Fasting for Breakthrough and Deliverance

1. Fasting: The Essential Weapon for Stubborn Strongholds

There is no other way around some demonic strongholds.

Unlocking breakthrough. Many believers find themselves stuck, despite fervent prayer and spiritual warfare, facing "stubborn stuff" that refuses to yield. The Bible reveals a critical, often overlooked, strategy: prayer combined with fasting. This isn't about earning God's favor, but about humbling oneself and activating a higher level of spiritual authority and faith to dislodge deeply rooted demonic strongholds.

Targeting deep roots. Certain demons—such as rebellion, pride, witchcraft, Jezebel, poverty, and lack—are more wicked, intelligent, and deeply entrenched, especially if they've been in a family for generations. These "this kind" of spirits, as Jesus described in Matthew 17:21, require an extraordinary measure beyond normal spiritual practices. Fasting helps overcome unbelief, which often hinders deliverance, and builds the strong faith necessary to uproot these tenacious enemies.

Beyond the norm. When normal church, preaching, and praying aren't enough, fasting provides the "unusual, extraordinary" action needed for breakthrough. It increases the anointing, the authority, and the power of God in your life, destroying yokes and undoing heavy burdens as described in Isaiah 58. This spiritual discipline strengthens you, making you stronger and stronger until the stubborn opposition breaks and leaves your life.

2. Fasting Activates the Breaker Anointing

The Lord is a breaker. He is able to break through any obstacle or opposition on behalf of His covenant people.

Unleashing divine power. Fasting releases a powerful "breaker anointing" that enables believers to overcome limitations and opposition that previously seemed insurmountable. This anointing causes breakthroughs to manifest in every area of life, including:

• Families
• Cities and nations
• Finances
• Church growth
• Salvation, healing, and deliverance

Enforcing Christ's victory. Deliverance and freedom are inherent parts of your salvation package, but the enemy constantly fights to steal what is rightfully yours. Fasting, coupled with focused and intense prayer, becomes a potent weapon to enforce the victory won at the Cross. It allows you to execute judgments against principalities and powers, demolishing strongholds and reinforcing the truth that the enemy has been spoiled.

Word-based warfare. Effective fasting is always accompanied by powerful, Word-based prayer. Praying God's promises expands your prayer life, stirs up faith, and helps you understand God's will, enabling you to pray correctly and with understanding. God delights in answering the fervent prayers of the righteous, promising to show great and mighty things to those who call upon Him.

3. Fasting Conquers Fear, Unbelief, and Carnality

For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and self-control.

Breaking paralyzing spirits. Fear is a pervasive, paralyzing spirit that binds people in countless ways, manifesting as fear of rejection, failure, poverty, or even extreme panic attacks. Fasting directly confronts and breaks the power of this spirit, preparing the way for God to do great things in your life, including signs and wonders. It helps you declare and embody your identity in Christ as chosen, accepted, redeemed, and a conqueror.

Overcoming doubt. Unbelief is a significant enemy to operating in the miraculous, as seen when Jesus's disciples couldn't cast out a demon due to their lack of faith. Fasting is a powerful weapon against unbelief and doubt, clearing obstacles to faith-filled actions. It helps assert control over the flesh's desires, allowing the spirit to become dominant and enabling you to operate in the "supercharged prayer" that releases special, mountain-moving faith.

Subduing the flesh. Carnality, or being "fleshly" and "earthly minded," hinders spiritual growth, causes division, and prevents understanding deeper truths. Fasting directly addresses this by taking power away from the "belly" (appetite) and strengthening the spirit. It helps you focus on spiritual things, increases spiritual discernment, and breaks free from the control of fleshly desires, leading to a life of greater spiritual vitality and peace.

4. Fasting Breaks Cycles of Poverty and Failure

And I will compensate you for the years the locusts have eaten.

Releasing financial breakthrough. Many believers struggle with persistent financial limitations, feeling as though a "stubborn spirit of poverty" has plagued their family for generations. Fasting, as demonstrated in the Book of Joel, is God's prescribed response to "locust invasions" (demons of devour) that consume blessings. It breaks the spirit of poverty and releases the spirit of prosperity, bringing forth corn, wine, and oil—symbols of abundance.

Preparing for prosperity. Fasting humbles the soul, a key step in positioning oneself for God's exaltation and financial promotion. God promises to give grace (favor) to the humble, and this favor is crucial for breaking cycles of poverty and failure. By denying the flesh, fasting prepares a believer for the "good land" of no scarceness and no lack, releasing tremendous blessings and opening the floodgates of heaven.

