Call to Prayer & Fasting: The Rescue
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BUMPER
10 God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit.
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Have you ever noticed how rescue stories always start with somebody recognizing they need to be saved?
That’s exactly where King David found himself when he wrote these words in Psalm 51 after his sin was exposed — his affair with Bathsheba. He realized his heart had drifted far away from God. And David wasn’t just asking for forgiveness — he was begging for a rescue. And as he was crying out to God — begging for this rescue — he knew exactly where it needed to start: in his heart.
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David’s story is our story. We all need rescue.
Sometimes we recognize it immediately — when life falls apart — like in this case with David.
Other times — we don’t even realize that we’re trapped until somebody reaches out a hand.
Sometimes — like the case of Paul on the road to Damascus — or Moses with the burning bush — we don’t recognize it until God utterly and completely turns our world upside down.
But in our most honest moments — we all know what it feels like to be stuck:
in the relationships that hurt us,
in the habits that harm us,
or in the lies that deceive us.
And yet — no matter how many times we find ourselves stuck in one of those situations — needing hope — needing grace — needing rescue — God is always right there — holding out His hand.
We are now 46 days away from Easter — or the day that the Church calls Resurrection Sunday. And even though we’re 46 days away — we are beginning this journey to the Cross - tonight. In just a few weeks’ time — we’ll explore the greatest rescue story ever told — how Jesus came to rescue humanity.
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But tonight — we’re focusing on how we prepare ourselves to fully experience this rescue. We do that through following God’s call to Prayer and Fasting.
If you’ve been with us on Sunday mornings, you’ve been journeying with us through the first few Chapters of Exodus — as we explore God’s Ransom Note — the rescue of His people — the Israelites — from captivity in Egypt. It’s a foreshadowing to the rescue that Jesus brought to all of us through His finished work on the Cross.
And if you’ve been connected on Sunday mornings, one of the things you’ve probably realized is that we all have our own Egypt, right?
Addiction
Failure
Broken Relationships
Shame
Abuse
Guilt
and Pain
The problem is that a lot of us have gotten comfortable in our Egypt, haven’t we? A lot of us are living in spiritual captivity without even realizing it. We’ve gotten so used to the noise — and distractions — or maybe even the comforts those sins bring in our daily lives that we don’t even recognize how much they’ve separated us from God’s presence.
We all need rescue — but if we’re honest — we don’t always live like people who need rescuing. Our hearts are crowded with distractions — and worries — and comfort — and habits that dull our sense of spiritual need.
So many of us are walking around — dragging chains behind us — but we’ve gotten so used to the weight of them that we don’t even pay attention to them anymore.
But tonight church — God is calling for us to open our eyes — to recognize our need for rescue. Prayer and Fasting break those chains — because they draw us back to the only One who can break them. We’re making room for the Rescuer.
Fasting creates space for God in our lives — and Prayer is how we call out for rescue.
Now maybe you’re hearing all this talk about fasting and thinking, “That sounds… intense.” Maybe you’ve never fasted before, or you’ve only ever thought of it as something for monks or ultra-spiritual people. Maybe it feels outdated or legalistic — like something super religious people do to prove how Holy they are.
But Scripture paints a very different picture. Fasting is a practical act of surrender. It’s saying, “Lord, I want You more than this comfort. And I need You more than this distraction.”
It’s not about punishing ourselves — it’s about positioning ourselves to experience the Rescue more fully. And the great thing about God — is that He delights in rescuing us. Take a look at
12 Even now— this is the Lord’s declaration— turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
13 Tear your hearts, not just your clothes, and return to the Lord your God. For he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and he relents from sending disaster.
Do you see that? God doesn’t call us to fasting because He wants us to suffer — He calls us to fasting because He wants our hearts back. That’s what fasting is — at its core: it’s clearing out the noise and the distractions so we can fully return to the One who loves us most.
So let’s talk about what fasting actually is for a minute — because if we’re asking you to step into this — we need to understand what it actually is. At its core, fasting is giving something up for a set period of time to focus more fully on God.
That could mean something traditional like giving up food — and that’s absolutely one way to do it.
But fasting can also mean stepping away from anything that’s become too big in your life: social media — TV — spending money — comfort food — even just your obsession with staying busy.
