Introduction
• Many of us have been in prayer and fasting this year.
• If you are like me you have had varying degrees of success.
• There any kinds of fasting/abstinence. (Daniel Fast – maybe, maybe not)
• Many kinds of reactions.
• Tonight I will try to give you a different perspective than that which you usually here.
• It is my intent to encourage you – to never give up – With Christ (by the Holy Spirit) all things are possible – even for me :).
A Brief History
The Old Testament law specifically required prayer and fasting for only one occasion, which was the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). Described in Leviticus 16: 1-34 However fasting / abstinence was first mentioned in Genesis 2:16-17 when God said:
“You may freely eat fruit from every tree of the orchard, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will surely die.”
Ironic – I think that if I have to fast one more meal I will surely die.
It appears that food is used as a tool of discipline by God both before and after the fall. It is important to note that food is at the top of our physiological needs (Abraham Maslow – food, safety (shelter), love, esteem, self actualization) It also appears that food is something that must be controlled or come under some kind of discipline. Remember that our bodies must become a “living sacrifice
Moses fasted during the 40 days and 40 nights he was on Mount Sinai receiving the law from God (Exodus 34:28).
King Jehoshaphat called for a fast in all Israel when they were about to be attacked by the Moabites and Ammonites (2 Chronicles 20:3).
In response to Jonah’s preaching, the men of Nineveh (Mosul) fasted and put on sackcloth (Jonah 3:5). Prayer and fasting was often done in times of distress or trouble.
David fasted when he learned that Saul and Jonathan had been killed (2 Samuel 1:12).
Nehemiah had a time of prayer and fasting upon learning that Jerusalem was still in ruins (Nehemiah 1:4).
Darius, the king of Persia, fasted all night after he was forced to put Daniel in the den of lions (Daniel 6:18).
In the New Testament
Anna “worshiped night and day, fasting and praying” at the Temple (Luke 2:37).
John the Baptist taught his disciples to fast (Mark 2:18).
Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights before His temptation by Satan (Matthew 4:2).
The church of Antioch fasted (Acts 13:2) and sent Paul and Barnabas off on their first missionary journey (Acts 13:3).
Paul and Barnabas spent time in prayer and fasting for the appointment of elders in the churches (Acts 14:23).
The longest fasts were done by: Moses, Elijah and the Messiah. These lasted 40 days or more. Sometimes one after the other.
Associated Scriptures governing how and why we fast
Ester 9:31 These letters established the Festival of Purim—an annual celebration of these days at the appointed time, decreed by both Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther. (The people decided to observe this festival, just as they had decided for themselves and their descendants to establish the times of fasting and mourning.)
Isaiah 58:4 “What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me.”
Daniel 6:18 “Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and couldn’t sleep at all that night.”
Joel 2:15 [ A Call to Repentance ] That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.”
Matthew 6:16 “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get.”
Matthew 6:18 “Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”
A different perspective.
Consider these things:
How I see myself, (going into this fast)
What (I think) others see in me (good and bad)
What I see in others (good and bad)
What Jesus sees from the cross (guess)
Be yourself. It is what God created you for.
Beware that you fasting becomes self-discipline and self-discipline becomes works.
Our obligation is to God and God alone.
Note:
We do not owe ourselves anything and we don’t owe God anything – only obedience. When Jesus looks down from the Cross He wants you to remember – It’s paid for. There should be nothing between you and God. Obedience is all we must be concerned with.
Bear with me in this teaching. I’m going to talk about a couple of things that may not seem to fit. But I am not going astray. This is a tapestry. It all fits together in the end.
Look for that gentle nudge When God speaks – That small still voice mentioned in Elijah in 1 Kings 19:12
“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Here is where God speaks to me. He wants me to do listening. This is where I see these 21 days of prayer and fasting fitting into my life. I’m hoping this will minister to you also. This is the heart of my message tonight. With me it started here:
Beware of praying from Isaiah 6:8
“Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.”
He probably has already sent you and YOU ARE HEAR!
