7 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2022

Monday, January 10, 2022 – January 16, 2022

It is imperative that we pray at least (3) times daily throughout this week of Prayer & Fasting (Daniel 6:10). It’s not just about abstaining from foods; it’s about developing a “listening ear” through prayer unto God.

We will be praying for our world, our nation, the Church (Body of Christ), lost souls, families and then our own personal relationship with Christ .

Fasting

Fasting is one of the most powerful weapons God has ever given us for our daily lives.

We all go through times when we feel like we are not living up to our full potential. Sometimes we lose our energy and our spiritual sharpness . . . this causes us to lose our edge.

What does it really mean to lose your edge?

When a lumberjack keeps swinging away at the tree without sharpening his ax, the ax will soon become dull and ineffective. In much the same way, that can happen to us.

Going through our daily routines in our own strength wears us down. Little by little, we lose our closeness to God. Without that closeness, we become ineffective for the purposes His has for us.

Fasting can help you get back your passion! It can recharge you!

Although fasting lasts for a short season, it brings long-term results, which sharpens us, enabling us to face the challenges of life in His strength. Through fasting, you can experience spiritual renewal and direction for your life . . . restoration of relationship . . . healing . . . release from bondages . . . and so much more!

We begin year 2022 with 7 days of fasting. Fasting in January is much like praying in the morning to establish the will of God for your entire day. I believe that if we will pray and seek God and give Him our first and best at the beginning of the year, He will honor that sacrifice and bless our ENTIRE year! “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Mathew 6:33).

But when you make fasting a way of life, you get even closer to God and grow in your spiritual walk like never before. Making fasting a lifestyle is like a lumberjack who takes time to rest and sharpen his ax periodically to be able to effectively finish the job set before him.

Fasting can help you Recover Your Passion, Recapture Your Dream and Restore Your Joy!

Fasting is a principle that God intended for everyone to practice. It is not a punishment; it is a privilege!

Make fasting a “lifestyle”! Join us, and thousands from around the world, in the Fasting Movement .

What Is Fasting?

Biblical fasting is refraining from food for a spiritual purpose.

Prayer and fasting is defined as voluntarily going without food in order to focus on prayer and fellowship with God. Prayer and fasting often go hand in hand,You can pray without fasting. When Prayer and fasting are combined and dedicated to God’s glory they reach their full effectiveness. Having a dedicated time of prayer and fasting is not a way of manipulating God into doing what you desire. Rather, it is simply forcing yourself to focus and rely on God for the strength, provision, wisdom you need and gain a deeper fellowship with God. By taking our eyes off the things of this world through prayer and biblical fasting, we can focus better on Christ.

 

 

 

Fasting has always been practiced by true believers.

Fasting helps subject our bodies to our spirits. (I Cor 9:27)

Fasting is disciplining the body, mind, and spirit. (Prov. 25:28)

Fasting is subordinating our flesh-desires to our spirit-desires. (Gal 5:17)

Fasting helps set the priorities in our lives. (Mt 6:33)

Fasting is longing after God. (Ps 63:1-2)

Why Should We Fast?

1.Honor God – Mt 6:16-18, Luke 2:37, Acts 13:2, Mt 5:6

2.Humble Yourself – 2 Chron 7:14-15, Ps 35:13

3.Discerning Healing – I Cor 11:30, James 5:13-18, Isaiah 59:1-2

4.Deliverance from Bondage – Mt 17:21, Is 58:6-9 (loose bands of wickedness)

5.Revelation – God’s vision and will – Dan 9:3, 20-21, Dan 10:2-10, 12-13

6.Revival – personal and corporate – Acts 1:4, 14 / 2:16-21, Joel 2:12-18

7.Repentance – personal failures – Psalm 51: Jer. 29:11-14, James 4:8-10

8.Jesus fasted 40 days before He started His ministry. (Matt 4:12; Lk 4:14)

9.Fasting helps us become sensitive to the Holy Spirit. (Acts 13:2)

10.Helping us to deny our own flesh and crucify the carnal mind.

11.Fasting brings spiritual revival. (Dan 9:2,3)

12.Helping us to prevail in prayer and intercession.

13.Fasting is God’s Providence to give us a healthy lifestyle and it cannot be substituted by any other way. It is the privilege of the children of God.

