UNDERSTANDING PRAYER Part 3

THE POWER OF PRAYER AND FASTING

PROJECT INCREASE... pre - church prayer PURPOSE OF FASTING (RECAP) Abstaining from natrual pleasures to focus on spiritual growthGetting you focus centered on GodJESUS... Went into fasting full of the Holy Spirit, Came out of fasting in the Power of the Holy SpiritFasting is not about punishing the body, but rather focusing on GodHear clearly from God for right decisions Paul & Barnabus sending proceed by prayer and fastingActs 14:23 Fasting and prayer before appointing eldersGet in proper alignment with GodEst 4:16 Esther and Jews

FASTING IS ORDAINED FOR SPIRITUAL EMPOWERMENT  Friend of world = enemy of God FASTING & PRAYER OFTEN WENT TOGETHER IN  THE BIBLE AND IN HISTORY Ezra  needed ProtectionNe 1:4 Nehmiah fasting for the broken city of JerusalemPs 35:13 King David fasting and P for those sick & diseased Daniel F.P for desolation of IsraelLuke 2:37 Prophetess Anna never left the temple, but F.P night and day JESUS  fasted and prayed John's disciples fasting and praying as a habit Apostles F.P to commission new leaders/ Paul & Barnabas Paul & Barnabas appointed elders through fasting and praying... Charles Finny  .. Father nash... (Daniel Nash1775-1831)the praying prince Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) George Whitfield (1739-1741) Britian The Great Awakening or First Great Awakening was an evangelical and revitalization movement that swept Protestant Europe and British America, especially the American colonies, in the 1730s and 1740s, leaving a permanent impact on American Protestantism. Azusa Street  Father Semore Welsh Revial .. Even Roberts ... Expectancy of revival intensified in Los Angeles, California, when believers there heard about the remarkable revival in Wales, where from September 1904 to June 1905, 100,000 people were converted to Christ GOD KIND OF FAST PRODUCES POWER  Power … Is this not the fast that I’ve chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke? You never come across any man or woman that walks in power who is not accustomed to fasting often  Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. You can pray for power – but it takes fasting to walk in power   When you pray… When you fast – NOT IF!   Moses fasting 40 days and 40 nights – no food no water   Moses fasting 40 days and 40 nights – no food no water Jesus Fasted 40 days and nights   "See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh."  Apostle Paul  In fastings  Apostle Paul In fasting often   apostle Paul walking in power and they thought he was a god   Except a kernel of wheat falling to the ground and die it abides alone You cannot walk in power without fasting

FASTING CLEARS YOUR MIND

KNOWING GOD REQUIRES ALL OF YOUR HEART

Cannot pray and be close to God with a cluttered mind

You will seek me and you will find me after that you have sought for me with all your heart All your heart equals a clear mind free from other loves to seek God  Peter did not have in mind the things of the Spirit... he was trying to save his own life.  Save his life will lose it    Seek me as you would for silver and search for me as you would for hidden treasure  If you hold fast to my words then truly you are my disciples and then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free   Luke Warm    (first name Luke, last name Warm)