Which other scriptures highlight the power of prayer and fasting in spiritual warfare? The Battle Scene in Matthew 17:21 “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17:21) • Jesus ties victory over a stubborn, demonic stronghold directly to focused prayer joined with fasting. • The verse plants a clear principle: when opposition is fierce, believers press in through both disciplines for breakthrough. Old Testament Portraits: Fasting That Cleared the Skies • Daniel 10:2-3, 12-13 – Daniel’s three-week fast humbles him; an angel explains that while Daniel prayed, an unseen battle raged: “from the first day that you purposed to understand… your words were heard.” • 2 Chronicles 20:3-4, 14-17 – Jehoshaphat proclaims a fast; Judah prays, and God answers, “Do not be afraid… the battle is not yours, but God’s,” leading to an effortless victory. • Ezra 8:21-23 – A corporate fast at the Ahava Canal seeks protection from enemies; “He heard our petition,” and the caravan reaches Jerusalem safely. • Isaiah 58:6 – God’s chosen fast “breaks the chains of wickedness… sets the oppressed free,” revealing fasting as a weapon against bondage. • Joel 2:12-13 – A call to return “with fasting, weeping, and mourning” prepares the nation for divine intervention against invading forces. New Testament Reinforcement: Prayer, Fasting, and Apostolic Power • Mark 9:29 – Parallel to Matthew 17:21: “This kind cannot come out except by prayer and fasting,” confirming the principle in another Gospel witness. • Acts 13:2-3 – While the Antioch church “was worshiping the Lord and fasting,” the Holy Spirit directs the first missionary thrust; fasting fine-tunes spiritual hearing. • Acts 14:23 – Paul and Barnabas appoint elders “with prayer and fasting,” entrusting fledgling churches to God amid spiritual hostility. • 1 Corinthians 7:5 – Married believers may agree to a temporary fast from intimacy “to devote yourselves to prayer,” underscoring the partnership of the two practices. The Armor and the Weapons: Prayer in the Wider War • Ephesians 6:18 – After listing the full armor, Paul urges: “Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition.” Prayer activates each piece of armor. • 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 – “The weapons of our warfare… have divine power to demolish strongholds.” Prayer and fasting place those weapons in believers’ hands. • James 4:7-10 – “Submit yourselves therefore to God… Resist the devil, and he will flee… Humble yourselves before the Lord.” Fasting expresses that humility and strengthens resistance. Snapshots of Results • Chains broken (Isaiah 58:6). • Angelic assistance released (Daniel 10:12-13). • Clear guidance given (Acts 13:2-3). • National deliverance granted (2 Chronicles 20:15-30). • Personal victory over temptation modeled by Jesus’ own forty-day fast (Matthew 4:1-11). Practical Threads to Weave Today • Combine sustained, Scripture-saturated prayer with a fast (partial or complete as health allows) when confronting entrenched sin, demonic oppression, or critical decisions. • Fast with humility, seeking God’s face rather than manipulating His hand (Isaiah 58:3-9). • Engage corporate fasting for churchwide or national crises, following the patterns of Judah, Ezra, and the Antioch believers. • Keep spiritual armor on through continual prayer (Ephesians 6:18), letting fasting amplify dependence on God rather than self-effort. |
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