FASTING FOR FRUITFULNESS

Transcription

1 GROW FASTING

2 FASTING FOR FRUITFULNESS

3 God s INTENTION for our FRUITFULNESS. John 15 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

4 Colossians 3 1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

5 Genesis 1 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

6 John Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

7 Biblical INTROSPECTION Concerning Our FRUITLESSNESS.

8 Biblical INTROSPECTION Concerning Our FRUITLESSNESS. 1. Is it a lack of INTIMACY? John 15 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

9 Biblical INTROSPECTION Concerning Our FRUITLESSNESS. 2. Is it IMMATURITY? 2 Peter 1 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

10 Biblical INTROSPECTION Concerning Our FRUITLESSNESS. 2. Is it IMMATURITY? 2 Peter 1 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

11 Biblical INTROSPECTION Concerning Our FRUITLESSNESS. 3. Is it INABILITY? Colossians 4 2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; 3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: 4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

12 Biblical INTROSPECTION Concerning Our FRUITLESSNESS. 3. Is it INABILITY? Colossians 4 5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

13 Biblical INTROSPECTION Concerning Our FRUITLESSNESS. 4. Is it INSENSITIVITY? Psalm They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

14 3 Things Your Pastors Are Asking You To Do Over The Next 5 Weeks

15 3 Things Your Pastors Are Asking You To Do Over The Next 5 Weeks 1. Pray for and walk thru open doors.

16 3 Things Your Pastors Are Asking You To Do Over The Next 5 Weeks 1. Pray for and walk thru open doors. 2. Pray for and invite lost people to church.

17 3 Things Your Pastors Are Asking You To Do Over The Next 5 Weeks 1. Pray for and walk thru open doors. 2. Pray for and invite lost people to church. 3. Fast and pray one 24 hour period each week for the above 2 things.

18 Note: The reason we so seldom have the opportunity to talk to PEOPLE about GOD Is we so seldom talk to GOD about PEOPLE.

19 1. DEVELOPING a Biblical MINDSET Regarding FASTING.

20 1. DEVELOPING a Biblical MINDSET Regarding FASTING. A. There is no POWER in FASTING, IN and OF itself.

21 1. DEVELOPING a Biblical MINDSET Regarding FASTING. A. There is no POWER in FASTING, IN and OF itself. B. The power of FASTING is the power of PRAYER.

22 1. DEVELOPING a Biblical MINDSET Regarding FASTING. A. There is no POWER in FASTING, IN and OF itself. B. The power of FASTING is the power of PRAYER. C. FASTING in the Bible is always connected to PRAYING.

23 1. DEVELOPING a Biblical MINDSET Regarding FASTING. D. We can PRAY biblically without FASTING But we cannot FAST biblically without PRAYING.

24 1. DEVELOPING a Biblical MINDSET Regarding FASTING. D. We can PRAY biblically without FASTING But we cannot FAST biblically without PRAYING. E. There are some situations where in order for our prayers to be ANSWERED, our praying must also include FASTING.

25 Matthew Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20 And Jesus said unto them, 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. 21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

26 1. DEVELOPING a Biblical MINDSET Regarding FASTING. D. We can PRAY biblically without FASTING But we cannot FAST biblically without PRAYING. E. There are some situations where in order for our prayers to be ANSWERED, our praying must also include FASTING. F. Jesus fully INTENDS and EXPECTS that we will FAST.

27 Matthew 9 14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? 15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

28 Acts 13 1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

29 1 Timothy 1 16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 2 Corinthians In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

30 2. DELINEATING a Biblical DEFINITION of FASTING.

31 2. DELINEATING a Biblical DEFINITION of FASTING. Note: The word translated FAST in both Testaments simply means Not to EAT; To ABSTAIN from FOOD.

32 2. DELINEATING a Biblical DEFINITION of FASTING. Note: The word translated FAST in both Testaments simply means Not to EAT; To ABSTAIN from FOOD. A biblical FAST, however, involves more than simply going without FOOD or WATER.

33 2 Corinthians Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

34 2 Corinthians In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

35 A biblical FAST is periodic, deliberate, voluntary, abstinence from food in order to accomplish a specific, God-directed, spiritual purpose.

36 A biblical FAST is periodic, deliberate, voluntary, abstinence from food in order to accomplish a specific, God-directed, spiritual purpose.

37 A biblical FAST is periodic, deliberate, voluntary, abstinence from food in order to accomplish a specific, God-directed, spiritual purpose.

38 A biblical FAST is periodic, deliberate, voluntary, abstinence from food in order to accomplish a specific, God-directed, spiritual purpose.

39 A biblical FAST is periodic, deliberate, voluntary, abstinence from food in order to accomplish a specific, God-directed, spiritual purpose.

40 A biblical FAST is periodic, deliberate, voluntary, abstinence from food in order to accomplish a specific, God-directed, spiritual purpose.

41 A biblical FAST is periodic, deliberate, voluntary, abstinence from food in order to accomplish a specific, God-directed, spiritual purpose.

42 A biblical FAST is periodic, deliberate, voluntary, abstinence from food in order to accomplish a specific, God-directed, spiritual purpose.

43 A biblical FAST is periodic, deliberate, voluntary, abstinence from food in order to accomplish a specific, God-directed, spiritual purpose.

44 3. DECIPHERING a Biblical EXPLANATION of FASTING.

45 3. DECIPHERING a Biblical EXPLANATION of FASTING. A. What FASTING is NOT:

46 3. DECIPHERING a Biblical EXPLANATION of FASTING. A. What FASTING is NOT: 1. Biblical FASTING is never an isolated ACT, or a CEREMONY, or a RITUAL that has some kind of inherent VALUE.

47 3. DECIPHERING a Biblical EXPLANATION of FASTING. A. What FASTING is NOT: 2. Biblical FASTING is never shown in scripture to be the MEANS to HEIGHTENED spiritual EXPERIENCES or VISIONS.

48 3. DECIPHERING a Biblical EXPLANATION of FASTING. A. What FASTING is NOT: 3. Biblical FASTING is not SELF-WROUGHT DISCIPLINE that attempts to DESERVE, EARN, MERIT or COERCE anything from God.

49 3. DECIPHERING a Biblical EXPLANATION of FASTING. B. What FASTING IS:

50 3. DECIPHERING a Biblical EXPLANATION of FASTING. B. What FASTING IS: 1. It seems biblical FASTING began as a result of a LOSS of APPETITE during times of great DISTRESS and GRIEF.

51 1 Samuel 1 7 And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.

52 1 Kings 21 4 And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.

53 3. DECIPHERING a Biblical EXPLANATION of FASTING. B. What FASTING IS: 2. Biblical FASTING is the SPONTANEOUS effect of a SUPERIOR SATISFACTION in God.

54 Job Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

55 3. DECIPHERING a Biblical EXPLANATION of FASTING. B. What FASTING IS: 3. Biblical FASTING could actually be called a HOMESICKNESS in your SOUL for GOD.

56 Psalm 42 1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

57 Psalm 84 2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the livin

58 Psalm 63 1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

59