Rhapsody of Realities July July 26th 2025, FASTING IS IMPORTANT

Pastor Chris Oyakhilome DSc DSc DD

And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting… (Daniel 9:3)

The Bible talks about those who served the Lord with fasting and prayers night and day. We’re to emulate their faith, gain from their examples, and carry on the same practice in our walk with God. For example, in Luke 2:36-37, we read about Anna, a prophetess, who literally lived in the temple: “And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.”

Also, in Acts 13, Paul and Barnabas, along with other leaders, dedicated themselves to fasting and prayer: “Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers…. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work where unto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away” (Acts 13:1-3).

In Acts 14:23, Paul and Barnabas continued this same culture: “And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.” In fact, Paul, in 2 Corinthians 11, while enumerating several credentials of his ministry and apostleship, made specific reference to fasting: _”In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness” (2 Corinthians 11:27).

Furthermore, the Lord Jesus Himself set the ultimate example of fasting as recorded in Matthew 4:2: “And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.” This was a time of intense spiritual preparation before He began His public ministry.

These and other examples in Scripture establish a precedence for us: we’re to serve the Lord in fasting as often as it’s required since we have the same ministry and operate by the same Spirit. It’s one of the ways to maintain inspiration and receive guidance to effectively carry out that which the Lord has committed to our hands. Glory to God!

PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for the examples set before me in your Word. I walk in the same path of faith, discipline, and devotion, serving through prayer and fasting, and fulfilling my calling with diligence and power. Thank you for the divine culture of your Word that shapes my life and ensures my continual victory, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:
Nehemiah 1:4 NKJV
So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Acts 13:1-3 NIV
Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

Luke 2:36-37 NKJV
Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; 37 and this woman was a widow [a]of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1 Year Bible Reading Plan
Romans 1:18-32 & Psalms 35-37

2 Year Bible Reading Plan
Luke 11:14-26 & Joshua 24

DAILY AFFIRMATIONS:

My life is the revelation of the graces and realities of God’s Word! I live triumphantly over sickness, disease, satan, and the systems of this world. I live the supernatural life; a life of victory, glory, peace, and dominion. I’ve passed from death to life, from sin to righteousness, and from sickness to health. I am of God. I live in the ageless and deathless zone. I have eternal life; therefore, no disease or infection can fasten itself to my body. I do not suffer from diseases of old age, for I am renewed daily by the Word. I am bursting forth in divine health always. I have the eternal life of God; therefore, I am not affected by anything that hurts.

My life is a life of ever-increasing glory and peace. I flourish in God’s rest. I am not a victim of circumstance but an absolute victor in Christ Jesus. The grace of God is working in me mightily and evidently. This grace is multiplied in my life. I experience a quantum leap in grace. I walk in exponential grace, and I take advantage of the grace of God. Christ is made unto me wisdom. In Him, I have access to all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Therefore, I have limitless wisdom. I am prudent. I have knowledge of witty inventions. I am skillful, proficient and knowledgeable. I devise the best solutions in every circumstance. I have discretion. Counsel is mine. I am full of sound wisdom.

I am in the centre of God’s will for my life and I am equipped with all things that pertain to life and godliness. I am filled with the fullness of God! The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yes, I have a goodly heritage. I do not struggle nor respond in fear because God had not given unto me the spirit of fear. I’m eternally victorious in Christ. I have power over crises; I’m prospering exceedingly, manifesting the righteousness and dominion of Christ everywhere. I live above, and far beyond the distracting elements of this world, because I live in Christ! My life is the testimony of God’s grace. God’s divine power has given unto me all things that pertain to life and godliness. I live in endless prosperity in Jesus’ name. Amen. Speak in tongues.