INTRODUCTION
WORLD-WIDE FASTING-PRAYER CRUSADE
JANUARY 1946
In 1946 a group of saints came together in San Diego, from
various denominations, to hear the teaching of Jesus ChristÕs Gospel
concerning prayer and fasting. Many of these Christians entered into
consecration fasts. A real test was made as to the efficacy of fasting. Some of
these fasts were from twenty-one to more than sixty days in continuous
duration, without food. They were burdened to see the Lord move in a special
spiritual way. These and many others wanted to see a worldwide revival for the
salvation and healing of mankind and the restoration of the gifts of the
Spirit.
The amazing results as these scores of Christians united in
fasting and praying were stupendous! The Holy Spirit in the Name of Jesus
performed many miracles of healing. Demons were cast out, lunatics healed,
cancers disappeared, the blind saw, the crippled walked, stomach ulcers
disappeared, palsy was quieted, tuberculosis healed, asthma, bronchitis, the
smoking and drinking habits were given up and many more sicknesses vanished.
Scores of folk were baptized at the altars.
In this revival auditorium that the author was temporarily
in charge of, we were privileged to see a thousand souls find Jesus that year.
These converts were mostly service men from various parts of the nation. They
also helped to carry the message across the seas.
A continuous chain of fasting, and all night prayer meetings
conducted by Sister Helen Hall, went on for many months. She writes, ÒI went
into 21 days of fasting. In the next revival meeting after this fast, we saw
over 3,000 souls saved. I could lay hands on the sick and they would recover,
arthritis, TB, etc.Ó It was in the midst of these fasting prayer revivals that
this volume was born. From then on God burdened the author to launch a fasting
and prayer crusade. Soon many other ministers and spiritual saints of God
became burdened to encourage and teach prayer and fasting in a greater
way. Folk began fasting in Los Angeles and Southern California and then it
spread throughout the west, and north into Canada. Folk began fasting and.
praying across the nation. Soon this most powerful message had gone throughout
the world. Men and women travailed in the most powerful prayer prayed under the
influence of a consecration fast. Such soul hunger and travail moved the hand
of God and opened the windows of Heaven and God poured out His Spirit and Power
in a mighty way.
Many calls, yes thousands of letters would pour in from all
parts of the world asking for information on the deeper fastings, for truth
that would take them deeper and deeper with the Lord and open the doors so they
could have more of the Holy Spirit and His gifts. Even before ÒAtomic Power
with GodÓ was off the press, orders had come in for approximately five
thousand copies, and requests for thousands of pieces of literature. This
was a major financial problem, but our Lord supplied the need and members of
the body of Jesus made it possible to print millions of tracts on a subject sadly
neglected and overlooked, yet at our very fingertips.
Thousands of wonderful testimonies poured in from all over
the world verifying the mighty power of fasting and prayer. They testified to all
kinds of remarkable answers to fasting prayer: that the fasting type of prayer
is far more effectual than ordinary prayer.
The author launched fasting and prayer revivals throughout
the nation. Auditoriums were filled with crowds varying from a thousand to
fourteen thousand. These were non-sectarian--for all churches. (See
authorÕs book: ÒThe Fasting Prayer-Price $2.25). This started thousands of
people fasting and praying for a worldwide revival. This mighty tide of fasting
preceded, and was a prelude to the major evangelistic healing campaigns that
are stirring Christendom today, in which hundreds and even thousands are
converted in a single campaign.
We wish to express our appreciation to Christians everywhere
for helping to do their part in spreading, worldwide, this glorious part of our
JesusÕ message, fasting and prayer.
EVANGELIST T. L. OSBORN
(As given to the author while visiting with Brother and
Sister Osborn in their new house trailer during their wonderful tent-cathedral
campaign in Reading, Pa., where 3,000 souls found Jesus as their Savior and
many hundreds were healed from all manner of diseases. The East was
stirred by this campaign. Thousands were packed around the tent.)
We were happy to let you know that we feel our lives have
been revolutionized by fasting and praying to Jesus. It was by reading your
books that we were enabled to go into many days and weeks fasting and praying.
Both my wife and I have had many deep fasting and prayer experiences. My life
was so changed that God began using me in the healing ministry. As I began to
exercise the ministry of praying for the sick, more and more folks were healed.
One day while in deep consecration the Spirit spoke thus:
ÒMy son, as I was with Price, Wigglesworth and others, so will I be with thee.
They are dead, but now it is time for you to arise, to go and do likewise. You
can cast out devils; YOU heal the sick; YOU raise the dead; YOU cleanse the
lepers. Behold I give you power over all the power of the enemy. Be not afraid.
Be strong. Be of good courage. I am with thee, as I was with them. No evil
power shall be able to stand before THEE all the days of thy life, as you get
the people to believe my Word. I used those men in their day; now I desire to
use THEE.Ó
The challenge of this commission, given directly from the
Lord, caused me to tremble exceedingly, but I knew God meant every word He
had spoken.
More days and weeks of fasting and prayer followed this
tremendous commission, and more healings and miracles were the result.
We have been able to conduct Healing Campaigns already in
over a dozen of our states and on the island of Jamaica, B. W. I. In a single
campaign which we conducted, as many as one hundred and twenty-five deaf-mutes,
ninety totally blind, and hundreds of other equally miraculous deliverances
have resulted. Happy and joyful conversions have numbered as many as nine
thousand in one revival.
We found people all over the island acquainted with your
books and tracts. Many were fasting and praying for this revival before we
came.
Brother Hall, we wanted you to know, we do appreciate your
vision, and the tremendous way you have STIRRED THE WORLD with FASTING AND
PRAYER. We shall do all we can to push that part of the Gospel. We are going to
handle your books in our meetings and shall order them in large quantities. You
may send me one thousand of your, ÒBecause of Your Unbelief,Ó revival booklets.
Yours in Christ for the DELIVERANCE OF ALL,
T. L.
OSBORN
Box 4231, Tulsa 9, Oklahoma.
TESTIMONY FROM EVANGELISTS M. A. DAOUD
B. p. 1113 (Analakely) TananarÕive,
Madagascar
Dear Brother and Sister Hall:
Through some of our workers we learned that you are planning
a missionary trip to this area . . . . We have used your books and
practiced consecrate fasting for years and have enjoyed them so much. We
have taught the natives from them and hundreds have benefited from fasting and
the teachings of these truths. We will be happy to translate them into the
Malagasy language in this French Colony.
Our new tabernacle seats six thousand and you will be able
to minister to an overflow crowd in the building. Nearby we have facilities to
accommodate over forty thousand people. Your deliverance, fasting and
prayer ministry should stir the island. We have the only Pentecostal church on
the island of more than six million. When we first came here in 1961, the
crowds reached even to fifty thousand people. Please write us your wishes as
soon as you can, so we can start to work on it. We are looking forward with joy
in having you minister with us in Madagascar.
Sincerely in Him,
Brother and Sister M. A. Daoud
HYMAN APPELMAN
7339 Broadway
Kansas City, Mo.
January 8, l~65
Dear Brother Hall:
Someone was kind Ôenough to give me your book, ÒAtomic Power
With God Through Fasting.Ó It is tremendous. Most publishers, across the years,
in a half dozen different languages, send me their books for review,
knowing that my reviews will reach clientele that no other medium can
touch.
May I impose upon you by asking you to send me for review
any other of your books that you would like for me to read and to hold?
Thank you very much for your undoubted courtesy in this
matter.
Faithfully and gratefully yours,
Hyman Appelman
Gordon Lindsay Reports:
ÒWe believe that there is a great truth in prayer and
fasting, since Jesus, when speaking of the devil in the lunatic child, whom the
disciples could not heal, declared, ÔThis kind cometh not out but by prayer and
fasting.Õ We do realize that fasting to
seen of men for self-aggrandizement is futile and
profitless. But fasting with prayer has a place, as the Scriptures plainly teach.
We know of no writer whom God has so signally used to bring out Scriptural
truth on fasting, as Evangelist Franklin Hall. We feel that ÔAtomic Power with
GodÕ is the book of the hour for believers. We trust that this book will be a
special help to those whose prayers, for one reason or another, have not
been answered.
ÒMany of the associates of ÔThe Voice of HealingÕ magazine,
like myself, feel that fasting and prayer should have an important place in a
successful salvation-healing
ministry.Ó Brother
Gordon Lindsay Shreveport,
La.
BOY EVANGELIST
Little David was born in Phoenix, Arizona, Sept. 20, 1934.
He sang his first song at two years of age. He prayed his first prayer at three
years of age! At five Little David was about to go blind. He went on a
three-day fast with prayer, going into the woods with some other little boys to
pray. Satan talked to him and tried to discourage him the first day, but he
kept praying and fasting. On the third day he went into the woods again and his
prayer became more intense; the fast became prayer too. The windows of
heaven opened and he received the Holy Spirit after the Bible pattern, and
instantly he was completely healed and came home shouting! At the age of six he
had another wonderful experience. At seven he was injured by a taxicab and
again healed in answer to prayer. At nine years of age he was called to preach.
At that age his spirit left the body and for five hours Little David was in
heaven; a great light flashed in front of him, and he was called into the
ministry. ÒJesus told me to go, open my mouth, and He would fill it. I also
received knowledge of many things that are going to come to pass,Ó stated
Little David.
There is much more to this remarkable story of Little David
than appears on the surface. Let us go back before he was born. Little DavidÕs
father, Brother Jack Walker, was not seeing souls saved; he became heavily
burdened, crying out to God almost night and day, and still he was not
satisfied. Then he undertook a fast in almost ceaseless agony and prayer for
lost men and women. He received, from the sombre heavens above, a ray of hope,
although he did not know what it was all about. This much he did know, and
that was that God had answered his prayer. He felt that victory was his without
a shadow of doubt. His fast and prayer lasted for fourteen days. Immediately at
the conclusion of this fast, a soul was given to the parents, and nine months
later his son David was born. This child evangelist was to do more than his
father could ever do, and was very definitely given in answer to most fervent
prayers and FASTING.
Child and women preachers are last-day signs that Bible
prophecy is being fulfilled. See Joel 2:28.
The Lord Jesus has been waiting two thousand or more years for some group,
small or large, to actually be willing to RECEIVE the fullness of this
purchased price complete redemption work~ Happily, the Man-Child is the first
group to actually believe, qualifying themselves to RECEIVE the full, perfect
redemption which Jesus provided.
The greatest Ministry of all time is
emerging. The full bought, redemption-salvation ingredients are now coming
forth, emerging, not from the popular deliverance and fundamental group of
ministers and church systems, but out of a small dressing room, maternity ward
chamber, so to speak. The man-child will end up with the Kingdom of Heaven
stone, grown into a mountain kingdom, drawn for and around Jesus Christ, the
King of Glory in His Everlasting Kingdom.
Glory of the Cross
FASTING enables the LordÕs people to properly DISCERN THE
LORDÕS BODY (1 Cor. 11:29,30) The LordÕs glory body from attaining the glory of
the cross from His ascension back up in glory. His expedient return to glory
that He could bring it back to us through the Holy Spirit full baptism.
Only one part of our salvation has seemingly been taught.
The sin problem, eliminated by JesusÕ shed blood. The ÒSHORTNESS OF GLORYÓ
portion (See Romans 3:23) ÒFor all have sinned, (this portion taught over and
over) and come short of the glory of God;Ó The latter portion is the most
important for full redemption attainment, yet it has deplorably been left out.
Attention was called to the reader above. At least three
persons who fasted much did enter into a portion if not all of the Òshortness
of gloryÓ covering Comforter Baptism of Holy Ghost Fire! The restoration
of lost Garments of Adam and Eve. ÒThe Garments of SalvationÓ (Is. 61:10) The
Òglory that is seen upon oneÓ (Is. 60:1-5, 21, 22) also the protective
ingredients (illustrated above) outlined in Isaiah 4:5: (1) CLOUD, (2) SMOKE,
(3) FIRE, (4) and LIGHT.
THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TEACHING IN THIS VOLUME OF
FASTING RESULTS:
Fasting properly unto our Lord brings forth the glory of the
cross, enabling GodÕs people to come into full realization that we may also
obtain a fundamental Body felt as well as the fundamental Heartfelt salvation
experience: THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER TO COME UPON US. (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4,8;
2:3, 17, 19, Rev. 3:17, 18 etc.) Salvation in our heart is not enough. Salvation
upon us heals, protects from all harm and is accident sickness prevention!
THE ULTIMATE GOAL AND ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE CROSS HAS
NEVER BEEN REACHED BECAUSE... ONLY THE SHAME OF THE CROSS-
HAS EVER DARED TO BE PREACHED
THE THREE MEN, RECORDED, TO HAVE FASTED 40 DAYS
DEMONSTRATED THE GLORY OF THE CROSS! Moses received Body felt Salvation:
THE SUBSTANCE GLORY OF THE LORD UPON HIS PERSON. Elijah received the Glory of
the Cross Substance so mightily upon himself that he was translated without seeing
death. Jesus Christ, who found it necessary to empty Himself first of His
Shekinah Glory, paying the COST-PRICE SHAME OF THE CROSS, then afterwards arose
from the dead; BUT HIS RESURRECTION WAS NOT ENOUGH, it was likewise
necessary for him to get back up into His glory and be thereby reestablished in
it that we too may possess the protective glory of the cross substance which is
the kingdom of Heaven Glory.
Chapter I
ATOMIC POWER WITH GOD
Fear and hatred stalk the world today. No .one knows to what
use men will put the newly discovered force of atomic energy. Many other
devices of power would bring to pass the signs preceding the second coming of
Christ as foretold in Luke 21:26: ÒMenÕs hearts failing them for fear, for the
powers of heaven shall be shaken.Ó And the cause of it all is the sad fact that
manÕs spiritual development has lagged far behind his scientific development,
with his many inventions and discoveries of the physical forces of nature.
Spiritually and emotionally, mankind as a whole is not far
removed from the jungles, and is therefore, incapable of handling the forces of
nature that science has unleashed. Physical power, sufficient to disintegrate
the entire world, is at the fingertips of a few, but there has been almost no
development of spiritual power to control it. We have been wandering in the
wilderness.
This spiritual power is actually within the reach of all
followers of Christ. It is not so much that it has been forgotten, but rather
that it has never been taught and learned. ÒThe message of the Gospel is the
power of God unto Salvation.Ó Rom. 1:16. But we have overlooked a certain
fundamental part of the Gospel message.
The writer shall endeavor to present a spiritual atomic
power far greater than the physical force of all the atoms in the universe.
Jesus Christ has made this power available to all His people, who will follow
His Gospel pattern.
In 1848 A.D. the Aquarian Age was introduced to the world.
The era of invention began and the machine came into being, along with the age
of SPEED. Space and time began to shrink with the modern automobile, steam
engine, and airplane. Distance ceased to be a barrier. More progress in
scientific achievement was made in two generations than had been
accomplished in the preceding two thousand years.
What about spiritual power? Except for a sprinkling here and
there of the power of the Holy Spirit, scientific achievement has far
out-distanced manÕs gains in things of the Spirit.
In the natural we have the automobile to speed us on our
way. We have the steam engine shortening distance and also the airplane making
distance no longer a barrier, etc. Radar and television bring distant objects
nearer.
Surely if manÕs scientific achievement has increased in
momentum, there must also be something to be found somewhere in the Word of God
that will accelerate his SPIRITUAL PROGRESS. Like most scriptural truths, there
is something; but only the wise shall understand it. The seemingly
insignificance and misunderstanding may have been cause for its neglect. This
latent power is FASTING AND PRAYER. This is a prayer that is prayed under the
influence of fasting. Our spiritual progress will be like supersonic speed.
Thank
God there is something which makes for Spiritual progress that is more
scientific than anything man has accomplished to date, and which
accomplishes wonders for our Spiritual welfare in a very short time.
Without this knowledge, this goal might not be attained for many years, or
perhaps NEVER. That something is FASTING AND PRAYER.
Our ultimate aim and desire should be the EXALTING OF JESUS
CHRIST and the GLORIFYING OF HIM. Without prayer and fasting every
Christian will more or less mark time and fail in their purpose. The most
successful and the quickest method is through PRAYER AND FASTING; this
pleases Jesus and in pleasing HIM we are availing ourselves of GREAT
OPPORTUNITIES. ÒDelight thyself in the Lord; and He shall give thee the
desires of thine heart.Ó Ps. 37:4.
FASTING AND PRAYER make it far easier to DELIGHT OURSELVES
IN THE LORD, it will give us the light ON THIS POWER. SPACE AND TIME TO GOD
WILL SHRINK AND DISTANCE WILL CEASE TO BE, when one receives the potential
light and puts it into practice.
