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Feb. 4, 2025 - Jim Bakker Show
58:22
The Jim Bakker Show with Ronnie Floyd
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Fasting and Prayer Power 00:05:43
Hello and welcome to the Jim Baker Family Show coming to you from the village of Morningside, USA, nestled in the beautiful Ozark Mountains.
Today, our special guest is the former senior pastor of Cross Church in Northwest Arkansas, Pastor Ronnie Floyd.
Our co-host today is Reverend Mondo De La Vega.
And now, live from Grace Street at Morningside, USA, here's your host, Pastor Ricky Baker.
Hello, friends.
You're watching the PTL Television Network.
We're honored you tuned in with us today, whether you're watching on video on demand or you're watching this live.
We appreciate you.
Today we have Pastor Ronnie Floyd.
Pastor Ronnie Floyd is a speaker, author, and passionate encourager dedicated to helping others.
For over 32 years, Pastor Ronnie has served as a senior pastor of Cross Church in Northwest Arkansas.
He has a book called The Supernatural Power of Prayer and Fasting, where you can see right there on the screen, 12 Ways God Will Change Your Life.
And we're going to be getting into that book today.
Mondo, supernatural power of praying and fasting.
I feel like we've seen a culmination of the United States over the last year or so say, you know what, we need to get back to prayer and fasting on a deeper level, not just a superficial, you know, I'm going to fast my phone for an hour and a half, you know, get long lengths of time, get food in there, whatever it is, get back on your face before God.
Real deep, intimate fasting and praying.
There are some requests that only through fasting and praying.
What Jesus said himself.
Jesus himself said can be answered.
When it comes to the nation, when it comes to the culture, when it comes to family, when it comes to business, the question is, how are you going to prioritize fasting into your life?
Because most people don't think about fasting or maybe they use fasting into a way that they want to lose weight.
But the very purpose of fasting is not just that.
It's a spiritual matter that we're dealing with in the spiritual manner that God answers certain requests and petitions are through fasting and prayer.
But most people, Ricky, are not educated in fasting and praying because the church, oh, and please know this.
I have nothing against the church.
I believe in the church.
I love the church.
I believe the church is still the foundation and institution that God has provided for all of us to continue to be a part of.
As a matter of fact, don't neglect the gathering, the Bible says.
I believe we need the church, but in the church, we also need to go back and teach about fasting and praying in order to understand how to make some requests known unto God.
And I believe that Pastor Floyd has an answer for us today.
Stay tuned.
You don't want to miss today's program.
That's right.
You know, it says here in Ezra chapter 8, verse 23, I'm reading out of the CSB version.
It says right here, so we fasted and pleaded with our God about this, and he was receptive to our prayer.
Mondo, it's important, friend, if you're watching this, it's important.
If the Lord has called you to fast in any capacity, do it, friend.
Do it.
Don't just do it with a grudging heart and don't do it begrudgingly.
Do it because you love the Lord.
You want to become more intimate with him.
You want to spend more time with him.
You want a word from him.
Friends, I'll tell you right now, God will never let you down.
If he's instructs you to fast something for no matter what duration of time it is, do it.
Because I promise you, he'll meet you there face to face.
So, Mondo, when you encounter Jesus face to face, nothing's the same.
Well, you know, you can start your fast focusing on one thing, but the end result is that you get to spend time with him.
That's right.
Get to know the face of God and the voice of God in an intimate way where the petition that you were praying for almost gets forgotten because you fall in love into this process of fasting, getting to know him in a way that you never thought it was possible.
And yet, through that, you know, we get our petitions and our requests answered in ways that we never expected.
But there's something beautiful about fasting that most people don't get to experience because they have this false idea about fasting, thinking that it's so difficult, but yet there's a lot of steps into this.
And I want you to know something.
What a way to get to know your Savior in a personal way where you give yourself unto God in a way that will clean your mind, that will set you apart from everything.
But that's why I believe we need discipleship when it comes and having the right tools that helps you walk through the process and understanding what fasting is all about.
You know, speaking of walking, there's a My Daily Walk.
Pastor Jim Baker, it's a devotional you can do.
PTLNetwork.com, go there.
The My Daily Walk devotional.
It's a free thing.
Walk through it.
If you go to Prayer Mountain Chapel here on our campus at Morningside in Blue Eye, Missouri, you can go to Prayer Mountain and begin your walk, and you can look down and see all the different scriptures on your way to the chapel stamped right into there, into the concrete, so you can have declarations of faith as you walk to Prayer Mountain Chapel.
Accept Humility Daily 00:03:35
But, friends, here's the word from Pastor Jim Baker, your friend, our father, the founder of the PTL television network, Morningside Church.
I want you to listen to this, My Daily Walk by Jim Baker.
Just before leaving prison and beginning to follow my own path of repentance, I began to follow what I call my daily walk.
This is written in prison.
And if you can follow these steps, they work for me, then you can help lead yourself and this nation into true repentance.
