Lesson Six: Building Process 3 - Growing in the Life of Intercession

Spiritual Warfare in Intercession: Fasting

A. We fast to intensify prayer in the midst of adverse circumstances. (The example of David - 2 Samuel 12:14-17)

Especially when we are faced with very distressing circumstances, we fast to express our earnest longing for God to act on our behalf. David fasted when his child with Bathsheba was dying.

A personal example was when we faced some problems in our church that brought us to the end of our human strength, and we had no other recourse but to cry out to God for His intervention. Five of us committed ourselves to fasting everyday from 10am to 3pm, and praying until God will break through and act on our behalf. By fasting and praying, we declared to God our helplessness, that unless He helps us, we will be defeated. It was only after 3 months that God sent His answer, and poured out blessing upon blessing to our church far beyond what we expected.

B. We fast to seek God’s mercy on a rebellious people. (The example of Nehemiah – Nehemiah 1:4-9)

While Daniel mourned for the future of God’s people, Nehemiah mourned over their present state. He wanted to be God’s instrument in their restoration. His prayer was very much like the prayer on Daniel – confessing their sins, invoking God’s promises to His people, and seeking God’s mercy and intervention.

C. We fast to strengthen our spirit against the flesh. (Matthews 26:41; Romans 8:12,13)

Paul’s words, “putting to death the deeds of the body” can have different applications, but in other religious traditions, fasting or abstinence is an act of subduing the passions and appetites in order to promote spirituality. Tradition regards it as one way of "mortifying the body" or "putting to death the flesh" or self-denial.

The act of fasting denies or subdues a very basic drive (eating) in our lives as a way of strengthening our resolve to die to our carnal self while yielding ourselves to the power of the Holy Spirit. Whether we are struggling with unbelief, or pride, or unforgiveness, or misdirected passion, fasting is a concrete expression of our decision to say "no" to the flesh and say "yes" to God. Of course, we do this in the context of prayer and meditation.