WEBVTT 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:03.200 All right. 00:00:03.200 --> 00:00:05.599 Why prayer and fasting? 00:00:05.599 --> 00:00:07.360 Why prayer and fasting? 00:00:07.360 --> 00:00:08.640 Isn't that a good question? 00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:11.439 Well, hopefully we're going to get an answer for you this morning. 00:00:11.439 --> 00:00:12.960 Why were we created? 00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:14.720 Why did God create us? 00:00:14.720 --> 00:00:16.559 What was his purpose? 00:00:16.559 --> 00:00:22.160 Did he just create us so he could watch us run around and oh, isn't that cute? 00:00:22.160 --> 00:00:23.120 Isn't that sweet? 00:00:23.120 --> 00:00:24.239 There's more. 00:00:24.239 --> 00:00:25.839 Why did he create us? 00:00:25.839 --> 00:00:28.079 To worship him. 00:00:28.079 --> 00:00:30.239 And what is at the root of that? 00:00:30.239 --> 00:00:31.440 Fellowship. 00:00:31.440 --> 00:00:34.719 God created us to have fellowship with him. 00:00:34.719 --> 00:00:40.320 He desires for us to have a living, breathing, ongoing relationship with him. 00:00:40.320 --> 00:00:46.399 How many of you realize that there are a lot of things that can try to get in the way of that? 00:00:46.399 --> 00:00:47.600 Am I right? 00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:54.560 Obviously, we know that we can't have right relationship with God or fellowship with him if we're not born again. 00:00:54.560 --> 00:00:58.320 All of us are born in sin and separated from God. 00:00:58.320 --> 00:01:06.640 And so we have to put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ in order to have our relationship with God renewed and made right again. 00:01:06.640 --> 00:01:11.599 But God desires for us to have a living, breathing, ongoing relationship with Him. 00:01:11.599 --> 00:01:18.560 And I don't know about you, but life, what is the key word when people ask you about your life? 00:01:18.560 --> 00:01:22.480 What is the one answer that is said more than any other answer? 00:01:22.480 --> 00:01:23.920 I'm really what? 00:01:23.920 --> 00:01:26.319 I'm really busy. 00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:28.000 I'm really busy. 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:28.959 Right? 00:01:28.959 --> 00:01:40.400 And and busy is a term that can be uh it can be based on being busy doing things that are really good or that are uh you know that are required. 00:01:40.400 --> 00:01:46.079 Busy can also be a term that refers to playing Fortnite, right? 00:01:46.079 --> 00:01:56.879 And I'm not I'm not here to just slam, I know there's there's a fortnight section here, and I'm not I'm not here to slam necessarily to slam that, but I'm just saying busy is a relative term, right? 00:01:56.879 --> 00:02:00.000 And so we we have to be careful with that. 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:09.199 God intends for us to have a real relationship with him that's based on a daily devotion, a daily devotion. 00:02:09.199 --> 00:02:24.000 And so prayer and fasting are some of the ways that God has given us to remove the distractions from our life and to really focus in on why we were actually created to be in fellowship with him, right? 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:27.599 So we're gonna read a couple of passages from Matthew chapter six. 00:02:27.599 --> 00:02:38.719 We all know that this is the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus was proclaiming to his disciples what it looks like to be a follower of Christ, what it looks like to be a citizen of the kingdom. 00:02:38.719 --> 00:02:47.120 And I want you to pay attention especially to a particular word that's found in both of these passages, and it's actually repeated a few times. 00:02:47.120 --> 00:02:51.199 So let's look at Matthew chapter six, verses five through eight. 00:02:51.199 --> 00:03:02.240 And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. 00:03:02.240 --> 00:03:06.159 Truly I say to you, they have received their reward. 00:03:06.159 --> 00:03:16.159 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door, and pray to your father who is in secret, and your father who sees in secret will reward you. 00:03:16.159 --> 00:03:24.080 And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 00:03:24.080 --> 00:03:29.120 Do not be like them, for your father knows what you need before you ask him. 00:03:29.120 --> 00:03:41.439 And then going down the chapter to verse sixteen, it says, And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. 00:03:41.439 --> 00:03:44.800 Truly I say to you, they have received their reward. 00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:59.039 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others, but by your father who is in secret, and your father who sees in secret will reward you. 00:03:59.039 --> 00:04:00.800 Let's pray together. 00:04:00.800 --> 00:04:02.960 Father, we thank you for the word of God. 00:04:02.960 --> 00:04:05.680 We thank you that your word is alive and powerful. 00:04:05.680 --> 00:04:08.400 We ask that you would help us to yield to it. 00:04:08.400 --> 00:04:14.479 We ask that you would cause our spirits to be alive today to the Spirit of God. 00:04:14.479 --> 00:04:23.120 And we ask, Lord, that you would help us this today to remind ourselves of the importance of prayer and fasting in Jesus' name. 00:04:23.120 --> 00:04:24.000 Amen. 