THE MIRACULOUS CHURCH

Transcription

1 THE MIRACULOUS CHURCH Pastor Paul Red Wilson / Aggressive Ministries LESSON 1: Fasting That Brings the Miraculous? Here are some questions to ask yourself: o How would you like healing to come forth in you and those you pray for? (Is. 58:8) o How would you love to see deliverance in your life and the lives of others? (Is. 58:8) o How would you like to see the glory of God shine in your life? (Is. 58:8) o How would you like God s righteousness to go before you and His glory to be your rear guard? (Is. 58:8) o How would you like knowledge and skill in all literature and understanding? (Dan. 1:17) o How would you like to have understanding of all dreams and visions? (Dan. 1:17) o How would you like to get rid of doubt and unbelief from your life? (Mark 9:14-29) Matt 17:20-21; So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting." I. WHY EVERY CHRISTIAN NEEDS TO FAST The bible gives reference to fasting over 50 times throughout the scriptures. Fasting is a subject that cannot be ignored or overlooked. More and more Christians are discovering the tremendous values to be obtained, both physical and spiritual, through a fasted life in Christ. Additional anointing, power, and spiritual sensitivity are among the benefits awaiting those who endeavor fasting for ministry. A. Jesus - His Three How To s 1. Matt. 6:1-18; Jesus taught His disciples how to: a) Give b) Pray c) Fast 1 T h e M i r a c u l o u s C h u r c h L e s s o n 1

2 2. These were not suggestions but commands He expected the disciples to follow after and do. These are the three important commands that release God s miraculous ability in our lives. B. Jesus Started His Ministry with a Fast 1. Matt. 3:13-16; Jesus is baptized by John. a) John tried to prevent Jesus from baptizing Him because John wanted that baptism with fire and the Holy Spirit. (vs. 11) b) Jesus said the baptism was necessary to fulfill all righteousness. (It was a command to John to do this so Jesus would be revealed by evidence of the Holy Spirit John 1:29-34) 2. Matt. 4:1-2; immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness to fast and be tested, tried and proven. (Mark 12-13) To be tempted, from the divine standpoint, means a positive test; from the Devil s standpoint it implies enticement to sin; from Jesus standpoint it is a challenge from Satan to test God s sovereignty and plan (v. 6) Temptation of Jesus and Adam 1 John 2:16 16 For everything that belongs to the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one's lifestyle - is not from the Father, but is from the world. HCSB 1 John 2:16 Gen. 3:6 First Adam The lust of the flesh The tree was good for food The lust of the eyes It was pleasant to the eyes The pride of life A tree desirable to make one wise a) It s important to note that the first temptation was food. Luke 4:1-23 Second Adam - Christ Command this stone to become bread The devil showed Him all the kingdoms Throw yourself down from here b) After this time in the wilderness while fasting, He was ministered to by angels and returned to Galilee in the power of the Holy Spirit. (Luke 4:14) 1 Spirit Filled Life Study Bible. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c T h e M i r a c u l o u s C h u r c h L e s s o n 1

3 II. C. What Is Fasting? 1. What it is: Going without food or drink voluntarily, generally for religious purposes. Fasting, however, could also be done for other reasons. It was sometimes done as a sign of distress, grief, or repentance. 2 Fasting is not merely going without food for a period of time. That is dieting maybe even starving - but fasting it is not. Nor is fasting something done only by fanatics. I really want to drive that point home. Fasting is not to be done only by religious monks alone in a cave somewhere. The practice of fasting is not limited to ministers or to special occasions. Stated simply, biblical fasting is refraining from food for a spiritual purpose. Fasting has always been a normal part of a relationship with God. As expressed by the impassioned plea of David in Psalm 42, fasting brings one into a deeper, more intimate and powerful relationship with the Lord. 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. 3 EXAMPLES OF FASTING AND THE MIRACULOUS A. Old Testament Examples 1. Corporate fasts that delivered the nation of Judah. a) 2 Chronicles 20: God delivers Judah and King Jehoshaphat from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir. King Jehoshaphat called a nationwide fast and God honored it by destroying the three nations coming against Judah. In verses 14-17; God s Spirit came upon a Levite a servant, and revealed His plan for Judah s salvation from the invading armies. In verse 20 King Jehoshaphat tells the people of Judah; "Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper." 2 (From Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers) 3 Franklin, Jentezen ( ). Fasting: Opening the Door to a Deeper, More Intimate, More Powerful Relationship With God (pp. 9-10). Charisma House. Kindle Edition. 3 T h e M i r a c u l o u s C h u r c h L e s s o n 1

