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P and F
January 22, 2023 / First Baptist RussellMark 9:27-29
Jesus wanted us to know that there are certain things along our that require both prayer and .
For Jesus it is always a matter of “”, not “”.
Fasting is a voluntary , in order that God’s may be sought in , persistent, and believing prayer.
It is not a . It is .
Our Lord joins prayer and fasting together because prayer is one of our reaching up to God, while fasting is the other letting go for a while of something temporal and visible.
Should We Fast?
- The teaches it over times.
- Fasting us.
- Fasting us.
- Fasting us.
Is this not the fast that I choose:
To release the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the ropes of the yoke,
And to let the oppressed go free,
And break every yoke?
Isaiah 58:6
A deliberate denial of helps us focus on the reason for our fast and creates .
Should We Fast?
- When needs to be deepened and needs to be restored.
- When there is a particular .
- When major need to be made in life.
While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set Barnabas and Saul apart for Me for the work to which I have called them.”
Acts 13:2
- When we need the of God.
- When we need .
- When we need a fresh of God’s .
Should We Fast?
“Now whenever you fast, do not make a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they distort their faces so that they will be noticed by people when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But as for you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that your fasting will not be noticed by people but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
Matthew 6:16-18
Cornelius said, “Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour; and behold, a man stood before me in shining clothing, and he said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your charitable gifts have been remembered before God.
Acts 10:30-31