14.To fellowship with God, have intimacy with Him and knowing Him.

15.To be made whole, healed and restored spiritually, physically, emotionally and psychologically. (Hos 6:1-2)

 

There are several types of Fasting. The one you chose is between you and God. He will honor your best sacrifice.

Full Fast

Drink only liquids (you establish the number of days).

The Daniel Fast

Eat no meat, no sweets and no bread. Drink water and juice. Eat fruits and vegetables.

3-Day Fast

This fast can be a Full Fast, Daniel Fast or give up at least one item of food.

 

Partial Fast

A partial fast is from 6:00 am to 3:00 pm or from sun up to sundown. You can select from three types of fasting —a Full Fast, Daniel Fast or give up at least one item of food.

Relation to Prayer and Reading of the Word:

1 Samuel 1:6-8, 17-18, Nehemiah 1:4, Daniel 9:3, 20, Joel 2:12, Luke 2:37, Acts 10:30, Acts 13:2

Corporate Fasting:

Examples of Corporate Prayer & Fasting

1 Samuel 7:5-6, Ezra 8:21-23, Nehemiah 9:1-3, Joel 2:15-16, Jonah 3:5-10, Acts 27:33-37

1 Samuel 7:5-6 5 Then Samuel said, “Assemble all Israel at Mizpah, and I will intercede with the Lord for you.” 6 When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the Lord. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the Lord.” Now Samuel was serving as leader[a] of Israel at Mizpah.

 

Ezra 8:21-23 21 There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. 22 I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.” 23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.

Nehemiah 9:1-3 The Israelites Confess Their Sins

9 On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their heads. 2 Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors. 3 They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the Lord their God.

 

Joel 2:15-16

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast,call a sacred assembly.16 Gather the people,consecrate the assembly;bring together the elders,gather the children,

those nursing at the breast.Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber.

 

Jonah 3:5-10 5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.

6 When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:

“By the decree of the king and his nobles:

Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”

10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.

 

Acts 27:33-37 33 Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. 34 Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” 35 After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. 36 They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37 Altogether there were 276 of us on board.

 

Remember that it is the attitude of a heart sincerely seeking Him to which God responds with a blessing (Isaiah 58, Jeremiah 14:12, 1 Corinthians 8:8). May God greatly bless you as you fast!

 

When you eliminate food from your diet for a number of days, your spirit becomes uncluttered by the things of this world and amazingly sensitive to the things of God. As David stated, “Deep calls unto deep” (Ps. 42:7). David was fasting. His hunger and thirst for God were greater than his natural desire for food. As a result, he reached a place where he could cry out from the depths of his spirit to the depths of God, even in the midst of his trial. Once you’ve experienced even a glimpse of that kind of intimacy with our God—our Father, the holy Creator of the universe—and the countless rewards and blessings that follow, your whole perspective will change. You will soon realize that fasting is a secret source of power this is overlooked by many.

 

A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. —Luke 6:40

During the years that Jesus walked this earth, He devoted time to teaching His disciples the principles of the kingdom of God, principles that conflict with those of this world. In the Beatitudes, specifically in Matthew 6, Jesus provided the pattern by which each of us is to live as a child of God. That pattern addressed three specific duties of a Christian: giving, praying, and fasting. Jesus said, “When you give…” and “When you pray…” and “When you fast.” He made it clear that fasting, like giving and praying, was a normal part of Christian life. As much attention should be given to fasting as is given to giving and to praying.

 

Solomon, when writing the books of wisdom for Israel, made the point that a cord, or rope, braided with three strands is not easily broken (Eccles. 4:12). Likewise, when giving, praying, and fasting are practiced together in the life of a believer, it creates a type of threefold cord that is not easily broken. In fact, as I’ll show you in a moment, Jesus took it even further by saying, “Nothing will be impossible” (Matt. 17:20).

Could we be missing our greatest breakthroughs because we fail to fast? Remember the thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and hundredfold return Jesus spoke of (Mark 4:8, 20)? Look at it this way: when you pray, you can release that thirtyfold return, but when both prayer and giving are part of your life, I believe that releases the sixtyfold blessing. But when all three—giving, praying, and fasting—are part of your life, that hundredfold return can be released!