I believe.
I will humble myself as number one and walk in humility before God.
I will seek my God and do nothing without consulting him.
Our nation must do that.
I will read, study, and meditate on God's word and implement it.
I will have no other gods or idols or place anything, anything before my God.
I will love, trust, praise, and worship my God with all my heart.
I will show mercy, forgiving all and love my neighbor as myself.
I will abide in Christ and keep his commandments.
I will crucify my flesh and die to it daily, fleeing temptation and sin.
I will accept the trial of my faith.
This might be hard, but it's true.
I will accept it as more precious than gold.
Knowing whom God loves, he chastens.
I will always confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
I will keep my heart right towards God, confessing my sins and never lying to the Holy Spirit.
I will live by the total counsel of God's word.
I will not judge others nor lean to my own understanding or trust the arm of the flesh.
I will demonstrate love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.
Finally, I'll keep my eyes on heaven, the mark of the prize of the high calling in Jesus Christ.
My brothers and sisters, the time has come for repentance today.
I join with you in humility before the throne of our Father in heaven.
I plead today for our nation's healing and for him to lead us away from the abyss.
We ask our Father in heaven that your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Forgive us our sins and forgive us as a nation for our transgressions.
Only you, God, can redeem and save America.
And we ask today that it will be so.
God's Call for Revival 00:14:43
In your name we pray.
Amen.
Always remembering, God loves you.
He really does.
Amen.
That's your friend, Pastor Jim Baker.
We want to thank you for standing with this ministry, continuing to support this ministry so that we continue to champion the message that Jesus Christ is coming and we serve a good king.
We serve a good God, and his name is Jesus Christ.
We have Dr. Ronnie Floyd with us today.
Dr. Floyd, what was your impression of the inauguration ceremony of Donald Trump that we all just witnessed a few moments ago?
Well, thank you so much for having me on today.
You know, I love inaugurations.
I've been to one of them eight years ago.
I was not there yesterday, but watched it very much in detail.
And I always love the majesty of it, you know, the tradition of it, what it means, and it reminds us of what a great nation we are a part of.
And I thought so many things were encouraging about yesterday.
I believe that even the president's recognition of God saving his life on that terrible day when he was becoming the subject of an assassin's bullet.
And I'm so glad that God fared him.
And today, for him to know that and to sense he has destiny, I believe holds accountability way beyond the American people for what he does.
He's accountable to God, just like we are.
And so I was very encouraged after yesterday and continue to pray for the president, the vice president, their cabinet, which is in the process of being appointed, and the members of Congress every day for their safety and for God to use them and lead us in the right way so that one day all godliness will prevail in every way.
Amen.
And Dr. Floyd, I want to jump right into this.
Are all Christians called to fast?
And is fasting only related to food and for a specific duration?
Well, that's a great question.
And I believe that Jesus made it really clear when he said, when you pray, when you give, when you fast.
He did not say, if you pray, if you give, or if you fast.
I believe that fasting is a pattern in the Holy Scripture.
People are shocked when I share this, but here is the reality of what's in the Bible.
There are 57 verses that use the word fast or fasting, and it's referenced 69 times in those 57 verses.
And every one of those times, it is referencing the giving up of food in order to pursue the God of heaven to do something in our lives.
So I believe that fasting is definitely in the scripture and needs to be a part of every believer's life.
It's not my road to guilt them into it, but I believe if they are convicted, if they are walking with God and they are convicted to fast, they need to fast.
The tragedy in all this is that most churches never talk about fasting.
It is rare that you will ever hear a message on the subject of fasting alone.
People just are not aware of it in evangelical churches all across America.
And this is absolutely, absolutely tragic.
And I believe the reason that's happening is because Satan, who knows the power of what God can do when that happens, is doing everything he can to cover it up in the church.
But we need pastors, men who stand behind the pulpit to preach God's word.
They need to begin to teach the whole council of God and call people up to walk with God and trust God in prayer and in fasting.
Amen.
The supernatural power of prayer and fasting.
Friends, this is a powerful book.
There's three sections in this Mondo.
I want to just tell you what they are at home.
So if you're interested in getting this, please do so.
Section one right here, it says, Mondo, how to know God is speaking to you, an invitation from God you cannot decline.
Listen, let's talk about that real quickly because I believe that one of the things that us Christians, we're making huge mistakes and people are getting disappointed at the idea of God and what God has them to do.
Yet when it's not God, they want to blame God.
And it's all because not learning how to develop a hearing ear to understand how the voice of God is distinguished among all the voices that people are hearing.
That's right.
Very critical chapter or even devotion at that moment is understanding how to develop an ear to understand how to distinguish, or the Bible calls it discerning the voice of God.
That's right.
Section two right here, it says, 12 ways God will change your life.
And I'm going to read them to you, friend.
I want you at home to understand what you're going to be getting whenever you partner with our pastor here, Pastor Ronnie Floyd.
