21 Days of Fasting and Prayer
January 13th – February 2nd

The leadership team are inviting the church to join us in 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting, starting on January 13th. We are excited to unlock what God has in store for 2014 as we seek Him for personal and collective breakthrough. 21 Days of Fasting has become a family tradition at Liberty Church. Our leadership team believes in the importance of fasting, as it is a biblical principle practiced by Jesus.

We have purchased books regarding fasting, that are available for free in our guest lounge. If you have any questions regarding fasting, our leadership team can answer any of your questions.

Watch this space for more details and recommended reading.
We hope to answer several questions on our website, let’s begin with why we fast…

What is the point of fasting?

Fasting increases the work of the Holy Spirit in your life when you fast. This is not earning salvation – this is positioning yourself to receive more of the Holy Spirit God’s desire is always to give more to the people of His Church (Matt. 13:12), and fasting is a partnership made with God to show Him that we hunger and thirst first and foremost for more of Him. It is outward evidence of our inward love for Him. It is not an ancient practice reserved only for the radical Christians. This is a lifestyle for all of Jesus’s disciples who desire His presence to be increased in their lives.

Why can’t I receive what I need from God without fasting?

Good question! Ask God, because I’m not entirely sure. What we do know is that fasting is a command. In Matthew, Jesus tells his followers what to do when they fast, not if they fast. In Matt. 6:16, Jesus says, “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

We can learn a few things from this passage. We’ll again note that it says “when” you fast, not “if.” Second, the rewards of fasting are a promise: “Your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” But this reward is conditional – He rewards those who don’t make a show of their fasting in order to be recognized for their discipline. We don’t actually need to anoint our heads when we fast. The lesson is that, when you fast, you should go about your regular routines in the same way that you usually would. This does not mean, as many Christians currently believe, that you shouldn’t tell anyone you’re fasting. While it is true that you shouldn’t make it a show, we would recommend you do tell a few trusted people in your life for accountability and, especially if it’s a full liquid or water-only fast, they can help monitor your health. Since we’re fasting together as a community, we already know chances are good that you are indeed fasting. That’s ok – just don’t make a big show of it in your everyday life.

How do I know what to fast?

Pray and ask God if He has any specific desires for you when you fast. If He does, great – do what He says! If not, ask yourself is this: “What is the most intense way I can fast according to my strength, life circumstances, and other issues?” This is most likely the way that you will determine how to fast. Because fasting is our way of showing God our desire for Him, He’s rarely going to give you a command for how to do so. A way we can honor each other in this is not to ask people what they’re fasting. This is not a comparison game. Everyone sacrifices according to their current ability, capacity, and leading from God. If you really desire to know so that you can pray and support each other, just ask if they are participating in our church-wide fast, and encourage them knowing that they’re engaging.

How do I know if I have the grace to fast?

This question is often asked, and without trying to oversimplify, the answer is this: you have the grace to fast when your resolve to finish a fast is greater than your desire to quit. Does this mean your fast will be easy? No. Does this mean you will be exempt from the physical affects of your body detoxing and your brain feeling sluggish? Also no. Does this mean you’ll be exempt from the myriad of spiritual attacks and temptations that are expected when a follower of Jesus is pressing in for more of Him? Absolutely not! You will almost surely experience all of these side effects, and that’s ok. Fasting isn’t supposed to be easy just because you’re doing it for God. He never promised that following Him would be easy, but He did promise that it would be worth it, and that He would never leave or forsake us. His power is made perfect in our weakness, so in fasting, we position ourselves to experience more of His power by laying down our own physical strength and humbly receiving His.

What do I do while I’m fasting?

Pray, pray, and then take a break to sleep, and then pray some more. Fasting without praying is simply intense dieting, and that is not at all God’s command. Dieting is great, but fasting is about abstaining from food for a spiritual purpose. Replace meal times with reading the word. Replace snack breaks with intercession for your family and closest friends. Ask God how He wants you to spend these times – He will respond! His desire is to speak to you, and when we fast, we open up more time to hear from Him. It also increases your sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, so don’t be surprised if you are more aware of your shortcomings and personal weaknesses during a fast. This is not indicative of your failings! It shows instead a growth in maturity and spiritual awareness. If this happens to you, ask God what He wants you to do, how He wants you to pray, and if He has any action steps for you to take to wage war on anything that separates you from Him.

You should also journal through your fast. Be very specific in your requests to God and the desires you have that you are wanting to be fulfilled during and because of your fast. Keep a record of how easy or difficult you find the fast, and make sure to write down any great breakthroughs! This will allow you to see tangibly, in writing, the spiritual growth that the Holy Spirit has given you the grace to achieve, and it will be fun to look back on old fasting journals to see how far you’ve come a year, five years, and ten years from now.

How do I know if my fast “worked”?

This is a great question, and one there isn’t really an answer to. Some people will see immediate, miraculous breakthrough because of a fast, some people will find the fast to be very difficult and will not “feel” or “seem” any different either in circumstance or in heart. This is not because you’ve failed in your fast. If you are fasting, you are victorious. God doesn’t measure according to the timeline of the world, and we shouldn’t either. Hebrews makes sure to tell us that success is measured in longevity, not in immediate results. Hebrews 10:23 commands us to hold fast (pun intended) to the confession of our hope without wavering. Do not be discouraged if you don’t have an outrageous story to tell by the end of your fast! Hold on to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) who will be faithful to reward you openly, either in this life or the next, for every sacrifice you make in His name.

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