Fasting To Receive God's Help

Prophetic Focus: “Prayer And Fasting Works” Isaiah 58:6 - 12

TOPIC: Fasting To Receive God’s Help

TEXT: I Samuel 7:6 - 8
6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
7 And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.
8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines..

BIBLICAL CHARACTERS:  People Of Nineveh – They commanded a fast for all the people from the greatest to the smallest. – Jonah 3:5 - So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

MEMORY VERSE:
Matthew 4:4 - … "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (RSV)

Objective: Help the children learn and understand how to fast to receive God’s help.

Benefits Of Fasting

1.      Access To Supernatural Strength –
Matthew 17:21 - However this kind goes not out but by prayer and fasting.

2.      Access To The Voice Of The Holy Spirit –
Acts 13:2 - 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." (RSV)

BIBLICAL TRUTH: Some problems in life can only be handled by prayer and fasting – Matthew 17:21
CHALLENGE FACTOR: Do you have an issue that you want God to help you? Then fast!
POSITIVE CONFESSION: - I will present my problems to God by prayer and fasting.

ALTER CALL.

Power Against Mysterious Oppressions

Revelation 17:5 – 6
5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

2 Thessalonians 2:7 - For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

Daniel 2:22 - He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

What is a mystery?

·        Strange, peculiar, Occult, Unnatural, Unrevealed

·        Deep, beyond the power of human brain to understand.
A man is a fool if he thinks that his brain can understand all around him.

Ephesians 1:9 - Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

Ephesians 5:32 - This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Conclusion: We live in a very mysterious world.
Every Christian is expected to live mysterious
John 3:8 - The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Satan has many mysterious weapons organized against the believers

1.     Uncontrollable sexual desire (bed wetting)

2.     Evil dreams

3.     Invisible Loads

4.     Invisible presence

5.     Unreasonable hatred

6.     Unexplainable stagnation etc

How to start operating in the mysterious

1.     Be born again

2.     Be lead by the Holy Spirit

3.     Speak Mysterious Language
2 Corinthians 14:2 - For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

Mark 16:17 - And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues

Satan understands all languages; but he does not understand Holy Spirit Mysteries.

We use tongues to condemn our adversaries
Isaiah 54:17 - No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.

4.     Pray High Voltage Prayers
James 5:16 - .. The effectual fervent (boiling, energetic, Acidic, Volcanic, High Voltage) prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
(Not Scattered, Confused, Absent Minded etc)

Start by confession: Of sin, known and unknown.