Matthew Lilley's Blog, page 2

Sign Up Again : Nazarites, Forerunners and the Spirit’s Conviction

My sense is that some have pulled back from radical commitments they made to the Lord in previous years. Some said they would be “forerunners” or “nazarites” who would live holy lives, fast & pray, and lay their lives down as living sacrifices for Jesus. Some had specific convictions around things they should do or not do, and they have slowly slipped back into a more “normal” American Christianity.

I feel like God is saying… sign up again.

A Fasted Lifestyle

You don’t have to use terms like “forerunner” or “nazarite”, but the Holy Spirit is inviting us as Christians to walk in purity, be wholehearted in our devotion to God, be extravagant in our worship and prepare the earth for the return of Jesus. If the Holy Spirit is leading us and convicting us, we must stay sensitive to that leading. And when we start to slip away from what He’s saying, we need to repent and give God a “yes” again.

Some of us felt called to live “fasted lifestyles”, and it’s more than just regular days of not eating. It was saying no to legitimate pleasures of this world in order to taste more deeply of the superior pleasures of the presence and kingdom of God. It’s not about getting God to love us, saving ourselves or earning our righteousness. But it is about obeying God and doing whatever it takes to cultivate an intimate relationship with Him. It’s not about being a “super Christian” but it’s about letting the One who designed us lead us into a unique lifestyle that’s best for us.

Avoiding Both Legalism and Compromise

‘“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial.’

I Corinthians 10:23

We don’t want people’s personal convictions to put a legalistic pressure on us. Someone may not use certain words, or engage in certain media, or participate in certain activities, or eat certain foods, and that’s ok.

At the same time, don’t let someone’s freedom cause you to abandon your convictions and compromise what the Holy Spirit is leading you to do or not do (John 16:8). From my perspective, the church in America does not lean towards legalistic avoidance of activities but towards compromise and worldliness. At one point in American culture (not long ago) a Christian might be judged for drinking alcohol. Nowadays, you’re more likely to be judged as “legalistic” or “religious” if you refrain from alcohol. America is no longer culturally Christian. It’s no longer taboo to use dirty language, be sexually immoral, watch perverted films and live blatantly sinful lifestyles.

We must welcome the conviction of the Lord in regards to the media and art that we consume, the activities in which we participate, the way we use our time and the relationships in which we engage. If God is saying don’t do it, then we don’t do it. Even if it seems weird or excessive or legalistic or overly sensitive. Who cares?! Obey the voice of the Lord.

Whatever is Pure

If we’re doing things, watching things or listening to things that fuel fear, anxiety, anger, lust and pride, we need to abandon those things. If we don’t have peace about something, it’s ok to say no. Even if it’s “not bad” it may not be good for us. It’s not just about avoiding things that are bad for our souls, it’s about leaning into that which is virtuous and makes us more like Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Philippians 4:8

And it’s not just what we don’t do, it’s what we do. How is God leading us in spiritual disciplines like worship, prayer, fasting, evangelizing, giving offerings and discipleship? We have been called and consecrated by God. Consecrated means “set apart.” But we are not just set apart from sin, but we are set apart to God.

The boundaries God puts in our lives are to propel us into deeper satisfaction, joy, meaning and fulfillment in Him. To know Him, love Him and walk in sync with His Spirit is what we were created to do. The boundary lines may create a narrow road for our lives, but they are the path of true life. Let’s sign up again. And again. And again. It’s worth it. He’s worth it.

“How far will you let me go? How abandoned will you let me be?”

Misty Edwards

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15 Years of Full-Time Prayer

Leading worship in 2007, shortly after quitting my “normal” job

Fifteen years ago this month, right before getting married, I quit my administrative job to enter into vocational ministry as a prayer missionary. We used our ministry nonprofit to set up what we called the “Levite Fund” for me and others to raise support in doing missional worship & prayer ministry. By God’s grace, I have been able to give myself to this calling for far longer than I ever suspected.

As a “prayer missionary” I have been called first and foremost to minister to the Lord as my job. Much of my “work” is a hidden labor of prayer.

“Prayer does not fit us for the greater works; prayer is the greater work.”

Oswald Chambers

Secondly, it means I’m called to serve others in helping them minister to the Lord – whether that’s leading worship, organizing prayer meetings, teaching on the value of worship/prayer, launching prayer ministries, hosting worship events or administrating worship & prayer movements/initiatives.

It’s truly a missional calling because prayer and worship are at the root of the fulfilment of the Great Commission. As Andrew Murray said:

“The man who mobilizes the Christian church to pray will make the greatest contribution to world evangelization in history.”

So this has been our lifestyle for our entire marriage. Extravagant worship & prayer. Ministry to the Lord. Hosting His presence. Following His voice. Saying “here we are, send us!”. Trusting God, friends, family and the broader Church for our financial support. Living simply. Making sacrifices. Making mistakes. Having ups and downs. But by God’s grace… Somehow we haven’t given up.

It’s a huge honor, and it’s incredibly rewarding. It’s a joy. We have seen God do amazing things. And most of all, it’s wild to have ministry to God as part of my job. I’m so grateful!

It’s also been very challenging at times, as you can probably imagine. Most of the Church does not totally understand this kind of ministry. But the enemy does. Extravagant Spirit-filled worship and prayer is a direct assault to the darkness, and it’s a constant battle. But we wrestle knowing that the war is already won by Jesus. We go forward in confidence in His calling, His goodness and His provision for our lives.

Another fifteen years? Maybe! Who knows? We won’t give up. And to be clear, “not giving up” isn’t about just doing the same ministry job. It’s about staying steady in love and obedience for God. Wherever He leads. We just keep coming back to His presence, listening to His voice and saying “yes” when He speaks.

Lead us, Jesus! We will follow You.

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There’s More: The Joy and Pain of Intercession

The truth is, sometimes I wish I didn’t carry a burden to see resting places of God’s presence among worshiping and praying communities. Sometimes I wish I wasn’t grieved when His presence takes the backseat to organizational activities, man-centered ministry and religious busyness. When you carry Psalm 132 in your heart, there is always an uneasiness and discontentment. Even if it seems like many external things are going well, if there’s no glory of God resting in your community, you just can’t get settled. It’s like an ache in your gut that says…. THERE’S MORE.

Remember, O Lord, in David’s favor, all the hardships he endured, how he swore to the Lord and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob, “I will not enter my house or get into my bed, I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, until I find a place for the Lord, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

Psalm 132:1‭-‬5

Crowds, giftings, provision, favor, relationships… Good things, but it doesn’t satisfy. Is God’s manifest presence here? Is anyone tending to Him right now? Does He have a place to rest? Is He being ministered to day & night, as He is worthy of? Are we living in palaces while He lives in a tent? Is anyone praising Him? Is a watchman on the wall right now? Is there an intercessor in the gap? It’s not enough to have powerful moments with God and go on with our lives. God deserves a people who host Him with their adoration, affection and attention.

