Prayer and Fasting Guide 40Sixteen 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting for Revival

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1 Prayer and Fasting Guide 40Sixteen 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting for Revival Purpose: This guide has been compiled to assist persons who choose to seek Him through prayer and fasting. The 40-day 40Sixteen is a corporate time San Jose Baptist Church has set aside to seek the Lord and pursue revival through prayer and fasting. At the outset, we must remember that this spiritual emphasis is to be entered into voluntarily. Although we may invite, encourage, and challenge people to join in this pursuit, there is no desire to make this a legalistic endeavor and no one should enter such a commitment under compulsion, coercion or pressure. This document is designed to give you an overview of the discipline of fasting from both a biblical and practical perspective. There has been an attempt to answer the why of fasting as well as the how. You will notice that the majority of the guide deals with fasting rather than prayer. Why? In most Christian settings, believers have been exposed to much more information on prayer than fasting. Fasting is a discipline that has virtually faded from the subjects regularly addressed in addressing Christian disciplines. In the interest of time investment and to assist you in your study, the scriptures related to subject matters have been included to eliminate your need to look up each passage. A word of WARNING: Before you begin your fast: Your physical condition influences your decision on the type of fast you will choose. With that in mind, there are a number of things to consider when choosing what type of fast best fits your situation. Here are some of the factors to be considered: Physical health Your age, dietary restrictions, and medication requirements influence your decision on what is the best plan for your physical well-being. If you have certain health factors, you are advised to check with your doctor before making drastic changes to your diet. Schedule Your daily schedule may influence how you fast. This would include the hours you work and the physical demands in your day. Physical Activity requirements Those who have jobs or participate in other activities requiring extensive physical activity and peak physical output at certain periods of the day need to consider scheduling a fasting plan that best fits into their schedule. 1

2 WHAT IS FASTING? Definition of fasting: To abstain from anything that hinders our communion with God; to do without, to practice self-denial. (God s Chosen Fast by Arthur Wallis p. 8). This definition can be simplified to one three-word statement: Voluntary self-denial. This fasting period (length of time) is determined by the individual choosing to fast. The length of time and the items surrendered or reduced in our lives should be determined by the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Pray and ask God for direction in making these decisions. Although we normally think of fasting as an abstinence from food, Wallis is correct in identifying it is to abstain from anything that could hinder our pursuit of God. This could include activities (TV, internet, social media, recreational or leisure activities, etc.), attachments (things we like to do that takes time or energy that can be redirected to our pursuit of God). Tearing down idols that have been placed on the throne of our lives. How can we identify the things we need to abstain from during our fast? A good practice is to use the same process that is used to determine the length of time to fast ( B above). Types of fasts will be covered later in this document See pages 5-6. PRAYER AND FASTING: COMPANSIONS IN THE SCRIPTURE Prayer and fasting are often companion subjects in Scripture. They fit together like two sides of one coin. Here is a very limited list of Scriptures where the two are linked: Nehemiah s passionate response to the news of the terrible conditions in Jerusalem: As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven (Nehemiah 1: 4 ESV) (emphasis added) Ezra s fasting because of the faithlessness of the exiles spiritual issues and the need for revival: Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib, where he spent the night, neither eating bread nor drinking water, for he was mourning over the faithlessness of the exiles (Ezra 10: 6 ESV) (emphasis added) David links prayer, fasting, and repentance to the pursuit God: But I, when they were sick I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting; I prayed with head bowed on my chest (Psalm 35: 13 ESV) (emphasis added). (Repentance, fasting, prayer, and humility) The 84 year-old widow who was consistently engaged in worship and ministry: "Then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying" (Luke 2:37). WHY DID PEOPLE FAST IN THE BIBLE? WHEN SHOULD WE FAST? Fasting was practiced by numerous persons in the Bible. Among those who fasted we find great spiritual leaders such as Moses, David, Elijah, Nehemiah, Daniel, Jesus, the church at Antioch, and Paul and his missionary team. Jesus seems to assume that His followers will fast as a part of their spiritual disciplines (implied): And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their 2