If, as many believe, the unleashing of atomic energy is the
prelude to the end of the earth, and if the seal judgments, the trumpet
judgments, and the vial judgments of Revelation will soon be upon us, then the
few who know and experience the saving power of God will do well to protect
themselves against the day of His wrath, by a last great awakening through
fasting and prayer. It will be the beginning of a new age for good, if the
power of the Spirit is developed to a high degree by many through the use of
the most powerful agent known to man, fasting and prayer. Without fasting,
prayer becomes ineffectual. Fasting restores and amplifies prayer power.
A twenty-one, or forty-day prayer and fast will most
assuredly hasten the Christian to such a deep and wonderful experience with God
that twenty-one days will equal twenty-one years. Forty days will equal forty
years. Experience shows that the forty-day period brings far greater
results than a shorter time. It will bring one closer to God more quickly than
any other way known.
Like the doctrine of divine healing, the doctrine of the
Holy Spirit, etc., the truth of fasting has been sadly neglected. Many other
forgotten Bible truths have been temporarily lost, only to be revived again in
these Òlatter daysÓ of this dispensation, the transition period between this
and the millennial dispensation. The truth of fasting is being revealed to us
now that we may secure the greater things of God, that we may receive the gifts
o/ the Spirit,Ó and that a mighty world-wide revival of spiritual power will
sweep over the world, with major signs and miracles in these last days. Fasting
is the most potent power of the universe, and is placed at the disposal of
every believer. A transformation in the body of Christ will begin, as
Christians fast and pray.
The practice of fasting is as old as humanity. More than two
thousand years ago, fasting was a custom advocated by the school of the natural
philosopher, Asclepiades, for curative purposes. The Roman historian, Plutarch,
said, ÒInstead of using medicine, fast a day.Ó Traces of ancient fasting are to
be found in ancient Chinese and Hindu writings, The Indians also practiced it.
It was used for religious purposes, as well as a method of restoring health. In
the olden days they recognized the value of a fast, but today people look on
fasting as a certain way to the grave. When a person speaks of fasting ten
days, twenty-one days or more, many think it something horrible. It is through
a lack of definite knowledge on the part of many, that this subject is so much
misunderstood.
Fasting is a CORNERSTONE of the Christian religion, yet
there is seldom, if ever, a complete sermon on the subject. Moreover, it is an
important, basic truth of the Bible; yet we so often overlook its value.
So important is fasting in the Mohammedan religion, that
they claim it to be one of the four pillars of the Mohammedan faith. This
explains one of the reasons why there is more fervor and zeal in their
religion, than in the Catholic or Protestant religions. Many Mohammedans take a
thirty-day fast every year. Fervor and zeal are definitely a result of the
fast. This is sadly lacking in our church of today. Fasting is mentioned in the
Scriptures approximately one-third as much as prayer, yet our present day
church member places it insignificantly in the background.
If Christians realized what great power and blessings they
are missing, they would be only too eager and happy to fast. One of the reasons
Satan cheats them out of this glorious experience, is through the
misunderstanding and confusion that is so generally prevalent in regard to
fasting.
Here is a testimony of a certain man who fasted fourteen
days in one of my meetings. This was in 1945, when the world-wide fasting
crusade was first launched.
UNDERWEIGHT-GAINS 29 POUNDS AFTER FASTING
ÒOn the thirty-first day of December, 1945, after hearing
Rev. Franidin Hall give some enlightening teaching on fasting, I started a
consecration fast. I partook of no food during the entire fast of fourteen
days. Water was taken for the purpose of cleaning out the system. I was a heavy
smoker, and it seemed impossible to give it up, but on the third day of the
fast I had no further desire for smoking. On the fourth day of the fast, hunger
left me entirely. A little later all weakness left; and to my surprise I
began feeling better and stronger day by day. I could pray more earnestly, and
with greater results. Several days later, I received the glorious baptism of
the Holy Ghost. I kept busy with my work which was not heavy. The fasting did
not bother me much. What Brother Hall tells you about fasting is true, in our
new spiritual consciousness our eyes are opened to discern the true nature of
our former natural environment. And it worked out just that way in my life. It
was a glorious experience.
ÒWhen I began the fast, I weighed one hundred and forty
pounds. This was twenty-nine pounds underweight. At the conclusion of the fast,
fourteen days later, I had lost sixteen pounds, for I weighed a hundred and
twenty-four pounds. Sixty days later I had not only regained the lost weight,
but also gained twenty-nine pounds more, which was exactly what a man of my age
should weigh, to the pound, that is, one hundred and sixty-nine pounds.
Everyone told me that I looked better than they had ever
seen me look, and I do feel better than I have felt for twenty years. All of my
nervousness is gone, and I have better complexion, and best of all, I have
received the Holy Ghost, and have a much deeper experience with the RECEIVES
THE Lord.
ÒMy fast was shorter than many of the other brothers
and sisters, but some day I hope to take a forty-day fast,
as it certainly was a glorious experience to fast fourteen days. People do not
know what they are missing.Ó
Charles Wilson
San Diego, California.
When we speak of ÒATOMIC POWER WITH GODÓ we are using a term
expressing something GREAT, and ÒAtomic PowerÓ is as good an expression as
we could possibly find to fill the bill. We are not exaggerating in the least
when we compare ÒFASTING AND PRAYINGÓ with the power of the atomic bomb,
because, to the Christian, fasting will truly bring atomic spiritual power.
ATOMIC BOMB
Robert deVore in CollierÕs, quotes some of the figures
released by the mission of investigation in Japan, on the atomic bomb.
(The Nagasaki and Hiroshima bombs probably detonated at about 1800 feet
altitude.)
ÒAt 2,500 feet from point of impact-if bomb had reached
earth-NOT from the point of explosion, 1,800 feet above, which would be
farther- the pressure exerted was approximately SIX TONS TO THE SQUARE FOOT.
ÒAt 4,200 feet, the pressure was a little more than ONE TON
PER SQUARE FOOT.
ÒThe first pressure noted above, is equivalent to a gale
force of wind at 150 miles per hour, multiplied by 133, which equals the
pressure of a wind blowing 20,000 miles per hour.
ÒThe second pressure noted, is equivalent to 24 times the
pressure of a 150-mile gale. Equals pressure of a 3,600-mile-per-hour
hurricane.
ÒThese enormous pressures are not wholly instantaneous, but
are slightly delayed in their application, giving the water time to partially
yield, and hence build up enormous wave effects. A vast, cone-shaped vortex is
created, with a terrific Òout-thrust,Ó and subsequent return, of the displaced
waters. No one can possibly calculate the true extent of this effect, but some
physicists have stated that a wave of great height will be created.
ÒConsider the effect on water of the temperatures developed.
The temperature of the atomic ÔSUNÕ is estimated at FOUR MILLION DEGREES
Fahrenheit. Combustible materials of all kinds will burn at 1.4 miles
distance. The ground temperature below the burst (at 1,800 feet altitude)
was certainly more than 1,500 degrees Centigrade. WATER WAS INSTANTLY
VAPORIZED,Ó says DeVore. ÒForests were scorched at 8,000 feet distance. All
these facts point to the instantaneous vaporization of MILLIONS OF TONS OF
WATER, to be thrown far into the upper atmosphere, and thence precipitated
in torrential rains in distant parts of the world.Ó
ÒThis isnÕt a bomb at all,Ó says General Farrell.
ÒThese are the Fires of the Universe,Ó says physicist Walter
Graham.
This is the GREAT NATURAL POWER that man has discovered.
But greater still, and more potent, is the spiritual atomic
power with God, that lies available to every Christian. The scientist can now
use and harness the power of the material atom, but the Christian can use and
harness the dynamic power of the great Creator of the atom. As the Creator is
greater than that which He has created, so is the power wielded by the
Christian, through fasting and prayer, greater than that wielded by the atomic
scientist. It is the purpose of this volume to show the Christian a sure
method, whereby he may obtain this mighty power, and may be able to move the
omnipotent hand of God. This will be our spiritual, atomic jet-propulsion
power.
Chapter II
WHAT IS FASTING?
Let us see what the word fast means. I believe
misunderstanding here causes much of our trouble about the subject of fasting.
It is here that Satan deceives the average Christian.
WebsterÕs, and also the Bible Dictionary, define fasting as,
Òabstinence from food. Especially as a religious observance.Ó (FAST: ÒTo
abstain from food.Ó). Now what does Webster say about water, as a food; or we
may ask the question, ÒIs water food ?Ò
First, we will consider WebsterÕs definition of food, and it
reads as follows: ÒFood: nutriment; nourishment in solid form.Ó
Food and water-drinking are two different things. To do
without water results in thirsting, and thirsting means, Òa great desire to
drink.Ó Fasting will be understood better if we recognize these facts. One
should not associate abstinence from water, with the subject of fasting; thus,
we see the contradistinction between food and water.
The confusion that exists in the mind of the Christian who
believes that
he is not to drink water in a fast, MUST be overcome. This
has prevented many people from fasting over a period of several days. Therefore
they have been deprived of some of the very greatest blessings.
We will describe the protracted fast, or a ÒComplete Fast.Ó
We are dealing with the type of fast taken by the Lord Jesus Christ. A fast
like that of Paul, or Daniel:
ÒBible Fast.Ó A complete fast is a fast from the time hunger leaves, until the
time hunger returns. Such a fast may continue from twenty-one to forty days,
depending on the individual, and also on the amount of time it takes you to get
your prayers through to Heaven.
Fasting and Starvation are also two entirely different
things.
DRINK WATER WHEN FASTING
To take a fast of this particular type, one must of
necessity drink water. It is absurd for people to think about fasting and
prayer without drinking water. Those who do this, do it in ignorance, and
should be corrected by some constructive teaching. However, one may attempt a
fast of a few days without drinking water, and find these facts to be immaterial.
Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and to attempt a
major fast without water, would defile and pollute the body. Scripture states:
ÒIf any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy.Ó I Cor. 3:17.
Instructions are given by Christ in the Sermon on the Mount
(Matt. 6:16-18) that Òwhen thou fastest, anoint thine 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.Ó Washing the
face is a sign of cleanliness. If it is good to wash your face to keep the
toxic stains from face and body (washing being a type of cleanliness before
God), then how much more logical it is to put water in your mouth, to clean out
the corruption in the stomach. The stomach becomes deflated, collapsed, and
depressed, when water is withheld long enough, and a person gets into bad
shape. Without water, when fasting, the system will choke up, and the body
becomes filthy, internally. The tongue, which is the upper part of the stomach,
becomes heavily coated when fasting, showing visibly a part of the pollution
that is in the stomach. Some doctors maintain that some food particles remain
in the intestinal tract for more than a month, until putrefaction is worse than
any garbage pail.
For the first few days of the fast, the stomach, tongue, and
body, become heavily laden with the corruption that is trying to loosen itself.
These particles that have remained in the stomach unassimilated, with other
fecal matter, require a great deal of water to break them down and help soften
this material so that it can be eliminated. Cramps, displeasure, misery, and
other discomforts, are frequently experienced during this initial period.
Water aids in the loosening and softening of this fecal matter without which
the corruption will harden; the worms and bugs, which are nearly always
present to some extent, will dry up on the intestines, the tongue will
eventually thicken, and if the thirsting fast is prolonged, the individual will
die, unless the Lord intervenes.
Paul knew the difference between ÔthirstingÓ and Òfasting.Ó He
distinguishes them in II Cor. 11:27, Òin hunger and thirst, IN FASTINGS
OFTEN.Ó If Òhunger and thirstÓ were the same thing as Òfasting,Ó he would not
have repeated the same thing, any more than ÒcoldÓ and ÒnakednessÓ are the
same. Please note that a comma is inserted between each phrase. Paul was also
educated.
A person should not only recognize the value of the fast,
but whether your fast continues ten days, two weeks, forty days, or longer,
your bowels should move every few days. If a person does not drink water while
the fast is in progress, how can these channels of elimination function
properly? The drinking of water will continue the process of cleaning while the
fast continues. If the bowels do not move, please do not worry; there is
no cause for alarm. Some folksÕ bowels do not move at all during the entire
fast.
The drinking of water does not prevent one from drawing
closer to God. Water is pure, and is a type of Salvation, and of the Holy
Spirit. (John 4:14.) Water, unlike corruptible food, evaporates into the
atmosphere, while food goes back to the earth. Water is not stimulating, while
food is. Food feeds the appetites of carnality; water does not.
When an individual fasts, his pores become laden with
toxins, especially his hands and face, therefore, he should bathe externally as
often as possible.
In about two weeks, more or less, the average individual
will have most of the wastes, poisons, toxins, fecal materials, etc.,
eliminated. That is, unless this individual has a deep-seated functional
ailment. Even if this be the case, this should be relieved and healed if the
fast is continued.
It is quite evident that Jesus took water while fasting
forty days. There are four things that bear evidence in this regard. Shall we
study our LordÕs fast?
1. Matthew
4:2-11: ÒWhen he had fasted.Ó We pointed that the definition of fasting does
not exclude water drinking, and it does not mention that Jesus thirsted forty
days, in the Scriptures. It is called a fast, and not a thirst.
2. ÒHe
was afterward an hungered.Ó It does not say that He afterward thirsted. When a
person does without both food and drink, water means far more to him than food.
A man can go days without food, but this same individual can go but a very
short time without water. Especially is this true in a hot and torrid climate.
It seems very evident that Jesus did drink water. For at the
time of the feeding the 4,000 (Mark 8:3), bread and fishes were offered after
they had been fasting for three days, and Jesus, according to Scripture, did
not offer them water, because they had no need of it. Water was available in
the springs and brooks nearby.
3. Satan
knew that He wasnÕt thirsty, because he did not tempt Him with water. He said,
ÒCommand that these stones be made bread.Ó
4. The
answer that the Son of God gave to Satan, is very evident. ÒMan shall not live
by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.Ó
This seems to prove that He had partaken of water, for we must notice, in this
connection, the failure to mention water.
You may ask if the fast that Jesus took was a supernatural
one. No, this fast was not in any way a supernatural fast, for fasting is not
supernatural, whether it is done by our Lord, or by the ones for whose
salvation He paid the great price. ÒFASTING IS A SCIENCE.Ó Anyone can fast for
long periods of time, but only the Christian can expect supernatural results.
The fast of Jesus can be said to be natural, on the ground that after His fast,
He hungered. The natural hunger that had left his body for a time, returned
again. This is true in any fast, if the fast is prolonged to its normal
completion, when true hunger returns.
Critics who say that only Jesus could fast forty days, and that no one
else can do so, are condemning something they know nothing about. They are in
need of trying a fast themselves, then they would realize with a great
awakening, the value of fasting.
The argument is brought to us that Moses fasted forty days. Please tell
me what Scripture states this? In Exodus 34:28-29, we read, ÒAnd he was there
with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink
water.Ó This abstinence was not called FASTING HERE, as failing to drink water
is outside the meaning of the word. Why change the meaning of the word FASTING?
On the mount, Moses was Òthere with the Lord for forty daysÓ-this explains why
Moses did not drink water-he was with the Lord, literally with the Lord. I am
certain that if we were allowed to stand in His presence and be with God, we
would neither have to eat, drink, or breathe, whether we were with Him forty
days, or forty years. Actually the Lord Himself is our Food, Drink and
Sustainer. This was true with Moses, because (Vs. 29) -ÒThe skin of his face
shone while he talked with Him.Ó The children of Israel were actually afraid of
Moses. For he had received supernatural radiation that was far more real than
food and drink. He had to veil his face to talk to them. When Moses died, he
had the strength and constitution of a young man: ÒHis eye was not dim, nor his
natural force abated.7 Deut. 34:7.
The worldÕs largest alligator farm is in Los Angeles. Almost 2000
alligators are in captivity. Upon a recent visit, I learned that the creatures
enter into a suspended animation for six months out of every year. They do not
eat, drink or even breathe for six months out of the year. When it gets warm,
they come out of their Òanti-worldÓ environment and gradually break into eating
again. They have learned the art of eating, drinking and breathing that is
incomparable to anything we humans can do. This suspended animation may be
comparable to MosesÕ forty-day food-abstension without both food and water.
If any person fasts without taking water, and he can do so if he wishes,
I must say, ÒAmen.Ó However, any person can take short fasts of several days
only, without water, as well as food, and still receive spiritual benefits for
their sacrifice. See Esther 4:16, ÒFast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink
three days.Ó
Doing without food will give you that spiritual uplift and power, with
or without water. This has been proven many times. This fact is true in the
fast of a few days, but we are now dealing with the long fast, which will give
one power to do mighty things, seemingly the impossible, the fast that will
break down denominational barriers and restore the body of Christ to its place
of power and into the unity of the faith.
