Rewards of fasting

with Dana Candler

Mike Bickle

Forerunner Books Kansas City, Missouri

The Rewards of Fasting: Experiencing the Power and Affections of God By Mike Bickle with Dana Candler Published by Forerunner Books International House of Prayer–Kansas City 3535 East Red Bridge Road Kansas City, Missouri 64137 (816) 763-0200 Ext. 675 www.IHOP.org Copyright © 2005 by Forerunner Books and OnethingMinistries All rights reserved. This book or parts of this book may not be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law. ISBN: 0-9776738-1-2 Unless otherwise noted, all Scripturequotations are from the New King James Version of the Bible. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc., publishers. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible. Scripture quotations marked NAS are from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by the Lockman Foundation. Used bypermission. Scripture quotations marked NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission. Cover design by Steve Willis, Underpin Design Interior design by Dale Jimmo Printed in the United States of America

Table of ConTenTs
FOREWORD ......................................................................... Page 1INTRODUCTION .................................................................. Page 5 CHAPTER ONE: The Bridegroom God ..................................................... Page 9 CHAPTER TWO: Seven Types of Biblical Fasting ................................... Page 19 CHAPTER THREE: Understanding the Bridegroom Fast ........................... Page 37 CHAPTER FOUR: Hungering for All that God Will GiveUs....................... Page 47 CHAPTER FIVE: Fasting: Embracing Voluntary Weakness..................... Page 55 CHAPTER SIx: Five Expressions of the Fasted Lifestyle...................... Page 67 CHAPTER SEVEN: Fasting to Break Spiritual Strongholds ........................ Page 81 CHAPTER EIGHT: Five Rewards of the Fasted Lifestyle .......................... Page 95 CHAPTER NINE: SevenDifficulties of the Fasted Lifestyle .................. Page 109 CHAPTER TEN: Seven Dangers of the Fasted Lifestyle ...................... Page 117 CHAPTER ELEVEN: How to Respond to Global Crisis .............................. Page 129 CHAPTER TWELVE: The Global Bridegroom Fast: Establishing a Joel 2 Culture ..................................... Page 141

foReWoRD “Fasting.” The word alone can seema bit overwhelming and the act completely unapproachable. However, as that slight shiver at the thought of fasting runs down your spine, I encourage you all the more to dive into the realities found within this book. There is truth to be had, and mysteries to be found within these pages. “The Rewards of Fasting” is a practical introduction to the glory found in something that has been lost in ourtime. The idea of voluntary sacrifice is rare and has been lost in our culture of entertainment, gratification and pleasure. Especially in the lifestyle of the average young adult, there is a constant search for pleasure. We have everything and anything at our fingertips, and the whirlwind of possibilities only leaves us disillusioned and unsatisfied. In our dissatisfaction, we run to another“best” thing, only to come out more dissatisfied and searching all the harder. We have submerged ourselves in an age of ease and comfort, and have lost several foundational principles of the Christian life. I believe fasting is one of these principles. While living a lifestyle of fasting, or even doing a one-time run of fasting, is often regarded as “radical,” I believe the opposite is true. Fasting...