Fasting and Prayer: A Principle for Deliverance from Persistent Influences.
- Gil Junqueira
- Jul 19, 2025
- 8 min read
Fasting and prayer are ancient spiritual practices that play a fundamental role in the Christian walk, especially when seeking deliverance from persistent influences—whether they are spiritual, emotional, or behavioral patterns that draw us away from God.
What Are Fasting and Prayer?
Fasting: Voluntarily abstaining from food or something significant for a set period as an expression of surrender and dependence on God.
Prayer: Sincere communication with God, seeking His guidance, strength, and intervention.
Why Fast and Pray?
1. Deepens Dependence on GodFasting reminds us that we do not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).
2. Increases Spiritual SensitivityFasting “unclogs” our hearts, making us more sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s voice.
3. Breaks StrongholdsCertain patterns, addictions, or spiritual attacks are only broken through fasting and prayer. Jesus said:“However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17:21)
How to Practice Fasting and Prayer for Deliverance:
Define a clear purpose (e.g., deliverance from anxiety, addictions, negative thoughts).
Choose the type of fast (complete, partial, abstaining from something specific).
Persevere in prayer during the fast, presenting your battles to God and asking for specific intervention.
Read and declare God’s Word over your life concerning freedom and victory.
Stay vigilant after fasting, maintaining active communion with God and seeking support when necessary.
Spiritual Results of Fasting and Prayer:
Spiritual strength
Mental and emotional clarity
Breaking of destructive patterns
Renewed experience of God’s presence and guidance
Restoration of freedom to live out God’s purpose
Fasting and prayer do not change God, but transform you and remove everything that blocks His full work in your life.
"And Jesus said to them, 'Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.'"(Matthew 17:20-21 – in some Bible versions)
This verse highlights the power of faith, prayer, and fasting in overcoming the most persistent spiritual challenges.
"And he said to them, 'This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.'" (Mark 9:29 - in some Bible versions)
The passage in question occurs after Jesus' disciples unsuccessfully attempt to cast out a demon from a boy. When questioned by Jesus about their ineffectiveness, He gives them the key to dealing with "this kind" or "this type."
Fasting and prayer are fundamental spiritual disciplines for those seeking deliverance from persistent influences, such as addictions, sin patterns, spiritual oppression, and emotional strongholds. Jesus highlighted the importance of these practices when He said:
"This kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting" (Matthew 17:21).
1. What is Fasting?
Voluntary renunciation: It consists of partial or total abstention from food or other activities, with the goal of seeking God more deeply.
Spiritual purpose: Fasting is not to manipulate God, but to sensitize the heart, humble oneself, break pride, and strengthen the spirit.
2. What is Prayer?
Communication with God: It is a sincere dialogue where we present our needs, listen to His direction, and declare our dependence on Him.
Pray without ceasing: Continuous and persevering prayer creates a favorable environment for God's action.
3. Why Are Fasting and Prayer Powerful Together?
Unity of spiritual forces: Fasting enhances prayer, making it more focused and fervent.
Breaking resistances: Many spiritual and emotional strongholds only yield before this dual discipline.
Biblical example: Daniel, Ezra, Esther, and Jesus used fasting associated with prayer in strategic moments of spiritual battle and important decisions.
4. Practices for Deliverance:
Define a clear purpose: Know what you are fasting and praying for.
Establish a period: Whether partial or total, choose a time of consecration.
Stay focused on Scripture: Read passages that strengthen faith and spiritual understanding.
Watch thoughts and attitudes: Fasting reminds us to depend on the Holy Spirit in every choice of the day.
Accompany with fellowship and confession: Share the journey with trusted brothers, ask for prayer, and confess weaknesses.
5. Expected Results:
Breaking negative cycles
Increased spiritual sensitivity
Renewal of faith
Divine answers and directions
Victory over temptations and resistant influences
Fasting and prayer are biblical keys for deliverance from persistent influences. There are no magic formulas, but a life of spiritual discipline attracts the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit.
"And He said to them: ‘This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.’"(Mark 9:29 – in some versions of the Bible)
The passage in question occurs after Jesus’ disciples tried, unsuccessfully, to cast out a demon from a boy. When questioned by Jesus about their ineffectiveness, He gives them the key to dealing with “this kind” or “this type.”
Fasting and prayer are fundamental spiritual disciplines for those seeking deliverance from persistent influences, such as addictions, destructive patterns, or spiritual oppression. It’s important to recognize, however, that the true power belongs to God, and our participation comes through surrender and a relentless pursuit of His power.
“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword; it penetrates even to the division of soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”(Hebrews 4:12)
FASTING AND PRAYER: YOUR KEY TO UNLOCKING GREATER LEVELS OF SPIRITUAL POWER AND AUTHORITY IN CHRIST!
FACE STRONGHOLDS WITH THE FAITH AND PREPARATION THAT GOD GIVES YOU.
CHAPTER 1: THE CONTEXT OF JESUS' STATEMENT:
1. The Incident:
A father brings his son, who suffers from epileptic attacks and is tormented by a mute spirit, to the disciples.
