Understanding the Ultimate Purpose of Prayer and Fasting! By David O.

Oyedepo
FEBRUARY 13, 2016 · PUBLIC
Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy
burdens, and to set the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread
to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thouseest the
naked, that thou Cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy
light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness
shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rearward (Isaiah 58:6-8).
We understand from scriptures that signs and wonders don't just occur. Rather, they are provoked
by engaging the mystery of prayer and fasting, among others, for speedy delivery. For instance,
when Jesus' disciples asked Him why they could not cure the lunatic, He said: Howbeit this kind
goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. This means prayer and fasting is a vital tool in the hands
of the believer for the delivery of signs and wonders (Matthew 17:21).
We must also understand that prayer and fasting is God's commandment and prescription for our
continuous change of levels. For instance, when Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, He
said: ...When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy
Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when
ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their
much speaking....Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they
disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their
reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face (Matthew 5:6-7, 16-17),
The use of "When" in the above scriptures shows us that every believer must have a scheduled
time for prayer and fasting. This is because there is no substitute for prayer and fasting in our
quest for empowerment, and it is a commandment of scriptures that guarantees rewards. However,
we must understand that nothing of value is ever free. Everything of value is at a cost and one of
the great costs of maximizing God's agenda in our lives is prayer and fasting. Nevertheless, when
we understand the blessings therein, it becomes a delightful expedition (Matthew 6:6; 1john 5:3).
Let's examine the ultimate purposes that prayer and fasting is ordained to deliver.
❍ We encounter fresh oil: Just like it takes fresh oil to keep the engine of a car in top gear, we
also require fresh oil to keep our spirit-man buoyant and vibrant. As it is written: But they that
wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they
shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint (Isaiah 40:31),
"Wait" here connotes prayer and fasting. That means prayer and fasting empowers the renewal of
the oil on our heads so that We can mount up with Wings as eagles in our spiritual walk with God.
❍ It guarantees supernatural supplies: In scriptures, we saw how Jesus supernaturally fed 5,000
men, excluding women and children with just five loaves and two fishes. In that account, it is
important to note that everyone, including Jesus, was hungry. Thus, as Jesus engaged the weapon
of prayer coupled with fasting, heavenly supply was made available (Luke 5:1-7, 9:11-17).
❍ It facilitates the outbreak of revelation: The Bible says: Is not this the fast that I have chosen?
to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and
that ye break every yoke?...Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall
spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be
thy rearward (Isaiah 58:8).
“Light" here means revelation. In other words, every time we engage the mystery of prayer and
fasting, an outbreak of revelation is guaranteed and that in turn triggers the flow of special
miracles in our lives.
❍ It is ordainеd for our empowerment: We understand from scriptures that prayer and fasting,
among others, is ordained for our empowerment into next levels. For instance, after Jesus fasted
for forty days and nights, the Bible records that He returned in the power of the Spirit and began to
manifest signs and wonders in all the regions (Psalms 53:1-2; Luke 4:1–2, 14,37).
The signs and wonders that Jesus manifested in scriptures after His prayer and fasting expedition
areas follows:
Instant deliverance from demonic strongholds: As it is written: ...There was a man, which had a
spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to
do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the
Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And
when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not (Luke 4:33-35;
8:2736).
Healing of all manner of sicknesses and diseases: When Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit
from the mountain of prayer and fasting, the Bible records that all manner of sicknesses and
diseases submitted to His authority (Luke 4:23).
Raising of the dead: When the widow of Nain was about to bury her only son, Jesus touched the
coffin and the dead child jerked back to life (Luke 7:11-16, 8:49-55).
In addition, we must understand that special miracles are simply the strange works and acts of
God in our lives, Unfortunately, many people have experienced diverse special miracles, but they
seem not to last. This is because they have neglected some vital keys that guarantee the
preservation of God's special miracles in their lives.
◖How, then, do we secure God's miracles in our lives?◗
We must locate our appointed place of worship and abide there: Our appointed place of worship
has been predetermined by God. It is important to understand that there is a place to be so as not to
be afflicted again. As it is written: Moreover, I (God) will appoint a place for my people Israel,
and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall
the children of wickedness afflict them anymore, as beforetimes (2 Samuel 7:10; see also
Deuteronomy 12:13-14),
However, we must not just locate our appointed place but also abide there. When we abide in
God's chosen place for us, we secure His blessings in our lives and become immune to the
manipulations of the wicked one. That is why we must locate where we belong and abide there.
We must identify our God-ordained shepherd: The Bible says: ...I will give you pastors according
to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. And it shall come to pass,
when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the LORD, they shall say no
more, The ark of the covenant of the LORD: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they
remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done anymore (Jeremiah 3:15-16).
When we abide with our God-ordained shepherd (pastor), we continually multiply and increase in
the land
However, it is important to know it is spiritually risky to stray away from the shepherd God has
attached us to (Proverbs 21:16).
Continue to feed on the Word: It is important to know that is a spiritual risk to be Word-empty.
That is why the Bible admonishes: Give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
...Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all
(1Timothy 4:13, 15).
For instance, we saw in scriptures how Jesus overcame diverse temptations from the devil through
the Word, before the devil left Him for a season. This helps us to understand that we must
constantly feed on the Word to keep the devil at bay (Luke 4:1-13).
Commit to a prayerful life: The Bible says: If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is
small (Proverbs 24:10). Therefore, we must continually abide on the prayer altar in order to keep
building spiritual strength for the day of battle and to preserve God's blessings in our lives.
Commit to serving God in any capacity: "Serving God" in this context implies belonging to a
service group in the church, commitment to praying Kingdom advancement prayers, commitment
to soul-winning, etc. When we engage any or all of these Kingdom advancement endeavours, God
blesses us in return and that terminates every trace of curse in our lives. Remember the Bible
says:...ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will
take sickness away from the midst of thee. There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in
thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfil (Exodus 23:25-26; see also Matthew 6:33; Luke 2:37;
Colossians 4:12).
In conclusion, we must understand that the devil is always out to rob us of our miracles. However,
when we serve God's interest and that of His Kingdom, we come under a divine blessing that the
enemy cannot access. Therefore, let's engage in this Kingdom mystery this year and watch God
add blessings to every aspect of our lives, supernaturally.
Remain ever blessed! Jesus is Lord!
David O. Oyedepo
President Winners Chapel International