We are asking every member to fast for 21 days drinking only liquids from 6:00AM – 6:00PM each day, and to consume only fruits and vegetables after 6:00PM (no meats or sweets).
The information below is intended to help you be successful during the fast.
VERY IMPORTANT: If you have medical challenges, please modify the fast accordingly and consult with your physician, if need be, before fasting as indicated above.
Why the FAST?
The purpose of fasting is to bring you into a closer relationship with God.
By fasting, You are setting into motion a heightened focus on prayer, meditation, study and devotion for a specific purpose.

REMEMBER, Fasting without PRAYER is just going hungry!

We will have regularly scheduled intercessory prayer by phone, Thursday night prayer during the fast, between 7:00pm – 8:00pm.

–Additional information will be forthcoming, please check your email regularly for updates-

Please plan to participate in these prayer times.   They are:
Thursday, January 12, 7:00pm
Thursday, January 19, 7:00pm
Thursday, January 26, 7:00pm

Last day of the fast: Sunday, January 29th , we will culminate the fast with a Love Feast Celebration after service on the 29th.

Note: Please reference the suggested prayer directives for your personal prayer time, they will be sent in a separate document.  We may also refer to these during the scheduled prayer times.

Tips for Fasting

• Be prayerful about other things God would have you to fast personally (coffee, TV, video games, etc.)  This is between you and God.  HINT: Things YOU feel you can’t go without for 21 days is a good place to start.
• Prepare for the fast.  Make a list of food items you’ll need and purchase them ahead of time so you’re ready to go on 1/10.
• Pray as much as possible and plan to participate in scheduled corporate prayer.
• Read the Word of God as often as possible.
• Challenge your usual lunch routine, and replace it with quiet time with your Heavenly Father.
• If you “fall” during the fast, get back up and keep going!!!  Don’t allow yourself to quit!!
• Purpose in your heart that this fast if going to be life changing for you, and EXPECT God to move!!!  Expect miracles, answered prayers, healing, favor, and more!!!
• Make it a family fast.  Children can fast their video games and eliminate meats and sweets.  Be sure to explain the fast to them and pray/study with them.
• Adjust the fast if you have specific medical needs.
• Create a prayer journal and keep track as God answers your prayers!!!
• Drink plenty of water!
• Remember that Fasting is part of your assignment.
• Fasting should be done without notice, try not to draw attention to the fact that you’re fasting.

Suggested Foods to include in your diet during the Daniel Fast (after 6:00PM)
All fruits. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Fruits include but are not limited to apples, apricots, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cantaloupe, cherries, cranberries, figs, grapefruit, grapes, guava, honeydew melon, kiwi, lemons, limes, mangoes, nectarines, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, prunes, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, tangelos, tangerines, watermelon
All vegetables. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Vegetables include but are not limited to artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chili peppers, collard greens, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, ginger root, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, okra, onions, parsley, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, scallions, spinach, sprouts, squashes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, yams, zucchini, veggie burgers are an option if you are not allergic to soy.
All whole grains, including but not limited to whole wheat, brown rice, millet, quinoa, oats, barley, grits, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat tortillas, rice cakes and popcorn.
All nuts and seeds, including but not limited to sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts, sesame. Also nut butters including peanut butter.
All legumes. These can be canned or dried. Legumes include but are not limited to dried beans, pinto beans, split peas, lentils, black eyed peas, kidney beans, black beans, cannellini beans, white beans.
All quality oils including but not limited to olive, canola, grape seed, peanut, and sesame.
Beverages: spring water, distilled water or tap water.   DRINK PLENTY OF WATER.
Other: tofu, soy products, vinegar, seasonings, salt, herbs and spices.

1. I.                    WHERE DO INNER HURTS COME FROM?

(1.)   HURTFUL WORDS SPOKEN TO US! (spoken to us by someone: parents, friends, authority figures, children, etc.

(2.)   WHEN WE FEEL REJECTED!

(3.)   UNFULLFILLED EXPECTATIONS (for us and by others)

(4.)   SHATTERED DREAMS ( for us and by other people)

(5.)   TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES (childhood & life)

(6.)   TRIALS & TESTS OF LIFE (by God & the devil)

1. II.                HOW TO OVERCOME INNER HURTS?

(1.)   ADMIT IT!

