Fasting for Breakthrough and Deliverance

Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

BACKSLIDING AND AN inconsistent walk of faith are signs of double-mindedness, wavering between two lifestyles. I have seen this as a pattern for many believers. I have seen believers commit to Christ and then turn away and return to the world. They then return and repeat the process over again. This is heartbreaking.

This was also an issue for the early church. Many believers were departing from the faith and returning to the old covenant system. They were wavering in their faith. These Christians were also fighting and warring with one another, and James commanded them to humble themselves and cleanse their hands (James 4). Notice in this same passage that the spirits of lust and pride are prevalent in the double-minded, and there is contention, strife, and adultery. Adultery is unfaithfulness to covenant and can refer to backsliding and apostasy. Some of these believers were leaving Christ and returning to the world; James referred to them as sinners (v. 8).

Double-mindedness breeds unbelief and doubt. Backsliding and apostasy can be signs of double-mindedness. The prophet Jeremiah revealed that the remedy to backsliding is healing—in other words, deliverance (Jer. 3:22).

Are you double-minded in your walk with Christ? Do you have a history of backsliding and departing from the faith? Are you guilty of worldliness and carnality? Do you crack under pressure or persecution and return to the things of the world? These are all signs of double-mindedness.

The double-minded are not stable enough to deal with the challenges that often come with being a believer. They will often withdraw or rebel. We must become stable if we are to walk with God consistently. Deliverance is the answer, and I am committed to seeing this truth taught in the church.

The Hebrew words for the term backsliding are mshuwbah, meaning “apostasy: backsliding, turning away,”¹ and sarar, meaning “to turn away, i.e. (morally) be refractory—X away, backsliding, rebellious, revolter(-ing), slide back, stubborn, withdrew.”² Other words from the Hebrew, shobab and shobeb, render the English meanings “apostate, i.e. idolatrous—backsliding, frowardly, turn away (from margin);” “heathenish or (actually) heathen—backsliding.”³

Israel was a double-minded nation, going in and out of covenant with God. They were not consistent in their loyalty to God. Israel was guilty of revolt, rebellion, turning away, stubbornness, idolatry, and acting like the heathen nations that surrounded it. This leaves me no doubt that chronic backsliding is a manifestation of double-mindedness.

Fasting is a way we can renew covenant with the Lord. Fasting helps fallen believers become restored. Fasting is a part of renewing our commitment to the things of God.

Lord, I repent in dust and ashes (Job 42:6).

I will repent so that I won’t perish (Luke 13:3).

I repent for my wickedness and pray that the thoughts of my heart be forgiven me (Acts 8:22).

I will not tolerate the spirit of Jezebel in my life. I will not suffer anguish because of her adultery. I will repent and hold fast to what I have (Rev. 2:20–25).

Thank You, Lord, that my sins have been blotted out and times of refreshing have come from Your presence, because I have repented and been converted (Acts 3:19).

Lord, I repent. Do not remove my lampstand from its place (Rev. 2:5).

I receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, because I have repented and have been baptized (Acts 2:38).

Lord, I repent, for Your kingdom is at hand (Matt. 3:2).

Lord, I repent, that Your mighty works will be done in me (Matt. 11:20).

I will be zealous and repent because You love me and chasten me (Rev. 3:19).

I will turn to God and do the works befitting repentance (Acts 26:20).

I repent now for You will not always overlook my ignorance (Acts 17:30).

The Assyrian will not be my king, because I willingly repent (Hosea 11:5).

I repent and believe in the gospel (Mark 1:1).

I repent now of my evil way and evil doings that I may dwell in the land that the Lord has given to me and my fathers forever (Jer. 25:5).

I repent, Lord, and turn away from my idols and all my abominations (Ezek. 14:6).

Do not judge me, O Lord. I repent and turn from all my transgressions so that iniquity will not be my ruin (Ezek. 18:30).

I repent and make supplication to You, Lord, saying, “I have sinned and done wrong. I have committed wickedness” (1 Kings 8:47).

I remember what I have received and heard. I hold fast, repent, and remain watchful (Rev. 3:3).

Let repentance and remission of sins be preached in His name to all nations (Luke 24:47).

I repent before God and remain faithful toward my Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21).

Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation. I will not regret it (2 Cor. 7:10).

The Lord gives repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins (Acts 5:31).

I will arise and go to my Father, and I will say to Him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before You” (Luke 15:18).

Shalom, prosperity, and peace are mine through Jesus Christ.

I am a saint of God.

I am a child of God.

I have a covenant with God.

My covenant is a covenant of peace, prosperity, and blessing.

I walk in covenant all the days of my life.

I enjoy shalom, prosperity, peace, and safety all the days of my life.

I will walk in covenant.

I will be faithful to the covenant through the blood of Jesus.

I have a covenant of shalom, peace, and prosperity, in my life.

Lord, You keep covenant and mercy with those who love You and keep Your commandments (Exod. 20).

Lord, You bless those who obey Your voice and keep Your covenant.

Lord, I take hold of Your covenant through Your death and sacrifice.

I choose life (blessing) (Deut. 30:19).

Let Your blessings come upon me and overtake me (Deut. 28:2).

Let me be blessed in the city and blessed in the field (Deut. 28:3).

Let the fruit of my body be blessed, and let all the fruit of my labor be blessed (Deut. 28:4).

Let my basket and store be blessed (Deut. 28:5, KJV).

Let me be blessed coming in and blessed going out (Deut. 28:6).

Let the enemies of my soul flee before me seven ways (Deut. 28:7).

Command Your blessing upon my storehouses and all I set my hand to, and bless my land (Deut. 28:8).

Establish me as a holy person unto You, Lord (Deut. 28:9).

Let all people see that I am called by Your name (Deut. 28:10).

Make me plenteous in goods (Deut. 28:11).

Open unto me Your good treasure, and let heaven’s rain fall upon my life and bless the work of my hand (Deut. 28:12).

Let me lend (give) unto many nations and not borrow (Deut. 28:12).

Make me the head and not the tail (Deut. 28:13).

Let me be above only and not beneath (Deut. 28:13).