January 21, 2024

PRAYER AND FASTING: THE GAME CHANGERS!

January 21, 2024

Pastor Jonathan Falwell

 

As we enter the fourth week of January, we must ask, are there things going on in your life so big you’ve almost given up? Our pastoral staff is calling us to a three-week period of prayer and fasting. A time of prayer, coupled with some type of fasting and turning to God to know Him better, gives infinite results nothing else can accomplish. Perhaps this would be a good time to pray for those things that are most burdensome for you, hindering your walk with God. At the same time, fasting from something keeping you too busy to seek God’s face daily (tech, movies, etc.), and fasting for God to display His power in your life will result in victory you won’t see outside of a period that will truly come against Satan. Join us in this time of prayer and fasting!

Focal Passages: Mark 9:14-29; Matt. 6:5-6, 16-18; Ex. 34:28; 2 Chron. 20:1-4, 20:15; Dan. 9:3; Neh. 1:4; Luke 4:1-2; Acts 13:2-3; Psa. 35:13; Zech. 7:4-5; Ez. 8:21-23.

Why is fasting, along with prayer, so important?                                                 

It’s expected of believers:

  • Read Matt. 6:5-6. As you read this passage, what is the first thing you notice Jesus saying? What does the word “when” indicate? Have you ever been in a group prayer time and hated to pray, fearing others would think your words dumb? In that instance, whose approval were you seeking? Were you concentrating on talking to God?
  • Why are some reasons He tells us to pray “in secret”? What is His promise?
  • Read Gen. 6:16-18. Why does Jesus start this passage the same way He began verse 5? Does He expect you to fast at times? How do hypocrites fast? Why does He want us to appear at our best when we fast? Does He give us the same promise as when we pray?

It exposes the power of God:

  • Read Ex. 34:28. How long did Moses fast? What was he receiving during that time? Read Dan. 9:3. What was Daniel seeking? Read Neh. 1:4. What was Nehemiah needing? Read Luke 4:1-2. Who led Him into the wilderness? Why did He fast?
  • Can you think of anyone else who fasted and prayed? (Esther 4:16; David 2 Sam.12:16).

What is the purpose of fasting and prayer?

It focuses our faith:

  • Read Isaiah 58:2b-14. What was the reason Israel was not successful in their fasting? What does God want from His children?
  • Today, what is our purpose in fasting and praying? Is your main goal to get answers from God? Will He honor a fast when the primary motive is to lose weight? Go back to the passage in Isaiah: what were the main goals listed in simple terms?

It sets our desires aside to seek God’s desires:

  • Who does Isaiah say benefitted from the prayers and fasting in 58:6? Read Psa. 35:13. Who was the prayer and fasting for in this Psalm? Does this mean we cannot pray for our own needs? Back your answer up with Scripture. Whatever you are praying for, is it something important to God, that will glorify Him? What is your motive?
  • Read Zech. 7:4-5. Even though Israel had been keeping the fasts when God had said, apparently their hearts were not right. How can we fast in a manner that does not please God? What should be our first goal when fasting?

It reveals the kind of power which can only come from God:

  • Read Ezra 8:21-23. Why had Ezra called a fast? What did he ask the people to do? What did he hope to accomplish?
  • Are these two things necessary as we fast this month? Why is it so necessary to be humble before God? Above, in the passage from Zechariah 7, how had the people been acting? Why is pride such a heinous sin before God?
  • Why should we come to God in complete humility? What does He give when we do?

Does fasting actually make a difference?

  • Read Mark 9:14-29. Why would Jesus tell the apostles sometimes it takes both prayer and fasting to overcome a situation if it were not true? As we read the various passages in this sermon, did God generally answer by filling the need? What does that tell us?
  • In exercising this discipline, what does it reveal? Should we know God better at the end?

CLOSE:

You’ve often heard the term “a Prayer Warrior,” used to describe a Christian who has learned the power of an intimate time with God every day—and not just one time a day, but the prayer will continue off and on all day. They seem to have a special “open line” to God, and usually will keep a journal of who and what they pray for, and record when the answer comes.

On the average, though, slightly less than half of Christians pray daily (Braun Research, 2020). However, those who are serious about their walk with the Lord Jesus realize prayer is essential to a life that seeks God daily. But sometimes prayer itself seems to not be enough. Are there problems that seem too big and too on-going that you’ve almost given up hope of ever seeing a positive outcome? If so, perhaps it’s time to add fasting. Fasting can be for a certain period of time when you eliminate something you enjoy tremendously: it can be food (like pizza!), an activity (like Social Media, YouTube, or movies), or something else that takes up time–leaving you extra time to seek God, to know Him better, and experience victory. His ears are always open to the cry of His children. Decide you will live the next twenty-one days in a much closer walk with God and watch Him take care of those things which overwhelm you!      

 

By Sandy Day

January 21, 2024

 

 

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