And whenever you say, hey, I'm going to support their ministry, but I'm also going to prepare myself with knowledge so that way I can prepare my body for fasting.
Right here, Monto, 12 Ways.
Experiencing God's power, walking humbly before God, honoring the holiness of God, abiding in Jesus continually, living in obedience to God, surrendering all to Jesus, adjusting to God's will, following the Holy Spirit, preparing you for what is next, believing God for your family, seeing your church experience the impossible, pursuing God together.
And I'm on a section three right here is experiencing the supernatural power of praying and fasting devotions.
It's a 40-day devotional as well.
Pastor, if somebody wants to get this, what would they need to do?
Where they need to go?
What's your website?
Well, they can go to ronniefloyd.com or they can go immediately to Amazon or Barnes ⁇ Noble or Christian Books and order it and it can be received in a couple of days, obviously, there.
And I would encourage them to do that in every way.
It will really move you spiritually.
It's not simply about the one thing fasting.
It is a lifestyle.
It is a pattern.
It is about how to walk with God and how to hear the Lord when he speaks to you in those moments.
And so with that, that's what I would say, Ricky, is one of the best ways to do it.
And I thank anyone who goes on and purchases it.
It's a very, very helpful book.
And, you know, this is my third book on this subject.
I've been practicing fasting since my days in college.
I had a profound experience with God in 1995.
I wrote about that in a book that was released in 1997 called The Power of Prayer and Fasting.
And then many years later, in 2010, I was asked to rewrite that book, update it some.
I did, and they told me it wouldn't take me long, but I rewrote 90% of it.
And then the publisher came to me a year ago and said, you know what, you haven't written on the subject in 14 years.
The market needs it.
The church needs it.
Would you kind of give us a very comprehensive book on the subject of prayer and fasting and really emphasize a lot of things that you've experienced and learned over these last 14 years since you wrote your last book, even though we know some of those principles transcend.
And so I'm thankful for what God has done.
And I really believe that God can really impact someone's life if they will seriously get involved in this.
So let's talk about that.
What are your supernatural experiences that you have encountered, you've gone through during your time of prayer and fasting so that we can encourage the viewer who maybe has never fasted?
Well, I began fasting, as I said, in college, learning, you know, very little about it and the one thing I learned.
But I heard about it and I thought I would begin to read and try my best to learn about it.
And I did.
And then when I was a young pastor years later, I started and I continued to do it and I just kept growing, kept growing.
In 1990, my wife was diagnosed with cancer.
The initial diagnosis was not favorable.
Immediately, I felt God calling me to fast and pray for my wife's health and for her to be healed one day a week.
And I did that.
That was the day before cell phones.
And I would take an index card and I put on the index card the promise that God had given me that he was going to heal her.
And every week, on that day specifically, I would call out to God, claim that scripture.
And after all these years, I can give God praise that my wife is well and healthy.
And, you know, praise God for all of that.
I believe that was a miracle.
I think most people know it was a miracle.
And I praise God for that.
I've seen a lot of things happen in a lot of different ways in that.
But in 1995, I had a profound experience with God.
I was in my office early one morning talking with God as I always do and having my time with the Lord and reading scripture.
And when I was reading scripture, I just felt like God spoke to me specifically about something, that he told me that he wanted me to fast and pray for 40 days for revival in my life, for revival in my church and revival in the nation.
And after I learned about long-term fasting, after a couple of weeks or so, I began that fast.
And those are 40 days that changed my life.
Those are 40 days that God just took me to the woodshed and God just helped me grow in him unlike any other pattern in my life.
It was, I think it was around day 32 or so in that fast.
It was on a late night, really early Sunday morning.
You guys preach the word periodically, and you know, Saturday night is important as you get ready.
And boy, I was restless.
I had to get out of bed.
I could not go to sleep.
And it was just after midnight.
And for a couple of hours, I really wrestled with God.
I said, God, I think there's something else you want to say to me.
And, you know, I'm talking to God about my church.
And I say, God, we need you.
And I just felt like the Lord said, Ronnie, the biggest problem with your church is not your church.
The biggest problem with your church is you.
You're filled with pride.
And as long as pride is there, you need to understand I walk away when pride is available, but I go after the weak and the humble.
And that's what I want you to be.
And boy, God just struck me.
And that was one of those, you know, really powerful moments in my life.
And after that 40 days, I was never the same.
I shared it with my church two Sundays following that because I felt like I had the liberty to do it.
God had transformed my life and wanted them to know.
And that day, God came to church.
I mean, it was a powerful day.
The whole Sunday morning schedule got messed up because God got involved and changed it up in our large church there, how God was moving and powerful.
And God moved so profoundly.
I stood up after a two and a half hour service.
And it was past noon.
And I said, folks, I don't know what God might want to do tonight, but I really want you to take serious and come back tonight.
And out of those that were there, 70% of the crowd came back that night.
And God fell.
I mean, he fell.
And when he did, what started at 6 o'clock at night went past 10 o'clock at night.
And God was there.
