Lead Up | Jan 29, 2023
Lead Up: Fasting Celebration
January 29, 2023
Jehosophat/Esther/Daniel
Fasting is a desperation move for those hungry for direction and deliverance.
Fasting puts aside a personal preference for a spiritual purpose.
Fasting is a “planting your feet” spiritual move when all your body wants to do is to run away and hide.
We don’t fast to get God’s attention. We fast because God has our attention.
Fasting creates space for God and to leads to breakthrough.
Matthew 6:16-18 16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for
they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have
received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash
your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to
your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will
reward you.
Rewards of Fasting
Intimacy - Draw more closely to God.
Clarity - Hear more clearly from God.
Courage - Move more courageously with God.
The closer I am to God, the clearer I hear from God, the more courageously I move with God.
Fasting isn’t a shortcut to Intimacy, Clarity and Courage but it is a sure-cut.
Faith = Movement
Fasting + Movement = Breakthrough!
3 Examples of Fasting + Movement Breakthrough
2 Chronicles 20:2-4 2 Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is
coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in
Hazezon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi). 3 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of
the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 The people of Judah came
together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to
seek him. Jehosophat called for a nationwide fast.
Fasting + Movement = Breakthrough!
3 Examples of Fasting + Movement = Breakthrough
Esther 4:12-17 12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back
this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all
the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and
deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s
family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for
such a time as this?” 15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “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 attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will
go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
Acts 13:1-3 1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and
teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been
brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord
and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the
work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed
their hands on them and sent them off.
Self-sufficient people don’t fast. Dependent people fast.
Self-Directed people don’t fast. Dependent people fast.
Self-empowered people don’t fast. Dependent people fast.
Results of Fasting
Fasting breaks the spiritual opposition to God’s movement in my life.
Fasting increases God’s strength manifested in my life.
Fasting reorients my desires around His purposes.
Fasting is a physically emptying activity that leaves you spiritually full.
3 Prayer Lines
Left – Clarity and Courage
Center – Physical and Emotional Healing
Right – Miracle Movement
Matthew 5:3 (Message Version) "You're blessed when you are at the end of your
rope. With less of you there is more of God and His rule."
1-3 day fast – as a response to crisis
10 day fast – as a mark of identity and request for favor
21 day fast – as a move for breakthrough clarity