Why Prayer with fasting- Part 2

Why Prayer with fasting- Part  2

This is the conclusion of a 2 part series on prayer and fasting. The reader is advised to review the first series for full benefit. In this part we will complete the list of circumstances that bring us to the point of fasting. We conclude with the spiritual benefits of fasting that result in obtaining God’s “open reward” for doing so. 

4. When Making decisions of choice especially appointments for ministry

God’s guidance is crucial when making choices and picking people in leadership position of any type especially ministry appointments. Untold pain can be avoided if we sought God’s guidance in such decisions as choosing a spouse. God makes no errors and knows our rightful spouses and leaders even in political office.

In the Book of Acts in the Bible the disciples were aware of this and fasted before picking leaders in the drive to evangelize the world. They picked Paul and Bernabas as the first evangelists of the new church of Jesus Christ after prayer and fasting.

Acts 13: 1-3

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.

 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.

And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

5. In very urgent life and death situations  

In situations such as political and/or life and death situations, wisdom, strength and change may come through fasting especially group fasting. When the Jews faced the possibility of total annihilations the Book of Esther, Queen Esther called on the Jewish community to fast with her in order to have a suspension of some laws and erasure of the edict passed to kill them.

Esth. 4:16  “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” 

6. When we are in need of repentance 

Repentance that turns God’s wrath into God’s mercy is not only when we have been justly judged and found guilty as individuals but also as  group, city or nation for collective sin against God. The city of Nineva was in such a situation and in his great mercy God sent an albeit reluctant emissary, Jonah.  The king seeing no way out called for a total fast that included their animals. The disaster was averted.

Jonah 3:4-7

And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.

 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water:

7. The principle of obtaining the “Open Rewards” from God.

The psalmist talks about the safety and provision for those who dwell in God’s secret place. How do we get to enter into this secret place of The Most High? Jesus provides us with three keys of entry. Notice that in the Christian walk, these keys are a great source of conflict in the flesh, confusion and attack from Satan as well as religion.  These keys lead us to God’s “open reward”. One of the keys of entry into this Secret Place is fasting as we will show in the scriptures.

The secret place of God

Psalms 91:1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

         Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty

Psalms 84:4, 11-12 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; They will still be praising you. Selah. What joy for those who can live in your house, always singing your praises. Selah…For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory.The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.
  O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, what joy for those who trust in you.

Fasting is one of three areas where the Lord promises an “open reward”. These are intimate areas that originate deep in the heart of the believer and are a big indicator of the believer’s stand with the Lord. 

A. Principle of Giving, Open Reward Key #1

The Bible tells us that God GAVE us His only Son, as a sacrifice for our salvation. In the same way He encourages us to be givers. Giving of ourselves based on God’s word has a promise of open rewards. This is one 

Matthew 6: 3-4 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

As we all know, giving and the giver is an area of great attack in our lives. The enemy will squeeze our finances, time and property to reduce or eliminate our giving.

B. Prayer is Open Reward Key #2

We are all called to pray and inevitably prayer involves spiritual encounter with the forces of darkness whose aim is to reduce, adulterate or stop prayer completely in our lives, homes and churches.

Matthew 6:5-6 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

C. Fasting is Open Reward Key #3

All through the Bible, we see fasting being used in times of hardship or when there has been a separation between the people and God. Fasting took the people to the place of power, anointing. That secret place of the Most High.

The study book Praying With Impact Interactive  workbook (pp: 112-115),  seven instances where  fasting was used are explained. These are not the only instances or reasons for fasting but help us glean into this powerful tool of prayer. 

Matthew 6: 16-18 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly

Impact Prayer

Father we come to you in thanksgiving for the provision of everything that we need to be effective in life. We thank you for the for keys of prayer and fasting . Lord teach us to pray and fast so we may get closer to you, in Jesus’ Name, AMEN!

Why Prayer WITH Fasting Part 1

Why Prayer WITH Fasting
A two- part short series: Part 1

Many Christians fast as a part of their prayer life but deep inside may ask “why do we actually have to ‘deprive’ our bodiesof food?” Jesus fasted 40 days before his ministry kicked off, why? Moses fasted 40 days and 40 nights as he received the10 Commandments from God, why? Do we still need to fast in this period of Grace? Jesus recommended that we do but he never taught on it as he did on prayer (Luke 11:1-4). We are going to use Biblical “circumstantial” evidence to understand why in this short series.

