Fasting for the King

ANNA’S FAST – LUKE 2:36-38 DECEMBER 23, 2007 BBC 4TH SUNDAY

LUKE 2:36-38 36 1 AND THERE WAS ONE ANNA, A PROPHETESS, THE DAUGHTER OF PHANUEL, OF THE TRIBE OF ASER: SHE WAS OF A GREAT AGE, AND HAD LIVED WITH AN HUSBAND SEVEN YEARS FROM HER VIRGINITY; 37 AND SHE WAS A WIDOW OF ABOUT FOURSCORE AND FOUR YEARS, WHICH DEPARTED NOT FROM THE TEMPLE, BUT SERVED GOD WITH FASTINGS AND PRAYERS NIGHT AND DAY. 38 AND SHE COMING IN THAT INSTANT GAVE THANKS LIKEWISE UNTO THE LORD, AND SPAKE OF HIM TO ALL THEM THAT LOOKED FOR REDEMPTION IN JERUSALEM.

INTRO: FASTING AT CHRISTMAS IS AN OXYMORON; HOW COULD WE DENY THE DELICACIES OF THE CHRISTMAS FEAST; THE FINE FOODS AND FAMILY FELLOWSHIP. THE GIFTS AND THE GIFT GIVING... IN FACT...

THE PERFECT GIFT IS SO EVASIVE ...

THE PERFECT GIFT FOR

THE VIDEO GAMER...THE HARD TO FIND THE WII;

THE WELL TO DO TRAVELER...THE JET CARD LOADED WITH HRS OF FLIGHT TIME

THE PET LOVER...THE HIGH TECH DOGGIE DOOR, CHAISE LOUNGE @ NEIMAN MARCUS

THE AUTO AFICIONADO.. A TOM-TOM, OR GARMIN GPS NAVIGATION SYSTEM.

THE STRESSED OUT...AN ALL – DAY OUTING AT A LUXIOURIOS DAY SPA

THE PHOTOGRAPHER ...THE DIGITAL FRAME

WHAT IS THE PERFECT GIFT FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS EVERYTHING? A BURGLAR ALARM

THE PERFECT GIFT ISN’T AT THE MALL

ISN’T ON EBAY

ISN’T ORDERED ONLINE

ISN’T AT SEARS, MACY’S OR NEIMAN MARCUS

ISN’T AT CIRCUIT CITY OR BEST BUYS

ISN’T IN YOUR FAVORITE CATALOG...

ISN’T IN YOUR WALLET OR PURSE

ISN’T IN A BOX OR A BOTTLE...

THE PERFECT GIFT IS THE GIFT OF LOVE

THAT HAS COME DOWN FROM THE FATHER OF LIGHTS

THE PERFECT MOTIVE IS THAT GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD.

THE PERFECT GIFT IS THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON.

CHRISTMAS IS BASED ON AN EXCHANGE OF GIFTS,

THE GIFT OF GOD TO MAN--HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT OF HIS SON,

AND THE GIFT OF MAN TO GOD--WHEN WE PRESENT OUR BODIES A LIVING SACRIFICE.

THERE IS THE TEMPLE WAS A WOMAN WHO MADE HER LIFE...A LIVING SACRIFICE OF FASTING AND PRAYING...AND SHE RECEIVED...ALONG WITH SIMEON THE PERFECT GIFT.

EXPL: IN THE TEXT LUKE IS STRAGHT FORWARD IN TELLING US THE STORY OF THE SAVIOR BIRTH AND HIS COMING:

CENSUS OF QURINIUS - HE LINKS HISTORY AND PROPHECY; HE LINKS HOW THE LORD USES THE EMPERORS DECREE ;PEACE AT A TIME OF PEACE CALLED THE PAX ROMANA, THE PEACE OF ROME.

THE COUPLE – JOSEPH AND MARY WITH CHILD TRAVELING TO BETHLEHEM, THE CITY OF DAVID, TO BE BORN AS PREDICTED BY THE PROPHETS (MICAH 5:2). HE WASN’T BORN IN A PALACE BUT IN A LOWLY INN...AROUND BACK..WHERE THE CATTLE WERE KEPT.

