Sermons

The Purpose and Power of Fasting

Fast = a voluntary withdrawing from food or other fleshly appetite for a specified period of time. A way to seek God by denying the physical in order to focus on the spiritual..

Why Fast? Fasting Draws Us Closer to God » Fasting Reveals the Things that Control Us » Fasting Reminds Us That God Sustains Us » Fasting Helps Us Keep Our Balance in Life

We abstain so He can sustain!

When should we Fast? When God Prompts You To » In Response to Spiritual Attack » Before/During a Major Life Decision » Anytime You Need to Feel Closer to God

How should we Fast? Check Your Motive—Focus on God » Meditate & Pray During the Fast » Don’t Call Attention to the Fast » Remember, this is a Spiritual Exercise Done in the Flesh

The Esau Syndrome

Hebrews 12:16 Message

“Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite.”

Genesis 25:27-28 NIV

27 The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents. 28 Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Genesis 25:29-30 NIV

29 Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. 30 He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.

Genesis 25:31-32 NIV

31 Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”32 “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?”

Genesis 25:33-34 NIV

33 But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.

Esau comes in and says, “I am willing to sacrifice spiritual (and physical) blessing on the altar of my immediate appetite.” There are some blessings from God you and I will never receive unless we dethrone what commentator Matthew Henry called, “King Stomach”

Fasting Is Exchanging What Can Never Satisfy You For The Only Thing That Can.

The Purpose and Power of Fasting

To Empower And Intensify Our Prayer Life

Nehemiah 1:3 NIV

3 They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”

Nehemiah 1:4 NIV

4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.

Joel 2:12 NKJV

12 “Now, therefore,” says the Lord,

“Turn to Me with all your heart,

With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”

Joel 2:15-16 NKJV

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly;16 Gather the people, Sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the children and nursing babes; Let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, And the bride from her dressing room.

Joel 2:25 KJV

25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

When We Deny Ourselves Of The Strongest Appetite And Put It Under Our Control The Spirit Man Is Quickened, Made Alive And Strengthened.

To Experience A Greater Awareness Of His Presence

Isaiah 58:9a NIV

9 Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

Acts 13:2-3 NIV

2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

Fasting Increases Our Receptivity To The Guidance And Direction Of The Holy Spirit

To Obtain God’s Guidance And Protection

Jeremiah 29:10-11 NIV

10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:12-13 NIV

12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

“When you break your routine in the pursuit of God (Fasting) your allowing Him to position your future”