And I'm telling you, on that day and that experience and those days following, I tell people this.
I say on that day, the church got a new pastor.
And on that day, I got a new church.
God came and placed his manifest presence of God upon our church.
And our church has never been the same.
We took off after that time.
And we were already growing.
Things were going great.
It wasn't like we were in a bad season, but God just took us into becoming a very large multi-campus church there in Northwest Arkansas and had a ministry around the world.
And we just praise God for everything he's done.
And the church is still practicing after all these years, seasons of prayer and fasting.
Amen.
So I want to read this, friends.
If you're at home, open up your Bible.
Open up the Word of God.
We're going to be in Matthew chapter 6, starting in verse 16.
Again, I'm reading out of the CSB version.
It says right here, how to fast.
Whenever you fast, don't be gloomy like the hypocrites, for they make their faces unattractive.
So their fasting is obvious to people.
Why Fasting Should Be Secret 00:15:40
Truly, I tell you, they have their reward.
But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face so that your fasting isn't obvious to others, but to your father who is in secret.
And your father who sees in secret will reward you.
So, Pastor, I want to ask you this question because I know a lot of people may struggle with this and say, Well, I need to tell the people around me that I'm fasting because, you know, they might go out to family mealtimes or business associates and meals and things like that.
So, how is it appropriate for us as believers to let those around us know, hey, I'm going through a season of fasting without becoming a hypocrite or a Pharisee?
Yeah, I believe you first of all need to be really convicted that there is something you need to fast and pray about.
And if that's to be so, then only the people closest to you, those who live inside your home, and just say to them, Listen, I'm going to be on this season with God in fasting and prayer.
It's going to last three days, or 10 days, or 30 days, or 21 days, or perhaps 40 days, or you don't know how many days.
You just are seeking the hand of God and just tell them that and say, So, I'm going to, you know, at times at the meal, not all the meals, but perhaps one of those meals a day, I'm going to just go to my room and I'm going to just talk with God and use that 30 or 45 minutes.
We are going to have dinner together and just really escape to be with God.
Because withdrawing to be with God and fasting is imperative if you want God to speak to you about what you're talking to him about in your life.
And to me, that's the best way.
I've always gone ahead and had a normal schedule, and I've done that for years.
And, you know, if I go to lunchtime with someone, I just let them order first.
And when, you know, after they order, I just say, listen, you know, I'm not going to eat today.
And those who are a little more spiritually sensitive and biblically, you know, understanding things, they might ask me.
And if they do, I say, yes, I'm seeking God for a season.
Just pray for me.
And that's the way I would handle it.
Otherwise, I'd just say, I'm not eating today, but I did not want to miss our fellowship.
Don't worry about me.
I'm fine.
I'm going to, we're going to talk while you eat.
Amen.
And that's the way I would handle it.
That's very beautiful.
I appreciate you elaborating on that.
So, Pastor, what happens if someone struggles with a fast or maybe starts the journey of a fast and can't complete a fast?
You know, what does it look like for someone who maybe says, I've started this journey, I've set myself out for 40 days.
I'm halfway through this and I just can't keep doing it.
Or they break their fast, Pastor.
What does that look like for someone?
Well, I believe, first of all, you know, if you're going to break the fast, you really need to have a good reason to break the fast.
You obviously have to stay in your heart and in your mind focused on why God has you fasting.
Now, you know, fasting 40 days is a long time for someone that doesn't have, you know, too much experience in fasting.
So that could be one thing.
Perhaps if you're a person who thought you were going to go on a 40-day fast and maybe you've never gone past a day or three days, I would encourage you, it's just like any other area of your Christian life, you have to grow to that point where you really believe God has led you.
In fact, I think probably I had gone as many as 10 or 14 days before I ever did my first 40-day fast.
And so that's what I would say.
So be wise about that in your decision making.
But if it happens, okay, and you just feel like you have to break your fast, then you just tell God, God, I want to do this, but I just can't go further.
And, you know, that may take repentance if you made that commitment to God.
If you really made that commitment, say, God, I'm going to do this in this many days, then you've got to deal with God on that.
But you're not a failure.
Listen, you sought God for half of it.
And God was pleased with you anytime you pursue him.
And so just know better next time and don't feel, again, like a failure.
You just need to know that there are steps in this and you need to count it as a growth time in your life.
Just like you are out here and you made a mistake in doing something and you sinned in a certain area.
You know, some of that sometimes happens because we're just, we're not ready or we're surprised or, you know, we weren't guarding ourselves.
But I really think that, you know, the real key to long-term fasting, if that's what we're, that's the context of your question that you asked, you really need to know what that really means when you do it, because it's not easy.
And I will say this to wrap that question up, because it's a great question, is that what you get to in fasting for a season, and I would say probably past seven or 10 days or so, maybe even 15 or so, it becomes more of a mental challenge, a spiritual challenge than a physical challenge.
Your body at times will begin to really feel well because, you know, you've rested your digestive system and there are certain things happening in your body that are restoring you.