THE CONCERNS – NO PLACE FOR THEM IN THE INN....

THE CHORUS: THE ANGEL BRINGS THE MESSAGE OF GLAD TIDINGS AND THE SINGING OF THE ANGELS, AS THEY BREAK OUT IN A SHOUT LIGHTING UP THE MIDNIGHT SKY AS THEY SHARED THE GOOD NEWS WITH THE SHEPHERDS; THE ANGEL APPEARED AND WAS JOINED WITH THE ARMY OF ANGELS ..GIVING GOD PRAISE. THEY PROCLAIM AND THE SHEPHERDS STRAIGHTWAY GO AND WORSHIP THE NEW BORN KING.

THE CONTEMPLATION – MARY MEDITATED AND PONDER THESE THINGS IN HER HEART.

THE CIRCUMCISION - LUKE’S STORY CONTINUES WITH JESUS CIRCUMCISION

THE CEREMONY - AND ACCORDING TO JEWISH LAW, HIS PRESENTATION AT THE TEMPLE.

THERE IS ANOTHER COUPLE – SIMEON AND ANNA. THEY ARE NOT RELATED BY MARRIAGE, BY RELATED BY MESSAGE. THEY ARE NOT RELATED BY BLOOD, BUT RELATED BY THE SPIRIT.

WITNESS OF SIMEON - HE WAS A MAN FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT OF GOD WHO HAD THE REASSURANCE OF THE SEEING THE MESSIAH.

HE WAS A MAN DIRECTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT AS THE SPIRIT ALLOWED HIM TO RECOGNIZE GOD. HE WAS A MAN WHO SPOKE BY WAY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT; THE MESSIAH WOULD CAUSE THE RISE AND FALL OF MANY; HIS MOTHER AND A SWORD WOULD ONE DAY PIERCE HER SOUL.

WITNESS OF ANNA - SHE WAS A WIDOW WOMAN, DAUGHTER OF PHANUEL OF THE TRIBE OF ASHER WHO WAS OLD...84YRS..OF OVER 104 PLUS YEARS..SHE WAS OF GREAT AGE.....AND WHO DEDICATED HERSELF TO A LIFE OF PRAYER AND FASTING. AND SHE WITH SIMEON REJOICES AND PRAISES GOD FOR THE COMING MESSIAH.

INTER: WHY DID ANNA FAST AND PRAY?

TS: AS WE LOOK AT THIS FAMILIAR CHRISTMAS STORY, AS WE LOOK AT THIS WISE VIRTOUS WIDOW WOMAN WE WILL LEARN ANOTHER ASPECT TO THE IMPORTANCE OF FASTING AND PRAYING.

MP. I ANNA FASTED AND PRAYED FOR THE FULFILLMENT OF HISTORY V. 36-37A

GO BACK TO ISRAEL HISTORY – ABRAHAM, ISAAC AND JACOB. GOD PROMISED TO BLESS ABRAHAM AND HIS SEED. I WILL BLESS THOSE THAT BLESS YOU AND CURSE THOSE WHO CURSE YOU. IN THE TIMELINE OF HISTORY THE CYCLE TOOK ISRAEL FROM FREEDOM, TO BONDAGE, TO FREEDOM, TO REBELLION, TO DELIVERANCE, TO CAPTIVITY, TO THE PRIEST AND PROPHETS, TO THE SILENT YEARS TO JESUS BIRTH IN BETHLEHEM.

GRACE – ANNA, ROOT OF THE NAME MEANS GRACE. WE SEE THE NAME HANNAH....MOTHER OF SAMUEL.. AND

GIFTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT – SAVED AND SET APART AS A PROPHETESS; FORTH TOLD VIA HOLY SPIRIT. DAUGHTER OF PHANUEL...PHANUEL TAKES US BACK TO THE OLD TESTAMENT TO JACOB AND THE EVENTS OF PENIEL...WHEN WE WRESTLED AND CALLED THE NAME OF THAT PLACE, PENIEL...MEANING THE FACE OF GOD. ANNA WAS A WOMAN WHO LOOKED TO AND LOOKED FOR GOD.

GONE THROUGH – SHE WAS A WIDOW, SUFFERED LOSS AND AFFLICTION BUT WAS GODLY.

