What About Fasting and Prayer
Esther 4:12-17
How is your prayer life? When do you pray? There are many different kinds of prayer.
• There’s the “Call 911 Prayer.” You make this call when you have an emergency. You don’t want to trouble God unless you have an emergency. God serves as your divine spare tire when one area of your life goes flat.
• There’s the “Jimminy Cricket” Prayer. “When you wish upon a star; makes no difference who you are; anything your heart desires will come to you.” God is viewed like a cosmic grandpa.
• Some people pray the “Monty Hall” prayer. It begins like this: “God, let’s make a deal.” I’ll make an agreement with you and give you something if You come through first for me.
• There’s the “Aladdin’s Lamp” prayer. This prayer is based upon the deep belief that if you just “rub” God the right way, He will magically be at your service. God is treated like a cosmic bellhop.
• The “Lottery” prayer. It can’t hurt to try, and you just might hit the jackpot.
• And last is the “Guinness” prayer. Long is the word for this kind of praying and sometimes loud.
Many Bible believing Christians around the world practice 40 days and nights of fasting and prayer during Lent. Fasting in our American Culture of McDonalds, Burger King and Marie Calendars, Pizza houses, and pie and ice cream is not a popular topic. You might ask: “What About Fasting and Prayer?” What does the Bible says about fasting? What is the value and benefits of fasting?
The call for fasting usually came during desperate times. In the book of Esther we see how “fasting and prayer” provided for the well being of Jewish people. Ester was an orphan who was adopted by Mordecai, who belonged to the tribe of Benjamin. Mordecai was a palace official at Shushan, the Persian (Iran) royal city.
The Persians had taken the Jews into captivity and were ruled by the iron first of Ahasuerus, whose popular name was Xerzes. When Queen Vashti refused to give a fashion parade before her drunken husband and his drunken friends the king dethroned her.
After a long search was made Esther became the new Queen. When Esther became Queen she kept her Jewish identity a secret. Haman the second in command to the King persuaded the King to sign a law to destroy all Jews living in all of Babylon.
Mordecai appealed to Esther to go to the King and make a case to save the Jewish people. Esther told Mordecai that she was reluctant to enter the King’s presence without being summoned. At his word her life could be taken unless my extended his gold scepter and spare her life. Mordecai send back his response: Esther 4:13-14, “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”
Esther probably thought she was at the wrong place at the wrong time? Have you ever felt that way? “How did I ever get myself into such a situation?” She was challenged to take action. Her adopted father asked her “What she was waiting for?”
Have you ever been in that situation? You felt you needed to take action, but said to yourself, “I’m going to get to that one of these days.” Or you experienced a broken relationships and said, “Well in due time I’ll get around to making things right.” But the longer you put it off the harder it gets.
Mordecai’s advice to Esther is good advice for each of us – “Now is the time – seize this moment.” We all find excuses to not take action or change. “If I were in a better place, I’d be a better person.” “If I had better parents, or a better job, and wasn’t so sick, etc… I’d be a better person.
Finally Esther did the right thing and sent her message to Mordecai: “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 thought it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.” (Esther 4:15-17)
Esther knew that spiritual power comes from God in answer to prayer. When God’s people give themselves to fasting and praying the miraculous is made possible.
At the end of three days the King received Esther and granted her request and made a way for the Jewish people to be saved. Haman was executed and Mordecai was appointed to take his place as the new prime minister.
Let’s look at what fasting is according to Biblical Truth.
I. Fasting According to Biblical History
When the people of God faced crisis, a time of grief, disappointment or disaster there was often a call for fasting and prayer.
When Moses stood on the mountain before God to receive the Ten Commandments God called him to a time of fasting.
Isaiah 58, King Uzziah died after 52 years of effective leadership. After his death the nation went into a time of confusion bewilderment. The Prophet Isaiah called the people to prayer and fasting.
The city of Nineveh believed the message of the prophet Jonah and prepared for the coming judgment of God by repenting and fasting.
King Jehoshaphat was surrounded by his enemies and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 2 Chronicles 20:3-4, “…The people of Judah came together to seek help form the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek Him.” Through Fasting and Prayer God gave Jehoshaphat victory.
Nehemiah was used mightily of the Lord because he fasted and prayed.
Various Scripture passages suggest several reasons to fast and pray:
To strengthen prayer
To seek God’s guidance
To seek deliverance and protection
To express repentance and a return to God
To humble ourselves before the Lord
To express concern for the work of God
To minister to others in need
To overcome temptation and dedicate ourselves to God
To express love and worship to God
From the Biblical perspective:
Fasting is not a diet. Fasting is not primarily for physical
reasons, it is for spiritual reasons.
Fasting is not a work to merit God’s favor. Fasting is a
step of obedience.
Fasting does not get from God what He is reluctant to
give to us.
Fasting is not a way to punish ourselves for our sins and
earn God’s forgiveness.
When you fast you forsake physical pleasure to better focus on the spiritual things of God.
When you fast you acknowledge Christ’s Lordship in your life.
When you fast you are seeking God’s will.
When you fast you are thanking God for His presence.
When you fast and pray you have the assurance that God does hear and answer you prayer – it may be “yes” immediately or “yes” at God’s timing, or “no” God has a better plan.