And honestly I wish I didn’t feel it sometimes. It breaks my heart sometimes. It distracts me from being “in the moment” with people sometimes because I’m rumbling inside. I sometimes feel like I want to cry while everyone around me is happy. Don’t we know there’s more? Have we read the Bible stories? Have we read revival history? Not that I’m there, but I am hungry for it. But it can be awkward. Many people don’t understand. It can be hard to relate.

It’s especially hard when you don’t feel released to give your leadership to pursue and build it. David wanted to build but God said no (see I Samuel 17). I’ve been in one of those seasons. Carrying things in prayer. Waiting. Aching. Longing. Trying to be patient. It’s not easy.

But it’s also so precious. What an honor to carry God’s heart in this way and be in partnership with Him as an intercessor. It’s so intimate. And what’s the alternative? Numbness? It would honestly be relieving in some ways, on some days, to just be content with less, but it’s too late. I’ve tasted enough to be ruined for anything other than “The Lord Is There.” (Ezekiel 48:35)

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Is 24/7 prayer & worship a reasonable goal?

Think about it… The Moravians in Herrnhut sustained a corporate 24/7 prayer watch that lasted over 100 years in the 1700s with only 48 volunteers (two per hour) from a town of 300-400.

Almost every town in America has more than four hundred Christians in it. Most cities have a single church with over four hundred members. 24/7 prayer is not far-fetched. It’s doable in your region. America has the manpower and resources to host 24/7 prayer & worship in five thousand cities, if the Church really wanted it.

We just don’t have a vision for it. We don’t have an understanding of the power of prayer and worship. And most of all, we are lacking the knowledge of God. We need revelation. We need revival.

The Moravians launched 24/7 prayer because they encountered Jesus through an outpouring of God’s Spirit while at the communion table. They were struck (thanks in part, to Zinzendorf’s preaching and discipleship) with a revelation of the beauty of the Lamb of God.

On earth as in heaven, they saw Him as worthy. Worthy of perpetual praise and intercession. Worthy of the souls of the nations. So they prayed, they sang and they went. Because they had seen Jesus.

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The Prayer Movement is Becoming the Praying Church

God desires that His Church be a praying Church. Prayer should not just be one of the many ministries of local churches, but every church should have a culture of prayer that permeates the community. This has always been God’s desire, but there’s reason to believe that the Holy Spirit is highlighting this truth to us at this time, especially in America.

A Prophetic Word in Herrnhut

While in Herrnhut Germany, I met a lady named Maren Winter who helped establish the Jesus Haus, a house of prayer & local church that has been working in Herrnhut since the 1970s to reawaken the spirit of the Moravians — a passion for non-stop prayer, unity and missions. (If you don’t know the story of the Moravians’ 100-year prayer meeting, you can check out this podcast episode or read the book The Moravian Miracle by Jason Hubbard.) One evening during a service there, Maren recounted a story of James Goll visiting Herrnhut in the early 1990s. It was at this time that he prophesied about 120 houses of non-stop prayer around the world that would carry the “spirit of the Moravians” (you can read about this in Goll’s book The Lost Art of Intercession). Within a few years of this prophetic word, the house of prayer movement, as we know it, was born and spread like wildfire around the world.

Maren shared with us that at the Jesus Haus, they are installing an old bell tower from Herrnhut that had almost been lost through a fire. It will be installed and dedicated in July of this year. She prophesied to us that God used Herrnhut to inspire houses of prayer over the last twenty years, but that now He is not just wanting to inspire houses of prayer. In the next season God is going to “ring the bell” to awaken His Church. It wasn’t just going to be for prayer ministries anymore. I believe God is desiring that the spirit of the Moravians permeate the entire body of Christ as we are awakened to the reality of Jesus. In other words, the same values carried by the Moravians would fill the global Church — day & night prayer, humility, brotherly love, beholding the the Lamb of God and a radical zeal for missions.

A Major Shift in the Global Prayer Movement

For the last 20+ years, there has been an unprecedented prayer movement across the earth. This movement has had many expressions, but much of what has been called the “prayer movement” in the western world has been parachurch ministries with an emphasis on prayer — citywide houses of prayer, campus prayer ministries, regional prayer events, strategic prayer networks, etc. This “prayer movement” has been seen as a stream within the larger river of the body of Christ.

Things are now shifting. The prayer movement is becoming the praying Church.

God’s desire was never that prayer would be a “stream” within the Church. Jesus said His house would be a house of prayer (Matthew 21:13). Jesus is building one house — the Church. The Church is to be a house of prayer. To be clear, this doesn’t mean that every church is supposed to look like IHOPKC. It does mean that prayer (in the spirit of David’s Tabernacle) is to be a central activity of every congregation.

The clear trend within recent years is towards the establishment of full-blown local churches that carry biblical  “prayer movement” values — such as the primacy of God’s manifest presence, the priority of intimacy with God, the necessity of intercession, the power of prophetic worship and a zeal for global missions. God is raising up apostolic leaders to plant & reform local churches that embrace extravagant worship, prayer and missions. And I believe even more is coming.

A few examples of this trend:

Revive Church in Fredericksburg, VA, the base of Awaken the DawnGatecity Church in Atlanta with Billy Humphrey (formerly IHOP-Atlanta which merged with another local church).Upperroom in Dallas with Michael Miller and Corey RussellChurch of the City in NYC with Jon TysonRadiant Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan with Lee Cummings and the broader Radiant church networkThe World Prays / America Prays movement where pastors of local churches are uniting in cities to for collaborative 24/7 prayer

This is just a small sampling. There are many other local churches starting prayer meetings and prayer rooms. Many parachurch houses of prayer have morphed into local, praying churches. Many intercessory missionaries are taking staff roles at churches to serve in worship & prayer ministries within their local church context (by the way, this is one of the ways that finances and resources are coming to the prayer movement).

The Church of Jesus is a House of Prayer

It is vital that our end goal is the same as Jesus — that the Church would become a house of prayer for all the nations. God is not building a stream or movement, He’s building His Church. If our efforts are not moving towards the long-term vision of planting and reforming local, presence-centered, praying churches in every place (Malachi 1:11), then we need to reconsider our strategy.

Some of you reading this may need to plant a praying local church. 

Some pastors reading this may need to reform their churches in major ways. 

Some reading this may need to go to a plant or serve praying churches in the nations.

Some of you will be led by God to relocate in order to be a part of a praying church.

Most of you reading this probably just need to plant yourself in a local church right where you currently live and (humbly) bring the influence of a culture of prayer there.

