“The Power of Prayer & Fasting”. In The Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster writes, “In a culture where the landscape is dotted with shrines.

““The Power of The Power of Prayer & Fasting”Prayer & Fasting”

In In The Celebration of The Celebration of DisciplineDiscipline, Richard Foster , Richard Foster

writes, writes, “In a culture where “In a culture where the landscape is dotted the landscape is dotted

with shrines to the Golden with shrines to the Golden Arches & an assortment of Arches & an assortment of

Pizza Temples, fasting Pizza Temples, fasting seems out of place, out of seems out of place, out of

step with the times.” step with the times.”

John Wesley said, John Wesley said, “Some have exalted “Some have exalted

religious fasting beyond religious fasting beyond all Scripture & reason; all Scripture & reason; & others have utterly & others have utterly

disregarded it.” disregarded it.”

In In Spiritual Disciplines for the Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian LifeChristian Life, Donald Whitney , Donald Whitney writes, writes, “For some of us, fasting “For some of us, fasting

for spiritual purposes is as for spiritual purposes is as unthinkable as shaving their unthinkable as shaving their

head or walking barefoot across a head or walking barefoot across a fire pit... To our surprise, the fire pit... To our surprise, the Bible mentions the concept of Bible mentions the concept of

fasting some seventy-five times fasting some seventy-five times even more than the ordinance of even more than the ordinance of

baptism.” baptism.”

I.I. WhyWhy do we Fast? do we Fast?A. Fast for National A. Fast for National DespairDespair..

The Bible says, The Bible says, “If my “If my people, who are called by people, who are called by

my name, will humble my name, will humble themselves & pray & seek themselves & pray & seek my face & turn from their my face & turn from their wicked ways, then will I wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven & will hear from heaven & will

forgive their sin & will heal forgive their sin & will heal their land” their land”

(2 Chronicles 7:14-15). (2 Chronicles 7:14-15).

Queen Queen EstherEsther

Esther saidEsther said, “Go, gather , “Go, gather together all the Jews who together all the Jews who are in Susa, & fast for me. are in Susa, & fast for me.

Do not eat or drink for Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I three days, night or day. I & my maids will fast as you & my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though go to the king, even though

it is against the law & if I it is against the law & if I perish, I perish”perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16). (Esther 4:16).

I.I. WhyWhy do we Fast? do we Fast?A. Fast for National A. Fast for National DespairDespair..B. Fast for Individual B. Fast for Individual DisciplineDiscipline. .

The Bible says, The Bible says, “You are “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty how can it be made salty

again? It is no longer again? It is no longer good for anything, except good for anything, except

to be thrown out & to be thrown out & trampled by men” trampled by men” (Matthew 5:13).(Matthew 5:13).

I.I. WhyWhy do we Fast? do we Fast?A. Fast for National A. Fast for National DespairDespair..B. Fast for Individual B. Fast for Individual DisciplineDiscipline..C. Fast for C. Fast for DeeperDeeper Hunger for God. Hunger for God.D. Fast during Periods of D. Fast during Periods of DistressDistress..E. Fast Facing Spiritual E. Fast Facing Spiritual DecisionsDecisions. .

ThThe Bible says, e Bible says, “After fasting “After fasting for forty days & forty nights, for forty days & forty nights,

He (Jesus) was hungry” He (Jesus) was hungry” (Matthew 4:2).(Matthew 4:2).

The Bible says, The Bible says, “While they “While they were worshiping the Lord & were worshiping the Lord & fasting, the Holy Spirit said, fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas "Set apart for me Barnabas & Saul for the work to which & Saul for the work to which

I have called themI have called them” (Acts 13:2).” (Acts 13:2).

I.I. WhyWhy do we Fast? do we Fast?A. Fast for National A. Fast for National DespairDespair..B. Fast for Individual B. Fast for Individual DisciplineDiscipline..C. Fast for C. Fast for DeeperDeeper Hunger for God. Hunger for God.D. Fast during Periods of D. Fast during Periods of DistressDistress..E. Fast Facing Spiritual E. Fast Facing Spiritual DecisionsDecisions..F. Fast the Bridegroom is F. Fast the Bridegroom is DawningDawning. .