3 faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you (Matthew 6: ESV) (emphasis added) Jesus indicated it would be a natural part of the spiritual life after the He (the Bridegroom) is gone: And Jesus said to them, Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast (Mark 2: 19 ESV) PRAYER AND FASTING IN SPECIAL SITUATIONS When God s work is facing a crisis situation: As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven (Nehemiah 1: 4 ESV) (emphasis added) - Praying for family needs: "David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and went into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground" (2 Samuel 12: 16)(emphasis added). Praying for personal and corporate needs: "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" (Ezra 8: 21)(emphasis added). Fasting coupled with repentance: "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." And Samuel was leader of Israel at Mizpah" (1 Samuel 7:6) (emphasis added). In times of loss or hardship: "They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword" (2 Samuel 1:12) (emphasis added). To gain clarity when making an important decision: "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust " (Acts 13: 2-3; 14:23)(emphasis added). Fasting is an act that leads us to humble our souls before the Lord - When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting (Psalm 69: 10 ESV)(emphasis added) To experience refreshing power in prayer to be heard on high - So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty (Ezra 8: 23 ESV) (emphasis added) WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF FASTING? Our lives are simplified (time and activity requirements are reduced) so we are able to spend more time in God s Word, prayer, and other spiritual disciplines. It removes the impurities from our lives. Just as a water fast provides the physical benefit of detoxing or purifying our physical body, fasting from certain things in our lives can contribute to our spiritual cleansing. 3

4 It clarifies our life mission and magnifies the kingdom of God. Fasting can contribute to a new sensitivity to the leading of the Spirit of God and an increased understanding of His Word. How churches benefit from fasting: An example if the church at Antioch - While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off (Acts 13: 2-3 ESV) (emphasis added) Seeking God during critical times for church or nation Pursuit of revival Clarifying vision (personal and corporate) Refocus the mission of the church FASTING THE WRONG WAY Fasting is worthless if it is done for a public show of piety: When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" (Matthew 6:16-18). When the motive is anything other than seeking God and the advancement of His kingdom. When it is only a legalistic and ascetic activity that is an attempt to manipulate God and impress people. When it is not accompanied by proper motives and altered lifestyles: In verses 1-5 of Isaiah 58, God identifies how His people s fasts were not pleasing to Him and were not beneficial to them. Isaiah 58: 1-12 ESV Verses 1-5 The Failure of the People s Fasts Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the judgment of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near to God. Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it? Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord? 4

5 Verses 6-12 The Fast God Chooses Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, Here I am. If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in (Isaiah 58: 6-12 ESV) DEVELOPING YOUR FASTING PLAN: THE HOW TO OF FASTING Choose Your Fast: It is important to decide prior to the corporate prayer time (the 40 days of prayer/fasting) what type of fast or fasts you will choose. The use of the term fasts in the previous sentence points participants to the fact that they may engage in more than one type of fast during the 40-day period. It should be noted that persons with no previous fasting experience should move into this discipline with a less-demanding choice (not a 40-day water fast!). Also, you are encouraged to blend your personal fasts so that you are fasting from foods as well as from other things (normal activities or interests). As the church fasts corporately, we must remember that all fasting/prayer in the 40Sixteen window are done voluntarily by each individual and all participants should be free to choose the fast they feel God s Spirit is leading them to choose. That being said, participants are encouraged to pray and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in every choice that is made related to this time of seeking the Lord. TYPES OF FASTS If you research fasting, you will find that there are a variety of fasts and the terminology used to identify these fasts varies depending on the person or organization identifying them. The following fasts are a compilation of fasts described in two sources: (1) God s Chosen Fast by Arthur Wallis (a classic on the subject); (2) The Power of Prayer and Fasting by Ronnie W. Floyd. The fasts listed in this document move from the less demanding to the more difficult. 5

6 Fasting from foods can be done as a total fast (drinking only water) or a partial fast (abstaining from certain foods). A popular partial fast is the Daniel fast (eating only vegetables and drinking water see Daniel 1: 8-16). The Types The Absolute Fast (Wallis pp ) This is abstaining from all food or drink. Ezra engaged in such a fast: Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib, where he spent the night, neither eating bread nor drinking water, for he was mourning over the faithlessness of the exiles (Ezra 10: 6 ESV) (emphasis added) The Partial Fast (Wallis pp ) Daniel abstained from delicacies for three weeks - I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks (Daniel 10: 3 ESV)(emphasis added) The Public Fast (Wallis pp ) These are public fasts calling God s people to fast for specific situations. Joel records a call to fast for revival (return to the Lord). This fast was accompanied by a solemn assembly: Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber. (Joel 2: ESV) (emphasis added) Implementing the Types of Fasts The One-Meal Fast This is a fast where one meal per day is eliminated in order to discipline the body and focus attention upon spiritual matters. One-Day Fast The one day fast can be done in a variety of ways. Some choose to fast for 12 hours (for instance, 6am-6pm). Others choose to fast from one meal (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) to that same meal the next day (24-hour fast). This can be done as often (from one day to multiple days) as the individual senses is best in their context. NOTE: Both the one-meal fast and the one-day fast can be done at predetermined increments (one or multiple days each week during the 40-day period). Some believers have come to implement the one day per week or three days per week into their regular regimen and have spoken of the benefits of such a practice. Extended Fast Any fast can be done in an extended time frame (up to 40 days or more) and in any of the forms mentioned previously in this document. DEVELOPING YOUR FASTING PLAN It begins with prayer. Ask God to give you the resolve to take this step on our journey and to give you the courage to remain faithful to continue. It continues with a decision on the nature of the fast (What? When? How?) The decision is followed by a plan to implement the fast(s): If we do not plan, we are destined to failure. 6