Matthew 18:15 (AMP)
¹⁵ If your brother wrongs you, go and show him his fault, between you and him privately. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother.

The scripture says here that if we are hurt the first thing that we have to do is to recognize and ADMIT that you have been hurt.

(2.)   FACE IT!

Matthew 18:15 (AMP)
¹⁵ If your brother wrongs you, go and show him his fault, between you and him privately. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother.

The next thing that he says after we’ve ADMITTED that we been hurt is to go or FACE the person or situation with the hurt.

(3.)   ASK GOD FOR HEALING!

Psalms 147:3 (AMP)
³ He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds [curing their pains and their sorrows].

God is close to those who have been hurt and are struggling inwardly, so just ASK GOD FOR HEALING.

 Ps. 34:18; Isa. 57:15; 61:1; Luke 4:18

Well, I want to tell you about a guy who was not well known and maybe you’ve never heard of him before, however, he had a desire to be more and do more for God; and you know what I like about him; HE WAS JUST AN AVERAGE GUY AND NOT A SUPERSTAR. We see his story in the middle of the genealogies. It’s almost as if the writer stops in the middle of giving them and said let me tell you about this AVERAGE GUY who received some EXTRAORDINARY FAVOR from God because he wanted to do more. His brief story is found in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, his name was Jabez. I believe if we follow the principles that Jabez followed we too can accomplish more for God and MAXIMIZE OUR KINGDOM POTENTIAL! THE FOLLOWING ARE HIGHLIGHTS FROM A MESSAGE ENTITLED, MAXIMIZING MY KINGDOM POTENTIAL!

1 Chronicles 4:9-10 (KJV)
9 And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.
10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

WHAT MADE JABEZ UNIQUE/MORE HONORABLE

(1.)    HE REALIZED THAT THE SOURCE OF HIS BLESSING IS GOD AND NOT OTHERS.

(2.)    HE WANTED TO BE MORE AND DO MORE FOR GOD.

Often times we want to DO MORE for God without BEING MORE! However, DOING MORE always starts with BEING MORE! And BEING MORE requires one of the most difficult tasks known to mankind; CHANGE!!!!

HOW DO I BE MORE FOR GOD? John 15:4-5

In order for us to be more, we must simply do as the scripture says in John 15:4-5 STAY CONNECTED TO HIM AT ALL TIMES!

Let’s look at how Jabez went about it and gleam some principles from his experience:

1 Chronicles 4:10 (KJV)
10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel

(1.) Jabez CALLED ON GOD/CRIED OUT TO GOD: This is prayer! The scripture declares that we should always pray and not give up and that we should pray without ceasing. Jabez really wanted his life to change so he went to the only one that could help him. So, here is the principle that I want you to remember: Involve GOD in your circumstances CONTINUALLY through PRAYER!

PREREQUISITES FOR MAXIMIZING YOUR KINGDOM POTENTIAL THRU PRAYER!

(1.)    Have a STRONG DESIRE! Matthew 5:6, Mark 11:24

(2.)    ASK the Father: if you have a strong desire like Jabez, you will ask and keep on asking like in Matthew 7:7-8.

HERE’S WHAT JABEZ PRAYED:

1 Chronicles 4:10 (KJV)
10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed,

A.    Jabez was asking for supernatural favor. That’s what blessed here means. It means to favor me with that which I cannot do for myself, but give me that in which God’s unlimited goodness and favor can provide.

B.    Ask God to bless you abundantly everyday so that you can maximize your potential and make a greater impact for the Kingdom of God.

C.    The word bless in the Hebrew text here means to kneel. What Jabez was saying was; God because you are in heaven and I’m on earth (that’s what praying thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth is about), please kneel down and give me yourself because for me to grow and prosper I need you (your favor). WHAT IS HE SAYING? IM INVITING YOU INTO MY LIFE AND SITUATION. TO KNEEL DOWN MEANS THAT HE CAN INCREASE, MULTIPLY, MAXIMIZE US. HE IS SAYING COME DOWN AND CONNECT WITH ME SO I CAN MAXIMIZE MY POTENTIAL.

