The significance of flies

The Lord of the flies
One of the Biblical names for Satan is "Beelzebub," which means "lord of the flies". In the Bible, flies and pests are representative of demon spirits. Demon spirits such as generational curses, bondages, and strongholds of the mind can attach themselves to our lives, persistently buzzing around in our heads like irritating flies. We swat them but they keep coming back. Are you tormented by certain "flies" or recurring problems and temptations in your life? If you want the victory once and for all, the Lord has given you a strategy for triumph - fasting. If you will consecrate a period of time for special sacrifice and intimacy with the Lord, you will experience deliverance from "flies" you've tried to get rid of for years.

Eradicate the flies
Scientists have discovered something interesting about killing flies. To completely eradicate them, you must spray insecticides for a period of forty days because that is the length of a fly's reproductive cycle. If you spray consistently over a 40-day cycle, you will not only kill the present flies but will wipe out future generations. In the same way, you can eliminate evil spirits from your life and your children's lives with a season of consecrated, continual prayer. Satan is a short-term skirmisher. Demons cannot stand the power of the Holy Ghost and intimate presence of Jesus that happens when you pray and fast.

Fasting that produces results
The Bible records many different circumstances, types, and lengths of fasts. It was during a fourty-day fast that Moses received the Ten Commandments (Exodus 34:27-28). When Haman ordered the annihilation and plunder of all Jews, Esther called for all the Jews of her city to join her on a three-day fast from all food and water. As a result, the Jews were spared, Haman's vile plan was exposed, and he was hanged on his own gallows! (See Esther 4-7.) Hannah, greatly distress over not being able to bear a child, "wept and did not eat," as recorded in 1 Samuel 1:7. God heard her plea and the prophet Samuel was soon born. Joshua fasted 40 days and of course, we know that Jesus fasted 40 days in the wilderness.

Don't be discouraged if you think you cannot fast for forty days. Don't bite off more than you can handle. There's no need to be heroic and attempt a 40-day fast if you've never fasted a day in your life. Just start. Once you discover the benefits, you'll be on your way to making it a life-practice. Daniel partially fasted 21 days and often fasted one day at a time. The results of his 21-day fast in which he only abstained from breads and meat, and drank only water were powerful enough in the spirit realm to get the attention of the Archangel, Michael (Daniel 10:2-3). It's recorded that the apostle Paul was on at least two fasts, one for 3 days and one for 14 days. Peter fasted for 3 days. Judah, Ezra, the people of Nineveh, Nehemiah, David, and Anna are also among those whose fasts are noted in the Word. God will honor the sacrifice made in His Name.

If you seek some deliverance, healing and restoration, you must be willing to pay the price. Denying the flesh is difficult, but the Presence of God is more than worth it. There's nothing like His Presence and there's nothing like being free from "flies".

(Portions excerpted from the Embracing God Journal, and Fasting: A Private Discipline that Brings Public Reward, Jentezen Franklin)