Ezra 8:21 (ESV) Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods.

For a meaningful fast, people must not only withhold food, but they must also agonize in prayer. Fasting is more than diet adjustment; it involves spiritual agony and intercession.

Originally great distress would beset the people (cause) and then diet was adjusted as people were too upset to eat (effect). But in time people realized fasting should be the cause to lead to the effect of agonizing in intercessory prayer (“Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough” by Elmer Towns, 47).

Why Fast Seriously or even at all?

• Because believers are in bondage to sin.
• Because your family may need a spiritual breakthrough.
• Because our church needs a spiritual breakthrough.
• Because the body of Christ needs humbled and unified at FSBC and in America.
• Because the lost need saved in Tucson, Arizona, America and the World.
• Because the city is enslaved in darkness.
• Because poverty, starvation, disease, and injustice is killing multitudes in our world.
• Because our government has lost its way.
• Because we are not desperate enough for God and it will help us remember what it is to feel desperate.

It is important that fasting is done with right motives. It is about the spiritual life of the person fasting and praying in the will of God. Going with or without food has no spiritual value in and of itself. 1 Corinthians 8:8 says, “Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.”

Also, if you are the type who skips lunch often or never eats breakfast, you cannot count that as fasting. Going without food is not fasting. But when you make sacrifices and give up things that maybe you have become more in love with than God, or depend more on than you depend on God, that is where fasting is.

Let’s give up the things we love more than God at times so that we might seek, know and love God more. During a lunch instead of eating go and pray.

Scripture References for Fasting:

1 TIMOTHY 2:1-2
“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”

ROMANS 12:1
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.”

MATTHEW 6:33
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

ISAIAH 58:6
“[Is] not this the fast that I have chosen to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?”

Matthew 6:16-18, Matthew 9:14-15, Luke 18:9-14

Relation to Prayer and Reading of the Word:
1 Samuel 1:6-8, 17-18, Nehemiah 1:4, Daniel 9:3, 20, Joel 2:12, Luke 2:37, Acts 10:30, Acts 13:2

Corporate Fasting:
1 Samuel 7:5-6, Ezra 8:21-23, Nehemiah 9:1-3, Joel 2:15-16, Jonah 3:5-10, Acts 27:33-37

Remember that it is the attitude of a heart sincerely seeking Him to which God responds with a blessing (Isaiah 58, Jeremiah 14:12, 1 Corinthians 8:8). May God greatly bless you as you fast!

WHAT IS FASTING? Simply put fasting is abstaining from food, drink, or other things for a period of time.

Esther 4:15-16 (ESV) Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”

Fasting generally was from sunset to sunset (Lev. 23:32).

WHY FAST? In a sense we need to become desperate for God again. And when we are experiencing hunger pains while fasting then we are reminded to depend on God, to call out to God, to seek Him alone.

Also we fast to seek spiritual help for ourselves and for others (Isaiah 58:5-9). Some things only find their breakthrough by fasting and prayer.

Matthew 17:21 (NASB)  “But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

And, our world is saturated with evil and worship of idols of all kinds. Even our stomach is an idol. I know if I don’t get to lunch at 11:30am every day I get grumpy! The Bible says that Paul fasted regularly (2 Corinthians 11:27; Acts 9:9)

We also fast to bring true repentance of and deliverance from sin in our lives. David fasted because of the in he committed with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:15-16).

WHAT SHOULD I FAST? If you have never fasted before then start simple and small. Preparation is needed to fast longer. There are various kinds of fasts and the important thing is to do what works for you. Then, make a commitment to it and stick with it. Also, the best way to stick with it is to have some one fast with you to have accountability.

KINDS OF FASTS

Some types of fasts

1. The Full Fast-Going without food for a defined period consuming only liquids (water, juice, broth, etc.).*
2. The Daniel Fast-Eat no meats, no sweets, no bread.  Drink water and juice.  Eat fruits and vegetables for a defined period of time.
3. The Partial Fast-from 6am-3pm or sun up to sun down.  It can be a Full Fast, Daniel Fast, or giving up at least one item of food.

*Consult a physician before any lengthy full fast.

In our church we teach four major habits for growing Christians: Time in God’s Word, prayer, fellowship with Christians, and tithing. But I believe practicing the discipline of fasting takes our faith to a whole new level. This is where we can really see the power of God unleashed in answered prayer and direction for our lives and the church.

JANUARY 8-29th Join myself and First Southern Baptist Church of Tucson in a 21 day fast. We are fasting and praying for God to do great things!

Here is a link for more great help about fasting. http://www.ccci.org/training-and-growth/devotional-life/personal-guide-to-fasting/index.htm

Here’s what I suggest:
1. Cast a vision for being change agents in their church. Graduates who came from a tremendous disciple making community on campus should not settle for less in their church. They should get involved in the leadership to help the church make disciples. And if their church is not willing then they should move on to a church that is.

2. Maintain accountability during transition. Graduates need to stay in touch with friends who will keep them accountable to stay in God’s Word, stay in prayer, active in church and other spiritual habits.

3. Graduates need to know that where they are going, God has sent them to make his glory known there. Their job is a platform for sharing the gospel. Their new community is a new opportunity for the sake of the gospel.

