Bible Text: Daniel 10 | Preacher: Pastor Steve | Series: Engage: Do All In The Name Of The Lord Jesus
Fasting is God Ordained
Isaiah 58:6-7 Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh?
Why Fast?
It is a response to an urging, a sense of call, a prompting, a sense of rightness. We have heard the call Yahweh, the voice of the Lord, and we must obey.
Fasting reveals what controls us
Fasting should be our response to urgent needs
The Challenging Moral/Ethical Biblical Issues the Church is Facing:
Consideration of others/Compassion/Caring/Tolerance/Respect
Sex between unmarried individuals
Lack of family structure/Divorce/Kids’ upbringing
Lack of faith/Religion
Cloning
Gambling
Polygamy/Polyamorous relationships
Lack of morals
Sense of Entitlement/Government dependency
Greed/Selfishness
Poor leadership/Poor guidance
TV/Media/Internet
Pornography
Dishonesty/Integrity/Deception
Sexuality/Teen pregnancy/Promiscuity
Birth control
Abortion/Don’t value life
Personal accountability/Responsibility
Homosexuality/Gay marriage
Lack of money/High cost of living/Poverty
Racism/Discrimination
Crime/Violence
Lack of Education
Drugs/Alcohol
Jobs
Economy
Pro-choice on abortion/Women’s rights
Healthcare
What we learn from Daniel’s response:
Waiting on the Lord
Daniel 10:2-3 When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three whole weeks.  All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine crossed my lips, and I used no fragrant lotions until those three weeks had passed.
Remembering that God hasn’t forgotten you!
Daniel 10:10-12 Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. And he said to me, O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.  While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. Then he said to me, Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words…
We are in a SPIRITUAL battle
Daniel 10:13-14 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.  Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.
We Will See Change Take Place
2 Chronicles 7:12-22 Then the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods, and worship them, then I will uproot them from My land which I have given them; and this house which I have sanctified for My name I will cast out of My sight, and will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples.
And as for this house, which is exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and say, Why has the LORD done thus to this land and this house? Then they will answer, because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and embraced other gods, and worshiped them and served them; therefore He has brought all this calamity on them.
We are Praying and Fasting for the following:
The Lord is calling us to become a people that are Spirit-filled; Spirit-formed and Spirit-led believers in Jesus for the purpose of: Liberating the power of Holy Spirit in order to BREAKTHROUGH in our lives and release the convicting power of the Holy Spirit that will sweep over our region BREAKING.
All of ALFC praying for the salvation of our friends, family and co-workers.
We would see at least 40 people receive Jesus as Savior
We would see 40 people baptized in water April 29, 2018 (last Sunday)
Remolding of our future worship center into a usable area by Easter
An increase of 100 people to commit financially to the Dome project
We would see a 20% in the baptism of the Holy Spirit
Healthy marriages and families as evidenced by testimonies
Revival of our commitment to serve with a 25% increase in new volunteers
Increase in giving of our time, talents and treasures by 25%
Boldness in our sharing of the message of the Gospel reaching out into our community. Every church member would share the Gospel with at least one person between now and invite them to our Easter services
Increasing our small groups and class participation by 25%
Protection and financial provision for our two upcoming trips to Guatemala