SHE LOST HER HUSBAND, THERE WERE TIME OF LONILNESS...BUT WAS NOT BITTER. SHE WAS LIKE JOB, WHO LOST BUT SAID I AM GONNA WAIT TO MY CHANGE COMES; NOW SHE IS OLD....PROBABLY CAN’T WALK LIKE SHE USED TO, OR HEAR AS SHE USED TO...SHE WAS A WIDOW, A WOMAN OF LOW CLASS STATUS.

IMP. GREAT AGE YIELDED GREAT LOVE: LOVE WAS GREATER THAN LOSS: LOSS GAVE WAY TO LOVE THE LORD EVEN MORE. AS OPPOSED TO BEING BETTER SHE WAS CONTENT WITH THE PATH AND PLAN THE LORD GAVE HER. LOSS DOESN’T MEAN YOUR WORLD HAS COME TO AN END. BUT MORE SO...LOSS GAVE WAY TO FRUITFULNESS AS ONE OF A REMNANT IN ISRAEL.

TXT: IT WAS GOOD THAT I WAS AFFLICTED.- PS. 119:71 “IT IS GOOD FOR ME THAT I HAVE BEEN AFFLICTED; THAT I MIGHT LEARN THY STATUES.

THOUGH HE SLAY ME YET WILL I TRUST AND SERVE HIM. – JOB 13:15, “THOUGH HE SLAY ME, YET WILL I TRUST IN HIM; BUT I WILL MAINTAIN MINE OWN WAYS BEFORE HIM.

SHE WAS A LIVING ROLE MODEL OF THE TRUE VINE BEFORE IT’S TIME.

APP: WE HAVE DIFFICULT DAYS AHEAD, HOME, WORK, CHURCH....THESE THING WILL NOT BE REMOVED...AND WE WILL HAVE TO DEAL; WILL WE BE BITTER BELIEVERS OR BLESSED BELIEVERS WHEN THE DAY GROWS DARK. IN THE DAYS AHEAD, DESPITE LOSS, DESPITE THE LOSS OF THE YEARS BECAUSE OF THE LOCUST....WILL WE BE MINDFUL OF HIS – HISTORY.

BUT ANNA HAD SEEN A LOT; SHE HAD SEEN THE GOOD AND THE BAD AND KNEW THE LORD WOULD BRING TO FRUITION IS PLAN OF THE AGES. FOR SHE KNEW THAT GOD MADE HIMSELF KNOWN THROUGH HISTORY. AND OVER TIME,

SHE ANNA WAS ABLE TO INTERPRET GOD, WHO WAS OUTSIDE OF ALL, BUT IN ALL THINGS, VIA HIS ACTS AND ACTIVITIES.

SHE ANNA WA ABLE TO RECOGNIZE GOD....

ILL: Do You Recognize Christ in Christmas? - Not long ago, a professor of psychology in one of our great universities gave a word suggestion test to his class of 40 students. He instructed them to write the word “Christmas,” and all the class did so. “Now,” said the professor, “right after the word ‘Christmas’ write the first thought that flashes through your mind regarding that day.” When the papers were turned in, such answers were given as “tree,” “holly,” “mistletoe,” “presents,” “turkey,” “holiday,” “carols,” and “Santa Claus,” but not one had written, “the birthday of Jesus.” As there was no room for the baby Jesus in the inn, there is no room for Him today in the celebration of Christmas.

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MP II ANNA FASTED AND PRAYED FOR THE COMMITMENT OF ISRAEL V. 37A. SHE WAS A WIDOW OF ABOUT 84YRS WHICH DEPARTED NOT FROM THE TEMPLE, BUT SERVED GOD WITH FASTING AND PRAYERS DAY AND NIGHT.

ANNA - SHE NEVER LEFT THE WORSHIP AREA OF THE TEMPLE, SHE WAS A BUT SERVED, MINISTERED AND WORSHIPPED GOD AS A DEVOTED FOLLOWER. SHE DIDN’T RESIGN TO POPULAR OPINION, OR WITHDRAW INTO THE PRESENT DAY WORLDVIEW; SHE WOULD NOT BE MOVED, BUT PURPOSED TO MINISTER WHICH WAS UNDER GIRDED BY HER EXERCISE OF SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES.

