WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW CAN KILL YOU!
A STUDY ON THE PERILS OF FASTING ---
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr.
COME LET US REASON TOGETHER AS WE START OUR STUDY ON FASTING AND
PRAYER --- LET US REALIZE TRUE FASTING AND PRAYER IS UNDER GREAT
ATTACK DUE TO FALSE TEACHINGS, FALSE PRACTICES AND A LACK OF KNOWING
THE BALANCED WORD OF GOD.
I. INTRODUCTION:
LET US UNDERSTAND WE LIVE IN PERILOUS DAYS AND TIMES...
OUR CHRISTIAN TEACHING AND THE BALANCED WORD OF GOD IS IN PERIL.
2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
A. PERIL: Danger, alarm, hazard, jeopardy, warning, alert, on guard....
B. WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW? --- CAN KILL YOU...?
WE NEED WISDOM AND MODERATION
TO STUDY THE PERILS OF FASTING AND PRAYER.
Years ago, I read a story that was printed in the CHICAGO TRIBUNE --- written by
Peter Kendall. Peter told the story of a Mississippi farmer that moved to Chicago, his name
was RUBEN BROWN. Rubin was 61, and the community around him called him
THE COACHROACH EXTERMINATOR. He could spray and kill every roach on the
property. He was good and cheap.
RUBEN BROWN HAD METHYL PARATHION he used. It was an old farm spray to kill
BOLL WEEVILS, he had hundreds of gallons with him. He would return back to Mississippi
and get more from his old farm. The spray was deadly to bugs that would invade houses.
With his hand sprayer he traveled from house to house and his business grew and grew
with satisfied customers. BUGS FEARED RUBEN'S NAME.
After several years people in the neighborhood started having NEUROLOGICAL
PROBLEMS. The EPA identified that the houses had TOXIC LEVELS OF
METHYL PARATHION --- How did this spray cause lead poisoning in Chicago?
The spray will not break down and can become deadly.
After months of investigation the EPA tracked down RUBEN BROWN, the kind old
exterminator. The ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY said the CLEAN UP
BILL WOULD TOTAL OVER $20,000,000 (20 MILLION). At the time this was the
largest TOXIC CLEAN UP in Illinois, A SICKLY NIGHTMARE.
BROWN WAS CHARGED WITH TWO MISDEMEANORS. His lawyer explained:
BROWN DID NOT KNOW? HE HAD NO IDEA OF ALL THE HARM HE WAS DOING?
HE DID NOT KNOW THE SPRAY WOULD MAKE PEOPLE SO SICK? BUT RUBEN
BROWN'S INTENTION WAS HELPING PEOPLE AND MAKING A LITTLE MONEY.
HIS LAWYER SAID: BROWN DID NOT KNOW HOW TOXIC THE SPRAY WAS.
WHAT YOU DO NOT KNOW CAN HURT YOU, HURT OTHERS AND EVEN
BRING PAIN AND DEATH.THIS FACT IS TRUE OF BOTH PESTICIDES AND
IGNORANCE AND FALSE TEACHING.
II. SATAN'S BEST WORK IS DONE IN THE LIMITS OF EXCESSIVENESS
AND IGNORANCE... GOD HATES A BRAGGING SPIRIT... PRIDE DESTROYS...
A. Many ignorant people seem to enjoy their ignorance and spread it around.
B. HAVE YOU SEEN PEOPLE PROCLAIM THE NEW DOLLAR COIN DOES NOT HAVE
"IN GOD WE TRUST"...
Ignorance at work, LOOK AT THE LIP, FIRST COIN TO EVER HAVE MESSAGE WRITTEN
IN THE LIP... IN GOD WE TRUST?
C. The Bible is clear, that the ignorance of God's word causes damage and pain.
We suffer because we do not know God's word.
Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures,
nor the power of God.
D. THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL TAKE MANY GOOD PEOPLE DOWN DANGEROUS ROADS
BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KNOW.
Romans 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their
own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
E. IF IGNORANCE OF THE LAW EXEMPT MAN FROM TRIAL,
ALL MEN WOULD CLAIM IGNORANCE.
Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men
every where to repent:
F. SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT TEACHABLE. THEY LOVE TO BE IGNORANT...
WILLINGLY IGNORANT...
1 Corinthians 14:38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
2 Peter 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens
were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
AS WE STUDY THE WORD OF GOD WE MUST REALIZE THERE ARE DIFFERENCE
IN THE OLD TESTAMENT AND THE NEW TESTAMENT.
A. Paul warned us of teachers that would try to revert to old JEWISH TRADITIONS
and MENTAL PROCESSES. We must guard the church to walk in the NEW TESTAMENT.
B. OLD TESTAMENT FASTING AND PRAYER:
1. Rent clothes
2. Wear sackcloth (coarse, uncomfortable)
3. Take ashes and rub on you... (ash has acid base, hurts, pain)
4. Wear a rope head waist, with 7 ropes with knots tied in the rope, to dangling
from head...
5. Find DIRT, DUST to sit in...
6. Fall on your face...
7. Go to a busy corner or to church to be seen...
8. To be very loud and visible to all... (broadcast?)
9. Mourn, wail, HOWL...
10. Fast loud and long ( long time better)
11. Use vain repetitions (say the same thing over and over)
12. Sade (disfigured) face
C. THE NEW TESTAMENT FASTING AND PRAYER PATTERNS ARE MUCH DIFFERENT
FROM THE OLD...
1. Do not get in front of people...
2. Have a pure motive (not dieting, not demanding, but submissive,
3. Not boasting on a street corner where all pass...
4. Have a prayer closet, it says shut the door....(What you are in secret will be revealed in public)
5. Do not broad cast...
6. Not to be seen
7. Anoint your face
8. Then wash your face
9. Do not let the left hand know the right hand...
10. No vain repetitions...
11. Pray in JOY...
BEFORE WE STUDY THE KINDS OF FASTING AND PRAYER, WHY FAST?
HOW TO BREAK A LONG TERM COMPLETE FAST, ETC.
I FEEL IT NEEDED INTRODUCE US TO THE PERILS OF FASTING AND PRAYER.
1. THE FIRST PERIL YOU WILL FACE IS A DIET FAST... THE MOTIVE HAS NOTHING
TO DO WITH GOD, HE HAS MORE TO DO WITH BEING OVER WEIGHT AND
YOU DESIRE TO LOSE WEIGHT...
A. Fasting is much different from weight lost.
B. Set your mind and make a commitment that brings a God testimony.
2. WE FACE THE PERIL TO FAST AND THEN NOT TO PRAY.
A. FASTING IS JUST A DIET IF YOU ARE NOT PRAYING ...
B. Prayer touches God if teamed with fasting.
3. FASTING CAN BE A FAD, EVERY BODY ELSE IS DOING IT...
WE CAN FACE THE PERILS IF WE APPROACH FOR THE WRONG MOTIVE...
FASTING IS ABOUT GOD... NOT YOU... BE WELL BALANCED AND MODERATE...
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
A. Good Christianity is balanced and moderate...
We call this the GOLDEN MEAN...
B. THERE ARE ONLY THREE ABSOLUTE LONG TERM FAST IN THE BIBLE.
1. Moses
2. Elijah The secret is follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.
3. Jesus
C. MOST BIBLICAL FAST IN THE BIBLE WERE one day events...
( See Judges 20:26; I Samuel 14:24; 2 Samuel 1:12, 2 Samuel 3:35 are examples.)
D. One fast lasted one night. (Daniel 6:18)
E. One fast lasted 3 days with Esther and the whole nation. (Esther 4:16)
F. Daniel's fast was from PLEASANT FOOD? He ate pulse. (Veggies)
(Daniel 1: 10-12; Daniel 10:3)
G. There is debate of Jesus fast (bread or bread and water) The Bible says afterward
he was hungry, does not say thirsty? I do not know, this is opinion.
I do know and teach complete fasting from water is dangerous.
4. WE FIND A GREAT PERIL IN FASTING IS A LACK OF PREPARATION AND
PLANS...
