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Fasting to Encounter GodA Biblical Overview

My Journey

✤ Began with Jr-Hi ministry at Glendale Pres.!

✤ Led by God in job transitions: Fl- to here!

✤ Long fasts, weekly fasting ( Wesley)!

✤ More of God: prayer and fast!

✤ Prelude to promotion, progress in spiritual growth

Fasting Defined

✤ To abstain from food or drink in some form for a season!

✤ Definition of verb: To hold fast and not be moved. To be fixed, firm, secure; constant, steadfast, obstinate.!

✤ That rope is dangerously loose. Make it fast!!

✤ Hold fast. Don’t move.!

✤ To seek with deep commitment. Not casually.

Fasting in OT: God’s 911 Number

✤ Times of war or threat of it (Israel)!

✤ Sick Loved Ones ( David), Grief of Death ( Saul)!

✤ Seeking forgiveness from God ( Ahab, Daniel)!

✤ God’s protection (Ezra)!

✤ Pagan Nineveh! Changed God’s mind!

✤ Hard to find a religion that does not promote fasting

NT Fasting: Super-charged Prayers

✤ Jesus : 40 days to prepare for ministry & defeat of devil. !

✤ Jesus taught how to fast: “When you fast..” “How” not “If.”!

✤ Paul: three days before salvation & Baptism of Spirit & many times during ministry!

✤ Before Choosing leaders: Antioch, Elders in Galatia!

✤ Fasting done by Who’s Who of Bible: next slide!

Moses Anna!

David Jesus

Elijah Paul

Esther Antioch Leaders!

Daniel Galatian Church

The Choice to Fast

✤ Choosing God’s strength above our strength!

✤ Choosing God’s Presence above our pleasure!

✤ Choosing heavenly resources in place of earthly ones!

✤ Making our bodies a living sacrifice ( Rom 12:1)!

✤ Bringing our bodies under submission to our spirit ( buffet my body)

Fasting: Gas on Fire of Prayer

✤ Spirit saying: fast for MORE of the Presence of God in our lives and in our gatherings!

✤ Prepares our hearts: purifies & intensifies faith & sensitivity to God’s heart ( Vineyard fast)!

✤ Syncs our heart with God’s more deeply!

✤ Defeats the devil easier and faster

Fortnight Fast: 14 Days

Fortnight and fortnightly are commonly used words in the English-speaking world, where many wages and salaries and most social security benefits are paid on a fortnightly basis. American and Canadian payroll systems may use the term biweekly in reference to pay periods every two weeks.!!

Expect the wages of heaven to be paid to you in this fortnight fast!!

✤ This is the first call to fast in this fellowship!

✤ Great opportunity to: !

✤ Know God better!

✤ hear His voice more clearly!

✤ understand the scriptures better!

✤ prepare yourself for a visitation from God!

✤ Prepare yourself & this church to bless others!

Prayer Targets: Experience God!

✤ More & deeper personal encounters with God: new passion, intimacy, joy, peace, contentment & spiritual power. Invite God to meet with you in a more profound way.!

✤ Deeper encounters with God for our fellowship. None left behind.!

✤ Greater encounters with God for our community and for the world from our fellowship

How?

✤ Ask God what He expects of your fast!

✤ Do your best but refuse guilt/legalism. Do for love!

✤ Ask for accountability if needed!

✤ Rejoice: God’s loves gifts that cost us something!

✤ Use mealtime for prayer. Linger more with God. !

✤ Listen a lot. Meditate a lot. Let God direct your prayers

Expect

✤ The fortnight wages of heaven: Deeper relationship with God!

✤ A great beginning to your year!

✤ More victories, more joy & peace in God!

✤ More passion and maturity in your walk with God!

✤ More understanding of the value of fasting & prayer!

✤ More grace to help others encounter God