Shabbat Message 5-31-08

Prayer and Fasting

 

Isa 58:1-14 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. (2) Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their Elohim: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to Elohim. (3) Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labors. (4) Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. (5) Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to YHWH? (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? (7) Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? (8) Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of YHWH shall be thy rearward. (9) Then shalt thou call, and YHWH shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; (10) And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: (11) And YHWH shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. (12) And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. (13) If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my Set Apart day; and call the sabbath a delight, the Set Apart of YHWH, honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: (14) Then shalt thou delight thyself in YHWH; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of YHWH hath spoken it.

Fasting & Prayer

Mat 6:5-18 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. (6) But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. (7) But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. (8) Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. (9) After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. (10) Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (11) Give us this day our daily bread. (12) And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. (13) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. (14) For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: (15) But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Mat 6:16-18 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. (17) But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; (18) That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Fasting

1. Fasting - A tool recommended by YHWSHUA to his disciples. (WHEN you fast)

2. Fasting - teaches us non-attachment

3. In scripture, fasting has to do with self-denial and self-discipline.

4. Many times fasting was an expression of penitence for sin.

2Sa 12:15-23 David Fasting for his sin with Bathsheba

Psa 35:13 - My prayer returned into mine own bosom.

Psa 69:10 - When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.

Jer 36:6-9 - It may be they will present their supplication before YHWH, and will return every one from his evil way

Dan 9:2-6 - We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:

Joe 1:8-16 - Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of YHWH your Elohim, and cry unto YHWH, (for you have done wickedly)

Joe 2:12-16 - Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: (that you may rend your hearts & turn to YHWH!)

Jon 3:4-8 - But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto Elohim: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.

 

5. If we have a wrong heart fasting is in vain!

 

Jer 14:10-14 - When they fast, I will not hear their cry

Luk 18:11-12 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, Elohim, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. (12) I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

Act 27:9-36 - Shaul had the answer from YHWH, and said to the men This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing. (34) Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you. (All they did was miss food for 14 days!)

6. Fasting ALWAYS changes US... not YHWH

Zec 7:5-10 - In order to Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother: (10) And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.

Zec 8:16-22 - shall be joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace.

Mat 4:1-2 Then was YHWSHUA led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. (2) And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward hungry.

Act 13:2-3 As they ministered to YHWH, and fasted, the Set Apart Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. (3) And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. (Act 14:23)

Fasting & Prayer Casts out What?

Mat 17:15-21 Master, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. (16) And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. (17) Then YHWSHUA answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. (18) And YHWSHUA rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. (19) Then came the disciples to YHWSHUA apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? (20) And YHWSHUA said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. (21) Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Prayer

During times of challenge, people of all religions get strength from their faith and the power of prayer.

Prayer 2 Fold!!

7. Talking to YHWH

8. Listening to what He has to say.

9. In prayer we give thanks to YHWH for what He has done, and ask him to help others and themselves.

Prayer NEVER moves YHWH!

Mal 3:6 For I am YHWH, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Num 23:19 YHWH is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Heb 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for YHWH to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

10. Many times when we pray for divine intervention we are denying the faith that we claim to hold to. (Co- Creators; we don't realize the power we ourselves have)

11. "Why worry when we can pray, use own our personal power, Word affirmThere is no need to suffer in life, but you are suffering keep praying, believing,speaking and seeing what you want. There is no need to suffer in life, but you are suffering keep praying, believing,speaking and seeing what you want. ations and visualization create everything we need." (Mk 11:24-26)

12. There is no need to suffer in life, but you are suffering keep praying, believing,speaking and seeing what you want.

13. Seek and ye shall find. Knock and the door shall be opened."

YHWH helps those who help themselves - YHWH will do His part, however, we must do our part. Together YHWH, our personal power (Through YHWH in us), and the power of the supernatural mind are unstoppable.

Prayer Always changes US! Prayer changes circumstances (Creative Power)

14. We can NEVER override someone else's free will !!!!!! We can't change someone else's mind through prayer... YHWH will never break their free will either.

Jos 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve YHWH, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the elohim which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the elohim of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve YHWH.

