Fasting is About Consecration

Consecrate

1. to make or declare sacred or holy; sanctify

2. to dedicate (one's life, time, etc) to a specific purpose

Fasting is a time, a season where you separate yourself unto God, those who are saved, born again as Kingdom citizens are sanctified in the since of no longer being in the darkness that is sin. (2nd Corinthians 6:14-18) But this time of consecration is about a personal separation, where you separate yourself from people places and things that will otherwise hinder, stifle or contaminate your spiritual growth. This is a time set apart for you to eat and grow and be transformed, it is a time set aside for an more intimate encounter with God where spiritual transformation takes place, I call this cocooning.

John 17: 5, 14-18

5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.

JESUS was in but not of the world, we find JESUS even being judged by his many encounters with the common folk and sinners, although JESUS was often found mingling with sinners, we never find him living like one. JESUS was in the world but not of the world. We are not to separate ourselves for the sake of being separated as if we are better, but for the sake of going into the world to rescue man out of darkness, to pull them out of the sin they are drowning in.

Matthew 3:16- 4:1; 4:17

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

4:1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil…17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

JESUS being our example; before He even starts His earthly ministry, He starts with a fast, before he begins his assignment He consecrates Himself to God. JESUS, mature leader and teacher knew the importance of consecration, which would transform Him and prepare Him for what was before Him. As we read throughout the New Testament we read of JESUS who we find often time going out to the wilderness to be alone with the father to pray. Consecrate!!!

Matthew 17:21

Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Jesus in His humanity shows us how to walk out our dominion and authority, to walk in the divine power conferred to us (2nd Peter 1:3), everything we need for life and godliness. In order to walk in the authority and power conferred unto us, we are going to have to spent time alone with God- in consecration. (concentrated / refining pot)

Matthew 4:2-11

2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

What we learn in the class of consecration will be tested in the final exam of manifestation.