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A Journey to the Cross: Prayer & Fasting


A Journey to the Cross - Part 1 from Jonathan Carl on Vimeo.
A Journey to the Cross:


Prayer & Fasting

Fasting: “A Christian’s voluntary abstinence from food for spiritual purposes” – Donald Whitney

Preparing for Ministry: The Temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11)

Why fast? from Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney

  • To Strengthen Prayer
  • To Seek God’s Guidance
  • To Express Grief
  • To Seek Deliverance or Protection
  • To Express Repentance or Return to God
  • To Humble Oneself Before God
  • To Express Concern for the Work of God
  • To Minister to the Needs of Others\
  • To Overcome Temptation & Dedicate Yourself to God
  • To Express Love and Worship to God

How do I fast?

  • Normal Fast – fasting from all food, not from water
  • Partial Fast – limitation of your diet
  • Absolute Fast – fasting from all food and all water
  • Supernatural Fast – requires God’s supernatural intervention to survive
  • Private Fast - in a way not to be noticed
  • Congregational Fast – united focus
  • Other than food - “a voluntary denial of a normal function for the sake of intense spiritual activity” - Richard Foster

Prayer

“Those who know God the best are the richest and most powerful in prayer. Little acquaintance with God, and strangeness and coldness to Him, make prayer a rare and feeble thing.” - E. M. Bounds


Preparing for the Cross: The Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46)

Why pray?

  • Communication with the God you love!
  • Interceding for one another
  • Dependence on God
  • Thanking God for His work and provision
  • Prayer makes a difference
  • Loving obedience
“praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication…” (Ephesians 6:18a)

How can I pray?

  • The Lord’s Prayer
  • A - Adoration
  • C - Confession
  • T - Thanksgiving
  • S - Supplication
  • The Psalms
  • Scripture
  • Prayer lists
  • Operation World
  • Facebook
  • News
  • 3” x 5” Card in your bulletin – The Lost by name
“The life, power, and glory of the church is prayer…without it, the church is lifeless and powerless” – E.M. Bounds

http://www.southforkbaptistchurch.com/

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