Dr. Tanner, who
fasted over forty days on three occasions, declared that in the second half of
each of the three fasts, the unspeakable glories of the world beyond were
revealed to him. Dr. Tanner lived to be ninety-two years of age, and gave
credit to fasting for his longevity of life. In Dr. TannersÕ day they ridiculed
ChristÕs fast, saying, Ònobody could fast that long.Ó Dr. Tanner challenged
them. His first fast lasted over forty days, and was under observation by his
disbelievers. He was weighed and checked daily; thus he broke down the ridicule
of fasting in his time. Dr. Tanner was a physician as well as a Christian. His
first fast was so glorious, BLACK HAIR REPLACES that later on he took
additional fasts of over forty days. After his last fast a crop of new black
hair appeared in place of the grey hair.
Luther fasted for days at a time, while translating the Bible, and
herein un doubtedly lies the secret of his unrivaled translation, and it is also responsible for bringing the
reformation revival of his time. His great faith was likewise largely through
the revelation of GodÕs presence, which is revealed through PRAYER AND FASTING.
Thank God for men that get a vision, who will go all out.
LUST HUNGER
ÒAnd they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their
lust. Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the
wilderness?Ó God at first did not readily give them food as they did not
actually need it. This food was wanted to satisfy an appetite of LUST which is
habit hunger.
God did, however, give them ÒangelÕs foodÓ and Òsent them
meat to the full. He gave them their own desire.Ó And they were destroyed. ÒHe
gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.Ó See Ps. 78:29-34.
A close study of the Scriptures will show clearly that sin
is sin. The partaking of an over-amount of food is classed in the category of
sin, because the same damage is done to the body, as by alcohol, tobacco,
dope, etc. This fact is also emphasized by Jesus Christ when He was tempted by
Satan for forty days. He was tempted to command the stones to become food.
JesusÕ answer was very effective, ÒMAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY
EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDETH OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.Ó See Deut. 8:3 and Matt.
4:4. Again Jesus shows what value the world will place on food when ÒThe Son of
Man cometh. For as in the days that were before the flood, they were EATING AND
DRINKING. So shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.Ó Jesus is not
criticizing the eating to live. But He is greatly condemning the Òliving to
eat,Ó that is so prevalent everywhere. It is a sign of the last days. The sign
that tells us that the coming of our Lord draweth nigh.
In Matt. 24:37, 38, and Luke 21:34, eating is placed ahead
of drinking.
Chapter III
THE BACKGROUND FOR REVIVAL
ÒSANCTIFY A FAST, CALL A SOLEMN ASSEMBLY:Ó Joel 2:15.
To see our loved ones saved, souls converted and a sweeping
revival come in our midst; to have God work miracles, and heal our diseases,
and pour out His Holy Spirit, we must start a fast and prayer in the home.
ÒLORD, let it begin in me!Ó Even if you are the only converted member of the
family, you can get hold of God in such a way, by FASTING AND PRAYER that
Jesus, seeing your fervor and zeal developing the faith for the salvation of
your loved ones, will most certainly hear your prayer and convert them. Many
times a person has done this, and not only were the loved ones converted,
but the Lord so rewarded them that an Òold-fashionedÓ revival swept the whole
community, saving, healing, and blessing mightily with the Spirit.
In 1932 the Holy Spirit led the author into his first
revival meeting. He knew only three families in the Oklahoma oil town, Nowata.
One of these families believed and practiced fasting and prayer. Together we
prayed and fasted ahead of time for the meeting that we knew God was going to
give us. The foundation was properly laid for a revival, and a revival we
certainly did have. There was no building big enough to take care of the crowd,
so we secured three acres of ground and had an open air meeting (this was in
July). People packed the place from the first service. We kept building seats,
and the crowd continued to increase every evening. People gathered from all
over Northeastern Oklahoma and Southeastern Kansas for the meetings. Scores of
people were healed of all types of afflictions. One lady who had been in a car
wreck with broken ribs, was carried to the services on pillows; she was
instantly healed. A deaf and dumb boy was enabled to hear and speak. A man who
could not lift his arm, and had been paralyzed, was healed of his paralysis and
was able to lift his arm. Many more received notable healings. Folks were
under the power of His Spirit. Many were baptized.
Within
three months from the time we started the meeting, we built a church, and got
it paid for, so that the people could
continue to have a place to worship in truth and in Spirit.
ALL OF THESE RESULTS WERE TRACED DIRECTLY TO
PRAYER AND FASTING. My brother assisted me in the
meeting. The church is still progressing for the glory of God to this
day.
FASTING FOR THE HOME
If
church leaders and parents, the heads of churches and homes, do not live up to
Ô~the faith which was once delivered unto the saints,Ó how can we expect our
children to be saved? FASTING WAS AS SURELY A PART OF THE FAITH that was once
delivered unto the saints as anything else. Fasting is one of the great
foundation piers of the Christian religion. The structure of the Christian
religion is built upon the vital truth of prayer and fasting. It was a vital
part of the early church. Therefore, the great results that accompanied it were
seen in those early days.
The lack of fasting explains the great Òfalling away,Ó the
Òlosing their first love,Ó because man cares more for his Òdesire-nature,Ó than
for the fortification of his soul. People have failed to follow the complete
pattern of the faith formula of Christ, given in Matthew, chapter seventeen, or
Mark 9:29. They not only failed to have power to do the impossible, but after
the days of the apostles the church became powerless, and eventually began to
say that the days of healing were over; that the miracles were not for them
anymore; the Holy Spirit, after the Bible pattern, was forsaken, and the power
of the apostolic age was lost. Many splits soon divided the church of Jesus
Christ. The men of old that had fasted and prayed, and who had power with God
to perform miracles of healing, had either died, or had been martyred. The
younger generations discontinued the use of fasting.
Matt.
9:15: ÒThe days will come, when the Bridegroom shall be taken away from them,
and then shall they fast. How many ÒChildren of the BridegroomÓ are obeying
ChristÕs command, Òthen shall they
fastÓ? It is here that our Lord lays upon us, as the children of the bridegroom
the duty of fasting: ÒWhen the Bridegroom shall be taken from them, then shall
they fast.Ó And as long as our Bridegroom tarries, just so long should we
continue to fast, until that happy day when He returns and fasting need be no
more.
It
wasnÕt as necessary to fast while Jesus was here on earth, because He had
fasted to obtain the more perfect faith. After He left we could have had
through FASTING the same power and FAITH that His visible presence gave.
INDIAN TRIBES PRACTICE FASTING
Many,
if not all, the American Indian tribes sought revelation of the Great Spirit
through Prayer and Fasting. When they had famines, food shortages, lack of
rain, etc., the Great Spirit was sought through prayer and fasting, and their
prayers were answered. In certain tribes nearly all Indian children who came to
the age of puberty were set aside in prayer CHILDREN FAST and a fast of seven
Ôto ten days, to burn out, so to speak, the evil sex desires, so that they
would have high moral thoughts, and live a high spiritual life. As they grew
and developed into manhood or womanhood the practice of fasting was
continued. Is not this a lesson for the American home of today? If this method
were taught and put into practice in our day, we would not see as many
disobedient sons and daughters who are the source of such grief and heartaches
to their parents.
A
survey was recently disclosed by a writer of the well-known periodical, the
ÒPresbyterian,Ó which reveals facts that are alarming: Out of 49,000,000 young
people in the United States, 36,000,000 have never set foot inside any church,
of any creed. This same writer in another survey, learned from questionnaires
sent to 55,000 children of school age, that 16,000 of them had never heard of
the Ten Commandments, let alone quote the LordÕs prayer.
FASTING
FOR CHILDREN
Fasting is beneficial to children. When a child becomes ill,
very often several meals, or several days fasting, will fix up everything. Many
children as they grow and eat rich foods, develop a pimpled complexion. The
source of the condition is in the stomach. The stomach tries to unload its
poisonous material in the blood, and to some extent through the skin. Only a
few days of fasting will eradicate all traces of the symptoms. If proper eating
is undertaken, it should not return. Scores of minor and major ailments of
young people could be whipped by a short fast. Girls would not find it
necessary to wear Òmake-up,Ó if they would fast and pray more. A natural,
healthy complexion would be the result.
Babies quite frequently suffer from over-feeding rather than
under-feeding. If one considers how small a baby is, and analyzes the great
quantity of food that is given to him, in proportion to the food of an adult,
one would find it enormous. Adults would have to drink twenty-one quarts of
milk daily, to be the equivalent of a babyÕs food. The Òcolic,Ó Ògases in the
stomach,Ó Òbelching,Ó Òvomiting,Ó Òdiarrhea,Õ and many other baby disturbances
can be quickly eliminated by a fast of one or more meals.
METHODIST MINISTER GETS CHURCHES REVIVED
Dear Brother Hall:
I am a Methodist minister who received your book two years
ago.
After fasting and praying ten days for a revival in three
Methodist churches that 1 am in charge of, God stirred and sent revivals in our
midst. The Lord richly blessed us in many ways. A Roman Catholic and his
Protestant wife were among those gloriously saved.
In one of my churches an Italian lady to whom I gave one of
your books, went on a fast of twenty-three days for her old Catholic mother who
came from the old country, was blind, and about to die. She was praying to
beads and images. She became interested in Jesus and learned how to pray
to the Lord. Finally she was gloriously saved.
The lady who fasted twenty-three days was hopelessly
afflicted with kidney stones. The doctor could do nothing for her, and said an
operation would be necessary. Well praise the Lord, she has not had an attack
since her fast two years ago.
Before I became acquainted with fasting, my people said, ÒWe
have never heard of fasting.Ó I said, ÒBless your heart, have you never read
your Bible?Ó
Pray for me as I work in these Methodist churches, and
kindly send a good supply of pamphlets on fasting.
Yours in Him,
R. B.
Krape, Woodhine,
R.F.D. No. 1. Eldora,
N. J.
We urge you to obtain the authorÕs book, Ô~Glorified
Fasting,Ó This is volume two of the set of five different books.
ÒGlorified FastingÓ gives the Òwhys,Ó Òwhats,Ó Òwhens,Ó and ÒwhereforesÓ of
Fasting. It goes completely into this subject in a different manner and approaches
it from a different
viewpoint. NOTE:
The above set, with subscription to the great magazine
ÒMiracle WordÓ will be sent to you for
offering of $15.00 P.P.
Chapter lV
JESUSÕ FAST
Three of the most highly developed spiritual giants of the
Bible are three who fasted for the full length of FORTY DAYS. First and
foremost is our Lord Jesus Christ who Òwas led up of the Spirit into the
wilderness, and when He had fasted forty days and forty nights . . .Ò Second,
we have the mightiest spiritual giant of the entire Old Testament, Moses, who
Òwas there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread,
nor drink water,Ó and who, on a second occasion, Òfell down before the Lord
forty days and forty nights; I did neither eat bread, nor drink water.Ó And
third, we have the mighty prophet Elijah, that called down the Òfire of the
Lord that consumed the burnt sacrifice,Ó and Òwho prayed earnestly that it
might not rain, and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and
six months,Ó and we read of him that he went without eating, Òin the strength
of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.Ó When the
apostle James wanted to select a man who was an example of Òeffectual fervent
prayer,Ó he chooses Elijah, a man who could go for forty days without eating.
It is the man who fasts, who has the spiritual character that can pray through
on a really big job. When God said that He would destroy the whole Israelite
nation for their sin, it is ÒMoses His chosen,Ó who fasted forty days, and
Òstood before Him in the breach, to turn away His wrath, lest He should destroy
them.Ó Psalm 106:23.
Other folk of great importance and high spirituality that
fasted during long periods when they were under great mental strain and
tribulation, are Anna the prophetess, David, Daniel, John the Baptist, and
Paul. A close study of their lives shows they gained great spiritual strength
by fasting and prayer, that otherwise they would not have received.
Fasting was part and parcel of the very life of Christ, and
yet this very essential part of Christian life has been ignored by many
Christians as if it were an unsolved mystery. It was never meant to be hidden,
and should never have been so overlooked. This may explain why we have not had
a more complete outpouring of the latter rain. Surely such a stupendous truth
cannot continue to be a secret hidden in plain sight for over nineteen hundred
years. The strides and progress of man in other channels have been so
enlightening and progressive. Surely we feel that it is time, long past due,
for all to Òlabor for Christ,Ó in whom are hidden all treasures of wisdom and
knowledge. Try this truth that gives such a treasure-house of riches and
strength. We do not fast to merit favor from God or as a penance.
We read that ÒJesus was led up of the Spirit into the
wilderness to be tempted of the devil.Ó And the very next sentence tells us
that He fasted. Why did He fast at the very time He was being tempted? For we
read in LukeÕs Gospel that He was Òforty days tempted,Ó and in those same forty
days ÒHe did eat nothing.Ó What is the connection between temptation and
fasting? Is it not that fasting is the mightiest possible preparation of soul,
to insure victory over temptation? And would we not do well to follow our
LordÕs example, and avail ourselves of this mighty weapon with which to meet
and overcome him Òwho goeth about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may
devourÓ?
We are not told in Matthew, chapter four, the reason for His
fast. But in Matthew, chapter seventeen, Jesus explains it. Before this time
His disciples were not able to bear this teaching. The great revelation of why
He fasted, was shown when He healed this lunatic boy, and answered the question
that the disciples had asked Him: ÒWhy could not we cast him out?Ó Matt. 17:19.
Please remember that Christ, as well as being God, was also
in the flesh as man.
It seemed that the disciples had become a reproach, or
disgrace to Christ, because they could not heal this individual. They apparently
were ashamed of themselves so they came to Jesus secretly, to ask of Him the
reason why they were not able to cast out the demons. Then the secret of JesusÕ
fast was revealed, and He showed to them and to us what ÒSuper-Atomic PowerÓ
one can have. Anyone can have that power, thank the Lord. All can have it who
will follow the instructions given by Him, and plainly taught throughout
the Bible. ÒHave Faith as a grain of mustard seed . . . and nothing shall be
impossible unto you . . . by prayer and fasting.Ó Matt. 17:20, 21.
The disciples were helpless. No one could give help in this
major prayer problem except One. That Person had fasted forty days and forty
nights, and He was the only one in the midst who had so fasted. Praise His
name!
However, Jesus clearly shows that anyone who had had a
prayer and fasting experience, could cast out the evil spirit, for He says,
ÒThis kind cometh out by prayer and fasting.Ó Our Lord teaches here the big
difference between prayer alone, and prayer, combined with fasting.
In that momentous struggle of forty days of fasting JESUS
had AVAILED HIMSELF OF THE MOST POWERFUL AID AT HIS DISPOSAL. Jesus
fasted in order to secure His perfect faith from His
humanity side, and He urged fasting upon His disciples to remedy their weak
faith. He declared that they would fast, using the words, ÒThen will they
fast,Ó and gave directions in Matthew chapter six, which are intended to insure
to all of His followers the same benefits of fasting which He obtained. The
disuse of fasting is in direct opposition to the practice, example, and the
teaching, of Christ.
There is no record of Christ healing the sick, or performing
any miracle, until after he had fasted forty days and forty nights. After this
mighty fast, and not before, He was fully equipped, capable, and prepared for
any and all emergencies. At this moment, how much Faith have you at your
disposal, to meet any obstacle?
When Jesus was twenty-one years old the record shows He had
not yet performed a miracle. At twenty-five, he still had no healings,
miracles, and no manifestation of His Divine Sonship. He became twenty-six,
twenty-seven, twenty-eight and twenty-nine years of age, and yet, no miracles
or manifestations. Why? He had not received the fullness of the Holy
Spirit, and had not spent forty days fasting. It was necessary for Jesus to be
prepared and have all the spiritual equipment, before He went forth to perform
His mighty works.
SatanÕs rage knew no bounds at the conclusion of ChristÕs
fast, and he sought ways and means to subdue Him. Christ could not have been
tempted by something He did not need. But we read that Òwhen He had fasted
forty days and forty nights, He was afterward an hungered.Ó Now, Jesus could
turn these stones into bread and yield to an appetite similar to the one Eve
yielded to in the Garden of Eden. The answer that Jesus gave was not only an
answer to Satan, but throws a challenge to all humanity: ÒMan shall not live by
bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.Ó Matt.
4:4.
Jesus received the Holy Spirit, but this did not seem
sufficient. It requires fasting and prayer to operate the Holy Ghost.
Jesus, at thirty years of age, only after praying and
fasting forty days and forty nights, began to manifest Himself as the Son of
God with all power, signs, and wonders. There was such an awakening! Fasting is
the most powerful means at the disposal of every child of God. Fasting
literally becomes prayer to the praying Christian, prayer that is as different
as an atomic bomb compared to an ordinary bomb. Prayer alone is like the
ordinary bomb, and the fast with prayer, is comparable to the Super-Atomic
Bomb.
