Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough: A Guide to Nine Biblical Fasts (25 page)

It Is Not for Daily Protection

The Esther Fast is a tool for obtaining protection in events of epic proportions,
not for protection from the temptations and dangers we face daily. I teach my students that the final petition of the Lord’s Prayer—“And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matt. 6:13)—should be used as a daily umbrella of protection. But the Esther Fast is reserved for those crisis situations that are much larger than our need for daily protection.

The protection that God gives through the Esther Fast is similar to the protection God gave Israel as it fled Egypt for the Sinai wilderness. “The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud...and by night in a pillar of fire” (Exod. 13:21). When Egyptian armies attacked Israel from the rear, “the pillar of the cloud went from before them and stood behind them” (14:19). The Esther Fast is an appeal for God to become the “rear guard” for ourselves or others, protecting us when we are most vulnerable.

It is important to know during the Esther Fast that God is on our side, but it is more important to know that we are on God’s side. We must know whose side we’re on before we can win. The Esther Fast is a statement that we are on God’s side and we expect His protection in our lives and ministries.

Paul warns us not to be ignorant of Satan’s devices (see 2 Cor. 2:11). The evil one is “out to get us.” He is a “roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). Paul told the Christians in Corinth, “The people you forgive for sinning against your church, I forgive, because Satan gets to you if you have an unforgiving spirit. I forgive them because I live in Christ. I am not ignorant of Satan’s devices to get to me” (2 Cor. 2:10,11, author’s paraphrase).

Esther was a Hebrew maiden living in the land of Persia, where the Israelites had been carried away as captives in the sixth century
B.C
. At that time the land was ruled by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylonia. Esther was a beautiful girl who was raised by her cousin Mordecai after her parents died.

When Queen Vashti of Persia displeased King Ahasuerus (or Xerxes), Esther was among several young women taken to the king’s palace as possible replacements for the queen. Sure enough, God’s sovereignty became evident when Esther was chosen over all the other maidens and elevated as queen of the Persian Empire. Esther did not reveal her identity
as an Israelite; and some scholars believe that the name Esther means “hidden,” reflecting her hidden identity.

Haman, the prime minister of Persia, hated the Jews because Esther’s cousin Mordecai would not bow down to him (see Esther 3:1-6). Haman used his position to pass a law calling for a holocaust against the Jews, planning to slaughter all Hebrews living in Persia. When the proposed slaughter was announced, Mordecai told Queen Esther, and she determined to appeal to the king to save her people.

Esther, however, faced a problem. According to Persian protocol, if she went in to see the king uninvited she could lose her life. But she summoned her courage, and called on Mordecai to stand with her in her ordeal by gathering the Jews in a three-day fast (see Esther 4:15,16). As you recall, God was with her—the king extended his staff toward her in a gesture of acceptance. Later, again in God’s sovereignty, Haman’s plot against Mordecai and the Jews was turned against him. He was hanged on the gallows that had been built for Mordecai, and the holocaust was averted.

In ways very similar to the story of Esther, people/Satan hate Christians today because they will not bow down nor compromise to ungodly principles. The Esther Fast provides a means of protection.

Step 1: Recognize the Source of Danger

Sometimes you will know that a particular trial, temptation or problem is from Satan. The nature of the attack against you is obvious. So when you begin the Esther Fast you know you are fasting for divine protection from Satan.

If you get a “cold” feeling of satanic oppression or internally sense “demonic attack,” flee to God for protection and begin the Esther Fast immediately. Some of the other fasts mentioned in this book might not be initiated for two or three days, or even two or three weeks; however, the Esther Fast is an immediate response to danger.

The Esther Fast can also be used as a tool to prevent danger. You may enter the fast not because of an immediate threat, but to keep any danger from threatening you.

Esther knew exactly what she was up against. Mordecai provided Esther through her servant with a copy of the decree that would have
destroyed the Jews (see Esther 4:8). Until Esther knew of the decree, she could do nothing about it. She looked out of her window and saw Mordecai in sackcloth and ashes, praying for God’s help. Esther sent clothes to Mordecai, but he refused them.

This is an example of two believers, one who knows of the imminent danger and the other who is unaware of it. This may be your situation. Someone else may know about the foreboding danger in your life, but you don’t. When they inform you of the threat, you should immediately enter into the Esther Fast. On the other hand, you may be the one who knows about the threat, and you have friends like Esther who are not aware of the problem. You have to communicate the threat to them just as Mordecai communicated with Esther.

Step 2: Realize the Nature of Your Battle

As previously stated, not every battle you face will be the result of demonic attack. But you should realize that you do have an enemy behind all your problems: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). The Christian life is not easy; it is a struggle against darkness and heresy. When you know the nature of the battle and who your enemy is, you can take adequate steps to protect yourself.