If that’s the case, you have to wonder what blessings are not being released. What answers to prayer are not getting through? What bondages are not being broken because we fail to fast?

 

Matthew tells the story of a father who had a demon-possessed son. For years he watched helplessly as his son suffered severe convulsions. As he grew older, the attacks became so severe that the boy would often throw himself into an open fire or a trench of water. A suicidal spirit tormented him constantly; the situation became life-threatening.

 

Having exhausted every attempt to cure the boy—even talking him to the disciples with no avail—the father’s plight seemed impossible. Then he heard that Jesus was near. Going to the Master, he cried, “Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for often times he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him” (Matt. 17:15, KJV).

When the boy was brought to Jesus, the Bible ways He “rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour” (v. 18, KJV). But what made the difference? After all, Matthew 10:1 records that Jesus had already given the disciples power to cast out evil spirits and to heal every disease. So why couldn’t the disciples cast out the demon and cure the boy?

That’s what they wanted to know, too, so later that night, when they were alone with Jesus, they asked Him. Jesus replied, “Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting” (Matt. 17:20–21, KJV).

 

Long before this incident, the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness, where He spent forty days and forty nights, taking no food. “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” For Jesus, casting out that stubborn demon wasn’t impossible.

 

If Jesus could have accomplished all He came to do without fasting, why would He fast? The Son of God fasted because He knew there were supernatural things that could only be released that way. How much more should fasting be a common practice in our lives?

Fasting Is for Everyone

Perhaps you’re thinking, “I still don’t know how fasting can really be for me.” According to the words of Jesus, it is the duty of every disciple and every believer to fast. When addressing the Pharisees as to why His disciples did not fast, Jesus replied, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days” (Luke 5:34–35).

Then they will fast. Jesus didn’t expect His disciples to do something He hadn’t doen as well. Jesus fasted, and according to the words of Peter, Jesus is our example in all things (1 Pet. 2:21).

-Fasting brings rewards.

There’s another vital point that I want you to see in Matthew 6: God delights in giving rewards. Not only that, but He says that when giving, praying and fasting are practiced in your life, He will “reward you openly.”

A good example of such open reward can be found in Daniel. While in Babylonian captivity, his fasting—even partial fasting of certain foods—brought about the open reward of God, who blessed Daniel with wisdom beyond that of anyone else in that empire.

 

Later, in chapter 10, Daniel was grieved and burdened with the revelation he had received for Israel. He ate no choice breads or meats and drank no wine for three weeks. Then he describes the angel that was sent to him—which had been delayed by the prince of Persia for twenty-one days—with the answers Daniel sought. His fast broke the power of the delayer and released the angels of God so that God’s purpose could be revealed and served.

 

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Do you desire to know God’s will for your life, whom you should marry, or what you should do in a critical situation? Fasting brings you to a place of being able to clearly hear God’s will.

 

Fasting demonstrates repentance.

Joel prophesy of judgment upon unfaithful Israel was followed by a divine call to ward off judgment through a fast of repentance. The Lord beckoned, “Even now,?declares the LORD, Return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.? Quote; (See Joel 2:12-13.) Similarly, James exhorts New Testament believers with these words: “Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (See James 4:8-10.) Fasting demonstrates the brokenness of a heart that is truly repentant for sin.

The Daniel Fast

Step 1: Be Specific
Daniel was not vague in his objection to the Babylonian diet. He defined the problem immediately.

  1. The king’s food was against dietary laws.

  2. Daniel and his friends had vowed against wine.

  3. The king’s food had been offered up to idols/demons.

Step 2: Fast as a Spiritual Commitment
The Daniel Fast involves a spiritual commitment to God. “Daniel proposed in his heart that he would not defile himself” (Daniel 1:8).

Step 3: Reflect Inner Desire by Outer Discipline
Many people have an inner desire for better health, but they can’t discipline themselves to avoid junk food, and other foods that are not good for their health. The physical health you seek from God may be more than an answer to prayer. Your physical health can be linked to any of the following factors:

  1. Your food choices.

  2. The level of your spiritual commitment as reflected in constant prayer during the fast.

  3. Your time commitment. If you determine to fast for a certain time, keep it. For example, if you determine to fast 10 days, don’t stop on Day 9.

  4. Your testimony commitment. Your fast is a statement of faith to God that you want Him to heal your body, and faith is foundational to the Daniel Fast.

