Moving Forward
Prayer and Fasting
Special Messages: 2021
*Todd Blansit*
August 22, 2021
God is calling us as a body to a season of prayer and fasting.
Prayer and fasting is a sign of our desire and hunger to seek God.
Matthew 6.16-18
16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,
18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
We too need to live in an atmosphere of prayer, where we are easily moved to pray for different things we encounter.
What is fasting?
Many times Suffering produces patience, but patience gives purpose to the pressure. —Hosanna Wong
James 1.2-4
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Spiritual Benefits of Fasting
1. Initiate revival and spiritual growth.
Joel 2.12
12 “Even now,” declares the Lord,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
2.Receive clear revelation and direction from God. (Acts 13:2)
Acts 13
1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.
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.
3. Free people from spiritual bondages.
Mark 9.28-29
28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer. ”
4. Push back or loosen the demonic powers over a situation.
5. Navigate the journey ahead with confidence.
Ezra 8.21-23
21 There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.
22 I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.”
23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.
6. Deepen our intimacy with Jesus.
*Matthew 9.14-15*
14 Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?”
15 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
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