Fasting to exorcise demons?

[Reformed Catholic]

Matthew 17.21 (KJV): "Howbeit this kind [of demon] goeth not out but by prayer and fasting."

Was wondering if anyone knew how the Puritans specifically utilized fasting to cast out demons. Was fasting and prayer also used to cast out demons potentially oppressing believers as well? Was there an exact procedure for how they would do this? Should we emulate their practices to repel demons today?

 

[MW]

There are a wide range of interpretative issues to be dealt with here. The Puritans had a systematic mindset when it came to dealing with passages of Scripture related to casting out devils. Demons were understood to be allied to the Devil rather than a specific manifestation of disembodied spirits. Hence called "devils." This led to an evangelical exposition and application of these passages to help souls find deliverance from the power of the Devil by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. With regard to Matthew 17, there is miraculous faith and ordinary faith. Casting out devils belonged to the apostles; this could be applied to ordinary believers with their ordinary struggles. Prayer and fasting were then held to be expressions or helps for strengthening weak faith.

 

[RamistThomist]

Fasting highlights relying more on God than one's own strengths. You do not need to fast to cast out every demon, but sometimes fasting helps.

 

[Solparvus]

Fasting highlights relying more on God than one's own strengths.

We often treat it like a kind of spiritual power-up; but this is the heart of fasting here.