Step 4: Pray to Perceive Sin’s Role in Poor Health
Notice James 5:13-16:

  • Sin is something related to the cause of sickness.

  • Lack of health/healing may be the result of spiritual rebellion.

  • Lack of health/healing may be due to sin of wrong intake, i.e. drugs, pornography.

  • Repentance is linked to health according to James.

  • Elders have a role in healing both spiritual and physical health.

  • Sick people must desire to be well

  • The anointing oil could mean

  1. Medicine for healing,

  2. Symbolic of the Holy Spirit, or

  3. It could be baptism

  • Prayer alone may not gain healing, faith is the major factor.

  • In Greek there are several words for “sick”. James uses “Kanino”, which not only includes disease, but also means weak or weary.

  • Attitude is important. James said, “are there any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.”

Step 5: Fast as a Statement of Faith to Others
Daniel was making a statement of faith when he asked for only vegetables to eat and water to drink, then dared the overseer to compare the appearance of the four sons of Israel with the young men who ate the king’s food.

Step 6: Learn the Effects of the Food You Eat
Why are some foods good for us, and other foods not? What does certain food do to your body? If we really knew, there would likely be some things we would never eat again.

Step 7: Yield All Results to God
Daniel said, “as you see fit, deal with your servants” (Dan. 1:13).
FOOD GUIDELINES FOR A DANIEL FAST

Daniel 1:12
“Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.”

Daniel 10:3 KJV
“I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.”

When going on a Daniel fast, or any type of fast, if you have questions outside of what Scripture says, prayerfully seek the Lord and be led by the Spirit for the specifics for your personal fast.

Whether you are beginning a Private Fast or Fasting Corporately as we do here at Gospel Outreach Center every year, I believe you will find these tips helpful.

 

FASTING TIPS

1) Preparing to Fast (Esther 4:16)

  1. a) Get your heart and mind ready, set your mind clearly on the objective of fasting, and maintain a thankful heart.

  2. b) Write down the clear objectives for fasting; add a clause of flexibility, so that God may speak His objective.

  3. c) Pray and commit to a type of fast, asking God for grace to remain determined.

  4. d) Plan your calendar

Conserve your energy and devote more time to prayer and reading God’s Word.

  1. e) Prepare spiritually

Fine tune your mindset, make known to God that you desire to weaken the flesh so as to be close to the Lord spiritually. Allow the Spirit of God to direct the mind, to direct the body for renewal action, meaning: getting ready to change.

  1. f) Prepare physically

  2. h) Pray daily and read the Bible.

Don’t overeat before fasting. On the contrary, reduce food intake gradually until the day of fasting. Avoid food that is high in calories. Eat only salad and fruits three days before fasting.

Preparing Spiritually

Confess your sins to God. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of weakness.

 

Forgive all who have offended you and ask forgiveness from those you may have offended (Mark 11:25; Luke 11:4;17:3-4).

 

Surrender your life fully to Jesus Christ and reject the worldly desires that try to hinder you (Romans 12:1-2).

Deciding What to Fast

The type of fasting you choose is up to you. You could go on a full fast in which you only drink liquids, or you may desire to fast like Daniel, who abstained from sweets and meats, and the only liquid he drank was water. Remember to replace that time with prayer and Bible study.

Deciding How Long

You may fast as long as you like. Most can easily fast from one to three days, but you may feel the grace to go longer, even as much as 21 to 40 days. Use wisdom and pray for guidance.

Beginners are advised to start slow.

What to Expect

When you fast your body detoxifies, eliminating toxins from your system. This can cause mild discomfort such as headaches and irritability during withdrawal from caffeine and sugars. And naturally, you will have hunger pains. Limit your activity and exercise moderately. Take time to rest. Fasting brings about miraculous results. You are following Jesus’ example when you fast.

Spend time listening to praise and worship. Pray as often as you can throughout the day. Get away from the normal distractions as much as possible and keep your heart and mind set on seeking God’s face.

 

During the Fast (Mat 6:16-18)

  1. a) Read the Word of God and fellowship with God

b)Talk with and listen to God; try to hear the voice of God, once

you hear, verify with the Holy Bible. Then wait for a season to confirm. Once confirmed, put it into action and let no one stop you.

c)Seek the Lord

Pray and read God’s Word during meal times. Join at least one prayer meeting.

