The Power of Prayer and Fasting

The story of the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ on Mt. Tabor is described in the first few verses of the 17th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. The Transfiguration is a Theophany - a manifestation of God, especially of the divinity of Christ, through the display of His uncreated, divine energy. Our Lord was enshrouded by this divine uncreated light as He communed with Moses and Elijah. God the Father's voice is heard. "While He was still speaking, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying: 'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!' Matt. 17:5

This Theophany, witnessed by His disciples Peter, James and John brought them into a state of ecstasy and spiritual euphoria. It was what some would call the "mountain top experience". They didn't want it to stop. That didn't want to come down from that mountain top and face the realities of life's valleys.

When Jesus and the three disciples came down from that mountain, they encountered a continuation of unmet human needs, they found the other 9 members of His team arguing with one another about the impotence of their spiritual abilities to heal a boy afflicted with epilepsy. "And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, "Lord have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. So I brought him to your disciples but they could not cure him! Matt. 17:14-15

There was a need that Jesus' disciples could not meet- it was beyond their resources (human or spiritual). There was an unmet need that was too great for them. But Jesus Christ, our Lord is the MASTER OF THE UNMET NEED. In a moment of time, Jesus turns the situation around. What seemed impossible has been accomplished! When all resources were expended - Jesus reaches out His miracle hand and divine power flows. The now humbled disciples look to Jesus with a puzzled look in their eyes. "Why could we not heal him?" "Why could we not cast out that demon of epilepsy?" "Jesus looks at them and says sternly: "This kind of demonic problem does not go out except by prayer and fasting." Godly disciplined prayer, with fasting releases breakthrough power.

So many of us are like the disciples in the valley. We are spiritually impotent. We feel dry and empty in our spiritual vitality and power. We long for relevance and meaning. Our own "demons", (fear, insecurity, low self-worth, and so much more) possesses us. We get desperate and cynical and say "there is no God" or "where is God?" because we have so many serious unmet needs and there is no heavenly response to our deep longing. Jesus gives us the simple answer; pray and fast.

There is renewed power through prayer and fasting, because we are reminded that ultimately we are dependent on God. Prayer and fasting humbles us. This self-denial of our exaggerated physical appetite, for a period of time, allows us to wait in faith and to trust God's mercy. Prayer and fasting is a sign of our desire and hunger to seek God. And in seeking Him, we place less importance in our daily routines of finding food and momentary physical pleasures. Through prayer and fasting, we develop a passion for God that supercedes everything else. When this happens, spiritual power and energy begins to flow into us, allowing us to live above our circumstances and low self expectations.

The Fathers of the church teach that the external fast is necessary from time to time for spiritual renewal. But the internal fast is necessary at all times.

Peter Chrysologus, Bishop of Ravenna(+450) said: "There are three things, my brethren, by which faith stands firm, devotion remains constant, and virtue endures. They are prayer, fasting and mercy. Prayer knocks at the door; fasting obtains; mercy receives. Prayer, fasting and mercy- These three are one and they give life to each other."

Comments

[Dave24]

We are dependent upon God? Really? First, by making such a statement, you claim that humanity is weak and unable to tackle problems on its own; and by preaching this bogus idea, you weaken the minds of people who divert their own strength into self-delusion. Science and Reason are the only conduits toward understanding the universe and our place within it; and they are the only tools we can use to ensure our survival on this 4.6-billion-year-old active planet.

Nature doesn't care about us, nor itself, because it isn't a thing, it's a process. God is an idea. It's an idea. That's all it is. Might it exist? Sure. And there's a chance that there are 70,000 invisible elephants dancing around you right now - but without evidence, it's absurd to believe in, let alone with conviction.

The bible (and all scripture) make claims about the world: and the only evidence for these claims are the claims themselves, which of course, isn't evidence.

Wake from your sleep. There's more to life than a single book written by uneducated men who knew nothing of germs, the cosmos, or the weather (and arguably, morality).

"Religion: bringing people together in a world torn apart, by religion."

[joebiz]

Religious instruction and prayer are compulsory in many Western European countries. In
England, the Royal Family, the Monarchy and Queen of England is the head of the Anglican church.

So, if prayer is so powerful, why hasn't the multitudes of prayers and religious adulation and credulity of an entire nation, for centuries, healed the Royal Family ?

And, if Jesus could heal with just the power of prayer, why doesn't he just cure leprosy or blindness or child cancer once and for all. Why should only one person be cured of leprosy in ancient Judea two-thousand years ago?

[lewes17266]

We have Pat Robertson on tv for all that, "joebiz." Pat Robertson tells his viewers to "touch the tv screen for a miracle." Then when Patty dies we have his adulterer son Gordon to continue the lucrative family business!

Where would we be without our famous millionaire father/son holyman miracle-working-mortal outfits?

Seriously though, a Godly fast is one that is supposed to be done in secret for the purpose of bringing oneself closer to a relationship with God, becoming vulnerable and open and more like Christ, not for public display, not for attention and adoration. It is no good without a pure heart. It is sad the way self-serving greedmongers have exploited what should be kept holy.

[joebiz]

Thanks for the reply.

The poor in the Third World and in parts of this country, live in daily hunger and starvation er, "unintentional and unavoildable fasting." A Coca-Cola, for many is a daily "meal." Others have steady diets of cat/pet food. Starvation for the poor, fasting for the better off.

The power of collations.

The underclasses of our planet have very limited choices in eating.
How has not eating (fasting) brought Jesus closer to the wretched millions? Billions?

Why doesn't Jesus help "these" unintentional followers? Could it be that the hungry and starving don't have the right reasons for not eating?

The point is not missed. Fasting is about sacrifice.

These are times when one should fast:
Political reasons, strikes, for inhumanity of repressive regimes, mistreatment in jails
or to bring attention to Darfur (fill in the blanks).

UC Berkeley has evidence of reducing caloric intake may lead to longer lives. And, longer lives allow us to poder the fate of those that don't have enough to eat.

[OtayPanky]

In 2001, Dr. Fuad Mukheimar, secretary-general of the Egyptian Sharia Association, published an article in which he encouraged bin Laden to launch an attack against the U.S. during the holy month.

"During the month of Ramadan," Mukheimar wrote, "a great Muslim victory was won over the Crusaders under the leadership of Saladin. His advisers counseled him to rest from the jihad during the month of fasting, but Saladin insisted on continuing the jihad during Ramadan because he knew ... that fasting helps to [achieve] victory, because during Ramadan the Muslims overcome themselves through fasting, and thus their victory over their enemies is certain."

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Prayer, fasting and religous wars, oh my!

How about you all take that religious zealotry and bake up a storm of deliciousess, instead.