Spirit-Filled Apostle: Defeat Strongholds, Demons of Delay With Fasting

Jesus said that if we have faith, we can move mountains. However, some mountains take more than just faith to be moved—they necessitate prayer and fasting. (See Matt. 17:20–21.) When the enemy places a mountain in our path, it is for the purpose of halting the advancement of God’s kingdom and God’s children. A mountain can represent something that blocks the way for you to hear God’s guidance, receive healing, fulfill your purpose or anything else. Sometimes, this takes the form of a “spirit of delay.” A biblical example of this is when the prophet Daniel humbled himself and engaged in a partial fast for 21 days, and experienced a spirit of delay (called the “prince of Persia”) before receiving his answer. (See Dan.10.)

Today, demonic spirits of delay are causing the holdup of many answers and blessings that God wants to give us. We must humble ourselves and begin to fast and pray, waging war against these spirits—the entities responsible for the delay of our family’s salvation, our financial prosperity, the development of our ministry and other purposes of God. When we seek God’s face through fasting and prayer, He wages war on our behalf. Thus, if the enemy is blocking or delaying an area of your life, declare a fast and allow God to fight for you. Speak to the principality in the name of Jesus and order it to release your blessings!

Appropriate the Power

Often, people who are facing demonic strongholds or other difficult situations want their pastor or another leader in the church to pray for them to bring deliverance. It is good for spiritual leaders to be involved in deliverance, and sometimes people are so deeply afflicted they can’t do it on their own. But it’s essential to understand that every believer has the right to pray and fast for deliverance when dealing with demonic attack and oppression.

Often, one of the requirements for receiving a breakthrough is that we become fed up with the issue, problem or crisis. If you are complacent about your sickness, financial problem, absence of peace or stagnant spiritual condition, then breakthrough will not come. You need to deny your flesh, declare a fast and receive the victory. Decide, “I am going to remove every mountain from my life!” You will be able to remove entrenched demonic oppression because you already have the authority in Christ—and you will receive the necessary increase in supernatural power by fasting.

Let us receive what God offers us and not take His presence and power in our lives lightly. Instead of remaining in our needs, sicknesses and oppressions, we must make a conscious decision to receive what Christ has won for us by appropriating His power. Now is the time to press through to breakthrough by prayer and fasting! There is always someone “crazy in faith” who reaches out for God’s power and deliverance, like the woman who suffered from the issue of blood for 12 years but then reached out to touch the hem of Jesus’s garment and received her healing. (See, for example, Matt. 9:20–22.) There are certain people in my congregation who always receive from God when they come to services because they don’t come casually; they come ready to appropriate all of God’s blessings.

Don’t wait for someone else to obtain your breakthrough. Begin by praying this prayer:

Father, in the name of Jesus, release upon me the desire to fast in order to receive the power I need to overcome the attacks of high-level demonic entities and long-standing issues whose roots have grown deep in my life. Cover me with the blood of Jesus for protection and victory against the enemy. In Jesus’s name, amen.

Now, I want to speak this declaration over your life:

I come into agreement with you that every demonic attack and long-standing issue in your life is broken. I demolish every stronghold in your mind, emotions, family, finances or any other area. I break every generational curse and every entrenched problem of sexual immorality, alcoholism, poverty, fear, depression, witchcraft, illness or anything else—now, in Jesus’ name!

Today, walk in God’s power and authority, and receive your deliverance. Chains are being broken and mountains are being removed right now. As you are set free, deliver others as you have been delivered. Stir up the gifts and anointing within you through the Holy Spirit—to heal the sick, cast out demons and raise the dead, in the name of Jesus. Amen and amen! {eoa}

Excerpt from Breakthrough Fast, © 2018 by Guillermo Maldonado, published by Whitaker House. Used with permission.

Active in ministry for over 20 years, Apostle Guillermo Maldonado is the founder of King Jesus International Ministry—one of the fastest-growing multicultural churches in the United States—which has been recognized for its visible manifestations of God´s supernatural power. He is a spiritual father to 338 churches in 50 countries, which form the Network of the Supernatural Movement (formerly called the New Wine Apostolic Network). He is also the founder of the University of the Supernatural Ministry (USM). Apostle Maldonado has a doctorate in Christian counseling and a master’s degree in practical theology. He resides in Miami, Florida, with his wife and partner in ministry, Ana, and their two sons, Bryan and Ronald. Visit breakthroughprayerbook.com.