In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them, 2 “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar.” (Mark 8:1-3)
This is an example of a corporate fast.
Following is another example of a corporate fast
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off (13:2–3).
The Importance of a Corporate Fast
Heightens your sensitivity to the Spirit
Ordinary believers came together for fasting and prayer and Acts 13 says, they heard from the Holy Spirit while worshiping. The corporate fast led to a corporate sensitivity to the voice and working of the Holy Spirit.
Increases Unity
Invisible walls hinder the flow of the Spirit between believers raised due to petty misunderstandings. Invisible limitation hindering teams from growing will be pulled down. When fasting, we are physically denying our flesh. Our egos and self-centeredness take a backseat. Fasting has the potential of helping your church get on board with a singular vision as selfish ambition is held in check.
Some more example of a Corporate fast
I Samuel 7:5-6 "And Samuel said, Gather all Israel ... and they gathered ... and fasted ...
II Chronicles 20:34
Now, notice what happened when they began to praise: “The LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated” (v. 22).
There is power in corporate fasting and power in corporate praise! It creates a river of healing, a river of deliverance and victory, a river of cleansing in the house of God. It is time to exchange ashes for beauty, mourning for joy, and a garment of heaviness for a garment of praise.
Ezra 8:21-23 "Then I proclaimed a fast ... So we fasted and besought our God ..."
Then His disciples answered Him, “How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?” (Mark 8:4)
Lord Jesus proved to the disciples that He was the unchanging God….
He satisfied the people with bread in the wilderness back in the Old Testament. He satisfied the people with bread in the wilderness even that day.
So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. (Mark 8:23)
Why did Jesus not heal the blind man in the town but led him out of the town. Environment does make a difference. Even after your healing, you must stay in the right environment. Look at what Jesus told him, ““Neither go into the town, nor tell anyone in the town.” The wrong environment can make you lose your healing or deliverance.
But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, "Get behind Me, satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." (Mark 8:33)
The Gift of discerning of spirits was operating in Him. He knew the source of that statement.
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