Fasting and praying

Fasting and praying

Matthew 6:6–8 NKJV

6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

Matthew 6:16–18 NKJV

16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

God is a jealous God and He wants to be the object of our affection and loyalty. When we pray, God wants us to disclose our innermost thoughts, feelings, and desires. When we share our desires with God, when we open ourselves up to Him we will grow closer to Him.

This can be done through private prayer time, time alone with just you and God. This is where we come to the subject of fasting and praying.

The purpose of prayer and fasting is not that others will think that you are spiritual, but it so that the person that is praying and fasting will be changed, get an answer from God, go closer too God, seek God’s will.

Psalm 91:1 NKJV

1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

The proper use of fasting and praying

1. When you fast you are bringing body and soul into subjection so that in prayer, you a focused solely on God and His plans and purpose for your life.

a. We all have natural desires for food, or whatever (things that we like to do).

b. There are times when God asks us to set aside these natural desires and appetites and concentrate solely on the spiritual dimension of our being.

c. True fasting goes beyond skipping a meal of denying ourselves of food for a period of time. It is truing away from and willfully denying our natural human desires and appetites so we can solely concentrate on the Lord and what He wants to say to us or accomplish in our lives.

God calls us to a time of fasting and prayer for many reasons.

He may want to reveal to you an area that needs to be changed.

He may want to express to you His desires, or even a new direction or challenge He wants you to undertake.

1. The ultimate purpose for fasting and prayer rest with God;

a. When we fast, submitting all of our normal life patterns to Him, he has our full attention, and He can mold us completely and totally for His purpose.

b. When we are in this spiritual state-completely yielded and submitted, totally humble before Him and reliant upon Him-God can guide our prayers like an arrow to accomplish His will.

c. He then can do the real transforming work in our inner spirit that causes us to be more like Christ.

The Call for fasting and praying

1. How does God call us to fasting and praying? By giving us a desire to fast and pray.

a. He may call to our minds a specific need or situation that we know requires an intense focus on prayer.

b. Or he may simply place in our hearts a deep longing to be with Him.

c. When God calls a person to fast and pray, that person will had a greater desire to be with the Lord than to eat, sleep or any other activity.

d. You begin a time of fasting and praying with a specific purpose in mind. As you begin to fast and pray, the Lord may reveal a deeper purpose that is if we allow God to guides our prayer.

e.God reveals His will. It will change you and the things that you are praying about. (Praying in the spirit)

Ephesians 6:18 NKJV

18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

Romans 8:26 NKJV

26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

When we fast and pray we will see that Prayer changes things, prayer defeats the devil.

Benefits of fasting and praying.

1. Our attitudes, feelings, and thoughts are sifted, pruned, and purified that God might entrust us with a greater ministry.

a. By fasting and praying we become more disciplined towards the things of God. We will yield ourselves fully to Him.

b. We give Him the opportunity to cut away from us the things that slow us down, do us in, or keep us from the plans and purpose that He had for us.

c. Jesus fasted in the wilderness for 40 days and nights, and this perfected Him for ministry

Matthew 4:1–2 NKJV

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.

Matthew 4:11 NKJV

11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

d. Queen Esther fasted and prayed for three days, and the end result was stripped of the fear that kept her from telling the king about the evil plot against her life and the lives of her people.

Esther 4:15–16 NKJV

15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”

e. Sometimes we may feel unsettled or uneasy, but we can’t pinpoint the reasons why.

f. Fasting intensifies our focus on God, and takes away everything else but Him. This way He can show us what we need to change in our lives.

g. As we confront the devil in the areas of our lives that need change, we have to use the Word of God like Jesus did in the wilderness. We will then be made stronger.

h. When we battle with the enemy, the power of God’s word will defeat him.

2. We are able to discern more clearly the will of the Lord in any given situation:

a. Fasting clears our spiritual eyes and ears so we can discern what God desires to reveal to us.

b. When you have a major decision to make and you are struggling with it, it may be a good time to fast and pray. ASK HOW LONG? Until you get an answer. Or as long as the Lord shows you.

c. Spend time in the Word of God; focus all your attention on the things of God. If you do this, I believe God will reveal to you what you should do.

Daniel 9:3–4 NKJV

3 Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. 4 And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments,

Daniel 9:21–22 NKJV

21 yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. 22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand.

d. It is unlikely that God will send an angel to you. But it is likely that he will give you an understanding.

e. You will begin to see in God’s word the answer to your questions, the solutions to your problems. He will speak to your spirit through the Holy Spirit concerning the action you should take

4. We experience a release of supernatural power in our lives.

a. Genuine fasting and praying will bring spiritual growth, including a renewed outpouring of supernatural power.

(Story of the disciples when they could not heal man’s son)

Matthew 17:14–21 NKJV

14 And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but 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 bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

b. There are certain problems and situations that cannot be resolved without fasting and prayer and the release of supernatural power against a stronghold that has been set up by the enemy.

Acts 14:22–23 NKJV

22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” 23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

a. Paul and Barnabas: Why did they pray and fast over them? To increase the supernatural power into their lives so they could remain strong to the Lord and endure any kind of tribulation that may come their way.

b. This is an important reason to fast and pray. So we might be strengthened against the temptations of the enemy and have the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives so we can endure any persecution or trouble that comes our way.

5. We can help build up God’s people.

a. Prayer is the generator for the church. It gives power to ministers, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and anyone who is doing minister in the church, and the ministries in the church.

Nehemiah 1:4 NKJV

4 So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

c. Nehemiah heard about the destruction walls of Jerusalem, he sat down and wept. He was praying for his people because of what they were going through.

d. We should pray and fast for believers that are being persecuted.

e. Believers’ that are falling into sin.

f. Believers’ that are Luke warm in their faith.

Collation:

Follow up with action

a. Fasting and prayer are to be followed up with action.

b. Esther had to confront Haman in the presence of the king.

c. After fasting the praying, Cornelius took the message of the gospel to the Gentiles.

Acts 10:30 NKJV

30 So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

d. Paul fasting increased the missionary service.

e. God will reveal to you through fasting and praying something that you are to do. The next step is to do whatever it is that He has reveal to you.

2. Have you ever fasted and prayed? Are you willing to do so? It can make a difference in your life.