Are You Hungry Enough to Fast?

CONSECRATION

SANCTIFICATION

HOLINESS

These are the things God is requiring of us in these last days. So many Christians are falling under demonic attack. Satan is having a field day in our minds, our finances, our health... These things should not be so. Instead of standing up against adversity, we allow ourselves to be complacent, or we create excuses for the positions we're in. When will the people of God stand up and fight in the spirit realm according to the Word of God?

Religion will no longer sustain us. Tradition will no longer hide us in the day of danger. I am so tired of seeing God's people try to deliver others when there is so much bondage in our own lives. Why do we try to save the children of others when our own are on the way to hell? We counsel married couples, but can't speak to our own spouses. Have mercy, God. Of course, ministry is necessary and required. However, those of us who don't handle our own houses first, are worse than the unbeliever!

Human nature causes us to fight only when we get tired and frustrated. A level of frustration comes when one's hunger is not satisfied. So, are you hungry for God yet? Are you hungry for victory in the spirit and in the natural? Are you tired of being defeated on a daily basis. Are you hungry enough to fast?

All week long, I have struggled with battles in my mind. I've questioned God like never before about the adversity I've been facing, the problems I'm having and all the frustration that's built up inside. I've been praying about all the attacks I am seeing against the people of God. Even more, the fact that many of us are being spiritually slain by the attacks of the enemy. I asked Him, "Lord, why are your people struggling when those in the world seem to be thriving? Why are those who are trying to live holy having such a hard time?" Well, the obvious part of the answer is that Satan always attacks where God blesses. We know this to be true. Jesus was tempted, ridiculed and tormented, so we should expect this same. Not only that, but we should rejoice when men persecute us, according to the Scriptures. Nevertheless, the Lord showed me that He is calling His people to a new level of holiness. We must SEEK Him like never before. For many of us who are maturing in God, He is not "just showing up" like He did once before. Now, we must press in and seek God's presence. He wants to take us to a new level, but we must show Him that we want more of Him. We must consecrate ourselves. When we ministry to our Father, He will minister to us in return. Turn town the plate and get in your prayer closets. This is the true battlefield. This is true spiritual warfare. This is how we move into a new level in God. Only at this new level will we experience the power and deliverance He has for us.

Mat 17:18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

Mat 17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

Mat 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Mat 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

My God. Our Father wants to bring us to a level where we can rebuke the devil and watch him flee, just as Jesus did when he healed the young lunatick in this Scripture passage. The key is that we must move from "saved" to "holy." As many have said, "Salvation is free, but the anointing will cost you something." The Father wants to use us to perform miracles. He wants to demonstrate His power upon the earth, but our vessels must be clean. We must be completely HOLY. The Lord told me to tell His people, "I want everything." God requires complete sacrifice from us. In this day, we must be completely SOLD OUT. No more excuses. No more slacking. No more messy salvation. No more "cute" ministry. THIS IS WAR. There is no time to be cute, no time to promote your own name, no time to worry about little band-aid wounds. There is a war at hand! God's people must be hungry enough to suffer for Him. We have been given the solution for more power - prayer and fasting. So, we must get in God's face and look to Him as never before.

Now, many of us say we fast regularly, but the Lord ministered to me about that as well. He wants a new level of sacrifice and most importantly, committment. If we are honest with ourselves, many of us have participated in all kinds of "man-defined" fasts and consecrations. Nevertheless, God wants us to break down our flesh and seek him on an individual basis, that our spirit man may be edified. He wants us to sacrifice for Him and ministry to Him without the recognition of men! My God! Yes, keep it to yourself. How many of us married women run and tell the whole church everytime we minister to our husbands in the bedroom? None, I hope. In the same manner, we must stop running our mouths every time we have an intimate moment with God. He wants a private relationship with each of us. He wants to glorify us, but will not do so if we glorify ourselves.

NEWS FLASH: Fasting is supposed to be uncomfortable!!! Saints of God, we need to understand that a dizzy spell, an occasional headache and stomach cramps are signs of victory. It's not a sign to break the fast or eat a cracker. That means you are fasting correctly! Your body is breaking donw, and that is the whole point! We must get away from these littly "patty cake" fasting plans that we do just to make us feel good on the outside, pleasing the flesh. That's the exact OPPOSITE of what fasting should do! Don't get me wrong. For some, partial, timed fasts are quite a sacrifice. But for most of us, they are truly a joke. No food from 8:00 AM to Noon...No bread or meat for 24 hours...No desserts after sundown... Where is the real sacrifice? Then, when we do fast completely, it does no good to skip all the meals but watch television and talk on the phone all day. DENY THE FLESH! FEED THE SPIRIT! FEAST ON THE WORD AND TALK TO GOD! This is the key! This is true sanctification and consecration.

Fasting and prayer. The Lord is nudging us into a new level. I feel God's hand in my back like never before. I desire to continue moving from glory to glory. A new level, a new level, a new level!

How bad do you want it? Are you hungry enough to fast?

Bless God!