The Bible says, The Bible says, “The “The time will come when time will come when

the bridegroom will be the bridegroom will be taken from them; in taken from them; in those days they will those days they will

fast” fast” (Luke 5:35). (Luke 5:35).

I.I. WhyWhy do we Fast? do we Fast?

II.II. HowHow do we Fast? do we Fast?A. Kinds of Fast.A. Kinds of Fast.

1. Complete (Acts 9:9).1. Complete (Acts 9:9).2. Partial (Daniel 1).2. Partial (Daniel 1).

I.I. WhyWhy do we Fast? do we Fast?

II.II. HowHow do we Fast? do we Fast?A. Kinds of Fast.A. Kinds of Fast.B. Length of Fast.B. Length of Fast.

1. 1 Day (Daniel 6:18).1. 1 Day (Daniel 6:18).2. 3 Days (Esther 4:16).2. 3 Days (Esther 4:16).3. 40 Days (Moses, Elijah & Jesus).3. 40 Days (Moses, Elijah & Jesus).

I.I. WhyWhy do we Fast? do we Fast?

II.II. HowHow do we Fast? do we Fast? A. Kinds of Fast. A. Kinds of Fast.

B. Length of Fast. B. Length of Fast. C. Attitude of Fast.C. Attitude of Fast.

The Bible says, The Bible says, When you When you fast, do not look somber as fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they the hypocrites do, for they

disfigure their faces to disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. show men they are fasting.

I tell you the truth, they I tell you the truth, they have received their have received their

reward in full. reward in full. (Matthew 6:16). (Matthew 6:16).

The Bible says, The Bible says, “For the “For the kingdom of God is not a kingdom of God is not a

matter of eating & matter of eating & drinking, but of drinking, but of

righteousness, peace & joy righteousness, peace & joy in the Holy Spirit” in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). (Romans 14:17).

The Bible says, The Bible says, “Even now," “Even now," declares the LORD, "return to declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with me with all your heart, with

fasting & weeping & mourning." fasting & weeping & mourning." Rend your heart & not your Rend your heart & not your

garments. Return to the LORD garments. Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious & your God, for He is gracious &

compassionate, slow to anger & compassionate, slow to anger & abounding in love, & He relents abounding in love, & He relents

from sending calamity” from sending calamity” (Joel 2:12-13). (Joel 2:12-13).

I.I. WhyWhy do we Fast? do we Fast?

II.II. HowHow do we Fast? do we Fast? A. Kinds of Fast. A. Kinds of Fast.

B. Length of Fast. B. Length of Fast. C. Attitude of Fast.C. Attitude of Fast.

D.D. Actual Fast.Actual Fast.

1. Determine length.1. Determine length. 2. Refrain from food or Other.2. Refrain from food or Other.

3. Spend extra time in prayer.3. Spend extra time in prayer. 4. Repenting of sin.4. Repenting of sin. 5. Ask for forgiveness.5. Ask for forgiveness. 6. Read Scripture.6. Read Scripture. 7. Worship God7. Worship God..

" Fasting is, as much as lies in us, an " Fasting is, as much as lies in us, an imitation of the angles, a contemning of imitation of the angles, a contemning of

things present, a school of prayer, a things present, a school of prayer, a nourishment of the soul, a bridle of the nourishment of the soul, a bridle of the mouth, an abatement of concupiscence: mouth, an abatement of concupiscence: it mollifies rage, it appeases anger, it it mollifies rage, it appeases anger, it

calms the tempests of nature, it excites calms the tempests of nature, it excites reason, it clears the mind, it disburdens reason, it clears the mind, it disburdens

the flesh, it chases away night-the flesh, it chases away night-pollutions, it frees from head-ache. By pollutions, it frees from head-ache. By

fasting, a man gets composed behavior, fasting, a man gets composed behavior, free utterance of his tongue, right free utterance of his tongue, right apprehensions of his mind.” apprehensions of his mind.” John John

Chrysostom (4Chrysostom (4thth Century) Century)