Fasting and Prayer
Fasting and Prayer
Matthew 17:14-21,14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, 15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. 16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. 17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. 18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. 19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
I. Some of us have some major problems In our lives
A. The disciples had some problems of their own
1. Sometimes we think we are the only ones with problems
B. The disciple could not cure the lunatic
1. Oh they tried, put failed
2. They seem to be doing all the right things
a) They were following Christ and doing what He asked of them
b) But that was not enough
II. We profess to be saved just like the disciples
A. We go to church and Bible Study
B. We do our devotions
C. We may even read the Bible
D. And what does Jesus say to the disciples
1. “O faithless and perverse generation”
2. In a way Christ is telling us the same thing
III. Put we still do not have any power in our lives
A. Even the disciples did not have the power to cure this man.
1. The disciple were doing what they needed to do
2. We are doing what we needed to be doing and etc it is not enough
B. Jesus tells them how they can have the power
1. 19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
2. First thing Christ tells them is about their unbelief
a) They were doing God’s will and they healed others
3. Then He tells them if their faith was only the size of a grain of a mustard seed, they could do anythings God wants them to do
a) When God lead if we have the faith we can move mountains
4. Jesus then tell them how they can do it.
a) Prayer and fasting
5. Prayer
a) Not just praying once a day for a short while
b) Do you have a burden, do you really take it before God
c) Do you believe that God can answer you prayers
d) Are you willing to wait on God for the answer?
6. Fasting
a) Are you willing to give up things to show God how much you believe that He can work
b) Are you willing to give up things to show how much of a burden you have for what you are praying about?
c) Are you so consumed with you problem before God that eating is not on your mind?
C. We have the same opportunities the disciples had
1. Christ told the disciples what to do and it is here in the Bible for us to learn as well.
2. What will you do with what God has shown you today?
a) Will you take it in and use it and be a doer of the Word?
Sunday Biker Service 9/30/07