Jesus knew the positive value of prayer and fasting, and was
confident that they were the only means to the end that He sought. Jesus fasted
in order that prayer might become prayer in the highest sense-might reach its
highest intensity. He blazed the way that we are to follow. Although Jesus knew
He was the Son of God, this assurance was stamped more indelibly upon Him by
the prayer and fasting of forty days.
Satan was not too much interested in Christ until He was
ready to MANIFEST HIS SONSHIP. Then and only then, after His forty-day
fast, was Satan right on the job, ready to assail Him in every way that he
could. If Christ was immune, and could not have sinned or yielded to Satan at
this time, then this would have been the greatest farce that the world has ever
seen. Surely, Christ could have yielded to this temptation. Satan knew that He
could, and set about to try Him. Jesus Christ, with fasting back of Him, was
well prepared for the attack. We are so thankful that although Jesus was
tempted and tried in every manner, as we are, yet He did not yield to
temptation; He victoriously overcame Satan. We can likewise be an over-comer.
Fasting and praying, then, aids us in overcoming temptations
and trials, and prepares us to meet the attacks of the enemy.
When we fast and pray, we should never lose sight of the
fact that our FAST must be for THE GLORY OF GOD, that Jesus shall continually
have ALL PRAISE, HONOR, AND GLORY. A continual PRAISE, along with our PRAYERS,
SHOULD ALWAYS BE IN OUR HEARTS TO OBTAIN THE FULLEST SPIRITUAL RESULTS. In
other words, make it a time of FASTING AND PRAISE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD. Jesus,
our MEDIATOR, is the ONE WHO WILL SEE THAT WE ARE RICHLY REWARDED. THE ONE WHO
ÒBOUGHT US WITH HIS OWN BLOODÓ IS CERTAINLY WORTHY OF MUCH PRAISE AND HONOR. A
PRAISE THAT CONTINUALLY FLOWS FROM THE HEART IS LIKE INCENSE THAT RISES TO THE
THRONE OF GOD. The four beautiful LIVING CREATURES of Rev. 4:8, ÔREST NOT DAY
AND NIGHT, SAYING, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, WHICH WAS, AND IS,
AND IS TO COME.Ó This may sound very foolish to the sinner, but to the child of
God it sounds like, ÒHALLELUJAH !Ò AMEN.
FASTS
40 DAYS-SEES MIGHTY DETROIT REVIVAL
At nineteen years of age I was dying with the flu. My
temperature was 106 degrees! It was on this death bed that I surrendered
completely to God. I promised the Lord I would preach the Gospel, if He would
heal me. Then I was caught up to heaven for twelves hours, and saw the glories
of that wondrous land. When I came back I was perfectly healed, ready to work
for Him who raised me up so miraculously.
Praise His name!
Even at that young age, God said, ÒIf I would be faithful in
fasting and praying, He would raise up workers all over the world in their own
tongues.Ó He also gave me Mark 10:29-30 as a call to travel and do exploits in
His name. I was shown many other things as I started my life with fastings and
praying like Paul. Many times my fastings were from three days to a week and
longer. In some of my fasts the Lord gave me much revelation concerning the
time we live. In the beginning of my Christian experience, while on a
two-weeksÕ fast, I cried and prayed until Jesus became so real that one night
He appeared in my room. The room was all lighted up, brighter than the sun!
Jesus stood at the foot of my bed, and around Him was a light much brighter
than the sun. This great experience was very impressive and for a long time I
secmed to be walking on air. Shortly after that, while fasting five days, the
Lord filled me with a peculiar experience. A missionary from Rome told me that
I was speaking a message, and glorifying and praising the Lord in his Italian
language. Yet I had never spoken Italian before. It must have been the Holy
Spirit talking The missionary interpreted what I was saying into English.
After giving up my job, 1 went on a partial fast for three
months, eating only once a day. The Lord gave me intercession for souls.
After praying and fasting seven days to see sinners
converted, and to ask the wonderful Lord to give me more of Him, the Lord
sent a revival meeting to Dayton, Ohio, where the Lord healed a multitude of
sick folk and converted many souls. My prayer was also answered in another way
when a lady gave me Dr. Franklin HallÕs book on fasting and prayer. This deeper
fasting experience was what I wanted. I was now able to fast longer than a
week or two. I was so burdened for
sinners, and that their bodies might be healed, that 1 could hardly sleep at
night. With my longer fasting I could get greater victories for my
intercession. I could see what God will do when multitudes begin to fast. Jesus
showed me that before long there would be workers all over the world who would
fast and travail for souls. This would bring great revivals, yes, greater than
the world has ever seen, even greater than when Jesus was here. It would seem
unbelievable in the natural, if it were not for this Word: ÒThe works that I do
shall ye do also; and greater works than these shall ye do; because .1 go unto
my Father.Ó John 14:12.
After fasting forty days without food, with Jesus
strengthening me, I saw many more miracles and demonstrations of the Holy
Spirit. I saw the Òdry bonesÓ of Ezekiel take life. As I continued to agonize
and weep for lost souls, the spirit of heaviness was upon me to such an extent
that it seemed that my spirit would leave the body. I saw, in a vision, thirty
thousand souls appear before me, finding Christ as their Saviour, in a coliseum
in Detroit, Michigan. (SINCE THIS REVELATION TO BROTHER BARTH, THERE HAVE COME
TO DETROIT SOME MIGHTY HEALING-SALVATION-OUTPOURINGS, through Sister Beal,
Brother Win. Branham, Brother T. Osborn, Brother G. Lindsay, Brother F. Bosworth
and LITTLE DAVID.) I saw, in a vision, another 10,000 find Jesus in an open
field. Many churches, auditoriums and big tents were packed. A mighty revival
is coming through fasting and prayer, but I was shown how the wealthy Laodicean
churches were dealt out judgment. Their false leaders were given the judgment
of Ananias and Sapphira, when they lied to the Holy Spirit.
When I was reading Brother HallÕs books on fasting, the
sweetest incense came down from heaven, setting a seal of approval upon them.
They present a teaching of Jesus Christ that, if followed, will truly bring a
world revival among dying and lost humanity. I believe this is Jesus ChristÕs
truth, and it is the message of the hour for cold, sleepy and backslidden
Christians.
Your Brother in Christ,
Leonard Barth, 1776 Cherry St.
Youngstown 8, Ohio.
FASTING CAUSES CHANGE IN ENVIRONMENT
ÒAnd He humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed
thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that He
might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word
that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.Ó Deut. 8:3. This
depicts in a wonderful manner how God sought to change the environment of
the children of Israel that they might be transformed from the habits and lusts
of the old environment of the land of Egypt, and made ready for the new
environment of the land of Canaan. Much spiritual preparation was needed before
they would be prepared to enter the new land of promise. The bondage of Egyptian
environment was rooted in their minds, bodies and souls. They still lusted
after the old things of sin, their old habits, and the traditions of the world.
Because they failed to accept the forced fast that was put upon them by an
all-loving and wise Lord, they were required to break down this environment the
hard, long way. By failing to fast and break down the bondage of environment in
a few days time, and then march right into the promised land, they were
consequently compelled to march around in circles for forty years, as many of
us are doing today, that the flesh might be broken, and that the old stubborn,
bound individuals might die, before taking the promised land.
We too can miraculously change our Christian environment in
ten days or more of fasting. It would otherwise require many long years. It
might be doubtful if much progress could be made, the long way.
ENVIRONMENT
CHANGED-SPIRITUAL GIFTS RECEIVED
Dear Brother Hall:
I can never tell you in words what the teaching of fasting
and prayer, as set forth in your book, ÒAtomic Power with God,Ó has meant to
me. I was earnestly seeking more on this subject, when this book fell into my
hands. I simply devoured its great truth, backed by the Word of God.
Immediately I went on a consecration fast; God came on the scene, and shortly I
received gifts of healing.
I feel that you have the message of the hour, the one that
will awaken the sleeping church, and cause men and women to become stirred to
the realization that Jesus is coming soon. God is- pouring out His gifts of the
Spirit in these days. I attribute the success of my ministry to the message God
gave you on fasting and prayer, that you so generously made Ômany sacrifices to
give to the body of Jesus Christ.
Your Sister in His service,
Evangelist Thelma Nickel, 405 5. Wheeling Ave., Tulsa 4,
Oklahoma.
DAVIDÕS FAST
All Christians are delighted to read the Psalms; they
encourage us to press onward. They are filled with scores of promises and
blessings for believers. The Psalms are a product of Fasting and Prayer. The
sublime utterances in the Psalms are not exaggerations, as has been asserted by
some. Only in the realm of higher receptivity made possible by prayer and
fasting, is the soul able to receive such revelations as Psalms 35:13; 69:10;
Psalm 78:18-32;
107:17-18 and 109:22-26; II Sam. 12:16-23.
David sought God in long fasts; in fact he fasted so long at
times, that he looked like a skeleton. Psalm 109:23, ÒI am tossed up and down
as the locust. My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of
fatness. I became a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me, they shaked
their heads.Ó So much fat was lost that he actually became a reproach to look
at; his friends and neighbors shook their heads. No doubt some ceased to be his
friends and began criticizing; this is just what happens today when an
individual seeks GOD long enough in fasting and prayer. Some people say we
should always go into the desert or wilderness to fast, like Moses and Christ.
That is good, but here is an instance in which David did not care who saw him.
(This fast is also prophetical of ChristÕs 40-day fast.)
David must have fasted forty days or longer, to have lost so
much weight. David was not interested in what people thought of his appearance.
He fasted in mourning and humbleness; he was only interested in how he could
please God, and reach HIM. I have seen many folk who fasted longer than forty
days, yet they looked better than this description of David.
As certain as we Òlabor for the meat above,Ó we shall not
stand in very high favor with the world. When we enter into the spirit of
fasting and prayer, we are not interested in what others say about us. We are
after that which is worth more than silver and gold. If you fast and pray, and
really get into the spirit of it, your prayers may seem more difficult at
times, than when you are praying without fasting. The main victories are
usually attained after fasting. In the battle you are progressing further, with
higher mountains to climb, darker places to penetrate, higher walls to
surmount, and deeper depths to plow through. (See Chart No. VII, Hindrances and
Obstacles.) Psalm 35:13: ÒI humbled my soul with FASTING; and my PRAYER
RETURNED INTO MY BOSOM.Ó Fasting is not something to glory in, or to be
puffed up about. Along with the fast we are to go down into humility,
disregarding what people think and say. It should be a time of real weeping and
mourning. Our unworthiness should be realized, and the farther down we go, the
higher will our Christian experience rise. It will be a great spiritual fight
all the way through.
1 wish to state that some children of the Lord fail to press
into the proper place of prayer, along with the fast, just because they find it
difficult to pray. But that is no reason for not praying. Your prayers will
absolutely blast through to heaven, if you settle down to do it, and labor at
the job, and ÒaskÓ and ÒseekÓ and Òknock,Ó as Jesus told us to do. The Devil
will be around to hinder, and prevent you from accomplishing your purpose, but
PRAY THROUGH, FAST THROUGH, and press your way through till you open heaven.
Shorter prayers under the influence of fasting, are far more effective than
longer prayers when off the fast. We are in a channel of prayer, while fasting,
that leads directly to the throne. The ear of God is open to hear the prayer of
His fasting saint.
Usually, the first few days of a fast are the most difficult
time to pray, because the weakness of the body has not gone, and the body has
not been cleansed. Pray as much as possible, as long as possible, and as
fervently as possible, regardless of lack of strength, and when you get over
Òthe hump,Ó it becomes easier to fast and pray; generally speaking, you get
stronger physically. You can gradually put yourself into it, devoting more
time to prayer; then the fast itself actually becomes prayer. Please bear this
in mind when fasting. A Christian then has such power, that these obstacles
mentioned will seem easier and easier to surmount, as one presses on to more
and greater obstacles, all of which will be victoriously overcome, and a
continual growing power, greater than ever, will be felt by the person, as long
as he or she stays in the center of GodÕs will.
Those employed, or who are are working at various jobs, will
find it difficult to spend all the time seeking God in prayer. But you can
still secure very desirable results, and the Lord will bless you much, if you
can keep in a spirit of prayer while you work. If oneÕs work is extremely
burdensome, it will be difficult to fast and concentrate in prayer. Sometimes a
person on a job has begun a fast, and a time of prayer, and has become so lost
in the spirit of prayer that nothing matters but Jesus Christ, and they lose
interest in their work, and everything else around them, to such an extent that
they receive a special call of God for their life work.
Some years ago, a shoe cobbler did this very thing. He was
living in Denver, Colorado. After fasting and praying for forty days, the power
of God became so real and precious, that he gave up his shoe business, started
preaching on the street corners, and blessing sick people through the
healing ministry of Christ. Hundreds of sick people were prayed for daily,
and many miraculously healed. Blind eyes were opened; deaf ears were
unstopped; deaf and dumb spoke; ulcers, cancers, arthritis, and
tuberculosis cases, were gloriously healed. The lame leaped for joy. Wheel
chairs, beds, crutches and braces were left ,behind by the ones that were
healed in JesusÕ name. All this in answer to the prayers of an individual who
caught a revelation through prayer and fasting for forty days.
Every minister owes it to his congregation to be at his
best; every evangelist owes it to the people in each revival; every
teacher owes it to his pupils; and every Christian to his brethren, to be at
his best spiritually; and we have seen that this can only be attained through
prayer with fasting. Prayer becomes illuminated, and fasting makes prayer
as powerful as dynamite.
SHOULD
I WAIT FOR GOD TO LAY A FAST BURDEN UPON ME?
No, not necessarily, for the simple reason that if we waited
for God to lay a fasting burden upon us, there probably would be no fasting, or
very little. Fasting is like praying. We pray when there is a need, without
waiting for a burden of prayer. We should also fast when there is a need, and
because it is our Christian duty. In Mark 2:20, Jesus has already laid a fast
upon us in these words, ÒThen shall they fast in those days.Ó
Chapter V
THE FOUR APPETITES
Humanity is confronted with four appetites. One or more of
these major appetites can get the best of us, if we allow them to do so.
Intemperance and extreme indulgence can so easily overcome us if we fail to
maintain self-control. The Bible admonishes us to be ÒTemperate in all things.Ó
The four appetites are:
1. THE
SPIRITUAL APPETITE 3. THE
APPETITE OF SEX
2. THE
HUNGER APPETITE 4. THE
APPETITE OF GREED
(Covetousness)
The appetite of hunger will be discussed first, as it holds
the key to the other two. Food stimulates both sex and greed.
The lust of sin can be gratified in one or more of these
appetites. Three of them are carnal or worldly, while one is religious or
spiritual. Even a sinner has a spiritual or religious nature, regardless of
whether or not that sinner serves the true and living God.
It was through yielding to temptation that Eve gave way in
satisfying her ÒdesireÓ nature, by gratifying these same appetites. The
temptation of Jesus Christ was similar to EveÕs temptation, and it was exactly
these same four appetites through which Satan chose to tempt Jesus. First,
hunger-ÓCommand that these stones be made bread.Ó Matt. 4:3-10. Did Jesus
please Satan and yield to the appetite of hunger by using His spiritual power
to perform a miracle? The spiritual appetite intercepts the natural appetites
in the way and manner in which these are gratified.
SEX APPETITE
When a person tries to commit suicide or kill another, or
tempts God along the line of suicide or murder, we find that it is related to
the sex nature, as sex and death, or life and death, are kindred. Through our
creative forces God gives us life and health, and also our offspring that we
love.
The ancients, and the Magi, and the wise men of the Bible,
so considered the creative forces of man to be related to death. They, too,
knew that an individual with an irrational sex nature sometimes had a suicidal
mania, and also that sex was one of the contributing causes to ruthless, bloody
crimes of torture and killing. The life giving forces of nature can be used as
a blessing, or misused for destructive purposes.
In the zodiacal sign, ÒScorpio,Ó which is the eighth sign of
the Zodiac, we have a picture of a scorpion with its stinger lifted ready to
strike. This is the sign of death, and is supposed to govern the sex area. Just
before this sign in the heavens, there is a sign of the Judge, Jesus, who is
the giver of LIFE. Jesus proceeds toward death and pulls the STING OUT OF
DEATH. Ò0, death, where is thy sting? 0, grave, where is thy victory ?Ò
Likewise, today among students, it is generally understood that the
creative forces of man are kindred to both life and death in the natural.
However, it is not difficult for any of us to understand that the proper
care of the creative physical forces of man leads to long life, and the
improper abuse of them is a speedy way to the grave.
When Satan tempted Christ, ÒThen the devil taketh Him up
into the Holy City, and setteth Him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto
Him, ÔIf thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, ÒHe
shall give His angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall
bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stoneÓ Ô.Ò Matt.
4:5, 6. SatanÕs rage knew no bounds. Jesus Christ was now coming into the full manifestation
of His sonship. He was now prepared to begin His ministry. He had won the
victory. Satan had previously failed to destroy Christ, when He was a baby,
through King Herod; now Satan sought to overcome Him by these temptations.
