Rediscover the Art of Prayer and Fasting

By Leonard Ford

While many have steered away from the biblical pattern of prayer and fasting, Leonard Ford points us back to the foundation of God’s Word in this insightful book, Rediscover the Art of Prayer and Fasting. With practical instruction and spiritual direction, this book provides a wake-up call to the Body of Christ where sanctification and intimacy with God are concerned. As you read through this book, you will discover:
Fasting is for us today!
The rewards and results of fasting
The basic types of fasting
How to fast with a purpose
And much more!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: May 26, 2021
• ISBN: 9781008923874

Book preview

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DEDICATION

It is with great joy that I dedicate this book to Jessie, my beloved wife, in whom I am well pleased. Jessie has always allowed, encouraged, and accompanied me in living a consecrated life. Our life and ministry would never have become what it is today without her unrelenting support. I am grateful to God for such a supportive spouse.

FOREWORD

This is a rare but refreshing book. The manuscript is rare because prayer and fasting has all too often become an optional extra in the lifecycle and worldview of the modern church. It has become something we do instead of how we live. The volume is refreshing because it has been written with boldness and a confidence that expresses a life well lived in the fundamentals of our communication with the Ancient of Days. Truly, the essence of this work unveils a way of living a life in celebration of Him who saved us by accessing the foundational principles whereby we find Him.

Rediscovering the Art of Prayer and Fasting is a true and accurate account of Prophet Leonard Ford's walk with God. It is not a theory, or an untested hypothesis, it is however, a proven lifestyle of the author of this book. Prophet Ford has in a very acute and succinct way unpacked one of the most defining and important elements of the Judeo-Christian expression — prayer and fasting.

Dr. Scott Stewart

Sr. Pastor

Agape Church

PREFACE

As I look at and listen to the things that are transpiring in the Body of Christ today, I marvel at the tolerance of the flesh and the works thereof that are at work both in the laymen and in the clergy. It is commonplace now for the flesh to be out of control and accepted as the normal way of the church. Yet, the Bible says that no flesh should glory in the sight of God.

1 CORINTHIANS 1:27-29

27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

It is amazing to see how the saints are willing to overlook and entertain the weakness of the flesh. It seems to me that their gratification is derived from a sense of justification through association. I am sure you have heard the old saying, EVERYBODY’S DOING IT. That seems to be the attitude of the masses.

I have noticed also that holiness is no longer of concern to the average churchgoer. Yet, God said, Be ye holy for I am holy.

First of all, we should be holy because God is our LORD.

LEVITICUS 20:7

7 Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God.

The second reason is simply that God said we should. Look at 1 Peter 1:15-16.

1 PETER 1:15-16

15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

As I look at the men of God that touched my life and the men that are truly making a difference in this generation, I notice that they are men of consecration, dedication, and commitment to both God and His Word. Through research and investigation, I have discovered that they learned it from the men that went before them. They learned it first-hand as they sat at the feet of men that were mightily used of God. They walked with and served these men and learned the value of prayer and fasting; they learned what it meant to live consecrated to God.

My issue with them is they do not teach this level of consecration to their spiritual sons and protégés. As a result of this negligence, we have a generation of saints and ministers that do not believe that prayer and fasting is necessary for their kingdom assignment. This consecrated lifestyle does not appeal to this generation of ministers. Instead of seeking God with their whole heart and spending quality time studying the Word of God and searching the Scriptures to validate what they preach, they are content to speak out of their own hearts and minds. They and their close friends preach the same thing; therefore, to them, it must be right.

Yet, the Scripture says, For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost (2 Peter 1:21).

I personally know men of God who live holy and practice regular times of prayer and fasting, yet they do not teach it. They seem to think that the Holy Ghost is going to teach this generation to fast and pray. The problem with that mindset is that young men will model what they see or think they see, so if something is not being taught by those whom they follow, sit under, and look up to, they assume that it is not relevant. Most of these men will override the voice of God in their own hearts. Not only that, but there are also scores of ministers that teach that prayer and fasting are not necessary for our generation.

Beloved, I am convinced that we must rediscover the art of prayer and fasting, or we will never stop this rise of flesh-ruled living that has infested the Body of Christ. This flesh lifestyle is fueled and sustained by the carnal mind and the Bible tells us that: the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be (Romans 8:7).

1. Fasting Is for Us Today

Let me debunk the idea that fasting is old-fashioned and does not pertain to the modern church. There are many in the church today that do not believe we need to fast and pray because Jesus has settled everything by grace. They believe fasting is just working to try to get God to do something that He has already done; therefore, there is no need for us to fast today.

In light of that point of view and anti-scriptural mindset, we will start with what Jesus said about fasting and the fact that the apostles fasted and prayed as a common practice.

Matthew 9:14-15 gives us the account of one occasion when Jesus was approached by the disciples of John the Baptist and asked about fasting.

MATTHEW 9:14-15

14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

That passage clearly says to me that the disciples of Jesus were expected to fast after His departure, meaning after His death, burial, and resurrection.

Jesus had something else to say about fasting in the sixth chapter of Matthew, as well. If you will read this sixth chapter of Matthew attentively, you will notice that in verses one through fifteen, Jesus is teaching on giving and prayer, and He flows from teaching about how to pray to teaching about fasting seamlessly. We will pick it up from verse 16 and go through verse 18.

MATTHEW 6:16-18

16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;

18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Did you notice that Jesus said when you fast, not if you fast? Jesus is clearly telling His disciples that He expects them to fast. In this passage, He actually gives them instructions on what not to do when they fast.

There was an occasion when some of His disciples were unable to cast a demon out of a child. When they were alone with Jesus, they asked why they were not able to cast that spirit out, and Jesus replied to them this kind can come forth by NOTHING BUT BY PRAYER AND FASTING.

Let's look at this passage, starting with Mark’s account first. Then, we will read Matthew’s record of the same incident. Mark records it in the ninth chapter of his Gospel.

MARK 9:17-29

17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.

28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

I want to call your attention to the fact that Jesus dealt with the lack of faith that was displayed in this situation. In verse 19, Jesus said this was a faithless generation, and again in verse 23, He told the father of the child that if he could believe, all things were possible to them that believe. In verse 24, the father asked Jesus to help his unbelief.

Beloved, whenever you fast and pray, you must spend ample time in the Word of God. Prayer and fasting while studying the Word will prove to stimulate and increase your faith because it helps crucify the flesh and overthrow the carnal mind. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, and fasting helps bring the flesh under control and into subjection to your spirit.

In Matthew’s record of this same incident, we will start at verse 18 of the seventeenth chapter since we are already abreast of the story.

MATTHEW 17:18-19

18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why