A. A GOOD FASTING AND PRAYER SEASON IS WELL PLANNED
Ecclesiastes 5:4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no
pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
B. Have your HEAD, YOUR HEART, AS WELL AS YOUR STOMACH in the prayers.
C. I think you should have written prayer request that you take into prayer...
Not accidental, but on purpose prayer...
2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not
grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
5. ANOTHER PERIL OF PRAYING AND FASTING IS SIMPLE: HYPOCRISY...
A. Pretending, pretense, saying a lot of words with little faith and little action.
Matthew 6:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance:
for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you,
They have their reward.
6. I HEAR PEOPLE PUBLICLY BRAGGING ABOUT A FAST THEY DID
20 YEARS AGO. I HEAR PREACHERS PROCLAIM FROM THE PULPIT THEY
FAST? MY OPINION BASED ON THE WORD, THIS UN-DOES THEIR FAST...
Matthew 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to
pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of
men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray
to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
A. I know many good people that need to repent about TRUMPET BLOWING OF
CURRENT OR PAST FASTING. Do we not understand, that becomes our reward...
Not answered prayers but PUBLIC OPINION...
7. WE FIND SOME THINK GOD HAS HARD HEARING PRACTICES AND THAT GOD
FORGETS SO THERE FORE WE MUST SAYING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER
AND OVER... AVOID THIS PERIL OF THE DOCTRINE OF MUCH WORDS...
Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that
they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8. WE DEVELOP RELIGIOUS PRACTICE THAT WE EARN BONUS POINTS
BECAUSE WE PRAY AND FAST... Jesus system is simple: GRACE... NOT MERIT...
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace,
and joy in the Holy Ghost.
2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works,
but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the
world began,
9. WE FACE THE SPIRITUAL PERIL THAT WHEN WE FAST AND PRAY WE
CAN DEVELOP THE TENDANCY TO JUDGE THOSE WHO DON'T. THEN THEN
BECOME LESS THAN US, AND WE BECOME ELEVATED AND BETTER
THAN "THEM."
A. I COMPARE MYSELF TO OTHERS
2 Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves
with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing
themselves among themselves, are not wise.
B. Remember the PAY DAY in the field when those that worked more thought they were
entitled to more? The Master did has he promised?
10. BEFORE WE END OUR STUDY WE MUST ADDRESS THE HEART OF THE ISSUE,
WHICH IS THE ISSUE OF THE HEART... WE FACE THE PERIL OF WHEN WE
COMPLAIN, FUSS AND TELL OTHERS HOW HARD AND BAD OUR FASTING WAS...
I HEAR PEOPLE SAY: IT MADE ME SICK... SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH
THAT EQUATION?
A. You volunteered to fast, God never made you! Fasting is not a forced or
demanded action by God.
B. The Bible does not say any where you have to fast? If it does show me?
The Bible does not say HOW OFTEN?
C. Many churches do this public display of fasting the first two weeks of January,
and never mention fasting and prayer the rest of the year.
11. PRAYER AND FASTING CAN FACE THE PERIL OF PRAYING FOR
EASE, MONEY AND TOYS... REAL FASTING SEARCHES FOR TOOLS TO DO WORK,
NOT TOYS WHICH TO PLAY GAMES...
2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to
the pulling down of strong holds;)
A. PRAYER CAN BE USED AS WEAPONS...
B. Defensive and offensive...
12. THE LAST PERIL OF PRAYER AND FASTING IS WHAT I SHALL ADDRESS
AS PRIDE. I AM SO PROUD TO BE HUMBLE, I AM SO PROUD OF HOW GOOD
A PERSON I AM, I FAST MORE THAN YOU ALL?
A. One of the things God hates is a SPIRIT OF PRIDE...
Luke 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
CONCLUSION: FASTING AND PRAYER CAN BE A GREAT ARM OF ANY CHRISTIAN
DAILY LIFE. It to can be very dangerous. Fasting's lesson is more about internal works than
external. We need Godly wisdom and balance to find the power of prayer and fasting and BUILD
GOD'S KINGDOM.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
This will be a series on PRAYER AND FASTING.