1 Chronicles 4:10 (KJV)
10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast,…………..

In other words, enlarge (increase) my coasts (boundary, Territory, space)

A.    Jabez looked at his present circumstances and concluded, SURELY I WAS BORN FOR MORE THAN THIS, ENLARGE ME! Have you ever said something like that, surely I was born for more that this? When you do, you set yourself up for change and position yourself to seek God for help in maximizing your potential.

B.    Ask God to expand your opportunities, impact, and influence to touch more lives for his glory.

C.    ANOTHER IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE: YOUR POTENTIAL IS LIKE A SEED!  when God blesses us He expects us to maximize our potential. He blesses us with himself. In other words, he impregnates us with his SEED OF POTENTIAL but it is our job to nurture and develop it like in Matt. 25. AGAIN, when God gives you the seed of his potential (his blessing or favor) he expects us to care for the seed to bring it to its fullest potential.

Sometimes when it comes to building our lives for God many of us are like the little pigs who built their houses upon straw and sticks. God wants us to be like the little pig who built his house upon a rock so that the devil will not be able to cause us to fall when he huffs and puffs and tries to blow our lives down. Following are some major points that I believe God has given from the Word of God that if we do them, we will never fall and will be fruitful and productive for God. The main scripture text is 2 Peter 1:1-11.

The first major point that Peter makes is that we must be DILIGENT in putting these principles in our lives.

The second major point is to have a strong foundation of FAITH. Whenever the Bible talks about faith it means having faith in God or in Jesus Christ who is our foundation:

1 Corinthians 3:11 (KJV)
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

The following are the ingredients that Peter declares if we add these things to our lives, we will never fall. Peter instructs us to add these to our foundation of FAITH IN CHRIST.     Read 2 Peter 1:1-11
(1.)    Virtue (or moral excellence)- Vs  5

(2.)    Knowledge – Vs 5 (not just knowledge of things, knowledge of God-Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 9:10)

(3.)    Temperance (self control)- Vs 6

(4.)    Patience (the ability to be the same in character all of the time)- Vs 6

(5.)    Godliness (worshiping God with how you live)- Vs 6

(6.)    Brotherly Kindness (brotherly love out of a common spiritual life and purpose)- Vs 7

(7.)    Charity or God’s Love (Love that is poured into your heart by the Holy Spirit- Romans 5:5)

Now verse 8 gives us two conditions that we must meet in order to never fall:

(1.)    Must be IN YOU!
(2.)    They MUST ABOUND (be prevalent)

I.

Definition of Purpose: Readers digest oxford complete word finder purpose is a thing intended; the reason for which something is done or made. The GREEK meaning is: A deliberate intention; A deliberate Design

II.

SEVEN THINGS YOU MUST UNDERSTAND ABOUT GOD’S PURPOSE

(1.) OFTENTIMS GOD’S PURPOSE IS DISCOVERED THRU STRUGGLE! Acts 9:10-16 Paul’s struggle

(2.) GOD SAVED US FOR HIS PURPOSE! 2 Timothy 1:9

(3.) GOD CALLED US AND GAVE US AN INVITATION TO JOIN HIM IN HIS WORK! 2 Timothy 1:9 Matthew 22:14 (read whole parable 1-14 if needed)

(4.) GOD’S CALLING IS HOLY OR PURE AND WE SHOULD HANDLE IT THAT WAY! 2 Timothy 1:9

(5.) WE DON’T DESERVE WHAT HE’S CALLED US TO! 2 Timothy 1:9

(6.) HIS PURPOSE IS MOST IMPORTANT ABOVE ALL ELSE! 2 Timothy 1:9

(7.) GOD SET YOUR PURPOSE IN CHRIST BEFORE YOU WERE BORN! 2 Timothy 1:9

III.

Why is it important to understand His purpose? IT’S THE ONLY WAY TO TRUE FULFILLMENT IN THIS LIFE! Purpose is the source of fulfillment.  Purpose gives life meaning. Phil. 3:12 apprehend what Christ apprehended me for.

IV.

HOW DOES GOD TRANSFORM A MAN OR WOMAN BY HIS PURPOSE?