Be ready to respond when you hear from God.

Whatever God makes known to you, make restitution immediately. Change any habits immediately. Be accountable to someone for your renewal.

 

Practical tips

  1. Avoid medical and even natural herbal drugs

  2. Limit your physical activity and exercise

  3. Rest as much as you can

  4. Maintain an attitude of prayer throughout the day

  5. Allow for temporary bouts of physical weakness, impatience, irritability and anxiety as your body adjusts.

 

Fasting is not recommended:

The following are among groups fasting is generally not recommended:

  • People who are pregnant or breast-feeding,

  • Children and teenagers since they are still growing and developing (in the bible only adults are known to have been permitted to fast),

  • People in their senior or elderly years since their body organs need a consistent flow of body fluids and nutrients,

  • People who are recovering from illness, injury or surgery (operation),

  • People who are highly underweight,

  • People who have diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, heart disease, and other chronic health problems.

The rest of us with healthy bodies it’s merely a choice we make – to fast or not to fast. As far as God is concerned health limitations are the only worthy excuse, not busy careers, family obligations or environmental factors.

How to End-Breaking the Fast (Acts 14:23)

  1. One hour before- pray harder and thank God for such grace of the opportunity to have intimacy with God through fasting.

  2. Reintroduce solid food gradually in small portions throughout the day. Start with fruits, juices and salad.

  3. Continue praying-Let the momentum you gained during the past transform your prayer and devotional life.

  4. Expect Results

Persevere in prayer. Keep a copy of your prayer points, giving thanks to God as you see how He answers your prayers at the end of the year.

 

Bible Characters Who Fasted

  • Moses fasted twice for 40 days-Following his first fast, Moses received the Law. The second was to turn God’s wrath away from God’s sinful people. Deuteronomy 9:9,18,19

 

  • Hannah, for a child. She was barren and deeply distraught. God gave her release from inner turmoil. Then He gave her a baby boy, Samuel, who grew into a mighty man of God. I Samuel 1:7,8

 

  • Elijah fasted for 40 days while fleeing in fear from wicked Jezebel, who threatened to have him killed. God gave him comfort, boldness and instructions to go back the way he came and anoint new prophets. 1 Kings 19

 

  • King David for seven days that God might heal his dying, infant child, conceived illegitimately with Bathsheba. The baby died, yet David experienced God’s wonderful peace through this incredible trauma. 2 Samuel 12:16-23

 

  • Proclaimed by King Jehoshaphat – When he and his army were surrounded by enemies and destruction seemed imminent. After proclaiming the fast, they rejoiced with praises and God destroyed their enemies. 2 Chronicles 20

  • Proclaimed by Ezra – Prior to a very perilous journey to Jerusalem. Ezra 8

 

  • Nehemiah – For restoration of the city he loved (Jerusalem). Nehemiah 1:4

 

  • Proclaimed by Queen Esther – For the entire nation to fast for three days without food or water. They were on the brink of annihilation. Esther 4

 

  • Daniel‘s partial fast of 21 days – He received a vision and revelation of end times. Daniel 9

 

  • Proclaimed by the King of Nineveh– With national repentance to avert disaster through God’s wrath. Jonah 3

 

  • Jesus for 40 days. If God in human flesh fasted, how much more ought we? Matthew 4:2

 

  • John the Baptist – He and his disciples fasted often, as did the Pharisees. Matthew 9:14,15

 

  • Anna – A widow who dedicated herself to prayer and fasting and is honored in the eternal Word of God. Luke 2:37

 

  • Paul the Apostle– He fasted for three days after meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus (while still known as Saul of Tarsus). Acts 9:9 He later wrote in 2 Corinthians 11 that he fasted often.

 

  • Isaiah 58 is the fasting chapter. Read and study it to discover the many benefits of fasting when done God’s way.

