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)

The disciples of Jesus (minus Peter, James and John), were presented with a boy in need of deliverance. However, they were not able to cast out the demons. At the same time, Jesus, Peter, James and John were having an extraordinary heavenly encounter on a high mountain, which sometimes is described as the Transfiguration of Christ. We do not know exactly how long they were on the mountain. When Jesus returned from the mountain, He drove out the demons at His command. And He had the words in our Bible verses today to say to the disciples.

Does it make sense that when the disciples are faced with difficult demonization and spiritual bondages, then they were to take off to “pray and fast”? Jesus seemed to say that growing faith is what required to overcome problems and difficulties as huge as mountain. Faith as small as mustard seed, if allowed to grow can do the humanly impossible. The key is: prayer and fasting. It appears that Jesus was suggesting prayer and fasting is needed to grow the “mustard seed faith”, so that it will be strengthened to move mountains of the works of darkness.

Mountain moving faith does not come in an instant. It needs to be cultivated regularly over time. If we do not grow our faith consciously, unbelief will find its way into our hearts. There are sometimes challenges so great and overwhelming confronting us in life. We need that mountain moving faith. There are sometimes bondages and strongholds so strong. We need that mountain moving faith. There are sometimes darkness so deep. We need that mountain moving faith.

If you wish to see breakthrough and freedom from lingering, entangling troubles and bondages of “this kind”, spend consistent time in prayers and fasting. Fasting strengthens faith. Fasting generates spiritual power. You can begin today!

Persevering Prayer Focus*

But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4)

Fasting is often described as abstinence from food, from bodily pleasure. Isaiah 58 seems to go further and suggest that, fasting is both denying the desire of the flesh, as well as defying the desire of the flesh.

Defying the desire of the flesh means, we deliberate choose to go against the flesh, doing what is opposite to the desire of the flesh. The flesh breeds self-centeredness, we give to bless others, “if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.” (Isaiah 58:10). The flesh is inclined to contention, quarrels, strife, envy, lust, etc – the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). However, in fasting, we deliberately choose the way of the Spirit, love, patience, peace-making, goodness, etc (Galatians 5:22-23). Fasting is to deliberately yield to the Holy Spirit.

In order to defy the desire of the flesh successfully, 2 things we need which we can learn from the example in the life of Jesus. Before Jesus was led to the wilderness to face the devil’s temptation, He was baptized and was filled with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16). Secondly, when Jesus was tempted by the devil to yield to the desire of His flesh – hunger, He used the word of God to answer. Jesus did not merely quoting Scriptures from His time of meditation, but He in fact lives in the truth of God’s words. He has made up His mind to submit Himself to the authority of God’s word, “every word that comes from the mouth of God”.

In fasting, we defy the 2 things from our flesh. The flesh is at enmity with the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:17), and the flesh is rebellious towards God’s will. We defy these desires of the flesh by choosing to be filled by the Holy Spirit, to be led by Him and to be intimate with Him. We choose to meditate on God’s words, seek the revelation of God’s truth through His words, and yield our lives to His words. All these take effort! That’s the fasting that leads to:

And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in. (Isaiah 58:11-12)

Prayer Focus

“Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the judgment of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near to God. Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’ Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high. (Isaiah 58:1-4)

The irony in these words of God in Isaiah 58 is this: God’s people “sought God daily and delight to know His ways” but were interested to walk in His ways!

We may find ourselves in that similar state at times. Seeking God in the acts of worship, studying to know more of God’s way, enjoying the study of the Bible (as an academic exercise), yet continue to follow our own way, the way of the flesh. Fasting is not hunger strike. Fasting in itself does not “score points” with God. But Israel thought when they fasted and prayed, surely God must hear their prayers! How wrong were they!

Fasting is seeking God’s heart. It is to seek intimacy with Him. Fasting is denying the flesh from dictating to us how we should live our lives, worship God and relate with others. Fasting is to deny the desire of the flesh, that we might overcome the temptation of the devil. The devil tempts us by appealing to the desire of flesh. By denying the desire of the flesh, we forsake our own wicked ways.

Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord? “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. (Isaiah 58:5-8)

Fasting is to choose to walk in God’s way in all areas of our lives. Fasting is to choose God’s way over our ways!

Prayer Focus

Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. (Ezra 8:21)

During Lent season, we are encouraged to seek God, reflect upon our lives, our relationship with God. It is a season when we pause and seek renewal of our spirit, our strength and refocus our lives on the Lord. It is a season of preparation for the next level in our journey of faith and intimacy with the Lord.

We seek God through the spiritual disciplines of studying and meditating on God’s words, through regular prayers, through fasting. Fasting is not the same as hunger strike. Fasting is not trying to bend God’s arm to give us what we ask for. When the exiled Jews were preparing to return to Jerusalem, the Prophet Ezra called for a nationwide fast among the Israelites. The main focus and purpose of this fast was to “seek from the Lord the right way”, His way. They were traveling back to their homeland. They were planning for a new beginning, to enter into a new season. A life filled with hope was awaiting them. Though the journey ahead was tough, the challenges in this new and exciting life were unprecedented, they knew that healings and restoration await them. Against a background of such events, Ezra led the people into a fast: to seek God’s way.

When we reflect upon our lives and our future, we may find ourselves in dire need of God’s help and rescue. We can cry out to Him to do something for us, to make our path smooth and straight (at least, as much as possible). We may even have some specific ideas on how God might help us, and would suggest to Him in our prayers. However, let us learn from the example of Ezra. Let us first seek His way, for our lives (for us), that of our families and future generations (for our little ones) and for guidance in managing our resources (all our possessions). We can be confident that God’s way is also better. His way is the best for us. Let us in fasting, first and foremost seek His way, the right way to order our lives, to prepare us for greater fruitfulness and abundance.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9)

Prayer Focus

“And if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.” (Deuteronomy 28:1)

“But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you. (Deuteronomy 28:15)

Deuteronomy 28 sums up the consequences of obeying and violating God’s Covenant with His people. It was suggested to me sometimes, by some well meaning Christians that we should not be too concerned about this, since the passage was clearly directed to Israel, the Jews, the descendants of Abraham.

Paul says in Galatians, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.” (Galatians 3:13-14). The Cross took away the “curse of the law” when Jesus bore it on Himself. He was cursed in place of those who are cursed as a consequence of violating God’s Covenant. Because of the Cross, we who are Gentiles received the Covenantal blessings promised to Abraham, to his descendants, Israel. If we are grafted into the lineage of Abraham (Romans 11:17) so that we might receive blessings of Abraham, are we not also subject to the curses like those described in Deuteronomy 28?

Sins have consequences. The law was given in the context of Covenant. Violation of God’s law is more than just disobeying Him. It is breaking of the very Covenant through which God “bound Himself” to us, to bless us, protect us and show mercy. When Covenant is broken, curses pursue. Curses consequential to sins such as idolatry, witchcraft, innocent bloodshed, blood sacrifices to demons, demonic covenants, sexual immorality, injustice, etc committed by our forebears will pursue their descendants down the generational line. It becomes generational curses.

Some of us may have observed a pattern of curses in our lives, our family, our descendants, our next generation, in our nation and even in the land where we dwell. Curses of death (not just physically, but death of dreams, hope, godly prospects, etc), misfortune, losses, defeat, sickness, contentions, etc. But thanks be to God the Father of our Lord Jesus! Through the Cross of Jesus, the door to generational blessings is open, and the door to generational curses is closed, for all those who would fix their eyes on the Cross! Freedom and victory comes by the Cross, but we need to contend in prayers.

