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BY ISAIAH-PHILLIPS AKINTOLA

As we enter the second phase of our September 2025 fasting period, it is essential that the Word of God to reflect key spiritual values, principles, and wisdom relevant to the significance and dynamics of this fasting. Fasting encompasses several important objectives that should be clearly understood by any follower of Christ who practices it.

From very start of this season of fasting, we have outlined specific goals and objectives we believe the Lord is highlighting as key focus: pursuing mindset or mental transformation through fasting, seeking spiritual, inner-man growth and maturity that broadens our perspective of Christ, and lastly, we desire this fast to awaken and prepare the Body of Christ prophetically for the last assignment and warfare that comes along with such level of assignment.

While there are several things being discussed about what is going to be happening in the coming year and the future both from the spiritual and technological perspective, yet, we have to sound this very clear that the future is not one that can be engaged through self-help, motivational philosophical orientation as seen today. A deeper sense of spiritual quest, identity and readiness must become the gear we wear to advance the prophetic redemptive counsel of heaven for creation.

To put our hope, strength and focus on the arm of the flesh will be translated to absolute failure. I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all. Ecclesiastes 9:11.

During this season, it is essential for believers to allow the Holy Spirit to work within them in a transformative way, enabling them to discern the extent of cultural challenges and to awaken the spiritual resources necessary to responsibly fulfill their assignments. This process is not merely a passive experience; rather, it calls for an intentional openness to the Spirit’s guiding and refining influence, requiring ongoing self-examination and humility before God.

As societies undergo rapid changes and confront unprecedented challenges, whether through technological advancements, shifting in moral landscapes, or evolving social structures, believers must engage deeply with the reality of these complexities by allowing the Holy Spirit to unveil our own individual inner blindness and presumptions.

I believe that a superficial understanding of spirituality has been a significant obstacle to adequate preparation for engaging in the complexities of the 21st century. Many have approached spiritual growth as a series of outward rituals or emotional experiences, neglecting the depth and substance required for true
transformation.

This limited view can result in believers being ill-equipped to navigate the nuanced ethical dilemmas and cultural shifts that characterize our era. The pursuit of genuine spirituality encompasses both knowledge and practice, inviting believers to develop discernment, resilience, and a robust sense of purpose anchored in their relationship with God.

If our grasp of the spiritual capacity required is limited, our sense of responsibility and commitment to the work the Spirit seeks to accomplish in our lives will lack clarity and sufficiency. It is only through an expanded vision of what God desires to do within us that we are empowered to respond faithfully to the unique callings placed upon us individually and corporately.

This means moving beyond complacency and embracing a posture of continual learning, repentance, and growth. The journey towards maturity in the Spirit involves wrestling honestly with our limitations, seeking accountability, and welcoming correction as part of God’s loving guidance.

Without a comprehensive understanding of these requirements, there is a risk of repeating past mistakes, as clearly outlined in the book of Corinthians. These historical lessons serve as reminders of how spiritual immaturity and division can undermine the effectiveness of God’s people and hinder the fulfillment of His purposes.

Therefore, it is imperative that today’s believers cultivate a renewed sense of hunger and a deeper pursuit of authentic spirituality, moving beyond superficial expressions in order to effectively carry out God’s prophetic intentions for this era.

Such a pursuit is marked by disciplined prayer, immersion in Scripture, active participation in community, and a willingness to engage constructively with the world, all under the dynamic leadership of the Holy Spirit. Only then can believers rise to meet the demands and opportunities of this generation, stewarding their assignments with integrity, courage, and hope.

The Tragedy of Gifts Without Character

In the Church in Corinth, we encounter one of the most critical subjects that must be addressed as it reflects the current understanding and orientation of most Christians today. The Corinthian Christians present us with a sobering case study all followers of Christ must understudy. These believers had become so proficient in operating spiritual gifts that they achieved a dangerous pseudo spirituality and blindness.

Paul writes to them, “I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God, which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you. So that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:4-7). Yet despite this supernatural giftedness, they remained spiritual infants, as Paul later declares: “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:1).