1. Fasting is a self humbling experience as we get to know God

Psalm 35:13

“I humbled myself with fasting”

There’s a spiritual humility that takes place when we fast. Humility that allows us to say to God’s Spirit, “you are enough and you are all I need. Speak and feed my spirit”. Jesus debunked the food theory when he told Satan than “Man shall not live by bread alone..” When we do this God’s Spirit strengthens, feeds and speaks to ours. We are then are able to overcome natural barriers and temptations as Jesus did. 

The Word of God becomes our food a true living powerful and sharp tool in our lives. Can you imagine Moses taking lunch breaks as God ministered to him? Jesus gave us the scriptural reference when he quoted Deuteronomy 8:3. In that little known scripture, God explained that He can sustain us in ways we do not know.  Fasting helps us to realize that God is able and he is enough!

Matthew 4:4 NKJV

“But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” 

Deuteronomy 8:3 NKJV

So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.

It’s the kind of humility that empowers us because it lets God’s will for us be clarified. Remember after Jesus fasted forty days, the Devil came to tempt him but failed. Also remember Satan tried to tempt Jesus by diabolically quoting scripture. Jesus countered back with quoting living scripture because he is The Living Word himself. When we fast we are empowered with the right words at the right time. Words of power and wisdom. We pray to God with the right words and requests as well and thus He always delivers. Below we see Ezra calling his community to humility through fasting.

Ezra 8:21 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. 

Fasting is powerful in situations when we need God to provide, protect and lift us up as we humble ourselves.

2. Fasting helps us overcome our natural limitations and invokes our supernatural position by emphasizing our rightful place in Christ 

Renouncing the natural simply means recognizing who you are in Christ, acting  and speaking accordingly. As a believer in Christ, you have authority to speak in His Name to affect change in situations and circumstances around you. If you are submitted to God and his Spirit, God will give you the word(s) of power to speak.

Luke 12:11-12 NLT

“And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.”

The Bible says that we are seated in heavenly places with Christ who is seated on the right hand of the Father. Jesus also said that if we asked anything in his name the Father will do it. Be cautious though, this “anything” has to be in God’s will. Think of it, if you’re seated next to Jesus as the scripture says, would you ask anything that is outlandish. According to Romans 8, the Holy Spirit will help you with your request. 

John 16:23 NLT

“At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name.”

As New Testament believers Jesus explains to us how and when to use his names as we petition God. In the verses of Ezra below we see how fasting helped them to walk in that authority before the benefit of Jesus’ Name. They “looked to God” which spiritually positioned them under his “Gracious hand”.

So when we fast, we activate Grace, the unmerited favor of God. Additionally using the Name of Jesus activates his hand of Providence. This is the power of prayer and fasting, Praying With Impact.

Ezra 8:22-23I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king,  “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.” So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer. 

3. When you are overwhelmed individually or corporately, fast!

When you are confronted with a situation(s) and you feel powerless, exhausted and do not know what to do, fasting may be in order.  The natural circumstances around you may be so overwhelming and you feel cornered.  Adding fasting to your prayer can be a quick and powerful way to make spiritual declarations that cause real change. It could be for you as an individual, a family or body of Christ. We see how King Jehoshaphat recognized this and called for a community fast in order to overcome an invading army. 

2 Chronicles 20:2-3

Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi. And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 

Here God’s Spirit spoke to the community encouraging and giving them wisdom and direction. It was a very unconventional war method that God led them into. It required a lot of trust to believe that it will work. Placing a choir ahead of the fighters requires real faith and trust. This unusual advice caused confusion among the invaders and they started to fight among themselves. When we fast, God’s Spirit speaks to us in unusual ways that increase our trust and faith in him confusing satan and our detractors.

Impact Prayer

Father in the Name of Jesus, by the power of your Spirit, teach us to pray and help understand why weened to fast. Strengthen us where we are weak in spirit and body. Increase our faith and trust in the wonderful Name of your Son Jesus Christ and instruct in your most holy doctrines. Amen.

The power and impact behind The Lord’s Prayer

The power and impact behind The Lord’s Prayer 

In Luke 11:1 the Bible tells us of the request made by the Disciples, to teach them to pray. They must have observed and concluded, that the power they had experienced in Jesus’ ministry must have something to do with prayer.  They did a lot of things together with him but had seen him go into secluded prayer by himself many times.  They had seen him walk and speak with authority in what we would call “authority of the believer” today.

Jesus’ Actions with Impact

Prior to giving the disciples “The Lord’s Prayer” as we know it , Jesus demonstrated such overwhelming authority in various situations. He rebuked the storm into calm (Luke 8:24)  and then commanded a legion of demons to leave a man shortly thereafter ( Luke 8:29-31 ).  Jesus told the delivered man to tell others of what God had done, that is to “hallow God’s Name”; he showed physical deliverance to the woman with a blood issue instantly and exercised sovereignty over death with Jarius’ daughter who had died.

