THE POWER OF PRAYER AND FASTING
TEXT: Daniel 1:1-9; Isaiah 58:1-12
FASTING does two great things: It draws us closer to God and moves God’s hand. II Corinthians 10:4
- PRAYER IS OFTEN NEGLECTED, AND FASTING IS OFTEN FORGOTTEN. James 4:2-3
- What is fasting? Concise Oxford Dictionary: “To fast is to abstain from food, as a religious observance.”
1. FASTING IS A VOW TO GOD. Daniel 1:5,8
Psalm 56:12
2. FASTING BUILDS FAITH.
Why do we have a lack of faith? Faith is like a muscle; it must be used, or it will be lost. It is our fault that we don’t have faith.
- FASTING FOCUSES AFFECTION ON CHRIST.
Matt. 17:21 –You forget about self and focus on Christ. We believe that God’s power is available today.
- FASTING PRODUCES COMMUNION WITH GOD.
The N.T. Book of acts Church attracted people by its power. God’s will is for the Church to have power
Supernatural anointing. To see strongholds pulled down.
I Cor. 4:20; Ps. 62:11; Matt. 28:19-20; Matt. 18: 18-20
3. FASTING RESULTS IN A CLOSER WALK WITH GOD.
CONSIDER FOOD:
- Gen. 3:6; Matt. 4:2-4; Gen. 25:30-34; Numbers 11:4-9, 18-20, 31-33; Deu. 9:18-19; Matt. 24:37,38. Matt. 17:21-entire verse is omitted; Mark 9:29-Fasting is omitted. I Sam. 7:1-6; Luke 2:36-38
A. FASTING PRODUCES HUMILITY. Col. 3:5, I Cor. 9:25-27; Gal. 5:24
Fasting crucifies our flesh. – Our desire and capacity for food is a great temptation. Is. 58:1-2
- Fasting shows our utter dependence on God that we can’t do it alone.
- Fasting opens the eyes and ears to see and hear what God is saying to the Church.
Ever since Acts 2, no great move of God that was long-lasting ever begun and continued in any land except with a union of prayer and fasting. No great move of God had ever continued when prayer meetings declined.
B. THINGS THAT DO NOT CONSTITUTE A FAST? IS. 58:3-5
-
- Complaining about our practices. v.3
- Making pleasure more important. v.3
- Making life hard on those around us. v.4
- Quarreling and strife. v.4
- Trying to impress Others. v.4
- Having a sad countenance. v.5
4. THE PURPOSES, CHARACTERISTICS, AND RESULTS OF FASTING. Is. 58:6-12
A. PURPOSES OF FASTING.
- To humble ourselves. 35:13; 69:10.
- To repent and seek the Lord. I Sam. 7:2-6; I Kings 21:27; Ezra 8:21-23, Neh. 1:4; 9:1;
Dan. 9:3-19; Joel 2:12-14.
- For His presence. 9:14-15; Mark 2:18-20, Luke 5:33, 35
- To receive spiritual direction. Judge 20:26-28; Acts 13:2-23; Acts 14:23
- Spiritual enlightenment. 9:3-27; Dan. 10:2-21; Acts 10:30-33
- As part of our Christian ministry. II Cor. 6:4-10; 11:21-31
- For demonic deliverance. 17:14-21; Mark 9:16-29
- To spare a life or lives. 6:18; Acts 27:20-24
- To spare armies and nations. II Chron. 20:3-30; Esther 4:3,16; 9:31; Joel 1:14, 3:1-10
- For revival. 8:16-23
B. CHARACTERISTICS OF FASTING.
- Honoring God in all things. v.7
- Abstaining from food. (see word study)
- Abstaining from other pleasures.v.9
- Compassion towards others. v.10
C. RESULTS OF FASTING.
- Loosening of the bonds of wickedness. v.6
- Breaking of the yoke. V.6
- Release of one’s heavy burdens. v.6
- Renewed health. v.8
- Answered Prayer. v.9
- Spiritual Blessedness. v.11
- Guidance from the Lord. v.11
Joel 2:12 – FASTING DOESN’T CHANGE GOD, BUT IT CHANGES MAN.