#81 “Understanding the Role of Fasting”

(Spiritual Hearing) Pt.5
 



“And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking

in the garden in the cool of the day..."

[Genesis 3:8]

King James Version (KJV)

Another benefit to fasting is that it gives us a keener sense of hearing spiritually, thus we can hear the voice of the Lord better.  Just like our children when we are calling them or telling them to do something, but they can’t hear us because they are distracted. So too when the Lord is calling us and or trying to get our attentions, we are too distracted to hear His voice; however, fasting clears the distractions away and makes it easier to hear His voice. Jesus said, “And when he put forth his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.  And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spoke Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spoke unto them.” (John 10:4-5) sometimes we start to hear other voices other than that of Jesus, the TV, video games, personal relationships, addictions of all kinds. So many things in this world will try to speak to us and draw us away for the voice of God. But is we would just settle down and quite ourselves we will hear the voice of the Lord. 

Many believers simply don’t know to determine who is speaking to them, because they have not spent enough time in the presence of the Lord. But when we set aside time for fasting and prayer this is a special time when we can focus only on the Lord then hearing His voice becomes much easier.  There are always three voices speaking to us at any given time, (our spirit, the Holy Spirit and Satan) so how does one distinguish between these which is God, the flesh or the enemy? Well first the Spirit of Satan will never tell you to do what is right; second the human spirit always wants what will satisfy the flesh; that leaves only one, the Holy Spirit, who is always instructing you to obey the will of God.  

What did the Apostle Paul say, “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” So what was his conclusion? “I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.”(Romans 7:19-23) There is always a constant struggle between the spirit of man, the spirit of Satan and the Holy Spirit, the question is which voice are you yielding to, flesh, Satan or Holy Spirit? When Jesus said, “my sheep know my voice and another they will not follow.” what did He mean? That just like the Apostle Paul we belong to the Lord and we long to follow Him, however there is a war ragging against us trying to keep us for following the voice of the Lord.

So then what makes us not follow the other voices? The love we have for the Lord Jesus and the Father! When our love is perfected we will not follow after the voice of Satan or the voice of our fleshly desires. Because of our love for the father and the Son, we long to please them and we’re listening closely to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. Often times we don’t quite know what to expect, will God’s voice thunder like it did on Mount Sinai, terrifying us from the sound?

Now let’s take a look at how Elijah figured out what the voice of God sound like. 1 Kings 19 - “And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah had become discouraged and had gone into a cave to hide for Queen Jezebel who had threatened to kill him. “Then God said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.  So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:7-13)  This is why we need to quite ourselves before the Lord because He often speaks to us in a still small voice, not a loud thunderous one.

When we are fasting we have very little distraction to keep us for hearing the voice of the Lord. Because we are not eating there’s no need to plan a menu, no food preparation, not time spent eating and no time spent cleaning up the dishes after meal preparation.  Do you know how much time that will save you? This gives you more time to spend before the Lord. And what about watching TV, or being on the computer or playing video games, or many of the other things that distracts us? Once we set aside time for fasting and prayer there’s more time because you’ve decided to stop doing the other things for a season.  What often happens once the consecration ends is you don’t want to restart many of the things you quit doing. 

I use to love playing this game called “Farmville” on Facebook I was always buying new buildings, livestock farm equipment, harvesting crops and I even added a garden café and a bakery whatever it took to make my farm look better. For me this game was bordering an addiction. I had to play it every day and every night. Then the Lord call me on a 40-day fast, by the end of that fast I’ve never been able to get back into playing Farmville. Oh I’ve tried but the desire is not longer there. Now don’t get me wrong there’s nothing wrong about playing Farmville or any other game unless “the game has started to play you!” Now the game is in control not you, just like any other addiction, you may start using it but before long it will be using you. Fasting will help break those addictions, habits and hang-ups, setting you free for their grip.

My Prayer: Lord God, teach us to hear you voice and not to follow the voice of our flesh or the voice of Satan. Father, teach us and give us wisdom to know the difference between the voice of our human spirit, the voice of Satan and the voice of the Holy Spirit. Give us a greater desire to spend time with you and to learn Your voice. Thank You Father for your word and the Holy Spirit which instructs us in the things we must do and the way we should go.  Thank you for your love and the blessings of the Lord which makes us rich and adds not sorrow to it. These things we ask in Jesus name, Amen!

Have A Bless Day…Go in God’s Peace!  

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