Thursday, July 20, 2006
Prayer and Fasting...
SCRIPTURES ON THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF FASTING:
Deuteronomy 8:3
Man does not live by bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
Job 23:12
I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.
Psalm 35:13
I put on sackcloth, and humbled myself with fasting…
Jeremiah 15:16
When Your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear Your name, O Lord God Almighty.
Joel 1:14
Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.
Joel 2:12-13
“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity.”
Matthew 4:2-4
After fasting forty days and forty nights, Jesus was hungry. The tempter came to Him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Matthew 6:16-18
Jesus said: “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Matthew 17:19-21
The disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive [the demon] out?” Jesus replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
John 4:34
“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.”
Romans 14:17-18
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
James 4:8-10
Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn, and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.
Some Biblical Examples of Fasting for Further Study:
Moses (Exodus 34:28), Hannah (I Samuel 1:8), Elijah (I Kings 19:8), Ezra (Ezra 10:6), Esther (Esther 4:16), David (Psalm 102:4), Daniel (Daniel 10:3), Anna (Luke 2:37), Jesus (Luke 4:1-2, 14), Saul (Acts 9:9), Cornelius (Acts 10:30), the church at Antioch (Acts 13:2-3), Paul and Barnabas (Acts 14:23).
Deuteronomy 8:3
Man does not live by bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
Job 23:12
I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.
Psalm 35:13
I put on sackcloth, and humbled myself with fasting…
Jeremiah 15:16
When Your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear Your name, O Lord God Almighty.
Joel 1:14
Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.
Joel 2:12-13
“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity.”
Matthew 4:2-4
After fasting forty days and forty nights, Jesus was hungry. The tempter came to Him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Matthew 6:16-18
Jesus said: “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Matthew 17:19-21
The disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive [the demon] out?” Jesus replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
John 4:34
“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.”
Romans 14:17-18
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
James 4:8-10
Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn, and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.
Some Biblical Examples of Fasting for Further Study:
Moses (Exodus 34:28), Hannah (I Samuel 1:8), Elijah (I Kings 19:8), Ezra (Ezra 10:6), Esther (Esther 4:16), David (Psalm 102:4), Daniel (Daniel 10:3), Anna (Luke 2:37), Jesus (Luke 4:1-2, 14), Saul (Acts 9:9), Cornelius (Acts 10:30), the church at Antioch (Acts 13:2-3), Paul and Barnabas (Acts 14:23).