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:24.720 Amen. 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:29.360 So, did you discern the word that was found in both passages multiple times? 00:04:29.360 --> 00:04:31.680 Yes, you got it right. 00:04:31.680 --> 00:04:32.319 I don't care. 00:04:32.319 --> 00:04:35.120 They can throw whatever time change they want at you. 00:04:35.120 --> 00:04:38.800 You are alive, you are well, your mind is active. 00:04:38.800 --> 00:04:45.360 And when you pray, not if you pray, but when you pray. 00:04:45.360 --> 00:04:47.040 Not if, but when. 00:04:47.040 --> 00:04:50.800 It's a given that all of us should pray. 00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:51.759 Amen. 00:04:51.759 --> 00:04:54.000 You just prayed. 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:56.240 Amen is a prayer in itself. 00:04:56.240 --> 00:04:56.959 So be it. 00:04:56.959 --> 00:04:59.439 In other words, God, let your will be done. 00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:02.720 We need to take the initiative and stir ourselves up to pray. 00:05:02.720 --> 00:05:10.800 How many of you know it is not necessarily the natural disposition of ourselves to just desire to pray? 00:05:10.800 --> 00:05:16.399 It's something that we have to, we have to, uh, we have to ask God in prayer. 00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:19.040 We have to ask God to give us the desire for. 00:05:19.040 --> 00:05:21.920 And we have to stir ourselves up to pray. 00:05:21.920 --> 00:05:25.839 We have to remind ourselves of the importance of it. 00:05:25.839 --> 00:05:28.800 And prayer is not just us speaking. 00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:34.319 How many of you have ever been in a relationship where only one person spoke? 00:05:34.319 --> 00:05:37.600 And how well did that relationship go? 00:05:37.600 --> 00:05:43.360 If you were the speaker, you might have thought, fine, because you got all your words out. 00:05:43.360 --> 00:05:48.000 But the other person did not have a chance to get a word in edgewise, right? 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:56.639 In order for there to be prayer, there's a two-way conversation, there's a communication that happens between you and God. 00:05:56.639 --> 00:05:59.600 Remember, Paul told us to pray without ceasing? 00:05:59.600 --> 00:06:00.720 How do we do that? 00:06:00.720 --> 00:06:03.759 I describe it like this: we have a family chat. 00:06:03.759 --> 00:06:09.920 And in that family chat, at any given moment in time, you'll see a notification pop up. 00:06:09.920 --> 00:06:31.519 And usually, if a notification pops up and one of my children is showing one of their children doing something absolutely adorable, within the next three minutes or seconds at times, the other child who has children is posting a picture of their child doing something even more incredible and more beautiful, right? 00:06:31.519 --> 00:06:40.240 And all of us are going, ah, and I, you know, my emoji game is not very good because I don't always have my glasses on and I don't know what all the emojis mean. 00:06:40.240 --> 00:06:45.040 So I try not to go there because I don't want to accidentally hit the wrong one, right? 00:06:45.040 --> 00:06:48.720 But some of you, I have to say, some of you have a pretty strong emoji game. 00:06:48.720 --> 00:06:49.519 I've noticed that. 00:06:49.519 --> 00:06:52.399 It's incredible, especially the older generation. 00:06:52.399 --> 00:06:53.920 I mean, you guys have embraced this. 00:06:53.920 --> 00:07:01.920 My dad recently was texting in a group chat, in our other family group chat, and he's hitting all these emojis. 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:07.360 And I said, I just texted and I said, Dad, man, that's an incredible emoji game you got going there. 00:07:07.360 --> 00:07:09.279 He didn't answer, right? 00:07:09.279 --> 00:07:15.759 So I don't know if he he felt called out or if he didn't realize he had hit all the emojis or what. 00:07:15.759 --> 00:07:17.279 Anyway, I digress. 00:07:17.279 --> 00:07:26.319 The point being this prayer is an open-ended communication between you and God, like a group chat, like a family chat. 00:07:26.319 --> 00:07:28.160 We're a part of the family of God. 00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:32.879 And so we should always be open to hearing from God and speaking to God. 00:07:32.879 --> 00:07:35.519 So when you prayer, pray. 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:39.519 Mark Medley, Pastor Mark, has given us this great definition for prayer. 00:07:39.519 --> 00:07:43.759 Prayer is an invitation into God's heart and mission. 00:07:43.759 --> 00:07:47.199 Prayer is an invitation into God's heart and mission. 00:07:47.199 --> 00:07:54.240 And it doesn't just stop at prayer, it says also, when you fast, what is that implying? 00:07:54.240 --> 00:07:57.040 It implies that we should fast, right? 00:07:57.040 --> 00:08:02.399 The Bible clearly tells us that spiritual fasting intensifies prayer. 00:08:02.399 --> 00:08:08.319 If you want prayer on steroids, here's a way to do it: fasting and prayer together. 00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:12.639 In fact, if you don't, if you fast without prayer, what are you doing? 00:08:12.639 --> 00:08:14.639 You're dieting. 