This paradox reveals a fundamental truth: the operation of spiritual gifts does not automatically qualify one for spiritual maturity. The Corinthians had mistaken gifting for growth, manifestation for maturity. They believed their supernatural abilities indicated readiness for Christ’s return, representing the highest form of spiritual delusion. When believers assume that functioning in spiritual gifts qualifies them for spiritual maturity, they fall into the same trap that ensnared the Corinthian church.

The Corinthians were deficient in what Scripture calls the fruit of the Spirit—those character qualities that reflect the very nature of Christ. This deficiency manifested in the divisions Paul addressed: “For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you” (1 Corinthians 1:11). How could there be division among believers operating in such powerful spiritual gifts? The answer lies in understanding that gifts can function independently of character transformation.

Consider a natural family where divisions, pride, and discord exist among members, yet they unite for certain occasions to preserve the family name and reputation. Similarly, the Corinthian church maintained their religious functions and spiritual manifestations while harboring deep-seated divisions and carnal attitudes. Their common ground was not the life and nature of Christ, but rather the tradition of gathering, the position of being part of a new society called the church, and the external expressions of spirituality.

This pattern tragically mirrors much of today’s church. Many have abandoned the true foundation that binds believers together as the body of Christ; His life and nature, substituting instead for external manifestations, flashy displays, and religious beliefs and traditions. As Jesus warned, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:21-23).

The Fruit Versus Gifts Paradigm

Scripture clearly establishes that one can operate in spiritual gifts without developing the fruit of the Spirit. This reality has caused tremendous confusion in defining true maturity and leadership within the body of Christ. Romans 11:29 reminds us that “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” This means that when we surrender our lives to Jesus Christ, we can potentially access our spiritual benefits, the gifts of the Spirit, especially when immersed in environments that promote such manifestations.

However, the critical issue facing the modern church is not the lack of spiritual gifts, but the deficiency in developing the fruit of the Spirit to levels that allow gifts to function according to their divine assignment and purpose. Paul’s concern for the Corinthians was not that they lacked supernatural ability, but that they lacked supernatural character.

The fruit of the Spirit-love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) represents the divine regulatory system for spiritual gifts. Without these character qualities governing our supernatural abilities, we become vulnerable to deception and manipulation. The enemy can exploit ungoverned gifts to lead us into practices and behaviors that God never ordained or designed.

This is why understanding the nature, character, and values of God as the guiding light for spiritual gift operation is absolutely critical. These principles form the foundation for what we must address when discussing the dynamics of spiritual development through the ministry of fasting.

The place of fasting serves as one of the most powerful catalysts for developing and transforming our spiritual state and lifestyle. During extended periods of fasting, particularly lengthy fasts, several profound spiritual dynamics occur. Understanding these various stages enables us to capitalize on each phase while preventing the enemy from exploiting our ignorance of these processes.

The primary purpose of fasting extends beyond seeking answers to prayers or breakthroughs in specific situations. At its core, fasting creates an environment where we can clearly hear God’s voice, develop authentic intimacy with Him, and enter new dimensions of spiritual reality.

However, this transformation never happens automatically. It requires a process that must be understood and navigated according to the standards of God’s Word. Most believers remain ignorant of this process because they lack understanding of spiritual development dynamics. They approach fasting with purely external expectations, missing the profound internal restructuring that God desires to accomplish during these sacred seasons.

The Seven Stages of Spiritual Development

Through careful study of Scripture and observation of spiritual patterns, I have identified seven distinct stages that we must traverse to attain spiritual development and progress toward maturity. These stages are not mysterious or esoteric concepts but are clearly revealed through what Scripture defines as the fruit of the Spirit.

The fruit of the Spirit represents the visible manifestation of a transformed, mature, and spiritually developed life. These qualities emerge as the life and character of Christ nature in-growth within a person through the seed of redemption. As Paul explains, “Until Christ is formed in you” (Galatians 4:19), indicating a progressive development rather than an instantaneous transformation.

These fruits are not merely nice character traits or behavioral modifications; they represent the fundamental operating values of any genuinely transformed human being. However, as we have established, this transformation does not occur automatically. The seed is planted at salvation, but growth requires proper cultivation, just as natural seeds need appropriate soil and climate conditions to flourish.

