FASTING FOR SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH, PT. IMin. Litney Gray, Presenter

Wednesday, September 20, 2017The New Bethel Church | 745 Walker AVE Kansas City, KS 66101

Pastor A. Glenn Brady

Guided Discussion on Biblical Fasting▪ Understand the biblical principles of God’s

chosen fast.

▪ Examine Ezra & St. Paul’s fasts in-depth.

▪ Evaluate our personal lives and apply fasting principles that will mature us in our spiritual walk in Christ.

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What’s does it mean to fast?

Heb. Strong’s Numbers

▪ 6685 – tsôwm, tsome; or tsôm, tsome; a fast

▪ 6684-tsûwm, tsoom; a prim. root to cover over (the mouth)▪ To abstain from food

Discipline (Freedom)

▪ Become more attentive to God

▪ Be transformed as a worshipper

Survival

▪ Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4;

Mark 2:20

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What fasting is NOT?▪ Isaiah 58:1-5

▪ God’s people in Isaiah’s day had been fasting, but without results.

▪ They ignored the way fasting should change their lives, treating it as an empty ritual (p.18)

▪ A religious practice of tradition that can be used as a substitution than doing God’s will. (justified self-righteousness)

▪ Just another diet.

Hindu Christian

Seeks results.Focuses on the self tries to

get something for a perceived sacrifice.

Seeks results.Focuses on God.

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What is God’s Chosen Fast? –Isaiah 58:6-14 To loose the bands of wickedness The Disciple’s Fast (Matthew 17:21)

To undo the heavy burdens The Ezra Fast (Ezra 8:23)

To let the oppressed (physically and spiritually) go free The Samuel Fast (1 Samuel 7:6)

To break every yoke The Elijah Fast (1 Kings 19:4,8)

To deal (share) our bread with the hungry The Widow’s Fast (1 Kings 17:16)

To allow God’s light to break forth like the morning The Saint Paul Fast (Acts 9:9)

So health [will] spring forth The Daniel Fast (Daniel 1:8)

So righteousness go before us The John the Baptist Fast (Luke 1:15)

For the glory of the LORD to protect us from the evil one The Esther Fast (Esther 4:16, 5:2)

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Got a Problem? Ask God.The Ezra Fast

Ezra 8:23

(pp. 43-60)

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The Ezra Fast

Asking God for Help

▪ Faced with a significant problem, Ezra called a fast

▪ Prescription

1. Choose to be Involved

2. Share the Problem

3. Fast Seriously

4. Fast Before Attempting a Solution

5. Fast on Site with Insight▪ “Prayer Walking

Principles to Consider

Three Causes of Problems

▪ Change | Differences | Circumstances

Three Questions to Ask▪ How big is the problem?

▪ Who is involved in the problem?

▪ What does the larger group think about the problem?

Three Attitudes Toward Problems▪ Fuss-preach against sin

▪ Fight-organize the church to resist sin

▪ Die-fight sin to death

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The Ezra Fast Problem Solving

Step-by-Step Problem Solving1. Get the facts

2. Establish biblical principles.

3. Evaluate the facts

4. Determine the various solutions

5. Choose a solution

Steps to Solving a Problem▪ Find the problem.

▪ Define the problem

▪ Refine the problem

▪ Redefine the problem

Principles to Consider

Three Problem Solving Eyes (Eyes to see the…)

▪ Positive | People| Facts

Blind Eyes

Emotional eyes are blinded with tears. Fearful eyes are blinded with terror. p. 55

Towns Rule for Problem Solving

1. You make good decisions on good information.

2. You make bad decisions on bad information. p.57

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Time fora short break

Where Now, Where Next?The Saint Paul Fast

Acts 9:9

(pp. 111-127)

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The Saint Paul FastSeeking for God’s Direction

▪ Paul was met with a life-changing decision, a fast and a revelation of God’s light on the Damascus road.

Prescription

The Maxwell Rule for Decision Making p.113

1. The wrong decision at the wrong time is a disaster.

2. The wrong decision at the right time is a mistake.

3. The right decision at the wrong time is unacceptable.

4. The right decision at the right time is success.

1. Make Time to Listen for Jesus’ Voice

2. Ask and Answer Questions About Yourself

3. Recognize Objective Truth

4. Stop All Self-Effort and Yield to God

5. Pay Attention to the Physical

6. Pay Attention to the Spiritual

7. Obey What You Learn

8. Be Willing to Be Patient

9. Be Open to Insights from Others

10. Prepare to Be Misunderstood

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Honestly face any problem that clouds your decision

Define your problem

Gather information

Make a list of all possible solutions

Choose the best decision

The Saint Paul FastFive Steps to Decision-Making Principles to Remember

▪ The more the weight your decision, the more often and longer you should follow the Saint Paul Fast.

▪ Plan bible reading that is not directly related to your decision.

▪ Know and apply principles of decision making

▪ Write and rewrite the decision your need to make during the Saint Paul Fast.

▪ Write out facts that influence your decision and review them with prayer.

▪ Write out all possible solutions before attempting to make a decision.

▪ Wait for inner confidence in your darkest hour.

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EXPERIENCE SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH http://elmertowns.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/BIBLICAL_STUDIES_FOR_FASTING_STUDY_GUIDEETowns.pdfhttp://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1016&context=towns_books