When the Israelites entered the Promised Land, they defeated the nations that inhabited Canaan—the Philistines, the Canaanites, and many other nations. But after they defeated their enemies, Israel allowed their enemies to settle among them. What their enemies could not do in battle they did in peace. Although they could not defeat Israel, they enslaved the nation through the “Canaanization” of God’s people. Notice four steps that brought Israel into bondage as surely as if they had suffered a military defeat:

Your relationship to Satan is the same as Israel’s was to its enemies. Satan has been defeated in the cross of Jesus Christ. His defeat was predicted
by Jesus: “Now the ruler of this world will be cast out” (John 12:31) and “the ruler of this world is judged” (16:11). Satan, like the Canaanites, has been defeated; but he acts no more like a defeated foe than did they. He may even come to you as a Christian to try to defeat you—especially if you made the choices the Israelites did to tolerate satanic influence, intermarry with satanic attractions, worship the idols of the world and adopt its lifestyle.

When you sense danger and direct temptation from demonic forces, you should enter into the Esther Fast. You should also enter this fast when your temptation is not an immediate threat but an ongoing attraction.

Step 3: Recognize Whose Authority Protects You

When Haman threatened to destroy all the Jews, Mordecai told Esther that she should “go in to the king to make supplication to him and plead before him for her people” (Esther 4:8). Given the special permission that had to be granted to see the king, this took courage and faith in a power beyond Esther herself. Just as she took a stand by faith in God’s power, so your fast will require such a stand. Relying on God’s authority involves three steps:

•
Remove
. You should remove yourself from any circumstance or environment where you will be tempted. The Bible says, “Flee these things” (1 Tim. 6:11).

•
Resist
. Not only should you vacate the place of evil influence, but you should also “Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (Jas. 4:7). Paul also tells us, “Fight the good fight of faith” (1 Tim. 6:12).

•
Rebuke
. You cannot rebuke the devil in your own power, but you can allow God to rebuke him. Notice the caution given to us in Scripture: “Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil...dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’” (Jude 9). You can rebuke the evil one in the name and power of Jesus Christ because His name is a strong name.

Step 4: Fast and Pray for Protection

When faced with a life-threatening situation, Esther proclaimed a fast (see Esther 4:16). Only then did she go in to the king in an attempt to save her people. Although this fast was for a specific time and place in life, the Esther Fast can also be coupled with intense prayer for protection from
future attacks. Because of this, I teach that a Christian should pray every day the seventh petition of the Lord’s Prayer, “Deliver us from the evil one” (Matt. 6:13).

Step 5: Know the Limitations of Prayer and Fasting

Don’t expect the Esther Fast to produce omnipotent powers, because fasting and prayer is not a “fix all” solution. Esther realized her fast might not work. Notice that she sent word to Mordecai that she would “go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16). She was going to fast for three days, but was still not certain if she would live. Esther was going to be faithful to God and do what she had promised no matter what the cost. She determined to go to the king. Note what fasting did not do for Esther and Mordecai:

God did not conspicuously reveal Himself in the circumstances Esther faced. Instead, He worked through the circumstances to accomplish His glory and purpose. God does not violate the free will of people, nor the nature of His laws. Because His laws are an extension of His nature, God cannot go against Himself. The Persian king had to make a new law that was more powerful than the old law (see 8:7,8). The king did not violate his law; likewise God does not violate His laws. When you enter the Esther Fast, you must realize that some things will not be changed. At times evil may have already been set in motion, and you cannot undo history. For example, you cannot take back evil, cursing or blasphemy that has been spoken. Our words are like the feathers of a pillow—once they have been thrown into the wind, we will never get all the feathers back into the pillow.

Step 6: Gain Power from Corporate Fasting

Some fasts are designed to be private—for example, the Disciple’s Fast. Other fasts are more effective when others join you. Esther told Mordecai to “Go, gather all the Jews...and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise” (4:16).

Because this was a national problem, Esther called for all God’s people to fast in response. When the problem is personal, the fast should be personal. When the problem is national, the fast should be national. The principle to follow is that the circle of those involved in the fast must be large enough to include the circle of those who are affected by the problem.

Step 7: Fast to Overcome Spiritual Blindness

As you enter the Esther Fast, ask God to help you discern the nature and purpose of the spiritual attack upon you or of any other threat. When you understand Satan’s purpose, you can fast to counter him. Otherwise, “As the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Cor. 11:3).

One of the reasons there has been so little demonic activity in America is that the light of the gospel, shedding understanding and spiritual discernment, has largely repelled it. Usually, Satan’s wiles have not been exerted overtly or openly, but covertly. Perhaps one of the greatest demonic activities is in liberal seminaries where apostasy is taught. Paul called heresy the doctrine of devils, predicting that “in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Tim. 4:1). Such are those “having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” (2 Tim. 3:5).

One of the purposes of the Esther Fast is to increase such discernment. One of the spiritual gifts is the “spirit of discernment”; however, we also gain discernment from experience, from talking to experienced Christians and from studying the Word. Understand that Satan will try to wipe out any discerning spirit you have. The most obvious form of satanic attack is not overt demonism. Satan’s first strategy is to blind your mind from understanding spiritual things.

•
When Satan blinds you, demons don’t need to attack you
. For the past 200 years in this country, the demonic has not manifested itself in outward manifestations as much as it has in blinding even believers to the truth. “The god of this age has blinded” many, “lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ...should shine on them” (2 Cor. 4:4). Satan blinds the unsaved from seeing the gospel so they won’t become saved. He blinds believers from knowing and doing God’s will for their lives.

Even ministers can become spiritually blind, denying the fundamentals of the faith. Paul warned against “False apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For
Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness” (11:13-15).