If you’ve ever felt stirred to lead a house of prayer or see 24/7 prayer in your city, here’s a word of wisdom: start in your local church. If your church is small, talk to your pastors/elders about your desire for prayer meetings at your church. Humbly submit to their leadership, but also be bold about what God’s stirring in your heart. If your church is larger, maybe you can lead a small group focused on prayer. Maybe there’s already prayer meetings at your church. If so, I urge you to attend them faithfully.

And yes, I know it’s hard. I know that churchgoers don’t easily get excited about prayer. But that is exactly why it’s time to contend for an awakening of the Church. Jesus hasn’t abandoned His bride in America and the western world. Revival is possible. We must pray. We must humbly build relationships. We must serve the body of Chris with joy. We must not quit. And we must do it in the context of real local churches.

I am not saying that parachurch ministries are wrong. I am not saying that there won’t be citywide prayer rooms in the future. However, I am saying that God’s intention was never that prayer would be delegated to separate prayer ministries. The entire body of Christ needs to pray and worship extravagantly. I am saying that the 21st-century “prayer movement” orchestrated by the Holy Spirit is not just for the groups that use the term “house of prayer.” It is ultimately a renewal of the importance of prayer within the global Church. And it is therefore an awakening to all of us about the importance of God Himself being in the midst of His people.

I do believe this is where things are going. Let’s ring the bell of awakening and become a praying Church that is totally abandoned to Jesus!

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Leading Prayer Rooms: Four Practical Resources

There are unique practical challenges that come with organizing and leading prayer rooms. One of the biggest requests I have received since writing my David’s Tabernacle book is for a practical handbook to assist leaders who want to pursue the vision of day & night worship & prayer that I promote in my book. The goal of my book was to lay biblical foundations and inspire believers to participate in worship, prayer and missions to see God’s kingdom come to earth. It spoke more to why we need Davidic worship than how to lead it in a local church or house of prayer.

In previous articles, I’ve highlighted other vital books to read about the global prayer movement, and those too are primarily inspirational and biblical. But there are still many questions about how to practically implement these ideas in a real-world context. I may write a David’s Tabernacle handbook one day, but in the meantime I thought I could point out some resources that are already available. These manuals, handbooks and podcasts will give you loads of insights in how to host and facilitate intercessory worship and prayer.

Leading Prayer Rooms: A Quick Overview

If you don’t have time to read the whole article, here’s a quick breakdown for you:

The Harp & Bowl Handbook by Mike Bickle – my #1 recommendation for anyone leading a worship-based prayer meeting or a house of prayerThe 24-7 Prayer Manual – great for those wanting to experiment with 24-7 prayer or needing creative ideasHow to Build The House of Prayer by Brad Stroup – practical wisdom on hosting multiple prayer meetings or larger houses of prayerHouse of Prayer Leadership Podcast by Brad Stroup – perfect for leaders who are more inclined to listen rather than read1. The Harp & Bowl Handbook by Mike Bickle

Bickle describes this booklet as a “practical guide to sustaining enjoyable prayer meetings.” The Harp & Bowl Handbook, in less than 100 pages, outlines the values and format of how IHOP-KC hosts their prayer meetings to sustain the 24/7 prayer room in Kansas City. There may be no one on earth with more wisdom on how to lead people in sustainable day and night prayer than Mike Bickle, and this resource is a treasure trove.

The harp & bowl prayer model is based on Revelation 5:8 where the 24 elders around God’s throne are holding harps (representing musical worship) and bowls of incense (representing the prayers of the saints). Therefore this handbook lays out how to lead worship-based prayer meetings “in the spirit of the tabernacle of David.”

In true Bickle fashion, the handbook is loaded with Scripture references. It also outlines very practical topics like how to build unity in prayer, learning to pray with confidence, praying Biblical prayers, learning to sing antiphonally and the dynamics of team ministry.

For anyone wanting to lead a worship-based prayer meeting or a house of prayer, this handbook is vital. Even if you’re only leading one prayer meeting each week, you would still find value in this book. The Harp & Bowl Handbook would be my top choice of a practical resource for leaders who are wanting to lead others in an expression of day and night prayer and worship.

Buy the Harp & Bowl Handbook here!

2. The 24-7 Prayer Manual by Pete Greig

For those familiar with the modern-day global prayer movement, you will know that Mike Bickle launched IHOP-KC the same year that Pete Greig launched 24-7 Prayer in England. They were unaware of each other, but they have now both influenced a generation in the value of prayer.

The 24-7 Prayer Manual provides a resource to help “anyone, anywhere… learn to pray like never before.” It is a more expansive book at nearly 200 pages. This is because Greig takes time to share the 24-7 prayer story, the values of the movement and stories of successful prayer rooms around the world. This is in addition to the practical advice on hosting a prayer room in your own city. The manual is divided into five sections: Discovering 24-7 Prayer, Steps to a Successful 24-7 Prayer Room, Values of the 24-7 Movement, Perspectives on 24-7 Prayer and Steps for 24-7 Prayer on Campuses.

The 24-7 Prayer movement takes a different approach to organizing their prayer rooms than houses of prayer who are inspired by IHOP-KC. While houses of prayer are typically focused on facilitating corporate prayer, 24-7 prayer rooms are typically focused on creating a place for individual prayer. 24-7 prayer rooms are set up for people to sign up for one-hour prayer slots to cover a period of time in 24-7 prayer. Usually these rooms are set up temporarily for a week or more. They include interactive prayer “stations” where believers can interact with God in tactile and creative ways. There are opportunities to write, draw, dance and create as expressions of one’s intercession for others and devotion to God.

For those wanting to set up a prayer room without the pressure of live worship music, this manual is very helpful. This would also be a great resource for you if you’re wanting to experiment with a temporary prayer room or if you’re looking for ideas to make your existing prayer room more creative and interactive.

Buy the 24-7 Prayer Manual here!

3. How to Build The House of Prayer by Brad Stroup

Brad Stroup is the director of the Prayer Room Missions Base in Arlington, Texas, where they are currently hosting 20 hours of live worship and prayer every day. For over fifteen years, Brad has been leading their house of prayer community with steady and faithful growth. In addition, Brad is uniquely gifted to teach and train in the practical administration of a large prayer ministry. 

How to Build The House of Prayer is certainly in line with the IHOP-KC model of prayer, and it would be an excellent follow-up to the Harp & Bowl Handbook by Mike Bickle. Rather than focusing on the Harp & Bowl model and values, Stroup focused on topics like building your team, organizing your schedule, recruiting volunteers, casting vision, creating departments, financing strategies and more. Again, the wisdom is being shared from leading a house of prayer for fifteen years that is currently hosting 140 hours of prayer with worship every week.

This book would be particularly helpful for those who are dealing with the unique dynamics of hosting multiple prayer meetings every week and especially for those who have vision to build a large house of prayer.

This incredibly helpful book is only available directly from Brad. You can order it here (scroll down to the bottom of the page for details).

