Fasting

When it comes to I stated that what seems to be needed for miracles of healing to occur is one thing and that is FAITH. This statement is confirmed by the writings of many others whom have experienced a great number of healings. They typically see GOD move on the unsaved by healing them when asked to do so.

The writer of the book of Hebrews says this about FAITH in chapter 11, verse 1...

Now FAITH is the substance of things hoped for. The evidence of things not seen.

Here we see FAITH has two parts.  According to JESUS who compares the size of one's FAITH with the very small mustard seed in Matthew 17:17 regarding the healing of a demonized boy...

JESUS replied, “Where is your faith? Can’t you see how wayward and wrong this generation is? How much longer do I stay with you and put up with your doubts? Bring your son to ME.” Then JESUS rebuked the demon and it came out of him and the boy was instantly healed! Later the disciples came to HIM privately and asked, “Why couldn’t we cast out the demon?” HE told them, “It was because of your lack of faith. I promise you, if you have faith inside of you no bigger than the size of a small mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move away from here and go over there,’ and you will see it move! There is nothing you couldn’t do! But this kind of demon is cast out only through prayer and fasting.”

This concept of the “Mustard Seed FAITH” is found in the three Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke while all four Gospels including the Book of Acts has fifty-three passages on FAITH – one for every week of the year to ponder! Therefore, I think FAITH was very important to the early church Apostles and to JESUS. In my opinion one could easily fill a college text book just on the “Science Of Faith”. And yet the concept is simple... “Just Believe!” Even children can grasp it and often do over 'dults!

The Apostle Paul says in Romans 12:3 that GOD has given EVERYONE a measure of Faith...

But I say to every one of you, through the grace given to me, not to have an over-high opinion of oneself, but to have wise thoughts, as GOD has given to every one a measure of faith.

From my experience and research may I boldly suggest that GOD has given EVERYONE a Mustard Seed-Sized FAITH. Let me repeat that, I propose that...

GOD has given everyone FAITH the size of a mustard seed!

As you can see in the picture below. I have laid a mustard seed on a penny and it only takes up a space from Lincoln's chin to his eyes just under 1/8 of an inch!

For most of us here in the Western world have been brainwashed since our childhood to think only in terms of materialistic objective thinking as in only believing in the five senses – What we can see, hear, taste, smell, and touch. As a result of this most of us have been trained to dismiss anything outside this physical three dimensional realm. Therefore it's very hard for some to accept the concept of miracles, hence we see very few if any at all here in the West. I could spend a whole chapter on whether or not this was a crafty ploy by the enemy early on in 'modern-science'.

The fact is miracles happen more in cultures where people have less of a 'modern-science' influence. Since cultures like ours have technologies that in some cultures would be considered miracles, perhaps we can then more easily grasp a 'science of faith'? If one man's miracle is another man's technology then quite possibly the Kingdom of Heaven contains all the technology needed for miracles! Before you pick up stones to send me to a “rock concert”, please hear me out!

It is very intriguing to note that the Book of Matthew is the only place we find the term, “Kingdom Of Heaven”! It's found thirty-two times, one verse to study every day for a month! The other Gospels including Acts uses the term, “Kingdom of GOD” seventy-two times! I challenge you to study these out as a faith muscle building work-out! For I have personally seen, as so many who have gone before, that we can take our measure of FAITH and use it daily to build our FAITH into a strong unshakable tool in our hands for GOD's Kingdom! It's like an athlete training for any sport... no pain of exercise and practice than no gain on the field of victory.

In my personal “Venture With GOD” I believe we need to get to the point in our faith walk with GOD that a miracle is an everyday occurrence where we can believe GOD for the impossible just as easily as knowing that each morning the sun will come up! Yes, this is a large pill to swallow for some and takes years of un-training our western minds to accept that in reality the Kingdom of Heaven is all around us and at any moment we can reach in and attach our reality to GOD's reality which is most likely why JESUS could say such things like in Matthew 4:17...

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!

As you know that word REPENT means to change course, do an about face, think differently, humbly change your heart ways!