Satan was trying to get Christ to do something foolish; this temptation could
have been a means of suicidal destruction. No! Satan did not destroy Jesus
here, for Jesus did not yield to this temptation.
It is very important that the reader have these four
appetites fixed firmly in mind. A clear understanding of them will give one a
richer knowledge of the Bible, and a better understanding of the purpose of
fasting. A more vivid understanding of the whole temptation of Christ will be
clearly seen. We also are tempted through these same appetites.
The covetous appetite of GREED, which is No. 4, was perhaps
SatanÕs trump card. His greatest offer to Christ was to Òshow Him all the
kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto Him, ÔAll these
things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship meÕ.Ó Matt. 4:8, 9.
The appetite of covetous greed is an appetite of abnormal desire. Desire for
possessions, property, money, wealth, power, or for any kind of worldly
possession, even for clothes. These desires, when placed above our love for
God, turn the covetous appetite into sin. All of these appetites are normal in
their proper places. Here, as in the two other major temptations, Satan was
calling on Jesus to use, or rather misuse, His Spiritual appetite to worship
Satan himself, in exchange for the kingdoms of this world. Many, sad to say,
have sold out for worldly possessions.
The possession of these kingdoms and power would lead to the
gratification of the desire-of greed. He could have had possession of these
kingdoms, had He yielded to the greed nature. This, thank the Lord, He did not
do
-Satan was badly defeated. Satan did have it in his power,
then and now, to offer Christ the kingdoms of this world, because now he is
Òthe god of this world.Ó But Satan is a usurper. His power will not last for
long In Revelation 5:7, we see Jesus rising from the right hand of the Father,
and taking the title deed to the world, the Òbook.Ó Soon Satan will be evicted
from the heavens and the earth, then JesusÕ throne will be set up.
Thus
the four appetites of man have been shown herewith, so that we can better
realize what happens spiritually, when we fast. Every person has these four
appetites. Perhaps one or another is more intensified in some respects -more
intensified than is shown on the chart Òbefore fasting.Ó But,
nevertheless, whether or not we realize it, the spiritual appetite is
insufficiently developed, compared to the carnal appetites of the flesh.
Christians
with everyday cares of business, job, and home, are usually so out of tune with
the spiritual realm, that it seems practically impossible to get into communion
with God. Therefore they are not in a position to contact God about the major
problems of their life, without fasting and praying.
THREE
APPETITES LEAVE
Now herein lies a WONDER that seems like a miracle. After
several days of the fast have passed, the hunger appetite actually leaves. If
the fast is prolonged, in a few days, possibly a week or ten days more, the
weakness leaves, and the average individual feels even stronger than he did
before he began the fast. (It takes longer for the weakness to leave older
people.)
The next thing that is noticed, and this is noticeable
during the first of the fast, is that appetite, No. 3, sex desire, leaves.
Then, finally, as the one who is fasting proceeds to pray
and commune with God, and earnestly seeks the God of Heaven, the greed appetite
No. 4, or the appetite that is the over anxious driving force which causes man
to work hard at his job, and worry over his home affairs and his business, be.
comes so diminished that it seems insignificant. It usually requires many days
of fasting before the greed appetite diminishes. This explains why a long fast
is sometimes necessary. The chief interest now is in seeking God in prayer and
fasting. One becomes indifferent to natural things. It is wonderful when one is
glorifying God in his whole body, soul, and spirit, with all his members
focused toward heaven. As Sister Mary Sommerville writes, ÒIt was so wonderful
I never wanted to eat again. The unspeakable glories of heaven were all around
me; I felt as if I were sailing all the time.Ó So glorious an ecstasy is this
marvelous experience, that our every faculty can at last be extended toward
heaven for the glory of Jesus Christ. The precious Holy Spirit may at last have
His way with our lives in every way and detail. We hear His voice, as our
spirit is attuned to heavenly things.
If GodÕs people could for one moment realize what a
tremendous thing this fasting truth is, there would be thousands more who would
fast. As a result, we would see major miracles performed, and a great NATIONAL
REVIVAL. The dead would arise, demons would be cast out, thousands of incurable
diseases healed, all in the name of Jesus. Will you do your part?
Now your attention is called to the chart, showing the
appetites after a fast (Chart VI, four appetites after fasting). Notice that
appetite No. 1 takes predominance over the other appetites. Our entire nature
seems to be loosed from the clutches of the natural, and we take on a new
environment. We see the Body of Christ as one. We are no longer bound.
Heavy trials and tribulations will be present, and many
burdens and obstacles seem to come across our pathway. At times it seems that
there is a wall against us which our prayers cannot penetrate. Do not be
discouraged. If you do not give up, certain victory lies ahead. You are in a
great spiritual battle. At other times while praying, it will seem that you are
in heaven. Visions and revelations from God may be yours.
Generally speaking, fasting will be a heavy, burdensome
experience, because Satan does not want you to obtain the great ÒFAITHÓ that is
promised to one who fasts. You will be fighting against spiritual forces of
darkness.
Chapter VI
THE FOUR GREAT ESSENTIALS
There are four things necessary to human life. They are
placed herewith in order of importance:
1. THE
FIRST GREAT ESSENTIAL TO LIFE IS AIR, NOT FOOD.
2. THE
SECOND IS NOT FOOD, AS SOME WOULD SUPPOSE, BUT WATER.
3. THE
THIRD, IS STILL NOT FOOD, BUT SLEEP.
4. FOOD
IS THE FOURTH GREAT ESSENTIAL.
Of the four great essentials, food is generally put first,
because we have to pay for it; while air, water and sleep are available on a
Òwhen-neededÓ basis, without cost.
For illustration, little animals, tested in the
laboratories, have taught us some interesting things. These animals, deprived
of food, but not water, for twenty days, lost more than half their weight, yet
were afterwards saved by judicious feeding. But when they were completely
deprived of sleep, even while getting more careful feeding and other attention,
they died within five days.
The human being reacts similarly. In a protracted fast,
extending into weeks of time, a person can rest and sleep properly, and come
out feeling fine. The longest period of authentic wakefulness on record is not
quite ten days. Legends of prolonged insomnia are heard from time to time, but
as they have never been verified, they continue as mere legends; consequently,
food is proven to be less important than sleep.
Food is less important than water because a man in a hot
desert sun will die in a few hours, or several days at the most, if he has no
water to drink; (this is more fully explained elsewhere). Food is less
important than the air we breathe, because, if we could not breathe, thereby
getting fresh air into our lungs, we would die in a few moments. So food does
not have as important a place in life, as most of us are inclined to believe.
Although a person can continue weeks, and sometimes even months, without
anything to eat, which is much longer than he could live without any of the
other essentials, yet food has a very important place in the physical welfare
and is one of the four essentials. Please see the chapter following this one on
how long a person can fast. We have just shown how important, in their
respective order, the FOUR GREAT ESSENTIALS are to the physical man. There are
other essentials, for the SPIRITUAL LIFE OF MAN, that far overshadow the above
mentioned physical essentials.
THE FOUR SPIRITUAL ESSENTIALS
The greatest of all ESSENTIALS for man is THE LORD JESUS
CHRIST. He is our ETERNAL LIFE. In HIM we have ÒTHE BREAD OF LIFE,Ó which is
the source of all essentials. This is our FIRST ESSENTIAL.
(2) The second great spiritual essential is the Baptism of
the Holy Spirit, Holy Ghost and fire. ÒHave you received THE HOLY GHOST SINCE
YB BELIEVED?Ó (Acts 19:2.) ÒThe Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the
beginning.Ó ÒAnd God, which knoweth the hearts, bear them witness, giving them
the Holy Ghost, even as He did unto us.Ó So IMPORTANT AN ESSENTIAL IS THIS THAT
IT IS A COMMANDMENT: ÒCommanded them to wait for the promise of the Father.Ó
Clothing of power.
(3) The third great essential is also from our Lord. This is
Spiritual DIVINE HEALING, in answer to the prayer of FAITH. See James, chapter
five. If we do not have enough FAITH to obtain healing, it is definitely
pointed out in Mark 9:29 that the reason why we do not have FAITH is because we
do not FAST with our prayers: ÒBy nothing, but by prayer and fasting.Ó One
reason FASTING is not understood, is because it is so nearly
like FAITH. MANÕS DIGESTIVE TRACT BECOMES OUR FAITH ORGAN.
(4) The last GREAT ESSENTIAL for the believer is: JESUS MUST
RETURN ÒSO THAT THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE, AND WE WHICH ARE ALIVE AND
REMAIN SHALL BE CAUGHT UP TOGETHER WITH THEM IN THE CLOUDS, TO MEET THE
LORD IN THE AIR: AND SO SHALL WE EVER BE WITH THE LORD.Ó I Thess. 4:17.
Before MAN can be adapted to the spiritual realm, and see
Heaven, he must be born again, and be like Jesus Christ. He cannot enter heaven
in his present bodily condition. Supreme Intelligence designed the human body
for the physical conditions of the planet ÒEarth,Ó and it is perfect for that
environment. It would be just as much out of order for worms to live in the
air, and birds to live in the earth, as for man to live in heaven without this
new birth. ManÕs natural body is not designed for life in heaven, or life on
any other planet. Suppose you should desire to go to the neighboring planet,
ÒMercury.Ó You could not take your body there, as it is seven-tenths fluid.
Water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit, and Mercury, being so near to the sun,
has a temperature of 750 degrees Fahrenheit! In a couple of hours you would be
buried under a stone with this inscription: ÒWell done! thou good and faithful
servant.Ó Indeed you would be well done. You would be burned to a crisp.
To further illustrate, let us see what life would be like on
the planet Neptune. It requires one hundred and sixty-five years for the planet
Neptune to make the complete zodiacal circuit around the sun; that is, one year
on Neptune equals one hundred and sixty-five earth years. The temperature is
about 400 degrees below zero, Fahrenheit! In less than thirty minutes you would
be a solid block of ice, and not even the heat of Mercury could thaw you back
to life again. In short, there is no other heavenly body in our solar system,
on which your present body could remain alive. Lack of atmosphere, absence
of water and food, and difference in temperature and gravity, make it
absolutely impossible for the human body to survive anywhere except on the
planet Earth. How could your natural body live in Heaven, as Heaven lies far
beyond our solar system?
The NEW BIRTH now, and a glorified body later, IS THE
ANSWER. ÒWhen this mortal shall put on immortality,Ó we shall possess a
glorified, redeemed body, fitted to live in the glory of heaven.
The four Gospels and the Epistles teach these fundamental
spiritual essentials. It is the main teaching of Jesus Christ and the
apostles. Fasting and prayer will enable us to more fully realize them, and
appropriate them into our lives.
The four Spiritual essentials come to us through GOD in HIS
THREEFOLD PERSONALITY, PLUS THE MAN NATURE THAT JESUS CHRIST TOOK UPON
HIMSELF THAT MAN MIGHT BE REDEEMED; they are:
1. GOD
THE FATHER 4. GOD
THE MAN
2. GOD
THE SON (THE
SON OF MAN)
3. GOD
THE SPIRIT Jesus
became man as well as God.
FOR A CLEARER
PICTURE, please
see CHARTS X and XI, THE
BODY RENOVATED (MAN DIAGRAMMED) and THE WELLS OF LIVING
WATER, in the next chapter.
This leads us to the FOUR ESSENTIALS OF MAN (AS A
CHRISTIAN):
1. BODY 4. NEW
BIRTH or the
2. SOUL ÒNEW
MAN,Ó LIFE
3. SPIRIT ETERNAL
THE FOUR ESSENTIALS OF UNREGENERATE MAN:
1. BODY 3. SPIRIT
2. SOUL 4. DEATH
YOU ARE PERSONALLY INVITED BY BROTHER HALL TO TRAVEL WITH
HIM INTO A DEEPER CLIMATE OF FAITH SO THAT YOUR FAITH TOO
WILL BECOME ACCLIMATED - NEW REALMS OF RICHES, HERETOFORE
UNREACHED, WILL BE YOURS TO ENJOY. ÒHoly, Lord God
Almighty.Ó
Chapter VII
HOW TO FAST
Speaking
of food, one does not realize the huge quantity which is consumed in the
course of a month by an ordinary individual, until one fasts. Most of the
American people consume far too much food. According to health experts, the
American people as a whole suffer more or less with auto-intoxication. The
Scriptures show us plainly that we should be temperate in all things. A
study of Psalm 78, along with other Scriptures, shows us vividly how much God
dislikes the glutton. ÒSo they did eat and were well filled: for He gave them
their own desire. They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat
was yet in their mouths, the wrath of God came upon them.Ó ÒHe gave them their
request but sent leanness into their souls.Ó
Some
people wear out one set of teeth digging their way to the grave. Then they buy
a second set to finish eating themselves to death.
William
Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, has said concerning temperance:
ÒTo
this a spare diet contributes much. Eat therefore to live, and do not live to
eat. ThatÕs like a man, but this below a beast.Ó
It
is very important to point out here for emphasis, that fasting and
starvation are two entirely different things. Fasting is a physiological
process. Whereas fasting is beneficial, and will rid the body of most diseases,
starvation is detrimental, and if continued long enough, ends in death.
(This could seldom if ever happen, before from fifty to a hundred days.) The
difference between these two processes is fundamental.
The
appetite of hunger will have to be overcome and overruled for the time being,
with extreme will power, and assistance from the Lord. The first days of the
fast are very, very difficult. Sometimes several attempts will be necessary
before the candidate will have fasted long enough for hunger to leave. Not only
does the body crave food at stated and regular times, by reason of
long-continued habit, but the mind likewise becomes restless and continues to
remind one that food would be relished. The battle is both mental and physical.
One
never realizes until he begins a fast, how important a factor food really is,
to his mental frame of mind, as well as to his physical and spiritual being. As
long as the body is continually nourished, one does not think of food to any
great extent, but as soon as it is withheld, it begins to occupy an important
part in the mental life; one has a constant tendency to think of food. He
anticipates, even at the very beginning of the fast, the day when abstinence
will terminate, and when eating will again become possible. This craving of the
body can be overcome only by immediate distraction to other activities, and by
keeping in the spirit of prayer. A glass or two of water will alleviate the
immediate gnawing symptoms, which usually develop in the region of the stomach.
These sensations are produced by the rhythmic activity of the muscles in and
about the stomach, and are present when food is first withheld, and when the
thought of food occupies the mind. As soon as this thought is banished, by
concentration upon Christ, these rhythmical muscular contractions (known
as the /eristaltic action), soon subside. After a short time, these acute
sensations of hunger will pass away, probably to occur again later, perhaps at
the next regular meal time. A repetition of the water drinking, and prompt
distraction of attention, will again dispose of these symptoms. After three or
four days, it will be found that real hunger will not return again until the
return of natural hunger at the conclusion of the fast. Habit hunger, which is
different, will often make its appearance, and leave just as unexpectedly as it
came.
SALT WATER FLUSH
If one wishes to hasten the effects of fasting at the
beginning, a salt water flush can be used to flush out the colon. (This should
NOT be used after the first several days.) To one quart of hot water, add two
level teaspoons of salt, and drink. This may be done at any other time on an
empty stomach, when not fasting, for cleansing purposes.
Very often during a fast, one will become highly sensitive
to the taste of water. The taste sense becomes very acute, as well as all of
the senses, and one will detect flavors and metallic tastes never noticed
before. Bottled, or other pure water, is preferable to ordinary hydrant water.
To avoid cramps in the stomach, and some other un
pleasantness, hot or warm water should be drunk instead of cold water, unless
the cold water is taken very, very slowly. This is more important if a person
is thin, or the fast taken in cold weather.
One of the greatest obstacles to be overcome by practically
all who undertake this unusually beneficial experience, will be the
persuasion of over-solidtous relatives and friends, who invariably
endeavor to tempt him to break his fast prematurely, on a false alarm that he
is injuring his body, or he is starving to death! These persuasions of
over-solicitous relatives become very strong and insidious, and he may fall by
the wayside, and give in to a tempting dish. If he does, he should not be
discouraged, because frequently many efforts, and much will power, will have to
be exerted.
A common belief that one must remain indoors, and perhaps in
bed, throughout a fast of any duration, is entirely erroneous and is based
on the assumption that we derive our strength and energy directly from the
food consumed. A certain feeling of languor may be present during the early or
latter days of a fast. A working man can continue working if his work is not
overly strenuous. His prayer, however, will not likely be as concentrated, or
as effective. Sylvia McVay writes on her 42-day fast: ÒI did all my housework,
cooked three meals a day for my husband and four children, washed our clothes
on a washboard, and attended church every night.Ó
Before arising in the morning, one should exercise gently in
bed and breathe deeply. This will counteract any dizziness and any other
strange feelings that may occur at first. Plenty of water should be taken; this
should be taken slowly. Usually these symptoms are felt during the first few
days only, and disappear entirely later on (When hunger returns, the weakness
experienced will be real and will not pass away as the earlier symptoms did).