4 In verses 22-23; God set angelic ambushes against the three armies and totally destroyed them. In verses 25-30; there was so much spoil, valuables and jewelry that it took them three days to gather it all to take it home with them. 2. Esther and her people are delivered through a corporate fast. a) In verses 1-2 of chapter 4; when the Jews and Mordecai learn of Haman s plot to kill them all in a day, the people mourn and fast. b) In verses 15-17; Esther tells Mordecai to have every Jew to fast nothing to eat or drink for three days night and day. They were to pray that she would have favor with the king and that she would be heard. c) In chapter 7, through a series of events, the Jewish people were delivered and Haman was hung on a gallows he made for Mordecai. Mordecai received his enemy s house and belongings and was exalted to Haman s high position with the King. 3. Nineveh was delivered through a corporate fast in chapter 4 of the book of Jonah. Jonah 3: So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. 6 Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes. 7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. 8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish? 10 Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it. NKJV 4 T h e M i r a c u l o u s C h u r c h L e s s o n 1

5 4. Revelation also came through corporate and individual fasting. Daniel led a fasted, prayerful life. a) In his life he was promoted because of the divine revelations God had given him concerning the king and his dreams in chapter 2 and chapter 4. b) He escaped the mouths of the hungry lions when he prayed openly in his room in chapter 6. c) His brothers who also lived a fasted and prayerful life, were delivered from the fiery furnace in chapter 3. d) He received revelation about the Son of Man coming to earth, the judgments of God and other end time prophetic events because of his fasted and prayerful lifestyle. (Chapters 7-12) 5. The greatest example of revelation received during a time of fasting was with Moses when he received the commandments on stone from God as well as the Law of Moses. He spent a total of 80 days in the presence of God without food or water. a. Ex. 24:12-18 Moses called to go up on the mountain to receive God s Law b. Moses fasted again for 40 days and nights Exodus 34:28. B. New Testament Examples Joel 2: Therefore also now, says the Lord, turn and keep on coming to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning [until every hindrance is removed and the broken fellowship is restored]. 13 Rend your hearts and not your garments and return to the Lord, your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in loving-kindness; and He revokes His sentence of evil [when His conditions are met]. AMP 1. Jesus - Matt. 4:1-11 In Mark 1:12; the scripture says; And immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. The word drove is the Greek word 5 T h e M i r a c u l o u s C h u r c h L e s s o n 1

6 ekballō (ἐκβάλλω; g1544) which means to bring forth, to cast (forth, out), to drive (out), expel, leave, pluck (pull, take, thrust) out. At the commencement of Jesus 'public ministry, God the Spirit paradoxically drives him into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. Jesus' battle against the powers of darkness has begun. "Being tempted" indicates that the temptations happened over the 40- day period and were not confined to the three temptations mentioned by Matthew (Matt. 4:1 11) and Luke (Luke 4:1 13). Surrounded by evil and in danger from wild animals, Jesus is nevertheless not abandoned, for he has the presence of the Holy Spirit, and the angels were ministering to him. Jesus resisted the devil by standing firm on God's Word, setting an example for his followers (cf. James 4:7; 1 Pet. 5:9). Angels came and were ministering to him. Their ministering probably included much needed physical sustenance. All of heaven knew the significance of Jesus 'initial victory in this cosmic battle According to Isaiah 58, we fast because: a) It helps to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo heavy burdens, to break every yoke and to let the oppressed go free. b) It helps us to get before God with our whole heart and to be pure, honest and receptive to doing His perfect will. It gets us out of the way making it possible for God to move unhindered through our lives. c) It brings personal benefit to us in the form of healings and revelation, and helps us in our relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. d) It is the very action God commands us to do that brings us into a place of unity where God can do what He promised to do not based on our sacrifice but our obedience. To the believer who chooses not to do this, the power of God may never be fully realized in his relationship with God. 3. Paul Acts 9:8-12 a) Saul had a vision or trance on the road in which he actually saw and heard Jesus. (Acts 9:17, 27; 22:14; 1 Cor. 9:1; 15:8) 4 Taken from the ESV Study Bible 6 T h e M i r a c u l o u s C h u r c h L e s s o n 1

