Prayer and Fasting Conclusion - by Dr Ja Shil Choi

We are living in an age when some discount the miracles of God as nonexistent. Multitudes today have a religion, a form of godliness, but know nothing of the power of Christ to transform lives. Religion has been formal and ritualistic, devoid of all feeling and emo- tion, based on an intellectual knowledge of Christ without the benefit ora personal encounter with Him. It is not enough to know of Christ. You must have a personal encounter with Him. You must have been in His presence and have been changed by His power. It is a life-changing experience!

Surely we are living in what must be the last days before the glorious return of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

In these last days as never before we must continually be prepared for spiritual battle. We are not fighting flesh and blood, but are struggling against principalities and powers which seek to destroy our bodies and souls in hell.

In proximity to the promise of the Spirit prophesied some 2,800 years ago in Joel (Joel 2:28-32), there is an exhortation to repentance and supplication with fasting.

"Therefore also now, saith the Lord, Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of evil." (Joel 2:12, 13) The outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost was not only the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy but it also fulfilled the promise of Christ. The promise of Jesus was that they would receive power and as a result they would be effective witnesses. This witness in power was not limited to the early church apostles. Before Jesus Christ left this earth and ascended into heaven, He gave this tremendous promise to His followers.

"And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following." (Mark 16:17-20)

Christ's word still stands and He still confirms His word with signs following. He wants us to use this mighty power today. Jesus is God's son, and He gave us authority to do miracles in His mighty name. By fasting and prayer the Holy Spirit is able to work through us in a more powerful degree.

He is limitless - in power, love, and holiness. Through prayer and fasting we have experienced and witnessed His miracle-working power. Incurable dis- eases are healed; marriages restored; childreri and parents reconciled; tormented minds set free and Satan's bonds loosed. These experiences and testi- monies are exciting and thrilling, faith-building and glorifying to God. One of the most beautiful and ex- citing adventures in the world is to stand upon the promises given in the word of God and believe for the miracle we need.

Eternity alone will fully reveal what faithful, prevailing, believing prayer and fasting has accomplished. If the power of prayer and fasting is released and used in the lives of men and women around the world, then we will experience revival and the moving of the Spirit of God. Did God not promise; "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." (Jeremiah 33:3).