The Secondary Reasons for Fasting - Apostle Joseph Simwela

The Secondary reasons for fasting

*Text*

Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting. So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the Lord’s help.

*2 Chronicles 20:3‭-‬4 NLT*

*The Secondary reasons for fasting*

Sometimes we may purposefully go into fasting to seek God and know His will in a particular situation. You may be prompted to seek God for *guidance and protection*

Reading 2 Chronicles 20:3-4, we see that

Jehoshaphat received news that enemies were attacking his territory and this terrified him and decided to seek the Lord in prayer and fasting.

Enemies can attack your family, your marriage, your business, your work place, - an attack on something that has an impact to a group of people. You can in this case seek direction and protection through prayer and fasting.

This is the group fasting, for instance a Church can be under attack and all Church members can declare fasting to seek protection from the Lord or to make things start working.

○ In Esther 4:16, a person's life was at risk and favour to preserve life was sought before God in prayer and fasting.

the Bible says, 

*Text*

“Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.”

*Esther 4:16 NLT*

Esther was supposed to meet the King without being summoned which was against the law and with a death penalty. 3 days dry Fasting was done and favor was granted - life was saved and request granted.

There are situations in our lives which translate to death in our life, for instance:

No exam fee or no fees, no writing exams

No interview, no job

No passing, withdrawal from the University

Family miscarriages, unstable marriages, family limitations - these are situations which require seeking God in prayer and fasting.

• You can go fasting to Intercede for others - the unsaved, nation, sick and those in any trouble - 

Reading the bible in. . . 

*Text*

When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.

*Nehemiah 1:4 NLT*

We see, Nehemiah was so concerned about the welfare of the Jews - he did not feel well when he herd of trouble, attacks and instability over the people of God and then declared prayer and fasting for the people.

Sometimes we need to forget ourselves and seek the goodness of others - interceding.

• God answers prayer yes but when it comes to interceeding for others-we move the heart of God and answers are manifested quickly.

Interceding is like taking the role of Jesus - when he was on earth, he died for everyone so we can be saved - a sacrifice. Sacrificing our comfort for others through fasting is our call as Christians. Check around the neighborhood:

- We have the Youth displaying reckless behavious

- Children not going to school

- Corruption around community, work place and the country

Its not that God doesnt see these things - He is actually waiting for you to do something so He can act - your prayer and fasting over things of concern makes a difference. Fill the gap through prayer and fasting for your community, family, region or the country.

Sometimes you need to engage prayer and fasting to change a bad prophecy, . . . - not all prophecies are meant to be fulfilled, some needs to be cancelled - they come as a warning. But in this generation, everybody wants to prove the point - I saw this, I said it. Men and women of God are seeking recognition. 

Reading *Jonah 3:4-10*, 

we see that Jonah spoke the mind of God to the people of Nineveh which was a warning or bad news and all people reponded with prayer and fasting seeking God's mercies.

The bible in Jonah 3:5 reads. . . .

*Text*

The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow.

*Jonah 3:5 NLT*

Each time we receive a bad news concerning our lives - be it the mind of God or that of Satan, we must seek God's mercies through prayer and fasting.

At times we are faced by situations whereby we do not know what to do or that we don't understand - we need clarification and direction. Fasting can be engaged To understand, focus or ask for clarification

When we read Daniel 9:3, the bible says - Daniel

*Text*

So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and fasting. I also wore rough burlap and sprinkled myself with ashes.

*Daniel 9:3 NLT*

Upon learning something from Prophet Jeremiah that Jerusalem will be a desolate at a point in future - He fasted to seek direction and then something was revealed into him.

Sometimes, all we need is to stop, pause, sit down and reflect over our life. Asking God to identify in us the things preventing us from experiencing his power - *humbling ourselves before the Lord*.

Lets read a text here, . . . .

*Text*

“Also the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble yourselves [by fasting] and present an offering by fire to the Lord.

*Leviticus 23:27 AMP*

God is Holy and if we want to meet Him, then we also need to be holy. 

Fasting helps us achieve the nature of God in our lives - we allow the fire of the Lord to consume in us that which is not needed. 

Fasting provides the refining fire we need in our Christian life. Some behaviors will not just go without the refining fire.

We can also fast as a way of humbling ourselves before the Lord upon hearing the judgement because of our sins or acts.

Some of us deserve no success, goodness, favor, or blessings from God just because of how recklessly we have lived.

It's time to go down in prayer and fasting seeking for the mercies of the Lord.

Reading 1 Kings 21:27-29, we see that 

*Text*

But when Ahab heard this message, he tore his clothing, dressed in burlap, and fasted. He even slept in burlap and went about in deep mourning. Then another message from the Lord came to Elijah: “Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has done this, I will not do what I promised during his lifetime. It will happen to his sons; I will destroy his dynasty.”

*1 Kings 21:27‭-‬29 NLT*

Despite evil actions Ahab did, his humbling before the Lord earned him favor at least during his life time.

Once in a while, learn to humble yourselves through fasting - stay alone in Spiritual retreat and reflect over your life and you seek God's mercies.

When we read 2 Chronicles 16:12

*Text*

In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa developed a serious foot disease. Yet even with the severity of his disease, he did not seek the Lord’s help but turned only to his physicians.

*2 Chronicles 16:12 NLT*

We see how King ASA died, for not turning to God even after knowing he was wrong and acted against God.

Humbleness through fasting can earn us a second chance in everything

*May the God Lord bless you as you take a step of living your life as a sacrifice to God, in Jesus mighty name*.