# Johnny was an only child at five years of age. He went to his father and said, “Dad, I want a baby brother. What can I do to help?” Johnny had heard some talk around the house about a new “little bundle” coming soon. His Dad perceived the time was right to teach his son about the value of prayer. He said, “I’ll tell you what. If you’ll start praying that God will give you a baby brother, I guarantee you that you’ll have a baby brother in just two months!” Obviously, Dad knew something that Johnny didn’t know.” Johnny accepted the challenge and went to his bedroom early that night and prayed for a baby brother.
Johnny prayed for one month and after talking to some older people found out that this kind of timing of just two months had never happened in the history of their neighborhood. You don’t pray for just a couple months and “Whamo!” A new baby appears. So he gave up praying or a baby brother.
At the end of two months Johnny’s mother did go to the hospital. When she came home, the parents called Johnny to the bedroom to surprise Johnny with his answer to prayer. Johnny went into the bedroom not expecting to seen anything, but there was a little bundle lying right next to his mother. His Dad pulled back the blanket and there were twins – two baby brothers. Johnny’s dad looked at him and said; “Now, aren’t you glad you prayed?” Johnny looked back at his dad and said, “Yes, but aren’t you glad I quit when I did?”
II. What are the Biblical Reasons to Fast?
Jesus expected his followers to fast. He didn’t say in Matthew 6:16-18, “If you fast,” He said, “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, who try to look pale and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I assure you, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will suspect you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in secret. And your Father who knows all secrets, will reward you.”
Fasting is a way to improve our spiritual walk with God. We fast to delay gratification of physical desires to enhance our spiritual desires.
Fasting is like defragmenting our computer. Ever so often we go to our C files and then go to properties and then go to tools and defragment our files. Defragmenting our files enhances the function of our P/C. Every now and then it is helpful to give time to fasting and prayer gets our life in order to receive God’s blessing and have spiritual breakthroughs. Fasting helps us to clarify and focus our attention on spiritual goals.
The purpose of fasting is to humble ourselves before God in such a way that we get in right relationship with Him and with others. We need to remember that it is more important to fast from sin than it is to fast from food.
During times of fasting we have time to reflect on the important things in life.
1. Time is precious don’t waste it! The time you have with your loved ones is too precious to waste constantly arguing and complaining and bickering about non essentials. Do everything you can to live in harmony with your family and loved ones.
2. Make good memories. Ask God to examine your heart and show you how you can do a better job at encouraging your children and grandchildren. Look at ways to build people up and not tear them down.
3. Remember it not what happens to you but how you respond that counts! Every day you will face challenges that are unpleasant. Look at every challenge as an opportunity to respond in love and grow in spiritual maturity.
There are many benefits to fasting suggested in the Bible. Let me mention a few:
1. Fasting intensifies your desire to pray.
2. Fasting deepens humility. Fasting help you cultivate an attitude of humility.
3. Fasting encourages perseverance in prayer.
4. Fasting increases our delight in God’s answers.
5. Fasting intensifies concentration in our prayers.
6. Fasting amplifies faith.
7. Fasting creates a new openness to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.
8. Fasting defeats the power of Satan and gives you spiritual victory.
III. How to Fast and Pray for 40 days and 40 nights?
The primary purpose for fasting and pray is to draw closer to the Lord and have breakthrough prayer. God’s Word does not command fasting, but the Scriptures teaches that fasting is a freedom to be enjoyed by serious seekers after righteousness.
Moses fasted forty days and nights on Mt. Sinai, Elijah fasted at Mt. Horeb, and Jesus fasted on the Mt. of temptation. In each instance the fasts marked the beginning of a mighty work of God affecting both individuals and nations.
During the Forty Days of Prayer and Fasting there are several areas to focus your prayers:
• Pray for yourself
• Pray for your family
• Pray for your pastors and ministry teams
• Pray for members of the Willow Vale church
• Pray for people in our ministry area to come to Jesus and accept Him as personal Lord and Savior
• Pray for missionaries serving around the world
• Pray for world evangelization
We need to have specific times of prayer and fasting because the Bible makes it clear that God’s blessing comes “Not by power or by might, but by the Spirit of the Lord.” (Zechariah 4:6)
For the Willow Vale church we are looking at 40 Days prior to Easter – February 16 – March 27 for our time of Fasting and Prayer.
There are a number of different fasts you can choose from to consider for your 40 day fast.
1. All day food fast. Once a week abstaining from all solid foods and drinking only water and juice.
2. A partial fast – not eating one meal on a specific day of the week or abstaining from certain kinds of food, such as meats or desserts during the fast period.
3. An activity fast. Abstaining from watching television or other activities.
4. An all night fast from sleep to spend extra time in prayer.
5. An extended fast. Abstinence from food, but not liquids for several days or the entire “forty days” period.
Remember God is not a hard task master and does not command you to fast. You choose to fast as a way to draw closer to the Lord and exercise self discipline and self denial to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
The Willow Vale Church offers several opportunities for group prayer. Ministry team leaders gather on Mondays from 12 noon to 1 pm to pray. Tuesday morning Ladies get together for Bible Study and Pray from 9 a.m. to 10:30. A prayer team meets at 7 AM in the sanctuary on Wednesday morning. Another prayer team meets at 5:30 PM in a School Class Room to Pray. Sunday evening at 6 pm there is a time of Bible study and prayer in the Church Fellowship Hall.
You can do a lot of things and nothing changes. You cannot fast and pray and remain the same. Let’s commit to making the 40 days prior to Easter a time of Fasting and Prayer. You determine what fast you will choose.
