Prayer & Fasting

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DECLARATION:

Ephesians 2:20–22 (ESV)

20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

SVCC is built by God, upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone.

We are joined together by union with Christ, we are growing, and we are a dwelling place of God by his Spirit.

Prayer for...

INTRODUCTION:

Review:

WHY?…

TODAY:

Prayer

Praise, thanksgiving, confession, adoration, meditation, petition, supplication, and intercession are all forms of prayer.

Prayer is communication with God.

Acts 4:18-31

Background: Peter and John were commanded by the Sadducees, the priests and the captain of the temple not to speak or heal in the name of Jesus. They are ignited and impassioned to counter this offense, but they do not speak, and are released. “They went to their own companions” and together began to pray, calling on God to fight for them in His sovereignty and might, to push back such an outrageous demand when so much good was being accomplished. God was with them, He answered their prayer and showed His hand

1. A Successful Prayer

This is a clear example of a successful prayer that was specific to its purpose. When Peter and John were let go after the warning not to speak and heal in the name of Jesus, they did not argue or try to mount an immediate response without help.

a. The Gathering

They gathered their forces: Acts 4:23–24 “23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,”

They prayed together and raised their voices to God together in agreement.

b. The Address

They addressed God for who He is (“sovereign Lord”). They began the prayer in gratitude and acknowledgement for all God has done, therefore, knowing how expectant and confident they can be in His hearing. His ability far surpasses anything we will ever pray for this side of Heaven.

21 Day Guide

c. The Power of the Word

Acts 4:25 “25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “ ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain?”

They quote Psalms 2:1-2

The Word of God is alive and present, while past and future. What has been established in historic manifest of God’s workings is not merely history, but is a prophecy of what is to come. Scripture is a structure that will never fall. Together, they repeat God’s words back to him in prayer expecting the same result.

21 Day theme is “Praying the Word”

d. The Sovereignty of God

– Because He is ruler over all things, all people, all circumstances, the prayer expresses a welcome of His dominion in present strength and power to do what He will do in adjustment of the situation.

e. The Requests

They were very frank in their request for boldness. Acts 4:29 “29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,”

To be able to speak truth into the threats they had received, push back the demands to be silenced and carry on with signs and wonders to be done in the name of Jesus.

2. Answered Prayer

Acts 4:31 “31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.”

God answered the prayer with everything they asked for and more.

Fasting

Fasting is intensified seeking of God in prayer. To fast is to go without ____, voluntarily. The purpose is to humble ourselves before God (Ps. 35:13)

Hayford’s Bible Handbook: “Fasting is an action contrary to that first act of sin in the human race, which was eating what was forbidden”

Isaiah 58:3-8 asks “Why have you fasted…?”

Background: Fasting is a key to spiritual victory. “This kind only comes out by prayer and fasting” (Matt. 17:21, Mark 9:29).

Fasting is not a ritual performance. Jesus has the power to deliver and liberate, but there are some things you will never get mastery over except through prayer and fasting.

OPTIONAL: Although some manuscripts do not have “and fasting” (and some even do not have the verse), it is my opinion that there is far more evidence (in terms of the proportion of manuscripts that have the words) to include “and fasting.”

TRANSITION: WHY we fast…

1. Jesus Exhorts Us To Fast

Mark 2:20 “20 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.”

Jesus indicates that when He is gone, His disciples will fast. But, historically in the Protestant, Evangelical church, you do not find fasting.

a. Ritual fasting, separated from spiritual significance, can be useless

Isaiah 58:3-5. Fasting is to be unto the Lord and to be an instrument for setting people free, helping people – Matt. 6:16-18, Isaiah 58:6-7.

“Displaced giving” whereby we take the money we would have spent on food and give it to those who are hungry and in need is one practical way of helping people.

Fasting is very powerful and very practical.

b. Fasting can be powerful and practical and protective

Isaiah 58:8 “8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.”

2. Why Is There Often Much Resistance To Fasting?

One of the reasons is historical. The Protestant Reformation targeted the false notion that salvation was through works. There were those who were fasting to try to earn salvation. The Reformation correctly combatted this idea. The Lord’s intention for fasting is not that we earn something nor to exert some sort of moral influence.

a. Fasting TODAY is seen as a diet technique

This is not a spiritual discipline.

b. In our congregation

… we do not fast ritualistically, we don’t just do it, but we set aside time to join with our Foursquare family to begin the year SEEKING GOD. We also prayerfully wait on the Lord to direct us to the right times. We call everyone to participate as they are able.

3. Why Are We Fasting Now?

a. Because our Foursquare family has called us to fast.

It is important to submit to authority and our spiritual authority has called us to fast, as we are able.

b. Because the spiritual battle is particularly intense right now.

A primary assignment of the Church is to intercede and pray for the leaders of this land, for peace.

Many other churches also set aside time to SEEK GOD thru Prayer and Fasting at the beginning of the year.

c. Because there are family members who are far from God.

A paraphrase of Matthew 17, Mark 9, could be: “That man has his son whole because of prayer and fasting.” There are parents, children, relatives, neighbors that need to receive the love and life of God, and casual prayer will not do it.

The breakthrough will happen because of people praying and fasting.

Conclusion/Reflection:

PRAYER: In the successful model of prayer from Acts 4, we see elements of praise, worship and gratitude, as well as sovereignty, power and the Word of God. They are clear and confident in their requests as they stand on the truth of God, in light of history and who He is. Further, they were acting as a congregation, not a crowd. They were unified in belief and purpose and knew how to pray together.

FASTING: Let us approach this fast with joy. Fasting can be a dynamic means for powerful and practical and protective breakthrough. It is not to earn anything from God, but it is a critical key for spiritual breakthrough.

OPTIONAL:

a. Some Evangelical scholars

…feel that the asceticism of the time leading up to the Protestant Reformation had bearing on the manuscripts concerning “and fasting” in Matthew 17 and Mark 9. (Although, on the flipside, the oldest papyrus manuscript does have “and fasting”).

b. Hayford’s opinion

…is that there is a subconscious cop-out that is watching for the excuse to opt-out of fasting. But, is this right, when Jesus encourages fasting, when we see it in Acts, when the Apostle Paul mentions how he fasts regularly (2 Corinthians 11:27)?