But at the same time, you may be weak at some points and you have to be careful and you have to be wise.
But everyone is different.
Everyone's body is different.
And, you know, we need to understand that because what some person does doesn't mean we don't have to do that or need to do that because we're not equipped to do it.
Amen.
Friends, I want you to go and support this ministry, but get this for yourself.
Get this so that you can have the tools in your arsenal to be able to approach this with power.
The supernatural power of prayer and fasting, 12 ways God will change your life.
This is an incredible, it really, it really is, Mondo.
It's a prayer journal.
It's a devotion.
It's the keys, the questions to the answers from a biblical perspective by Pastor Ronnie Floyd.
This is an amazing book.
I want to encourage you to go support this ministry, but support your relationship with Christ first and foremost, friends.
There might be something you're praying for.
You've been pleading to the Father for, and you might need to enter a time of fasting in order to see this breakthrough.
But friends, like Pastor has been saying, ensure you go into this time of fasting with your heart in a pure state.
Ensure you go in and know what God has told you to do and honor that.
I am amazed how many people make decisions without fasting.
Yeah.
I'm talking about critical life decisions.
Starting a business is a life decision.
Sending your kids out to college today is a big decision.
Walking away from your marriage is a big decision.
Entering a marriage is a big decision.
Joining a ministry, it's a major decision.
I'm amazed, Ricky, how many people go out and get counsel and advice from other people.
And that is fantastic.
I encourage you to keep doing that.
But I also encourage you to make sure that you're fasting and praying because they are moments in life that will change the trajectory of your journey forever.
27 years ago, I had a decision I needed to make because I got offered three amazing opportunities.
Yet I decided to go into something I never had experience with, and that was fasting.
And I went into fasting, not realizing that it was going to take me into a 21-day journey to where I am today.
The journey when Pastor Jim, our father, our friend invited me to be a part of this ministry 27 years ago, I didn't take it lightly.
I went into fasting for 21 days, asking God, was this the right place that you want me to be a part of?
Or do I consider the other three ministries that were offering me a great position in their ministry?
And I went into a fasting day by day.
I didn't set a day, but day by day turned out to be 21 days of fasting and praying.
And very close people to me knew what I was praying for.
And after 21 days, it turned out to be 27 years working and serving under this ministry.
And you wonder why I stayed faithful every single day.
You wonder why I'm still here after 27 years serving and written books and then travel around the world telling my story, being a part of this, being a part of that, speaking to millions every day through this program, through my own program, is because it was birth out of fasting and praying, asking God for the direction of my life.
And I believe that you're there right now.
You're wanting God to give you an answer and you're seeking counsel with your best friend and your pastor.
And those are great things.
But I encourage you to get into a prayer lifestyle.
But more than that, get into a fasting season of your life right now because the journey that God has for you to develop you for the next 10, 20 years can determine, determine on how you fast this season.
That's right.
You know, what should we be praying for during a fast, Pastor?
And does God always answer our prayers during a time of fasting?
Well, you've asked two great questions there.
When you look into what we should pray for, I think that's the power of the Holy Spirit that draws us into what that should be, whether it is an issue just as described like Mondo had years ago about really trying to discern a decision or whether it's a child away from God, a marriage in trouble, a financial need.
Maybe you are just restless in your job or something is just not right or your attitude's bad.
You know, I mean, there are many, many things you could fast and pray about.
But I think defining those, whether it's one, two, three, four, whatever it is, you know, I think that's really, really critical.
And when you do that, then you are able to focus on that.
And when you search the scriptures, your goal is to see what God is saying to you in the scriptures.
You know, Ricky, you started the show earlier today about, you know, the passage in Ezra chapter 8.
And, you know, I have found, and I really have found this after all these years, really only a couple of years ago.
And I've only spoken about it a couple of times as I'm asked to speak about fasting.
But I think it's the key.
I think that passage in Ezra 8 is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, pattern for fasting.
For example, you know, there were some decisions that were made.
There was a personal decision.
What did Ezra do?
I proclaimed a fast.
Why did he do it?
It was a humble decision to humble ourselves before God.
Why did he do it?
There was a specific reason.
The scripture says that I might seek God to keep us safe as we go through a season with our enemies.
What had happened is, you know, is that he had God had opened up the door for him to go back to Jerusalem.
And he thought to himself, you know, okay, we can do that, but if we do that, we're going to have to go through enemy territory.
He thought about asking the king, King, you know, why don't you send the cavalry and usher us into your land, into the Jerusalem.
And, you know, he said, you know what?
I've been telling the king how great my God is.
And so he told the people, How can I go to the king and ask for that?
Let's pray and fast and ask God to see us through.
And that's exactly what he did.
And the Bible says, and then they fasted.
Now, listen, that was a trusting decision.
We're going to trust God.
And then God said, he kept them safe.
There were no ambushes.
He arrived safely.