4. House of Prayer Leadership Podcast by Brad Stroup

In addition to writing the handbook mentioned above, Brad has also recorded audio sessions from times of training other leaders of houses of prayer. These are raw recordings from in-person training events, and they have been converted into a podcast format by our ministry (with Brad’s permission). They cover some of the same material from his How to Build The House of Prayer book, although there is some additional content in both. The two resources compliment each other very well, as you would imagine. Some of the main themes Brad teaches on include house of prayer administration, building community, recruiting mechanisms and sustaining prayer meetings.

The podcast is available on major podcast apps such as Spotify, Apple and Google. 

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Funding Your Ministry Through Prayer

In this article I want to dig into the practical work of funding your ministry through missionary support — specifically how praying for money is one of the most important things you can do to become fully funded. In previous articles I have laid the groundwork for those who are considering raising missionary support to fund their ministry efforts. I’ve explained why you might not want to raise support. And for those who do want to move forward, there’s a few important things to do now before you even begin. I laid out how missions agencies work and a few resources to help you get launched. I exposed some surprising realities from my fifteen years of support raising. I also confronted the idea that tentmaking is supposedly a more biblical option than raising support and articulated the difference between “fundraising” vs. “partnership development.”

I must emphasize that being confident in your mindset, your calling and the biblical foundations of support raising are vital to your success. Doing the right thing with the wrong mentality will not be fruitful. Once your paradigm is correct, there are a few simple steps that can be done to get your ministry fully funded. These principles have been utilized by thousands of missionaries who are raising support in the United States. (I do want to acknowledge that in other cultural or economic contexts, the approach may need to be modified. But for those in America, the path forward is well trodden.) The process goes something like this:

Pray constantlyArticulate your visionBuild a realistic budget based on the visionSet some support raising goalsEstablish accountability & coachingBrainstorm contactsDedicate some time to do itCall and make appointmentsMeet with people, share your vision & ask for partnershipFollow up & formally establish the partnershipCultivate those relationships in an ongoing way

Each of these components is very important, and hopefully I can write an article on each of these eventually. Today I want to focus on step #1: pray. 

This step may seem like a no-brainer, and you may be quick to dismiss it. But the truth is that most people do not take time to pray before they work. 

And I should correct myself here. “Pray before they work” is not correct. As Christian missionaries and ministers, prayer is one of the ways we work.

“Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work.” – Oswald Chambers

Yet one should avoid an extremist approach to raising support. On one side, you have people who only pray. They claim to be walking by faith, but many times they are simply too proud or scared to ask people to partner with them. On the other side, you have people who go out to labor without any prayer at all. The root of prayerlessness is also pride — thinking we can make it happen without the Lord’s grace. Neither of these approaches are usually sustainable or fruitful for the long haul. All of the eleven steps I listed above are vital, but prayer is first on the list for a reason.

When it comes to the ministry of partnership development, there are three ways that I have discovered that prayer can help us meet our goals.

Prayer prepares youPrayer access Holy Spirit’s wisdomPrayer goes before youPrayer Prepares You to Fund Your Ministry

Let’s be honest. Partnership development is a scary endeavor. It requires us to face our fears, share our hearts with people and risk rejection. A risk-free way of funding your ministry is not possible. Therefore, you have to be prepared to step out in faith and obedience to God’s calling on your life. 

Times of prayer (including musical worship and time in the Scriptures) allows God to fill us with His Holy Spirit, strengthen our faith and confront our fear with His perfect love. We will probably still have some hesitation after we pray, but the reassurance of God’s unfailing love for us will empower us to press through our feelings into brave obedience. We can allow the Holy Spirit to heal our hearts in His presence. He can speak to us about who He is and who we are in Christ. These revelations, healings and encounters with God in the secret place will embolden us in our journey of raising support.

And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Acts 4:31

I am not talking about praying about your finances here. I’m talking about developing an intimate relationship with God. I am encouraging you to take time to worship Him, sing to Him, meditate on Scripture, share gut-level honest prayers and listen for His voice. A foundation of prayer will be something that carries into your entire life of ministry. Recognize from the beginning, during your partnership development process, that intimacy with God is critical.

Prayer Accesses Holy Spirit’s Wisdom for Funding Your Ministry

Prayer prepares you to raise support, but you’ll also want to spend some time praying about the partnership development process itself. 

I believe there are biblical principles about finances that do not change. And I believe there are cultural practices that tend to work in raising support in a given context. The biblical principles are consistent, but the specific practices may need to be adjusted for a variety of reasons. One of those reasons is that I believe God wants to lead each missionary and ministry with specific wisdom in how to become fully funded. 

The Holy Spirit is called the “spirit of wisdom” (Ephesians 1:17), and He is eager to help us do things in a wiser way than we can figure out on our own. Ask Him to give you wisdom, and He will lead you.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

James 1:5

Just because God wants to give us each specific wisdom does not mean that we abandon the collective wisdom from the support raising processes that have worked for thousands of missionaries. The point is to simply bring it before the Lord and ask Him to guide your steps. Maybe the Holy Spirit will lead you to read a book like The God Ask by Steve Shadrach or Partnership Development For the Fully Funded Missionary by Rob Parker. Perhaps as you’re reading those books, God will highlight certain portions that are important or He will give you an alternative to part of their approach.

One of the ways God has given me wisdom in my support raising process is in knowing who I should prioritize in my partnership meetings. After brainstorming a list of contacts, I will sort them by priority. Those I want to meet first are at the top of the list. However, I’ll also pray (usually in tongues) while browsing over the list. Sometimes certain names will “pop out” to me, and I feel drawn to make meeting them a priority.

When I follow those subtle nudges from the Holy Spirit, I have found much more success with my meetings than when I try to use my own wisdom to make decisions. The person highlighted to me did not always give money, but they tended to be more eager to hear what I shared and more likely to partner with us in prayer and finances.

Prayer Goes Before You

Not only does prayer prepare us and give us wisdom, but prayer goes before us. I believe in the power of intercessory prayer to impact the world around us. I believe we can pray for things on the other side of the planet, and God releases His power. When it comes to partnership development, we need to ask God to specifically go before us and prepare people’s hearts to give. We need to ask God to help us meet our goals. We need to ask the Holy Spirit to speak to people about how much to give — even before we meet with them!

The apostle James provides us a key:

You do not have, because you do not ask.

James 4:2

The principle of asking applies to asking people for our support, but it also applies to asking God for our funding! Before we sit down and ask others to partner with us in our God-given vision, we need to ask God to release His power to go before us. Everything we have comes from the Lord. He is our ultimate source. If you will pray consistently for God to provide for you, while also being faithful in doing the work of partnership development, you will see God release everything that you need. I’ve gone through seasons where my prayers for finances dwindled, and not surprisingly, my finances dwindled as well.