  •  

Scriptural Teachings& Examples of Prayer

  • using it to overcome temptation. Genesis 3:1-6;Matthew 26:40-41

  • does it change God’s mind? Genesis 18:20-33

  • ask God anything but expect anything. Genesis18:33

  • don’t be afraid to ask. Genesis 25:21

  • why God may withhold an answer. Genesis 25:21

  • turn your worries into. Genesis 32:9-12;Philippians 4:6-7

  • balancing prayer with action. Exodus 14:15

  • instead of complaining. Exodus 17:2

  • changes attitudes and events. Exodus 32:9-14;Acts 12:5

  • make sure you really want what you ask for. Numbers 11:4-9

  • helps us remember God’s goodness. Deuteronomy 8:10

  • of Joshua. Joshua 7:7-9

  • why God may not be answering yours. Judges 13:18; 1 Samuel 28:15; 2 Samuel 7:8-16

  • don’t let guilt feelings keep you from praying. Judges 16:28-30

  • when discouraged. 1 Samuel 1:10

  • be careful what you promise God in prayer. 1Samuel 1:11

  • is failing to pray for others a sin? 1 Samuel 12:23

  • how David responded to God’s “no” answer. 1Chronicles 17:16-20; 1 Chronicles 22:7-10

  • lessons from Solomon’s dedication prayer. 2 Chronicles 6:19-42

  • what to request of God. 1 Kings 8:56-60

  • don’t always expect immediate answers. 2 Chronicles 7:12

  • Hezekiah saved a nation. 2 Kings 19:1-7

  • how Hezekiah approached God. 2 Kings 19:15-19

  • Jabez remembered. 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

  • serious prayer. Ezra 8:23

  • what it clarifies for us. Nehemiah 1:5

  • spontaneous prayer. Nehemiah 2:4

  • combining prayer with preparation. Nehemiah 4:9

  • for your children. Job 1:5

  • assurance of answered prayer brings peace. Psalm3:5

  • God hears every one. Psalm 4:3

  • the secret to a close relationship with God. Psalm5:1-3

  • pray even when God seems far away. Psalm 10:1

  • moving from prayer to praise. Psalm 54:3-4

  • a weapon against evil. Psalm 55:17

  • can release tensions of emotional stress. Psalm62:3-6

  • places our focus on God. Psalm 77:1-12

  • Psalm 122:6-9

  • Why many are afraid to talk with god. Isaiah 7:12

  • Can change events. Isaiah 38:1-5

  • In the midst of panic. Daniel 2:16-18

  • How do you react to answered prayer? Daniel2:19-23

  • Daniel’s disciplined prayer life. Daniel 6:10

  • We can pray anywhere anytime. Jonah 2:1

  • Using it to look holy. Matthew 6:5-6

  • Shallow repetition. Matthew 6:7-8

  • Matthew 6:7-8; Colossians 4:2

  • The lord’s prayer. Matthew 6:9

  • Discernment to ask for the right things. Matthew7:9-10

  • God’s attitude toward ours. Matthew 7:11

  • Importance of praying alone. Matthew 14:23

  • Relying on the holy spirit. Matthew 18:19-20

  • Can we ask for anything? Matthew 21:22; mark10:38-40

  • Finding time to pray. Mark 1:35

  • Keys to effective prayer. Mark 9:29

  • Mark 11:22-23

  • Jesus’ prayer in the garden. Mark 14:35-36

  • How and when god answers. Luke 1:13

  • Should precede important decisions. Luke 6:12;james 5:16-18

  • Puts us under god’s control. Luke 6:19

  • Important to evangelism. Luke 10:2

  • What “constant” prayer means. Luke 18:1

  • Lessons from Jesus’ longest prayer. John 17:1

  • Jesus prayed for us too. John 17:20

  • Using it to make decisions. Acts 1:12-13

  • Early believers’ prayers are a model for us. Acts4:24-30

  • Don’t be surprised when god answers. Acts12:13-15; Romans 1:9-10

  • God responds at the right time. Galatians 4:4

  • How to pray for others. Colossians 1:9-14

  • 1 timothy 2:1-4

  • Pray for government leaders. 1 timothy 2:2

  • What hinders prayer. 1 timothy 2:8

  • With reverence yet bold assurance. Hebrews 4:16

  • Christian leaders need our prayers. Hebrews13:18-19

  • Most common problems. James 4:2-3

  • Part of god’s healing process. James 5:15

  • Rather than revenge. 1 peter 3:9

  • Praying in god’s will. 1 john 5:14-15

Word of the day

DECISIONS OR CHOICES

B. MAKE CHOICES WHICH VALUE GODLINESS OVER GREED.

By faith, Abram had already renounced everything visible and opted for the unseen promises of God. So he had no need, as Lot did, to choose by sight.

