Power in Prayer With Fasting - For the Battle.

“Prayer is POWER, 
it brings about the Mighty action of the Almighty.”  
(Quote from Bro. Mac., or Bro. Bruce McIntyre)

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I am writing this post with a great burden - for all across Aust. but especially here in NSW we are in great drought. 
The Bible makes it clear - rain is withheld as judgement upon a nation. I shared in last post that a large group of believers in Oz are praying and fasting throughout Oct.  2019 Repentance, Revival and Rain.. 
I am praying for other nations too, not just my own, as needs are everywhere but this is my main focus.
Here are photos of the why!!?
 Very dear brethren, Darryn & Michelle Phinn, live out at Carol, near Gunnedah, on NW Slopes of NSW. This is prime farming land, now simply a dust bowl. Asking Michelle's permission to share these, she replied "Yes please, share where they are taken, and mention us, as we need ALL the prayer we can get!" 

 

 

Please pray for them. 
They love the Lord, and day after day are seeing, breathing, living in a dust-bowl, their remaining stock agisted elsewhere. 
God teaches that the windows of heaven are not simply opened with prayer, there is a pattern of prayer which I gave in my last post here. It involves deep prayer for Repentance.. confessing, forsaking our personal and national sin, pleading for forgiveness, Revival and Rain.

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We all want Power in Prayer, but maybe not with fasting... 
Prayer is a battle, a spiritual battle. 
It takes faith, perseverance, we need to have on the full armour of God.

We may all have the same belief in basic tenets of salvation by faith alone in God's Son, Jesus Christ, in His finished work upon the cross for us. However may have varying persuasions in other aspects of our walk. I know in my Christian life of 50+ years, when there are times of really, deep spiritual battles - then prayer with fasting has real power.

Is this scriptural?

I believe so, found in Old and New Testament. 

I will share just a few of key references in NT. 
Old testament fasting by Jews involved signs that they were fasting, as Jews seek after signs. They wore ashes and sackcloth in the period of their visible fast.

In N.T. it’s different. Prayer is not to be an open show, we are to pray to our Father in secret, it’s not done for attention of man, but of God.
 
Matthew 6:16-18
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

One of the most powerful examples re prayer WITH fasting comes from the mouth of the LORD Jesus. The disciples came to the LORD Jesus because they could not cast out a “foul spirit”.

Mark 9:28-29 

And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? 
And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting. (Matt. 17:21):

It's a practice for believers today as this passage shows.
Matthew 9:14-15

Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber 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.
 Once the LORD Jesus, our heavenly Bridegroom rose to heaven, there was need for prayer and fasting, in the spiritual battle.
They used it in early church.
Acts 14:23
And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

1 Corinthians 7:5a
Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer;..

2 Corinthians 11:27

(Paul was) In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

* The “how it is done” varies. Some do one or two meals, some do “juice only in day” diet, it’s as personal as how you pray.

* The “when” depends on your day, too, it’s simply between you and Lord.

I pray over verses, repentance is best done over the Word of God, or really simply pouring out the fullness of the burden of your heart, for yourself, your nation and its people. In intercession  I use other verses, hymns,  lists of areas, maps, or churches or family lists. Revival, renewing can work wonderfully by prayer. 
As believers prayer is our responsibility.

If you find your prayer lacks power, and you've never practised prayer with fasting before, look into it for yourself in the Word. I have found over decades it is often key in our battle, most especially when praying for souls, dear ones .. is there blockage to it that you don't understand? Pray with fasting and the way will come clear, as we cast ourselves upon the LORD. Confessing our wilful disobedience against His holy word, and seeking His forgiveness and blessing upon the circumstance .. the rough path will become smooth.
God will hear.
Do it His way, AND He will bless. 
Claim the promises of the word of God in this. This verse below is one of many I am praying, as is the hymn below.

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Matt. 5:45

Showers of blessing by Daniel W. Whittle.
The hymn is based on the "showers of blessing" 
referred to in Ezekiel 34:26–27. Written in 1883.

1. There shall be showers of blessing:
   This is the promise of love;
   There shall be seasons refreshing,
   Sent from the Savior above.
   • Refrain:
     Showers of blessing,
     Showers of blessing we need:
     Mercy-drops round us are falling,
     But for the showers we plead.
2. There shall be showers of blessing,
   Precious reviving again;
   Over the hills and the valleys,
   Sound of abundance of rain.
3. There shall be showers of blessing;
   Send them upon us, O Lord;
   Grant to us now a refreshing,
   Come, and now honor Thy Word.
4. There shall be showers of blessing:
   Oh, that today they might fall,
   Now as to God we’re confessing,
   Now as on Jesus we call!
5. There shall be showers of blessing,
   If we but trust and obey;
   There shall be seasons refreshing,
   If we let God have His way.

Hope this blesses you as it did me, if you've time please let me know. 

Sending prayer hugs 🙏🏻🤗 for you.

And agreeing with you in your prayers for your burdens,

Shaz in Oz.x

EDIT: 

Purpose of Fasting: Fasting helps your focus and fervency. Foregoing food focuses you like nothing else does. We are but flesh, we need help to keep a Heavenly focus on things.

Re fasting  and personal  difficulties:

I've health issues. I cannot fast long, some meds need food. But I can miss out on in between snacks or one meal in middle or beginning of day. Quite simply "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" as Paul said. We are answerable to our sweet Lord and none else. He understands. Rest in Him, He gets it. 

PS . If you haven’t I'd love it you to join as a wonderful encourager of this blog ...  link HERE.  Thank YOU to those who have done so already. It really encourages me to keep on.
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