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:19.680 Even the world understands that there are some natural benefits to fasting, right? 00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:22.560 How many of you have ever done intermittent fasting? 00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:27.600 How many of you realize that that is not a 21st century idea? 00:08:27.600 --> 00:08:30.399 That is an idea that came from God Himself. 00:08:30.399 --> 00:08:41.360 Can you imagine if you took that idea and you added in it at those times when you would naturally be eating if you took time dedicated in prayer to God? 00:08:41.360 --> 00:08:43.440 That's what we're talking about. 00:08:43.440 --> 00:08:46.879 Spending time with Him intentionally. 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:50.240 So at this point, I'm going to ask Ebon Asiyama to come. 00:08:50.240 --> 00:08:55.120 And Ebon is going to, Ebon is a man who has fasted way more than I have. 00:08:55.120 --> 00:09:03.919 And uh I say that to my regret, but also just to let you know that this is a man who's very serious about his relationship with God. 00:09:03.919 --> 00:09:14.720 And he's also said that part of the reason why he has fasted more is because when you live in Ghana, it's very much easier to fast in Ghana than it is in America, right? 00:09:14.720 --> 00:09:23.200 There's not a McDonald's on every corner and a convenience store everywhere, and you actually have to work for your food, you have to to make it and all of that. 00:09:23.200 --> 00:09:27.600 So, anyway, Evan is going to take us through the spiritual benefits of fasting. 00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:33.360 Then I'm going to come up and close with giving us some details about our 21 days of prayer and fasting. 00:09:33.360 --> 00:09:35.360 Let's welcome him this morning. 00:09:41.360 --> 00:09:43.360 Thank God so much for design. 00:09:44.639 --> 00:09:45.600 God is good. 00:09:45.600 --> 00:09:46.480 Amen. 00:09:46.480 --> 00:09:49.120 What a blessing. 00:09:49.120 --> 00:09:57.200 I am really expectant, and I know that God is up to something in these 21 days of fasting and prayer. 00:09:57.200 --> 00:10:03.759 And I thank God so much for Tyler and the elders for their leadership. 00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:14.639 Actually, this is easy for me because uh he's discipling me to fulfill the purpose that God has called me to do. 00:10:14.639 --> 00:10:18.080 And so as I'm standing here, I'm being discipled. 00:10:18.080 --> 00:10:24.639 So thank you so much for giving me grace to share what God has laid on my heart. 00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:28.639 Father, we thank you so much for your kindness. 00:10:28.639 --> 00:10:32.000 We thank you, Lord, that you are a good father. 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:36.080 And that, Lord, you desire to give your children good gifts. 00:10:36.080 --> 00:10:44.799 And Lord, we thank you that you don't want your children to go without food before you give them what they need. 00:10:44.799 --> 00:10:48.559 But Lord, your children are distracted in this world. 00:10:48.559 --> 00:10:50.320 So many distractions. 00:10:50.320 --> 00:11:00.000 And so, Lord, we pray we commit this time into your hands that you open our eyes and help us to understand the significance of fasting. 00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:02.480 We give you praise in Jesus' name. 00:11:02.480 --> 00:11:03.360 Amen. 00:11:03.360 --> 00:11:13.600 And so fasting actually is designed for us to set our attention on God. 00:11:13.600 --> 00:11:22.320 God actually spoke to me in a time of fasting and prayer, and he said, Do you know you don't fast to get my attention? 00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:24.799 I said, Oh, okay. 00:11:24.799 --> 00:11:27.840 He said, You fast to get your attention on me. 00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:34.000 Because as a father, he is always ready to hear his children. 00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:39.120 He's always paying attention to his children, but we are so much distracted. 00:11:39.120 --> 00:11:51.679 And so the number one significance that I want to share with you, the spiritual benefits and value of fasting, is to get our attention on God and grow in our intimacy with him. 00:11:51.679 --> 00:11:56.240 I love the word of God so much. 00:11:56.240 --> 00:12:05.519 There is a word that says that, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. 00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:16.159 When we hunger and thirst for God, and we get our attention on God, He fills us, or we are positioned to receive all that He has for us. 00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:26.559 And so we get our attention on God, remove from all the distraction that comes our way, and we focus on building that intimacy with Him. 00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:33.919 Daniel, a man who lived a fasted life, he was always doing some kind of fast. 00:12:33.919 --> 00:12:38.320 He wrote in Daniel chapter 11, verse 32, the bee part. 00:12:38.320 --> 00:12:44.399 He says, The people who know their God, they shall be strong and they will do exploits. 