And that was a powerful decision that is all described in that powerful verse and those verses of scripture.
And so, you know what?
That's how intentional we have to be because all five of those things need to happen every time we enter into a season of fasting and prayer.
And you know what?
We're only in control of really one of those, and that is, I proclaimed a fast.
God is calling me to a fast.
And to me, all those things are really, really important.
Amen.
So does that, you know, brings to the second question: Should we always expect all of our prayers to be answered during this time of fasting?
I believe the answer to that is yes.
I would expect my prayers to be answered, you know, with faith in him.
But I tell you what, fasting does.
And those who have practiced fasting, especially over some years, will understand what I'm saying, and they will agree with me.
Is that what I have found through the years is that God perhaps doesn't answer during the fast, but God might be faithful to answer it in the way I was hoping you would answer it after the fast.
But here is the miracle.
It's not simply that.
There's another miracle.
And to me, this is just as great a miracle because it's a miracle in me.
As I present those requests to God, you know what?
God may or may not answer them for a long time, may not answer them at all, except say no.
And we're not hearing no.
But here's what I find: by the time I finish fasting, my heart becomes aligned with the sovereign and providential will of God.
Bring Him Up To The Altar 00:06:03
And while I may have wished, I barely even think about it because I know I have a father who knows what I need more than I know what I need.
And you know what?
He has protected me and not answered some of my prayers like I thought they needed to be answered.
God knows what's best for you more than you know what's best for yourself.
He's always there pulling for you.
He always loves you.
And, you know, he always loves it when his people pursue him in prayer and in fasting.
Amen.
What an encouraging word.
What an encouragement.
I love it.
I love doing what we're doing today.
You know why?
Because we love you and we want to bring you this information.
And I hope you're writing down the notes and everything that is being said.
Or better yet, you can always watch us on VOD, which is video on demand, and re-watch this program and carefully listen to Pastor because he's giving you golden nuggets that can change your life forever.
And I want to tell you something.
It is so exciting to know that God has given us a way to have a personal relationship with him where we can, you know, sacrifice almost, so to speak, or desires and bring him up to the altar and say, Lord, here's the need.
And yet, during that process, God has given us such wisdom to understand that when you fall in love with him, he wants to bless you.
He wants to prosper you.
He wants to heal you.
He wants to restore you.
He wants you to know that he loves you so much.
Listen, it's like I tell my kids, I just want to bless you because I love you.
I want to see your dreams come true.
I want to see your daily life just be filled with joy.
And if I get to be a part of it, man, I get something out of that.
And God is the same way.
He wants to bless you in ways that you never expected.
I love that we're talking about this subject because I believe this is the day that the Lord has made just for you to know that everything that is in your heart, all of your desires, he wants to fulfill them according to his will.
A lot of people miss that part, though.
Absolutely.
According to whose will?
His will.
His will.
And his will is to make sure that we continue to preach this type of gospel.
And with your help, and we have something that we always offer throughout the program.
But today, Cardio Miracle can be a great partner as you're fasting and praying in this season that you're seeking God for.
And I want to tell you something.
Cardio Miracle loves you, loves this ministry.
And they're doing everything they can, Ricky, to make sure that our partners, our viewers can get the quality, the best quality of the product that they're developing.
But more than that, every time you order from them is blessing this ministry back so we can continue to bring special guests like you're hearing from today.
That's right.
We know personally, people who have done the three-day fast, the 14-day fast, the 30-day fast, a liquid only.
And so they were drinking Cardio Miracle.
It's pairing well with that.
Also, if people are intermittent fasting as well, it's a different type of thing, but doesn't break that fast, which is an amazing thing.
It's a partner with us that we have had joined this ministry and said, hey, we want to continue to hear the gospel uncensored, preached across the nation and globally as well.
So they partnered with us.
So we want to say thank you to the family at Cardio Miracle who has stood by us through really a lot of trials, tribulations, thick and thin.
And they said, hey, we're going to stay with the product.
We're going to stay with the program and we're going to stay with the partners because we believe in the PTL television network.
But yeah, that's something we offer.
Mondo, another thing is people don't realize is our monthly support group is really what allows us to continue to broadcast the gospel.
Continue to go through those affiliate programs and prepare you and your home.
Get healthy this year.
Make sure that you are equipped for every good work the Lord would have you do.
But our monthly programs are really what sustains us and lets us know, okay, we can continue to preach the gospel because we have people backing and standing with us.
Yeah, listen, I know for a fact that you have a lot of choices to give into other ministries.
But if this month you're thinking about us, consider becoming a partner this month with us.
We are almost at the finish line to getting out of debt.
Oh, that sounds like a broken record.
I know we're going to pass that one of those days, but we are so close.
We've been working really hard for the last year.
Absolutely.
Working really hard going from this big amount to all the way down to this amount.
Meaning, we went from $13 million debt down to just what, $3 million?
Just about $3.5 million.
That's a big dent.
And I want to tell you something.
Only through a miracle that is happening, but that miracle is you.