The disciples try to cast out the spirit but fail.
Jesus arrives, rebukes the spirit and casts it out, healing the boy.
2. The Disciples' Question:
In private, the disciples ask Jesus: "Why could we not cast it out?" (Matthew 17:19).
Jesus' response initially focuses on faith, indicating that their lack of it prevented them. He emphasizes that faith, even if small, can move mountains.
3. The Addition About Fasting and Prayer:
It is at this point that Jesus makes the statement about "this kind" (or "this type") of demon that only comes out through prayer and fasting.
Important: The phrase about fasting (and sometimes about prayer) is not present in all ancient manuscripts of Matthew 17:21, and there is academic debate about its original inclusion. However, it appears in Mark 9:29 and is widely accepted as a valid biblical principle.
CHAPTER 2: WHAT DID JESUS MEAN BY "THIS KIND"?
Jesus was not classifying demons into categories that only respond to a specific method, as if there were "type A" demons that come out with a word and "type B" demons that only come out with fasting. The emphasis is on the preparation and power of the deliverer, not on a limitation of the demon.
1. Strong and Entrenched Influences:
"This kind" refers to cases of demonic oppression that are particularly persistent, resistant, or deeply rooted in a person's life or situation.
These are influences that require a higher level of spiritual authority, discernment, and power.
2. The Need for Deepened Spiritual Power:
The problem was not the demon's inability to leave, but the disciples' lack of power and faith to cast it out.
Fasting and prayer are not magical rituals that force God or the demon. They are spiritual disciplines that enable the believer to operate at a deeper level of authority and dependence on God.
CHAPTER 3: THE POWER OF FASTING AND PRAYER IN DELIVERANCE:
Fasting and prayer, when practiced with the right heart, are powerful tools that align us with God's power and will.
1. The Purpose of Fasting:
Humiliation and Dependence: Fasting is an act of humiliation before God (Psalm 35:13), recognizing our total dependence on Him and denying the needs of the flesh to focus on the spiritual.
Intensification of Prayer: It helps us focus intensely on prayer, eliminating distractions and increasing spiritual sensitivity.
Breaking Personal Strongholds: Fasting helps us master the flesh and break sin patterns or habits that imprison us, increasing our spiritual authority.
Spiritual Focus and Clarity: When fasting, we often experience greater mental and spiritual clarity, which helps us discern God's will and the enemy's strategy.
Not to Gain Favor: We don't fast to "deserve" God's response, but to position ourselves in a place of greater sensitivity and dependence on Him.
2. The Power of Prayer:
Direct Communication with God: Prayer is the direct line to Heaven's power. In it, we cry out to God to intervene with His supreme authority.
Exercise of Faith: Prayer is the practical expression of faith. We pray believing that God hears and that He has all power.
Spiritual Warfare: Through prayer, we confront the forces of darkness, using the authority Jesus gave us in His Name.
3. The Combination:
Together, fasting and prayer create an environment of deep dependence on God and spiritual intensification.
They strengthen the believer's spirit, allowing them to exercise Christ's authority over more entrenched demonic influences or spiritually heavy situations.
It is not fasting and prayer themselves that cast out the demon, but God's power released through a servant who is deeply aligned and dependent on Him, demonstrating unwavering faith.
CHAPTER 4: APPLICATION FOR DELIVERANCE TODAY:
1. Recognize Christ's Authority:
The basis of all deliverance is the authority of Jesus Christ. He has already disarmed principalities and powers (Colossians 2:15).
You, as a believer, have authority over the enemy in Jesus' Name (Luke 10:19).
2. Discernment:
Not every battle is against a demon. Many struggles are against our own flesh (sinful nature), or against the world.
But in cases of persistent demonic oppression, or when there is clear evil influence in a situation, fasting and prayer are crucial tools.
3. Perseverance:
Some spiritual strongholds do not fall easily. They require persistence in prayer and, if the Holy Spirit guides, the discipline of fasting.
4. Support:
If you are dealing with complex cases of deliverance, it is wise to seek guidance and support from mature, biblically grounded spiritual leaders who have experience in this area.
CONCLUSION: ALIGNMENT WITH GOD'S POWER:
Jesus' statement about "this kind" of demon that only comes out through prayer and fasting is not a rigid rule for classifying demons, but a profound lesson about the need for a higher level of faith, power, and dependence on God by the deliverer.
Fasting and prayer are disciplines that help us align more deeply with God's heart, tune our ears to His voice, and strengthen our spiritual authority, enabling us to deal with the most challenging influences of the kingdom of darkness. It is a demonstration that final victory always belongs to God, and our participation comes through surrender and relentless pursuit of His power.
"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)
FASTING AND PRAYER: YOUR KEY TO UNLOCKING GREATER LEVELS OF POWER AND SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY IN CHRIST!
FACE THE STRONGHOLDS WITH THE FAITH AND PREPARATION GOD GIVES YOU.
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