One of the most encouraging ways God has gone before me through prayer is when people decide to give before I even ask. This has only accounted for about 10% of all that support we have raised over the years, but it does happen. Sometimes it is monthly support and sometimes it is a special gift, but it is always a welcome surprise. 

Because I have been faithful in meeting people to share my vision, building an email list, sending out newsletters and posting on social media, hundreds of folks are aware of what’s happening in our ministry. I have prayed that God would speak to those people to give, and He has done so for some of them. All it takes is one person feeling stirred by the Lord to give, and you can experience a financial breakthrough.

In conclusion, the primary practical work of raising support is the work of prayer. Prayer will prepare you to be faithful and bold in your support raising and ministry efforts. Prayer will allow you to access divine wisdom from Scripture and the Holy Spirit. And prayer will go before you so that people’s hearts are more open to give.

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The Prayer Movement is for Normal Christians

Note: This part 4 of a series on prayer missionaries and Levites

When we talk about the unprecedented global prayer movement sweeping the earth, one of the stunning discoveries is that thousands are embracing the calling to be prayer missionaries. That is, believers are entering into full-time, vocational ministry with their primary focus being on ministering to God in worship-based prayer rooms and helping facilitate those prayer rooms. Mike Bickle and IHOP-KC have helped validate this calling in our day (they use the term “intercessory missionary”), but it’s not without precedent. Ever since David financed some of the Levites to be singers and musicians in the tent housing the Ark of the Covenant, there have been those set apart to worship and pray as their job.

Extravagant Worship and Prayer: The Core Value of the Prayer Movement

If we’re not careful, we will associate participation in the global prayer movement only with those who are called to be prayer missionaries. However, that is not the case. Jesus said His house — the Church — would be a house of prayer (Matthew 21:13). Extravagant worship and prayer is not a calling for specific people, it is the central activity of the end-time Church. We are all made to worship, pray and minister to God as our first ministry. This priestly function is what Graham Truscott called “Every Christian’s Ministry.” 

The definition of extravagance is relative to one’s life circumstances. For a single mom, showing up to a weekly prayer meeting is likely to be an extravagant expression of devotion in the midst of a stressful and chaotic life. A 20-year old in college without a family could likely volunteer much more time; extravagance might mean going to the prayer room every day before and after classes. But regardless of schedule, responsibilities or life circumstances, all Christians should seek to love the Lord extravagantly — with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Extravagant love for God will produce an extravagant expression of praise and prayer to God and sacrificial ministry to the Church and the lost. 

Every Christian should be gathering with others to worship and pray regularly. The global prayer movement is something in which we all participate. Our personal prayer times, praying with our families at home, small church prayer meetings, campus prayer/worship nights, houses of prayer — whatever the expression, in God’s eyes it is simply His people ministering to Him with worship and prayer. We should celebrate those in the body of Christ who have capacity to do a little bit of corporate prayer all the way up to those who can do it full-time — it’s all part of the glorious crescendo of incense rising in “every place” (Malachi 1:11).

And some are called to the full-time vocation of prayer. I do believe we need more prayer missionaries. I’m asking God for a million of them around the world. I’m writing this series of articles about full-time prayer in order to validate, empower and call forth prayer missionaries. It is a noble calling that needs the Church’s support, celebration and funding. Maybe you’re called to this yourself.

King David was Not a Levite

However, full-time ministry is not the epitome of Christian devotion. The most radical thing you can do is to obey God. It’s not more spiritual to be a prayer missionary rather than a barista. Most Christians will be working in the marketplace in rather normal jobs. Some will be stay-at-home parents. These are also noble callings that need the Church’s support. We can all be faithful to the Lord and fully committed to following Jesus in whatever arena God has called us to in our season of life.

In fact, King David was not a Levite. He was not in full time ministry. He worked for the government as the King and military leader in Israel. Yet he led the prayer movement of his generation. David can be a model for most Christians who recognize the value of the global prayer movement and prayer missionaries, but are not personally called to enter into the vocation of prayer.

How did David lead Israel’s prayer movement while working a full-time job? There were two primary things.

David established personal rhythms of prayer such as “morning, noon and night” (Psalm 55:17) despite his busy schedule. He sustained intimacy with God as the “one thing” in his life (Psalm 27:4). As I said before, every Christian can offer their own expression of extravagant worship and prayer to the Lord. I encourage you to spend time in Scriptures, prayer and worship daily. Find a time, set a place and show up. David modeled extravagant worship despite his immense responsibilities.David empowered, equipped and financed the Levites who were called to the ministry of prayer and worship. He brought the prophetic musicians and singers who were on the fringe of the nation (in Samuel’s prophetic schools on the hills of Israel) and gave them a primary place at the tent of worship at the capital. He honored the Levites, provided facilities where they could sing (I Chronicles 15:1), built instruments for them (2 Chronicles 7:6, Amos 6:5), wrote songs for them (I Chronicles 16:7), gave personal offerings to them (I Chronicles 29:1-5) and took up offerings so that others could give (1 Chronicles 29:5-9).

I believe God is raising up “Davids” in the Church today. Not just those who love the Lord, minister to Him and write songs, but those who empower, resource and finance the modern-day “Levites”. If God is raising up a million prayer missionaries, then he’s raising up hundreds of millions of Christians to work in the marketplace and fund those prayer missionaries. He’s raising up church leaders and pastors who make space for the extravagant worship and prayer. Some churches will budget for staff who are doing prayer ministry — many of them will be musicians and singers.

Prayer rooms and prayer missionaries will be normalized as the David’s rise up to make space for the Levites. As extravagant expressions of worship and prayer are recognized more regularly, the prayer movement will no longer be seen as a fringe movement. The Bride will come to realize our calling to be a house of prayer, in the spirit of David’s tabernacle, where we host God’s presence and minister to His heart. And it takes all of us working together to become what God has called us to be.

Where are the David’s? And where are the Levites? God is calling you to step into your calling and take your place so that day and night worship and prayer can fill the earth.

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Five Practical Suggestions for Fasting

I recently shared four surprising truths about fasting from the Bible, and today I want to share five practical suggestions from my personal fasting journey. These address some of the unexpected physical and spiritual challenges that come with fasting.

These tips are primarily aimed at those who plan to do relatively short (1-10 day) fasts without eating any food. For those feeling led to do an extended fast (10-40 days), you will need to take some extra precautions. Lou Engle, a big proponent of 40-day fasts, has some resources on his Jesus Fast website, and you can also check out his book The Jesus Fast for more. Another older resource on 40-day fasting is the booklet Atomic Power with God Thru Fasting and Prayer by Franklin Hall. It was written in 1950, but it inspired thousands of people to participate in extended fasting.

