Prayer & Fasting (Part 1)

Praying and Fasting

Spiritual Warfare is not a game that should be entered into lightly.  Its outcome is completely dependent on our relationship with God and our dependence on His power.  It is not something to be entered into in our own strength or wisdom.  If we do, the demons will laugh in our face.  Worse yet, we will suffer the consequences in our flesh.

Acts 19:13-16

Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15[One day] the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know , and I know about Paul, but who are you?" 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

Levels of Authority
Many people in Charismatic circles think that Spiritual Warfare is getting together, waving banners, marching around stomping on Satan’s head, mocking him and singing about spiritual warfare.

Jude 8-10

In the very same way, these dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority and slander celestial beings. 9 But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"   10 Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals — these are the very things that destroy them.

This is treading on dangerous territory. When you exceed your authority, you enter into a realm that is reserved for God. It is not our place to revile or rebuke Satan. Satan has been allowed a certain level of authority and power until the final judgment.

Phil 2:5-8
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross!

We are to remain humble and not exceed our level of authority. On the other hand, some people give Satan and his minions too much attention. They seem to spend more time seeking to defeat the Devil than they do worshipping God and doing Kingdom work. They see a demon under every doily and are constantly seeking deliverance.

Luke 18:9-14
Jesus told this parable: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men — robbers, evildoers, adulterers — or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' 13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' 14 "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."