Prayer and Fasting / Why and How
30 days of prayer • Sermon • Submitted
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· 1 viewPreparing for 30 days of Prayer and fasting. And why we do it.
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Communion: Gratitude / Brandon Lake
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
So great is his love for those who fear him - a health fear.
As far as the east from the west, so far has he removed our transgression from us
Flat earth / Our round planet: East will go on forever and so will west.
Compassion / Compassion
March 10th - April 8th / Wed. 6am-8am / Prayer walk.
It’s important to understand that fasting is not a way to get a better response to prayer. Rather, true fasting is a means of fostering a better (humbler) approach to prayer.
16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
But when you fast
14 Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?” 15 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
Then they will fast
For Him, it was a matter of when believers would fast, not if they would do it.
The Bible is full of examples of people who have abstained from food to seek God:
Jesus fasted before He began His public ministry (Luke 4:1,2).
1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
He ate nothing.
Nehemiah fasted to ask God for favor in the sight of the king of Persia to get permission to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1:4).
4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.
David fasted to ask God to intervene because of injustice (Psalm 35:13). In 2 Samuel 12:17, 23, he fasted to ask for a miraculous healing — a request God did not grant.
Mordecai and the Jews fasted upon hearing news of Haman’s wicked plot for their extermination (Esther 4:3).
3 In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
The early church fasted while worshiping and committing their ministry to the Lord. They also sought the Lord through fasting for guidance when they appointed leaders (Acts 13:2; 14:23).
23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
with Prayer and Fasting
The pastoral search team that brought me to “The Hill” fasted.
Fasting is not limited to the believers the Bible mentions. Many of the church’s most important leaders during an important time in history known as the Protestant Reformation — including Martin Luther, John Calvin and John Knox — fasted.
Knox fasted and prayed so much that Queen Mary said she feared his prayers more than all the armies of Scotland.
What are some of the steps to successful time of prayer and fasting.
1. Set your objective.
Why are you fasting? Is it for spiritual renewal, direction, growth, healing, resolution of problems, or unity with the church? Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to His objectives for your time of prayer and fasting.
Not only are we unifying the Church on The Hill body in this time of fasting and prayer, but we are praying for you that you would find personal growth as well.
The clearer your objective, the clearer your prayers will be. Through fasting and prayer, we humble ourselves before God so the Holy Spirit can work in us, our families, our church, our nation, and our world ( 2 Chronicles 7:14).
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2. Make your commitment .
Pray about what you should fast. Jesus implied that all of His followers should fast.
Before you fast, decide the following upfront:
How much time each day you will devote to prayer and God's Word.
How long you will fast—one meal, one day, a week, several weeks, forty days (Beginners should start slowly, building up to longer fasts).
John Wesley, the renowned English preacher, missionary and founder of Methodism, fasted twice weekly from sunup until late afternoon.
Charles Finney, a revivalist in the 1800s, fasted regularly each week and would often go three days without eating when he felt his revival meetings were not effectively introducing people to Jesus.
We are fasting as a church for 30 days, but you are free to do any part of the fast or extend it.
The type of fast God wants you to undertake: Fasting from food (water only, water and juices; what kinds of juices you will drink and how often). Maybe you will chose to fast from tech, T.V., social media, or something else. God sees your heart and will honor it.
3. Prepare yourself spiritually.
The very foundation of fasting and prayer is repentance. Unconfessed sin will hinder your prayer, so take time to prepare your heart for your fast in one or all of these ways.
Confess your sins and accept God's forgiveness (1 John 1:9).
Seek forgiveness from anyone you have offended, and forgive all who have hurt you.
25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
Make restitution as the Holy Spirit leads you.
Surrender your life fully to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Master; refuse to obey your worldly nature (Romans 12:1,2).
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Be transformed by the renewal of your mind
Consider the attributes of God, His love, sovereignty, power, wisdom, faithfulness, grace, compassion, and others. (Psalm 103:11-13).
Begin your time of fasting and prayer with an expectant heart (Hebrews 11:6).
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Do not underestimate spiritual opposition. Satan sometimes intensifies the natural battle between body and spirit (Galatians 5:16,17).
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
4. Prepare yourself physically.
Talk to your doctor first, especially if you take prescription medication or have a chronic issue if you are going to do a food fast. Physical preparation makes the drastic change in your eating routine a little easier so that you can turn your full attention to the Lord in prayer.
WHILE YOU FAST
Your time of fasting and prayer has come. If you are abstaining from all solid foods and have begun to seek the Lord. Here are some helpful suggestions to consider:
Medication should be withdrawn only with your physician's supervision.
Limit your activity.Exercise only moderately. Walk one to three miles each day if convenient and comfortable.
Rest as much as your schedule will permit.
Prepare yourself for temporary mental discomforts, such as impatience, crankiness, and anxiety.
Expect some physical discomforts, especially on the second day. If you are going completely without food, you may have fleeting hunger pains, dizziness, or the "blahs." Withdrawal from caffeine and sugar may cause headaches. Physical annoyances may also include weakness, tiredness, or sleeplessness.
The first two or three days are usually the hardest. As you continue to fast, you will likely experience a sense of well-being both physically and spiritually. However, should you feel hunger pains, increase your liquid intake.
5. Make a schedule.
Plan so that you are spending time with the Lord. Generally, the idea is to spend the time you would spend eating with Jesus.
Below is a possible schedule:
MORNING
• Begin your day in praise and worship.
• Read and meditate on God's Word, preferably on your knees.
• Invite the Holy Spirit to work in you to will and to do His good pleasure according to Philippians 2:13.
13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
• Invite God to use you. Ask Him to show you how to influence your world, family, church, community, country, and beyond.
• Pray for His vision for your life and empowerment to do His will.
NOON
• Return to prayer and God's Word.
• Take a short prayer walk.
• Spend time in intercessory prayer for your community's and nation's leaders, for the world's unreached millions, for your family or special needs.
EVENING
• Get alone for an unhurried time of "seeking His face."
• If others are fasting with you, meet together for prayer.
• Avoid television or any other distraction that may dampen your spiritual focus. When possible, begin and end each day on your knees with your spouse for a brief time of praise and thanksgiving to God.
Longer periods with our Lord in prayer and study of His Word are often better spent alone.
Create a meal plan ahead of time so that you won't be surprised and tempted to break your fast.
I have a wedding / and Sarah’s birthday.
Do some research on the type of fast you are doing and prepare ahead of time so that you are prepared to focus on Jesus, not on what you are or aren't eating.
6. End your fast gradually.
Begin eating gradually. Do not eat solid foods immediately after your fast. Suddenly reintroducing solid food to your stomach and digestive tract will likely have negative, even dangerous, consequences. Try several smaller meals or snacks each day. If you end your fast gradually, the beneficial physical and spiritual effects will continue good health.
7. Expect results.
If you sincerely humble yourself before the Lord, repent, pray, and seek God's face; if you consistently spend time in His Word, you will experience a heightened awareness of His presence.
21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
The Lord will give you fresh, new spiritual insights. Your confidence and faith in God will be strengthened. You will feel mentally, spiritually, and physically refreshed. You will see answers to your prayers.
A single fast, however, is not a spiritual cure-all. Just as we need fresh infillings of the Holy Spirit daily, we also need new times of fasting before God.
If you fail to make it through your first fast, do not be discouraged. You may have tried to fast too long the first time out, or you may need to strengthen your understanding and resolve. As soon as possible, undertake another fast until you do succeed. God will honor you for your faithfulness.