Never rise from any position suddenly. The purpose of rising slowly is to get
the blood in free circulation, so that you will not experience fainting.
After the body toxins have been consumed, eliminated, and
oxidized, one will feel stronger mentally and physically. Pains, dizziness,
weakness, and peculiar feelings, will have disappeared. All of the various
organs and parts of the body, as well as the sense faculties, will be
revitalized. Spiritually, one will feel as if the demons of hell are turned
against him. It is doubtful if you will ever have such trials as the strange
ones that show up while fasting, or at the close of the fasting period. The
trials encountered at this time are numerous; naturally, the Devil will fight
to prevent a child of God making headway toward FAITH. It simply means defeat
for Satan. JesusÕ greatest testing came after He had fasted forty days and
forty nights. BEFORE
HE PERFORMED A SINGLE MIRACLE, HE FASTED. FASTING AND PRAYER
DRIVES OUT ALL UNBELIEF AND DOUBT. Read Luke 4, Psalm 109:22-31, and Psalm
3>:13.
You will be rewarded. THERE IS NOT SUCH A GRAND, GLORIOUS
and WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE IN ALL THE WORLD, AS THE MARVELLOUS VICTORY
BROUGHT BY PRAYING AND FASTING. WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE THE BLESSINGS. PRAYERS
THAT YOU HAVE BEEN PRAYING FOR YEARS, WILL BE ANSWERED. YOUR DISEASES, OR THE
SICKNESS OF OTHERS FOR WHOM YOU HAVE BEEN SO LONG PRAYING WILL DISAPPEAR. Your
loved ones will be saved.
MISERIES OF FASTING
Although various complications, many of which have been
enumerated, appear while fasting, such as fainting, fever, dizziness,
headaches, a tendency to vomit, severe sharp pains in the abdomen, weak knees,
short breath, sleeplessness, or sleepiness all the time, nervousness,
vexation, foul breath, watery nose, sneezing, backadie, burning kidneys,
side-ache, etc. THESE DO NOT all appear at one time. PERHAPS ONLY ONE OR TWO
may be noticed by any one individual in an entire fast. Please do not be
alarmed, as this is just a natural result of the fast, and in nearly all cases
is experienced only during the first part of the fast. Usually hot water
drinking, enemas and exercise will stop the condition. After the body is
cleansed, the condition will subside. Pains in abdomen are often caused by
drinking cold water too fast. A change to hot water will remedy the condition.
Oxidation of waste material in the intestines causes the fever. Large
enemas wherever necessary, are helpful. The enema bag should be elevated high.
Some medical advisers, however, state that it is not always necessary for the
bowels to move when fasting-that enemas are not always necessary.
HOW LONG SHOULD WE FAST?
Until we definitely know that God has heard our prayer, so
that we a acquire ÒTHE POWERÓ that Jesus speaks of, to do the seemingly
Òimpossible.Ó We should continue to fast and pray, regardless of whether or a
this requires one meal, seven days, or a complete fast of several week forty
days, or until true hunger returns, which usually takes several week or
sometimes longer. It is our glorious privilege and duty to fast through to a
victorious experience. However, we do not buy GodÕs favor by this work
It is more difficult for an older person to fast, although
from a physical standpoint they may need it more. It takes a much longer time
for weakness to leave; sometimes fainting tendencies may be felt, and due to
this condition, it is advisable that an older person be with another
individual, who can help if necessary, until weakness leaves. Sometimes several
fasts of a week or ten days may be better at first, before a long one is
undertaken.
A few days after hunger leaves, or within a week or two,
depending on age, the weakness that you have felt generally leaves, and fasting
becomes much easier. (In some instances it may take much longer.)
After these first eight, ten or fifteen days, more or less,
fasting becomes a matter of routine and actually becomes easier. You should now
concentrate in prayer, seek an answer from heaven, a revelation, a healing, or
some spiritual operation of God, in your life.
After fasting and praying for what is GodÕs will for us to
have, thee discontinue your praying for the objective sought. Continued praying
foe things that are already promised us, results in prayer of unbelief. Those
prayers are not answered. Please lay claim on it now, by fixing a time foe your
faith to explode, and from there on, always thank Jesus for it. You will be a
possessor. From now on Òconfess it.Ó Study carefully Romans 10:9, 10. This
Scripture applies to anything we may want from God.
PASTOR FASTS TEN DAYS AND 300 CONVERTED
MEN ARE LEARNING HOW TO RECEIVE GIFTS
Dear Brother Hall: June
14, 1949
Some time ago a friend sent me one of your books, ÒAtomic
Power with God.Ó I was only a little interested when I first received it, but
it grew on me. The anointing of God was upon your message.
Just recently I fasted into my tenth day, and along with my
Bible I kept your book near. The Lord met me in a wonderful way during this
fast; however I was forced to quit far too soon. My pastoral work took up too
much of my time. When I fast again I expect to take it during my vacation, so
that I can devote my full time to waiting on God.
The above book was studied during a recent fast by a friend
of mine. In ONE
WEEKÕS REVIVAL SINCE THESE FASTS, THREE HUNDRED PEOPLE WENI
INTO OUR PRAYER ROOMS FOR SALVATION. I HAVE SEEN MORE OF GODÕS POWER
MANIFESTED, SINCE YOU HAVE WRIT. TEN YOUR BOOKS, AND MORE MEN LEARMNG HOW TO
GET HOLD OF GOD FOR SPIRITUAL GIFTS, THAN AT ANY OTHER PERIOD I KNOW OF SINCE
THE TIME OF CHRIST.
Please send me your other books
Yours very truly.
Pastor
Harvey L Smith Pascagoula,
Miss.
Chapter VIII
FASTING IN RELATION TO THE PHYSICAL BODY
Is fasting harmful to the physical body? This question has
been raised more than any other question concerning the subject of fasting. In
the light of modern medical science we can state with assurance that fasting is
not in the least harmful. Fasting purifies and cleanses the body; it permits a
balancing of the circulation, absolutely essential to good health; it allows
the various eliminating organs to dispose of the effete material from the
system, and to oxidize, or burn up, the useless matter which has accumulated,
like ashes in a grate.
When a fast is begun, the first things which are oxidized
and eliminated are those useless materials floating about in the form of
mal-assimilated food material, which sometimes choke the small blood vessels
and congest the lymph vessels. In other words, THE VERY THINGS WHICH WE WISH TO
ELIMINATE FROM THE SYSTEM, ARE THOSE WHICH NATURE ACTUALLY DISPOSES OF FIRST OF
ALL. Fasting is house-cleaning of the body. The Holy Spirit, then, is given a
clean temple in which to dwell. Cleanliness is also godliness. When
assimilation stops, the processes of elimination are greatly accelerated. We
will show four methods used in this process.
THE FOUR MEANS USED IN HOUSE CLEANING
(1) The SKIN, through its millions of pores, is one channel
through which much toxic waste is eliminated. Much more waste is removed
through our pores during a fast, than at any other time. This is one reason
Jesus said, ÒWhen thou fastest . . . wash thy face.Ó It is also a good practice
to bathe frequently to keep the excreted material washed away, and the pores
open.
(2) The KIDNEYS: Much water drinking is highly beneficial.
It dilutes the urine which constantly washes out the poisons that are poured
into the kidneys. Water drinking is a ÒMUST,Ó during a fast. Drink at least six
glasses of water daily, or enough to satisfy thirst.
(3) The LUNGS play an important part in this house cleaning
process. It would seem almost unbelievable that loads of poison are exhaled in
the fast through the nostrils, from the oxygenation of the blood. The same
amount of poison is released through the nostrils and lungs, as through the
kidneys, bowels and skin. All persons smell alike during the first part of the
fast, and a person familiar with fasting will recognize the odor as that of a
brother or sister, fasting, and instead of criticizing, will rejoice in his or
her heart that his brother or sister is fulfilling some of the works of the
Lord. If a person is praying and fasting as he should, the odor will not bother
him. If you do not wish to have an obnoxious breath around your neighbor, get
some menthol crystals at the drug store. A very fine crystal particle will
dissolve on the tip of your tongue, so that your breath will not be noticed for
a long time; there will be such a small amount in the tiny crystal, that it
will not get back of your tongue far enough to get into the stomach. The reason
that I mention this point, is that some folks have chewed gum when fasting, and
the amount of sugar in the gum would it almost enough to break the fast. The
menthol crystal will be stronger than gum, more lasting in the breath, and too
small to reach the stomach. This is only a suggestion. Bad breath is a good sign
that the house cleaning process is going on. This vapor that comes from the
lungs will clear up later on in the fast, and the breath, as well as the taste
in the mouth, will become as CLEAN AND ODORLESS as that of a baby, believe it
or not
(4) The BOWELS are the fourth channel of elimination. It
would be well if they would move every day or two, but often they move with
less frequency while on the fast, but do not be alarmed if they should not move
very often.
Since all four of these methods of elimination are at work, is it any
wonder that fasting us a way towards health? If in good health, this is a
method for preventing sickness.
Fasting is the most powerful, and the quickest agent known, for curing
functional ailments. Especially is this true of stomach disorders. That is why
it is so very necessary to break the fast carefully with fruit juices, fol.
lowed by fresh fruit, for several days.
If a person is in an adverse state of health, his eyes, throat, liver,
glands, blood, and a little later even his kidneys become REJUVENATED and
greatly benefited. This is a natural law, designed by God, and this physical
aspect is touched upon so that we may realize that fasting and prayer to God is
harmless to the body. Would it not be unreasonable to think that Christ would
ask us to fast, if it would hurt us physically? We have a good God, and He asks
us to do nothing that will hurt or harm us. One can FAST for a long period of
time, and secure GREAT SPIRITUAL RESULTS WITHOUT BODILY HARM, and in addition
receive much physical benefit.
If one is afraid that he is harming himself, and full of fear, he cannot
obtain the best spiritual results from the fast. The Lord certainly does not
want us to come to Him in fear, but rather in a spirit of trust. Fear is one
thing that must absolutely be dismissed from the mind entirely.
IS FASTING STARVATION?
Absolutely not!
Fasting and starvation are two entirely different things.
To illustrate: The complete fast begins at the time you omit one meal,
and it ends after a large part of the body weight is lost, usually when true
hunger returns (Matt. 4:1-4). It may last several weeks or longer. JesusÕ fast
lasted forty days, before true hunger returned: ÒHe was afterward an hungered.Ó
In His fast, He fasted naturally, just as you or I would. When a man has a KEEN
APPETITE, and is really hungry at the end of a long fast, as Jesus was, it is
an indication of good health. Any physician will tell you that a man with a
good appetite is in good health.
At the end of a complete fast, hunger sets in; at this point
starvation begins, if the fast is continued after true hunger returns. It was
when starvation had just begun, at the end of JesusÕ fast, that the devil
sought to take advantage of the hunger, by tempting Him. Satan fears to see
GodÕs children fast with prayer, because it means his quicker defeat. Fasting
is like ÒdynamitingÓ Satan.
Starvation begins after most of the body weight is lost. It
usually starts after true hunger returns, which is seldom less than twenty-one
days, and may be as long as forty, or even sixty days. It is difficult to state
the exact time when starvation sets in. It varies with different individuals.
Fat people can fast much longer than thin ones, as the body can continue for
weeks, living on the superfluous fat material.
The end of starvation is death. Death occurs when an
individual has continued a fast long after true hunger has returned, and
usually long after starvation sets in. Some confusion exists here. When
you hear that someone died of starvation in a sea-wrecked vessel in two or
three days, there is some mistake. A person might easily get cold, or become
frightened to death, in a few hours time, or a few days time, but cannot
possibly starve to death in such a short period if he has water to drink. He
might also worry to death in a short time.
A human being is like a vital electric plant that is so
constructed that it is ordinarily supplied with power from the dynamo, but may
run for a considerable length of time on the battery current. For each of
the millions of cells of the body is a cell similar to the most perfect cell of
a storage battery. Fasting stops the dynamo, and automatically turns the switch
to the battery current, which is just as capable of sustaining life as the
current from the dynamo. The physically healthy individual has more storage
capacity than one with a weak constitution.
In YeoÕs Physiology, we find the longest case on record.
ÒThe patient, suffering from a gunshot wound in the abdomen, lived four months
without any food. His weight decreased from 159 to 60 pounds. Every function
was almost dormant. Thought was unimpaired; the brain was unusually clearÓ
(this is always the case with anyone fasting) Òand the brain was found to have
suffered no loss in size.Ó The percentage of decrease of different parts of the
organism; including other cases considered is given by Mr. Yeo:
FAT 97% BLOOD 17%
SPLEEN 63% LIVER 56%
MUSCLE 30% NERVE
CENTERS 0%
Note the zero percentage of decrease of the vital nerve
centers, including the brain. Note particularly the 97% fat consumed; showing
that the body utilizes as food the surplus fat, which can readily be spared
without injuring organism. Do not these striking percentages indicate that the
body is designed for fasting? that it is so created that it can survive a long
foodless period without injury? Are not these figures a wonderful proof of the
divine wisdom in creating and designing a body prepared to meet, and able to
handle, the exigency of a long foodless period?
A human being cannot starve to death in several weeks of
fasting if he hi water. He can die if he worries to an extreme, or becomes
overly frightened either with food and drink, or without food and drink.
One should not drink milk or coffee when fasting for to do
so is dieting and not fasting. Nothing at all should be drunk except water. It
is a purifying agent, and is necessary to wash out the poisons from the system.
Unless oneÕs work is unusually heavy, it is not necessary to
give up his job. If he is not getting sufficient exercise in praying or work,
he should regularly take exercise to assist the fast. It is then easier to
fast, and very beneficial as well; the weakness leaves more readily and the
fast gets underway more quickly. Exercise keeps the blood circulating. However,
if we pray as we should, one will get all the action and exercise needed,
because real praying is hard work, and this is what we need if we are to see
great spiritual results It is important to secure sufficient rest and sleep. If
possible, take more rest when fasting, than when not fasting. More rest may be
required, al. though one does not seem to miss sleep as he would while eating.
THE BIBLE IS AHEAD OF SCIENCE
The Òblood,Ó or ÒlifeÓ of the flesh is the last part of the
body to be consumed after starvation sets in. It is at this point that a fast
passes over into starvation. Credit is given William Harvey for his great
medical discovery of 1615 A.D.: ÒThe circulation of blood. Life is blood, or
the circulation of blood.Ó This is considered a great milestone in the history
of medical science, but if you check into the Holy Scriptures, you will find
that this is not a new discovery at all. Thousands of years before William
HarveyÕs day, God told Moses this very same thing: ÒFor the life of the flesh
is in the Blood.Ó Lev. 17:11. (See also Gen. 9:4 and Deut. 12:23.) If the Bible
were studied along with science, the scientists of the day would be more up to
date, and not be so often obliged to revise their theories.
THE
BLOOD AT WORK
The blood, as you know, is driven by the heart, through the
arteries, into the capillaries, where it nourishes and strengthens the body. It
then returns, through the capillaries by another route, the veins, to the heart
from whence it is drawn to the lungs. -The blood starts on its arterial
journey, bright red and rich, laden with life-giving properties. it returns by
the venous route, poor, blue and dull, being laden down with waste matter of
the system. It goes out like a fresh stream from the mountains; it returns as a
stream of sewer water. In a fast, the returning stream is far more polluted
than when not fasting. This foul stream returns to the right auricle of the
heart. When this auricle becomes filled, it contracts, and forces the stream of
blood through an opening in the right ventricle of the heart, which in turn
sends it on to the lungs, where it is distributed by millions of hair-like
blood vessels to the air cells of the lungs. The foul stream of blood is now
distributed among the millions of tiny air cells in the lungs. Air is inhaled
and oxygen comes into contact with the impure blood through the thin walls of
these hair-like blood vessels of the lungs, with walls thick enough to hold the
blood, but thin enough to admit oxygen. When the oxygen comes in contact with
the blood, a form of combustion, or oxidation, takes place, and the blood takes
up oxygen and releases carbonic acid gas, generated from the waste products and
poisonous matter which have been gathered up by the blood from all parts of the
system. The blood thus purified and oxygenated, is carried back to the heart
again, rich, red and bright, and laden with life-giving properties and
qualities. Upon reaching the left auricle of the heart, it is forced into the left
ventricle, from whence it is again forced through the arteries on its mission
of life to all parts of the system. It is estimated that in a single day of
twenty-four hours, 35,000 pints of blood traverse the capillaries of the lungs,
the blood corpuscles passing in single file, and being exposed to the oxygen of
the air on all sides If the air cells of the lungs were spread out over an
unbroken surface, they would cover an area of fourteen thousand square feet.
