1. Fasting in Worship
Fasting in Worship

2. Fasting in worship in the Bible. Luke 2:36-38
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin,
37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.
Fasting in Worship

3. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Fasting in Worship

4. Acts 13:1-4
Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of 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.”
Fasting in Worship

5. 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
Fasting in Worship

6. Acts 14:23
23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Fasting in Worship

7. The church at Antioch was a God seeking church. They knew:
The power of extended fasting and prevailing prayer in worship.
Every matter of the church depends much on fasting, prayer and worship.
Fasting in Worship

8. The church at Antioch was a God seeking church.
Paul and Barnabas were sent with extended fasting, prevailing prayer and worship.
Paul and Barnabas’ ministry required a substantial dependence on God, and the Antioch church’s extended fasting and prevailing prayer in worship demonstrated that dependence.
Fasting in Worship

9. The church at Antioch was a God seeking church.
Paul and Barnabas were sent with extended fasting, prevailing prayer and worship.
Paul and Barnabas’ ministry required a substantial dependence on God, and the Antioch church’s extended fasting and prevailing prayer in worship demonstrated that dependence.
Fasting in Worship

10. They fasted because they sensed a need to seek God in a “special” way.
The church at Antioch:
As part of the congregation’s worship to the Lord, they extended their fast into their worship.
They fasted because they sensed a need to seek God in a “special” way.
God answered their prayer…
This is how often God moves.
Fasting in Worship

11. The Lord revealed His plans, because of the unity of the church:
The leaders and congregation were united in prolonged fasting, deep prevailing prayer and worship.
Fasting in Worship

12. Psalm 133:1-3
Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!
3 It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.
Fasting in Worship

13. The Priest – precious oil on the head of Aaron.
Psalm 133:1-3
The Priest – precious oil on the head of Aaron.
The Leaders – running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron
The Congregation – running down on the collar of his robes!
Fasting in Worship

14. The Lord revealed His plans, because of the unity of the church:
Who – Barnabas and Saul (13:2)
Why – to proclaim the word of God (13:5)
How – by setting Barnabas and Saul for God (13:2)
Fasting in Worship

15. Why are many Christians often defeated?
Our Response:
Why are many Christians often defeated?
Because they pray and fast so little.
Why do most Christians see so few brought “out of darkness into His Light’ into the church?
Why are our churches simply not on fire for God?
Because there is so little pray and fasting in our churches.
Fasting in Worship

16. Jesus is forever extending His hands to reach out to us.
The Lord Jesus is as powerful today as ever before, for He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Jesus is forever extending His hands to reach out to us.
Jesus is as anxious for men to be saved as before.
The arm of Jesus is not shortened that it cannot save but He cannot stretch forth His arm unless we fast and pray more – a lot more.
We may be assured of this, that the secret of all failure is our failure to engage in fasting and praying.
The Kneeling Christian
Fasting in Worship

17. Let us awaken! The Devil is blinding our eyes. He is
endeavouring to prevent us from
facing the question on fasting and
prayer.
Fasting in Worship

18. Saturday Service day of extended fasting and prevailing prayer:
Date: 21st July 2018
Venue: CNS
Time: 7am – 7pm
Fasting in Worship

19. Fasting in Worship