"Fasting and Praying"

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“OverView”



FASTING AND PRAYING

Erza 8:21-23, 31-32



Golden Text : Ezra 8:23 “So we fasted and besought our God for this; and he was entreated of us”





Awesome Nuggets:

Hebrew word for “Fasting is tsuwm” means to cover the mouth and the Greek word for “Fasting is nesteuo” means to abstain.

Hebrew word for “Praying is “the-fee-LAH” and the Greek word for “Praying is “ prosefthi” both means to communicate in the spirit





In this lesson, we find that Ezra and the Israelites have decided to journey to Jerusalem and Ezra proclaimed to the people that they were going too fast and pray unto God, because they would need God’s protection to make this journey safely. Ezra had boasted to the king that the hand of God was on them and he protected him and that they did not need the kings protection, because they had the power of God working for them. Ezra told the king that anyone that was for and serving God would be under his protection and anyone that was not and did not serve God was under his wrath. Once they found out that in their travels that they could be ambushed and robbed after bragging to the king how great God was, Ezra and the people were too ashamed to go and ask for help, so this is why he called the people to fast and pray, so that he would not look stupid in front of the king. However, Ezra also knew that if they were too fast and pray with a sincere heart and a right spirit, that God would answer their prayers and God did. Ezra and the Israelites did not have any troubles throughout their journey.



God honored their requests, because they chose to give up something and focus and rely solely upon him without any selfish motives or reasons. They also wanted to prove to the world who God truly is and his awesome power.

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Food for thought:



Spiritual fasting is not a way to earn God's favor by getting him to do something for us. Rather, the purpose is to produce a transformation in us—a clearer, more focused attention and dependence upon God.

Fasting is never to be a public display of spirituality—it is between you and God alone. In fact, Jesus specifically instructed us in Matthew 6:16-18 to let our fasting be done privately and in humility, else we forfeit the benefits.

Fasting requires self-control and discipline as one denies the natural desires of the flesh. During spiritual fasting, the believer's focus is removed from the physical things of this world and intensely concentrated on God. Put differently, fasting directs our hunger toward God. It clears the mind and body of earthly attentions and draws us close to God. So, as we gain spiritual clarity of thought while fasting, it allows us to hear God more clearly. Fasting also demonstrates a profound need for God's help and guidance through complete dependence upon him.

Prayer is simply communicating with God—listening and talking to him. Believers can pray from the heart, freely, spontaneously, and in their own words.

Prayer is the expression of our inner spiritual needs. Through prayer we can find strength of spirit, guidance, wisdom, joy and inner peace. God will answer our prayers and give us everything we need and more.

Prayer connects us to God. One of the simplest reasons to spend time in prayer is because the Lord instructed us to pray. Obedience is a natural by-product of discipleship