Motivational Adventist Fasting Quotes

From my ongoing collection:

"Prevailing prayer is inseparably connected with fasting"

This quote comes from Joseph Bates in reference to some prayer meetings he attended. {August 5, 1851 JWe, ARSH 6.7} This quote is very similar to that of EM Bounds in his book on prayer where he writes “Fasting always accomplishes something.” This is to say that while prayer can accomplish some things there are many things it simply cannot accomplish. Prayer is powerless in some instances. The combination of prayer AND fasting however always has a positive result.

"showing plainly the secret of His own never-failing power."

EJ Waggoner is describing the scene of Jesus's healing the demon possessed child found in Matthew 17. "As He came down from the mount of transfiguration, a severe case of lunacy, epilepsy, and possession by the devil was brought to Him, which the disciples had vainly attempted to heal. After He had driven out the devil with a word, the disciples asked Him why they could not cast him out, and He replied: "This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting" (Matt. 17:21), showing plainly the secret of His own never-failing power...{June 18, 1903 EJW, PTUK 388.12}

Matthew 17:21 is of course the most valuable military intelligence ever spoken in the ear of mortals. If Satan had the opportunity to permanently erase a few Bible texts he would immediately erase every mention of prayer and fasting. He has a kingdom to protect and would not want Christians to have access to weaponry from which he cannot defend himself.

"Men are to know that a fast has been held, not by any formal announcement of it, but by the results of it."

What a wonderful quote. To my knowledge, no quote so clearly and concisely explains the biblical reasons for prayer and fasting. There is no virtue in fasting by itself. It is a tool that when used properly will have obvious and positive results. It is the results of the fasting and prayer that demonstrate that the fasting and prayer have been effective. If you are in need of better results in your life, it is time to consider incorporating fasting into your prayer life. This quote comes from EGW "What True Fasting Accomplishes for One" {May 3, 1900 EJW, PTUK 274.8}

Today we have lots and lots of preaching, but little results. We have lots and lots of books, but little results. We have lots and lots of really smart and educated people, but little results. We have lots and lots of technology, but no results. When we have prayer and fasting, we will see results. 

It is not by accident that we see very little results today in way of overcoming the obstacles to finishing the Great Commission. The reason is because there is so little prayer and almost no fasting. The book of Acts is filled with so many wonderful results and breakthroughs because the early church spent time regularly in prayer meetings and fasting.

"When Adventists fast and pray, it's over."

This quote is my own. Jesus will not return until the Great Commission is completed. It cannot be completed because there are so many obstacles big and small, seen and unseen, and both inside and outside the church. There are forces at work both human and supernatural who aim to prevent the finishing of this great work of making Jesus known to all people groups and nations.

Those obstacles will not be removed or overcome until Adventists fast and pray. Simple. There are no other options available and other means to overcome those obstacles. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords never intervenes to advance his mission unless his people will fast and pray.

Historically, especially from a biblical perspective, only great pain precedes great times of prayer and fasting (or P&F). People simply will not pray and fast when everything is "just fine."  However a great shock is coming that will change everything. We know that the Great Commission will be completed (Matthew 24:14) but right now there are too many obstacles, too little progress, and too much indifference to finishing this work. Since it will be completed and the obstacles will not be overcome without much P&F we can conclude that at some point in the future there will be a shock to get people interested in P&F.

Quote from Milton Friedman on page 6 of The Shock Doctrine:

"Only a crisis - actual or perceived - produces real change. When that crisis occurs, the actions that are taken depend on the ideas that are lying around. That, I believe, is our basic function: to develop alternatives to existing policies, to keep them alive and available until the politically impossible becomes the politically inevitable."

Some people stockpile canned goods and some people build bunkers but HeWantsFruit.com stockpiles motivational quotes about prayer and fasting. The time will come.

---