Fresh Manna 2 July
MEDITATION SCRIPTURE: “And he said unto them, this kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting. (Mk. 9:29)
READ: MK.9:25-29
25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. 26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. 27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose. 28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? 29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
The story in our Bible reading today, shows that there is a divine energy and presence we contact when we live a fasting life. Understand this truth; fasting is not a kind of bribe or motivation for the Trinity to respond to your demands. Fasting does not change God rather it changes the individual. When Jesus said, “this kind does not go excerpt by fasting and prayer”, by implication, He meant that the disciples have not developed the divine aura and presence that makes such miracles possible. Spiritual atmosphere that encourages divine manifestations don’t just happen, they are cultivated by men through biblical fasting and prayer.
This is because; fasting creates in the individual, a new desire for God and His presence. Remember that yesterday we said that fasting is a faith move, demonstrating our expectations that God will fill us with His Power. Today, we want to add that fasting is a humble submission of our inabilities and insufficiencies, acknowledging God as our source of strength and refuge. David wrote: As the deer pants after the water brooks, so pants my soul after you (Ps.42:1).
In His teaching on the mount, Jesus said, blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of the heaven (matt.5:3). The poverty expressed here, is not referring to physical destitution but to those who recognized their need of God and cry after him. Fasting turns your face in total consideration of God, thereby prompting God to act on your behalf.
TURNING POINT: Fasting turns your face in total consideration of God, thereby prompting God to act on your behalf.
PRAYER POINT: Lord, help me to improve in my fasting life.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JOB 13,14,15; ACTS 8:26-40
Thank you for studying today’s Fresh Manna (The Christian Pentecostal Mission International Daily Devotional) – Benefits of Biblical Fast (2) – written by REV. DR. O. EZEKIEL & REV. DR. M. EZEKIEL
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Fresh Manna 2 July 2021