Breaking curses. Beyond individual financial struggles, fasting is a powerful tool to break generational curses and cycles of failure often linked to the "spirit of Belial," a ruling spirit of wickedness. It increases fruitfulness in all areas of life, releases the "rain" of the Holy Spirit and blessings, and breaks limitations, bringing enlargement and victory even against overwhelming odds, as seen in Jehoshaphat's triumph.

5. Fasting Delivers from Addictions and Emotional Bondages

The spirit of addiction is rooted deeply in the flesh.

Conquering addiction. Addictions, whether to drugs, alcohol, food, or other substances, are deeply rooted in the flesh and can be incredibly stubborn. Fasting directly confronts these "mule spirits" by subduing the flesh, weakening their grip, and allowing for true deliverance. This is particularly crucial as addiction is often connected to the spirit of Belial, which operates through drunkenness and can open doors to lust, perversion, and abuse.

Healing emotional wounds. Fasting is also a powerful pathway to freedom from deep-seated emotional bondages. It helps break the grip of:

• Bitterness, anger, and unforgiveness: Often stemming from rejection and hurt, these spirits are deeply rooted in emotions and can lead to physical infirmities like arthritis and cancer. Fasting starves the fleshly satisfaction these emotions provide, allowing for true forgiveness and healing.
• Anxiety and depression: These manifestations of a "spirit of heaviness" can lead to despondency, despair, and even suicidal thoughts. Fasting helps restore the joy and presence of the Lord, positively impacting the gut-brain connection and promoting clearer thinking and emotional balance.
• Guilt and condemnation: These terrible demons, rooted in shame and unworthiness, can lead to countless diseases and unhappiness. Fasting, combined with self-forgiveness and applying the blood of Jesus, helps loose the conscience from these tormenting spirits, bringing peace and wholeness to the soul and body.

6. Fasting Heals the Body and Restores the Past

Then your light shall break forth as the morning, and your healing shall spring forth quickly, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your reward.

Speedy healing and prevention. Fasting is a divine prescription for breaking the power of sickness and infirmity, releasing rapid healing in your life. Isaiah 58:8 promises that your "healing shall spring forth quickly" when you engage in God's chosen fast. Beyond active healing, fasting also acts as preventative medicine, with the "glory of the LORD" serving as your rear guard, protecting you from illness and disease.

Breaking free from trauma. Many believers remain chained to a painful past, haunted by traumatic experiences like rape, incest, or other deep wounds. These traumas can open doors for a host of evil spirits—hurt, distrust, lust, perversion, anger, shame, guilt, and fear—to torment a person for life. Fasting helps to:

• Loose the memory: It breaks the power of "memory recall" spirits that cause flashbacks and keep individuals bound to past hurts, allowing them to "forgetting those things which are behind" (Philippians 3:13).
• Sever ungodly ties: It helps break ungodly soul ties and other spiritual attachments formed through these traumatic experiences, shutting the door to the past and establishing a hedge of protection for the future.

7. Fasting Uproots Generational Curses and Demonic Control

Those from among you shall rebuild the old waste places; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called, the Repairer of the Breach, the Restorer of Paths in which to Dwell.

Breaking inherited patterns. Many obstacles believers face are generational, stemming from the iniquity of their ancestors. Sins like pride, rebellion, idolatry, witchcraft, lust, and addiction can open doors for "familiar spirits" to operate in families for generations, creating deep-rooted strongholds that are difficult to break. Fasting is crucial for:

• Loosing evil inheritance: It helps sever inherited weaknesses, attitudes, thought patterns, and ungodly lifestyles, breaking the legal rights of these generational spirits.
• Reversing desolation: As described in Isaiah 58:12, fasting helps to "rebuild the old waste places" and "raise up the foundations of many generations," reversing the desolation caused by ancestral sin and rebellion.

Dismantling witchcraft and mind control. Witchcraft, in its various forms (sorcery, divination, intimidation, control, manipulation, occult involvement), and ungodly soul ties are powerful strongholds that bind individuals. Fasting is essential to:

• Break controlling influences: It helps loose individuals from ungodly soul ties formed through fornication or witchcraft, which act as avenues for spirits of control and manipulation.
• Free the mind: It breaks the grip of "mind control" spirits (often described as octopus-like with tentacles) that cause confusion, mental bondage, insanity, and negative thinking, allowing the mind to be loosed and think clearly.

