UNDERSTANDING THE POWER OF PRAYER AND FASTING

Isaiah 58:3-11

⭕️Prayer and fasting is not an old testament thing that went away with Jesus.

⭕️We don’t fast as a religious practice.

⭕️We fast in order to catch God’s attention on certain matters.

⭕️Fasting causes God to see, if you do it correctly.

⭕️When you add fasting to your prayer, you amplify your voice to be heard on high (by God).

 Isaiah 66:2

⭕️A fast can be acceptable or not acceptable.

1 Kings 21:27-29

⭕️Fasting can reverse curses.

⭕️No bad situation is permanent with God.

⭕️God doesn’t look at what you did yesterday, He will look at your decision to go for Him now.

⭕️Prayer and fasting can shape the destinies of nations.

⭕️Be careful that you’re abstaining from food and not spending time in the word of God and prayer.

⭕️Fasting is just a booster to prayer (fasting is supporting prayer).

⭕️Your voice must be heard in prayer.

⭕️Your abstinence from food should lead you to having more time to pray and study the word of God.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE PRAY AND FAST?

1.LIGHT WILL BREAK FORTH (Isaiah 58:8)

⭕️Prayer and fasting enhances revelation.

⭕️Light is life.

⭕️Light is victory.

⭕️To have light is to be favoured.

⭕️Nobody will admire something in the dark. Beauty comes alive in the light.

2.REVERSAL OF EVIL VERDICTS (1 Kings 21:27-29)

3.PRAYER AND FASTING HELPS PEOPLE TO DISCOVER THEIR GOD-GIVEN PURPOSE (Acts 13:1-2, Jeremiah 1:5, 33:3)

⭕️Everything that God created was created for a purpose.

⭕️We may not discover our purpose if we don’t pray and fast.

⭕️If you don’t discover God’s purpose for your life, you will be living another man’s life.

⭕️Every child of God has an ordination from God (they have already been ordained by God). What is needed is for each one to discover and activate it.

⭕️There is no school you can go to, to discover your purpose.

⭕️Those who hate prayer and fasting hate their next level.

⭕️What God has called you to do is what will keep you alive.

⭕️Until you discover your purpose, you are wasting away your life.

4.ENHANCES (FACILITATES) ANSWERS TO PRAYER (Isaiah 58:9)

5.FACILITATES THE BIRTHING OF NEW THINGS (Isaiah 58:8, 60:1-2)

6.PRAYER AND FASTING RENEWS POWER AND INCREASES POWER LEVELS (Isaiah 40:28-31)

THE POWER OF PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING AS A LIFESTYLE

Psalm 100:1-5, 34:1

⭕️The lifestyle of thanksgiving leads to daily liftings.

⭕️It is impossible to find those who praise God at the same spot you found them yesterday; new things are always happening in their lives.

⭕️Praise and thanksgiving can indicate how spiritual someone is.

⭕️Most of the kingdom giants are thankful people.

⭕️When a person loves complaining, it is a sign that thanksgiving is not present.

What is thanksgiving?

1. Acknowledging God’s act on your life, the lives of others or the things He has created (Malachi 2:1)

2. Appreciation in advance (expectation) (2 Samuel 7:18, Romans 4:20)

⭕️Thanking God for what He has done is easier than thanking Him in advance.

⭕️It takes faith to thank God in advance, for what He has said.

⭕️Many prophecies (promises) come to people but they do not come to pass because they have not learnt to thank God in advance.

What is praise?

1.Celebration of God’s faithfulness and His character.

2.Celebration of the integrity of God’s word (Psalm 56:4, 10, Hebrews 11:11, Romans 4:20)

⭕️Thanksgiving focuses on the acts of God while praise focuses on the personality of God.

⭕️Have expectations in mind for why you are praising God.

⭕️Praise releases God’s power into any situation.

What are the channels of expressing thanksgiving and praise?

1.Clapping our hands (Psalm 47:1)

2.Shouting (Psalm 47:5)

3.Testimonies (Luke 17:15-17, 1 Samuel 1:27, Psalm 92:2)

4.Singing

5.Dancing (Acts 2:47, 42, 46)