I also need to say clearly that I am not a medical professional, and my suggestions are based on Scripture and my personal experience. Please consult your doctor, church leaders and spouse before fasting, especially for the longer or more intense forms of fasting. You should also do your own research, talk with health experts and those experienced in fasting, and continually ask the Lord for increased discernment and wisdom concerning fasting and healthy living.

With that caveat, here are a few suggestions for those wanting to start or grow in fasting.

1. Determine the Boundaries

Setting clear boundaries will help you avoid “cheating” and give you a clear finish line for your time of fasting. Determine exactly when you will start and when you will end. Sharing your fasting plans with a spouse or confidant (or fasting together) may provide some helpful accountability to stay within the boundaries.

Decide clearly what you will or will not eat or drink. Are you going to do water only? Are you going to have other liquids such as fruit/vegetable juices or smoothies? 

Will you do a total fast with no food or liquids? (Note: a total fast should only be done for one, two or maybe three days. Again, please consult a doctor and church leader before embarking on such an intense fast.)

Some people do a “Daniel Fast”, with primarily fruits, vegetables and water, especially for extended fasts like 21 or 40 days.

There are many ways to fast, depending on your health, workload and season of life. Regardless of your approach, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you. Start small and work your way up to more intense fasts. Even skipping one meal each week to pray and fast is a great way to start. Many Christians with full-time jobs have worked up to fasting 1-2 days every week. 

2. You Will Want to Give Up

When you first begin to fast, your body will not be happy. If you are accustomed to eating as soon as you have a craving, then your body will rage against your new limitations. This is especially true if you’re consuming a lot of carbohydrates and snacking a lot. 

You may experience symptoms like headaches, fatigue or moodiness. These are normal experiences, and they are not an indication that you need to stop fasting. In fact, the discomfort from fasting is part of what brings the physical and spiritual benefits. Physically your body is essentially “detoxing”, and it is similar to the pain you feel sometimes when you’re exercising. There is a good pain that means things are changing and cleansing. It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it. One way to reduce the intensity of the headaches is to gradually wean yourself off of sugar and caffeine in the days before you start fasting. If you eat a standard American diet and eliminate sugar, caffeine and food from your diet “cold turkey”, you will have severe headaches in the first few days of a fast.

Additionally, there will be spiritual warfare when you start fasting. Expect to be tempted with invitations to go out to eat with friends on fasting days. Expect the enemy to whisper lies in your mind. Remember the way Satan attacked Jesus during his 40-day fast. Use God’s word as a weapon against spiritual attacks and politely decline the doughnuts offered from your coworker at the office.

In addition to the spiritual opposition, fasting tends to bring things to the surface that are lingering in your heart and soul. If you start to manifest things like bad attitudes, impatience, bitterness and anger, it is not an indicator that fasting isn’t working. The Holy Spirit is bringing those things to your attention so that you can repent and be set free from them. Those sinful tendencies were probably hiding just out of sight even before the fasting began. This exposure is a gift from the Lord. Fasting humbles us. This doesn’t give you an excuse to be mean to people while fasting, but you can definitely expect to have numerous opportunities to repent. 

3. Many Times the Breakthrough Comes After the Fast

I really wish I had realized this earlier. When I first began to fast, I thought I would immediately begin to experience God’s manifest glory in a greater way while not eating. I expected a noticeable increase in passion for God, revelation from Scripture, more joy, dreams and visions. Sometimes that does happen while fasting, but most of the time for me, the breakthroughs come after the fasting is over. Many times the fasting day(s) feel like I’m “pressing through” or even “going through the motions” without feeling anything good. Honestly, sometimes I even feel worse or farther from God while I’m fasting.

I have come to realize that just because I don’t feel happier emotionally or closer to God while I’m fasting doesn’t mean that God is not working. Many times, God is humbling me, breaking me, cleansing me and emptying me of all my pride and sinful flesh. This doesn’t always feel good. And sometimes it doesn’t feel like much of anything.

However, I’ve learned to pay attention in the days and weeks after I end a fast. I may have a deep encounter with the Lord in my private devotions, or God may give me a prophetic dream, or a prayer I’ve been praying might be answered. I have to pay attention and realize that these moments of breakthrough are connected to my previous times of prayer and fasting. It’s not always a perfect correlation, but we know by faith in God’s word that our fasting and prayer is impactful. We don’t always experience that impact on the days that we are not eating, but something is happening when you fast and pray. Be patient. Stay faithful in fasting even when you don’t feel anything. And pay attention after the fast for how God might show up in unexpected ways.

4. Replenish Yourself Spiritually

Not eating is different from biblical fasting. Fasting according to Scripture is a spiritual discipline that cultivates hunger for God and strengthens our faith. However, the only way this can be accomplished is by coupling fasting with other spiritual disciplines such as prayer, Bible reading and worship.

A friend once said that prayer and fasting go together like peanut butter and jelly. There’s a reason you’ll find these terms paired together in God’s word. Because fasting is not just about restraint from food but about nearness to God. We fast to draw close to Jesus. So taking time to be with Him, in His presence, talk to Him and hear His voice is vital to experience effective, biblical fasting.

Not only do we need to pray and worship while we fast, but we need to spend time in the Bible. God’s word is our “daily bread”, and this is especially obvious to us when we’re not eating any actual bread! Feast on Scripture. Drink deep of His presence. During your fast, take your meal times to pray, meditate on Scripture and sing to the Lord. Taste and see that He is good.

5. Replenish Yourself Physically

There are a few practical things you can do to help yourself physically during your fast. 

Be sure to drink lots of water and stay hydrated. Avoid drinks with sugar or caffeine. 

Get some light exercise such as taking a 30-minute walk. If you’re doing a multi-day fast, your lungs begin to detoxify as well, and breathing deeply can help support the cleansing process.

For longer fasts, plan to sleep and rest more. Try to get an extra hour of sleep or take a power nap during the day, if your schedule permits. Realize that you’re probably not going to be as productive and energetic as usual while fasting. Try to simplify your schedule during a fast.

When you’re ready to break your fast, make sure to do it slowly. Immediately eating a bacon cheeseburger after days of fasting will cause all kinds of digestive issues. The longer the fast, the slower you need to reintroduce foods into your diet. Begin with easy to digest foods and work back towards normal eating habits.

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Fasting: Four Surprising Truths from the Bible

I remember I once had a young adult believer come up to me after a worship event saying “I read my bible, I pray, I go to Church, but I’m still not on fire for God like I want. What should I do?” I asked if he did any fasting, and he said no. I suggested some regular disciplines of fasting. He reached out to me a short time later thanking me because His hunger for God and boldness in ministry had gone to another level after he began fasting consistently. Fasting is a gift from God, and in this article I explore four surprising truths about fasting from the Scriptures.

Our Gut is Our Heart

Did you know that the Bible actually has a lot to say about food?

