Fasting & Prayer
(This Weekly Prayer Summary was written by Devi Susanto, from the CBC English Prayer Ministry Core Team, and edited by Brigitta Tedja)
#fasting&prayerseries
Click here to watch the video
Pastor Paul shared about the “spark of Revival” as seen in Asbury, KT and various other campuses. Revival cannot be controlled by man and man cannot “make” it, but we can humble ourselves and pray. We cannot do, bring, or make revival, but we can seek the Lord.
As we enter into the month of March, Pastor Paul kicked off a sermon with a new focus: The Fasting & Prayer Series. Pastor reversed the order because he wanted to emphasize on fasting in order to build the momentum and that we can experience the presence of God more. We will corporately fast for one week in April.
Faith foundations are gleaned from the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5-7. The verses below specify that it is “when” not “if”.
Matthew 6:2, NIV “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.”
Matthew 6:5, NKJV “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.”
Matthew 6:17-18, NKJV “But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”
We fast because it is God’s desire. This is a reminder that giving, praying, and fasting should be the lifestyle of those who follow Jesus. Jesus was not suggesting these things. We fast because Jesus said so.
Mark 2: 18-20, AMP “Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were observing a fast; and [some people] came and asked Jesus, ‘Why are John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fasting, but Your disciples are not doing so?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Can the wedding guests fast (abstain from food and drink) while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and they will fast in that day.’”
Fasting is designed to sharpen your spiritual life, so that you can be even more than before. Fasting is needed so that we can hear the Word of God.
Religion makes you dull of hearing due to the man-made pattern so that you do not hear the voice of God anymore. Religion is forced upon, but if you love Jesus, you automatically have a heart of giving, and because you miss God, you pray and you fast. Religion creates guilt, but if you follow Jesus, the motivation of God’s love due to your relationship with Him, will naturally cause you to give, pray, fast. You do these things because you love Him.
Why Fasting?
We fast so that Christ can be formed in us.
We fast so that our lives might be in alignment with the ways of God.
We fast so that we can better position our hearts and lives to experience His person in a more real way than we currently do.
We fast so that we might apprehend Him in a greater way.
We fast because there is more of Him to be had.
What is Fasting?
An abstinence from food, or a limiting of one’s food, especially when voluntary and as a religious observance.
To eat only sparingly or certain kinds of food, especially as a religious observance.
Fasting is the removal of certain foods, or the abstaining from all food, for a specific period of time, especially as a religious observance.
According to the definitions above, fasting is about food and only food, therefore, fasting is NOT about refraining from watching television (like Korean dramas), social media, entertainment, shopping, etc.
Fasting is not beating yourself up, not tormenting yourself. It is about denying your flesh. Fast wisely and consult with your physician if you are pregnant or have medical issues.
Fasting is Not:
An isolated activity
A checkpoint item on your to-do-list
A one-time sacrificial offering expecting to change your life forever
Causes of Being Dull in Hearing:
Religion
Tradition: Because of your tradition, you nullify the Word of God, causes the Word to not have any effect (Mark 7:13)
Habit
Matthew 13:14-15a “And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: 'Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive; For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed.’”
Fasting is:
A declaration of denying our flesh.
A clear-cut place of separation and consecration.
The catalyst to a burning heart.
Fasting and prayer is the pathway to revealing and overcoming hidden places of unbelief in our heart and life.
A means by which Jesus is able to purify your heart and life by revealing issues that might otherwise remain buried.
Fasting is not only turning from food but turning to the Lord.
Prayer Points:
Pray to make giving, praying, fasting as a lifestyle due to your relationship with Jesus
Pray to break religion, traditions, habits
Pray to hear God clearly and to obey Him (a sharp hearing ear)
No more being dull-in-hearing
Hear the voice of the Holy Spirit
Pray for seeing eyes
Pray to not be selfish
No more self-appointed agenda because God has a bigger agenda for you
Pray to know the day of His visitation
Pray for God to raise a generation who can see through the Spirit, be sharp, strong discernment
Pray for revival, not just “sparks of revival”
Pray for transformation