Breath of Power - Week 08/05

Week 8: February 21 - 27, 2005

CRACKING HARD NUTS

Key Passage: Mark 9: 25-29

When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!" Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" So He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting."

There are times we face impossible situations in life, when the walls of opposition against our progress seem impregnable and when our problems are so deeply rooted that there seem to be no way out. At such times, fasting is a necessary violent action to turn the situation around.

Fasting is deliberate abstinence from food and pleasure for the purpose of devotion to God. It is the act of denying ones flesh for the purpose of strengthening ones spirit, so that one can have a better reach to God. It is a spiritual exercise that makes ones prayer more effective.

Fasting is imperative for a man who wants God to notice him in the crowd. It is necessary for one who believes that he must not be turned down or turned back with his request to God. At such times, fasting becomes a desperate action by a desperate person who cannot take “No!” for an answer.

Jesus was faced with a situation where his disciples made efforts to cast out a violent epileptic spirit from a girl, but could not. When Jesus arrived, he cast out the spirit and the girl was healed. The disciples wondered and asked Jesus why they failed and he succeeded. And Jesus replied that the particular situation needed fasting and prayers. Jesus by that answer inferred that he was fasting while his disciples were not, and that some situations need more spiritual input if one must have solutions. He was indirectly telling them that if they want to be able to cast out such spirits, they must begin to fast as he was doing.

The way to stay on top of every situation is to maintain a lifestyle of fasting and praying. In that way one is always ready to arrest every situation and bring the will of God to bear. Jesus had a lifestyle of fasting and praying and was always ready to rise to the situation whenever the need arises.

Pray: Lord, strengthen me in my spiritual devotion. Help me to rise above every challenge that comes my way in Jesus name.

Written by – Evangelist Oguazi Onyemobi



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	Week 8: February 21 - 27, 2005 CRACKING HARD NUTS Key Passage: Mark 9: 25-29 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!" Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" So He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting." There are times we face impossible situations in life, when the walls of opposition against our progress seem impregnable and when our problems are so deeply rooted that there seem to be no way out. At such times, fasting is a necessary violent action to turn the situation around. Fasting is deliberate abstinence from food and pleasure for the purpose of devotion to God. It is the act of denying ones flesh for the purpose of strengthening ones spirit, so that one can have a better reach to God. It is a spiritual exercise that makes ones prayer more effective. Fasting is imperative for a man who wants God to notice him in the crowd. It is necessary for one who believes that he must not be turned down or turned back with his request to God. At such times, fasting becomes a desperate action by a desperate person who cannot take “No!” for an answer. Jesus was faced with a situation where his disciples made efforts to cast out a violent epileptic spirit from a girl, but could not. When Jesus arrived, he cast out the spirit and the girl was healed. The disciples wondered and asked Jesus why they failed and he succeeded. And Jesus replied that the particular situation needed fasting and prayers. Jesus by that answer inferred that he was fasting while his disciples were not, and that some situations need more spiritual input if one must have solutions. He was indirectly telling them that if they want to be able to cast out such spirits, they must begin to fast as he was doing. The way to stay on top of every situation is to maintain a lifestyle of fasting and praying. In that way one is always ready to arrest every situation and bring the will of God to bear. Jesus had a lifestyle of fasting and praying and was always ready to rise to the situation whenever the need arises. Pray: Lord, strengthen me in my spiritual devotion. Help me to rise above every challenge that comes my way in Jesus name. Written by – Evangelist Oguazi Onyemobi

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