Faith Christian Center – Corporate Fast

“Fasting God’s Way” for CHANGE!

 

Matthew 6:1-9, 16-18

 

 

A fast should be done with a pure heart and with the right motive.

1.      Fasting may provide us the key to unlock doors where other keys have not worked,

2.      Fasting may open the window to new opportunities that we have been seeking,

3.      and finally, fasting can provide us another spiritual weapon in this thing called life.

 

In Matthew, Jesus provides a pattern by which each of us is to live as a child of God…

 

He gives three specific duties…when you give, when you pray, when you fast…

 

Fasting for the born again believer should be WHEN, not IF. I believe God would have to live a fasted life. To help keep our bodies in line and so nothing in this world can get a better grip on our lives other than God.

 

Ø In speaking about giving, praying and fasting, Jesus instructed His hearers on how worthless is to focus our attention on being seen by men.

Ø Jesus did not say, IF you give, IF you pray or IF you fast, He said WHEN.  These were three things He expected us to do them as vital necessity in our Christian walk. Why should we do the other two and neglect the fast?

 

Jesus made it very clear, He left no room for doubt, that He expected His disciples to obey the leading of the Holy Spirit in these three areas –

 

Simple instructions…right?

 

The serpent convinced Eve to do something different...

 

Genesis 3:6

 

With that one meal…Adam and Eve immediately forfeited the presence of God…they went from enjoying the presence to hiding from the presence of God…

 

We could say…they ate themselves out of house and home…They ate themselves out of the will of God for their lives…They ate themselves out of the provision and plan of God for their lives…although their stomachs were satisfied temporarily…we are still suffer from the consequences of their appetites today.

When think of the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah…what comes to mind?

Homosexuality?

 

1.      Ezekiel 16:49-50

 

2.     No giving to the poor and needy

3.     No praying (pride and idleness)

4.     Not only homosexuality (as Genesis states)

5.     They were guilty of gluttony (fullness of bread)

 

                    There is never a convenient time to fast… God knows that…always a holiday, birthday, office lunch or something that puts a bump in the road…so some people talk themselves out of beginning a fast…

 

The Bible describes three types of fasts:

a.      Normal Fast (Luke 4:2) means to abstain from all food, solid or liquid, but not from water.

b.     Absolute Fast (Acts 9:9) means to abstain from all food, solid or liquid, including water.  This fast is usually done over a three day period.  Esther 4:16 – Queen Esther called for an absolute fast because desperate situations require desperate measures. This type of fast is usually reserved for spiritual emergencies.

c.      Partial Fast (Daniel 10:1-3) the emphasis on the partial fast is upon restriction of diet rather than complete abstention. Please understand that there are physical and spiritual benefits in a special season of seeking God with such a restricted diet.  The partial fast requires no less self-discipline than the normal or the absolute fast.  This is the type we will be doing at Faith Christian Center!

 

Why should we fast?

Ø We need to approach fasting with an attitude of positive faith: (begin to declare) – it is God’s will for me to fast, and God will bless me when I do fast in accordance with His will, I believe it is God’s will because Scripture that it is.  Many times we miss the purpose of God on things that are clearly indicated in the Bible.

Ø Second, we must be spiritually motivated, to be changed and become Christ-like and not selfish.  II Corinthians 5:15

Ø Lastly, we need to seek God with the right motive and in a biblical way. God says if we fast with the right motives He will reward us openly. Matthew 6:16-18

The Bible teaches that the physical body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.  The believer’s body has a very important function as a residence of the Holy Spirit.  We must come to the understanding that it is pleasing God when we keep the residence of the Holy Spirit in the best possible condition.  It should be healthy and strong and able to do the things God wants done. We need to take better care of our physical bodies – proper eating and exercise. 

“Positioned for CHANGE”

Sunday, March 14 through Sunday, April 4

Daniel 10:1-3, Ephesians 3:20

 

Guidelines for the “Positioned for Change” fast:

Week One (March 14^th- 20^th)

• No fast foods
• No caffeine
• No fried foods
• No pork
• No shellfish of any kind (i.e. shrimp, lobster, crab, etc.)
• No junk food of any kind (i.e. chips, candy, cookies, etc.)
• No white bread (use wheat or whole grain bread)
• No desserts
• No white sugar
• No carbonated drinks or carbonated water
• Limit television watching (not necessary to eliminate entirely)
• Purpose to walk in love and avoid strife at all costs
• Expect God’s power to manifest in great demonstration as you seek His face
• Read through Ephesians this week.

 

Week Two (March 21^st – 27^th)

• Follow the guidelines above and limit your daily meal consumption to no more than two meals per day.
• Especially spend increased time praying in the Holy Ghost (other tongues)
• List 5 family members, friends, or co-workers that you would like to see come to the Lord this year and spend quality time praying for according to Matthew 9:36-38.
• Read through Ephesians this week.

 

Week Three (March 28^th – April 3^rd)

Follow the guidelines above and limit your daily meal consumption to no more than one meal per day. Spend the additional time in prayer, worship, or meditating the Word of God.

• Read through Ephesians this week.
• Break your fast after Resurrection Day Service, Sunday April 4, 2010.
• Remember to gradually reintroduce food into your system (i.e. fruits, juices, small portions, etc), so as to not upset your digestive tract.

 

NOTE:  Pregnant women, nursing mothers, young children, and those on a medically monitored diet should NOT participate in this fast without written permission from your physician or dietician.

 

GUIDELINES FOR CHILDREN WHO WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE:   Children may continue to eat their regular number of meals and snacks each day.  Their fast should include limiting or excluding fast foods, pizza, salty chips and snacks, candy and soda.  Healthy meals, with more fruit and vegetable snacks, it is recommended (i.e., carrots, peanut butter crackers, snack crackers, whole fruit, fruit snacks, yogurt, etc.).

 

Suggested Reading: II Chronicles 20:1-4, Matthew 6:16-18, Isaiah 58:1-2 & 6-12, I Corinthians 9:27(AMP)