7 III. b) In verse 10, Ananias saw the Lord and actually heard His voice in a vision. Visions are not mere ideas in the mind, but real pictures to the eyes (Gen. 15:1; Num. 12:6; 24:4, 16; Job 33:15; Ezek. 8:4; 43:3; Dan. 2:19; 7:2; 8:1-2, 27 9:21; 10:5-8 Mt. 17:1-9 Lk. 1:22; 24:23; Acts 10:3, :5) Peter & Cornelius Acts 10 a) Both Peter and Cornelius were in a fasted state. Peter was hungry and may not have eaten but Cornelius had been praying and fasting. Because of this, the miracle of the new birth and the baptism of the Holy Spirit came upon the gentiles. TYPES OF FASTS A. Partial Fast 1. On a partial fast, food and liquids are eaten. A person may decide to go on a partial fast of juices, fruits and vegetables only. They would be fasting all other food items such as breads and meats. If you are taking anything in besides water and juices, this would be considered a partial fast. a) Dan 1:8-20; 10:1-9: Knowledge in every kind of literature and wisdom Understanding of dreams and visions of every kind They were healthier than expected They were ten times stronger in every matter of wisdom and understanding b) Matt. 3:4; Malachi had predicted the arrival of a prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD (Mal. 4:5). In current thought, Elijah was expected to precede the messianic era. John s clothing recalls the apparel of Elijah (2 Kin. 1:8), whose spirit is reflected in his message (1 Kin. 18:21). John s clothing is that of a prophet (Zech. 13:4), and his theme is derived from Isaiah (Is. 40:3 5). 6 5 From Dakes Annotated Reference Bible; by Finnis Jennings Dake 6 Believer's Study Bible. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1995, S. Mt 3:4 7 T h e M i r a c u l o u s C h u r c h L e s s o n 1

8 B. Normal Fast 1. A normal fast is taking in no food except liquids such as water or juices. Caffeine and foods with toxins should be avoided during this time. Luke 4:1-2 1 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry. (NKJ) a) Matt. 4:2; after fasting (i. e., going without food in order to give greater attention to spiritual matters) "forty days and forty nights," Jesus "was hungry." Satan's first temptation took advantage of his physical hunger for food. (This passage suggests that although Jesus did not eat food during his fast, he did drink water; see Lk 4:2). Since hunger is one of the basic and strongest human drives, this was certainly a difficult test for Jesus. However, in order to relate to our human struggles (cf. Heb 2:17; 4:15) and overcome temptation in the same way we must, Jesus had to rely on the same power that is available to any Spirit- filled Christian (see Ex 34:28, note; 1Ki 19:8, note; Mt 6:16, note on fasting). During the forty- day fast, it is reasonable to assume that Jesus, through prayer and meditation on God's Word, was strengthening and preparing himself for the work his Father had sent him to do. b) In the Bible, fasting refers to the discipline of abstaining from food for a limited time in order to give greater attention to spiritual matters. Although it is often linked with prayer, it can be a spiritual exercise all its own. In fact, fasting can be called "prayer without words," in which case our time without food should be an intense time of listening to God, trying to gain a sense of his direction and meditating on his Word (i. e., pondering its principles over and over to consider how they apply to specific situations in our lives). 7 c) Acts 13:2-3; Worship and fasting preceded Paul and Barnabas separation and commissioning into the ministry God had prepared them for. Just as Jesus fasted before His ministry, we must consider the importance of that for us and our calling. 7 From the Fire Study Bible; by Donald Stamps 8 T h e M i r a c u l o u s C h u r c h L e s s o n 1

