Marsh of the National Day of Prayer and Repentance had to say.

Brief summary: “We believe we have had some amazing answers to prayer over the last two weeks. Firstly the Senate rejected Euthanasia on 15 September and a new Christian Prime Minster & Jewish deputy Prime Minster were both unexpectedly elected to lead the Coalition Government on Friday 24 September. We also need to pray that God would intervene to block the Queensland government introducing legalised abortion in Queensland. Please tell your friends to pray, fast and repent for breakthrough in our nation on these dates.”

One article in The Weekend Australian mentions Scott Morrison’s maiden speech in the Federal Parliament in 2008. He described his family and his faith as “the most significant influences in my life”. In that speech he also boldly stated that “our task is not to claim whether God is on our side but to pray earnestly that we are on His”. Consistent with this, we read that “In December Mr Morrison stepped up his role as a leader of the conservative right in the Liberal Party. … He also promised to play a leading role in the push to enshrine further “protections” for religious freedom in law.”