When one considers the minute details of the process alluded to, he is lost in
wonder and admiration of our blessed FatherÕs care and omnipotence and
omniscience.
Considering the value that the lungs play in the cleansing of the blood,
one should be interested in proper deep breathing and securing plenty of fresh
air. More about this is found in authorÕs booklet ÔBecause of Unbelief,Ó see
back cover. (This volume will show a person how to have tremendous Faith.)
First and foremost as a cause of disease, is the congestion of the blood
with morbid waste material from the organs and tissues of the body. This
thickened blood, surcharged with products of imperfect metabolism, finds itself
unable to pass freely through certain parts of the body, which is so necessary
for perfect health. The damming up of the blood in certain organs and tissues
produces an engorgement, which interferes with the free and natural functioning
of that particular part. There are few of the disorders from which mankind
suffers in which this condition is not present; and it is no exaggeration to
say that this is one of the principal causes of most diseases.
The condition is brought about in the blood stream by eating more food
than the body actually requires. Excess food and insufficient exercise results
in incomplete utilization of the food. It requires a lot of unnecessary energy
to digest and eliminate and otherwise dispose of the surplus, unnecessary food.
Jesus calls it ÒSURFEITING,Ó Luke 21:34. This is one of the contributing causes
of skin blemishes, boils, growths such as cancers and tumors, and diseases of
the mucous membranes, such as tuberculosis, ovarian and womb disorders, and
leucorrhea.
Consequently a cure depends upon the elimination of this
congestion, and a readjustment of the habits governing eating, exercising,
etc., so that the body may be freed from these encumbrances. The best way to do
this, is to stop assimilation for a time by fasting. This is most effective in
producing quick results. Both physically and spiritually, the results are so
astounding that it is like a bird in a cage set free in the wide open.
In earlier ages man was used to satiating himself to the
utmost, with tht food at his immediate disposal, and gorging himself upon the
fruits of conquest. In these modern days of plenty, food became so plentiful
that the cravings of hunger were fully satisfied, and the cultivation of
epicurean appetites became more and more a vice. Man has actually suffered in a
greater degree from this superabundance than from the enforced hunger of
scarcity, and the struggle to provide sufficient food.
Occasionally some soul has cried out in protest against
sensual gratifications, but the mad crowd pays scarcely any attention. They
have little heeded the words of our MasterÕs voice and the teachings of the
Scriptures. Nor have they sought the power of the Spirit, but have made the
belly their God, and their bellies the graveyards of their souls.
Temperance will be more readily practiced by those who
understand that good eating habits will bring about rapid physical and
spiritual changes which make for immediate happiness both now and tomorrow.
Fasting conserves tremendous energy that can be utilized in building up the
temple of the Holy Spirit.
Other teachers, besides the prophets and Christ, such as
Krishna, Buddha, and Mohammed, have awakened the minds of their followers to
some degree, to the moral and ethereal desirability of control over sensual
pleasures, the root of which is EATING.
WHAT MEDICAL MEN SAY
The earliest physicians were united in teaching that abstentious
living was the key to good health. They advocated the denying of food to a
diseased body. Through the centuries, thousands of teachers have come and gone,
with their circles of disciples, who practiced fasting as a cure for disease,
but there were few patients that took the treatment seriously from their
Ôphysicians. Possibly because it seemed like a Utopian dream, too good to be
true, or the regime to be followed too strict, and requiring too much will
power.
Some doctors, and medical and health authorities have issued
publications that clarify this science of fasting, from the standpoint of
health and the cure of disease. Some of these writers on the subject are: Dr.
Tanner, Sinclair, Dr. McCoy, Dr. Shaw Haskell, Dr. Dewey, Bernarr Macfadden, Dr.
John Cowan, Tilden Brook, Dr. R. Walter, H. M. Sheit en, Carlson, and others.
Dr. Frank McCoy in his book, ÒTHE FAST WAY TO HEALTH,Ó
states: ÒI have made a most exhaustive study of every method of cure, from mind
cure to modern surgery and gland therapy, and I HAVE NEVER FOUND A SINGLE
METHOD THAT COULD APPROACH EVEN CLOSELY, IN ITS RESULTS, THE BENEFITS WHICH
COME FROM SOME FORM OF THE FASTING CURE.Ó Some of these volumes can be secured
from your library. Dr. McCoy treats his patients by fasting and dieting
methods. He also prescribes a very long fast for some conditions, for disorders
of both women and men. Most of his book gives illustrations and examples of his
patients placed on a fasting or dieting treatment. If more physicians would
practice his method of healing there would be less sickness.
Fasting has a distinct value in obtaining and retaining
perfect health. In early times, Avicenna, the great Arabian physician, clearly
sensed the value of fasting, since he often prescribed as long as a three-weeks
fast for his patients, especially for syphilis and smallpox. Dr. Isaac
Jennings, as early as 1822, employed fasting successfully as an aid in almost
every kind of ailment which he treated.
Fasting has proven a divine aid to the bodyÕs own processes
of self recovery. Fasting in ailments such as asthma, hay fever, constipation,
headaches, colds, skin disorders, arthritis and rheumatism, blood diseases, and
anything else along the line of blood or functional diseases, has proven almost
a miracle of recovery. Benefits have been observed in nervous and mental
disorders, paralysis, semi-paralysis, neurasthenia, and in some forms of
insanity. (Please bear in mind that we are now talking about natural divine
aids, and not divine healing in this section.) By FASTING AND PRAYER THE LORD
WILL HEAL US OF ANY SICKNESS, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT IS ÔINCURABLE,Õ OR NOT.
This would be divine healing. Many incurable diseases in man are caused by
demons. Demons cannot be cured. They must be cast out. It often requires prayer
and fasting to do so.
When food is withheld, oxidation begins within the body.
This is nothing more than a collection of refuse gathered for a bonfire, in
which waste poisons are burnt up just as a person would gather up the trash in
his yard and burn it up in his incinerator. THIS IS INDICATED SOMETIMES BY A
FEVER WHICH SETS IN DURING THE EARLY STAGES OF THE FAST, AND BY HEADACHES AND
OTHER SYMPTOMS. A testimony from Burbank, California, reads, ÒI was surprised
at the awful poisons that came out of my body. We should fast often, if it is
only to keep ourselves clean.Ó (Consult Chart No. X, Man Analyzed and
Diagrammed.)
Fasting gives the body a much needed holiday, a vacation in which to
recuperate. It never occurs to most people that the body seldom has a rest from
its ordinary labors. We overtax and overload all the organs with by-products of
our wrong living, eating, drinking and thinking. We do not grant these millions
of little cells which labor so incessantly for our physical well-being any rest,
no not even a SABBATICAL REST. Most folk would be far better off if they would
pray and fast at least one day a week, They would be stronger physically, and
deeper spiritually. Most of the early churches, especially the Methodists, had
at least one fast day a week,
FASTING DOES NOT REDUCE, BUT INCREASES THE ENERGY AND HEAT
OF THE BODY by the combustion of the waste poisons by a process of oxidation,
in which waste becomes the fuel for its own destruction and elimination from
the body. The process of combustion becomes a source of added bodily heat for
the fasterÕs comfort, as well as a source of added energy, bringing about
revitalization and restoration of health.
Fasting RETAINS THE YOUTHFUL COMPLEXION AND APPEAR. ANCE. FASTING DEFERS
OLD AGE AND KEEPS THE BODY YOUNG. Flossie Winsor writes from Triton,
Newfoundland, ÒMy flesh is taking on a natural, rosy, youthful color. I feel
like a new person.Ó An early old age is both a biological and mental
abnormality. It results principally from accumulated impurities and deposits.
Abstention from food will help to remove the accumulations, and thus defer the
physiological process that brings on old age. We are only as old as the number
of dead cells we have in our body. Fasting converts dead cells into food fuel.
This explains why we look so much younger after fasting.
With the PHYSICAL HOUSECLEANING, GOES A MENTAL HOUSE.
CLEANING. I have personally seen pessimism, gloom, discouragement, anger,
grudges, fear, morbidity, despondency, worry, fussiness, mental tensions,
perversions, vile and depraved thoughts, excitability, other forms of mental
conditions, and bad habits disappear completely after the bodily purification
is accomplished. Bodily purification leads to spiritual purification. Demons
often feed on food filth and carnality; many times fasting unlooses them and
makes a person free from demons and disease.
The health authority, Bernarr Macfadden, tells us ÒThat the
body intimately influences the higher soul-powers during a fast, I definitely
know. Physical renovation and purification lead to spiritual renovation and
purification. I have experienced a sublimation of the Spirit, during a
prolonged fast, which is difficult to put into words. It must be experienced to
be known. There is a spring to the step, a feeling of joyous release, of
gladness which fairly overwhelms one. There is, too, an exaltation of spirit, a
broad and more generous sympathy, love and understanding for all things and for
all mankind, a feeling of well-being, and of peace with God, with oneÕs
fellowman, with the world, and with all things which are a part of our everyday
living.Ó If this is the exalted experience of a person interested in the
physical welfare of individuals, how much more glorious should be the
experience of those who would ÒspecializeÓ in power and faith with God through
fasting and prayer? It takes Jesus, however, to give eternal life.
Chapter IX
THE PROPER CARE IN BREAKING THE FAST
It is very difficult to break the fast properly, but very important. The
importance of breaking the fast correctly and wisely cannot be
over-emphasized. If you wish to avoid unpleasant consequences after your fast,
please use plain common sense, and pay strict attention to the following
directions. Very often an individual takes a fast of several weeks, and gets
along fine in the fast, but to his disappointment, has uncomfortable physical
difficulties while in the process of breaking the fast. In practically all
cases this can be traced directly to his impatience to begin eating his
accustomed rations days and even weeks too soon.
If you have fasted very long, or have taken a complete fast, you will
have practically a brand new stomach and it will have to become adjusted to
food again. If you had your automobile engine overhauled, it would be necessary
to break it in slowly for so many miles. If it were a major overhaul, you
should run it at a lower R.P.M. much longer. The same rule applies to a new
stomach.
I once had an airplane with an 80-hoursepower engine. I had it ÒmajoredÓ
by an A. and E. mechanic. Before I could fly it, even at a low R.P.M., the
motor was run, while on the ground, for about five hours. After it had been
broken in sufficiently to fly, it was flown at low cruising speed for another
live hours. These ten hours that were required to break in the engine, were
broken down into short periods, so that the engine would be properly broken in
safely. Our bodies are like the overhauled engine. The longer the fast, the
more care it takes, before resuming regular diet. Our stomach must be broken in
gradually, and time is required between periods for rest, and for the gradual
return to normal of the assimilative functions.
In Bible days, the Israelites, the prophets, and the disciples of
Christ, were acquainted with the dietetic laws of Moses, and the teaching of
the prophets and Essenes, and knew about the hygiene necessary to break a fast.
But today most people are ignorant of this information. In a long fast the
stomach is new, like a childÕs stomach. And when you break a fast, it must be
done properly, to avoid injuring the stomach. Our body is the temple of the
Holy Spirit, and we should be careful to protect it from injury.
After true hunger has returned (in some instances, true hunger does not
return), or if one finds it necessary and advisable to break fasting before
hunger has returned, he should use only fresh citrus fruits. Oranges and
grapefruits are the best to break it with. Fresh tomato juice is almost equally
good. Grape juice from fresh grapes is very fine. Sauerkraut juice, if
agreeable, is sometimes good for the second or third meal, after the fast is
broken. If the fast is seven days or less, it can be broken with whole fresh
fruit for two or three meals, and light soups the second day; the third day
green vegetables, and your regular diet from there on. Even after a short fast
of two or three days, one should avoid sitting down at the table to eat a
regular meal, if he wishes to feel comfortable afterwards. But it is not so
necessary to break this type of fast as carefully as a fast that has been
entered into for many days. (Canned fruits are satisfactory when fresh fruits
or juices are not available.)
If the fast has been very long, it will take several meals
of fresh fruit juices, in small diluted quantities, to correct natural
tendencies. Your regular diet should not commence, until at least the
number of days have elapsed, equal to the number of days that you have fasted.
For instance, if you have fasted twenty-eight days, you should have a gradual
breaking-in period of twenty-eight days before you resume a regular diet. You
should start out with fruit juices for several days, then fresh fruit for two
or three days more, then light soups, not too milky, for another two or three
days, and then green vegetables for a further period. Gradually, little by
little, break into the regular diet.
Since much weight has been lost, the quickest way to regain
it, is by drinking milk, after several days of the above-mentioned
schedule. Small amounts should be taken at first, then larger and larger
portions. CAUTION: Some. times milk will cause the individual to bloat, as
assimilation will be too great. If this should happen, or any other difficulty
arises, it is because you are rushing the breaking-in period. The remedy is to
eat less, or cut out some of the food. If necessary, go back to fruit juices or
fresh fruit again. If very severe, go back to FASTING, and do not drink water.
Take enemas often. This is a safe rule to follow, if any complication should
develop during the breaking-in period.
NOTICE: THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT
Do not rush your stomach. The longer you wait to regain your
weight, and the more slowly you get back to regular eating, the better will be
your physical condition afterward. If you fail to wait long enough, you will
undo much that has been accomplished physically.
We urge you, by all means to obtain our book, erGLORIF1ED
FASTING.Ó This volume will give you more information on breaking the fast than
any other volume available. We feel that every person who fasts should have it.
It is called the tÕABC of FASTING.Ó 40 illustrations, contains a scientific
treatment of the ÔFasting CureÓ road to better health.
THE AUTHOR IMPARTS TO YOU IN JESUSÕ NAME AND PERSONALLY
COMMANDS THE BELIEVING READER TO BE A RECIPIENT OF GODÕS GREATEST BLESSING FOR
THE PHYSICAL BODY (THE DWELLING PLACE OF THE HOLY GHOST) - God bless you with
His Holy Fire. HALLELUJAH!
Chapter X
RESULTS OF FASTING AND PRAYING
St. Paul has probably inspired more men and women to follow Jesus Christ
than has any other person. His teachings are more revered and loved in the
church today, than are those of any other writer. After PaulÕs conversion he
began his career with a three-day fast, Acts 9:9. If every convert would follow
PaulÕs example by fasting three days, meditating and praying after his
conversion, there would be fewer backsliders and more chosen vessels for the
LordÕs service. According to Galatians 1:17, Paul then went to Arabia, ÒNeither
went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me.Ó Preparation had
to be made; Christ had to be woven into his theology. Changes had now to be
made. A mystery is supposed to cover his stay in Arabia, but of the effect of
fasting on a man of PaulÕs character, there remains no mystery. Since he says
of his Christian career, he was Òin fastings oftenÓ (II Cor. 11:27), there can
be little doubt that he fasted in Arabia, when all the circumstances were
most favorable for a fast. The result was that he returned to Damascus and
began to preach Christ in power and demonstration of the Spirit. He became a
spiritual giant for God. All of us need to go into ÒTHE WILDERNESS,Ó or ÒINTO
ARABIAÓ BEFORE BEGINNING TO PREACH CHRIST. If there is that something lacking
in your life, even if you have the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, the FASTING
EXPERIENCE is for you. There would be more success instead of so many failures
in the ministry. The power and demonstration in the Spirit would be manifested
and gifts of the Spirit would commence to operate. If there is any one agency
that can do this quickly and perfectly, it is the consecration fast. It is the
sure route to the anointing.
We have been too busy with Òmuch servingÓ as ministers, and have missed
the power for the highest service, because we have failed to follow Brother
Paul in his fasting as he has invited us to do when he says: ÒWalk as ye have
us for an example;Ó surely, since he was Òin fasting oftenÓ this is
included in the example. In II Cor. 11:23 St. Paul says: ÒAre they
ministers of Christ? I am moreÕ Ô-largely because he was Òin fastings often.Ó
All of the verse, II Cor. 11:27, reads: ÒIn weariness and painfulness, in
watchings often, IN HUNGER AND THIRST, IN FASTINGS OFTEN, in cold and
nakedness,Ó is herewith quoted to show that Paul distinguishes between doing
without water in his hunger, and fasting, which is doing without food only, but
not without the drinking of water. Here is the secret of being more than a mere
minister. It is the secret of PaulÕs power. All who will take his words to
heart can excel by using this glorious agency. We are obligated to do so to be
our best.
This command:
ÒBe followers of me, as ye have us for an example,Ó Phil. 3:17, is for all
believers as well as for ministers like Paul. This is still more evident from
the manner in which he refers to fasting and prayer in I Cor. 7:5,
ÒDefraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for
a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer.Ó These words cannot
be construed as being addressed alone to ministers. They are addressed to all
and it is a routine work of salvation that needs to be worked out after we are
converted. Verse Six: ÒI speak this by permission, and not of commandment,Ó
pertains to the marriage relationship and applies to the sex appetite which
should be denied in fasting. After approximately three days in the fast, the
desire will have disappeared anyway. If the married couple wish all the
happiness there is in wedlock, before you ever argue with one another about breaking
up, try the fast way, and to your surprise things can be healed so that you
will want to go on another honeymoon! Try it out and see. It is an inexpensive
method, a money saver!
