The Secret Place: 21 Day DevotionalSample

THE NEXT LEVEL

Matthew 17:19-21

If faith without works is dead, authority without faith is non-existent. Faith is a fundamental element of exercising your spiritual authority. We are dealing in the spiritual realm, with things unseen, so it is not possible to have authority over things unseen if we are only walking by sight - we need to have faith. However, there is a next level of power unlocked through fasting. The disciples had been exercising authority in Jesus’ name. Hence, they were shocked when they could not cast demons out of this boy. So it is possible that you can exercise authority in the name of Jesus but lack authority yourself. The name of Jesus carries power, even if the person who calls it does not. While we have access to the power and authority given to us by Jesus through faith. There is a next level of power and authority that faith alone cannot achieve. Coupling faith with the power of prayer and fasting can unlock doors and change destinies. By Jesus saying this ‘kind of demon’ he draws a distinction between demons or situations that can be handled via faith and that which is only possible through fasting and prayer.

Throughout the Bible, we see the power of fasting and prayer. When Jonah’s warning reached the Ninevites, a fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, even the King of Nineveh, put on sackcloth, and they successfully called on God, repented, and He showed them mercy. Esther called a three-day fast with all the Jews in Susa, and she found favour with the King and saved her people. Fasting and prayer are powerful tools in our arsenal to grow in both power and authority. If we return to our anchor scripture, when Jesus rebuked the demon, He didn’t have to call for a fast to address it. He was able to speak a word, and it was done. This tells us that Jesus led a fasted lifestyle. Making fasting a regular part of your journey will make you grow in your authority. One fast we see Jesus do in the Bible is his famous 40-day fast. After Jesus’ fast, when He was hungry, He was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan. Please note that fasting, for the sake of growing in the spirit, will open you up to testing because the enemy does not want you to reach this level of power. However, resist the devil and he will flee. Jesus not only overcame the temptations from Satan through the Word, but also followed His fast as he started His ministry.

Let fasting be part of your spiritual training in 2024 and beyond. Unlock the next level of power.