The point isn’t just removing something — it’s replacing it with time spent with God. This isn’t a hunger strike to get God’s attention. It’s not spiritual weight lost. It’s not about trying to impress God or prove how holy you are. Fasting isn’t about proving something — it’s about pursuing Someone.
Scripture gives us example after example of God’s people fasting when they needed direction — deliverance — and a deeper encounter with God:
Moses fasted for 40 days before receiving the Ten Commandments in Exodus.
Ester called for a fast when her people faced annihilation.
Daniel fasted when he needed wisdom and understanding.
And even Jesus fasted for 40 days at the very start of His ministry.
In every example here, fasting is a way of saying, “God, I need You more than I need this.”
It’s not about impressing other people or even about depriving ourselves — it’s about creating space that only God can fill.
And if fasting is about creating space — then prayer is about filling it. And you can’t do one without the other.
Here’s the deal — fasting without praying is just dieting. But fasting — and prayer? That’s where the power is. That’s where we press in to the Rescuer — calling out to Him with our hearts wide open.
Prayer is how we call out for Rescue. It’s how we talk to God. But even more importantly — it’s how we listen to God.
Think about it this way: Fasting clears the stage. Prayer puts God at the center stage.
That’s why Paul tells us in
16 Rejoice always,
17 pray constantly,
18 give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Living in constant prayer doesn’t mean we’re walking around just muttering stuff all day — it means we’re living in God’s presence — constantly being aware of Him in every moment. During this season of fasting, we’re not just giving something up — we’re leaning into a deeper life of prayer.
And you know what happens when we commit to Prayer and Fasting? We get uncomfortable. That’s when we realize how much we rely on those little comforts — or even those pet sins — to get us through the day. So how do we live out that challenge?
When we’d normally be scrolling? Pray.
When we’d normally be eating junk food? Pray.
When normally watch Netflix? Pray.
But in that discomfort — something powerful happens. Our need for rescue becomes clearer.
We start seeing our sin more clearly.
We start hearing God more clearly.
And we start desiring Him more deeply.
That’s why Prayer and Fasting are so powerful — it doesn’t change God’s heart toward us — but it realigns our heart toward Him. It doesn’t have to be fancy. It doesn’t have to be scripted. It just has to be honest.
“God, I need You.”
“God, show me where I need to grow.”
“God, rescue me from this fear — this sin — this distraction.”
Prayer isn’t a performance — it’s a lifeline.
And guys it’s important to understand — this isn’t just a suggestion for us. Jesus makes it clear that His followers should be people of prayer — and people who fast. It’s a command. Look at what He said in Matthew 6:16-18:
16 “Whenever you fast, don’t be gloomy like the hypocrites. For they make their faces unattractive so that their fasting is obvious to people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward.
17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,
18 so that your fasting isn’t obvious to others but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
The power here is in the phrase “whenever you fast” — “not if ever you fast,” right? Jesus commands His people to practice fasting. It’s not optional for us — it’s expected. And yet He warned us against making it a public performance.
To experience the full power of the Rescue that comes from the Resurrection, we have to create space in our lives for prayer and fasting.
So here’s the challenge for us tonight:
What if — for the next 46 days — we created intentional space for God to work in our lives?
What if we gave up something good — to pursue something better?
What if this season became the reset that your heart has been waiting for?
Now let me be clear — God doesn’t need our permission to enact His will. He can do what He sets out to do with — or without — our input. But wouldn’t we rather be walking with God — experiencing the power of His Resurrection in our hearts? Wouldn’t we rather experience His peace and presence during this season?
Let’s choose one thing to fast from during this lead up to Resurrection Sunday. Whether it’s food — or social media — or TV — or anything else that takes our attention away from God — and let’s replace that time with prayer — specifically asking God to prepare our hearts for His Resurrection. Maybe it looks like starting right here — in this place tonight — asking God what He’d have us set aside to create more space for Him.
Fasting creates space for God. Prayer is how we call for Rescue.
If we enter the Easter season without preparing our hearts — then honestly — we can treat Resurrection Sunday as just any other Sunday — missing the transforming power of Christ in our lives. But when we fast and pray with purpose — we’re positioning ourselves to experience God’s rescue in areas that maybe we don’t even realize we’re being held captive:
in our thinking,
in our habits,
in our relationships,
and in our priorities.
