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Friends, greetings in Jesus Name! Today I will be sharing with you on what I title, “The Power Behind Fasting”. Just this past weekend, I took my time to listen to a world-renowned cardiologist, Dr. Pradip Jamnadas, speaking about what he titled “Fasting for Survival”. It was so surprising to hear him speak about the amazing discoveries made about fasting. Interestingly, this medical doctor was not speaking from a biblical point of view, but based on simple medical findings of what fasting from food can do to our natural well-being. According to him, there are diseases that can be cured without applying medication. Just as simple as fasting, and abstaining from certain food can rearrange our body system, and cure the deadliest illness or disease plaguing humanity. Indeed, man’s mouth has been the architect of his early grave. Satan understood this early from the Garden of Eden by tempting Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit that God commanded them not to eat. “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:16-17). Today, many of the diseases plaguing humanity has been found to be connected to what we eat on daily basis. No wonder, when Daniel entered Babylon, the first thing he learnt to master was his appetite. He knew what to eat and what not to eat.

Yes, men of great stature in the spirit are not given to appetite. Those who know where they are heading in life, do not eat anyhow. If you observed, the moment Daniel and his companions – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – decided not to eat certain food in Babylon, especially as it relates to their spiritual well-being and relationship with God, then God began to honour them in Babylon. As children of God, we should understand both physical and spiritual implications of fasting. From a spiritual stand point, fasting has been shown to do wonders. There are certain roadblocks that won’t give way for your breakthrough to manifest except you inject fasting to the situation. A certain man seeking for help, brought his epileptic son to the disciples of Jesus. Unfortunately, the disciples could not cure him. Then he came kneeling before Jesus, pleading for help. Then Jesus answered and said to his disciples, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said: Why could we not cast it out? So, Jesus said to them, because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, Move from here to there, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:17-21).

Listen friend, the enemy of man, Satan, knows so well that certain things won’t give way easily unless you consecrate yourself to wait on God in fasting. So, for this reason he has plagued many with the love of food. A lot of people can’t fast till 12 noon. In fact, it’s a real punishment for them to do so. And for those who manage to fast, they keep salivating at the slightest smell or aroma of food around them. They long for food while fasting, that they terminate the fast, half-way along the line. In Isaiah 58, the people asked the Lord: Why have we fasted, and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice? And the Lord replied them saying: “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke.” Listen, if you truly want to fast and get the needed result, you can’t afford to fast anyhow, in your own terms, outside of God’s will, and expect his commanded blessings. No way! The Lord knows when your focus is on Him while you fast. True fasting produces result, and brings God’s finger to turn clockwise whatever the enemy has turned anti-clockwise against your life.

Daniel declared, “I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over” (Daniel 10:3). No wonder the hand of God was so strong and powerful in the life of Daniel, because he lived a fasted life. Remember, Jesus was never the same after he spent 40 days in the wilderness to fast and pray. Having done so, the bible declared that, “Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all” (Luke 4:14-15). Beloved, time will not permit me to share some powerful testimonies of what fasting has done in my life. I enjoin you today, to deepen your relationship with God, as you spend quality time in prayer and fasting. Yes, you won’t die if you don’t eat that plate of rice or bowl of ogbono soup calling you. You can postpone that tantalizing food for a season, so you can build up your spiritual muscles. “For man shall not live by bread alone” (Matt. 4:4; Deut. 8:3). Indeed, fasting takes you to a whole new level in the realm of the spirit, with your eyes of understanding being enlightened, to receive divine revelations and answers to seemingly impossible situation. Yes, fasting releases God’s supernatural power. It’s an effective tool we can use when there is opposition to God’s will for our lives. Do have a fast-full week and fantastic time in God’s presence. Amen! With love, Elvis!