In Acts 13:1, 2: ÒThey ministered to the Lord and FASTED.Ó
The result was finding the will of God. Paul and Barnabas were to be separated
to the work whereunto God had called them. It seems that the Holy Ghost has
little place in the churches in these modern days; but give the Holy Ghost a
chance to lead through fasting and praying and see the results.
II Cor. 6:1-5: ÒWe then approving ourselves as the ministers
of God in much patience . . . in fastings.Ó Surely, if he could not approve
himself a minister of God without fasting, how can the rest of us presume to do
so? Paul certainly was acquainted with the value of this tonic.
Ministers can be their own evangelists after a season of
fasting and prayer and will do more good than a stranger could possibly do
without fasting. There will be less psychology and fewer stories, but more
spiritual power and demonstration, as well as fervor and zeal in the revival.
Bible students can obtain the choicest post-graduate course
in the university of the Spirit by uniting for a season of prayer and fasting.
They can become better commentators on the Pauline Epistle by obtaining the
Pauline FER. VENCY and ZEAL than they ever thought possible, by just following
PaulÕs example.
We hold Bible conferences, fellowship meetings, basket
dinner gatherings in the church, feasting, jubilees, musical services, and
prayer meetings. Why not have fasting-prayer, and consecration-fast anointing
services and conferences? The results have been astounding in the places
where they have been held, as we shall presently tell you.
After Jesus received the Holy Spirit, although He was the
Son of God yet He did not begin to manifest His Sonship until after He had
fasted forty days. As children of God we will need to follow Jesus in fasting
and prayer, if we expect to manifest spiritual life and power, as did our Lord.
There is no other way to have a full manifestation of spirituality but through
fasting and prayer, and there is, according to St. Paul, no other remedy for
the groaning and suffering of creation than a complete manifestation of
the children of God, as far as is possible here on earth.
Rom. 8:19-22: ÒThe whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain
together until now, and waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God, for
the creature was made subject to vanity.Ó Even the music of the birds is in a
minor key. All animal life is groaning with unpleasant sound; there are sounds
of discord, the wealing and wailing, barking and meowing, the howling and
growling, all are a sign of sin and pain; the noise on the street, the clanging
of the wheels on the street car, the sound of your automobile, the howling and
whistling of the wind in windy weather, all these and much more remind us of
the groaning of the creation. Why? It is because the sons of God, and more of
the children of God, are not MANIFESTING. The crying of countless millions in
Asia and Africa, the cries of starving multitudes that are dying all over the
world after this second world war have reached a high, shrill pitch of
suffering. It is all because the sons of God are not manifesting themselves.
The cripples, the sick, the suffering, the insane asylums filed with the
distressed, and hospitals running over with sick and wounded, the groanings of
suffering humanity everywhere, all is because the sons of God do not have the
vision, and know not how to manifest. The Laodicean, denominational, bound
Church has so much riches, comfortable pews, stained-glass windows, but the
CHRIST is left outside. Now He is knocking at the doors of a few individuals.
Think of it, Jesus on the outside of His own church! The so-called Christians,
and the makeshifts between Church and state, are of no avail as a remedy, and
have actually become a reproach to Christ that prolongs the struggle and
sufferings of millions. Under the sombre, leaden skies there is revealed to us
a ray of hope! In the providence of God there is only one remedy that will
terminate the groaning, instead of merely suppressing it as other agencies do.
That remedy is the Òmanifestation of the sons of God.Ó Our complete
manifestation, of course, takes place when the Spirit quickens us, when ÒThe
adoption, to wit, the redemption of our bodyÓ (Rom. 8:24), occurs, but we have
an Òearnest expectationÓ available now, not for just a few individuals
among the sons of God, but for the entire body of them. One can be a child of
God all his life without ÒMANIFESTINGÓ in this sense. Yes, one can even
receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and not fully manifest. On the day of
Pentecost the one-hundred-and-twenty received the Baptism and the fire, backed
not only by days of real prayer, but as they were in the upper room
continually, by many days of FASTING. The result-the worldÕs greatest revival!
It shook the whole city and countryside. These women and men who were in
the upper room began to MANIFEST-AND SOMETHING HAPPENED. They were all of
one accord, and their unity knew neither divisions nor sectarianism.
Most of the great revivals that have swept the land were born in fasting
and prayer and can be traced back to that very thing. Fasting pleases the Lord.
FAITH PARALLELS FASTING
Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. But
in the Word of God Jesus has given us a moreÕ direct and specific pathway to
the receiving of this FAITH. The disciples needed to fast in order to obtain
faith to cast out certain demons. If we are unable to get victory over ordinary
sicknesses and achieve certain prayer accomplishments without fasting, how much
more should we fast, than the disciples? Surely this should spur us on toward
fasting more than ever.
If faith is produced by following JesusÕ instructions on
prayer and fasting, then there surely is a close relationship between fasting
and faith. Shall we analyze the subjects of FAITH and FASTING and see the
relationship between them?
FAITH
1. Faith
ignores the sense faculties of sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing.
The senses are an enemy to bothÕ lasting and faith.
2. Faith
ignores feeling.
3. Faith
works with the invisible. The digestive tract at its beginning is the WORD
ORGAN. This instrument is also our faith organ.
4. Faith is on
a spiritual plane.
5. ÒFaith
worketh patience.Ó James 1:3.
6. Faith
is a substance: ÒFaith is the substance of things hoped for.Ó
7. Faith
is the evidence of the unseen; ÒThe evidence of things not seen.
8. Faith
ceases to be when the substance is made visible.
9. Faith
is anti-carnal.
10. Faith
is believing what is not seen by the natural.
11. Faith brings supernatural
manifestation.
12. Without
faith it is impossible to please God.
Faith brings spiritual power.
14. Faith is the victory.
15. The natural
man dislikes to believe in God.
16. Christians
find it difficult to believe Christ for their physical healing, which was
bought for them.
17. Faith pulls down the strongholds
of the enemy. II Cor. 10:3-5.
18. Faith likes the same
things that fasting likes and it dislikes the same things fasting dislikes.
19. The more we exercise our faith
the stronger we become in our Christian experience. The power of faith is
exercised by the spoken word.
20. Faith will make a supernatural person
out of an ordinary individual.
21. Faith works independently of the flesh,
and of all sense evidence.
FASTING
1. Fasting
wars against our members so that the senses, though keen in operation, are
subjected to the spiritual.
2. Our
feelings change to a spiritual environment.
3. Our
miserable feeling during fasting comes while the flesh is being subjugated so
that invisible spiritual power may be manifested.
4. Fasting
leads us into the Spirit.
5. A
major fast always gives one greater patience.
6. Fasting
brings one into contact with the substance of God.
7. Fasting
brings revelation evidence from God. Fasting is therefore faithÕs greatest
ally.
8. After
the fast ends there is a major spiritual awakening.
9. Fasting
is anti-carnal.
10. Fasting
takes one into an unseen spiritual realm, sometimes into visions.
11. Fasting
will undo the natural. It brings us into the supernatural.
12. Fasting
pleases the Lord.
13. Fasting
produces the faith that leads to spiritual power.
14. Fasting moves God to give us
the victory.
15. The natural man dislikes to
fast.
16. The children of the
Bridegroom are urged to fast, yet it is so distasteful to them that seldom
can one be found who has fasted ten consecutive days.
17. Fasting brings us into a great
spiritual battle that ultimately brings great victory. See Daniel 10:2-14.
18. Satanic forces struggle
against the fasting candidate, seeking to break the fast.
19. Fasting empowers a Christian to make
great spiritual strides. To be at our best, we should be Òin fastings
often.Ó
20. Fasting neutralizes the
flesh so that a person can become a powerful CONDUCTOR of Spiritual Power.
21. Fasting is disliked by the
flesh. The natural is restrained-God comes.
THE CONFESSION ORGAN
Faith is blind to physical reason and physical conditions. While reason
is nervous, excited, and troubled; faith is patient, relaxed, and calm. Faith
just takes over and possesses. All believers can have faith-power to heal the
sick and cast out demons. See Luke 9:1; Matt. 10:7, 8; Mark 3:14, 15; and Mark
16th chapter. It is necessary to be grounded on the Word of God and believe the
Word of God to retain our healing. Others could have faith for our deliverance,
but we might lose the healing if we did not also have our faith properly
grounded in the Word. This explains why some healings do not last after we are
healed. We could get our faith more on the person delivering us, than on
Christ. We would be healed, but if our faith was not definitely established in
the WORD OF GOD, there would be a possibility of the return of the
ailment. We must have Faith in God. A powerful Scripture for you to stand
on and go about your duties throughout the day is one pertaining to sick
people. (Mark 16:18, ÒThe Sick!Ó) ÒThey shall recover. THEY SHALL RECOVER.Ó
ÒTHEY SHALL RECOVER.Ó Now say it this way, I SHALL RECOVER, I SHALL RECOVER NOW
IN JESUSÕ NAME! NOW is also the day of (Healing) Salvation.
GET ACQUAINTED WITH THE AUTHORÕS
FAITH-ORGAN BOOKS
THE GLUTTONS
The love of eating is Òthe second root of all evil.Ó It is
definitely pointed out by Christ as a last-day sign. Matt. 24:38; Lk. 21:34.
There is nothing wrong with the enjoyment of Òeating to live,Ó but it is wrong
to just ÒLIVE TO EAT.Ó There is a big difference. Ps. 78:33 shows us plainly
that this is the cause of sickness. More are destroyed from gluttony than from
alcoholism.
Chapter XI
DIVINE HEALING CONTINUATOR
fasting assists in getting our body saved
as well as our soul! (Compare Is. 58:8-10.)
You may have not only freedom from sin, sickness, sorrow, want, poverty,
unhappiness and all death related things-the works of the Devil-but you may
likewise become invulnerable and even immune to such negative things. Provision
has been supplied in ChristÕs atonement so that protection and
prevention-immunity for such curses-is available to all believers, thus
distinguishing the major material and physical difference between the truly
born-again Christian and the unborn-again sinner.
At the present time one can see very little difference between a
Christian and a Sinner in so far as sickness of the body is concerned. Both
become sick with the same kind of diseases, both come under the DevilÕs works
of the above-mentioned negative things called the curses of the law and which
are catalogued in the twenty-eighth chapter of Deuteronomy. A saint may be
healed by Jesus from arthritis or cancer only to either pick it up again
at a future time or take another sickness just as great. This does not indicate
that the LordÕs healing for us was no good. ÒChrist hath redeemed us from the
curse of the law, being made a curse for usÓ Gal. 3:13. Jesus paid a full cash
price for the whole man. If Jesus did not redeem the whole man, including his
physical body and his material welfare, then Christ did not redeem any part of
a man!
In this volume you will learn that Christ has provided something
beyond what the professing Christian at present time has possessed. The
believer has not gone far enough and applied our LordÕs full provision of
safety, covering and preservation against future sickness and poverty and
vulnerability to same. There is a formula or plan which has seldom if ever been
followed properly. This formula or truth, when put into practice, will
transform and revolutionize the church or group who dares to believe and accept
and practice ChristÕs sayings thereof.
Hidden in plain sight there is
another healing operation of the Holy Ghost. We could call some aspects of
divine healing Double Healing Power of the Holy Ghost. This is a continuous
divine healing operation. This is to prevent such embarrassment as is
found in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ today, because in the church one
will find almost as many sick people as there are in the bar across the way. It
is a disgrace and a shame that Christians can have every kind of sickness that
a sinner can have, and die a DevilÕs painful death in the same manner as a
person without God can die and still claim salvation!
We often become so elated and thrilled over certain specific
wonderful blessings from the Lord that some even greater blessings are
partially or altogether overlooked. Of course, the enemy of truth is also
seeing to it that certain great subjects are ignored or altogether overlooked
and left out. This absent truth leaves us incomplete.
Certain operations and gifts of the Holy Ghost are ministered to the
church only in part and without intensification. That is, they are functioning
only in part or their ministry is lightly manifested. Most any deliverance
minister realizes that at times even divine healing is not manifested as
strongly as it should be. The experience of using these divine ministries
increases with more use and practice.
Terminology sometimes frightens some people but it should not do so. For
instance, if a person operated the gift of discernment or discerning of spirits
in an amplified manner, he may see names, places, diseases, lost articles, etc.
in such detail that a weaker believer would perhaps become frightened or
excited thus lose sight of the divine gift altogether, calling it an evil
spirit which had taken over the person, instead of recognizing the operation of
the Holy Ghost within the prophet of God. Many of the children of God are not
as wise as the children of the world.
DIVINE TANGIBLE SUBSTANCE
Another operation of the Holy Ghost is that of bringing into
visibility real tangible and material Holy Ghost thing~ that
heretofore may not have been seen by the eyes of the ordinary believer. As
we begin working the deeper works of the Lord and as we do the greater works,
tremendous manifestations of tangibleness that will result in great and mighty
signs and wonders-sometimes called phenomena-will be more and more apparent and
in action on a scale of intensity never before seen.
For instance: When intensified, the operation of the Gifts
of Healing by deliverance preachers makes a person become very warm or hot,
wherever the healing power operates. The sick area has a hot feeling right on
and over the disease. Sometimes the healing fire ignites, so to speak, the
very area of deadness or illness, consuming it away. Should it be thought wrong
for a God who is called a Consuming Fire to use His divine, consuming substance
to eradicate diseases on His children? Of course not.
Many talk about the protection of the Lord, the safety,
preservation and keeping power of His grace, etc. The Lord does protect
and help us, but in spite of all this, multitudes of Holy Ghost people
take on practically every known sickness that the bank robber, the drunkard,
the liar, sorcerer and murderer have. They bury both classes of people in the
same kind of a casket under the same depth of earth and cover the corpse with
the same kind of soil. This should not be done. Jesus gave complete salvation
for the entire entity of man! We are teaching what Jesus taught.
Have you ever thought ot such wonderful good news? If an
effective deliverance minister can get the sick healed in the name of Jesus
Christ, then why, in Jesus name, cannot the minister with a deep deliverance
ministry after the same manner put the same but deeper healing operation on
well and healthy believers? They impart healing to the sick, so they could also
impart the stronger healing power to well and healthy people, leaving the
divine healing substance on, over and around each and every organ of their
bodies. We have discovered what the healing substance is. Please do not be
offended by what we call it and by the right name we call it. The author has
discovered that this divine healing precious and priceless substance is the
light of fire of life substance of the Holy Ghost from Jesus Christ.
WILL THE READER ACCEPT A HOLY GHOST CHALLENGE?
THE
AUTHOR HAS HUMBLY endeavored to bring forth evidence from the Word of God,
from testimonies of man and from scientific investigations for the unpopular
but important and effective doctrine of our Lord-FASTING. The consecration
fast unto God. It is your and my burden or obligation to re-interest the church
world in one of the major truths of the Bible. The task is overwhelming,
especially for a few. The reader is kindly invited to join the efforts of many
others who have likewise caught the spark of enlightenment. Those too who are
willing to shoulder some of the responsibility in getting these wonderful, but
yet neglected truths to others. To those who are in great need of these
blessings that this subject affords. This full salvation is needed. The Body
felt as well as Heartfelt experience.
The
plan for developing new interest in this subject is simple:
We
must get the truth out. Order literature, Free tracts and magazines are
available. Send in for the subscription free ÒMIRACLE WORDÓ publication.
Regular articles and dates and places of these kind of revival meetings,
conventions and seminars are given.
More
than twenty-four million pieces of literature have already been printed and
distributed freely to many parts of the world. For every book that a price is
sent in for, more than a hundred pieces of free literature have been given
away-thus making the cost much more than what folk often give for a book
compared to the actual tremendous cash outlay for same. However the world needs
this material regardless of the cost.
Funds
are greatly needed to keep up the supply for the ever increasing demand.
The reader is presented a challenge to also become burdened with us in prayer,
fastings and with finances. Try to become a part and parcel of this
ministry. Pray about it and we believe the Lord will bless and lead. Give and
it shall be given. It is more blessed to give than to receive. Some one gave
and sacrificed for years not only in dollars and cents but in much labor, time
and effort in order to make these truths available for you. This does not
include the much persecution and suffering from skepticism-much of which
now has broken down.
Why
not write in today, to Brother Franklin Hall, address elsewhere within the
pages of this volume and let us know how you feel about this and what you would
like to do? God bless and prosper you mightily, in His lovely name. Amen.