God’s first law for humanity was related to food. Eve and Adam ate the forbidden fruit, and sin entered the world through improper eating. Worship in the Mosaic tabernacle (the old covenant) involved offering your food to God as burnt offerings. The Hebrew people would celebrate God with annual feasts that involved extended periods of either eating or fasting. Food was always involved. 

Then Jesus shows up and his first miracle involves wine. This happens only after he hadn’t eaten for forty days. Before going to the cross, he initiated the New Covenant with a meal. One of the major sacraments of the Church involves the bread and wine of communion. Jesus Himself is called the bread. God’s word is called our daily bread. Gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins. We are told to taste and see that God is good. The culmination of this age of history is going to be a wedding feast after Jesus’ return. The meal after the wedding ceremony is usually everyone’s favorite part of the wedding celebration anyway, because it involves food!

But wait. There’s more! The Hebrew idea of the “heart” (the seat of our emotions and desires) was actually not the cardiovascular organ in our chest but the digestive organs in our bellies — our bowels. This is why, in John 7:38, some translations use the word “heart” and others say “belly.” Jesus promised rivers of His Spirit would flow out of our belly/heart. Even though they had a primitive understanding of anatomy, they instinctively knew that we feel things in our “guts.” In Hebrew thought, it’s actually more than 18 inches from our heads to our hearts.

Maybe one reason God was concerned with what His people would eat (or not eat) is because it so profoundly impacted their “hearts”. When Jesus says we should love God with all of our “hearts,” He is implying that we should hunger for and be satisfied in God in the place of our deepest longings and cravings. Food is a big deal.

Scientists have now discovered that your stomach and digestive organs essentially act as a “second brain” and communicate with the brain in your head. We have 100 million neurons in our gut. Our emotional and mental health is deeply related to our gut health. 

‘For instance when we experience “butterflies in the stomach”, this really is the brain in the stomach talking to the brain in your head. As we get nervous or fearful, blood gets diverted from our gut to our muscles and this is the stomach’s way of protesting.’

Source

Maybe this is why God puts such an emphasis on food in Scriptures. Perhaps this is why some of the most important spiritual disciplines include eating and not eating. Fasting will probably always be somewhat mysterious, but, if our “heart” is actually our belly, then this might help us understand how fasting can profoundly affect our hearts. 

To clarify, when I refer to fasting, I’m thinking of the biblical idea of taking a break from food for spiritual purposes. There are modified diets (such as the Daniel fast), taking breaks from social media, etc. I’m fine if we call these breaks or modifications “fasts”, but the pure sense of fasting involves not eating any food for a period of time. When we hear fasting we should think about not eating.

As we take a deeper look at the Bible passages that specifically address fasting, we will discover four surprising truths:

Fasting Regularly is Normal ChristianityFasting Accesses what Jesus Died to GiveFasting Expresses and Cultivates Hunger for JesusFasting Increases our Faith for Ministry and Miracles1) Fasting Regularly is Normal Christianity

The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) is Jesus’ foundational teaching on the kingdom of God. This was essentially his Christianity 101 class. In this broader teaching, Jesus considered fasting a normal part of what it meant to be a follower of God. He included fasting along with other accepted Christian disciplines such as prayer and giving to the needy (Matthew 6:1-18).

In this passage Jesus was correcting the hypocrisy and legalism of the Jewish people in that day and age. He begins by correcting their approach to giving with “when you give to the needy…” (Matthew 6:2). He then offers a correction to hypocritical prayer by saying “when you pray…” (Matthew 6:5). Note that He says “when” and not “if.” Jesus’ assumption here is that followers of God are going to be giving and praying. He does not even need to encourage them to do it. He is simply correcting their approach. After teaching on giving and prayer, he gives his third correction in the series:

“Moreover, when you fast…”

Matthew 6:16

When you fast. Giving. Prayer. Fasting. Christianity 101. History indicates that the early Church continued the practice of devout Jews to fast two days per week (see Luke 18:12). The Church at Antioch “ministered to the Lord and fasted” (Acts 13:2). Contrast that with western evangelicalism.

Many western Christians have never heard a sermon on fasting. Many have never tried fasting as a way to worship and pursue God. And even fewer practice it as a regular spiritual discipline like the early church. Yet Jesus seems to indicate that it should be just as normal as prayer or giving. No one believes that Christians should only give or pray sporadically. Most Christians rightly believe that we should pray daily and give regularly from our paychecks. Jesus teaches us that fasting should be a regular Christian activity too.

The minority of Christians who do fast tend to do so when their church has a special season of fasting & prayer or in a time of crisis. Seasons of corporate fasting and prayer are fantastic; and fasting is actually a biblical response to crisis (Joel 2:12). However, as AW Tozer said, “The fall of man has created a perpetual crisis.” We are not only to fast in times of intensified crisis, but to embrace fasting as a lifestyle, until Christ returns.

2) Fasting Accesses What Jesus Died to Give

The greatest reward the Father gives those who fast is Himself. God is the reward. He is the One who ultimately satisfies our souls. When Jesus discourages hypocritical prayer and fasting in Matthew 6, he is drawing a line between those who find their reward in people’s approval or those who find their reward from the Father’s approval. 

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Matthew 6:16-18

We are to fast “in secret” (Matthew 6:18) before God himself. Fasting must be an expression of our hunger for God, our desire to love God and our willingness to obey Him. Fasting should be Godward. The prophetess Anna “worshiped [or served] God with fasting” (Luke 2:37). Fasting is an expression of our worship and ministry to the Lord, right along with praise and prayer.

Fasting “in secret” does not mean that we can not let anyone know that we are fasting. It does mean we should try to be discrete and not draw attention to ourselves. Jesus is primarily dealing with motivations and principles more than setting rigid rules. Why we are fasting is the important issue to Jesus here.

Fasting to please men is a religious (in a bad sense) approach to fasting. It’s not true, biblical fasting. If you’re fasting to seem super spiritual to others or to try to earn God’s love or to punish yourself for your sins, then you’re missing the point. God’s grace is a free gift to us. Jesus died and rose again to set us free from sin and restore us to relationship with God. Fasting doesn’t earn what Jesus already paid for on the cross. When we put our faith in Christ, we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ. It’s not our merit (fasting or anything else) that justifies us before God, it’s the merit of Christ. 

In light of the Gospel, fasting falls into the category of activities that Bible teachers call “means of grace.” There are certain biblical ways that God chooses to release his grace and power to His people. Prayer, Bible reading, baptism, church, serving others, communion, etc. can all be seens as means of grace. It’s not that doing these things earns God’s grace, but it’s that doing these things accesses His grace. A child opening a gift isn’t earning the gift by the act of unwrapping. It is just the only proper way to accept the free gift. You have to (get to!) unwrap it to receive it. Fasting and other spiritual disciplines are how we unwrap the gift of God’s grace and power in our lives. Fasting doesn’t change God, it changes us.

