Fasting by Derek Prince

Author:Derek Prince
Language: eng
Format: mobi, pdf
Published: 2012-01-03T16:45:02+00:00

Chapter Four

Fasting Can Change History

We have seen how fasting changes our inner personalities according to certain principles. First, we must recognize that the power of the Christian life is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the only power that will enable anyone to lead a truly Christian life. Second, we must recognize that the flesh, our carnal nature, opposes the Holy Spirit. They are in direct opposition to one another. If the flesh prevails, the Holy Spirit cannot have His way. Third, fasting is God's appointed way to bring the carnal nature into subjection. The Holy Spirit is then free to enable us to do what God desires us to do.

Personally, I believe there is no way to measure the power released by prayer and fasting when practiced with right motives and in accordance with the principles of Scripture. The power thus released can change not only individuals or families, but cities, nations, or even entire civilizations.

I now want to share some examples from the Bible of how fasting has affected the destiny of cities, nations, and empires. Our first example is from the book of Jonah. God called Jonah, the Israelite prophet, to go to Nineveh, a Gentile city and the capital of the Assyrian Empire. Jonah refused to go and tried to run away from God, but God dealt with him very severely. What followed is recorded in the third chapter of Jonah:

1Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time:

2"Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you."

Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh Now Nineveh was a very important city —a visit required three days [to go all through it].

4On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned."

(Jonah 3:1-4 NIV)

Jonah's very simple message was a final warning of impending judgment on the city. The response of the Ninevites was remarkable:

5The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth [the outward evidence of mourning].

6When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust.

(Jonah 3:5-6 NIV)

Here is a picture of a whole city turning to God in repentance, in fasting, and in mourning. The proclamation that the king issued was even more remarkable. It goes like this:

7"By decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink."

(Jonah 3:7 NIV)

That was a very total fast, not only for the human population but for the livestock; not only did they abstain from food, but also from drinking. And then the proclamation continues:

8"But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth [again, the outward emblem of mourning]. Let everyone call urgently on God.

Let them give up their evil ways and their violence.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.