00:12:44.399 --> 00:12:54.480 And so when we fast, we are building our intimacy with God, we are growing in our knowledge of God, we are focusing our attention on Him. 00:12:54.480 --> 00:12:57.679 And God said, My children, pay attention to me. 00:12:57.679 --> 00:13:11.279 In Proverbs chapter 4, verse 20, he says, Pay attention to my words, incline your ears to my sayings, do not let them depart from your heart, set them in the midst of your heart. 00:13:11.279 --> 00:13:16.000 They are life to those who find it, and health to all their flesh. 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:23.120 And so when we do fast and we set our attention on God, it is life to us. 00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:27.120 We are revived, we are empowered, we are encouraged. 00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:38.080 The sons of Korah wrote in Psalm 42, verse 1 and 2, it says that as the deer pants for the flowing streams, so pants my soul for God. 00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:41.840 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. 00:13:41.840 --> 00:13:45.039 When shall I come and appear before God? 00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:47.759 And so this is the hard cry of fasting. 00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:52.960 We need God, we thirst for Him, we are hungry for Him. 00:13:52.960 --> 00:14:01.519 There was a time where the disciples of John went to Jesus and said, Why are we always fasting? 00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:04.000 But your disciples hardly fast. 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:05.279 What is going on? 00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:10.960 And Jesus said, Well, I'm the bridegroom, I'm here. 00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:15.360 When we the bridegroom is with them, they don't have to fast. 00:14:15.360 --> 00:14:20.559 But a time will come when the bridegroom will be taken away and then they will fast. 00:14:20.559 --> 00:14:26.960 And we all know that we don't have the incarnate person of Jesus with us right now. 00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:30.960 But his spirit is with us, his presence is with us. 00:14:30.960 --> 00:14:35.519 But one day when we stand before the bridegroom, we don't need fasting. 00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:40.320 And don't you envy our loved ones who are with the Lord right now? 00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:43.519 They don't need 21 days of fasting and praise. 00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:49.360 But we need it because we are dealing with things that are very heavy. 00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:55.679 And I know that as we embark on this journey of fasting, the Lord will bring that freedom to us. 00:14:55.679 --> 00:15:02.320 And so fasting sets our attention on God and deepens our intimacy with Him. 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:08.080 The second benefit of fasting is that it resets our affections on God. 00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:21.519 Personally, the Lord spoke to me in the beginning of the year, dealing with me about my own affections and showing me that I have not prioritized him and I've set my affections on other things. 00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:25.360 And so he embarked me to fast. 00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:31.519 And so by God's grace, I've been in partial fast since the beginning of the year. 00:15:31.519 --> 00:15:40.159 But God is showing me so much during this time because He's showing me the things in my heart that I need to deal with. 00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:48.240 He's showing me things that needs to change in my life and how to reset my affections. 00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:52.000 Beloved, when you read Job, I love Job so much. 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:56.960 In Job chapter 23, verse 12, the man didn't have any Bible. 00:15:56.960 --> 00:15:59.840 He didn't have a copy of the Bible. 00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:06.240 As a matter of fact, some people believe that Job is one of the first books that was written in the Bible. 00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:10.399 And so he didn't have any written word of God. 00:16:10.399 --> 00:16:16.480 But Job said, he said, I have not departed from the commandment of his lips. 00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:21.279 Which tells us that he was having communication with God. 00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:25.759 And I, you know, as Tyler said, an open-ended communication with God. 00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:29.679 He said, I've not departed from the commandment of his lips. 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:35.200 I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. 00:16:35.200 --> 00:16:39.039 So this is the man who has his affection on God. 00:16:39.039 --> 00:16:44.720 And no wonder all the things that came at him, he lost everything in a day. 00:16:44.720 --> 00:16:47.279 He buried 10 children in a day. 00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:52.159 He lost all his business, all his investment was gone in a single day. 00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:59.600 But this man could still worship through it and say, the Lord has given and he has taken the taken away. 00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:01.759 Blessed be the name of the Lord. 00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:06.240 How can you worship in such an affliction and such difficult time? 00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:12.480 He could worship through it because his number one affection was on God. 