Fasting and angelic allies
Each Tuesday, we release a prayer guide with the hope that we collectively join our hearts through prayer in a “laser-focused” way. Today, as the Underground, we come together around the relationship between fasting, prayer, angels, and spiritual warfare.
Move 1: Angelic assignments are connected to prayer and fasting
Read:
Praise the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands. Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels who serve him and do his will. Psalm 103:20-21
Angels are our allies. They carry out the plans of our Father, acting at His command.
Angels are warriors. They serve as the armies of Heaven, warring against demonic evil.
Then a hand touched me and made my hands and knees shake. The man said to me, “Daniel, you are highly respected. Pay attention to my words. Stand up because I’ve been sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up, trembling. He told me, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. God has heard everything that you said ever since the first day you decided to humble yourself in front of your God so that you could learn to understand things. I have come in response to your prayer. The commander of the Persian kingdom opposed me for 21 days. But then Michael, one of the chief commanders, came to help me because I was left alone with the kings of Persia. I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the last days because the vision is about times still to come. Daniel 10:10-14
There is a mysterious yet direct link between our fasting/praying and the angelic. Our fasting and prayer trigger the release of angels and energizes them to conquer demonic evil.
Pray:
Pray for angels to be sent to our city and that they will be strengthened to complete every assignment and win every battle.
Pray for the Spirit to raise up more extraordinary prayer and fasting in the KCUG and our city.
Move 2: Angels and the early church
Read:
Luke, the author of Acts, repeatedly notes the role of angels in the early church’s story. Apparently, the regular intervention of angels was necessary to the church’s work and the Gospel’s advancement! Consider just Acts 1-12. The amount of angelic activity is astounding!
The book of Acts begins with two angels – men dressed in white – appearing beside the disciples at Christ’s ascension and promising them His return (Acts 1:10-11). In chapter 5, angels broke the apostles out of jail. Verses 18-20 say:
They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night, an angel of the Lord opened the jail doors and brought them out. ‘Go, stand in the temple courts,’ he said, ‘and tell the people all about this new life.’
Stephen referred to angels four times in his sermon in Acts 7, and we’re told that his face became like the face of an angel.
In Acts 8:26, an angel of the Lord appeared to Philip and told him to go down to the road to Gaza to meet the Ethiopian eunuch. In Acts 10, an angel appeared to a centurion in Caesarea named Cornelius and told him to send for Peter.
Acts 12 has angelic activity is high gear. An angel wakes Peter up in his prison cell, gives him instruction for the prison break, removes his chains, renders the guards useless, and opens a gate. At the end of the chapter, an angel delivers judgment to Herod, and it’s sobering. Herod receives a death sentence for his crimes.
We have no reason to believe that angelic interventions ended with the book of Acts. Angels are very active today, working behind the scenes both in the church and on this world stage. The Bible tells us to treat strangers well, for some in entertaining strangers have entertained angels unaware.
Pray:
Consider the following.
What are critical areas of warfare in our city? (Gun violence, human trafficking, racism, etc.)
Pray now for breakthroughs in those areas. Ask the Lord to send the armies of heaven to fight with us.
Lord guide us like you guided Phillip to meet the Eunuch. Send angels to bring direction to the missionaries of the Underground.
Send angels to direct People of Peace toward your people, as you did with Cornelius and Peter.
Lord send angels to deliver your people from opposition as you did with the early church.
Move 3: Angels and the every day
Read:
Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:1-2
Pray:
Consider, who do I need to show hospitality to, who I might consider a ‘stranger’? What brother or sister do I need to ‘keep on loving’ specifically right now? Pray over what the Holy Spirit highlights for you. Pray over all those who are praying in the KC Underground today, who are praying with you through this guide.
Breathe:
Bless the Lord, my soul.
Say:
I am afflicted in every way but not crushed.
Pray:
I bless You, Jesus, because You alone are able to uphold me in all ways.
Breathe:
My God and my all.
Say:
I am perplexed, but not driven to despair.
Pray:
You, Lord, are my hiding place and refuge in times of trouble. I bless Your Name.
Breathe:
Lord, have mercy.
Say:
I am persecuted, but not forsaken.
Pray:
I bless You, Holy Spirit, my complete comfort.
Breathe:
I belong to You, O Lord.
Say:
I am struck down, but not destroyed.
Pray:
I bless you, Father, who is mighty to save. You lovingly hear and respond to my prayers. Thank You.