Persevering Prayer Focus

“Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the night watches! Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord! Lift your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint for hunger at the head of every street.” (Lamentation 2:19)

One of the Covenantal blessings we have stepped into as Christian is generational blessings. God made that Covenantal promise to Abraham, “Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” (Genesis 15:5). And God also said to Abraham, “On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates” (Genesis 15:18)

Paul says this in Galatians, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus” (vs 13-14a). Therefore, if you are in Christ, you also partake in God’s promises for Abraham.

For God’s blessings to pass down through the generations, we must first see the success of our next generation. As parents (or spiritual parents), we can be assured that it is God’s will and desire for our children or our next generation to prosper in life and walk in their destiny, because of our faith in Jesus. Although this is within God’s will, it does not automatically materialize sometimes. We need to contend for it because the enemy will try all sorts of way to rob our children of their destiny. If our children and the next generation are deprived of their destiny, the succession of generational blessings will be truncated. We must not allow this to happen!

This is a “family” matter. Whether it is within our natural family, or God’s family. We need to bring these family matters to the prayer altars. A family prayer altar is where family matters are addressed and dealt with. Whether your children are physically present with you at these prayer altars, begin to contend over their lives and destiny. You are entitled to these Covenant blessings solely by the grace of God. Treasure them. Contend for your children’s success in prayers. Wrestle in prayers for our next generation. For children are our heritage, rewards from the Lord. (Psalm 127:3)

Persevering Prayer Focus

He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness." (Romans 4:20-22)

Some of us enjoy collecting redemption points from merchants because they can be exchanged for free gifts. Redemption coupons are only of value if the merchants who promise the gifts are trustworthy. Redemption is only good if the redeemable gifts in fact exist, and ready to be redeemed and appropriated.

Redemption is needed when something of value is “locked up” and in need of ransom. A price needs to be paid in order to free what is locked up. Sin locks up our lives and keep us in bondage, eventually leads to eternal death, which is eternal separation from God, the source of life. Jesus came and paid the ransom of our release. Those who accept the offer of redemption by confessing our sins to Jesus freed from bondages of sin (Romans 3:23-26).

The redemption which we receive in Christ Jesus unlocks our lives and frees us from any condemnation as a result of sins. That’s righteousness – right standing before God. The Bible tells us that Abraham believed in God and His promises, therefore it was “accounted” to him as righteousness. Today, those who believe in Jesus and put their trust in His words are also accounted as righteous. So,

Faith > Righteousness > Redemption

Faith in God has been accounted favorably to Abraham for righteousness. How much more faith in Jesus would account for our right standing before God. If our standing before God is right, the reasons for locking up our lives so much so we are deprived of fruitfulness, health, God’s blessings of all sorts, etc. are invalidated. We therefore are set free from the bondages and curses of sins and power of darkness.

If you have been walking faithfully on your journey of faith, believing and trusting Jesus in small or big things, take courage. Your faith is accounted to you as righteousness. And righteousness will unlock those good gifts of God currently locked up – your redemption! Redemption is only available from Jesus, faith is the key to receiving it. Faith, is like “redemption coupon”. As you grow in faith, you will see greater breakthrough comes your way!

Prayer Focus

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14)

When you made that decision to give your life to Jesus in exchange of His, you have embarked on an exciting journey of discovering and receiving the fulfilment of God’s promises in your life. The Lord has bound Himself to you in Covenant, sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. The Holy Spirit who lives and moves in you, is the “down payment”, earnest payment, a guarantee for the inheritance that your Heavenly Father has prepared for you. In this coming year, expect to see an increased unpacking of that inheritance, fulfilment of God’s promises in every sphere of your life. Don’t stop pressing in as the Holy Spirit leads you.

In every situation, remember a path is already opened for you, a solution already arranged. Ignore any advice that isn’t aligned with this hope. Ignore anything that falls below the standard of Christ in you… your hope!

(Adopted from Shirley Weaver’s Devotional “Don’t Stop”)

Take heart. For what God has promised us, He has also guaranteed it fulfilment. We need to do our part to lay hold of it.

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 1:20)

Prayer Focus

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