The difference between a Christian who’s just going through the religious motions and the one who’s experiencing real transformation is usually the one who is intentional about connecting with God through turning away from the distractions, and turning to Him in prayer.
So here’s the question, church: What’s filling up the space in your life where you need God to work?
Because if fasting creates space for God — then we’ve gotta be honest enough to recognize that something else is currently taking up that space.
For some of us — it might seem like a harmless distraction that’s just taken on too much weight.
For others — it might be habits that we know aren’t healthy for our hearts.
But for some of us — if we’re being honest — we know it’s just sin. We’ve placed something in our lives that we’ve decided is of greater importance than God.
But this is the moment — right here tonight — where we ask God: “What do you want me to lay down so I can know You more?”
Because ultimately — this isn’t just about preparing for a date on the calendar. This is about preparing our hearts to know and experience Jesus more fully — His suffering, His victory, and His rescue.
Take a look at this prayer from the Apostle Paul — somebody who knew what it meant to be rescued. But even after years of following Jesus — he still had just one goal. Look at
10 My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death,
11 assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.
That’s the invitation tonight.
To know Him — not just to know about Him.
To experience the power of His resurrection — not just to celebrate it once a year.
To walk so closely with Him, that even our suffering becomes a place where we see His rescue at work.
That kind of relationship doesn’t happen by accident — it happens when we make space.
Church — this isn’t just a message. It’s a personal invitation — from God — to each of you.
An invitation to prepare your heart for Resurrection Sunday — not just by showing up to a service — but by making space for the Rescuer to work in you.
And it starts right here — right now — tonight.
Maybe you’re in a place where you can relate to David — the guy who knew what it felt like to be stuck — caught in sin — and trapped in shame — and desperate for rescue.
But David didn’t just recognize his need — he cried out to God. Look at Psalm 40:
1 I waited patiently for the Lord, and he turned to me and heard my cry for help.
2 He brought me up from a desolate pit, out of the muddy clay, and set my feet on a rock, making my steps secure.
3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and they will trust in the Lord.
And the same God who rescued David — the same God who pulled him out of the pit — is here tonight.
In just a moment, I’m going to invite you to come to the altar. To come here and kneel before God and ask one simple question:
“Lord, what do You want me to lay down so I can know You more?”
For some of you — that answer might come quickly. You already know what’s taking up space in your heart. For others — maybe this is the first time you’ve ever even considered fasting and you’re not sure where to start. That’s okay. Start by asking God. He’ll show you.
And maybe there’s somebody here who’s never even really thought about your own need for rescue. Maybe you’ve believed in God — even attended church — but you’ve never truly surrendered to Christ — you’ve never truly been rescued. You’ve never experienced the freedom of know that Jesus didn’t just come to rescue the world — He came to rescue you.
WORSHIP TEAM COME UP
The Word of God tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God — and that sin separates us from Him. But God — in His great love and mercy — didn’t leave us stuck in our sin. He sent His son Jesus — who lived the life we couldn’t live — died the death that we deserved — and rose again to offer us rescue through His resurrection. That rescue is available to you tonight — right now.
We all have a rescue story — maybe yours starts right now.
If you need that rescue — if you’re ready to surrender your life to Jesus — to ask Him to forgive you — to save you — and lead you — tonight is your night. When everybody comes forward — I want you to come too. We have a prayer team who’ll be up here too who would love to pray with you.
Church — whether you’ve been following Jesus for decades, or if you’re realizing tonight that you need His rescue for the very first time — this altar is open. Remember — prayer and fasting isn’t just a suggestion from Jesus — it’s a command.
Because when we fast and pray, we make space for the Rescuer to do His rescuing work in us.
Rescue stories begin when someone realizes they need saving and calls out for help.
This season of Prayer and Fasting is our chance to call out — to create space in our lives where we can see God working. Resurrection is approaching. The Rescue is coming. Are we gonna be ready to receive it?
That thing we’re afraid to lay down might just be the very thing standing between you and the rescue your heart needs. But it doesn’t have to keep weighing us down.
I’m asking you to be bold — right now — and come forward to the altar. Let’s ask God to prepare our hearts. Let’s make space for the Rescuer to work. The altar is open.