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:31.440 And God saw that in the life of Abraham, and he said, Abraham, can you give me your laughter? 00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:33.519 Because Isaac means laughter. 00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:51.200 So fasting will reset our affections. 00:17:51.200 --> 00:18:00.799 In Psalm 91, verse 14 to 16, he says that behold, because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him. 00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:05.359 Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him. 00:18:05.359 --> 00:18:08.319 I will protect him because he knows my name. 00:18:08.319 --> 00:18:11.119 When he calls to me, I will answer him. 00:18:11.119 --> 00:18:15.279 I will be with him in trouble, I will rescue him and honor him. 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:20.720 With long life, I will satisfy him and show him my salvation. 00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:30.480 And so as we hold fast to God in love and reset our affections on him, he has promised that he would deliver us. 00:18:30.480 --> 00:18:39.359 The third benefit of fasting is that it is a catalyst for revival and spiritual growth. 00:18:39.359 --> 00:18:44.720 In 2 Chronicles chapter 7, verse 14, it's a very famous scripture. 00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:59.279 Said, If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven, I will forgive their sins, and I will heal their land. 00:18:59.279 --> 00:19:05.359 And many times when you read scriptures and you see they humble themselves, talking about fasting. 00:19:05.359 --> 00:19:08.559 Because fasting has a way of humbling us. 00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:19.440 And I love John the Baptist when people came to him and said, you know, the one you baptized at Jordan, he's also baptizing, and all men are going to him. 00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:23.200 And the response of John the Baptist was so beautiful. 00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:25.119 He said, Well, he's the bridegroom. 00:19:25.119 --> 00:19:28.160 I this is my joy that all men are going to him. 00:19:28.160 --> 00:19:31.599 He must increase, but I must decrease. 00:19:31.599 --> 00:19:38.640 And fasting is the way where we decrease so that we can experience the increasing of God. 00:19:38.640 --> 00:19:44.400 It's a catalyst for spiritual growth and also revival. 00:19:44.400 --> 00:20:07.039 And God is calling us, Trinity as a church, to return to him with fasting and with weeping and with rejoicing also. 00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:10.160 Because we can fast with rejoicing. 00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:11.519 We can fast with joy. 00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:15.119 Anna, the prophetess, I love her so much. 00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:22.559 You know, she was married and she only lived with her husband for seven years, and her husband passed. 00:20:22.559 --> 00:20:27.920 And the Bible says that she was a woman of fasting and prayer. 00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:32.079 And she worshiped God with fasting and prayer. 00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:37.440 And so we can also worship God with fasting and prayer. 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:44.400 In the book of Jonah, the people of Nineveh fasted when they heard the word of God. 00:20:44.400 --> 00:20:52.559 They decided they were going to do a complete fast, three days, no food, and they repented before God. 00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:58.240 And God had mercy upon them, and God changed their situation. 00:20:58.240 --> 00:20:59.519 God spared them. 00:20:59.519 --> 00:21:03.839 I must say that fasting is not to change the will of God. 00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:10.079 But fasting is designed to bring us to align to the will of God. 00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:17.599 Fasting is not to get God to do what we want, but to get us to do what God wants. 00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:21.759 Because it is actually for our benefit. 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:31.440 So when the people of Nineveh repented and fasted, God forgave them and spared them. 00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:37.680 Number four, fasting can bring clear revelation and direction from God. 00:21:37.680 --> 00:21:47.759 If you are in a place where you are about to make a big decision, a decision that can impact your life and your family, you can fast. 00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:49.519 Take some time and fast. 00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:56.000 I remember when I was in Ghana, I was fasting and praying for my marriage. 