A. WHAT IS FASTING AND PRAYER 1. Fasting and prayer is the refocus of our lives. - This is why fasting is not something that we brag about. - Fasting is a private refocusing of our lives. a. Fasting and prayer is an intensive refocus of our lives upon God. - We will see this thought throughout all of our thoughts regarding fasting and prayer. - Fasting and prayer is a recognition that we must have God’s help in a situation. - 2 Chron 20:3-4 NIV Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him. - We need to due to distractions of life/problems/etc. b. Fasting and prayer is an intensive spiritual focus upon a problem or situation. *- It is what a Christian does instead of worry. 1) The Jews were called to a fast due to the death edict of Haman. - Esther 4:16 NIV Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish. 2) Jehoshaphat called the people to fasting and prayer due to the invading army of the Moabites and Ammonites. - 2 Chron 20:3-4 NIV Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him. 3) Ezra called the people to fasting and prayer due to the need for protection for a journey. - Ezra 8:21-23 NIV There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. 22 I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him. 23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer. c. Fasting and prayer is an intensive spiritual focus on our lives. *- It is the reason we fast at major changes in our lives. - One time for fasting. 1) Fasting and prayer is a time of humbling ourselves. - Isa 58:5 NIV Is this the [kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing ones head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD? - Ps 35:13 NIV Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered, a) When we recognize we need God’s presence in our lives. b) When we recognize that we are below God. - We need God’s help. 2) Fasting and prayer is a part of repentance. - 1 Sam 7:6-7 NIV When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel was leader of Israel at Mizpah. 7 When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. And when the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines. - Neh 9:1-3 NIV On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and having dust on their heads. 2 Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the wickedness of their fathers. 3 They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the LORD their God. 3) This was a part of a reason for Paul’s fasting after his salvation. - Acts 9:9 NIV For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. a) He was humbling himself under Christ as Lord. b) He was refocusing his life. 2. Fasting and prayer is a source of spiritual power. a. Fasting and prayer increases our ability in the spirit realm - Let us remember there is a difference between authority and ability (elab on).* 1) This is promised in Isaiah as a purpose of fasting. - Isa 58:6-7 NIV “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter--when you see the naked, to clothe him,and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? 2) This was the purpose of Jesus’ wilderness experience. - Matt 4:1-2 NIV Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. a) Jesus had to face a severe time of temptation. b) The fasting and prayer gave him the spiritual strength to do so. 3) Certain demons only respond to fasting and prayer. - Mark 9:25-29 NIV When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. You deaf and mute spirit, he said, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again. 26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, Hes dead. 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. 28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, Why couldnt we drive it out? 29 He replied, This kind can come out only by prayer. b. Fasting is a method of the intensification of our prayer. 1) The elders at Antioch understood this. - Acts 13:2-3 NIV While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. - Augustine said, “Give your prayers two ways – fasting and giving to the poor. 2) The leadership of Israel understood this. - 2 Chron 20:3-4 NIV Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him. - Ezra 8:21-23 NIV There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. 22 I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him. 23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.
Posted on: Wed, 31 Dec 2014 18:14:34 +0000
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