Bible Reading: Joel 1-3; Revelation 4.
Memory Verse: “Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:” Joel 2:12 (KJV)
In our Bible reading passage, Prophet Joel prophesied calamity that would befall the land of Judah that God will send his army that would devastate the land. He said in Joel 1:6-7 (KJV), “For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion. [7] He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white.” But fortunately, he also told them the way God has prescribed for them to avoid the devastation. It is by repenting and denying themselves of food and drinks to show their surrender to the will of God. He said in Joel 2:12 (KJV), “Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:”
Fasting is a way of surrendering oneself to the Almighty and showing penitence and readiness to do the will of God. Thus, when three big nations of Ammon, Moab and mount Seir faced Judah to destroy it, Jehoshaphat called for a fast to seek the face of God and asked for divine help. 2 Chronicles 20:3 (KJV) says, “And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.” The result was instant as God promised to fight the battle on their behalf. In deed, He caused the enemies of Judah to destroy themselves and all their precious jewels and riches became unbelievable spoils of war to the children of Judah and they were so much that it took them three days to cart away! ( 2 Chronicles 20:25).
In the prophecy of prophet Joel the enemy was within as the people had gone astray from God and had annoyed God but He gave them a way out to avoid the impending doom. On the other hand, Judah faced an external enemy and the fasting and fellowship with God put an end to the evil plan of their adversaries.
What challenge are you facing? Is it from your adversaries or caused by your transgressions of God’s precepts, you have a way out. You should repent of your sins and fast unto the lord. In addition, such fast should be done with praise and worship and prayer to the Almighty and you will experience the power of God. However while you are using this weapon of war (fasting), you need to be sensitive to the message of the Holy Spirit as He could speak directly to you in different ways such as a still small voice within you, a loud voice, a dream, vision or even another believer giving you the message or any other way deemed necessary by Him.
But if you are not born again, you need to accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour before you can successfully use fasting as a weapon of war.
Prayer point:
Father, give me the grace to use fasting consistently as a weapon of warfare in my daily living in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero