Fasting

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Fasting
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Introduction
Luke 4
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Introduction Review

• Lessons from the Temptations of Jesus
• Jesus standing firm
• Jesus resisting Satan and temptation
• Jesus emerging victorious

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Introduction Initial Questions

• Luke 414
• And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of
  the Spirit, and news about Him spread (NASB)
• Other Translations
• Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the
  Spirit (NIV)
• Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to
  Galilee (NKJV)
• Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the
  Holy Spirit's power (NLT)

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Introduction Initial Questions

• Luke 41,14 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit
  returns in the power of the Spirit.
• James 47 Submit to God. Resist the Devil and he
  will flee from you.
• How does this work?
• Whats going on when we fast?

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Introduction Initial Questions

• What role does fasting play in resisting
  temptations?
• Is there something magical about fasting? 40
  days?
• Can we say that the more we fast the more power
  we get?
• What about habitual/entrenched sins? What about
  chronic issues? Generational evils?
• What about situations at work or at home?

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More Fast More Power?
I just wanna go fast
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Introduction Contents

• Conceptualize Relationship between fasting,
  spiritual power and authority
• Principle behind attaining and growing in
• 1. Appealed for Authority
• 2. Given Authority.
• II. Applying Principles to Specific Fasting
  Events
• How to fast effectively
• What to Fast for in General
• What to Fast for in Canaan (Observations)
• What Fasting is NOT

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Introduction Contents

• Intimacy How does this fit into growing closer
  with Christ?
• Rest/Renewal How does this fit into Spiritual
  Rest? (Isaiah 58, Luke 14 it is lawful to heal
  on the Sabbath)

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Introduction Definitions

• Fast (merriam webster) abstain from food
• Biblical Context Fasting in the Bible occurs
  alongside prayer and in the pursuit of something
  
• a petition

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Introduction Definitions in Context

• Repentance / Averting Gods Judgment / Seeking
  Gods Mercy and Compassion
• - Davids fast for sick son, 2 Sam 1215-25
• - Nineveh fasts and repents, Jonah 34-7
• - Daniels revelation, Daniel 9
• Devotion
• - Moses, 40 days and nights, Exodus 2418
• - Prophetess Anna, Luke 236
• Deliverance / Spiritual Power / Intersession
• - Matthew 1721
• - Gospels

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Introduction Definitions

• Fasting is a means of petition whereby through
  prayer and the abstinence of food, we act in
  submission to Gods authority so as to ask God to
  act on our behalf

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IntroductionGetting to the Point (Short Answer)

• Fasting helps us access Gods authority
• 1. As we petition God to act
• God acts on our behalf
• 2. As it is given to us
• God allows us to act on his behalf
• Why is this the case?

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Introduction Getting to the Point

• Principle of Fasting an act in submission
• When applied continually and in context of
  Christian faith, fasting can result in greater
  applications of Given Authority and Appealed for
  Authority in our daily lives
• Sanctification in the context of a relationship
  with God

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Spiritual Authority and Power

• Matthew 1721, But this kind does not go out
  except by prayer and fasting.
• Why could we not drive it out?
• Because of the littleness of your faith as small
  as a mustard seed

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Authority and Power Observation from these
passages

• As Christs disciples, we are given authority
  over the enemy (temptation, sins, etc.)
• But our authority tends to be limited

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Authority and Power Scevas Seven Sons

• Acts 1913-16
• But also some of the Jewish exorcists who went
  from place to place, attempted to name over those
  who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord
  Jesus, saying, "I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul
  preaches." 14 Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish
  chief priest, were doing this. 15 And the evil
  spirit answered and said to them, "I recognize
  Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?"
  16 And the man, in whom was the evil spirit,
  leaped on them and subdued all of them and
  overpowered them, so that they fled out of that
  house naked and wounded.

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Que Lastima! What happened?!
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Authority and Power Scevas Seven Sons

• Did they not fast and pray?
• Did they lack faith?
• What about the disciples who could not do it?

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• "I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but
  who are you?
• Luke 77-9
• But just say the word, and my servant will be
  healed. For I also am a man under authority,
  with soldiers under me Jesus marveled at
  the Centurion I say to you, not even in Israel
  have I found such great faith

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Authority and PowerJesus was Submitted under
Authority

• Matthew 2828 all authority has been given to
  me
• WHY?
• John 1431, but so that the world may know that
  I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father
  commanded Me
• John 519 Therefore Jesus answered and was saying
  to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can
  do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He
  sees the Father doing for whatever the Father
  does, these things the Son also does in like
  manner.
• Matthew 2639, He fell on His face and prayed,
  saying My Father if it is possible, let this cup
  pass from Me yet not as I will, but as You will.

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Authority and Power Other Gospel References

• Mark 127
• They were all amazed saying, What is this? A
  new teaching with authority! He commands even
  the unclean spirits, and they obey him.
• Other References
• Matthew 2828 all authority has been given to me
  in heaven and on earth
• Mark 67 he gave them (the twelve) authority
  over unclean spirits
• Luke 1019 Behold, I have given you authority to
  tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the
  power of the enemy

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Authority and Power

• Seven Sceva Sons Problem
• no Jesus Authority
• Werent disciples, didnt receive any authority
• Disciples Problem
• Authority had been given
• Not enough
• How does fasting remedy this problem?
• Is this strictly an issue of authority?

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BUT HE WAS THE SON OF GOD!
Who am I? That I should go?
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Authority and PowerIndeedWho are we?

• Matthew 1249 And stretching out His hand
  toward His disciples, He said, Behold My mothers
  and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My
  Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and my
  mother.
• John 1412 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who
  believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do
  also and greater works than these he will do
  because I go to the Father.

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Authority and PowerIndeedWho are we?

• Fasting is a means and a process where we submit
  ourselves to God
• So, by submitting ourselves to God, we are
  bringing ourselves under his authority
• When under his authority you act in the
  authority given (jurisdiction)
• Also, you ask God to use authority

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???

• So, as long as Christ gives us authority, and we
  fast we got this Christianity thing down
• DONWURRY! SO EASSY!
• Not exactly

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Authority and PowerIndeedWho are we?

• Matthew 721-24 Not everyone who says to Me,
  Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven,
  but he who does the will of My Father who is in
  heaven will enter.
• Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in
  Your name cast out demons, and in Your name
  perform many miracles?
• And then I will declare to them, I never knew
  you Depart from Me, You who practice
  lawlessness
• Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine
  and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man
  who built his house on the rock.

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Authority and PowerIndeedWho are we?

• Works not authority that measures
• Key does He know you? Do you know him?
• John 1514-15, You are My friends if you do what
  I command you. No longer do I call you
  slavesbut I have called you friends, for all
  things that I have heard from My Father I have
  made known to you.

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Authority and PowerIndeedWho are we?

• As we continually obey Gods commands, we submit
  to Gods authority, we grow in
• Stewardship and Authority he entrusts you with
  more tasks and you have authority in that
  capacity.
• Maturity and Intimacy (Another kind of
  stewardship) he entrusts you with more of his
  counsel, he knows you, you know him, you become
  like David someone after Gods own heart.

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The Beauty of It

• Fasting leads to more than petitions answered and
  seeing results.
• Fasting leads you to know more of Gods mind and
  greater intimacy through the process.
• Greater intimacy leads to greater authority and
  faith to do greater things. Etc. etc. etc.

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How to Fast Effectively

• 1. Have a purpose
• 2. Get a partner who will pray with you
• 3. Use fasting WITH prayer
• 4. Start Small Walk Before Running

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How to Fast Effectively Purpose

• Proverbs 2918, Where there is no vision, the
  people perish
• Other translations
• The people are unrestrained (NASB)
• The people run wild (NLT)
• The people cast off restraint (NRSV)/(NIV)
• Bottom Line No vision is bad, have a purpose of
  what you
• accomplish.

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How to Fast Effectively Partner

• Partner with Someone
• Someone
• Who will pray with you and for you
• Who knows what youre doing and will walk with
  you
• (Ideally) Who will fast with you or is fasting
  for the same thing

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How to Fast Effectively Partner

• Spiritual Warfare
• It is naïve of us to think we can try to affect
  spiritual change and not experience retaliation
  (beyond our natural struggles)
• Ephesians 612
• For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
• but against the rulers, against the authorities,
• against the powers of this dark world and
• against the spiritual forces of evil in the
• heavenly realms.

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How to Fast Effectively Pray

• Amazingly, when people fast meals, they use that
  time as an extra hour of work instead of praying
• Fasting is acting in submission to petition
• Fasting, Prayer, Listening - can have powerful
  results heightened awareness of Gods presence,
  authority, new insights (see above), etc. as
  weve discussed

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How to Fast Effectively Start Small

• Start with fasting one meal and use that time to
  pray
• Approaching the fast
• (Un)prime the pump - steadily decrease food, set
  aside a day to rest and allow your body to
  adjust
• Departing the fast
• Prime the pump - steadily increase food

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DO NOT BREAK FAST WITH FRIED CHICKEN!!!!!
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What to fast for Generally

• Repentance / Averting Gods Judgment / Seeking
  Gods Mercy and Compassion
• - Davids fast for sick son, 2 Sam 1215-25
• - Nineveh fasts and repents, Jonah 34-7
• - Daniels revelation, Daniel 9
• Deliverance / Spiritual Power / Intersession
• - Matthew 1721
• - Gospels
• Devotion
• - Moses, 40 days and nights, Exodus 2418
• - Prophetess Anna, Luke 236

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What to fast for Generally

• Fast for someone else
• Fast for needs of a community
• Fast for someone who is sick
• Fast for job/related issues

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What to fast for Canaan Church

• Vision What the Lord wants to do with Canaan
• God will accomplish his desires for Canaan
• Repentance of not inquiring of his ways
• Servants serve out of love
• Seekers they would experience God here
• Pastors protection and growth

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What Fasting is NOT

• Piety, Appearances (Matthew 6)
• Furthering self-interest (Isaiah 58)
• Sauls Fast - Problematic
• 1 Samuel 1424-33 (Saul proclaims no food until
  their purpose was done)
• 1 Samuel 135-14 (Saul disobeys Gods
  commandment)
• Stress obedience
• Fasting is not a protest (hunger strikes)

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How Long Do I Fast? Why do people do extended
Fasts?

• Start Small one meal.
• Intermediate 3 days
• Listening is crucial.

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The Cost of Fasting

• Fasting is hard.
• 2 Samuel 24
• Davids census
• 70,000 people die
• David buys Araunahs property
• V.24 For I will not offer burnt offerings to the
  Lord my God which cost me nothing

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The Cost

• A generation of Joshua and Calebs
• They see what it could be, they see the
  formidable challenge
• Joshua
• Hebrews Christ, for the joy set before him,
  endured the Cross, scorning its shame.

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We are more than ConquerorsRomans 837 (NIV)
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We are more than ConquerorsRomans 837 (NIV)