Church 10/29/2022
Offertory scripture:
Romans 10:13-15
Sermon message:
Thesis: It pays to fast and to pray
You get a reward for the work you’ve done—same principle.
Also, fasting and prayer go together.
“Fasting may be one of the most powerful weapons that many Christians do not use.”
Fasting draws us closer to God. When we shut off other things it draws us closer to Him because we spend more time with Him. Also when we do this we shut off the world and open our ear to God.
Fasting can change your life and also that of others around you: your family, your church, your country, etc.
Point #1: Fasting humble us / can humble us.
There are wrong types of fasting, like doing it for show. But done right, God can speak to you in ways you may not have heard before.
In the Bible: Ezra was given the task of bringing some very valuable things back to Jerusalem from Babylon / Persia. Equivalent of $160 billion in gold and $16 million in silver. Ezra turned down the Persian king’s offer of protection, trusting in God. But also did something else:
Ezra 8:21
Ezra also gave the order for everyone traveling with him to fast and pray. So they did.
Ezra 8:22-23
God heard their prayer and protected them.
Pastor’s disclaimer: you don’t have to pick one timeline of fasting vs another. Just think about it and consider it. Humble your body. The result is God blesses you.
After Ezra returned to Jerusalem, he counted the treasures and it was determined nothing was lost. No one traveling got hurt. God protected him.
Point #2: Fasting helps secure favor in situations.
Consider Nehemiah.
Nehemiah 1:4
Nehemiah 1:11
The result: Nehemiah got favor from the king. Not only did he get time off but the king also gave him supplies for his journey.
Proverbs 21:1
Point #3: Fasting helps discern God’s will.
Fasting tunes out unnecessary voices and tunes in God’s voice, the most necessary voice in all the universe.
Acts 13:2
Consider Daniel. He fasted too.
Daniel 10:2-6
Point #4: Fasting gives us power to break demons’ strongholds.
Mark 9:14-29 (background passage)
Mark 9:29 (specifically)
Point #5: Fasting prepares us for a new season of life and ministry.
Acts 13:2-3
Sometimes after God responds, more fasting and prayer is needed/required.
Consider Moses. Consider Jesus, God in the flesh. Consider Paul. They all fasted and prayed.
Consider James, Jesus’s half brother who also wrote the book of James.
James 1:22
Exhortation to fast and pray.