Fasting is Powerful

 STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 

A Daily Devotional by Bishop David

Fasting is Powerful

Wednesday, 23 October

 

When I went up the mountain to receive the tables of stone, the tables of the covenant which the LORD made with you, I remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water. Deuteronomy 9:9

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Acts 13: 1-4 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

 

MORE LESSON: Deuteronomy 9:9-18 When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the LORD made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water: 10 And the LORD delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the LORD spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly. 11 And it came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights, that the LORD gave me the two tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant. 12 And the LORD said unto me, Arise, get thee down quickly from hence; for thy people which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted themselves; they are quickly turned aside out of the way which I commanded them; they have made them a molten image. 13 Furthermore the LORD spake unto me, saying, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: 14 Let me alone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under heaven: and I will make of thee a nation mightier and greater than they. 15 So I turned and came down from the mount, and the mount burned with fire: and the two tables of the covenant were in my two hands. 16 And I looked, and, behold, ye had sinned against the LORD your God, and had made you a molten calf: ye had turned aside quickly out of the way which the LORD had commanded you. 17 And I took the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands, and brake them before your eyes. 18 And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

 

Fasting is an extremely powerful spiritual weapon when used correctly. With it we humble our souls before the Lord, asking for total cleansing and truly repenting of our sins, and experience sanctification through the blood of Jesus: 2 Chronicles 7:14 says: If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Through fasting we seek the face of the Lord, asking for His help and intervention on very critical matters as we see in Esther 4:16: Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

We pull down the strongholds of the enemy and destroy all his evil works during fasting. 2 Corinthians 10:4 says: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.

We also worship the Lord, in spirit and in truth, and hear His voice of direction concerning the work He has given us to do as recorded of the apostles in Acts 13:2: As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

Fasting enables us to move the hands of the Lord against the enemies in our way, and ask for His help and His good hands upon our lives (Ezra 8:21). The heroes of faith, who have gone before us, used fasting effectively to turn situations around, and to advance the Kingdom of our God. Examples include: Moses (Deuteronomy 9:9,18); David (Psalm 35:13); Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:4, 9:1); Ezra (Ezra 8:21-23). 4:16); Samuel (1 Samuel 7:6); Jesus (Matthew 4:2); Esther (Esther 4: 2); Paul (2 Corinthians 6:5; 11:27); the early Church (Acts 13:1-2).

Let us, therefore, follow in this glorious tradition of seeking the face of the Lord in true fasting, as we humble ourselves before the Lord.

 

Prayer/Action

* Give thanks to God for His Word. 

* Give thanks to God who answers prayers. 

* Ask that the spirit of grace and supplication may come mightily upon you.

 

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: As I lay my hands on my head, I command every dormant grace of God upon my life to come alive now, in the powerful name of Jesus.

Remain in Him

STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 

A Daily Devotional by Bishop David

Remain in Him

Tuesday, 22 October

 

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. John 15:4

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: John 15:4-8 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

 

MORE LESSON: 1 John 2:27-29 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. 28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

 

Jesus used the powerful metaphor of the vine and the branches to describe our relationship with Him. Just as a branch draws life and nourishment from the vine, we draw spiritual life and sustenance from Jesus.

To "remain in Him" means to abide, to dwell, to stay connected to Jesus as our source of strength, guidance and purpose. It's a deliberate choice to stay attached to the Vine, to trust in His love and grace, and to rely on His wisdom and power. When we remain in Him, we bear fruit – the fruit of love, joy, peace, and righteousness. We become a reflection of His character, and our lives become testimonies to His goodness and grace.

So, how do we stay connected to Jesus? Most people get this wrong by emphasizing one spiritual discipline over others, and then wonder why they're not experiencing more in other areas of life. The truth is that you need both prayer and practice to stay connected to Jesus!

Jesus modeled seeking God daily through prayer. The gospels recorded how Jesus always disappeared to be alone with His Father. He knew that dependance on God through prayer was the source of His power for ministry. The same is true for us, even more so. When you seek God in prayer He fills you with power to do what you could never do on your own. Jesus says in John 15:10: If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. This means that practising the way of Jesus helps you to stay connected to Him. Whenever you obey God, you unlock His power in your life.

Jesus also says in John15:11: These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. That means our overflowing joy is in being connected to Him by obeying His commandments. If you want to experience real and eternal life in your daily living, you must stay connected to Jesus!

But remaining in Him requires effort and intentionality. You must cultivate a deep relationship with Jesus through prayer, study of His Word, and obedience to His commands. You must also learn to surrender your will and ways, trusting in His sovereignty and wisdom.