Lot chose by sight and ended up spiritually and financially bankrupt.

He escaped Sodom with the clothes on his back and fades out living in a cave.

The things he saw and got didn’t bring him the lasting happiness he expected.

Abram chose by faith
,
not by sight, and ended up spiritually and financially blessed, seeing and possessing by faith the whole land of Canaan, although he died owning only a burial plot. Lot lived for greed and came up empty. Abram lived for God and came up full.
 


Word of the day

DECISIONS OR CHOICES

 
Many choices in life don’t seem significant At the time they, But those choices set in motion a series of events which shape our lives, our children and our grandchildren.
 
Sometimes people make unwise choices which aren’t momentous in themselves, but they lead to tragedies:
 
A teenager chooses to ride with a friend who has been drinking, resulting in a serious accident and the loss of life. A girl decides to have a drink at a party, resulting in her letting down her inhibitions. She ends up pregnant or with a venereal disease. Since seemingly small decisions can have such momentous consequences, how can we protect ourselves from making wrong choices?
 

The story of Lot’s choice (Gen. 13:5-18) teaches a crucial lesson about life’s choices:

-Since choices often result in eternally significant consequences, we must choose in line with God’s principles.

Basic principles on making choices

  1. MAKE CHOICES WHICH VALUE RELATIONSHIPS OVER RIGHTS.

Note verse 8: “Please let there be no strife between you and me, … because we are brothers

.” Coming just after the statement about the Canaanites and Perizzites being in the land, this may point to Abram’s concern about how their strife would affect the witness to the pagans around them. How can God’s people bear witness for Him if the world sees them fighting among themselves?

 

Abram had a right to choose whatever land he wanted and let Lot take the leftovers. He was the older, the chief of the clan. God had promised the land to Abram, not to Lot. (Note, by the way, that even though Abram and Lot both had the freedom to choose, God’s sovereign purpose to give the land to Abram overruled their choices.)

But Abram graciously yielded his rights and trusted God to give him his portion. What mattered to Abram was, “We are brothers.” He valued his relationship with Lot over his right to choose the best land.

So much strife could be avoided in the family and in the 
church if we would put a premium on our relationships  
, set aside our rights, and let the Lord take care of us.
 
 


Word of the Day

Decisions.

Keys to help in making great decisions to avoid a life of regret and bitterness.

3.Acknowledge God in all our WAYS.

In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 
 
The verse does not say

“some” of your ways. The verse does not say “most” of your ways. The verse says “all” of your ways

. It means in everything you do. In every detail of your life – acknowledge God.
 
What does it mean to “acknowledge God” in “all your ways”? The Hebrew for “acknowledge” – “yada” – is also used in 1 Chronicles 28:9, when David encourages Solomon to “
know (yada) 
 the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and a willing mind.” Knowing God, acknowledging Him, leads to service with whole heart and mind.
 

1. Acknowledge His existence.

This is the most simple way we can acknowledge God. Hebrews 11:6 says,

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe the he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

2. Acknowledge His glory by your life.

Part of acknowledging God in all your ways is conforming your ways so that they bring glory to God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 states,

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

3. Acknowledge your death and Christ’s life in you – in short, your new identity.

This is probably the best part of acknowledging God in all your ways. Galatians 2:20 says,

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.


Word of the day

Decisions.

Keys to help in making great decisions to avoid a life of regret and bitterness.

2.Stop trying to be in CONTROL

“And do not lean on your own understanding” Proverbs 3:5b

Why are we told not lean on your own understanding? -Because we have limited understanding.

We do not understand everything. We do not see the entire picture. We do not have all the facts.
Let’s admit it – most of us think we can figure things out on our own. 
We can do just fine by ourselves – thank you.

But, if we’re serious about making wise decisions, we must fight against that internal inclination to trust in our own understanding. 
That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t use common sense or the wisdom that God gives us, but it does mean that we should not trust on our understanding for total support. 
If we try to figure out our life and handle every decision that comes our way, we will be in trouble.

Proverbs 28:26 (NKJV)
26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.


Word of the Day

Decisions.

