AND THEN SHALL THEY FAST IN THOSE DAYS
The moment of truth has arrived and believe it or not we are in the last days. When our Lord Jesus Christ was on earth working and walking all over Judea, Jerusalem and the surrounding cities, the men of Israel were fasting. But the disciples of his were not. The Pharisees in Matthew 9:15, questioned, Jesus about his disciples not fasting while other Jews were fasting. Jesus replied, “——and then shall they fast.”
On another occasion the father of a possessed child, in Mark 9:29 or Matthew 17:21 came to Jesus; right after he was transfigured on the mountain. The father said that he brought his son for deliverance but that his disciples were unable to help. Jesus cast out the devil and the boy was healed. His disciples asked him, why could we not deliver the boy from this demon and sickness? “Jesus answered and said, “This kind can only come out by fasting and prayer.”
Jesus Christ in Matthew 6:16-18, preached about the conduct of fasting saying, “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. <strong “>But thou when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face; that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” These three examples are prominent among the teachings of Jesus Christ. The singular one that stands out on its own is the forty day fast of our Lord, from which we shall learn valuable lessons, for our good and Christian growth, especially at this end of the age. He made the word of God the cornerstone of the answer to the devils attacks, “it is written.”
The main thrust that calls all true believers, to a life of fasting is mainly connected to the fact that Jesus Christ is not physically on earth with us today. But he left us with his word that does not fail but always fulfill what he said. His word does not return void, but always accomplishes what the Lord expected. In this case he said, “—but the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.” Jesus was taken almost two thousand years ago, and true believers knew that it was time to fast; the apostles did it, because the bridegroom was taken. Now the bridegroom will suddenly return, may be in the morning, at noon, in the evening or at midnight (Matthew 25:1-13 and Luke 12:37-40). This is actually the time to fast, because the bridegroom had been taken and is about to return to faithful believers. Fasting is part of that faithfulness. Then shall they fast.
“Then shall they fast,” has a lot of content to it. This is so because true believers have to take stock and make priorities that include; being about the Lord’s most important business, which is witnessing to the lost, for them Christ died. You must be a true example of a believer, in thought word and did. This is often difficult to achieve if you do not humble yourself in fasting and bring into subjection the body, to the obedience of the word of God. In preparing for the coming of the Lord, we must engage in fasting to help us seek the face of the Lord for guidance. The devil is doing everything in his power to distract and deceive the true believer about what a faithful believer should be doing at this time. On earth, we mourn, cry, suffer, fast, repent, witness and such like; but when the Lord comes to take his bride away, that will be the end of things as crying and even fasting. This is the time to fast, for he said, “Then shall they fast.” Fasting during the great tribulation will be devoid of obedience. Now is when the Lord said, then shall they fast. When he comes and takes his bride, the door will be shut and any fasting will have no appeal for the Lord. Remember that the believer fasts unto the Lord: “Then shall they fast.”
And because you give yourself to fasting and prayer, you can be used of God, to his glory, in delivering those in bondage and demon afflicted or possessed. This is part of the gospel, according to Mark 16:15-18 and Mark 9:29. When you fast you can feel the tension between the pressure from the devil and the comfort of the presence of the Spirit and word of God. According to King David, I humbled my soul with fasting, Psalms 35:13. Many people of God fasted because they needed to be before the Lord and away from the world, separation unto the Lord. In Luke 2:25-37 the widow Anna who was eighty-four years of age was serving the Lord day and night with fasting and prayers, she saw the Lord been dedicated. Simeon came to the temple by revelation of the Holy Spirit to see and dedicate Jesus Christ.
According to 1st Kings 19:8, so he (Elijah) rose and ate and drank and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God. Daniel 9:3 reads, “So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes.” Many other people fasted in the bible for various reasons and God answered them; even king Ahab fasted (1st King 21:17-29) and God showed him mercy. Queen Esther fasted and put her life in danger and God answered and delivered her people. The translation and the salvation of the lost are more important than anything you can imagine about today. Fasting is a part of godliness, if done to the glory of God. Moses fasted for forty days, Elijah fasted for forty days, and our Lord Jesus Christ fasted, for forty days. These three met at the mount of Transfiguration, (Mark 9:2-30, Luke 9:30-31) to discuss his death on the cross. If they fasted while on earth, why do you think it something incredible, that you should fast regularly as we see the day approaching; “then shall they fast,” Jesus Christ said. You need fasting to prep for rapture.
Every true believer must climb the mountain top with fasting and prayer. Jesus Christ said, in John 14:12, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” If Jesus Christ fasted and all the prophets and apostles and some sincere believers fasted in this journey of faith; how can you be an exception and still want to share in the glory of the translation. He said, “Then shall they fast,” including you at this end of days. The translation is almost like transfiguration. A change will occur and you have to be prepared for it and fasting unto the Lord is one of those steps. Fasting is essential in these last days to help one bring their body under subjection to full obedience of the word of God.
Every age has their moment of decision. The Lord spoke to each church age and they all had their moment of decision. Today is our moment of decision and guess what, fasting is one of the factors that will come into play; at this end of age, and the return of the Lord. Remember, “Then shall they fast,” comes more alive. Fasting helps you with forgiveness, holiness and purity. How do we fast you may ask.
Translation moment 62 part one
AND THEN SHALL THEY FAST IN THOSE DAYS