Every great movement in church history started with young men and women so let’s inspire them to keep it going!

You never know what God might do through your obedience. We were obedient to bring students to Pittsburgh. And through this, one answered God’s call. Not only has he started Living Ministry, he along with others are being used by God to bring revival to some destitute parts of Pittsburgh. This revival has even caused revitalization of some areas of the city.

Sometimes it is hard to see the results of ministry. You wonder if you’re making any impact. But sometimes you don’t realize what influence you had on a life that is now having a great impact in another city. We have to keep pressing on for the Gospel because we won’t fully know the full reach of our efforts until eternity. But we can praise God for these little glimpses along the way.

You can learn more about Mike’s ministry at www.livingministry.org and find them on Facebook.

Legendary UCLA Basketball Coach John Wooden was asked what it takes to build a dream team and he answered three things: Talent. Talent. Talent.

Leadership experts like Ken Blanchard, John Maxwell or Steven Covey would not agree. Ken Blanchard says skill/talent will get you in the door, but character will keep you there.

I want to propose a leadership framework that will make you the most successful and most attractive candidate for your future.

Ken Blanchard and John Maxwell both say that leadership is influence.
My story

The ingredients for your leadership success

1. Character—Who you are
I don’t care where you work, lead, or serve, character matters first.
Willingness to admit mistakes. Turn from mistakes. Believe and uphold the truth

Ken Blanchard, “You will diminish your effectiveness by fixating on short term results at the expense of long term integrity.”

2. Competence—skills for the task
Prov. 10:4 Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring riches

Be a life long learner.
Prov. 22:17 “Listen closely, pay attention to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge.” 23. Buy—and do not sell—truth, wisdom, instruction and understanding.

Andrew Creighton said, “Avoid competency traps. Do not stay only where you are good at things go out and be challenged.”
Always raise the bar.
But also be careful to identify your strengths and your weaknesses. You must learn to capitalize on your strengths and manage around your weaknesses. You weren’t meant to be good at everything. A good leader knows what he does best and delegates the rest.

3. Conviction—What I believe
Romans 14:23 (MSG) 23 But if you’re not sure, if you notice that you are acting in ways inconsistent with what you believe—some days trying to impose your opinions on others, other days just trying to please them—then you know that you’re out of line. If the way you live isn’t consistent with what you believe, then it’s wrong.
Without conviction you turn to legalism and tyranny—Hitler

Sound conviction should influence us rather than public opinion.

Strong convictions precede great actions. William Wilberforce, Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Theresa, President Reagan

4. Commitment—What I do. This is based on what I believe
Steven Covey wrote, “Effective leadership is putting first things first. Effective management is discipline, carrying it out.”

To have commitment today goes against our cultural norms. But to achieve any success commitment is required. You could also consider this follow through. Or I call it stick-to-itiveness. Are you going to stick to it until your vision or goals become reality?

Parable of the Farmer (Mark 4:26-29)—preparation, patience, profit
Leo Buscaglia “what we call the secret of happiness is no more a secret than our willingness to chose life.”

2. Can you tell what some of the dangers would be in considering one of God’s attributes more important than all the others?

3. Which of God’s attributes seem most amazing to you? What have you learned about God through this attribute?

When we preach the Gospel and teach believers to feed themselves on the Scriptures, there will be lasting fruit of the word of God spreading as people believe, know and apply. The problem is in many churches people have become accustomed to being spoon fed theology by pastors and good Bible teachers when instead they should be learning to feed themselves. After all it was prophesied that in the New Covenant we would teach ourselves as we are guided by the Holy Spirit (Jer. 31:31-36; John 6:45). As a result the word of God is not multiplying at the rate it did in Acts.

We need to commit ourselves to know the Word and not expect to be fed only by eloquent teachers of the word.

We also need to commit to preach the word to others so they may believe in Jesus.

Finally we must be faithful to disciple new Christians to teach them how to feed on the word and help them gain a vision for teaching it to others. Through this all believers will take up their God commissioned responsibility to make disciples, teaching them (Matt. 28:19-20).

This requires a time investment many are not willing to make. But if we want to be obedient to our Lord this is required. If we want to see the Gospel spread with power for the glory of God like we read about in Acts this is non-negotiable.

1 Samuel 18 introduces us to the friendship that David had with Jonathon. They were the least likely to be close friends but by God’s grace they were. They show us the type of hard work needed to make friendships last. You have to devote time and effort to building healthy relationships. It will cost you at times as you work out conflict. But through the Holy Spirit’s leadership in your lives, you have the opportunity to move each other closer to Christ and grow your bond as friends.

Proverbs 18:24 says “there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.” Do you have this kind of friend? Someone or a few you can share your struggles with maybe even disagree with but walk away still in committed friendship? Is there someone you could call when you are being tempted and ask for help? That is the friend that sticks closer than a brother. You need to make the investment in people to make these kinds of relationships happen.

As a small group leader, as you model this to your group, you will cultivate a culture of real friendships. I have had a few conversations recently about relating to each other and some of us are reading Samson and the Pirate Monks by Nate Larkin (that’s for guys, sorry ladies). So I am moved to help build a value for real friendship among our fellowship.