 

Prayer/Action

* Pray that you will abide in God's love and grace. 

* Ask God to help you stay connected to Him. 

* Declare that nothing shall separate you from Christ.

 

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Revival fire from heaven, fall upon me today and make my life whole again, in the glorious name of Jesus.

Fellowship with Him

STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 

A Daily Devotional by Bishop David

Fellowship with Him

Monday, 21 October

 

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: 1 John 1:1-9 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

MORE LESSON: John 17:21-24 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. 24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

 

Fellowship with God is a precious gift. John talked about a shared experience, a communal bond that unites us with the Father and the Son. This fellowship is not just a casual acquaintance but an intimate, loving relationship.

To have fellowship with God means to share in His life, His love and His purpose. We participate in His joy, His sufferings, and His mission and become one with Him, united in spirit and truth. As Christians, we stay right with God as we continue to pursue intimate fellowship with Him and His people based on His Word (Hebrew 10:25).

As we fellowship with God, we are invited to walk in His light. His presence illuminates our path, guiding us in the way we should go. Through fellowship with Him, we gain wisdom, insight, and discernment to navigate life's challenges and take decisions with confidence and peace.

Just as any relationship requires nurturing and investment, our fellowship with God thrives when we invest time, effort and devotion to knowing Him more deeply. As we study His Word, meditate on His promises and engage in prayer, our bond with Him deepens and we grow in spiritual maturity and understanding (Ephesians 3:18-19).

The rewards of fellowship with God are abundant. In His presence, we find comfort in times of trouble, strength in times of weakness and joy in times of sorrow. We experience His peace that surpasses all understanding and His love that never fails. Through fellowship with God, we are transformed from the inside out, becoming more like Christ in character and purpose.

Fellowship with Him transforms us. We begin to see the world through His eyes, to love as He loves and to serve as He serves. We find strength in His presence, comfort in His promises and guidance in His Word.

However, fellowship with Him is not just a personal experience; it's also a communal one. We are called to share this fellowship with others, to build each other up in love and faith. Together, we form a community of believers, united in our love for Him and for one another. May we continually seek deeper fellowship with God knowing that, in His presence, we find true fulfilment and purpose for our lives.

 

Prayer/Action

* Thank God for the gift of fellowship with Him. 

* Ask God to help you deepen your relationship with Him. 

* Ask God for grace to seek Him daily.

 

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: In the name of He that makes a road on the high sea, I prophesy over the rest days of this month that there shall be a way where there was none, in Jesus' mighty name.

Expecting to Receive

STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 

A Daily Devotional by Bishop David

Expecting to Receive

Sunday, 20 October

 

And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Acts 3.5

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Acts 3:4-5 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

 

MORE LESSON: Psalm 62:5-11 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. 7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. 8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah. 9 Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity. 10 Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them. 11 God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.

 

Expecting to receive is fundamental principle of faith. When we pray, we must trust that God hears us and will answer our requests. We must expect to receive what we ask for, not with doubt or uncertainty, but with confidence and assurance.

In Acts.3.5 the Bible says: And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. The lame man was expecting to receive something, but not what he received. He was looking for financial help but instead, he received healing and new life in Jesus. The lesson to learn here is that anytime you come to the presence of God, you must be expectant. Let everything in you be expecting to receive from God, even when you are not too sure of what you want.

There is no limit in receiving from God but we must fasten our eyes on God. Jesus in Mark 11.24 says: Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Prayer is an act of faith in God; any man that cannot pray has pride. When we pray we expect to receive something from God. Even when we may have a little understanding of His plans, we will be surprised by His blessings and answers we will receive from Him.

We will experience His grace and power in new ways when we demonstrate faith in God's goodness. As we show our trust in His promises and love, He will pour out His blessings and answers to make us experience His provision.

A believer doesn't come to church or any prophetic gathering without an expectation, and a heart open to receive beyond your expectations. Our God can do beyond our expectations as Ephesians 3.20 puts it: Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Don't limit God when it comes to receiving; if we can receive, God has no problem with releasing whatever we desire from Him. Only God has the answer to our expectations so stop looking at men; look unto God with a heart that is ready to receive.

May we come to God not just with expectations, but also with an open heart and mind, ready to receive what He has for us. May He surprise us with His goodness and grace, and may we receive all that He has in store for us. May your long-awaited expectations meet God's provisions this week, in Jesus' name.

 

Prayer/Action

* Pray for grace to expect and receive from God always. 

* Declare: I trust in God's goodness and grace, and I receive all that He has for me.

 

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: This month I shall rejoice and be glad. The forces of sorrow and pain shall flee from me permanently, in the beautiful name of Jesus.