Fast Track – Part 3

Introduction

There are Many Reasons to Fast

[List from Pastor Chris Hodges titled Pray First: The Transformative Power of a Life Built on Prayer] 

1. To Prepare for Ministry
2. To Seek God’s Wisdom
3. To Seek God’s Power and Protection
4. To Express Grief and to Mourn
5. To Repent and Return to God
6. To Seek God’s Power for Victory
7. To Worship God
8. To Seek God’s Favor in Desperate Situations
9. To Engage in Spiritual Warfare

• When we follow biblical models and motives, fasting is a powerful conduit for breakthrough.  
• Fasting is a unique spiritual tool that empowers our “Yes” to God.
• Fasting is more about “Yes” more than it is about “No.

The Rewards of Fasting

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV): 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 

Luke 11:11–13 (ESV):11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” 

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV):6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

When we seek God, God rewards us with Himself.

When We Think God is Not Enough 

Hidden in Plain Sight 

Luke 9:28–29 (ESV):28 Now about eight days after these sayings, he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white.

Mark 9:3 (ESV):3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.

Matthew 17:2 (ESV):2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.

God Desires the Big Reveal

Ephesians 1:16–19 (ESV):16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 

Colossians 1:9 (ESV):9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 

Ephesians 3:14–20 (ESV):14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

A Simple “Yes” Will Do

The Two-Master Dilemma

1 John 2:15–16 (ESV):15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

Matthew 6:24 (ESV):24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Be Careful What You Ask For

Romans 1:21–22 (ESV): 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools,

Romans 1:24 (ESV):24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity. . .

Romans 1:26 (ESV): 26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. . .

Romans 1:28 (ESV):28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

1 Samuel 8:7 (ESV):7 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.

Acts 28:22–27 (ESV):22 But we desire to hear from you what your views are, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against.”  23 When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening, he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus, both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. 24 And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved. 25 And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: 26 “ ‘Go to this people, and say, “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” 27 For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’

Fasting Opens Us Up to Hear and Obey

Acts 13:2–3 (NKJV): 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them

Hebrews 3:7–8 (ESV):7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts. . .

Psalm 32:9 (ESV):9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.