Luke 22:39-46, I
Samuel 1:1-17
Fasting will never be enjoyable, or useful
for anybody as long as they go to it without PURPOSE!
Purpose is the reason for whatever we do. David said is there not a cause. If there is no cause,
there is no power, no energy, no motivation, and no intense pursuit.
Is there no personal, heartfelt, anger
stirring cause for you?
God says you will find me if you seek me with
all your heart. Jer 29:13
James says, The effectual fervent prayer …
avails much! James 5:16.
NB: It’s not the fact you are
hungry that brings results. It’s not the fact you tried that brings results.
Africans are normally satisfied with effort. At least I tried! It’s not that.
It is going with one mindset – the mind set to win!
Going to fasting without
a purpose is like going to war, without a cause! A cheaply hired mercenary!
A cause always prevails over structure, knowledge and even talent. It’s like
going to a beehive without equipment, proper instruments and not fully knowing
your story! Bees will kill you. Enemies will destroy you.
What could be a reasonable purpose
for fasting?
Anything and everything! You need a
breakthrough in your life, you need another level, you are tired of poverty,
you want peace and harmony for your family. You want an increase in the levels
of anointing in your life.
You want favour etc. Esther and the nation of
Israel fasted for favour?
Are you in danger of something, fast! Fast
and pray!
Are you facing a mountain in your life, that
you don't know how to move it away? Fast and pray
Is anyone afflicted – let him PRAY! Fast and
pray…
FASTING goes hand in glove with the word and
with prayer. But fasting pushes everything forward, it
is like changing your car from economy drive to sport drive! You engage
a much deeper source of power. It's the same car, same driver, same type of
fuel, but it begins to do miracles right there. I promise you, fasting will do
you much and greater benefits if you go for it with total understanding and
clear purpose!
Agenda for fasting doesn't have to be many
things. In the bible we see most people taking some days to fast and most of
the times it was for only one reason.
Daniel took 21 days to hear from God about
setting Israel free!
David took 7 days to try and save a sick
child
Esther took 3 solid day for the salvation of
Israel
Jesus went 40 days to prepare for the
ministry
Moses did 40days X2 for the 10 commandments!
Intense
Passionate Prayers
Man aught always to pray and not to faint!–
Luke 18:1. Don't pray fainted prayers. Weak, unconvinced, half hearted! They
will not yield you any results.
Luke 22:39-46 – Disciples had no cause, they
couldn't see what was the real big scheme of things. They had just followed
Jesus to prayer. They were just sorrowful that somebody was about to die. They
didn't understand the dynamics of what was about to happen. They did not fully understand that the cross
transaction was about to deliver the whole world from the clasp of sin.
Hebrews 5:7 AMP In the days of His flesh [Jesus] offered up
definite, special petitions [for that which He not only wanted [a] but needed] and supplications with strong
crying and tears to Him Who was [always] able to save Him [out] from death, and
He was heard because of His reverence toward God [His godly fear, His piety, [b] in that He shrank from the horrors of
separation from the bright presence of the Father].
James 5:16 AMP … The earnest (heartfelt, continued)
prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its
working].
Esther 4:3 - And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his
decree came, [there was] great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and
weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
2 Chronicles 20:3 - And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and
proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. – for victory
Nehemiah 1:4 - And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and
wept, and mourned [certain] days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of
heaven,
Jesus woke up a while early to pray – mark
1:35. Get out of the comfort zone. Get out of the blankets. Have at least one
key burning desire in your heart.
Epaphras labored in prayer – Col 4:12. - He
was interceding for the churches.
Elijah prayed earnestly… James 5:14-16.
Cryings and sweated blood – Luke 22:44.
Is anyone in trouble – let him pray – James
5:13
Hebrews 5:7 – he offered prayers with loud
cries and supplications
Common Prayer Points:
i.
The year of the Explosive! Let my own
financial life explode, my business opportunities increase, etc.
ii.
Crusade 2015, … Let souls come in numbers.
Boldness of the word spoken.
iii.
Ezekiel 47 – prophesying to my own life.
Calling all dead things, dreams, back to life in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Will
feed more scriptures to the chat group – whatsapp and facebook.
BENEFITS
OF FASTING
1.
Helps you to
overcome the desires of the flesh
Fasting is a means
of bringing the flesh into submission to the Lord so He can strengthen us in
our mastery over our own selves. Fasting in the flesh makes us stronger to
stand against the temptations of the flesh. Merlyn Hickey!
2.
Clears the
clutter so you can hear clearly from God.
3.
Helps your
spirit to be sensitive to God.
4.
Helps you to
pull your energy and effort towards one focal point.
Prayer needs
for FCC 2015
-
Crusades –
2000 salvation, 700 membership by Dec 2015
-
All FCC
programs and activities to be blessed and flourish
-
Land and
building – to buy land and build church - 2015
-
Access to
Media – Radio and Television ministry
-
Buy Ministry
bus/es
-
Conferences
– 2015!
-
5 years of
the explosive…
o Explosive word and Worship Atmospheres etc.
* Please take much of the time to pray for
yourself, your family, your personal needs. I believe God wants to bless and
increase you this year. In every situation of your life, I assure you God has a
much bigger and better plan. Connect to him and enjoy the blessing.
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