I heard stories of great men and women of God that would fast and have divine encounters with God. When I fasted I just got hungry! I got a headache and felt everything but spiritual. Jesus didn't appear, angels didn't sing, and ravens didn't deliver food to me.
I completed the fast and really questioned if it had accomplished anything. And then I was blown away. Something had happened, something was different. My spiritual biceps had increased by three inches. As I faced the world there was this spiritual power I hadn't noticed before.
Say "No!" To The Flesh
Saying "no" to sin was easy. There are many reasons for fasting but the "biggy" in my life is keeping the old flesh nature under control. When you can say "no" to something that you can have it becomes easy to say "no" to something you shouldn't have.
Fasting is saying to God, "I love you more than anything this world has to offer. I love you more than a Big Mac or filet mignon." Fasting will align your thoughts, control your fleshly desires and ignite you spiritually.
Periodically my family and I will fast from various things just to make sure nothing controls us other than Jesus Christ. After a summer overdose of TV, I asked our kids to go on a fast with Kim and I from television for seven days. We unplugged all the TVs and had a great week.
The following Sunday I was congratulating the kids on a great job when one of them asked, "So what are we going to fast from this week Dad?" I said, "I don't know, what do you think? How about soft drinks?" The next seven days truly were supernatural as we laid down Dr. Pepper in the Hawk household.
Put The Spirit-Man In Control
After my initial encounter with fasting, I began to use the experience in counseling teenagers. A young man came to me and revealed he was crossing the boundaries physically with his girlfriend. I gave him some practical advice and then asked him if he could go without food for 24 hours and without Nintendo (a favorite of his) for seven days? He was somewhat bewildered.
"What has this got to do with sex?" He asked me.
"Everything!" I responded. His body and mind were in control of his life while "Spirit Man" was a helpless passenger. He needed to establish self control and strengthen himself spiritually.
OK, now it's your turn. What's a stronghold in your life? Coffee? Internet? Coke? Video Games? TV? Choose one thing to lay down to the Lordship of Jesus Christ for one week. Then give a three day fast from food a shot. Just see what God will do!
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Dean and Kim are the founding pastors of Rock Family Church. They have been married since 1983 and they have five adult children; Alesha and her husband, Aaron, Allyson, and Preston and his wife, Melannie. In addition, they have one grandson, Asher. Since 1981 Dean has served in the full-time ministry. Prior to starting RFC in 2004, he served as a Youth and Associate Pastor in three different churches. You will enjoy Dean's practical and illustrative teaching style as he makes the Bible come alive through both topical and verse-by-verse teachings that you can apply to everyday life. Along with his current pastoral duties, Dean is also an adjunct professor at Charis Bible College in Woodland Park.
Kim serves on our Executive Team as CFO, she oversees the Children's Team and the Women's Ministry. Her energetic and contagious attitude, in addition to her love for her church family is evident.
Be sure and introduce yourself, they can always be found in the lobby between services. They look forward to meeting you soon! 
