Shaneen Clarke: Fast and Pray

CBN.com FAST AMERICA TO BRING REVIVAL
Shaneen Clarke says in 2010 fasting is the most potent power of the universe and is placed at the disposal of every believer. Fasting is a cornerstone of Christianity, yet it has been much neglected and seldom taught by the body of the Church. It is the most powerful agent known to man, along with prayer. In fact, fasting is the amplification of prayer. It will bring one closer to God more quickly than any other way known.

Shaneen believes the practice of fasting will be revitalized again in these last days and a mighty worldwide revival of spiritual power will sweep over this world, with signs and miracles in these last days. The coming spiritual awakening will only come to America through prayer and fasting. When the door of carnality closes, the spiritual door opens.

Fasting digs into the spiritual oil well to fuel revival. Satan is cheating many from this glorious experience.

Shaneen also believes there is a great truth in prayer and fasting. Jesus, when speaking of the devil in the lunatic child whom the disciples could not heal, declared this kind cometh out by prayer and fasting. Fasting with prayer has a place.

Shaneen was introduced to fasting at an early age by her pastor. He often led a fasted lifestyle, frequently going on 40-day fasts and exemplified a true man of God sharing the revelation of the Cross and God’s Glory. As a result Shaneen witnessed many miracles in her small church. In her own life and following a variety of fasts of one day, 7-days and 40-days she has witnessed many spiritual breakthroughs, envisioned life and revelation under certain difficulties in her life. She is in the process of writing a book on fasting.

WHAT IS FASTING?
Shaneen believes that the word “fast” is misunderstood and people have trouble understanding what Jesus said in Matthew 17:20-21, “Nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” Fasting has always been a normal part of relationship with God as shown in Psalm 42.

Many people also abstain from drinking water during a fast, but that is not necessary. Food feeds the carnality of the flesh, water does not. Water is not stimulating, while food is. The definition of fasting does not exclude water drinking, and the Bible does not mention Jesus thirsted 40 days. Shaneen says that fasting and starvation are two completely different things. It is quite evident that Jesus took water.

THE FAST OF JESUS
There are four things that bear witness to the Bible passage in Matthew 4:2-11 “when he fasted.”

1) Jesus's fast was a fast not a thirst. He was led by The Holy Spirit following his baptism in to the desert

2) He was afterward hungered; it does not say He afterward thirsted.

3) Satan knew Jesus was not thirsty because he did not tempt Jesus with water. Satan told Jesus to command these stones to be made bread.

4) The answer that Jesus gave to Satan is evident. Man shall not live by bread alone but every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

In Matthew 4:4, Jesus shows the value the world will place on food when the Son of Man cometh – it will be as in the days that were before the flood. The people during that time were eating and drinking without any thought of God. Jesus is not criticizing the eating to live, but is greatly condemning the living to eat. This is so prevalent everywhere today. It is a sign of the last days. Satan fears to see God’s children fast. The coming of the Lord is near, and the lack of fasting explains the great falling away.

HOW TO BEGIN FASTING
There are three main options that people can fast:

1. A partial fast during the day and breaking the fast in the evening with a meal
2. Fasting completely one day a week, water only
3. Regular fast of perhaps just one meal a day

Please consult medical advice before following any of the above suggestions. When doing a fast from food, here are the things you need to do four days prior to the fast:

First day: Leave all meats and fried foods in diet.

Second day: Eat mostly green vegetables, cooked or otherwise.

Third day: Eat choice of any raw fruits and vegetables. Dried fruit, nuts etc. These foods contain life substances for the body.

Fourth day: Have a fresh fruit diet. Then begin the fast the next day. Approximately one pound of weight is lost daily.

RESULTS OF FASTING
John Calvin has an excellent explanation of fasting. Fasting does not mean starving yourself in order to make God do something you want. Fasting is a means for focusing prayer and devotion.

"This is the kind of fast day I'm after:
to break the chains of injustice,
get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
free the oppressed,
cancel debts.
What I'm interested in seeing you do is:
sharing your food with the hungry,
inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
being available to your own families.
Do this and the lights will turn on,
and your lives will turn around at once.
Your righteousness will pave your way.
The God of glory will secure your passage.
Then when you pray, God will answer.
You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.'

(Isaiah 58:6-9, The Message)

DAUGHTER OF DESTINY
Shaneen was born in London and is from a Hindu Punjabi background. Her father was in the East Indian Army and lived in London. Though her parents did not formally accept Jesus as their Savior until Shaneen was older, they sent her to Sunday school and she had a Christian-based education.

At the age of 14, Shaneen was engaged to marry an Indian man. Her parents arranged a marriage, because they were afraid Shaneen would become unruly and marry a white, English man. As a result of the upcoming arranged marriage, she became suicidal and overdosed on pills. About that time, one of Shaneen’s uncles asked her father if she could attend an Elim Christian Camp Conference. She gave her heart to Jesus at this meeting, and she hoped He would release her from the arranged marriage, and He did.

She began to evangelize in her neighborhood, which led to her family getting saved. Shaneen also joined a local Assemblies of God church. Her pastor gave her the book Daughter of Destiny about American evangelist Kathryn Kuhlman. This book inspired her to pray for a heaven-sent anointing on her life. Hungry to understand more about God and the Holy Spirit, she read more books by great men and women of the Christian faith, such as A.W. Tozer and Smith Wigglesworth.

Her heart for the lost began to grow. Soon her parents allowed her to have weekly prayer meetings at their house, where many young people found Christ. News spread at her church about the meetings and adults wanted to attend too.

Her passion to serve the Lord grew. Sixteen-year-old Shaneen was invited to speak at an evening service. The title of her message was Dare to be Great, which was a teaching about David and Goliath.

During this time of spiritual growth, Shaneen hoped to enroll in a Bible college. However, her parents encouraged her to marry a deacon of the church when she was 17. Early in the marriage, Shaneen found herself in an abusive situation. She stayed in her marriage for almost 10 years and had two children.

After her marriage ended, she took a break from ministry and went into business and modeling, however, her call to ministry never left. About seven years later, she returned to ministry. She married again, this time to an English businessman (to the delight of her father), Martin, who had been radically converted to Christianity.