00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:59.680 And I just I was asking God to bless me with. 00:21:59.680 --> 00:22:00.720 Prudent wife. 00:22:00.720 --> 00:22:01.519 I wasn't married. 00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:02.960 I was in Bible school. 00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:11.279 And I said, God, your word says that houses are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is a gift from you. 00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:15.039 So, Lord, will you bless me with a prudent wife? 00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:17.440 And I heard God speak to me. 00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:22.000 He said, Ask for wisdom to live with a prudent wife. 00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:27.920 Like, okay, I know what I need, and I thank God so much for my wife, Katie. 00:22:27.920 --> 00:22:30.240 She's the reason why I'm in this country. 00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:36.480 And indeed, God speaks to us and gives us direction when we fast. 00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:41.599 Because in fasting and praying, our attention is on God. 00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:45.920 So when we when He speaks, we can hear Him. 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:57.039 Saul of Tarsus, before he became the apostle Paul, after he had that encounter with Jesus and went blind for three days. 00:22:57.039 --> 00:23:00.640 He fasted for three days and praying. 00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:05.759 And God showed him that he's going to send somebody to come and lay hands on him. 00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:11.680 And Ananias also, when God spoke to him, said, Go, go to Damascus. 00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:13.200 I have a servant there. 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:15.119 Behold, he is praying. 00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:17.119 He is fasting and praying. 00:23:17.119 --> 00:23:20.319 And God gave a revelation to Ananias. 00:23:20.319 --> 00:23:26.480 He knew what to do to go to Damascus and find Brother Saul. 00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:30.319 And when he prayed for him, he received his sight. 00:23:30.319 --> 00:23:34.720 It brings a clear revelation and direction from God. 00:23:34.720 --> 00:23:48.160 And our church last year, when we were praying and fasting about a big decision concerning our place of worship, God was gracious to us in the process and he gave us this place. 00:23:48.160 --> 00:23:52.400 And there are many other benefits of fasting. 00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:57.920 Some of them may not be material, some are very spiritual. 00:23:57.920 --> 00:24:04.240 Fasting can help us navigate the journey ahead with confidence. 00:24:04.240 --> 00:24:08.079 We are in some kind of journey, one way or the other. 00:24:08.079 --> 00:24:12.079 And we need God to help us navigate the journey ahead of us. 00:24:12.079 --> 00:24:16.079 And so fasting helps us to navigate that journey. 00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:37.519 In the book of Ezra, in Ezra chapter 8, verse 21 to 23, he says that then I proclaimed a fast there at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before God to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. 00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:48.079 For I was ashamed to ask for the king for a band of soldiers, horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way. 00:24:48.079 --> 00:24:58.000 Since we are told the king, the hand of our God is good for all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him. 00:24:58.000 --> 00:25:04.960 So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty. 00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:12.079 So Ezra had a big journey ahead of him, and he decided to embark on a fast. 00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:14.799 He said, By the river Ahava. 00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:17.039 When I was reading the scriptures, I saw that name. 00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:18.960 I'm like, what does it mean? 00:25:18.960 --> 00:25:25.839 Sometimes when I'm reading scriptures and I see an interesting name, I want to find out the meaning of it. 00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:33.599 And that name, Ahava, it means I shall subsist or I shall be taken care of. 00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:44.240 And the way that Ezra and his people took care of themselves was by humbling themselves before God with fasting and prayer. 00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:51.759 And so in fasting, we humble ourselves before God and we place our needs before him. 00:25:51.759 --> 00:26:06.880 And as Ezra experienced the protection of God and success in his journey, as we do that, no matter the journey that is ahead of us, God will give us the wisdom and the protection that we need for our journey. 00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:09.680 God protected him and his family, his children. 