TAKE ME HIGHER AND DRAW ME

DEEPER OH LORD!

THE POWER OF PRAYER AND

FASTING

MATEO 6:5-8v.5 “At kapag nananalangin kayo, huwag kayong tumulad sa mga mapagpaimbabaw. Mahilig silang manalangin nang patayo sa mga sinagoga at sa mga panulukang-daan, upang makita ng mga tao. Sinasabi ko sa inyo: tinanggap na nila ang kanilang gantimpala.v.6 Ngunit kapag mananalangin ka, pumasok ka sa iyong silid at isara mo ang pinto. Saka ka manalangin sa iyong Amang hindi mo nakikita, at gagantihin ka ng iyong Amang nakakikita ng kabutihang ginagawa mo nang lihim.

v.7 “Sa pananalangin ninyo’y huwag kayong gagamit ng napakaraming salita, gaya ng ginagawa ng mga Hentil. Ang akala nila’y pakikinggan sila ng Diyos dahil sa dami ng kanilang salita.v.8 Huwag ninyo silang tutularan. Sapagkat alam na ng inyong Ama ang inyong kinakailangan bago pa ninyo hingin sa kanya.

MATEO 6:16-18v.16 “Kapag nag-aayuno kayo, huwag kayong magmukhang malungkot, tulad ng mga mapagpaimbabaw. Hindi sila nag-aayos upang malaman ng mga tao na sila’y nag-aayuno. Sinasabi ko sa inyo: tinanggap na nila ang kanilang gantimpala.v.17 Kapag ikaw ay nag-aayuno, mag-ayos ka ng buhok at maghilamos

v.18 upang huwag mapansin ng mga tao na nag-aayuno ka. Ang iyong Amang hindi mo nakikita ang siya lamang makaaalam nito. Siya, na nakakakita ng kabutihang ginagawa mo nang lihim, ang gaganti sa iyo.”

THE PURPOSE OF FASTING

A GOD-ORDAINED FAST CAN EMPOWER YOUR

PRAYERS AND RELEASE GOD’S POWER IN YOUR LIFE IN EXTRAORDINARY

WAYS!

FIVE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS1. IS THIS FAST GOD-LED AND GOD- ORDAINED?2. WHY AM I FASTING?3. WHAT NEEDS AM I FASTING FOR?4. WHAT RESULT AM I LOOKING FOR?5. HOW CAN I MINISTER TO THE LORD DURING THIS FAST?

DIFFERENT BIBLICAL FASTS1. 3 DAY FAST FOR CRISIS. ESTHER 4:162. 21 DAY PARTIAL FAST FOR REVELATION. DANIEL 10-2-33. 1 DAY FAST FOR SPIRITUAL EXAMINATION. LEVITICUS 23:27, PSALM 35:134. 1 DAY FAST TO HEAR FROM GOD. JUDGES 20:285. A FAST TO AVOID JUDGMENT. 1 KINGS 21: 27-29, JONAH 3:5-106. 3 DAY FAST FOR PHYSICAL HEALTH. 1

SAMUEL 30:11-127. 40 DAY FAST FOR DOMINION. LUKE 4:1-2

“TRUE SPIRITUAL FASTING IS AN OUTWARD EXPRESSION OF AN INWARD CRY OF THE SOUL.”

BENNY HINN

WHAT IS FASTING?FASTING IS THE DELIBERATE,

VOLUNTARY ABSTINENCE FROM FOOD FOR SPECIFIC TIME AND FOR THE

PURPOSE OF CONCENTRATED PRAYER.

1. FASTING IS ABOUT

SPIRITUAL FOCUS AND NOT NATURAL FOOD.

FASTING SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED WITH A HUNGER-STRIKE OR ANY OF THE EATING DISORDERS TODAY.

