Prayer & Fasting

Introduction:

Last wk, Tackling Q's from the pews… YOUR Q’s (life, faith, Bible, etc.)

Satan, hell, loss, grief, lament, faith, glory, etc…

Really great lineup. Easy to synergize. In sync!!

This week was really easy to match up a few different Q’s that all go 2gether…

Q#09a: Who is your prayer partner?

Personal… Good Q!

Boring answer… P.Bethany! Only one I pray with reg. basis…

I do know I can go to my mom w/ most things & she’ll be praying

I know that Rhonda will bathe any request in prayer for me. Certain ppl in this church I know would lift it up.

Pastor friends that I’d trust w/ ministry request; know they’d pray for a need: Rev. Jared & Melinda to name a couple. Nabil, Craig, Don, Jeremiah.

I so covet any prayers you offer mine & Beth’s way. Need them!!

James 5:16 “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

How many U believe prayer is pwfl & fxtive?!

Show it! Join us Wed night… put $ where mouth is!

Powerf’l tool, priv’ge… but only if we actually do it

CANNOT FULFILL JAMES’ CMD IF ONLY PRAY ALONE!

Challenge: Find people that will pray over you & pray with you! Come out Wed!

A similar idea is echo’d in the Ans. to our next Q today… >>

Q#15: Besides waiting in the upper room, what took place in those 10 days between Christ Ascension & Pentecost (when the Spirit infilled them)?

Also has pretty straightfwd Ans’s!

1. They commissioned Matthias. Acts 1:21-26

Let’s read the narrative first

Acts 1:21–26 “Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.”

There are many reasons the apostles likely chose to replace Judas.

Some deeply theological; some social; judicial — obeyed.

They believed that this is what Jesus would have wanted.

Notice: They trusted, prayed, & acted for God to reveal His will.

(“God you know”, “Show us”, roll for initiative)

Part of this 10 days was spent seeking God to refill their apostolic ranks.… also >>

2. They prayed. Acts 1:14

Acts 1:14a “They all joined together constantly in prayer…”

“together” = (Gk. homothymadon) literally means “with one mind or passion”

Acts 1:14 NET “All these continued together in prayer with one mind”

Were strictly devoted; focused; all very specifically planting hopes & prayers on one thing.

Passionately! Man, they were not mess’g around.

Luk “summaries”: something this 10days was known for. It is the best summary of the week’s events.

Was it actually 240hrs of prayer? Who knows! Likely came and went and prayed for large chunks of that time. Particp. ranged in attn…

But they were devoted; locked in - on target.

3. They waited together. Acts 1:14

[Same verse] one mind; one will; one passion! No one dissenting; in this tog!

JC res & ascen. had such impact, early church intently focused on MORE Of Jesus.

Waiting for promise.

Today: We are not good at exercizing patience, waiting!

Esp. when we see injust. or hurt… lament “WHY GOD!?”

Can’t see God’s perspec. Don’t have time to entert’n faith or waiting… NOW.

Feels justifiable, right! May be!; but God still asks us for great great patience.

Psalms bring us ecour’t & challenge…

Psalm 31:24 “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”

Psalm 130:5 “I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.”

I'd argue that, if we say we're waiting on YH… don't have peace… not really waiting on HIM.

Just waiting for what we want. Or trying to control the circ.

Also — are you waiting TOGETHER? Are others aware of what you’re waiting for; praying for; longing of your heart??

Not JUST your family…

You need a godly friend or two to pray with/for you!

A few more questions dealing with >>

Prayer & Fasting

Q#09b: Why is an accountability partner necessary daily; and even more in times of struggle; walking through a desert?

Cannot fulfill the mandate of NT without doing life with others— not nec. even Xians!

Gk: alelon = prep. meaning “one another”

SO MANY >100! TIMES

The NT requires that other people be engaging in life with us; hanging out or intentionally challenging us!

Let’s stick with the prayer idea. Paul says;

1 Timothy 2:1 “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people!”

Paul’s main emphasis here uses the word for prayer (petition, asking, requ) on behalf of another!

JC of course teaches this in SoM where he teaches on prayer.

A concerted part of our prayer time should be about others.

&& Flip side — ppl should know about our trials to bring them b4 God too! Can’t keep it all to ‘self… only in ‘the family’. NOT A MAFIA.

Family of God xtnds beyond being blood related!

Colossians 1:9 “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you…”

The early Xians are an example to modern Xians: they spent every DAY together

I’m not sure what the precise mod-day equiv. should be, but I know it’s >1/wk!

Paul here uses ‘self as example of how Colossian Xians should be concerned about others’ welfare, life!