9 IV. C. Absolute Fast 1. An absolute fast is taking in no food or liquid at all. One must be careful in this type of fasting as the body can only survive a short time without water. Moses survived this fast because he was in the very presence of God during this time and God supernaturally sustained him. This is not a recommended fast if you do not know what you are doing and you can damage your body and its organs permanently a) Deut. 9:9-10, 18; Moses on the Mount of God receiving the Law b) Ezra 10:6; Ezra mourning the captivity of Israel c) Esther 4:16-17; The Jewish people praying for deliverance d) Acts 9:8-9; Saul after his vision of Jesus while being blind THE REWARDS OF FASTING Hunger always leaves after a few days of fast and returns after a long fast of about 40 days or when all toxic poisons have been expelled from the body. The breath at this time becomes as sweet as a baby's. Any normal healthy person can fast this long without any harm. Starvation only begins after hunger returns in such cases. One must use water in long fasts and break the fast gradually. The disciples asked the Lord why they could not heal a lunatic boy. Jesus said, "Because of your unbelief... Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting" (Mt. 17:14-21). Faith needs prayer for its development and full growth, and prayer needs fasting for the same reason. Fasting has done wonders when used in combination with prayer and faith. This is a Biblical doctrine. To fast means to abstain from food-- that which caused the fall of man. Fasting humbles the soul before God (Ps. 35:13); chastens the soul (Ps. 69:10); and crucifies the appetites and denies them so as to give the entire time to prayer (2 Sam. 12:16-23; Mt. 4:1-11). It manifests earnestness before God to the exclusion of all else (1Cor. 7:5); shows obedience; gives the digestive system a rest (Mt. 6:16-18, 9:15; Lk. 5:33); demonstrates the mastery of man over appetites; aids in victory over temptation; helps to attain power over demons; develops faith; crucifies unbelief; and aids in prayer (Mt. 4: :14-21). All believers are supposed to fast, but no regulations or set rules are given as to how long or how often. That is determined by individual desire and needs (Mt. 9:14-15; 1Cor. 7:5; Acts 13:1-5). Men should fast when under chastening (2 Sam. 12:16-23); under judgment (1 Kings 21:27); in need (Ezra 8:21); in danger (Esther 4); 9 T h e M i r a c u l o u s C h u r c h L e s s o n 1

10 when worried (Dan. 6:18); in trouble (Acts 27:9, 33) in spiritual conflict (Mt. 4:1-11); and when desperate in prayer (Acts 9). 8 A. How You Benefit From Fasting. 1. Isaiah 58:8-14; a) The light of God s revelation will spring forth in your spirit with understanding. b) Divine health and healing will manifest. c) God s righteousness and glory will manifest in our life. d) God will answer our prayers and guide our paths while meeting our needs even in a time of drought. e) God s river of life and revelation will not cease to flow within us and we will be successful in every endeavor we set out to do for Him! 2. You will set yourself apart for a holy and supernatural ministry causing you to hear God s Spirit and to be filled with His Spirit. Acts 13:2-4 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. (NKJ) Acts 13: But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? 8 Taken from The Dakes Annotated Reference Bible; Finnis Jennings Dake 10 T h e M i r a c u l o u s C h u r c h L e s s o n 1

11 11 "And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time." And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. (NKJ) Acts 14: And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God." 23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. (NKJ) 3. It will help you destroy the unbelief in your life which will allow you to operate in the power; authority and anointing of God so you can destroy the works of the devil and drive out evil more effectively! Mark 9: And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. 15 Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. 16 And He asked the scribes, "What are you discussing with them?" 17 Then one of the crowd answered and said, "Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. 18 And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not." 19 He answered him and said, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me." 20 Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. 21 So He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. 11 T h e M i r a c u l o u s C h u r c h L e s s o n 1

12 22 And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." 23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" 25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!" 26 Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, "He is dead." 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28 And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" 29 So He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting." NKJV Previously, the disciple had been arguing who would be the greatest in the Kingdom (Matt. 18:1-5; Mark 9:33-39). Carnality and pride always promote the deeds of the flesh over the fruit of the Spirit. Fasting and prayer deny the cravings of the flesh to have their way and open the door for the Spirit to quench fleshly desires. Since fasting and prayer are so prominent in the Bible, modern Christians should do more of this until they receive power with God over all the powers of the devil. Many things about fasting and its benefits are not known to modern men, but those through the ages who have been men of great prayer have also fasted much. 12 T h e M i r a c u l o u s C h u r c h L e s s o n 1