What Is Fasting?
Imagine the owner of a large, lively factory strolls onto the busy production floor to deliver a companywide announcement. Instead of competing with the various sounds, he dims the lights, pauses the machines, and asks that all employees cease working and remain quiet while he speaks. With their full attention engaged, don’t you think the employees would be able to clearly hear the voice of their leader?
Well, the human mind and body run like factories—complex, multifaceted, bustling and rowdy factories. From internal and external feelings to sights, sounds, distracting thoughts, smells and everything in between, the body and mind endlessly roar like engines and are bombarded by reminders that they are subject to the influences of the physical world.
To combat this constant bombardment, fasting—a sacrificial act—is the intentional refraining from food or other comforts. At the same time, we submit those desires to God and position ourselves to clearly communicate with Him and experience breakthrough. When we choose to fast, it allows God to come in. It’s a time to silence the clamour within, allowing everything to quiet so we can hear Him speak to us.
The flesh thrives on noise, activity, competition, and busyness.
The spirit thrives on silence, stillness, solitude, and scripture.
“It is important for you to understand that it is not the fasting itself that brings the deliverance. Jesus has already obtained deliverance through the complete work of Redemption. The Holy Spirit, who lives inside of you, knows how to pray in order to bring the deliverance Jesus has already provided. Fasting simply brings the spirit man, which is in union with the Holy Spirit, into ascendance over the flesh. It also limits the physical appetites so that you can more effectively hear from and respond to the Spirit. This enhances intercession. And effective, Holy Spirit-led intercession sets the captives free! Fasting is not a method of twisting God’s arm to get Him to respond when you pray. Fasting does not change God. It changes you.” (Brother Kenneth Copeland)
The devil is pushing gross darkness very hard. But we have a secret weapon.
That secret weapon is a corporate, proclaimed fast.
A proclaimed fast is when believers come together for the purpose of turning around serious situations.
Together, we set our faces towards God to receive significant breakthroughs.
We are proclaiming a 21-day fast – Monday, February 5 through Sunday, February 25.
You Might Be Asking, “Why 21 Days?”
Daniel 10:2-3 NKJV
In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. 3 I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
We call this “A Daniel Fast.”
“Pleasant bread” in our day refers to what we enjoy eating, doing, or viewing.
Pleasant Bread (HEB) = bread of desires
(AMPC) Desirable food
(ESV) Delicacies
(NLT) Rich food
(MSG) I ate only plain and simple food — no seasoning.
The key is to lay aside what the flesh craves for 21 days.
Spend that extra time feeding your spirit.
We also set those things aside in order to let God and our flesh know just how serious we are to see the desired results.
There are serious issues we are facing that will take extra time.
So we are preparing our minds and hearts for the season of fasting.
I am asking each member of our congregation and team and those watching online to pray and seek God for what He is asking each one of us to lay aside during this time.
Take this time to allow the noise to be silenced, so His voice can be heard more clearly. Allow God to pinpoint the things He’s asking you to surrender.
What are we fasting for? – Seven Primary Prayer Targets
As we move into a corporate fast, we want to be very intentional about why we are doing it. So, we are aiming this time of fasting like an arrow at seven primary targets.
- Preparation for what is coming.
- An Awakening to God in the Body of Christ.
- An Awakening to God in South Africa and the Nations.
- The 2024 Elections
- An Awakening to God in Israel.
- Ministry Breakthroughs.
- Personal Breakthroughs.
- Preparation for what is coming.
(Shared on this in Part 1)
2. An Awakening to God in the Body of Christ
It’s not just unbelievers who need an awakening. The Body of Christ needs to further awaken to God, individually and as a whole. Our hearts must be increasingly awakened to His Word and His Spirit.
Through this, our desires will be renewed and aligned with God’s plan for us.
My confession has been, “I’ve come into alignment with my heavenly assignment.”
As we stir our hunger and thirst for more of Him, He can effectively mould us into the individuals He created us to be.
Romans 12:2 JB Phillips
Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all His demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.
When we awaken to who we are in Christ, the signs that Jesus said would accompany those who believe will work through us.
Three weeks ago, I ministered on a 2-part series called “A Fresh Start.” I encouraged and reminded us of who we are in Christ.
We need to awaken to Who we are in Christ, what we have been given in Christ, and what we can do through Christ.
Say this, “I am what God’s Word says I am. I have what God’s Word says I have, and I can do what God’s Word says I can do.”
3. An Awakening to God in South Africa and the Nations.
God has a plan for South Africa and the nations.
We stand on 2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV, which says “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Fasting is a significant way to humble ourselves and make room for God to move. We are in Covenant with God. He is faithful and will do it!
4. The 2024 Elections
The 2024 elections are fast approaching. We know the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. But the Word says to catch him, rebuke him, resist him, bind him and cast him out.
Through this fast, we will be strengthened in the weapons of our warfare, standing fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, allowing no devil to steal our freedom.
Proverbs 29:2 NKJV
When the righteous are in authority the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan.
5. An Awakening to God in Israel
Israel is not just another nation; it is God’s First Covenant nation. It was the first to be called by God as a light to the nations. As such, it must have a further awakening to God, its people fully seeing themselves the way God’s Word does. This kind of awakening will equip them to stand successfully in the trying days ahead.
6. Ministry Breakthroughs
As Partners, congregants, viewers and staff, we recognize that God has more for us and has planned for us to experience more in 2024. The four areas are:
Vessel Church
Lester Holland Ministries
Our Own Church Property and Ministry Facilities
Expansion and Excellence of our Online Ministry
After Jesus ended His 40-day fast, the Anointing was so strong on Him that all men sought Him (Mark 1:37). We are expecting more anointing to draw people to Jesus and His Word, and that we will see more of all that He has available for us, to accomplish His call to go into all the world and make disciples of the nations.
Romans 10:18 AMPC
…Their voice [that of nature bearing God’s message] has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the far bounds of the world.
(NKJV) …“Their sound has gone out to all the earth,
And their words to the ends of the world.”
(MSG) …Preachers’ voices have gone ’round the world,
Their message to earth’s seven seas.
7. Personal Breakthroughs
Are you in need of a breakthrough—financially, in your health, in your family or in any other area? When we corporately gather to fast, we join as one with united faces and hearts turned toward God.
With all that is happening in our personal lives and the world, we must have an environment for extreme clarity to hear the Father’s voice so that breakthrough has a clear path. This clarity comes through submission to personal and corporate fasting.
Self-evaluation in the presence of faith is essential to maturing in our relationship with God. This is a time to hear from the Lord, that we may confidently walk in the fullness of all He has created us to be and to do.