Prayer, Fasting & Bible Prophecy

Prayer and Fasting

My local Christian assembly runs three or four collective prayer and fasting activities throughout the year and this bring many benefits. In this blog, I will be focusing in particular on how prayer and fasting relates to Bible prophecy.

Reasons for Fasting

Some people question the need for fasting – even suggesting that it’s a bit extreme or even fanatical. However, it is a normal part of the Christian walk. in the early Church, the leaders prayed and fasted before important decisions, e.g. when Paul and Barnabas preached the Gospel in Lystra, Iconium and Antioch they appointed elders to look after the welfare of the Church with prayer and fasting …

(Acts 14:23 [KJV])
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.

Indeed, Jesus said that, after His departure, His disciples would fast Matthew 9:15; Mark 2:20 & Luke 5:35.

In the Old Testament prayer and fasting before the Lord played a prominent role in the national worship of Israel as well as in the lives and ministry of the Prophets. 

ISAIAH 58 – God’s Chosen Fast

Isaiah 58 provides us with the definitive reference to the real purpose behind fasting before the Lord. We find that God prescribes how a fast should be undertaken – He chooses how such should be conducted and why. Through the prophet Isaiah, God highlights what the true and acceptable fast is and points out what is unacceptable.

Isa 58:6-14
Is not this the fast that I have chosen?

to loose the bands of wickedness,

to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house?

when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? 

Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.

Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; 

And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:

Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Reasons for prayer with fasting …

1. To draw aside from worldly dependencies
2. To draw closer to the Lord
3. To break down pride and engender an attitude of humility and service
4. To sharpen our witness for Christ
5. To put the needs of the Church and those outside of the Church to the Lord
6. To effect a healing or provision
7. To be released from bondage of sin
8. To seek revival within the Church and without
9. For God’s miraculous intervention in times of crisis
10. To gain victory in challenging situations – to overcome in the battle of this life
11. To align/re-align ourselves with the Kingdom of God and His will
12. To gain revelation, knowledge/insight into God’s plan and purpose.

God Answers – 70 Weeks Prophecy

As a result of Daniel turning to God with prayer and fasting, the Lord revealed His plan concerning the holy city of Jerusalem, the return of the people of Judah to rebuild the temple and city walls, and His longer-term plan to send the Messiah to esatblish the New Covenant.

Daniel 9:20-24
And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God;  Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.

And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.

Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

The 70 weeks prophecy is a prime example of the role of prayer and fasting can have in opening up the vision and revelation of God concerning the future of God’s people. 

As Christians (Spirit-filled people) we should note that our commitment to praying and fasting unto the Lord will bring God’s answer to us. He will open up the vision and revelation necessary to build our trust and confidence that God has all things in hand. Our future is assured – God will restore all things through Jesus Christ. In the meantime we havea mission to accomplish – we should be asking God to use us as His chosen vessels, preaching the Word of God and being faithful witnesses for Him.