Prayer and Fasting

Introduction

Explanation of tonights dialogue

Introduction of Me and Pastor Ashley

This is a topic that you asked and inquired about (we hope to shed some light on)

Every month we allocate and consecrate time for prayer and fasting ( and not just ritualistically )

Proverbs 3:9 LEB

Honor Yahweh from your substance, and from the firstfruits of all that will come to you,

Luke 2:23 LEB

(just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb will be called holy to the Lord”)

Definition of Prayer and Fasting

Fasting is

Me as a believer Consecrating myself to GOD

IT’S THE Discipline of self denial for the purpose of moving closer to GOD ( there is always gonna be things that serve the purpose of pulling you away from GOD ) SO THE DISCIPLINE OF FASTING PULLS ME CLOSER TO GOD

Luke 9:23 LEB

And he said to them all, “If anyone wants to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross every day and follow me.

IF YOUR GONNA DENY YOURSELF DAILY, THER’S GONNA HAVE TO BE TIMES WHEN YOU PULL ON GOD

Prayer must accompany fasting ( Mathew 17:21 )

Fasting helps strengthen your prayer muscle whereby if you were only bench pressing 15 seconds in prayer you can now bench press 15 minutes

and so forth and so on ...

Revelation of Fasting

write down this passage

Jeremiah 29:13 (LEB)

When you search for me, then you will find me, if you seek me with all your heart.

background of this passage

End your captivity

Restore your fortunes ( success, prosperity, your wealthy position in life )

Benefit of finding God you find yourself as well

Jeremiah 15:6 LEB

You have forsaken me,” declares Yahweh. “You go backward, so I have stretched my hand against you, and I have destroyed you. I am tired of becoming remorseful.

The background of Jeremiah 29:13 suggest that God had gotten fed up with Israels lack of remorse, lack of repentance and lack of interest of restoration with GOD

So when God say’s you will find me when you seek me with your whole heart (not half heartedness ) what GOD is suggesting is that they get it right

You don’t know nobody like this … but you got a friend that got a friend that when they wrong there friend they

never apologize

never take account for there actions

never acknowledge that they wronged you

they come around and expect to have the same benefits of the relationship AFTER THEY WRONGED YOU… AND HAVEN’T EVEN TAKEN CONSIDERATION TO GET IT RITHGT

I mean.....ain’t that amazing…

BUT WAIT A MINUTE ..... LET ME SUGGEST SOMETHING

BECAUSE I KNOW YOU AGREE WITH THESE FACTS

I KNOW YOU KNOW PEOPLE LIKE THAT

BUT CAN I SUGGEST THAT IT AIN’T ALWAYS THEM !

THERE NOT 100% THE BLAME

BECAUSE AT SOME POINT YOU HAVE TO EXAME WHERE YOUR BOUNDARIES ARE WITH PEOPLE

IT MUST BE CLEAR AND DEFINITIVE WHAT LINES YOU NOT WILLING TO LET SOMEBODY CROSS

BEC AUSE PEOPLE WILL ONLY CONTINUE TO DO WHAT YOU ALLOW THEM TO DO

I’M IN THE TEXT … GOD SAYS EITHER YOU GONNA RESPECT ME .......OR YOU GONNA SEE WHAT IT’S LIKE TO LIVE WITHOUT ME

IN Jeremiah 15:6 (LEB)

You have forsaken me,” declares Yahweh.

“You go backward, so I have stretched my hand against you,

and I have destroyed you.

I am tired of becoming remorseful.

GOD SAYS I’M TIRED

I’M TIRED OF BEING USED

ABUSED

TAKING FOR GRANTED

YOU COMING AROUND LIKE NOTHING NEVER HAPPENED

GOD SAYS EITHER COME CORRECT OR DON’T COME AT ALL

IF YOU SEEK ME WITH YOUR WHOLE HEART!!!

SO REALLY WHEN WE UNDERSTAND THE BACKGROUND OF THIS PASSAGE PASTOR ASHLI

GOD THROWS THE LIFE LINE OUT TO HIS CHILDREN

TO RESTORE ...AND TO REPAIR THE RELATIONSHIP

AND WHEN YOU THINK OF THIS IN THE CONTEXT OF FASTING

FASTING PROVIDES A GREAT OPPORTUNITY

AND A GREAT PLATFORM FOR US AS BELIEVERS TO

NOT ONLY TO DRAW CLOSER TO GOD

BUT TO GET IT RIGHT WITH GOD

THINK OF THE TIMES … NOBODY ON THIS LINE

THAT YOU’VE TAKEN GOD FOR GRANTED

THINK OF THE TIMES THAT YOU WERE UNFAITHFUL TO GOD ...AND THEN YOU CAME SMILING IN HIS FACE

LIKE EVERYTHING WAS HOKEY DORY

THINK OF THE TIMES YOU GAVE PEOPLE , PLACES AND THINGS MORE ATTENTION THAN YOU GAVE GOD

THINK OF THE TIME ( I MEDITATED ON THIS PASSAGE THIS WEEK ) BUT THINK OF THE TIMES THAT YOU AND I ACCORDING TO EPHESIANS 4:30 THINK OF THE TIME THAT YOU GRIEVED GOD BY YOUR ACTIONS OR YOUR ATTITUDE

JUST THINK OF THE TIME

WER’E CRITICAL WHEN IT’S DONE TO US

WHILE ALL THE WHILE WER’E GUILTY OF DOING IT TO GOD

SO IT’S A TIME TO GET IT RIGHT

WITH GOD

WITH FAMILY … ETC..

Ritualistic Approach (duty or destiny) Mathew 6

Prayer and fasting : a private sanction, not a public spectacle

Pray all types of prayers as outlined in the Lords Prayer

Must Forgive

Requirements (what God wants) Isaiah 58

Fast to please God, not yourself

Acknowledge your sins

rFasting and continuing in sin don’t mix ( Oppressing workers, fighting, quarreling etc..

Give (alms; share your food, give shelter, give clothes, don’t hide from those in need