Fuel: Prayer and Fasting

Do you enjoy what God is doing in your life and the lives of others through this church family called New Hope? How does that happen? What is behind it? We’re going to explore some of the main reasons why God is able to do what He is doing in all of our lives. We’re going to talk about the “fuel” that keeps His fire going in our church family and ask Him to burn that fire brighter and brighter!Isaiah 40: 3-5 A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. Let every valley be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; And let the rough ground become a plain, And the rugged terrain a broad valley; Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, And all flesh will see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”Fuel: Prayer & Fasting#1. Our need for brokenness.2 ways we experience brokenness…#1. Broken from hurtPsalm 34: 18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.#2. Broken over turning from GodJames 4: 6, 10 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.“God looks for those hungry for Him.”#2. Prayer as fuel for God’s work.The Bible’s emphasis on prayer...Philippians 4: 6-7 – in everything prayRomans 12: 12 – be devoted to prayerI Thessalonians 5: 17 – never stop prayingRomans 1: 9-10 – be unceasing in praying for othersI Timothy 2: 1 – prayer is to be our first priorityThe prayer life of Jesus and early believers...Mark 1: 35 – in the morningLuke 5: 16 – during the dayLuke 6: 12 – at nightHebrews 7: 24-25 – praying right now!Acts 1: 14 – started praying from the beginningDaniel 10: 12 Then he (Michael, the archangel) said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words."Revelation 8: 1-4 When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand.___ God is speaking to me about prayer.___ I am going to take a step towards praying more.Describe how (just between you & God)#3. Fasting as fuel for God’s work.#1. What is fasting?Most common definition - A voluntary abstinence from food for some spiritual purpose.Broader definition - Voluntarily denying a normal function for the sake of intense spiritual focus.#2. What’s the purpose?>to strengthen prayer-when seeking God for direction-during a time of extreme circumstances-in support of God’s work-to remind your body who is boss-to show love & worship GodGod’s ultimate goal = Isaiah 58What's the "Big Idea" today?Prayer and fasting are an important part of seeing God work in my life and in our church.