We are currently in our annual 21-day fast, and tomorrow marks the start of the final week. When we fast and pray, we capture heaven’s attention in a unique, powerful, and significant way. Today we are going to see through the scriptures that: Your Physical Actions Impact Your Spiritual Life.
What we do physically affects us spiritually, and what we do spiritually affects us physically.
This truth is evident in many biblical examples. One of my favourites is in Exodus 17, where the Lord instructs Moses to have Joshua fight the Amalekites.
“As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.”Exodus 17:11
This chapter illustrates that our physical actions have spiritual consequences; they can impact even our bodies and health. Moses was victorious in the unseen realm while his hands were raised in obedience to God. Why was he winning? Because of his physical obedience!
This story is extremely special because it shows how us how to win spiritual battles through physical obedience. There’s a connection between our physical actions and spiritual outcomes.
2022 Fasting Testimony: I was fasting for many days, consuming only water. In the final days of the fast, Mitch from Crown Jesus Ministries called me and said he wanted to speak with me. He shared that God had told him that Hope Café should be ours. We received the Hope Café for free, and I’m convinced it was the result of fasting and prayer.
Angels were literally dispatched onto that battle ground because Moses rose his hands! If his hands started to lower, the enemy began to advance.
There is a link between our natural actions and supernatural events. Your Fasting and Prayer Release Angels to Act on Your Behalf
“Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” Hebrews 1:14
“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them.” Psalm 34:7
God’s angels are spirits sent to serve those who are saved!
Here’s the point: Moses with raised hands – while obeying God’s commands – was performing a physical act that led to victory. I want to discuss the act of raising hands. Why do some people in church lift their hands to praise the Lord?
Raising hands is an act of surrender to God and obedience to Him. Yet, many feel they don’t need to. But we must remember that our physical obedience affects our spiritual life.
The Bible instructs us to lift our hands and worship God!
“Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord who minister by night in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord.” Psalm 134:1-2
“Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.” Psalm 28:2
“May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.” Psalm 141:2
Raising hands is an act of surrender and obedience to God’s word. Sadly, many say: I don’t like it; I don’t need to do it!
They say they don’t need to humble themselves or kneel before the Lord! They claim they don’t need to fast or pray, and so on.
The truth is: Physical Obedience brings Spiritual Release! What you do physically impacts you spiritually.
Some say they don’t need to attend church because they can seek God at home. They feel attending all church gatherings isn’t necessary.
“I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.'” Psalm 122:1
This is physical obedience: rejoicing in going to the Lord’s house!
“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25
The Bible mentions that some have a habit of missing church! We need to encourage each other as the day draws near.
Celebrating and dancing before God is a biblical principle, but many, due to their learned religion, say: I don’t feel comfortable with it, I won’t do it!
“Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King. Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp.” Psalm 149:2-3
“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,” Psalm 30:11
“The young women will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.” Jeremiah 31:13
This is a command, an ordinance from God, but many Christians say: I don’t like it, I don’t want to, I don’t need to.
Others argue they don’t feel comfortable doing it. But may I remind you: It’s not for you; it’s for God! It’s about pleasing God! Many have been in church for years without experiencing God because they show no physical obedience!
The physical affects the spiritual. Our physical actions make a significant difference.
Today’s society is driven by feelings, and some in the church share these beliefs. If we feel something, it’s as if we’ve done something. What does this mean?
If we feel humble, we don’t need to kneel. If we feel joy, we don’t need to dance. We don’t need to show our feelings outwardly. If we feel it in our hearts, there’s no need to express it physically. But this is unbiblical!
If we feel our faith, we don’t need to take the risk of faith. The Bible says faith without deeds is dead!
You can have all the feelings you want, but if you do nothing with them, they are not functional.
Imagine if I told (my wife) Fabiana: I have many feelings for you, but I don’t need to show them, they are simply in my heart. Feelings must be expressed in words and actions. What you do physically affects you spiritually.
Fasting is a physical activity with profound spiritual implications.
What is Fasting? Fasting is abstaining from food for spiritual purposes. If a doctor tells you to fast, what does it mean?
Okay, I’ll fast; I won’t eat beef, but I’ll eat chicken. No, that’s not fasting.
Our challenge for the church is to fast for a period – skip some meals a day or fast for a few days with just water, and when eating during these 21 days, to eat vegetables or simple food. No sugar, sweets, sodas, meats, or things you enjoy.
Physical Fasting yields supernatural results.
You all know Daniel’s story, who fasted for 21 days, and after his fast, an Angel came in response.
“Then he continued, ‘Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.'” Daniel 10:12
On the first day you fasted and declared your reasons for fasting, heaven heard you! The answer was on its way when you began to fast.
This is why we must continue fasting because God allows you and me to join Him in His purposes to bring about a desired outcome.
While Daniel was fasting, things were happening supernaturally, and the answer was on its way.
Listen: nobody fasts without receiving an answer. The minute you began to pray, God heard you and sent the answer.
“But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.” Daniel 10:13
The answer came on the first day, but the kingdom of Persia resisted me for 21 days! Who resisted the Angel sent to Daniel?
This prince of Persia, this is a demonic being! An evil Angel!
Let’s see what Paul said about this:
“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12
Rulers and authorities of the unseen world are demonic beings governing geographical regions. In Daniel’s case, that prince controlled the kingdom of Persia.
But Daniel continued to fast and pray, and what was the result?
“Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.”
Daniel’s answer came with the dispatch of angels! Your prayer and fasting move the spiritual world!
“Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” Hebrews 1:14
Angels are sent to serve those who will inherit salvation! If you are saved, if you are born again, while you fast and pray, Angels will be sent to serve you!
You may see them or not, but they are around us.
Paul said: “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12
Many Christians have been defeated because they are trying to fight against people, against their spouses, against their children, against their boss, against their neighbour, but their weapon is different, and so is their enemy, for their battle is spiritual.
This is why fasting is so powerful; it prepares us for this spiritual battle. While you and I are physically fasting, things are moving spiritually.
“For 21 days, however, the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, and I left him there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.” Daniel 10:13-14
Michael is one of the archangels mentioned in the Bible. He is the warrior archangel, while Gabriel is the messenger archangel.
What this angel was saying is: I was engaged in battle, you were praying and fasting, so Michael came to help, and your prayers resulted in a victory in this spiritual battle happening in the heavenly realms.
What you and I do physically tremendously impact the spiritual realm, in ways you cannot imagine.
What we are doing during these 21-days fast is incredibly important; it holds immense spiritual significance, and the enemy wants you to think it’s not worthwhile and that you don’t need to fast. But I’m here to tell you that when you fast and pray, God moves in your life and it allows you to change impossible circumstances.
What you and I do physically affects us spiritually and those around us.
Fasting will change you, change your home, change your work, change your marriage, change the people you love, change your children’s hearts, save your family, and increase God’s favour upon you in ways you cannot imagine.
What we are doing in this fast is so valuable and important. I want to encourage you to fast because it will make a difference in your life and your family.
If you aren’t fasting, or maybe you’ve only changed the foods you eat and aren’t truly fasting, I’m not here to condemn you, but to encourage you: let’s fast this week, keep fasting, continue on, because what you do physically affects you spiritually.
There is a battle, we are in a spiritual battle, and fasting breaks strongholds. Some of you are facing demonic strongholds, and the only thing that can fix it is fasting.
When you begin to fast and pray, you release God’s supernatural forces from Heaven!
May God bless you powerfully in Jesus’ Name.