7 What fits your situation? What health issues should be factored into the decision? If this is your first time to fast, what fast should you choose and what form (specifics) should it take? What scheduling (daily/weekly) issues factor into your decision? What days (and how many) and hours do you feel are best for you? If you are fasting with a friend or small group, what factors influence your personal fast decisions? What are the things you will abstain from during the fast? Food? Entertainment? Prized personal activities? NOTE: Sacrifice in order to achieve a higher spiritual goal is a part of fasting. PERSISTENCE: BREAKTHROUGH FASTING In the spiritual realm, the most valued (spiritually) things often come with an expensive price tag. Abstinence (self-denial) is not a prized component of our present culture. When we read Scripture, we understand that some of the valued things in our spiritual journey only come to us through total commitment and persistence (perseverance). In our sound-byte culture everything is geared to convenience and to the short term. When Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness fasting, Satan appeared to him at a very difficult time during this testing. The passage tells us Satan came to tempt Jesus after His fast when He was hungry: Matthew records it this way: And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread. (Matthew 4: 2-3 ESV) (emphasis added). Be assured that Satan always shows up when the people of God decide to make serious commitments to the Master and His kingdom! Expect resistance from Satan There will be difficult times (challenges). Push through! Celebrate your wins ENHANCING YOUR FAST Fasting is a part of a larger spiritual journey. Those who enter the fast are encouraged to consider incorporating some of the following: Personal Prayer and Fasting: Drink water, drink water, drink water. Hydration is very important while fasting. Increase Scripture reading Fasting can contribute to the clarity of the mind with less distractions and time demands. Sensitivity to Scriptural truth often comes while fasting. Pray - Discipline yourself to set determined times of prayer to accompany fasting. As a church, we are encouraging participants to set alarms on phones or other devices to pray three 7

8 times a day (Daniel 6: 10 - When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously (Daniel 6: 10 ESV). The three times we are seeking to pray are below. You will notice the times are based upon Scripture and a theme to take before the Lord. Pray at 10:02am Based upon Luke 10: 2, pray that God would send more laborers into the harvest to reach people with the gospel so there is #noplaceleft. Pray at 3: 16pm Pray that the gospel (good news) of God s love and grace would permeate our nation and the world so that all would come to know Him (Based upon John 3: 16) Pray at 7:07pm Pray that the people of God would follow the teachings of Jesus and pray persistently for the advancement of the kingdom of God (Based upon Matthew 7: 7) Meditation Spend time meditating on God s Word and His mission for your life. Journaling You are encouraged to keep a journal during the 40 days of prayer and fasting. Use this journal to record what God is saying to you, new insight gained from His Word, and notes on your spiritual growth during this time. Corporate Prayer and Fasting: Finding Encouragement in the Journey Find a prayer/fasting partner to share the journey Get into a small group (three or more) In a group, troubles shared are diminished and shared joys are multiplied! The Benefits of corporate prayer and fasting: Encouragement Spur one another on challenge and encourage (Hebrews 10: 24-25) Expanded insight through shared knowledge Sharing of ideas, both successes and failures. We learn from others. Shared ideas on how to engage others and invite them into the pursuit of God and revival Expand the circle the start of a movement. RESOURCES USED IN RESEARCHING THE SUBJECT OF THIS DOCUMENT (1) God s Chosen Fast by Arthur Wallis (a classic on the subject); (2) The Power of Prayer and Fasting by Ronnie W. Floyd. Both of these books are short treatments and are available in the Kindle format on Amazon. Here is a link to an excellent online resource on fasting from CRU (Campus Crusade): 8