“A SPIRITUAL FAST IS AN ACT OF DEVOTION TO GOD DONE IN SECRET,

WHILE HUNGER STRIKE IS SELF SERVING AND A

VEHICLE FOR ATTRACTING PUBLIC

ATTENTION.’’BENNY HINN

JEREMIAS 36:4-7v.4 Kaya’t tinawag ni Jeremias si Baruc, anak ni Nerias. Isinalaysay niya rito ang lahat ng sinabi sa kanya ni Yahweh, at isinulat namang lahat ni Baruc.v.5 Pagkatapos, sinabi niya kay Baruc, “Ayaw na akong papasukin sa Templo.

v.6 Kaya, ikaw ang pumaroon sa araw ng pag-aayuno ng mga tao; basahin mo nang malakas ang kasulatang iyan upang marinig nila ang lahat ng sinabi sa akin ni Yahweh. Lumagay ka sa dakong ikaw’y maririnig ng lahat, pati ng mga Judiong nanggaling sa kani-kanilang lunsod.

v.7 Baka sa ganito’y maisipan nilang tumawag kay Yahweh at talikdan nila ang masamang pamumuhay sapagkat binabalaan na sila ni Yahweh na labis nang napopoot at galit na galit.”

2. FASTING INVOLVES

SAYING YES TO THE SPIRIT AND

NO TO THE FLESH.

FASTING IS A FORM OF CRUCIFIXION.

GALATIANS 5:24-25v.24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there. v.25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives.

FASTING FOCUSES ON THE SPIRITUAL MAN RATHER THAN THE

NATURAL MAN, FOR IT BRINGS THE BODY

UNDER SUBJECTION. 1 CORINTHIANS 9:27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

3. FASTING BRINGS GOD

ON THE SCENE.

JUDGES 20:18-30v.18 Before the battle the Israelites went to Bethel and asked God, "Which tribe should go first to attack the people of Benjamin?" The LORD answered, "Judah is to go first." v.19 So the Israelites left early the next morning and camped near Gibeah. v.20 Then they advanced toward Gibeah to attack the men of Benjamin.

v.21 But Benjamin's warriors, who were defending the town, came out and killed 22,000 Israelites on the battlefield that day. v.22 But the Israelites encouraged each other and took their positions again at the same place they had fought the previous day.

v.23 For they had gone up to Bethel and wept in the presence of the LORD until evening. They had asked the LORD, "Should we fight against our relatives from Benjamin again?" And the LORD had said, "Go out and fight against them." v.24 So the next day they went out again to fight against the men of Benjamin,

v.25 but the men of Benjamin killed another 18,000 Israelites, all of whom were experienced with the sword. v.26 Then all the Israelites went up to Bethel and wept in the presence of the LORD and fasted until evening. They also brought burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD.

v.27 The Israelites went up seeking direction from the LORD. (In those days the Ark of the Covenant of God was in Bethel, v.28 and Phinehas son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron was the priest.) The Israelites asked the LORD, "Should we fight against our relatives from Benjamin again, or should we stop?" The LORD said, "Go! Tomorrow I will hand them over to you."

v.29 So the Israelites set an ambush all around Gibeah. v.30 They went out on the third day and took their positions at the same place as before.

FASTING BROUGHT GOD TO THE SCENE, AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL PREVAILED

IN THE BATTLE OVER THE TRIBE OF

BENJAMIN.

CONCLUSIONTRUE SPIRITUAL FASTING SETS ASIDE NATURAL THINGS FOR A SPECIFIC TIME, SAYING NO TO THE FLESH AND YES TO THE SPIRIT,TO BRING ABOUT SUPERNATURAL RESULTS. IT BRINGS GOD ON THE SCENE, AND AS A SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE IT ALLOWS MORE TIME FOR PRAYER AND WAITING UPON THE LORD. IT WILL AFFECT YOUR CHRISTIAN WALK, BRINGING THE PRESENCE OF GOD DEARER AND NEARER TO YOU.

ANDREW MURRAYA GREAT MISSIONARY“PRAYER IS REACHING OUT AND AFTER THE UNSEEN; FASTING, LETTING GO OF ALL THAT IS SEEN AND TEMPORAL. FASTING HELPS EXPRESS, DEEPENS, CONFIRM THE RESOLUTION THAT WE ARE READY TO SACRIFICE ANYTHING, EVEN OURSELVES, TO ATTAIN WHAT WE SEEK, FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD.”

JOHN WESLEY18TH CENTURY ANGLICAN EVANGELIST“FIRST, LET FASTING BE DONE UNTO THE LORD WITH OUR EYE SINGLY FIXED ON HIM. LET OUR INTENTON HEREIN BE THIS, AND THIS ALONE, TO GLORIFY OUR FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN.”