8. Fasting Renews Covenant and Breaks Religious Spirits

The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore, whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do their works. For they speak, but do nothing.

Confronting spiritual stagnation. One of the most stubborn demons is a "religious spirit," which causes people to reject change, cling to ungodly traditions, and judge others while remaining blind to their own sinful condition. This spirit resists growth and revelation, making individuals unteachable. Fasting is a powerful weapon to break its hold, fostering humility and openness to God's ongoing light and understanding.

Restoring faithfulness. Chronic backsliding and an inconsistent walk of faith are signs of double-mindedness, a wavering between two lifestyles. This instability undermines covenant relationships, including one's covenant with God. Fasting serves as a means to:

• Renew commitment: It helps fallen believers become restored and renew their commitment to God, as seen when Israel assembled with fasting to make a sure covenant (Nehemiah 9:1, 38).
• Bring healing: The prophet Jeremiah revealed that the remedy for backsliding is healing, which implies deliverance from the double-mindedness that causes spiritual inconsistency and worldliness.

9. Fasting Secures Breakthrough for Family and Marriage

What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder.

Strengthening marital bonds. Double-mindedness severely impacts the ability to honor and remain faithful to the marriage covenant, leading to widespread instability and divorce. Fasting is a vital tool for:

• Breaking bitterness and abuse: It helps to break the "bitter words" that pierce hearts and destroy marriages, especially addressing the tendency for men to harbor bitterness towards their wives, which often leads to verbal and physical abuse.
• Cultivating steadfastness: Fasting challenges men, in particular, to become strong, single-minded, and steadfast leaders in their homes, protecting their families from spiritual attacks and standing firm in faith, rather than being weak and double-minded.

Interceding for children. The spiritual and personal success of children is a primary concern for many believers. Fasting and prayer allow parents to stand in the gap for their children, activating spiritual wisdom and God's promises over their lives. This spiritual discipline can:

• Ensure salvation and protection: It dispatches angels to intervene, deactivates enemy weapons, and ensures children are "taught of the LORD" (Isaiah 54:13), leading to their salvation, deliverance, safety, and success.
• Release divine favor: Fasting releases God's glory as a covering of defense for children and protects them and their "substance" from the enemy's ambush, as demonstrated by Ezra's fast for safe passage.

10. Fasting Dismantles Territorial Strongholds

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Challenging oppressive systems. When praying for cities and nations, believers must understand the territorial spirits that control these areas. Fasting and prayer are essential to pull down "behemoths"—oppressive religious, political, cultural, or economic systems that keep multitudes in darkness. These strongholds, like Communism or Islam, are too vast for human strength and require God's power, persistence, and often martyrdom to dismantle.

Confronting marine demons. A significant class of high-ranking demons operates from water, known as "marine demons," which affect land through pacts and decisions. These spirits embody witchcraft, lust, perversion, murder, death, pride (Leviathan), and greed, making coastal cities and island nations particular strongholds. Fasting is a powerful tool against these strong, stubborn spirits, enabling believers to:

• Muzzle and judge: Release God's judgment and anger against these entities, severing ties with the marine kingdom and commanding evil waters to dry up.
• Possess the gates: Challenge and bind these demons at the "waterways" and "gates" of cities, allowing the King of glory to enter and bringing revival to regions plagued by perversion, violence, and addiction.

11. Fasting Increases Spiritual Anointing and Revelation

But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God, in much patience. . . in fastings.

Approving ministry. Fasting is a fundamental way for all believers, as ministers of God, to approve themselves in His service. It's not just for spiritual leaders but for every individual called to minister salvation, healing, and deliverance. Fasting is particularly crucial for apostolic and prophetic ministries, providing the grace needed to pioneer, break through, and receive deeper revelation and insight into God's plans.

Tapping into divine strength. When you fast, you consciously declare, "The Lord is the strength of my life," depriving yourself of physical strength to tap into God's supernatural power. This spiritual discipline strengthens your spirit, helping you overcome the weaknesses of the flesh and preventing burnout in ministry. It also gives your digestive system a rest, combating weariness and ensuring you depend on God's strength, not your own.

Unlocking the Word and Spirit. Fasting helps you live by "every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord," opening the way for greater revelation and understanding of deeper truths in Scripture. Furthermore, fasting is directly linked to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and an increase in prophetic anointing, as promised in Joel 2:28. It releases the manifestation of prophecy, visions, and dreams, and increases the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit for miracles, healing, and deliverance, enabling you to do the works Jesus did.

Last updated: February 24, 2026