GETTING OUT OF THROUGH PRAYER AND FASTING

RECAP of LAST MONTH: Discern The Dip:  Dip of Disobedience  Dip of Ignorance When we experience these – We need to REPENT There is another kind of Dip:  Divine Dip - Not bec. of our disobedience & ignorance God allows It to happen to build Character

Wk 1: When you suffer injustice Wk 2: When you are being forgotten Wk 3: When Nothing Makes Sense Wk 4: Betrayal: the cycle of betrayal and vengeance Wk 5: Betrayal: lessons from David Wk 6: Getting out of the DIP: “Principles of Problem Solving” Wk 7: Getting Out of the DIP: “Principles of Prayer and Fasting”

EThe DIP: After many kings who did evil in God’s sight, Israel was exiled to Babylon after conquered by Nebuchadnezzar on March 16, 597 BC. EZedekiah was forced to watch the slaughter of his sons and had his eyes gouged out to make that the last thing he saw. EAfter 48 years, Babylon fell to Cyrus the Great of Persia, and Israel was allowed back to Palestine.

EEzra: he was about to start an epic 5 months, 900 miles journey by foot; leading the exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem without military protection. EEzra 8:21 (NKJV) Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. EEzra 8:23 (NIV) So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.

Principle #1: To Strengthen Prayer EFasting: the most important aspect of fasting is its influence on prayer EFasting is not a hunger strike to “force” God to do what we want; if we ask for something outside of God’s will, fasting will not cause Him to reconsider. EFasting does not change God’s hearing so much as it changes our praying.

Nehemiah - his DIP: Jerusalem was in ruins Nehemiah 1:3 (NIV) They said to me, "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire." His response: Nehemiah 1:4 (NIV) When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.

Principle #2: Turns Grief into Victory We need to grief over things that are not right; which propels us into petition, strengthen by self affliction of fasting to experience spiritual breakthrough and victory. Victory is not given to those in apathy.

Joel - His DIP: The judgment of God is descending in mighty force against Israel because of their transgression (Joel 2:1-11) Joel 2:11 (NIV) The Lord thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty are those who obey his command. The day of the Lord is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?

God’s command: Joel 2:12-15 (NIV) 12 'Even now,' declares the Lord, 'return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.’ 13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. 14 Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly.

Principle #3: Fasting Helps Us Return to God God wants to forgive and bless us much more than He wants to discipline or punish us But He can only forgive as much as we have remorse Luke 7:41-47 (NIV) "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said.

44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." Proverbs 29:1 (NIV) A man who remains stiff- necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed--without remedy.

1 Samuel 7:2-6 (NIV) 2 It was a long time, twenty years in all, that the ark remained at Kiriath Jearim, and all the people of Israel mourned and sought after the Lord. 3 And Samuel said to the whole house of Israel, "If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the Lord and serve him only...” 5 Then Samuel said, "Assemble all Israel at Mizpah and I will intercede with the Lord for you.” 6 When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the Lord. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, "We have sinned against the Lord.”