American Reformation Prayer Journal 45
ARC Prayer Meeting
Recently at an Operation Save America’s rally, brother Jason Storms gave a strong admonishment to finish strong in defeating Amendment 4 in the state of Florida. He called for hard work, but also to exercise spiritual disciplines. He reminded those gathered that the church had weapons of warfare that are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of demonic strongholds. Two of these spiritual disciplines are fasting and prayer.
Jesus declared, “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21). In context, the disciples could not cast out a stubborn demon. Eventually, they brought the afflicted child to Him and in short order that child was delivered and set free. When questioned by the disciples to understand their failure, Christ told them one of the issues was unbelief and then let them know some demonic strongholds are so obstinate, it takes fasting and prayer to bring sweet release.
As a result, our church, the American Reformation Church, is calling for 3 days of fasting and prayer to specifically focus in on the defeat of Amendment 4. For those of you who are willing to say no to your flesh for a couple of days to seek the Lord’s intervention, please join us and invite others to do the same. The dates are Friday, November 1st, Saturday, the 2nd, and Sunday, the 3rd.
Historically, when it came to crucial times that had significant repercussions, the church had the spiritual sense to call for a time of fasting and prayer. During a crisis, intense persecution, threat of war, natural disasters, or seeking the Lord for needed guidance, the church clothed itself in humility, sought God, fasted, and prayed.
Jonathan Edwards and John Wesley strongly commended it to everyone, especially to those in ministry. Wesley found fasting so important that he would not ordain anyone who did not fast two days a week. Obviously, this was not a requirement found in the pastoral epistles of Paul when it came to the qualifications of an elder, but it demonstrates how much Wesley prized the practice. In England in 1756, Wesley saw and praised God’s remarkable response to the king’s proclamation for a national time of fasting and prayer that averted an imminent invasion by the French.
In the twentieth century, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and C.S. Lewis were among many leaders who practiced fasting in World War Two and encouraged others to do the same. In 1940 Lewis and all of England saw God’s incredible answer to the national day of prayer and fasting proclaimed by King George VI, which was manifested in the miraculous deliverance of 338,000 British troops at the Battle of Dunkirk. No doubt many of the faithful were also fasting and praying in that desperate situation.
The vote is November 5th. We must seek God’s mighty arm to deliver Florida from this evil. If you can’t do all 3 days, perhaps try to do 1 or 2 days. If you can’t do entire days, you can fast a breakfast or a lunch and use that time to pray. As much as you can, let’s press in to heaven’s aid. May our Lord be glorified, the children defended, and the saints mobilized in Jesus’ name!
American Reformation Church Website:
