Biblical Prayer Series XV and XVI PRAYER AND FASTING

XV THE PRAYER OF THE UNSAVED

February 02, 2011 Bible Study Charles e. Whisnant5, Pastor/Teacher

God does not promise to answer the prayer of the unsaved, but sometimes He chooses to respond to them for His own purposes.

1A Prayer Related to Safety

Such prayer may be directly involved in an turmoil in which a person is also coming to salvation spiritually. Luke 23:39; Jonah 1:14-16

2A Prayer Related to Salvation Spirituality

1B The two men praying in the temple: Luke 18:9-14

2B The two men hanging on the cross: Luke 23:39-43

XVI PRAYER AND FASTSING

Definiton:

1A Fasting is the most powerful spiritual discipline of all the Christian disciplines. Through fasting and prayer, the Holy Spirit can transform your life.

Fasting and prayer can also work on a much grander scale. According to Scripture, personal experience and observation, I am convinced that when God's people fast with a proper Biblical motive-seeking God's face not His hand-with a broken, repentant, and contrite spirit, God will hear from heaven and heal our lives, our churches, our communities, our nation and world. Fasting and prayer can bring about revival - a change in the direction of our nation, the nations of earth and the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

The awesome power can be released through you as you fast through the enabling of the Holy Spirit.

Fasting is one of the most neglected spiritual admonitions. In fact, it has been ignored for so long that it is difficult to find information on the "how-to's" of this life-changing experience. When I first undertook an extended fast, I had difficult time finding information on the nature of a Biblical fast, how to start, what to expect physically and spiritually, and how to terminate a fast. Bill Bright.

1. Fasting was an expected discipline in both the Old and New Testament eras. For example, Moses fasted at least two recorded forty-day periods. Jesus fasted 40 days and reminded His followers to fast, "when you fast," not if you fast. Exodus 14;29 Moses: I Kings19:8 Elijah. Hannah 1 Samuel 1:7.
2. Day of Atonement: 24 hour fasting: Leviticus 16:29, 31; 23:26-32.
• Judges 20:26; 2 Chronicles 20:3; Joel 1:14;
3. Fasting and prayer can restore the loss of the "first love" for your Lord and result in a more intimate relationship with Christ.
4. Fasting is a biblical way to truly humble yourself in the sight of God (Psalm 35:13; Ezra 8:21). King David said, "I humble myself through fasting."
5. Fasting enables the Holy Spirit to reveal your true spiritual condition, resulting in brokenness, repentance, and a transformed life.
6. The Holy Spirit will quicken the Word of God in your heart and His truth will become more meaningful to you!
7. Fasting can transform your prayer life into a richer and more personal experience.
8. Fasting can result in a dynamic personal revival in your own life-and make you a channel of revival to others.
9. Fasting and prayer are the only disciplines that fulfill the requirements of II Chronicles 7:14:

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

If you fast, you will find yourself being humbled as I did. You will discover more time to pray and seek God's face. And as He leads you to recognize and repent of unconfessed sin, you will experience special blessings from God.

2A Some characteristic of fasting

1a Grief: 1 Samuel 31:13; 2 Samuel 1:1;7; 3:35; Nehemiah 1:4

2b Repentance or penitence: i.e. confection of sin

1. 1 Samuel 7:6; 1 Kings 21:27; Daniel 9:3-4;

2. Humbling oneself is part of this: Psalms 69:11

3. An affliction or humbling of the soul.

4. Disciplining (controlling) regular desires: Psalms 35:13, Ezra 8:21

3c Appealing to God for His help. Exodus 34:28; 2 Samuel 12:16-23

1. David fasts all night after his child of adultery with Bathsheba fell ill

2. Ezra 8:21-23; Nehemiah 1:4,10

3. A person expected to gain God’s help, but would not if he was not inwardly sincere: Isaiah 58:3-4; Joel 2:12-14;

4. Genuine spiritual commitment to God must be present or fasting is of no avail Isaiah 58:5-12; Jeremiah 14:11-12; Joel 2:12-14

5. Return to me with all your heart, with fasting and with weeping:.. render your hearts and not your garments: Zechariah 7-8

3C New Testament fasting: ^{3521 nest e uo}

1a Jesus

Practice: Matthew 4:1-4 at the temptation

Teaching: Matthew 6:16-18. For the glory of God not man.

Matthew 9:14-17: They didn’t for a reason but later did.

2b Early Chrisitans

§ Cornelius fasted; Acts 10:30

§ When selecting and commissioning missionaries Acts 13:2-3

§ Paul: 2 Corinthians 6:5; 11:27 Acts 9:9; 27:33, 14:23

4D Should we past in our present day

1. It has reasons

o Fostering love for God that hugers and thirsts after righteousness: Mt 5:6

o Purifying the life through developing self control over a selfish, self-love catering to one’s cravings and egotism.

1. Fasting prevents luxuries from becoming necessities.

2. Fasting is a protection of the spirit against the encroachments of the body

· Seeking God’s mercy and power to fulfill deep spiritual needs.

2. It is temporary

o Mark 2:19: Fasting is a good time while Christ is away.

3. It is not for salvation

4.

5E The Principles of the Biblical Fast

Types of Fasts in the Bible

• The Normal Fast: No food is eaten, but water is drank (Matthew 4:1-2; Luke 4:2)

• The Absolute Fast: Abstaining from both food and water (Acts 9:9; Ezra10:6).

…..Today, it is advisable to drink water due to modern toxins & pollutions in the body``

…..which need flushed.

• The Partial Fast: Diet is restricted, rather than total abstinence from food

…..(Daniel 1:15; 10:2-3)

Isaiah 58:1-14