Consider becoming a partner this month and stand with us and visit the website, jimbakershow.com, or better yet, give us a call.
We want to talk to you.
We want to hear from you.
The number is 1-888-988-1588.
Consider praying for us, standing with us, and becoming a partner this month.
That's right.
We're calling it the Finish Line Campaign Finish Line Fundraiser because we believe that we are going to cross that finish line and we are going to continue to expand this ministry, get on new avenues of preaching, and ensure that the gospel is heard everywhere around the world.
It's the reason that we get to continue to bring guests like Pastor Ronnie Floyd on and talk about these issues that are real throughout the church.
Fasting is important.
Pastor, I want to ask you, why do you believe fasting is important, not only on an individual level, but for our families, for our churches, and for our communities?
Full Armor of God 00:13:49
Well, there's no question about it.
It is one of the greatest spiritual weapons that exist.
And, you know, you gain a level of confidence in God.
You gain a level of deep faith in believing that God is who he says he is and can do what he says he can do when you fast and pray.
I mean, I believe deeply that God can do anything, anytime, anywhere with anyone, and that he can do more in a moment than you could ever do in a lifetime.
So I think fasting taught me those things and built my faith.
And you know, about the family, I mean, we are at a battle for families every day in this country.
And it is a ferocious battle with the demonic realm, as well as the simplicity of decision-making that families just many times blunder.
What we need as adults, as parents and grandparents, we need to be able to fast and pray for our families.
And I've done that for years.
In fact, I tell you what, when both of my boys were growing up, and today they are both right around 40 or so.
And, you know, I'm telling you, when they were little boys, I'd fast and pray, I know, for at least two years, one day a week, asking that they grow up and they seek the Lord.
They love him.
They love his church and they love being used to make a major difference in their lives.
And you know what?
I was faithful to do that for I know at least two years fasting at least one day a week.
And that was my goal for each of my boys.
And I tell you what, we've seen the Lord just do incredible things.
One of my sons succeeded me here at Crosschurch five years ago as I went away to help another ministry for a period of time.
And you know what?
God is using him.
The church continues to grow and is experiencing incredible days.
And my other son is the head football coach of a large public high school in the Birmingham, Alabama region.
And, you know, is not just having a great football program, but he reaches those young men for Christ.
He really takes seriously his faith, even though he's in a public realm of all that pressure and all.
But you know what?
The Lord is using him.
I believe deeply every day we need to call upon God to put the spiritual armor that is mentioned in Ephesians 6 on our kids, our grandkids, our spouses.
Listen, we are in a battle and we have to be aggressive.
And to me, fasting and prayer is one of the most aggressive weapons you have in your warfare.
So if you would take it up with the word of God in your hand and a prayer in your heart and seek the God of heaven to do something supernatural in your life.
Amen.
Now, can you briefly discuss?
We just have about 10 minutes left on our broadcast, but I want to discuss the seven promises that God offers us when we pray and fast.
I'd love to leave our audience with that.
Well, those are great things.
And, you know, obviously, there's no way in the world we can always say we're going to get all these promises or all.
But what I did is that I've talked about the promises of fasting for many years over in Isaiah 58.
And then for this book specifically, I broke it down and, you know, just into a few of these I'll mention here today.
For example, I believe Isaiah 58 teaches that God will set us free when we fast.
If you're here today and you're listening to this program and you're facing a habit or a sin that you just have had a very difficult time overcoming, then I would encourage you to fast and pray.
God can break those who are imprisoned to any sin.
He can break and he can set you free.
I also believe that we're all in the process and we go through seasons when we are really oppressed.
I mean, there is something over us that is not healthy at all.
And even the Bible says in Isaiah 58 that one of the reasons and one of the promises is he lets the oppressed go free.
I mean, listen, is that not beautiful?
That God will set you free.
But then those seasons when you're really oppressed in the midst of battles, I mean, he still comes when we pray and fast and he sets us free.
I think that God also promises that he will make us like a shining light.
I mean, all of a sudden, y'all know it.
If you have practiced fasting and prayer, man, when God meets with you in that day or those three days or 10 days or whatever number of days, when he meets with you, your countenance looks like it.
And all of a sudden, the glory of God shines through you in ways that people say, what's going on in your life, man?
You seem to have peace like I've never seen you have.
And I also believe that one of the other things, you know, Ricky and Mondo, is that God answers our prayer.
I think God's faithful.
And I think scripture teaches us that fasting leads us to answered prayer.
And now, does that mean there are all answers that we want?
No.
God answers his prayer.
I mean, God does that.
I mean, I believe deeply in the power of God.
I believe deeply that God knows what's best for me before I know it for myself.
And I've got to trust God.
That's part of it.
And here's what I really want people to get is that when you are, when you pray and fast for your family, you are trusting God for your family.
You are demonstrating faith that God has a destiny for your family.
And in the name of Jesus, claim it, stand on it, and do not give up and keep believing God for great things for your family.
