FASTING AND THE NAR | How to miss the point

Why the New Apostolic Reformation Misses the Point of This Spiritual Discipline

I remember trying to fast—earnestly, repeatedly, and with high hopes. I was told this was the key to spiritual breakthrough. That if I pushed through the hunger, if I endured long enough, if I “pressed in” hard enough, I would enter a deeper realm with God. The fasting, they said, would unlock revelation, release power, open doors, and cause heaven to move.

But, it didn’t work…!

Instead of experiencing the spiritual triumph so many in the Pentecostal/Charismatic and New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) world seemed to promise, I found myself weak, distracted, defeated, and ashamed. I couldn’t stick to the goals I had set. I caved. I felt guilty. I felt like a failure. And I wondered—is this really what biblical fasting is all about?

It turns out, no. It isn’t…

The Real Purpose of Fasting

Biblical fasting is not a mystical ritual, a performance, or a power mechanism. It’s a spiritual response, not a spiritual transaction. Fasting in Scripture is consistently linked to humility, repentance, grief, dependence, and urgency before God.

Whether it’s Nehemiah weeping over the ruins of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1:4), the people of Nineveh repenting at Jonah’s warning (Jonah 3:5), or the early church seeking God’s direction before sending out missionaries (Acts 13:2–3), fasting flows from brokenness and desperation, not from a desire to manipulate God or upgrade one’s spiritual experience.

At its heart, fasting is an act of self-denial that says, “God, I need You more than I need food. I am setting aside physical comfort to seek Your will, Your mercy, or Your strength.”

Jesus affirmed this quiet, God-centered approach:

“When you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting… But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” – Matthew 6:16–18 (NKJV)

How the NAR Distorts Fasting

In the NAR and many Charismatic/Pentecostal movements, fasting is often repackaged as a spiritual key to power, revelation, and breakthrough. It’s no longer a humble response to God’s leading, but a tool for spiritual achievement—almost like leveling up in a game.

Phrases like these are commonly heard:

• “After a 21-day fast, God gave me a new mandate.”
• “That’s when I stepped into my anointing.”
• “God didn’t speak until I denied myself.”
• “The Lord told me that this fast would usher in revival.”

But this is not the biblical picture. These statements suggest that God’s voice must be earned, and that fasting grants access to divine secrets unavailable to others (or those who do not achieve the same fasting levels)… It sets up a two-tier Christianity—those who fast and receive “downloads,” and those who don’t and remain spiritually “stagnant.”

This isn’t spiritual discipline. It’s spiritual elitism (and even abuse…).

The Dangers of Performative and Manipulated Fasting

1. Spiritual Boasting

In many NAR and charismatic environments, fasting is not just practiced—it’s platformed…! Leaders often recount past fasts with phrases like, “That’s when God gave me a major revelation” or “That’s when the anointing increased.” While these stories may be sincere, they unintentionally (or intentionally) promote a view of spirituality rooted in effort and exclusivity. Fasting, in this narrative, becomes a ladder to spiritual power, a way to access “next-level” experiences or receive secret knowledge from God. But Jesus gave explicit instructions in Matthew 6:16–18 that fasting should be private, not paraded for admiration. Those who publicize their fasting achievements may indeed receive their reward—but it will be the applause of men, not the approval of God.

This elevation of fasting as a revelatory tool creates a false impression: that God only speaks to those who fast long or intensely enough. It undermines the gospel of grace and turns fasting into a merit-based transaction. Instead of drawing near to God in humility, people begin to treat fasting as a key to unlocking “divine downloads” or “supernatural promotions.” This often leads to spiritual hierarchies, where those who fast more are seen as more “anointed” or more “in tune” with God—when in reality, our access to God comes through Christ alone (Hebrews 4:16), not through hunger or personal striving.

2. Works-Based Spirituality

This approach transforms fasting into a transaction—you give up food, and God gives you power or insight… But this contradicts the gospel of grace. God speaks and moves according to His will and timing—not because of our hunger levels!

This mindset causes many believers, like you and me, to feel defeated when we “fail” at fasting. We internalize the lie: “God isn’t pleased with me unless I complete this fast (task) perfectly.”

3. Altered States and Questionable Revelations

Extended fasting, especially under intense emotional or spiritual pressure, can alter one’s mental and emotional state. In these moments of weakened clarity and heightened expectation, many confuse their own thoughts or feelings with the voice of God.

It is in such contexts that many of the NAR’s most questionable prophecies, bizarre visions, and new doctrines are birthed—“received” during fasting retreats, wilderness isolation, or “breakthrough” fasts.

This (fleshly) practice bypasses Scripture and elevates personal revelation, which is not only unbiblical, but dangerous.

4. Spiritual Coercion Through Corporate Fasts

In many charismatic churches, leaders regularly call for corporate fasts—not out of repentance or national crisis like in Scripture, but to “enter the new season,” “break strongholds,” or “activate revival”, etc.

Participation is often pressured (manipulated). Refusal is seen as unspiritual. People are told, either directly or subtly, that if they want to be “aligned” with what God is doing, they must join the fast.

But, what is wrong with this model of corporate fasting?

• It’s performance-based. The fast becomes a badge of spirituality, especially for leaders.
• It’s driven by outcomes. The fast is usually linked to a promised “breakthrough,” revival, expansion, new season, or divine visitation, etc. It treats fasting like a lever to move God’s hand.
• It uses guilt and pressure. There’s often strong social or spiritual pressure to participate. To decline or struggle is to be seen as unspiritual, disobedient, or out of alignment with “what God is doing.”
• It assumes human effort triggers divine action. That’s a subtle form of legalism.
• Spiritual abuse: Leaders may present it as “God told me we must fast,” making it hard for anyone to question or opt-out without being viewed as rebellious or faithless.
• Burnout and disillusionment: When the promised “breakthrough” doesn’t happen, people are left discouraged, confused, or in self-blame.
• Disconnection from grace: It turns spiritual discipline into a tool for controlling God, rather than drawing near to Him in surrender.

Thus, in this setup, people often fast because they’re told to, to get something, or to not fall behind, rather than as a genuine, Spirit-led expression of dependence, repentance, or worship. It comes down to spiritual manipulation…

A Biblical Vision of Fasting

Yes, fasting is biblical. Yes, it can be spiritually edifying. But it must be anchored in humility, secrecy, and trust in God’s grace—not driven by ambition, fear, or a desire for spiritual status.

Here’s what fasting can be:

• A quiet act of repentance (Joel 2:12).
• A sincere moment of prayerful dependence (Ezra 8:23).
• A tool for spiritual focus, not spiritual leverage (Matthew 6:18).
• A voluntary expression of hunger for God, not a requirement for “breakthrough.”

Most importantly, you don’t fast to earn God’s favor or His voice. In Christ, you already have full access to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). You are already accepted. Fasting can help us focus—but it does not force God’s hand.

Don’t Fast to Earn What Grace Has Given

The NAR’s obsession with fasting has hijacked a biblical discipline and turned it into a mystical performance. It turns sons and daughters into strivers and beggars. It trades gospel rest for spiritual hustle.

If fasting has become a burden to you…
If you’ve tried and failed and felt ashamed…
If you’ve sat under preaching that made you feel “less than” because you didn’t fast as much…

Then hear this:

You are not less spiritual because you struggle to fast. You are not far from God because you eat food. You are not disqualified from grace.

You don’t need to earn what Christ already gave you. Walk with Him, talk with Him, rest in Him. And if you fast, let it be from a heart that already knows He loves you—not to convince Him that He should.