15. Our prayers must turn from asking for things from YHWH to asking that we might become a blessing to others!

Act 4:24-31 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to YHWH with one accord, and said, YHWH, thou art Elohim, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Praise & Adoration (25) Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? (26) The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against YHWH, and against his Messiah. (27) For of a truth against thy Set Apart child YHWSHUA, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, (28) For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. Understand that YHWH is in control! (29) And now, YHWH, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, Asking for Wisdom, Boldness, and Enlightenment (30) By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy Set Apart child YHWSHUA. (31) And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Set Apart Spirit, and they spake the word of YHWH with boldness.

Jud 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most Set Apart faith, praying in the Set Apart Spirit,

Laying on of hands and Prayer

Jas 5:13-20 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. (14) Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of The Master: (15) And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and YHWH shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. (16) Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (17) Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. (18) And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. (19) Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; (20) Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

YHWSHUA praying

Joh 17:1-26 These words spake YHWSHUA, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: (2) As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. (3) And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true Elohim, and YHWSHUA Messiah, whom thou hast sent. (4) I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. (5) And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. (6) I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. (7) Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. (8) For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. (9) I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. (10) And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. (11) And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Set Apart Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. (12) While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the Scripture might be fulfilled. (13) And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. (14) I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. (15) I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. (16) They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. (17) Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (18) As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. (19) And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. (20) Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; (21) That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. (22) And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: (23) I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (24) Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. (25) O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. (26) And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

We must understand and acknowledge that it is YHWH working in us... This is our prayer and thanks.

YHWSHUA works through us to bring forth his truth. HE is willing to work with anyone who is open to his true teachings

16. John 14:16 - And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever

17. John 14:26 - But the Comforter, which is the Set Apart Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

18. We think this is speaking to someone else... But HE was speaking to US!!!

19. We can get direction through the still, small voice within us. (In many cases people aren't able to hear that voice or they aren't willing to listen!)

20. Many are looking for YHWH to do everything for them, but they need to begin to do for themselves.. and others.. through the power of YHWH within!

We must remember the law of reaping & sowing through the power of the Word spoken in prayer.

Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; YHWH is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

In My Name

Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Mar 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

Joh 14:13-26 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (14) If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. (15) If ye love me, keep my commandments. (16) And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; (17) Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (18) I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. (19) Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. (20) At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. (21) He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (22) Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Master, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? (23) YHWSHUA answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (24) He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. (25) These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. (26) But the Comforter, which is the Set Apart Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Joh 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Joh 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

Joh 16:24-27 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. (25) These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall show you plainly of the Father. (26) At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: (27) For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from YHWH.

How to Pray for others

1Ti 2:1-2 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men... that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all righteousness and honesty.

1. Every human being has free will, but most won't exercise it. Neither YHWH, ant heavenly being, nor we can interefere in another's free will!

21. People can't make a free choice unless they have a clear understanding of the situation, the options they have, and the consequences.

22. In a crisis situation, people don't have the clarity of mind to make truly free choices.

23. So we must remove the blocks that stop people from making free choices.

2. Ask for them to be protected against all negatives that prevents them from seeing the situation clearly, and how they are harming themselves.

Eph 1:16-19 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers, (17) That the Elohim of our Master YHWSHUA Messiah, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: (18) The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, (19) And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

3. Bind of all evil forces attacking yourself or others (also the huiman ego that is stopping them from seeing what they are doing.

Eph 6:12-18 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of YHWH, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (14) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (15) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (16) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of YHWH: (18) Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

4. Ask that YHWH and their ministering angels to protect and enlighten the person to take the best action in the situation.

Psa 91:10-12 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. (11) For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. (12) They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Heb 1:13-14 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? (14) Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

5. If possible, talk to the people. Help them see the situation clearly and the dangers involved (Remember: We can't make choices for others. They must make it themselves.)

Many people have trapped themselves into so many erroneous beliefs that they need to go through certain situations in order to understand that those beliefs are harming them. (Learning Process)

1Pe 3:12 For the eyes of YHWH are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of YHWH is against them that do evil.