One year in early May our whole family started a twenty-one day Daniel Fast seeking GOD for direction and provision. We mention this here not to boast or draw attention to ourselves, but to encourage you to perhaps consider fasting as a powerful tool for the Believer. JESUS indicates in three of the four Gospels that HIS disciples will fast. We know HE did. We know from the New Testament that Paul, Peter, and other Believers fasted. We have many examples from Old Testament as to the power of fasting. Biblical fasting is refraining from food for a spiritual

purpose. Fasting seeks to deny flesh for a season and to draw closer to GOD, thereby pleasing HIM not just by fasting, but by allowing the Holy Spirit to work during the fast bringing conviction of sins, poor attitudes, behaviors that need to go, etc. In Isaiah 58:3 GOD clearly lays out guidelines and makes wonderful promises to those who will trust HIM by fasting...

The religious people said, “We have fasted before GOD! Why isn't HE impressed? We have been very hard on ourselves, and GOD doesn't even notice it.” GOD responds...

I will tell you why! It's because you are fasting to please yourselves. Even while you fast, you keep oppressing your workers. What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with ME. You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the LORD? No!

This is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind. Then when you call, the LORD will answer saying, 'Yes, I am here,' HE will quickly reply! So remove the heavy yoke of oppression. Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors! Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon. The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes. Keep the Sabbath day holy. Don't pursue your own interests on that day, but enjoy the Sabbath and speak of it with delight as the LORD's holy day. Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day, and don't follow your own desires or talk idly. Then the LORD will be your delight. I will give you great honor and satisfy you with the inheritance I promised to your ancestor Jacob. I, the LORD, have spoken!

Ouch! Uh? We've come to believe that Sonday (miss-spelled intentionally) the first day of the week can be a Sabbath for New Testament Believers. Some may be led by GOD to practice their day of Sabbath on Saturday and we met some pastors who practiced it on a Monday since they worked all weekend. What we need to realize is just how much paganism has infiltrated our culture. Just examine the names of the days of the week and you'll come away astounded!

Well our family read the passages from the Book of Daniel about how him and his buddies decided not to cave to peer pressure and didn't change their diets. This is found in Daniel 10:2-3...

When this vision came to me, I Daniel, had been in mourning for three whole weeks. All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine crossed my lips, and I used no fragrant lotions until those three weeks had passed.

One can find online many recipe's following this type of fast. Our whole family agreed to do it and soon after we started it, we saw answers to prayers, a deeper hunger for GOD's WORD and a clearer understanding of it! We saw behaviors and old habits disappear! We trusted GOD to break strongholds in the lives of our loved ones. We trusted GOD to bring salvation in the lives of our unsaved loved ones. We prayed for GOD to heal cancers in loved ones. We had expectant hearts and I think that was the key! One answer to prayer was a friend that had an real encounter with the LORD during the previous winter. We joined this person in prayer for their unwilling unsaved spouse to come to church and come to the LORD. This past Sunday, that spouse was in church for the first time! A few days after we finished the Daniel Fast I noticed that I no longer found myself biting my nails which was a habit I had since my youth! And here I am thirteen years later after the Daniel Fast and I'm still healed! I know of people who have broken addictions doing the Daniel Fast. Praise GOD, for HE says HIS Word will not return void. Check out Chapter Ten of Daniel and read about how things turned out for Daniel and his friends!

In 2023 Mary Ann and I kicked off the year fasting sugar for 40 days. Man was I grumpy for a few days! I didn't realize how addicted I was to refined sugar. When I started reading ingredient labels I couldn't believe that sugar is in almost everything we eat! We allowed ourselves natural sugar like maple syrup and fruit etc. But here we are with less than 10 days left and I feel great! I sleep less, I have more energy and my aches and pains are less! Plus, I feel more vibrant in my prayer life and believe I have a deep hunger (pun intended) for the things of GOD! My mantra became this, “The LORD is my Shepherd. HE meets all my needs!” I would say it over and over again as I began exercising more! Try it out!