Help & Hope from On High – Part 1

August 2, 2009 – bk@kluth.org

Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. Joel 2:15

Matt 6:6 When you pray…

Matt 6:2 When you give…

Matt 6:16 When you fast…

Matt 6:16-18 (Jesus said) "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.”

Matt 6:6 When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

FASTING: A voluntary abstaining from food*for spiritual purposes and focused prayer.

*FEFC elders request: Abstain from food AND/OR routine time consuming activities.

WHY fast and pray?

1) Seek God’s protection in the journey

Ezra 8:21-23 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. I 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.

2) Seek God’s direction

Judges 20:25-28 The Benjamites came out from Gibeah to oppose them, they cut down another eighteen thousand Israelites, all of them armed with swords. Then the Israelites, all the people, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before the LORD. They fasted that day until evening and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the LORD. And the Israelites inquired of the LORD…They asked, "Shall we go up again to battle with Benjamin our brother, or not?" The LORD responded, "Go, for tomorrow I will give them into your hands."

3) Seek God’s freedom for hurting people

Isa 58:6 The LORD says, "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke,

to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?”

4) Seek God’s forgiveness

Neh 9:1-2 The Israelites gathered together, fasting…They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the wickedness of their fathers.

1 John 1:9-10 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

3 ACTION STEPS THIS WEEK

1 – Take prayer sheet home an put in a key location.

2 – Abstain from something on Wednesday that will give you time for focused prayer (examples: eating, email, internet, TV, music, reading, break time).

3 – Set aside time over Wednesday lunch to pray and/or join with others in prayer in your workplace, neighborhood or at church.