A. God kills or BREAKS you: what do I mean? Your flesh. Because we are living in ourselves and the flesh can’t please or fulfill the purpose of God. Example: Jesus (Luke 4:1-14, Mat. 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13); Paul: 2 Cor.12:7-10(1-6): What is God’s method of killing you? He often uses trouble
(suffering) to get you in a place of obedience: Christ learned obedience thru the things that he suffered. Then he teaches you how to overcome the trouble (John 16:33, 1John 5:4)

B. EXAMPLES OF GOD BREAKING: MOSES; JOSEPH- hated by his brothers, sold into slavery, potipher’s wife accuses him & sent to prison; ABRAHAM: Gen. 12- causes to leave family, famine, makes promise & takes long time & then kill the promise, PAUL

C. Why does God want to BREAK you (your flesh)? SO THAT YOU CAN COME TO THE END OF YOURSELF AND HE CAN FORM THE IMAGE OF HIS SON IN YOU: Romans 8:29; 2 Cor. 3:12-18,

D. 1 peter 4:12 strange trial. GOD USES THEM TO BREAK YOU & IT WONT KILL YOU BUT IT WILL BUILD YOU! BUILD YOU HOW: IT BUILDS YOU TO BE WHAT AND WHO GOD NEEDS YOU TO BE TO FULFILL HIS PURPOSE.

E. After God Builds you to fulfill his purpose, then HIS purpose DRIVES you: Acts 20:17-24

Philippians 2:13 (TMSG) 13That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.

Title: Identifying Points of Purpose and Deciding Priorities of Purpose

Introduction:
As we saw in our last post that God can place something in us that can point us to our purpose. PASSION is a key word when it comes to purpose, because oftentimes God places a passion for his cause inside us. It can be disguised by certain emotions of passion such as ANGER and ANGER can be misdirected. When we don’t seek God in how to display our anger and how we can use it to Glorify him and direct it properly, it can cause us problems initially the way that it did with Moses and Saul

(later called the Apostle Paul). Let’s talk about other emotions or feelings that can be God induced that will point us toward our purpose. This is a continuation from our last post.

(h.) BURDEN (or Sorrow): something that is carried : LOAD,

RESPONSIBILITY

Nehemiah 1:1-4 (KJV)
1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,
2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning
Jerusalem.
3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the
gates thereof are burned with fire.
4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,

DUTY,

Nehemiah’s passion was properly directed. He heard Jerusalem wasn’t rebuilt and it stirred something on the inside of him that caused him to WANT TO ACT.

(J.) JESUS GIVES US THE PERFECT ROAD MAP TO FINDING OUR PURPOSE. Here are some of the things that he said:

(1.) Luke 2:49 (KJV)
49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?

(2.) John 4:34 (KJV) 34Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

(3.) Luke 22:42 (KJV) 42Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

(4.) John 18:37 (ESV) 37Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Point # 1: Purpose is something after discovering it, you are willing to Give your life for, like Jesus, Paul, Moses, Nehemiah,

Point # 2: Purpose always starts with God and his will or purpose

Point # 3: To discover your purpose, you must CONNECT with your Creator

Point #4: FORGET ABOUT TITLES, POSITIONS, AND TIME

Point # 5: So what am I talking about urpose is discovered through RELATIONSHIP (A state of connectedness between people (especially an emotional connection) AND COMMUNION (Fellowship; communion; to live with; to share; to be in union, in partnership, in a bound fellowship; to be closely bound together; to have a close, mutual relationship. BY THAT I MEAN A RELATIONSHIP & COMMUNION WITH GOD HIMSELF.

Practical Application as it pertains to you and your relationship with God It means to be so closely bound together that there is open and mutual sharing: what one has belongs to the other. The point is clear: there is no such fellowship or union between light and darkness. On the contrary, light and darkness are mutually exclusive, of different natures entirely. They cannot coexist.

Philippians 2:13 (TMSG) 13That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.

Introduction:
As we saw in our last post that God can place something in us that can point us to our purpose. PASSION is a key word when it comes to purpose, because oftentimes God places a passion for his cause inside us. It can be disguised by certain emotions of passion such as ANGER and ANGER can be misdirected. When we don’t seek God in how to display our anger and how we can use it to Glorify him and direct it properly, it can cause us problems initially the way that it did with Moses and Saul (later called the Apostle Paul). Let’s talk about other emotions or feelings that can be God induced that will point us toward our purpose. This is a continuation from our last post.