Keys to help in making great decisions to avoid a life of regret and bitterness.

1.Trust in the LORD


-It is to rely on God and believe that He is big enough to take care of the situation. 
Trusting does not mean shutting our eyes to facts. There is no such thing as “blind faith.” Trust looks at things as they are. It sees the dangers that threaten, and assesses them at their true value. It sees the need, and does not try to disguise it. It sees the difficulties, and does not discount them. But seeing all this, it looks beyond and sees God, its all-sufficient help. It sees him greater than the needs or the dangers or the difficulties, and it does not shrink before them.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6


Word of the day

Resist the devil and he will flee from you. -James 4:7

 

Jesus has already defeated Satan.

The Pilgrim’s Progress is considered by some to be the second best-selling book after the Bible. If you have read it, you may remember that Christian was approaching a narrow passage as he traveled toward Porter’s lodge for the night. In the narrow passage he saw two lions. He was very afraid and considered turning back, fearing that nothing but death was before him.

But the porter at the lodge, whose name was Watchful, perceived that Christian was about to turn back, so he cried with a loud voice not to fear the lions because they were chained and could do him no harm. Christian then cautiously walked into the narrow passage, trembling with fear. He heard the lions roar, he felt their hot breath on his flesh, but they did him no harm because they were indeed on the chain. Christian arrived safely on the other side.

I have good news for you about the devil: Satan is a lion on a leash! The devil appears often as a roaring lion, but remember, this lion is on a leash.

 

THINK ABOUT IT—



Sunday July 30 2017 Sermon

Sermon July 30 2017

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Word of the day

God is not necessarily looking for ability, He is looking for availability.

Some Christians doubt that God can use them, because they don’t have any great talents or skills. However, God doesn’t necessarily look to use people with great talent; He examines the heart (see

1 Samuel 16:7). Paul wrote, in 1 Corinthians 1:26-27, Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God often chooses to use lowly people so that He can show His greatness through them. When you think you have it all together and have everything going in your favor, then you won’t lean on God—you’ll rely on your own strength. But if you know that you can’t do something on your own, then you’ll rely on God for strength—and that’s when God can show His greatness. Every single person has amazing potential to do great things for God. Regardless of your talents, you can do outstanding things for God. All God is looking for is people like David, who have a right heart that is open and available for God to work through.

If you find yourself broken and in obvious need of God’s help, don’t despair. God can use you anyway, because God is not necessarily looking for ability; He’s looking for availability
 


Word of the day

Foundation

Every builder knows that the foundation is critical to the stability and longevity of the structure.  If the foundation is faulty or compromised in some way, the result will be disaster. If you’re going to base your entire life on something, you want to know that it is solid. If you’re going to stake your 
eternity on that same thing, you really
 want to be sure that it is the truth. It would be utterly tragic to spend your life on a path that you thought led to heaven, only to find out too late that you were wrong!

 1 Corinthians 3:11 

For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
 


Word of the day

Stop And Smell The Roses

When was the last time you put down your to-do list and Twitter feed long enough to experience the good things happening around you? Laughter from the kids playing catch in the front yard, the dogwood full of blooms when winter seemed like it would keep it dead forever, affection from your spouse after a day spent apart — life is happening all around us. And it should be enjoyed.

In Song of Solomon 2:8-15, the girl and her lover describe a world worth being noticed and enjoyed. With excitement and joy, she describes the arrival of her man. Once united, he invites her come with him so they can enjoy the beauty around them together (Song of Solomon 2:11-13

). They show us enjoyment of life can be greatly enhanced through relationships.

Although Song of Solomon was written in a different, arguably more simple period of time, we can still learn from this couple. The lovers celebrated their joy through recognizing beauty in creation and in one another. God created the world, the beauty we see, the joy of love and sex, and gave us senses to enjoy them.

Don’t mistake Instagramming the romantic date you had with your partner for true enjoyment. Enjoying what God has given us will give life to our souls. Those moments aren’t easily captured in a photo or caption, and that’s OK.

Take time to enjoy what God has put around you today.

Reflect:

  • What is one obstacle that stops you from enjoying God’s blessings in your life? Are you too busy? Too distracted?
  • What’s one step you can take to experience the good things God has placed around you today?



Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 716 other subscribers

Previous Posts

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.