As I prepare for the new month and the assignment God has given to our church to pray for our city, I am powerfully drawn to the necessity of prayer and fasting. Do we understand the importance of fasting and how it enables the Spirit to rule the flesh, rather than the flesh ruling? Paul tells us in Galatians 5:17 (ESV) — For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
One of the greatest examples of the powerful results of fasting is found in Luke 4, where we are told that Jesus went into the wilderness full of the Holy Spirit, but He came out full of the power of the Holy Spirit. Between the time He entered the wilderness and then emerged, He fasted for 40 days, eating nothing. It is one thing to be full of the Holy Spirit and another to be full of the power of the Holy Spirit. The devil came to Jesus at His weakest, or so he thought. But what the devil did not realize was that while Jesus was denying His flesh, He was empowering His Spirit. The devil tempted Jesus’ flesh, ego, and purpose with his temptations. The devil offered Jesus all He came for, the Kingdoms of the earth, but without the price of the cross, something His Father required. What if Jesus had not spent the previous 40 days fasting from His flesh? Would He have fallen to the devil’s enticement?
How many assignments get lost because the flesh wins over the Spirit? How much power is lost because the flesh is ruling? Is this why we resort to gimmicks to win over crowds? Is this why we can have forms of godliness, yet no power? We have seen numerous pastors and leaders fall in the past 2-3 years, and the reasons are eerily similar: the lusts and cravings of the flesh. This fall manifests as immorality, ego, pride, and a greedy pursuit of gain. Could it be that the carnal nature, or the old man, is still alive and kicking, demanding his own way, giving in to the lusts of the flesh? We give reasons for not fasting, such as “that’s the Old Testament and we have the Holy Spirit.? Paul wrote the book of Galatians to the early Christian church. Jesus fasted, and His disciples fasted. The New Testament church fasted. The church leaders fasted before they appointed elders in the church. (Acts 13:2; 14:23) And Jesus did not say if you fast, but when you fast. (Matt 6:16)
There are numerous examples of the requirement to fast in Scripture. We are clearly engaged in spiritual warfare for our city and our nation, and Paul tells us in Ephesians 6 that we are not warring against flesh and blood, but against powers, principalities, and spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. There is no room for the flesh to rule with its carnal desires and motivations. We must be hearing from the Spirit for direction, wisdom, and favor, and following only His lead. Spiritual warfare can never be fought and won in the flesh.
As we begin our journey into the final months of 2025, we must reflect on our current position and resist the temptation to remain stagnant. What is the purpose of the church? Paul tells us that God’s mysterious plan is the revelation of His wisdom through His church, and this revelation is intended for the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly realm. (Ephesians 3:10) Who are these unseen rulers and authorities? These are those who operate in the kingdom of darkness and desire to rule the earth and all of mankind. These are the forces of evil that emanate from the kingdom of the devil. However, God’s Church has been given all authority through Jesus, who has been given authority over all the heavens and the earth. (Matthew 28:18) We must walk and live in that authority, and that is realized as we do not provide any opportunity for the flesh to rule over the Spirit. As we crucify our flesh, the power of the Spirit of God is released in our lives.
These dark forces influence the lives of people, including those in government, religion, education, media, entertainment, and business. Daniel prayed and fasted for 21 days, and Gabriel came to fight the spiritual battle taking place in the heavens. A battle was taking place in the heavens that required more than charisma. It required the power of the Holy Spirit! What if Daniel had not prayed and fasted? What if Esther had not called for a 3-day fast? Would Israel have been saved from evil Haman? What if Jehoshaphat had not called for Judah to fast? Would the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir have been defeated?
We live in an era when a one-time-a-year fast is no longer sufficient. We live in a day when we must live a life fully and totally controlled by the Holy Spirit. This requires that the flesh be crucified and the power of the Holy Spirit be operating in our lives.
Galatians 2:20 (ESV) — 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