00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:13.680 The hand of God was so graciously upon him. 00:26:13.680 --> 00:26:25.200 Paul said that in time of his weakness, God said to him that his grace is sufficient for him and his strength is made perfect in weakness. 00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:28.240 In fasting, our flesh is weak. 00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:33.519 But that is the time that we experience the strength of God. 00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:37.920 And as we humble ourselves, I love this word so much. 00:26:37.920 --> 00:26:42.400 God said, He dwells in a high and lofty place. 00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:44.079 He's the most high God. 00:26:44.079 --> 00:26:56.319 And also he dwells with him who is of a lowly and a humble heart to revive the heart of the lowly and to revive the spirit of the contrite. 00:26:56.319 --> 00:27:01.680 And so as we humble ourselves, remember that God is with the lowly. 00:27:01.680 --> 00:27:07.279 Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who are in need for God. 00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:12.799 You recognize your need for God, you recognize that you need God in your life. 00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:16.400 He says he doesn't bless the rich in spirit. 00:27:16.400 --> 00:27:21.039 They've got it all figured out. 00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:25.039 But if you are poor in spirit, you recognize that you need God. 00:27:25.039 --> 00:27:35.119 And I've been in situations that I knew that I have to fast because until God comes through, it's going to be a disaster. 00:27:35.119 --> 00:27:45.440 And I remember the whole journey of me coming here, it wasn't easy because the COVID-19 impacted everything and the embassies were closed down. 00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:55.119 And I was in a backlog, and I was trying to get to my family in difficult times, but all the doors were closed. 00:27:55.119 --> 00:28:03.200 And I remember in 2022, the Lord impressed on me to fast. 00:28:03.200 --> 00:28:07.519 And I fasted for so many days. 00:28:07.519 --> 00:28:13.039 And the Lord led me to a different country that has appointments. 00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:25.519 Nobody told me that Namibia had open appointments, but God showed me that this country has an appointment, and I was able to book an appointment. 00:28:25.519 --> 00:28:28.480 And as soon as I booked the appointment, it closed again. 00:28:28.480 --> 00:29:02.559 Fasting can change our circumstances. 00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:05.359 God can use it to change our circumstances. 00:29:05.359 --> 00:29:13.200 But I must also say that even if our circumstances don't change, God will use fasting to change us. 00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:15.759 I'm going to give you an example. 00:29:15.759 --> 00:29:22.240 Somebody fasted, David, he fasted in the Bible, and his circumstances did not change. 00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:30.960 But something about the man changed when David was fasting and praying for his son, his first son with Bathsheba. 00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:33.279 Many of us know the story. 00:29:33.279 --> 00:29:36.640 And the boy was sick. 00:29:36.640 --> 00:29:42.319 So David spent seven days in complete fast before God. 00:29:42.319 --> 00:29:43.839 Fasting and praying. 00:29:43.839 --> 00:29:46.160 On the seventh day, the boy died. 00:29:46.160 --> 00:29:57.920 And when the boy died, David rose from the ground, he washed himself, went to the house of God, he worshiped, and he went home. 00:29:57.920 --> 00:29:59.519 He said, Bring me food. 00:29:59.519 --> 00:30:03.759 And the people were like, What is this thing that you are doing? 00:30:03.759 --> 00:30:07.519 When the boy was alive, you would not eat. 00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:11.440 And now that he's gone, why are you requesting for food? 00:30:11.440 --> 00:30:20.400 And David said, Well, when the boy was alive, I fasted because I was hoping that God would change that situation. 00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:25.200 But now I will go to him and he will not come to me. 00:30:25.200 --> 00:30:28.480 But I need food before I get to him. 00:30:28.480 --> 00:30:34.319 He didn't say that, but I'm just adding that to it. 00:30:34.319 --> 00:30:40.160 Before we get to our loved ones who are with the Lord, we need food to get there. 00:30:40.160 --> 00:30:45.599 But God can use fasting to change so many circumstances. 00:30:45.599 --> 00:30:55.200 So many examples in scripture where Esther, when the life of her people were in danger, they decided to fast for three days. 00:30:55.200 --> 00:30:57.519 She herself was fasting too. 00:30:57.519 --> 00:31:02.240 And God changed their situation and saved them. 00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:05.440 Another example is Hannah. 00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:14.000 When Hannah was needing a son so bad, they went to Shiloh and she refused to eat. 00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:18.880 When everybody was feasting, she said, No, this is not time for feasting. 