IMP: ANNA WAS CONNECTED AND COMMITTED TO THE LORD AS A CO-LABORER. .

COMMITTED BY PLACE: THE TEMPLE MINISTRY OF WORSHIP

CONNECTED BY HER PRAYERS: THE TIRELESS MINISTRY OF PRAYER

COMMITTED BY BELIEF WHICH DICTATED HER BEHAVIOR.

THERE IS A BLESSING IN GOD’S HOUSE

HANNAH - SHE WENT TO THE TEMPLE EVERY YEAR..SHE WASN’T A WIDOW, BUT WAS CHILDLESS...AND SHE PRAYED AND WAS BLESSED WITH A SON. SHE WAS COMMITTED AND CONNECTED. 1 SAMUEL 2:1 AND HANNAH PRAYED, AND SAID, MY HEART REJOICETH IN THE LORD, MINE HORN IS EXALTED IN THE LORD: MY MOUTH IS ENLARGED OVER MINE ENEMIES; BECAUSE I REJOICE IN THY SALVATION.

ABIGAIL – SHE WAS A WOMAN OF PRAYER, SHE WAS A WOMAN OF BEAUTY AND BRAINS. HER NAME MEANS FATHER OF JOY, AND SHE WAS THE BENEFACTOR OVER NABAL’S HOUSE. HER ACTIONS AND WORD TO DAVID REVEALED HER KNOWLEDGE OF JEWISH HISTORY, AND TESTIFIED THAT SHE CAME FROM A GODLY HOME AND SHE WAS ACQUAINTED WITH THE TEACHINGS OF THE PROPHETS. IN THE EVENTS BET. NABAL AND DAVID, THE DRUNKARD AND THE MAN OF GOD, THE BUSINESSMAN AND PROTECTOR; NABAL BALKED AND ABIGAL SAVED THE DAY INTERCEEDING ON BEHALF OF HER HUSBAND WHO EVENTUALLY DIED ..AND SHE BECAME THE WIFE OF THE KING...TAKING ON AN EVER IMP. MINISTRY...SINCE SAMUEL HAS ALREADY DIED....THE MINISTRY OF PRAYER. SHE PRAYED AND BECAME QUEEN.

SOLOMON - 1 KINGS 8:28 28 YET HAVE THOU RESPECT UNTO THE PRAYER OF THY SERVANT, AND TO HIS SUPPLICATION, O LORD MY GOD, TO HEARKEN UNTO THE CRY AND TO THE PRAYER, WHICH THY SERVANT PRAYETH BEFORE THEE TO DAY:

1 KINGS 8:29 "THAT YOUR EYES MAY BE OPEN TOWARD THIS TEMPLE NIGHT AND DAY, TOWARD THE PLACE OF WHICH YOU SAID, 'MY NAME SHALL BE THERE,' THAT YOU MAY HEAR THE PRAYER WHICH YOUR SERVANT MAKES TOWARD THIS PLACE.

1 KINGS 8:30 30 "AND MAY YOU HEAR THE SUPPLICATION OF YOUR SERVANT AND OF YOUR PEOPLE ISRAEL, WHEN THEY PRAY TOWARD THIS PLACE. HEAR IN HEAVEN YOUR DWELLING PLACE; AND WHEN YOU HEAR, FORGIVE.

2 CHRONICLES 7:14-16 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 WILL FORGIVE THEIR SIN AND HEAL THEIR LAND. 15 "NOW MY EYES WILL BE OPEN AND MY EARS ATTENTIVE TO PRAYER MADE IN THIS PLACE. 16 "FOR NOW I HAVE CHOSEN AND SANCTIFIED THIS HOUSE, THAT MY NAME MAY BE THERE FOREVER; AND MY EYES AND MY HEART WILL BE THERE PERPETUALLY.

APP; PRAY ... CANT’ PUT A PRICE ON PRAYER SUPPORT;

PRAYER SUPPORT IS INVALUABLE

PRAYER AND FASTING ARE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLES ARE A REQUIREMENT TO LIVE A SPIRITUAL LIFE.