When we fast according to sound biblical principles, we fast-track the development of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. Fasting reorients our spiritual understanding in terms of divine priorities, realigning us with what truly matters according to heaven’s purpose and desire for our lives.

While functioning in spiritual gifts remains important, true biblical fasting reveals our need for certain foundational values to be established in our spiritual infrastructure. We require specific understanding and spiritual frameworks to be built or reinforced. In the place of fasting, these developmental processes become active and visible.

This explains why around the fifth and sixth day of extended fasting, many experience fatigue, disorientation, or spiritual turbulence. Rather than viewing this as a signal to quit, we must recognize this as a critical transition point requiring a shift in focus. At this stage, practitioners might experience disturbing dreams, spiritual confusion, or emotional upheaval. These manifestations indicate that the Spirit is moving us into deeper levels of transformation.

The Warfare of Transformation

During these intense phases of fasting, spiritual warfare intensifies. Many believers, not understanding these dynamics, either abandon their fast prematurely or mistakenly believe God has answered their prayers and conclude the fast unnecessarily. However, this period represents one of the most crucial aspects of the spiritual journey, where our spirit seeks to advance into the next dimension of Christlikeness.

The confusion and disorientation experienced during extended fasting signals a shift in spiritual focus and breakthrough. The impressions and leadings of the Spirit change from the initial days to the deeper phases, requiring our cooperation with God’s redirecting work. As Isaiah declares, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

As we progress deeper into biblical fasting, the journey moves beyond seeking external breakthroughs to the profound work of redefining and rebranding our spiritual identity according to heaven’s intention. This is where our true essence and divine identity begin to emerge and gain ascendancy. The fast begins affecting areas we may have previously neglected in our spiritual development.

Fasting brings us to a position of authentic spiritual identity, advancing us toward divine knowledge and the establishment of spiritual values that form powerful foundations and frameworks for our lives. From this vantage point, the concepts of purpose and visionary calling begin emerging with clarity and understanding. More significantly, we begin receiving strategic principles and practical understanding of how to yield ourselves to what the Father has ordained and designed for our lives.

Consider Jesus’ experience during His forty-day wilderness fast. It was during this extended period of fasting and spiritual warfare that He received the divine blueprint for His three-and-a-half-year ministry. The temptations He faced and overcame established the strategic framework for fulfilling God’s redemptive purpose through His life.

As Scripture records, “Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee” (Luke 4:14), indicating that He emerged from fasting with both spiritual authority and clear understanding of His mission.

At advanced stages of biblical fasting, we gain clear, precise, scriptural understanding of multiple life dimensions: relationships, business, ministry, resources, and every aspect needed to fulfill our divine mandate. This comprehensive revelation comes because we have developed the various aspects of our spiritual life necessary to handle life’s complexities in ways that glorify God.

The fruit of the Spirit becomes our operational foundation, enabling us to steward spiritual gifts with wisdom, integrity, and divine purpose. Love governs our relationships, joy sustains us through difficulties, peace guides our decisions, patience develops our character, kindness influences our interactions, goodness shapes our motivations, faithfulness establishes our reliability, gentleness tempers our strength, and self-control regulates our impulses and desires.

When these character qualities are established through the crucible of fasting and spiritual discipline, we become equipped to fulfill our divine assignment with both supernatural power and supernatural character. This integration of gifts and fruit, power and character, represents the mature believer that Paul describes: “Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13).

The Call to Authentic Spirituality

The church today stands at a crossroads, much like the Corinthian believers of Paul’s day. We can continue pursuing spiritual manifestations without spiritual maturation, or we can embrace the more challenging path of allowing God to develop His character within us through disciplines like biblical fasting.

The choice before us is clear: Will we be satisfied with gifts without fruit, or will we pursue the fullness of Christ’s nature formed within us? The place of fasting offers us the opportunity to accelerate our spiritual development, moving beyond external displays to internal transformation that reflects the very heart of God.

As we embark on or continue our fasting journeys, let us do so with understanding, expectation, and surrender to the deeper work God desires to accomplish within us. For it is only as Christ is formed in us that we can truly fulfill our divine purpose and bring glory to the Father who has called us from darkness into His marvelous light.