Four Rewards of Fasting
Matthew 6:16a ESV
“And when you fast...”
Matthew 6:17a ESV
“But when you fast...”
Matthew 9:15 ESV
“The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”
Hebrews 11:6 NIV
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Hebrews 12:16 MSG
“Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God's lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite.”
1. Fasting Brings Breakthrough
Matthew 17:16-17 NLT
I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.” Jesus said, “You faithless and corrupt people!"
Matthew 17:21 ESV
But this kind never comes out except by prayer and fasting.
2. Fasting Opens Doors of Opportunity
Nehemiah 1:4 ESV
As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
Nehemiah 1:11 ESV
O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man." Now I was cupbearer to the king.
3. Fasting Brings New Seasons of Ministry
Luke 4:14a NIV
Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit...
Acts 13:2 ESV
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
4. Fasting Gives Us Spiritual Insight and Defeats the Enemy
Daniel 10:1-4a NIV
In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar). Its message was true and it concerned a great war. The understanding of the message came to him in a vision. At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over. On the twenty-fourth day of the first month...
Daniel 10:4 NIV
On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris,
Daniel 10:10-11a NIV
A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. He said, "Daniel, you who are highly esteemed...
Daniel 10:11b-12 NIV
...consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you." And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling. Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.
Daniel 10:13-14 NIV
But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come."