PEOPLE OF GOD SHOULD BE WILLING TO MISS A MEAL FOR WORSHIP OF THE MASTER

PRESENCE IN WORSHIP GENERATES SPIRITUAL POWER.

SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE AND GODLY WORSHIP = GODLY SELF – CONTROL.

PRAYER AND FASTING IS THE OIL OF PERSONAL HOLINESS; PURPOSE, AND PURITY

ARE YOU COMMITTED, ARE YOU REALLY COMMITTED....THEN WHY DO WE COME TO HIS HOUSE? WHY DO WE RUN FROM PRAYER, PRAISE AND WORSHIP ???? ARE YOU DEDICATED....AND DEVOTED TO GOD .....

SHE FASTED AND PRAYED;

SHE STAYED AND SERVED;

SHE WAS COMMITTED BECAUSE SHE WAS CONNECTED.

SHE WAS DEDICATED AND DEVOTED DESPITE HER BEING DESTITUTE (WIDOW)

ILL: Humble Commitment - Sophie, the scrub woman, was a Christian. One of the gentlemen in the large building where she worked said to her, “Say, Sophie, I understand that you are a Christian.” “Yes, sir, I am a child of the King,” was her immediate reply. “Oh! So you must be a princess, since God is your King.” “I sure am.” “Well, if God is your Father, and you are a princess and a child of the King, do you not think that it is beneath your dignity to be found here in New York City scrubbing these dirty steps?” Not being daunted Sophie replied, “There is no humiliation whatsoever.

You see, I am not scrubbing these steps for my boss, Mr. Brown. I am scrubbing them for Jesus Christ, my Savior!”

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MPIII ANNA FASTED AND PRAYED FOR THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF IMMANUEL V. 38B.

AND SHE COMING IN THAT INSTANT GAVE THANKS TO THE LORD AND SPOKE OF HIM TO ALL THAT LOOKED FOR THE REDEMPTION, THE RANSOM AND RESCUE OF ISRAEL IN JERUSALEM.

SHE CAME TO CHRIST – SHE WAS JUST PASSING BY AS SIMEON WAS PRAISING GOD FOR THE MESSIAH. SHE WAS PRESENT, SHE WAS THERE IN THE HOUSE AND SHE WAS ALERT AND ATTENTIVE. SHE WAS BLESSED TO STAND WITH SIMEON. AND IT WAS NOT A COINCIDENCE

LIMITED MOBILITY BUT KNOW WHERE TO GO

LIMITED EYESIGHT BUT SHE HAD BEEN LOOKING AND WAS BLESSED TO SEE.

SHE CONFESSED CHRIST – THIS IS A UNIQUE WORD, USED ONLY ONE TIME 1X... (IN THE NEW TESTAMENT .(ANTHOMOLOGOMAI)..MEANS SHE ....BEGAN TO GIVE THANKS BECAUSE OF SOMEONES AKNOWLEDGEMENT...I.E. SIMEON ...........SHE FULLY ACKNOWLEDGED, OPENLY CONFESSED, COMPLETELY CONFESSED THAT THE BABE WAS THE LORD ALONG WITH SIMEON. YES, SHE AND SIMEON GAVE THANKS OPENLY AND FREELY...: THEY WERE TWO PEOPLE WHO REMEMBERED, RECOGNIZED AND REJOICED.

IMP. THEIR WAS MUTUAL AGREEMENT, THANKS AND PRAISE OF WHO JESUS IS. THE WORD (TO ROOT OF THE WORD HAS AT IT’S BASE ...LOGOS...WHICH MEANS WORD)...THE WORD OF GOD BRINGS US TO MUTUAL AGREEMENT OF WHO JESUS IS. WHEN WE AGREE WHO JESUS IS THERE IS A CHORUS OF THANKS AND SYMPHONY OF PRAISE. SHE SAID THE SAME THING....

SHE CONVERSED ABOUT CHRIST- SHE TALKED ABOUT CHRIST ...SAID THE SAME THIS ..

TXT: PSALM 79:13 “THEN WE YOUR PEOPLE, THE SHEEP OF YOUR PASTURE, WILL THANK YOU

FOREVER AND EVER, PRAISING YOUR GREATNESS FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION.

