Isaiah 40:31 ‘‘But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint’

DAILY READING; • Matthew 15:1-20; Leviticus 24-25; Ecclesiastes 1:1-11

The Azusa Street Revival in 1906, started as a result of a ten-day fast.
In February 1906, a black unknown Gospel minister, named William Seymour, was invited to pastor a small holiness Church in Los Angeles. He went with excitement to this new assignment because he was eager to teach about the Pentecostal experience, which many didn’t know about at the time.
On his first Sunday morning sermon Seymour boldly preached on speaking in tongues from the text in Acts 2:4.
However, the leaders in this holiness Church were not pleased as they found his teaching contrary to their doctrines. Due to this, when Seymour returned for the evening service that day, they padlocked the Church doors and refused him entrance.
Seymour who was new in the town, was left stranded with no where to go. Fortunately, one of the Church members who had been positively affected by his sermon that morning, took pity on him and offered him temporary accommodation. In this man’s home, Seymour spent much time in private prayer and fasting. Soon a prayer meeting began in this home and people began to attend.
One day, Seymour announced a ten-day fast to this small prayer group so as to pray down the power of the Holy Ghost. As they embarked on this prayers, in no time, power erupted in their midst and people began to supernaturally speak in tongues. As news of this phenomenon began to spread, more people came to these prayers until crowds overflowed into the streets.
The crowds grew so large that their pressure on the house caused it to collapse from its foundation. Miraculously no one was hurt and the prayer meeting was then moved to a rented building at 312, Azusa Street.
From this new location, went forth a mighty move of the Spirit which has come to be known as the Azuza street revival. This revival, led to thousands of Pentecostal groups springing up throughout America and in almost every part of the world. Today millions of Pentecostals and Charismatics trace their beginnings to Azusa Street. And this amazing revival began because a handful of believers were willing to pay the price for power through praying and fasting.

Fasting and praying has been a key habit in the lives of the great men and women that God has used throughout Church history. Many of these, regularly fasted and prayed to stay full of the oil of the Spirit.
Indeed prayer and fasting is the pathway to fresh oil. Just like a car engine needs fresh oil to keep running smoothly, as believers we also require fresh oil to keep our spirit-man vibrant. Prayer and fasting grants us the unction to function, renewing the anointing on our lives so that we can mount up to greater heights of exploits.

Isaiah 40:31 says ‘But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint’

Praying and fasting is a commandment of scriptures. Jesus’ use of “When” and not ‘If’ when He taught about prayer and fasting, shows it is a non- negotiable price for every believer. (Matthew 5:6-7, 16-17).
Indeed every spiritually mature believer is expected to have a scheduled time for prayer and fasting. There is no substitute for this spiritual exercise in our quest to manifest as the sons of God upon the earth.
It is our prescription for a spiritual change of levels and it is what takes us from the slow lane of life to the fast lane. The more we engage in praying and fasting, the more we will keep mounting up to greater heights and move from glory to greater heights of glory.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for the great and amazing manifestations of Your power in my life. As I engage in fasting and praying and diligent study of Your Word in this season, I know indeed that You will take me to greater heights of exploits in Jesus Name. ..

QUOTE
God’s promises in Christ in your life may appear delayed, but never forget that delays are not denials. WORDBITE 222