(h.) BURDEN (or Sorrow): something that is carried : LOAD,RESPONSIBILITY

Nehemiah 1:1-4 (KJV)
1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,
2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning
Jerusalem.
3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the
gates thereof are burned with fire.
4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, Nehemiah’s passion was properly directed. He heard Jerusalem wasn’t rebuilt and it stirred something on the inside of him that caused him to WANT TO ACT.

(J.) JESUS GIVES US THE PERFECT ROAD MAP TO FINDING OUR
PURPOSE. Here are some of the things that he said:

(1.) Luke 2:49 (KJV)
49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?

(2.) John 4:34 (KJV) 34Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

(3.) Luke 22:42 (KJV) 42Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

(4.) John 18:37 (ESV) 37Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Point # 1: Purpose is something after discovering it, you are willing to Give your life for, like Jesus, Paul, Moses, Nehemiah,

Point # 2: Purpose always starts with God and his will or purpose
Point # 3: To discover your purpose, you must CONNECT with your Creator
Point #4: FORGET ABOUT TITLES, POSITIONS, AND TIME
Point # 5: So what am I talking about?  Purpose is discovered through RELATIONSHIP (A state of connectedness between people (especially an emotional connection) AND COMMUNION (Fellowship; communion; to live with; to share; to be in union, in partnership, in a bound fellowship; to be closely bound together; to have a close, mutual relationship. BY THAT I MEAN A RELATIONSHIP & COMMUNION WITH GOD HIMSELF.

Practical Application as it pertains to you and your relationship with God It means to be so closely bound together that there is open and mutual sharing: what one has belongs to the other. The point is clear: there is no such fellowship or union between light and darkness. On the contrary, light and darkness are mutually exclusive, of different natures entirely. They cannot coexist.

Title: The Discipline of Fasting Part 4

Introduction:
God delights in us seeking his face through fasting and prayer and he will respond to us if we do it correctly. In fact in an earlier lesson we see that God expects us to fast. Jesus said in Matthew chapter 6 verse 16 “Moreover when ye fast”; he expected us to fast. He also pointed out how God would respond to us. So in this lesson let’s explore together the richness of God’s response to us when we fast with the right heart and attitudes and the way that he requires us to. Let’s look at the benefits in approaching our Heavenly Father through fasting and prayer. This is a continuation from last week.

(B.)

(6.) vs. 8. (light, health, righteousness, glory): YOU CAN BE ASSURED OF GOD’S INVOLVEMENT IN YOUR LIFE!

(7.) vs. 9 (call=answer, cry=here I am): YOU CAN BE ASSURED OF ANSWERED PRAYER AND THAT GOD IS ALWAYS PRESENT IN YOUR LIFE!

BLESSINGS OF A GOD FAVORED FAST (VS. 8-14)

THE PREREQUISTE IS TO TAKE THE YOKE AWAY, PUTTING FORTH OF THE FINGER, & SPEAKING VANITY

Vs. 10 THE LORD WILL CAUSE YOU TO BE SEEN SO HE CAN BE GLORIFIED. Matthew 5:14-16 :your light Will shine bright to your generation

Vs. 11 THE LORD WILL GUIDE YOU THRU LIFE!

Vs. 11 THE LORD WILL MEET YOUR NEEDS!  (SATISFY-FILL TO SATISFACTION)

Vs. 11 THE LORD WILL MAKE YOU (ABUNDANTLY PRODUCTIVE CONTINUALLY!)  John7:38

Vs. 12 GOD WILL ANOINT YOU TO REPAIR, (RESTORE AND DIRECT LIVES TO HIS PRESENCE!)

Vs. 13-14 YOU WILL COMMUNE WITH THE (FATHER MORE INTIMATELY!)