WE SEE THIS IDEA IN THE OT WITH NEBUCHADNEAZZAR...HE LOST HIS MIND, BUT IN DAN. 4:37...SAID, NOW I NEBUCHADNEZZAR, AM PRAISING AND EXALTING AND HONORING THE KING OF THE HEAVENS, FOR ALL HIS WORKS ARE TRUTH, AND HIS PATHS JUDGMENT, AND THOSE WHO WALK IN PRIDE HE IS ABLE TO ABASE.

DAVID SAID, 1 CHRON. 16:8, “GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD, CALL UPON HIS NAME,

MAKE KNOWN IS DEEDS AMONG THE PEOPLE.”

O GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD; FOR HE IS GOOD; FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOR EVER. I CHRON. 16:34

ENTER INTO HIS GATES WITH THANKSGIVING AND INTO HIS COURTS WITH PRAISE, BE THANKFUL UNTO HIM AND BLESS HIS NAME PS. 100:4

PS 136 OVER AND OVER AGAIN....O GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD; FOR HE IS GOOD; FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER

GOD OF GODS

LORD OF LORDS

HIM ALONE DOETH GREAT WONDERS

WISDOM MADE THE HEAVENS

STRETCHED OUT THE EARTH ABOVE THE WATERS

MADE GREAT LIGHTS

SUN TO RULE BY DAY

MOON AND STARS TO RULE BY NIGHT....

YES......EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS THAT JESUS IS LORD TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.

GIVE THANKS ...AND AGREE...

ABRAHAM SAID, HE IS MY JEHOVAH JIREH

HANNAH SAID,

RUTH SAID

SIMEON SAID

ZACHARAH SAID

MARY SAID, MY SOUL DOTH MAGNIFY THE LORD..

PETER SAID, THOU ART THE CHRIST THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD...

SHE LIKE SIMEON FELT THE SAME WAY; SHE WAS NOT READY TO DEPART IN PEACE BECAUSE SHE HAD SEEN THE LORD’S CHRIST.

APP: ACT LIKE YOU KNOW...

BEHAVE LIKE YOU BELIEVE

BE WOWED BY THE WORD...

KNOW THE WORD

READ THE WORD

STUDY THE WORD

MEDITATE ON THE WORD

WAIT ON THE LORD

WALK AND TELL SOMEONE ABOUT THE WORD, THE WORD MADE FLESH AND GIVE THANKS

ILL: Why Be Thankful? (Psalms 1:4) (Psalm 100:4b) “I do not have to thank anyone for anything I have,” an old miser grumbled. “Everything I have I got the hard way—by the sweat of my own brow.” “But who gave you the sweat?” asked his neighbor. The old miser hung his head in guilty silence. He could not ignore the fact that God had given the “sweat,” the strength to work hard and gain material wealth. Yes, everything that we are or that we possess is because of God’s lovingkindness. Therefore, it is good for us all to pause at least once a year and say, “Thank You, God.” Actually, everyday should be one of thanksgiving. Why? Because of spiritual and material blessings. Mrs. Green thanked Tom, the grocery boy, for delivering a loaf of bread. “Do not thank me. Thank Grocer Jones,” Tom smiled. “He gave me the loaf to deliver.” But when she thanked the grocer, he said, “I get the bread from Baker Brown. He makes it, so he deserves the thanks.” So Mrs. Green thanked the baker. But he told her that Miller Milligan should be given the gratitude. “Without Miller Milligan’s flour, I could not make bread,” Brown replied. The miller told her to thank Farmer Foster because he made the flour from Foster’s wheat. But the farmer also protested, “Don’t thank me; thank God,” Foster said. “If He did not give my farm sunshine and rain, I could not grow wheat.” Yes, even a common loaf of bread can be traced back to God, the Giver of “every good and perfect gift” (Josh. 1:17).

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FINAL PROP: SHE WAS FASTING FOR THE COMING OF THE KING....

JUST LIKE SHE WAS FASTING FOR HIS COMING...

A PART OF OUR FASTING AND PRAYING SHOULD BE FOR HIS SECOND COMING....