00:31:18.880 --> 00:31:21.680 May God come through for me. 00:31:21.680 --> 00:31:28.960 And she made a vow that if God will give her a son, she will give the son back to him. 00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:35.519 And we had the prophet Samuel, who became such a blessing to the people of God. 00:31:35.519 --> 00:31:47.920 Another example that I want to share is there was a time where the children of Judah encountered three different countries in battle. 00:31:47.920 --> 00:31:52.000 In 2 Chronicles chapter 20, verse 1 to 4. 00:31:52.000 --> 00:32:02.079 He says, After this, the Moabites and the Ammonites, and with them the Munites came against Jehoshaphat for battle. 00:32:02.079 --> 00:32:14.960 And some men came and told Jehoshaphat, A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea, and behold, they are in Hazazon Tamar, that is Engedi. 00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:23.920 Then Jehoshaphat was afraid, and he set his face to seek the Lord and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 00:32:23.920 --> 00:32:27.759 And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord. 00:32:27.759 --> 00:32:32.000 And all the cities of Judah came to seek the Lord. 00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:40.720 And so when all these three countries were coming against them, all that he did was call for a fast and prayer. 00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:42.720 And the Lord led them in the process. 00:32:42.720 --> 00:32:47.839 He said, Let the worship people, the singers lead the battle. 00:32:47.839 --> 00:32:49.519 Let them worship the Lord. 00:32:49.519 --> 00:32:54.079 And as they worship the Lord, there was an ambush among the three countries. 00:32:54.079 --> 00:32:56.240 They started fighting against themselves. 00:32:56.240 --> 00:32:58.240 And they helped destroy one another. 00:32:58.240 --> 00:33:03.039 And they didn't have to fight because God was fighting for them. 00:33:03.039 --> 00:33:13.599 So I pray that during this time of prayer and fasting, God would do things that not even eyes can see. 00:33:13.599 --> 00:33:16.319 He would do deeper things in us. 00:33:16.319 --> 00:33:23.599 The final thing that I want to share is that fasting and prayer can help bring spiritual freedom. 00:33:23.599 --> 00:33:35.680 On the Mount of Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah appeared and they were talking with Jesus. 00:33:35.680 --> 00:33:42.079 All these three men during their time on earth fasted for 40 days. 00:33:42.079 --> 00:33:47.039 Moses, before he received the law, fasted for 40 days. 00:33:47.039 --> 00:33:48.880 He was in the presence of God. 00:33:48.880 --> 00:33:57.119 Elijah, after he destroyed the prophets of Baal, went into a very serious depression and wanted to kill him. 00:33:57.119 --> 00:33:58.400 He said, God, kill me. 00:33:58.400 --> 00:33:59.839 He didn't want to kill himself. 00:33:59.839 --> 00:34:01.599 He asked God to kill him. 00:34:01.599 --> 00:34:06.400 But an angel of the Lord appeared to him and gave him bread. 00:34:06.400 --> 00:34:12.480 And he went in the strength of that bread for 40 days without eating. 00:34:12.480 --> 00:34:18.239 And we know that our Lord Jesus Christ was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. 00:34:18.239 --> 00:34:21.199 And for 40 days he fasted. 00:34:21.199 --> 00:34:43.599 But we know that Moses represented the law and the old covenant, and Elijah representing the law, the prophets, and Jesus Christ representing the new covenant. 00:34:43.599 --> 00:34:48.239 All of these had to do this 40 days fasting and prayer. 00:34:48.239 --> 00:34:53.440 But if an angel appears to you and gives you bread and you can fast for 40 days, that's fine. 00:34:53.440 --> 00:35:01.679 But if you are not being led by God to do that, you shouldn't do it. 00:35:01.679 --> 00:35:05.039 Unless God leads you to do it. 00:35:05.039 --> 00:35:11.280 But Jesus Christ, when he was going to the wilderness, was filled with the Holy Spirit. 00:35:11.280 --> 00:35:12.639 And he fasted. 00:35:12.639 --> 00:35:20.000 But when he returned from there, the Spirit of God was so much on him. 00:35:20.000 --> 00:35:26.320 And the Lord was showing me that Jesus had the spirit before the 40 days fasting. 00:35:26.320 --> 00:35:29.679 But after the fast, the spirit had him. 00:35:29.679 --> 00:35:32.079 And there's a difference in that. 00:35:32.079 --> 00:35:36.559 It's one thing to have the spirit, and it's another thing for the spirit to have you. 00:35:36.559 --> 00:35:40.800 And when he stood before the people, he said, The spirit of the Lord God is upon me. 00:35:40.800 --> 00:35:44.800 And he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. 00:35:44.800 --> 00:35:46.960 And we all saw all that happened. 00:35:46.960 --> 00:35:50.559 Miracles, signs, we're following him. 00:35:50.559 --> 00:35:55.039 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. 00:35:55.039 --> 00:36:01.360 We went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 00:36:01.360 --> 00:36:04.079 Fasting brings spiritual freedom. 00:36:04.079 --> 00:36:07.360 Sometimes the enemy tries to oppress believers. 00:36:07.360 --> 00:36:13.519 And as we engage in fasting and prayer, that oppression can break off of us. 00:36:13.519 --> 00:36:20.719 There was a time where a man brought his son to the disciples to heal him. 00:36:20.719 --> 00:36:22.480 And the man was crying. 00:36:22.480 --> 00:36:26.000 He said, This spirit is tormenting my son. 00:36:26.000 --> 00:36:31.199