B. Personal Benefits of Fasting & Prayer

(1.) DRAWS US TO GOD AND GOD TO US! James 4:8; Matthew 6:17-18

(2.) GETS GOD’ ATTENTION! Matthew 6:18 (See in secret); Isaiah 58:3-4 (see & to be heard on high)

(3.) PREPARES AND STRENGTHENS US FOR SERVICE! Luke 4:14 power of Spirit

(4.) CONSECRATES US UNTO GOD! Job 23:12

(5.) PREPARES US FOR SPIRITUAL WARFARE! Matthew 17:21

(6.) OPENS US UP TO THE SPIRITUAL REALM AND MAKES US MORE SENSITIVE TO WHAT GOD IS DOING AROUND US! Daniel 10:1-14

Title: The Discipline of Fasting Part 3

Introduction: In part 3 of the discipline of fasting we will explore the inner qualities of the person or group that’s fasting for spiritual purposes. Oftentimes we fast for the wrong reasons and have the wrong attitudes when we come before God. In Isaiah chapter 58 we find God commanding his servant to cry out and show his people where they came short in seeking his favor in there lives. These principles and concepts still apply to us today when it comes to prayer and fasting. Let’s take a look.

GOD’S PURPOSE FOR FASTING: Isaiah 58:1-14

A. It is important to note the type of fast that does not please God as well as the ones’ that do.

(1.) IMPROPER ATTTITUDES AND MINDSETS (Isa. 58:1-4)

(a.) Not dealing with any REBELLION in our lives

(b.) Not dealing with any SIN in our lives

(c.) Consumed with what PLEASES ME

(d.) Dishonest in FINANCIAL MATTERS

(e.) Unwillingness to dissolve DISCORD AMONG US

(2.) TREATING FASTING AS AN EMPTY RITUAL (Fasting should assist in CHANGING YOUR LIFE. It’s not an empty ritual.)

(3.) Thus, the PURPOSE OF FASTING AS WITH ALL WORSHIP IS TO CHANGE THE WORSHIPER!

(4.) In other words, FASTING is to CHANGE YOU AND HOW YOU APPROACH GOD! (vs. 1, they approached God with wrong attitudes & mindsets. READ Joel 2:12 (can read 12-
19)

(5.) GOD WANTS US TO FAST FOR THESE REASONS:

(a) To create true HUMILITY of the HEART and to abolish SELFISH PRIDE (vs. 5)

(b) To loose the bands of WICKEDNESS (vs.6)

(c) To undo HEAVY BURDENS (vs. 6)

(d) To free the OPPRESSED (vs. 6)

(e) To destroy every ENSLAVING YOKE or HABIT that you are bound to (vs. 6).

(f) FASTING IS ABOUT FREEDOM (loose bands, undo, free, destroy every yoke). IT’S ABOUT FREEING YOURSELF OF UNGODLY & UNWANTED BONDS OF HABITS, RELATIONSHIPS, ACTIONS, THOUGHTS, ETC.

(g) To OPEN our HEARTS to the POOR and NEEDY (vs. 7)

I.

(1.) FASTING IS A PART OF MY ASSIGNMENT! Every believer is expected to fast. Christ said “When ye fast.” He expects us to fast.

(2.) UNDERSTAND PRAYER AND FASTING GOES TOGETHER! Matthew 17:21; Acts 14:23; 1 Corinthians 7:5

(3.) ABANDON WRONG ATTITUDES IN FASTING!

Matthew 6:16-18

(a.) INSINCERITY! Matthew 6:16 not as hypocrites

(b.) RECOGNITION! Matthew 6:16 of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast.

There are several dangers that we face when we don’t abandon the wrong attitudes is fasting:
a. The danger of feeling super-spiritual.

b. The danger of changing one’s appearance and the way one acts and behaves making others take note of it.

(c.) FASTING WITH THE WRONG ATTITUDES HAS ITS REWARD! Vs. 16

(4.) ADOPT THE PROPER ATTITUDES IN FASTING!

(a.) FASTING IS TO BE DONE WITHOUT NOTICE! Vs. 18

(b.) FASTING IS TO BE TO GOD ALONE! Vs. 18

(c.) FASTING WITH PROPER ATTITUDES HAS A REWARD! Vs. 18

(5.) FORTIFY YOURSELF WITH THE WORD DURING FASTING TO PREPARE FOR THE TEMPTATION OF THE ENEMY! Luke 4:1-2