JOHN 14:3 AND IF I GO AND PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU, I WILL COME AGAIN, AND RECEIVE YOU UNTO MYSELF; THAT WHERE I AM, THERE YE MAY BE ALSO.

LATER ON THIS YEAR...

I’LL FAST AND PRAY FOR HIS COMING....

COMING OF THE KING....

I’LL FAST AND PRAY...SO TO GIVE THANKS...THAT HE

CAME AS A BABE A CHRISTMAS

BORN TO A COMMON COUPLE

BAPTIZED BY HIS COUSIN WHO WAS TO PREPARE THE WAY

BROKE BREAK AND FED THE MULTITUDES

BLESSED BABIES AND GAVE HOPE TO THE MOTHERS

BLIND STILL RECEIVE THEIR SIGHT..BECAUSE OF HIS AMAZING GRACE

BROKEHEARTED ARE STILL SET FREE BECAUSE OF THE TRUTH OF THE BIBLE...

I’LL FAST AND PRAY...SO TO GIVE THANKS ...BECAUSE

HE WAS DESPISED AND REJECTED

HE WAS A MAN OF SORROWS, AND ACQUAINTED WITH GRIEF

HE WAS DESPISED AND WE ESTEEMED HIM NOT...

HE WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS,

HE WAS BRUISED FOR OUR INIQUITIES..

REMEMBERING HIS FIRST COMING...

AND HOW HE WENT FROM HEAVEN TO EARTH

AND HOW WE WENT FROM THE CRADLE TO THE CROSS

TO THE CROSS...AND DIED FOR THE SINS ..TO THE GRAVE ..HE ROSE WITH ALL POWER...

AND NOW WE ARE LOOKING FOR HIS SECOND COMING...SO I AGREE WITH PAUL WHO SAID...

1 FOR THIS WE SAY UNTO YOU BY THE 2 WORD OF THE LORD, THAT 3 WE WHICH ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN UNTO THE COMING OF THE LORD SHALL NOT PREVENT THEM WHICH ARE ASLEEP. 16 FOR THE LORD HIMSELF SHALL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN WITH A 1 SHOUT, WITH THE VOICE OF THE ARCHANGEL, AND WITH THE TRUMP OF GOD: AND THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE FIRST:

I AGREE WITH JOHN WHO ..SAID...

KJV 1 JOHN 3:2 BELOVED, NOW ARE WE THE SONS OF GOD, AND IT DOTH NOT YET APPEAR WHAT WE SHALL BE: BUT WE KNOW THAT, WHEN HE SHALL APPEAR, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM; FOR WE SHALL SEE HIM AS HE IS.

KJV REVELATION 1:7 BEHOLD, HE COMETH WITH CLOUDS; AND EVERY EYE SHALL SEE HIM, AND THEY ALSO WHICH PIERCED HIM: AND ALL KINDREDS OF THE EARTH SHALL WAIL BECAUSE OF HIM. EVEN SO, AMEN.

ANNA..

WE HEAR HOSANNA...SAVE NOW!

ILLUS:

… Jonathan Edwards was the outstanding preacher and theologian of colonial New England. He is said to have fasted and prayed at times till he was too weak to stand in the pulpit, but how God honored him and his ministry.

On one occasion Edwards had not eaten a mouthful of food for three days, and for three nights he had not closed his eyes in sleep. Over and over again, he had been praying to God, “Give me New England! Give me New England!” and when he arose from his knees and made his way into the pulpit … he looked as if he had been gazing straight into the face of God. They say that before he opened his lips to speak, conviction fell upon his audience.

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[1] AMG Bible Illustrations. electronic ed. Chattanooga : AMG Publishers, 2000 (Logos Library System; Bible Illustrations Series)

[2] AMG Bible Illustrations. electronic ed. Chattanooga : AMG Publishers, 2000 (Logos Library System; Bible Illustrations Series)

[3] AMG Bible Illustrations. electronic ed. Chattanooga : AMG Publishers, 2000 (Logos Library System; Bible Illustrations Series)

[4]Olford, Stephen F.: Institutes of Biblical Preaching : Volume Seven. Memphis : Olford Ministries International, 2002 (Institutes of Biblical Preaching 7)