Merely abstaining from food, water doesn't mean you're fasting - Prophet Makandiwa

Zimbabwean Televangelist, leader and founder of the United Family International Church, Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa has explained the differences between fasting and just abstaining from food.

He noted that abstaining from food during fasting doesn't necessarily make one spiritually strong but rather the food one eats when fasting is what is important.

Prophet Makandiwa indicated that fasting is a deliberate process where one abstain from food and pray as a form of spiritual exercise for growth and progress. "It is one cardinal spiritual exercise among Christians."

But, according to him, what one eat spiritually is the key to the fasting. "Are you reading the word of God, are you listening to tapes, DVDs, what books are you reading, are you making your spirit strong, you're feeding your spirit with what?" he quizzes his congregants.

He added that people fast by avoiding food but what they spiritually feed on is of paramount importance in spiritual growth. "What makes your spirit strong, is what you are feeding on spiritually".

Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa made these revelations in a sermon he delivered at his church monitored on his official Facebook page called "Emmanuel Makandiwa".

He explained that "Sin is the food to the flesh, your flesh feeds on sin, it survives on sin, it enjoys sinning. You're excited when you're sinning and that is what makes you carnal."

Expatiating further, he said, the flesh is not against the spirit neither is it against God because God created mankind. He was quick to add that "you don't get carnal by eating fleshly foods but you get carnal by sinning".

The Zimbabwean prophet continued that when people see sin as a physical food that makes them carnal and are able to abstain from sinning then, "Your carnality can no longer overpower your spirit because you've starved your carnal man".

He added, "when that happens then your spirit becomes stronger than your carnal man. So anytime you're abstaining from sin, make sure your feeding your spirit. So your spirit would be growing and your carnality levels are going down".

The prophet made it clear that it is not the foods we eat that dwindles our spiritual strength and growth but sin. "Sin carnalizes man and weakens our spiritual growth and strength."