Why Proclaim a Fast?

1) Fasting brings clarity to our prayer life

2) As you experienced emptiness in fasting you will experience fullness and hope in Christ

3) Fasting causes us to dwell on the faithfulness and strength of the Lord

4) In our weakness God is strong

WHAT DOES THE OLD TESTAMENT TEACH ABOUT FASTING?

1) Fasting helps us draw near to God (Judges 20:26)

Then all the people of Israel, the whole army, went up and came to Bethel and wept. They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.

2) Fasting helps us to identify our sin (1 Samuel 7:6)

So they gathered at Mizpah and drew water and poured it out before the Lord and fasted on that day and said there, “We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah.

3) Fasting helps us to weep and mourn for that which we’ve lost

(2 Samuel 1:12)

And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

4) Fasting lets us plead the case of our loved ones before a holy God

(2 Samuel 12:16-23)

David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground…

5) Fasting causes a resolve to seek God and plead his mercy

(Daniel 1:8, 15, 9-3)

Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.

6) Fasting gives us an opportunity to humble ourselves before God and plead for his protection (Ezra 8:21-23)

Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.” So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.

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GOD’S RESPONSE TO OUR HUMILITY

(2 Chronicles 20:15-18)

1) His promise to fight the battle for us (vs. 15)

2) His clear instruction in our lives (vs. 16)

3) His vantage point to see the victory (vs. 17)

4) His promise of witness (vs. 17)

OUR RESPONSE TO GOD’S MERCY

Worship and praise (vs. 18)