Matthew 17:19-21 (NKJV), 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

Matthew tells a story of a father who had a demon possessed son. Daily he had to watch his son battle a life-threatening suicidal spirit that would throw him in the fire and torment the young boy. He took his son to the disciples but with no outcome. He felt like he had lost all hope. Then he heard Jesus was coming. He cried out, “Lord have mercy on my son.” Jesus cast the demon out and healed the boy.

The disciples later asked Jesus, “why could we not cast it out?”

Now, I typically focus on the powerful use of words that Jesus used in this passage like, “if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘move from here to there,’ and it will move.” That sounds like something Superman would do. Also, I love to hang onto the infamous statement, “and nothing will be impossible for you.” That stirs your faith every time. But Jesus doesn’t finish there. He finishes by saying, “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

So my question is: if Jesus could have accomplished all He came to do without fasting, then why did He fast? The Son of God fasted because He knew there were supernatural things that could only be released that way.

How much more should fasting be a normal spiritual discipline in our lives?

With the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead living within you, you can live your life in the same way Jesus lived His, destroying the works of the devil. You can raise the dead, you can heal the sick, you can cast out demons. Fasting is a key to unlock a radical faith to storm the gates of hell and see heaven come to earth in every situation.

Let’s unlock the full potential of the power of God through fasting.

More Jesus more!

Much love, Pastor Aaron