“Without a friend to regularly walk with you (not necessarily family), life is SO MUCH harder.”

Early church fathers realized this. One such man was Ignatius of Antioch (c. 35-107 AD) who lived alongside the earliest believers.

“Labour together with one another; strive in company together; run together; suffer together; sleep together; and awake together, as the stewards, and associates, and servants of God. … Be long-suffering, therefore, with one another in meekness, as God is towards you.” — Ignatius of Antioch (35-107AD); “Epistle to Polycarp", Ch. 6

“Sleeping/waking” together sounds funny to us—full totality of human XP!

It is SO important for us to have other Xians in our corner—and to rely on each other.

Maybe you need to check in with your Xian friend today.

Q#13: What is the reason or purpose of fasting? When should we do it? How should we go about it? Does it have to be a food fast?

Great Q! Let’s start by talking about what fasting ISN’T!

Fasting is not a Diet. Isaiah 69:10-13

“Fast & pray about losing weight…"

Fasting interrupts a regular daily process as statement to ourselves and to God.

Psalm 69:10-13 “When I weep and fast, I must endure scorn; when I put on sackcloth, people make sport of me. Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of the drunkards. But I pray to you, Lord, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation.”

"fasting"; Heb root: tsowm - root = "to close one's mouth"

An act of worship!

We sacrifice on the altar an activity near/dear to us

Fasting is Denying yourself

Many of you have had to fast for a med. proced.?? Not suddenly holier... closer to God!

Laying down a key piece of your routine or life and giving it back to God!

Asking Him to speak and act...

Doesn’t have to be a food fast!!

“Fast something that ‘hurts’!

Fasting is all about what you REPLACE IT WITH.

Laying down food, social media, sports, video games, tv, TikTok, etc...

and instead spending that time with/for God!

Look at examples given in Script.

Fasting Used in the Bible:

In Mourning

2 Samuel 1:12 “They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul & his son Jonathan, and for the army of the Lord and for the nation of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.”

ANE peoples would fast as a sign of grief over a calamity or death...

In Israel, a sign of grief over the selfish/sin in my life!

Titus 2:11-12 “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,”

“If there is no element of asceticism in our lives, if we give free rein to the desires of the flesh…, we shall find it hard to train for the service of Christ. When the flesh is satisfied it is hard to pray with cheerfulness or to devote oneself to a life of service which calls for much self-renunciation.” ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Jesus' gift should transform us and compel us to put off the selfish things for Godly sacrifice.

Trying to break a habit/hangup; heal from a hurt? Try fasting! Replace with time with JC!

To Pursue Divine Revelation

Daniel 9:3 “So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.”

Fasting & prayer accompanied Daniel's direct encounter w/ Angel & future revealed

Proceeds to pray a humble, contrite prayer of repent!! (ties to last use)

When we need direction & wisdom, see behind the curtain, we can fast....

Laying down 'self' and relying solely on God.

He wants our dependence/reliance!!

HE IS RELIABLE!

To Procure Divine Assistance

Ezra 8:21 “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.”

Ezra instructed the people to come together bc they needed a BIG victory; needed YH to step in!

How many of you can relate to that today?

How many consider fasting when u need an impossible need met?

In Bible, when we take on post're of hum'ty and repent, see a dir. Word from YH, and dir. help from Him [victory] coming from a period of fasting.

Fasting may seem like a super-spir. thing to do; well… >>

Prayer & Fasting Pair well w/ Good Works

Prayer & fasting not just about piety - being super spir!

I argue; taking faith seriously!!

But see, shouldn’t stop @ fasting or prayer; make sure we’re doing gneral good, too!

Isaiah 58:4-7 NET Look, your fasting is accompanied by arguments, brawls, and fistfights. Do not fast as you do today, trying to make your voice heard in heaven. 5 Is this really the kind of fasting I want? Do I want a day when people merely humble themselves, bowing their heads like a reed and stretching out on sackcloth and ashes? Is this really what you call a fast, a day that is pleasing to the Lord? 6 No, this is the kind of fast I want: I want you to remove the sinful chains, to tear away the ropes of the burdensome yoke, to set free the oppressed, and to break every burdensome yoke.

YHWH scolds Israel for acting holy with a fast, but still falling short with actions!

Repenting or showing reverence to God, yet taking advantage of poor and lowly, selfishly squandering power/money.

Trust Jesus. Pray for His Help. Take a Step of Faith.

Acts 1:24,26 “Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen… 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.”

Trust Jesus

Pray prayer of salv.

Start living like Him

Keep eye out for HS working!

Step out by faith & do something —offer help, vol.!, accept, deny… use wisdom as U trust Jesus.