NOTE: The call of God
1. As long as you dwell on what you think you should be doing, you will never hear the call of God – The voice of God
2. The Call/Voice of God is an expression of His nature
3. Your service/Obedience is an expression of your nature – it is suited to you alone
4. Service is the overflow which pours from the life filled with love and devotion
a) Service is what you bring to the table
b) Service is being natural (explain – it is a natural thing you do – ie. Billy Graham)
c) There is no striving here
5. When we answer the call/voice in obedience; His nature and our nature become one.
6. It becomes an everyday way of life.
Now He is saying in a gentle whisper “What are you doing here?”
Personal perspective….
• The world says “turn up the volume. However we know God is not deaf”.
• Understand this: we are not preaching to God. We are not teaching God. We are preaching and teaching and setting an example to the world and it is slow to hear and quick to anger.
• Speak and behave in that small gentle whisper (that small gentile way) so that they (the world) will not be riled and fail to hear.
When God speaks this way He is often asking you to wait. But do not fill your time with busyness. Wait! Don’t think nothing is happening. He is teaching you 3 things:
Sanctification : Set apart for the purposes of God.
• This goes way beyond being Good.
• This even goes way beyond following Jesus – even with the power of the Holy Spirit.
• This is something God is doing to us.
• We are chosen by God and being set apart – from what? – the world? Yes, but….\
• We are chosen for the purpose that we were created
• We are chosen, set apart, to know Him, love Him, Praise Him, and Worship Him
Holiness (to be made Holy)
Service (Here it is that if you want to do something – Fast and Pray)
• We all have our reasons why we fast and pray. Make it Personal and make it Universal, that is: for the church – Revival – This is what Pastor Patrick along with PT as asked.
• With this fasting and prayer, Power will come back to the church. (as bro John spoke)
• We are the Church
Don’t run from this with this teaching. Never run before God.
1. Ask yourself, Is this what I am learning during these 21 days of fasting and prayer.
2. When Jesus first saw Peter He said “Follow Me” and He did.
3. Later after all Peter went through He said “Follow Me” again.
4. If we never failed – we never tried (re fasting)
5. Pursue the Lord with all you heat. You must
Perspective
1. You will fail – but you must fail.
2. I we don’t fail we may get the idea that we can do this by ourselves.
3. You know the scripture: Proverbs 24:16 “for a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again; but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.”
4. Nil Illegitimi Carborundum (mock-Latin aphorism) Look it up.
5. Then pursue the Lord in fasting/prayer again. This time by the power of the Holy Spirit.
6. God continuously assures us that we cannot do it by ourselves. That is why we often fail.
7. Do not lament. Don’t waist our sorrows (transform them). This is a good thing! With the Holy Spirit we shall succeed and when we do there will be no pride within us. We will not be able to say: “Look what I have done!”
8. You will fail, fail and fail again. This is good. Do it again and again and again. Do not quit. You are showing the Lord you are faithful by not giving up.
9. Then Pray and Fast again – under that power of the Holy Ghost. There will be no pride left in you. You will not be able to say: “Look what I have done”.
10. Be encouraged. God will receive all the glory.
11. Do not say, “the 21 days have passed and I have only succeeded a little”. NO!
12. During these 21 days you have succeeded.
13. God has been teaching you. You are being set apart. You are doing a Holy think given by God.
14. You are in His Service answering His call – Hear that still quiet voice? The Holy Spirit has shown you how.
15. These actions you have taken is called Discipline.
16. God is blessing you.
Remember the Hobbit and the book/movie in “The Lord of the Rings”. They went on an Adventure. They faced: Trolls, Goblins, Orks and the Dragon under the Mountain – Smaug.
During this time you will face many obstacles even your mountain and even that dragon himself Satan. Life is an adventure. Let’s go on an adventure. Jesus encourages Adventurous discipleship. As disciples of Jesus Christ, let us go on an adventure together and finish these 21 days for His glory.
Corrie Ten Boom said: “if you look at the world, you’ll be distressed, if you look within, you’ll be depressed, if you look at Christ, you’ll be at rest”
Enough said.
Thy Words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O LORD God of hosts. (Jeremiah 15:16)
