The Disciples and The Failed Exorcism.
Isaiah 58:6 and Matthew 17:21
I spoke to a friend whom I had not seen in a long time and he told me about his work with addicts. He got a lot of results helping addicts break free from long-held habits and the key to his success (exactly what I teach) is prayer and fasting. Someone said that a new habit could be formed after you do something for 21 consecutive days. I say a new habit can be formed in 21 days and owned in another 21 days. So in 42 days, something can become so much a part of you that no devil can take it away. The secret then is to find a few positive habits and make them yours completely.
In Matthew the seventeenth chapter we see the story of the disciples of Jesus who could not help a child, they prayed but they got no result, privately they asked Jesus, “why could we not cast him out” Jesus answered and said, this kind does not go but by prayer and fasting. So there are cases that will only be solved when we have prayed with fasting.
Isaiah 58 focuses on the subject of the corporate fast probably more than in any other chapter of the Bible. It teaches that one of the blessings that can come through a fast is the loosing of bands of wickedness. It talks about negative works of the enemy that are sticky in nature. If a situation seems tough and refuses to go away, fasting will make a difference. Jesus said, “This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting”.
As we fast, sin will fall off, addiction to sin will be broken, and addiction to anything negative will leave. Make up your mind today to walk away from addictive negatives. Start a new habit today to replace any negative habit. Give the new habit your time and your attention. Starve the negative habit of attention. Refuse to give it attention for 21 days, then for 40 days, a year and then forever. As you fast and pray, the Holy Spirit will empower your will. You will succeed.
Isaiah 58:6 talks about fasting “to undo heavy burdens”. Jesus in His teachings said: “Come to me all who labour and are heavy laden . . . My yoke is easy and My burden is light”. God does not want us to carry heavy burdens and luggage that makes us unable to function effectively. They shift the focus of our love and devotion away from God. Ezra had such problems but see his testimony below
Ezra 8:21-23 21 And there by the Ahava Canal, I gave orders for all of us to fast and humble ourselves before our God. We prayed that he would give us a safe journey and protect our children, our goods, and us as we travelled. 22 For I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen [a] to accompany us and protect us from enemies along the way. After all, we had told the king, “Our God’s hand of protection is on all who worship him, but his fierce anger rages against those who abandon him.” 23 So we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and he heard our prayer.
Prayer/Affirmation: If you are so worried about God’s care and protection, tell Him while we are fasting. You will see God in action. As you face life, no weapon of warfare formed against you shall prosper!
