Just recently I heard a statement that a high percentage of Africans are Christians but still practice witchcraft. They attend church on Sunday to hear the word of God and then go to the witch doctor to receive their healing and deliverance. This brings me to one of my foundational teachings that was instilled in me by my mentor Al Hollingsworth.
Over 2000 years ago Jesus gave us the power and authority to tread on serpents, heal the sick, cast out demons and speak in new tongues, yet little of this work is being done in power (Mark
16:15-18). WHY? What are we missing? Why are so many Christians hurting and powerless? Do the living have to die to come into the fullness of power? In Matthew 10: 39 Jesus tells his apostles that they must be willing to die in order to have life/power. Example: Nicodemus was told in John 3 that he had to be born again in order to have life which meant he had to die to his religious beliefs (values & beliefs from his past).
How do I die and Stay Dead??
Each man and woman of God have to first face this question of death in their quest for power: Am I Willing To Die For His Call On My Life? Jesus told the secret of how to die as he healed the young man (brought to him by his father) who had been overtaken by demons and often thrown into the fire. His words were few and simple. He told his disciples “These Demons only Come out by Prayer and Fasting.
Are you willing to die to your self-will, safety, and comfort in order to be endowed from on high?
Was Jesus really telling them that prayer and fasting is this agent of death that will lead to power? Ephesians 3:20 tells us that the Holy Spirit is that power that we’re seeking and it is his power that worketh within us. It is He that empowers life to the dead and He will not share His power. Only one will reign on the thorn.
The choice is simple but the dying is hard, His life for our death. We don’t want our comfort zones changed, because we have grown accustomed to the old ways even though they may be unfruitful. James 1:8 tells us that a double -minded person gets nothing.
The choice to die is moment by moment.
The father of the demon possessed young man said when challenged by Jesus concerning his faith, “I believe but help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). In reality, he was telling Jesus, I want to die to my doubting; help me to die so I can have power to trust you and live in true power. In short, prayer makes you want to die and fasting shows you how to die. They seek to kill the old man of the spirit and flesh. Prayer and fasting brings death to the old man by forcing it to acknowledge the power and authority of the Holy Spirit. Prayer and Fasting is this key to dying.