Amen.
And friends, whatever you fast, I want to encourage you with this right here.
Open up your word of God to Ephesians chapter 6.
When we talk about the armor of God, we're not talking about just a cute Bible story we tell kids to put them down to get them to go to bed or just a Sunday morning devotion with the kids.
No, friends, this is a real battle we are fighting.
And friends, we must put on this armor.
It says right here in verse 10, I'm going to be reading.
Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength.
Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.
For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to resist in the evil day and having prepared everything to take your stand.
Stand therefore with the belt of truth around your waist.
Righteousness like armor on your chest and your feet sandaled with the readiness of the gospel of peace.
In every situation, not some, not occasionally, in every situation, take up the shield of faith, which with you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.
Pray at all times in the spirit with every prayer and request.
Stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.
Friends, we are given the armor of God.
When you became a believer, when you said, Lord, my will is now subservient to your will, the Lord gave you this armor to put on every single day.
Again, it's not just a cute Bible story to tell your children or to have for a Sunday school class.
Friends, we are waging a real war in the heavenlies, and you don't go to war without your armor.
You don't go to war without your weapon or your shield.
Friends, it is vital.
It is critical.
It is important that you every single day make a declaration that I am putting on the armor of God.
I'm going to hold up in every situation that shield of faith.
I'm going to put on, Mondo, this is important right here, a belt of truth.
Because friends, if you're not wearing a belt, what happens?
You got to be constantly trying to pick up your pants because they're falling down.
That's the reality of it.
I'm telling you, that's just the blunt reality of it.
Wear the belt of truth.
It says right here, righteousness like armor on your chest.
Amen.
It says right here, your feet sandaled with the readiness of the gospel of peace.
In every situation, take up the shield of faith, which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Friends, be encouraged that you weren't just commissioned into the army of God and not given any weapons for warfare.
Friends, you were given all the armor and all the tools and all the weapons, everything you would need to resist and fight the evil one, to resist and flee from temptation, friend.
You were given all the tools you need to go out and plant seeds of the gospel into people's lives, to water the seed of the gospel in people's lives, to harvest the seed that sprouts into a beautiful crop ready for the harvest, friends.
Don't take for granted what we've been given.
I feel like that's a fault of the American churches, and not all of them, but some of them, where we take for granted the good gifts that God has given us, where maybe you haven't faced physical persecution.
So you're saying, well, it's okay.
I have a good life.
I don't have persecution in my life.
But friends, we have brothers and sisters being persecuted and killed for the gospel's sake globally.
Friends, we should be honored that we don't have that in the United States right now.
But friends, we should be fasting and praying for those around the globe.
Mondo, there's a church in Iran right now that is blossoming.
It's blooming.
There's a revival.
They are having to shut down mosques because they are leaving the mosque and they're going to the church and they're proclaiming with their mouth, Jesus Christ is Lord, even at the cost of their own life.
Friend, it's important we stand with those believers.
You may not be going through it and your neighbor here physically might not be going through it.
But friends, there are believers around the world who are dying for the proclamation of their faith and we need to stand with them, stand with their families.
Pastor Ronnie, as you go off the air today, maybe there's someone who doesn't know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.
Maybe there's someone who had a relationship with Christ but has walked away from it.
What would you say to them today?
I would say if you do not know Christ, it will be the greatest decision that you've ever made in your life to follow Christ.
I would tell you if you want to come to Christ, it's very simple.
God, it's not that salvation is simple.
He's just made it simple for us.
God loves you.
Christ died for all of your sins.
Everything you've ever done in your life, it's bad or wrong or sinful.
He forgives it.
He completely wipes it off.
It's clean as clean can be.
And you are washed in what we would call the powerful blood of Jesus that was given to die on the cross for you.
And so you exhibit faith today and say, Lord, I know that I am a sinner and every day of my life I do wrong.
I believe Christ died for me on the cross.
And today I declare that I will follow Jesus.
I turn from my bad ways and I turn to Christ.
Come into my life.
Save me now.
By faith I receive you and just let him come into your life.
And when you do that, I promise you your sins are forgiven.
The promise of heaven will be there for you and he will live inside of you until you die and give you heaven when you die.
And praise God for eternal salvation in Christ alone.
Amen.
Friends, if you prayed that prayer today, go get in a good Bible-believing church that preaches the fullness of the gospel.
Get intimate with the word of God and have that relationship with the Holy Spirit, friends.
I promise you, like Pastor said, it will be the best decision you have ever made.
Friends, we want to thank Pastor Ronnie Floyd for being on the broadcast with us today.
I want to encourage you to go get this, the supernatural power of prayer and fasting, 12 ways God will change your life.
And friends, whether you're going to work or whether you're about to go to sleep or you're listening to this on a podcast format, I want to remind you of this.
Never take these words as just words, but live them in the reality of your life that God loves you.
He really does.
Bye-bye for today.
Thank you so much.
Thanks, brother.
Thank you.
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