3) Fasting Expresses and Cultivates Hunger for Jesus

In Jesus’ first teaching on fasting He focuses on fasting with the view that God is our Father. In Jesus’ second teaching on fasting, he focuses on fasting with the view that He is our Bridegroom. Jesus is using terms like “Bridegroom” and “Father” that are intimate, familial, relational words. This is because fasting is connected deeply to our love for God and our intimate relationship with Him. The longing that comes from love for Jesus is what we call spiritual hunger. Fasting is related to our hunger because it’s connected to our love (remember that the Hebrew people believed that one’s “heart” is actually their gut).

Here’s what Jesus said:

Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

Matthew 9:14-15

Jesus was criticized that his disciples did not fast. His rebuttal was that they would fast after he was “taken away from them.” Jesus’ point is this: if He is with His people in fullness, there is no need to fast. However, when he is away (in heaven, as he is now), then His disciples would fast. This is another clear indication that true Christians will continue in regular fasting until the second coming of Christ. 

The idea that Christ is the bridegroom and the Church is the bride is used at other times in relation to the return of Jesus (see Matthew 25:1-13). Fasting is a way that we as the Bride of Christ anticipate, hasten (2 Peter 3:12) and prepare for the Lord’s return. The prophetess Anna speaks to us again here. She was faithful as she “served God with fastings and prayers night and day” (Luke 2:36) until the first coming of Christ. Anna is a prophetic picture of the end-times Church. Just as she prayed and fasted day & night for the coming Messiah, so will the Bride pray & fast, day & night preceding Christ’s second coming.

The tension of the “already” and “not yet” of God’s presence creates a yearning inside of believers. We as Christians have the Holy Spirit with us, yet we long for the physical return of Jesus and the consummation of His kingdom. The Spirit is the downpayment (the “ guarantee of our inheritance”, Ephesians 1:13-14), but we want the full payment. The Holy Spirit is like an engagement ring, and we are anticipating the ceremony. Like a bride awaiting her wedding day, we can’t wait for Jesus to descend to Earth and culminate what He began in His first coming. Jesus knew that we would feel that tension and he describes it as “mourning.” 

“Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?”

Matthew 9:15

The fasting Bride aches for more of Jesus. In some ways, it hurts. When we obey Jesus’ invitation to fast, we begin to touch that deep hunger in our hearts for God. And that hunger makes us want to fast, which makes us more hungry. Fasting both expresses and cultivates our hunger. This perpetual longing that is carried in the hearts of those who embrace a fasted lifestyle is actually a normal heart posture for Christians. The betrothed Bride of Christ is to be lovesick. Hunger should be our default mode. 

The reality is that we have limited capacity, and it is only as we empty ourselves through fasting that we can be filled with God and experience true satisfaction. We can only be deeply satisfied if we first awaken deep hunger through fasting. C.S. Lewis touches on this point:

“It would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

C.S. Lewis

In one sense fasting “satisfies” us as we experience more of God’s presence, revelation from Scripture, and a sense of deep intimacy with the Lord. In another sense, fasting makes us unsatisfied. As the old song says, “the more I find You, the more I want You.” This is the cry of a lovesick Bride. AW Tozer says, “To have found God and still to pursue Him is the soul’s paradox of love.”

4) Fasting Gives us Faith for Ministry and Miracles

I believe fasting is a “secret weapon” of many spiritual giants in Christian history. Every time I’ve gotten “behind the scenes” of ministries and movements that have a profound impact for God’s kingdom, I’ve discovered that most of the key leaders fast regularly and speak in tongues a lot. For the apostolic leaders I have gotten to see, it’s not their strength, but their weakness that makes them great. Their humility makes room for God’s power to flow through them.

There is a relationship between effective and powerful ministry to others and the faith developed through the disciplines of fasting and prayer. Jesus fasted 40 days before beginning his ministry (Matthew 4:1-11). The apostle Paul indicated fasting was one of the marks of his apostolic ministry (2 Corinthians 6:5). The early church leaders and saints throughout Christian history valued and practiced fasting. Many missionaries who successfully took the Gospel into unreached people groups fasted and prayed.

How does this work? What are the connections between powerful ministry efforts, miracles, apostolic power and fasting? I believe the answer is faith.

Let’s notice one more story in the New Testament about fasting. In Matthew 17, an epilpetic boy is brought to Jesus for healing, because the disciples were not able to heal him. After a harsh rebuke for his disciples, Jesus cast a demon out of the boy, and he was healed.

The disciples asked Jesus privately why they could not cast the demon out. Jesus answers directly:

So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

Matthew 17:20-21

Jesus said it was their unbelief and lack of faith that hindered their ability to walk in the power needed to heal the suffering boy. Yet Jesus also says that “this kind” of demon does not come out except by prayer and fasting. So what was the issue? Was it a lack of faith or a lack of prayer and fasting?

We can infer, because Jesus knew what he was talking about, that prayer and fasting is what gave Jesus the faith to deliver and heal the boy. Jesus had the faith to cast out a demon when the disciples were unable to, and he credits the source of this faith to prayer and fasting. It was not prayer and fasting that released the power to heal and deliver, it was faith. But the faith was cultivated through prayer and fasting!

It is important to note that Jesus did not start fasting when he was approached with the demonized boy, but He was able to deliver him immediately. Jesus did not call a fast, wait a few days and then come back to deal with the situation. The author makes a point to note that the boy was cured “from that very hour.” (verse 18). Jesus must have been engaged in a lifestyle of regular fasting and prayer, probably following the traditional two days per week. This meant he was ready and full of faith when the situation arose. His disciples were obviously not fasting regularly (Matthew 9:14) and not prepared for the challenge.

Fasting humbles us, reveals our weakness, and therefore builds our faith in and dependence on God.

This story reveals an amazing benefit of fasting. Fasting humbles us, reveals our weakness, and therefore builds our faith in and dependence on God. Increased faith allows us to work in more powerful, effective and anointed ministry. It is not that fasting and prayer makes us confident and arrogant in ourselves. Rather, it exposes our need, and causes us to rely more deeply on God for everything. This deep reliance is what we call faith.

These four biblical truths help us to realize how important this often neglected spiritual discipline can be in the life of a believer and the strength of the Church. Can you imagine the corporate hunger and release of greater power that would come upon God’s people if we all committed to fasting one day each week? Especially for those who are in prosperous, western nations, I believe our intentional restraint in regular fasting is vital to keep our spiritual fervor and avoid the lull of the spirit of this age that comes with our relatively easy lives.

Fasting reminds us that we are weak and desperately need God. And it comes with the added rewards of deeper intimacy with the Father, heightened revelation from Scripture, an increase of prophetic dreams and a greater faith for miraculous ministry. If we want our hearts to burn for God, maybe we need to consider what’s happening in our guts.

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