THE NEW MAN   (Part 7)        

 

 

Bible Passages: Matthew 6:5-18; Matthew 17:14-21

Memory Verse: “But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” Matt.17:21(NIV)

 

LESSON OBJECTIVES AND FOCUS

Our focus today will be on Fasting and Prayer, with more time devoted to questions around fasting.

 

LESSON INTRODUCTION

We know our prayers should actually consist of four parts:

i.                    We start by adoring or worshiping God. Ps.95:6.

ii.                  Confession and repentance then follow. Ps 32:5.

iii.                We then thank God for Who He is and what He has done. Phil 4:6.

iv.                 Then follow supplication, intercession, requests and petitions for the needs of others as well as ours. I Tim. 2:1-2.

We are to pray always, & in the Name/or through the Authority of Jesus. Lk.18:1;Jn.14:14.

 

Having said all of that with respect to prayer, we now want to focus the rest of the lesson mostly on fasting. Here we need to remember that fasting is more than just not eating or drinking. So the questions we shall be considering this day are:

Why fast at all? How do we ensure we fast the right way? Why join fasting and praying?

 

LESSON OUTLINE 1: WHY FAST?

i.                    When we are in the midst of a deep distress, that would be a right time to draw near to God through prayer and fasting. Remember the case of David, Beersheba and the child they had at the expense of Uriah’s life. 2 Sam. 12:15-23.

ii.                  When we need God’s protection in the midst of troubles. Remember the case of Esther and the plan by Haman to wipe off all the Jews in the Persian Empire. Esther 4: 12-16.

iii.                When we need God’s forgiveness as a nation, especially when God’s people see their nation is in national peril. Think of national calamity as recorded in Joel 2:1-3; 12-13. The required response was prayer and fasting. See also 2 Chron. 7:14; 2 Chron. 20.

iv.                 If we need to secure God’s power in our life and ministry, then prayer and fasting are called for. See our Lord at the commencement of His ministry in Matt. 4: 1-11; and His teaching in Matth 17:14-21, particularly v.21.

v.          Fasting is also called for when we want to know the Lord’s will concerning something of importance to our lives or the body of Christ. In Acts 13: 1-3, it was while they were engaged in worshiping the Lord and fasting that He told them of His call of Paul and Barnabas to the Missions field.