Three disciplines in the bible. Prayer, giving and fasting.

We're covering fasting in preparation to start the year with fasting by putting the Lord first in the hope that he will pour out his blessing and protection on us in the year to come. That he will ensure that we're spiritually fit, delivered from sin, and prepared to face the trials and tribulations that are to come. That he will bring revival to Liberty Hill, Blount County, the state of Alabama, our great nation and to the world.

The goal to fast some food for the whole 21 days, and then for the first day, until sunset. Yes food. Fasting is food.

You can and should set aside more such as TV, internet, social media.

Start on Sunday the 7th.

Fasting Study

Types of Fasts
1. Disciples Fast
2. Ezra Fast
3. Samuel Fast
4. Elijah Fast
5. Widow's Fast
6. Paul's Fast
7. Daniel Fast
8. John the Baptist Fast
9. Esther Fast

1. Disciples Fast
- Fast that frees you from addictions to sin.
- Besetting sins, as much for believers as not believers.
- Addictions and habitual habits.
- Without fasting and prayer we can be loose about sin in our lives.
- Spiritual tune up.
- Be serious about the sin in our life, pet sins or besetting sins.
- Sins we repent of and go back to.
- Sins that will only break or loose you when you fast and pray.
- Sins that enslave people, people not openly in rebellion towards God but feel helpless with something they can't get free from.
- I'm offering my body.
- Strengthen your stand agains the force that enslaves you.
-Target that personal or besetting sin, bad temper, lust, pride...you know what yours is
- Regain control of your body, the Temple, thru fasting.
-They never remain the same, besetting sins are never satisfied, they take more and more of your life.

2. Ezra Fast
- Seek God when you are faced with hard times and great problems.
- Ezra Ch. 8
- Fast for great financial problems and hard times.
- He didn't want to ask the King for help when he had already said the hand of God is upon all them for good that seek him;
- Ezra had been given 7,500 lbs of gold and 25 tons of silver to take back to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall. He didn't know how to get it back thru the thieves and the robbers.
- Ezra 8:23, he fasted and entreated God.
- God cares about our finances.
- Ezra said he was going to fast and pray.
- Not an attempt to escape the problem. It's to enlist the Holy Spirit to tackle the problem.
- Get in God's order for our finances, honor God with our tithe. Give to those in need with what he's blessed us with.
- We're blessed to be a blessing.
- Facing a major change, marriage, friction at work, a big purchase like a car or a house, a great Church decision.
- God gave him them safe passage.
- They gave thanks for the success God blessed them with.
- Ezra fast brings great solutions to great problems.

3. Samuel Fast
- Fast for national revival
- The Ark of the Covenant had been stolen
- Eli was fat, he was a spiritual leader that was not fasting and praying.
- Men, specifically husbands and fathers, are we spiritual leaders who are not fasting and praying.
- God raises Samuel and first thing he called a fast.
- We're going to go without eating and seek God and seek revival.
- We want God's atmosphere.
- We need to fast and pray for revival in our church.
- The Philistines heard the children had gathered to fast and they attacked them.
- Fasting agitates demon powers.
- Expect attacks, be encouraged.
- Jesus would never do something that would hurt us, if Jesus fasted, it's alright for us to fast.

4. Elijah Fast
- Elijah had a great victory, immediately after that he had a let down. Jezebel said she would kill him.
- Ever had a great thing happen only to have a great letdown immediately afterwards?
- He became afraid and depressed, he ran to the wilderness. Wanted to starve to death and said, "God please let me die."
- Angel came and touched him. He went on a journey. God sent him and told him to go there and he went 40 days on that one meal.
- Fast that breaks negative emotions off of our life. Negative self image, low self esteem, suicidal thoughts to name a few.
- Fasting can break those powers and emotions.
- God instructed Elijah to go back to a place of previous victory. Sent him back to where he'd been blessed and touched before.
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5. Widow's Fast
- Elijah said give me the last meal you have. She fasted so that someone else could eat.
- When you do that, God is pleased.
- When she did that, God multiplied her resources.
- She fasted so that others, Elijah could eat.
- Become others oriented.
- Her supply never ran out.

6. Paul's Fast
- It's dark and you don't know what to do.
- Seeking God's will.
-Anytime you're facing major decisions we should FAST and PRAY.
- Fast AND pray.
- Paul went on a 3 day fast and God gave Paul divine direction for the rest of his life.
- God will reveal his will.

7. Daniels's Fast
- Daniel fast is no meat, no sweets, no bread and drinking only water for 21 days.
- Prolonged partial fast.
- Daniel and his 3 friends wouldn't eat the meat. Had a contest vs the King's men. We're going to eat vegetables and water.
- They were healthier than the rest of the men.
- Your health will spring forth.
- No one is dying from over fasting. We're dying from over eating.
- Pray for healthy choices in our eating.
- In the Bible God cares about what goes in us.

8. John the Baptist's Fast
- John fasted often. He was on the Nazirite diet.
- Greater influence and testimony.
- Ever widening circle of influence.
- God's light within us ever brightening.

9. Esther's Fast
- Fast for protection against danger.
- When she needed protection from danger Esther called for a three day fast.
- When we're fasting the Glory of The Lord will be our rear guard.
- God's protection can come upon us.