Have you ever been faced with death for standing up for what you believe in? How about being thrown into a lion’s den? ROAR! Hello and welcome to Episode 4, in our “Empowered Through Fasting” series. Last week we talked about when to fast. This week we will discuss how to have a successful fast by looking at a righteous man named Daniel. Yes, the Daniel from the Book of Daniel who was thrown to the lions for supper. We encourage you to email us with your personal testimonies on fasting. We will give details on how to contact us at the end of this presentation. My name is Stephanie Wright. Let’s talk about empowerment through fasting and prayer.
Before we get started, if you have not already listened to Episode 1, in this series entitled, “Nothing is Impossible with God,” please do so. It provides scriptures, some basic foundational principles, contemporary examples of fasting with prayer, and caveats on how to fast.
Today, we are going to focus on Daniel from the Old Testament, Book of Daniel, and his success through prayer and fasting. We are not going to focus on the type of food Daniel ate in Daniel 1:12 and 10:2‑3, because there is plenty of information on the internet about what is known as the “Daniel Fast.” What we will emphasize in today’s presentation is Daniel’s obedience and dedication to God when it came to fasting and prayer. In addition to Daniel, Chapters one and ten, Chapter 9:3, specifically references Daniel “fasting” but makes no mention of food or sustenance of any kind. We can therefore conclude this was not a partial fast like Chapters 1 and 10, but a complete fast of no food and water or at least no food.
In any event, Daniel’s fasting resulted in answered prayers in all three of the aforementioned chapters. But, why were Daniel’s fasts successful? We will briefly point to three reasons for Daniel’s success: passion, persistence, and patience.
So, what is the key to a successful fast? Love of God, persistence and patience, among other things. And of course, if you feel like you need help in any of these areas, you know what the answer is, right? Jesus said, “[T]he Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you.” John 14:26, New American Standard Bible. Just ask the Holy Spirit to help you. We have a whole series on the Holy Spirit, so please listen as Apostle Charles gives details on how to contact us and listen to past episodes. And please send an email to cgmpresents@gmail.com with your accounts of how fasting has helped you. God bless.
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Have you ever been faced with death for standing up for what you believe in? How about being thrown into a lion’s den? ROAR! Hello and welcome to Episode 4, in our “Empowered Through Fasting” series. Last week we talked about when to fast. This week we will discuss how to have a successful fast by looking at a righteous man named Daniel. Yes, the Daniel from the Book of Daniel who was thrown to the lions for supper. We encourage you to email us with your personal testimonies on fasting. We will give details on how to contact us at the end of this presentation. My name is Stephanie Wright. Let’s talk about empowerment through fasting and prayer.
Before we get started, if you have not already listened to Episode 1, in this series entitled, “Nothing is Impossible with God,” please do so. It provides scriptures, some basic foundational principles, contemporary examples of fasting with prayer, and caveats on how to fast.
Today, we are going to focus on Daniel from the Old Testament, Book of Daniel, and his success through prayer and fasting. We are not going to focus on the type of food Daniel ate in Daniel 1:12 and 10:2‑3, because there is plenty of information on the internet about what is known as the “Daniel Fast.” What we will emphasize in today’s presentation is Daniel’s obedience and dedication to God when it came to fasting and prayer. In addition to Daniel, Chapters one and ten, Chapter 9:3, specifically references Daniel “fasting” but makes no mention of food or sustenance of any kind. We can therefore conclude this was not a partial fast like Chapters 1 and 10, but a complete fast of no food and water or at least no food.
In any event, Daniel’s fasting resulted in answered prayers in all three of the aforementioned chapters. But, why were Daniel’s fasts successful? We will briefly point to three reasons for Daniel’s success: passion, persistence, and patience.
Daniel was passionate in his love of God. Daniel 9:23, and 10:12, say he was a man “greatly beloved.” He was greatly beloved of God because he greatly loved God. He passionately loved the Lord. Daniel’s love for God continued throughout his service under four kings: Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius and Cyrus. Daniel was between 17 and 20 years old when he was taken into captivity under King Nebuchadnezzar and believed to be around 85 years of age when he died. This was a long time by any standard to remain faithful. But when you love God the way Daniel loved God, time did not matter. This was one of the keys to Daniel’s successful fasts which resulted in answered prayer. So, what is your passion level for God when it comes to fasting and prayer?
Let’s explore how we know Daniel loved God. In addition to his passion for God, Daniel was also persistent in his prayer and fasting. Persistent unto death! Let’s revisit one of the most popular accounts in the Book of Daniel, Daniel in the lions’ den. Daniel, Chapter 6. We all know how Daniel was framed or “set up” by a group of jealous men who convinced King Darius to sign a proclamation that said no one could petition anyone other than the king for anything or they would be put to death. Well, they all knew Daniel prayed daily and openly. But, even though Daniel knew the king had signed the edict, Daniel 6:10, says, “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.” Daniel was not swayed by the edict even though it meant losing his life. No doubt, Daniel was fasting during this time because that was just his way of handling challenges to his dedication to God. For example, in Daniel, Chapter 1, when Daniel was only 17 or so years old, he and the other Hebrew boys went on a partial fast of vegetables and water instead of defiling themselves with the king’s meat and drinking the king’s wine. At the end of ten days, they were stronger than the other children. Daniel 1:8‑15.
So, fast forward to when Daniel was about 80 or so years old and he is sentenced to be thrown to the lions for praying. But we know the rest of the story. God sent an angel to shut the lions' mouths. Daniel 6:22. The next morning Daniel was brought up out of the lions’ den and his enemies along with their families were fed to the lions. Daniel 6:24.
Persistence is defined as “continuing firmly or obstinately in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.” That defines Daniel perfectly. He prayed and fasted persistently, consistently (three times a day), and unashamed (window open for the world to see) in the face of opposition. Some of us are ashamed to pray over our food in public when we go out to dinner. So, of course God heard and answered Daniel’s prayers because he honored Daniel’s persistence in fasting and prayer. What about you? What is your persistence level for fasting and prayer?
Finally, Daniel was patient. Was he ever patient! In Chapter 10, we read that he fasted for 21 days until he finally got an answer to his prayers concerning the Jewish nation and the end to their bondage. He was told that his prayer was heard the very first day he prayed but was held up by an evil force called the Prince of Persia. It took an archangel, Michael, to finally come and contend with this evil force in order for the answer to Daniel’s prayer to be manifested. Daniel 10:2‑3;12‑14.
Some speculate that if Daniel had stopped fasting on day 20, he might not have gotten his answer. Whether or not this is true, I do know that Daniel was patient and stayed with his fast until the answer was manifested. That is the kind of patience we need when we are fasting. Daniel’s patience and will to persevere was a real test especially because in the previous chapter, Chapter 9, the angel Gabriel came in answer to his prayer immediately after he prayed. Daniel 9:18‑21. Thus, we learn to be patient and to not compare one fast to another. So, what is your patience and perseverance level for fasting and prayer?
So, what is the key to a successful fast? Love of God, persistence and patience, among other things. And of course, if you feel like you need help in any of these areas, you know what the answer is, right? Jesus said, “[T]he Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you.” John 14:26, New American Standard Bible. Just ask the Holy Spirit to help you. We have a whole series on the Holy Spirit, so please listen as Apostle Charles gives details on how to contact us and listen to past episodes. And please send an email to cgmpresents@gmail.com with your accounts of how fasting has helped you. God bless.