He showed his ability to provide for bodily needs, after looking to heaven and thanking God,  by feeding five thousand people with only five loaves and 2 fish. ( Luke 9:10-17 ). Jesus then taught us how letting his Kingdom come among us is as simple as receiving little children (Luke 9:48. ). He went on to demonstrate mercy and forgiveness when he  rebuked two of his disciples who wanted to call down fire on those they disagreed with.  

After observing all this the disciples were convinced the secret was in prayer, so they asked their teacher to  teach them to also “Pray With Impact”.

The Lord’s Prayer With Impact

Jesus’s answer  was what we call The Lord’s Prayer today. As we examine Jesus’ instructions in this prayer from a deeper spiritual sense, we see Jesus instructing them through 7 petitions that can further be broken down into 3 areas of focus. These  three areas show us the necessity of cohesiveness or oneness between God, the individual self and others if we are to Pray With Impact.

From the chart above we see Jesus: (1) Establish the superior position of God as the Father. (2) He establishes the necessity of honoring (hallow) God’s Name, establishing His Kingdom and will on earth. (3)Demonstrates our dependence on him for our sustenance, character and relationship with others. When we understand who we are in relationship to God, and others, we can then follow these principles to Pray With Impact. 

Impact Prayer

Lord teach us to pray even as you and John taught your Disciples that we may pray with impact, in your precious Name we ask you. 

Listen to our companion podcast on this and other blog posts at www.africhristpodcast.com

Answering Haggai’s Missions call with James’ Challenge

MISSIONS in 2019.0

Answering Haggai’s Mission call with James’ Challenge

At the beginning of each year, we as individuals make resolutions consciously or unconsciously which we set out to do. Some are followed and fulfilled but most are not. This same character is carried on into our dealings with other people, businesses or ministries. Promising big, delivering little or nothing. By the way that includes ministry to ministry and ministry to people. I want to approach this from Haggai and James’ point of view.

In this generation I believe realistic mission work should do projects long term in partnership with on the ground co-laborers as the core of mission work. This may need an overhaul of the older planning processes as well as a paradigm shift in our perception of missions work. It’s the wise use of resources that we have found effective and recognizes God's anointing and importance of the ones he chose as laborers in the field.  Paul addressed a similar issue in 2 Corinthians 8:1-2.

At the beginning of last year, I made the decision to get out of this “Round Robin” talk, talk, talk show. I committed to listen to God’s Spirit for direction to believe for his provision to accomplish the task.

Africhrist was challenged by James Chapter 1 and Haggai Chapter 1 especially the verses quoted later below. We trusted and had faith in God to provide the funds. We proceeded with very little, and answered the call of The Lord in Haggai. We picked two remote village churches we had previous attachment to and proceeded to help one  renovate and another rebuild. On our website www.africhrist.com we state in our mission statement that we endeavor to use resources wisely and get maximum returns. God came through as we started to lay the foundation to this work. 

Impact Results

Before and after 

From the tiny humble beginning to a new building for one and a complete makeover for another. In both cases, these congregants were not asking for handouts, they just needed a hand up. We only answered God’s call to “faith with works”

The work was started by people with a vision to fulfill Jesus’ mandates in Matthew 28 to go into all the world and spread The Gospel. Christians and indeed the church is obligated to assist others with fewer resources by answering God’s question and call in Haggai with action. All the earth and all therein is The Lord's and good stewardship does not end at our local doors.

God is challenging us as individuals and ministries especially those that are living largesse by His Grace, to consider taking care of His House wherever it may be. Africhrist has taken up the challenge and is currently helping revamp two such houses. We are also in longterm relationships with other resource needy ministries some taking care of orphans and indigent children. All Glory to Him for allowing and enabling us to make a contribution. He has come through big time, from our humble beginnings.

Impact Prayer

Father in the Name of Jesus your son we thank you for enabling us as we co-labor with your servants on the ground. We pray for your continued direction, provision and anointing. We join with our brethren in praising you for this life changing work. Glory to your Holy Name, as we lift up the Name of Jesus. Amen!

Impact Scriptures

Haggai 1:2-4 NLT

““This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: The people are saying, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.’” Then the Lord sent this message through the prophet Haggai: “Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins?”

James 1:9-10 NLT

Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them.

James 2:15-18 NKJV

“If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”