COPY THIS SERMON — FASTING & PRAYER FOR BREAKTHROUGH IN TODAY'S AGE:

TITLE: FASTING & PRAYER — GOD'S PATTERN FOR BREAKTHROUGH, POWER & ANSWERED PRAYER TODAY

KEY TEXTS: Matt 4:1-11, Luke 4:1-2,14, James 5:16-18

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INTRODUCTION:
Church — We want breakthrough — We want prayers heard — But we do fasting and prayer today without requirements taught by Spirit — That is why few see power.

Today we look to Christ about 2 aspects — Fasting and Prayer — His example is our pattern.

I. JESUS & FASTING — REQUIREMENTS TAUGHT BY SPIRIT

1. Fasting must be led by Spirit — Not flesh, not competition.
Matt 4:1 — Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into wilderness to be tempted.
Luke 4:1 — And Jesus being full of Holy Ghost... was led by Spirit.

Implication: True fasting starts with Spirit leading — Not announcement, not to impress. If Spirit leads, He sustains. Many fast today because pastor said, not because Spirit led — No power.

2. Fasting requires separation — Wilderness.
Jesus left crowds — Went to wilderness — No distraction. Requirement: Separation from noise, phones, feeding flesh.

3. Fasting requires Word fullness — Not just empty stomach.
Matt 4:4 — Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word.
During fasting, He defeated Satan using scriptures — It is written — Matt 4:4,7,10

Many today fast with empty Bible — Just hunger. Jesus fasted full of Word. Fasting without Word is just diet. Spirit teaches us to wear Word.

4. Result of Spirit-led fasting — Filled with POWER for victory.
Luke 4:14 — And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee.
Isa 58:6,8 — Is not this the fast that I have chosen?... Then shall thy light break forth...

When requirements obeyed — Fast breaks yokes, heals, brings power to defeat Satan. That's breakthrough.

REQUIREMENTS CHECK FOR TODAY — Do we have them?
Led by Spirit? Rom 8:14
Right motive? Matt 6:16-18 — Not to appear unto men... thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly
Humility & repentance? Joel 2:12-13 — Rend your heart... Isa 58:5-7 — Fast that God chooses loosens wickedness, feeds hungry
Accompanied by Word & prayer? Not just starving?

Few obey these — That is why fasting today has no breakthrough.

II. JESUS & PRAYER — PRAYER IN CLEAN LIFE = POWERFUL & EFFECTIVE

1. Prayer of righteous — Clean life — Powerful.
James 5:16 — The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much — Powerful and effective, ready to cause immediate effect.

Psalm 66:18 — If I regard iniquity in my heart, Lord will not hear me.
Isa 59:1-2 — Your iniquities have separated...
1 Pet 3:12 — For eyes of Lord are over righteous, and His ears open unto their prayers...

Requirement taught by Spirit: Prayer needs clean vessel.

2. What is clean life for prayer today?
Confessed & forsaken sin — 1 John 1:9, Prov 28:13
Forgiving heart — Mark 11:25-26 — When ye stand praying, forgive
Obedience — 1 John 3:22 — Whatsoever we ask, we receive, because we keep His commandments
Faith without doubting — James 1:6, Mark 11:24 — Believe that ye receive them

James says — Not just any prayer — But prayer made in clean life is powerful — Ready to cause immediate effect — That is why Elijah — man like us — prayed and heaven responded — James 5:17-18

III. WHY TODAY'S BELIEVERS FAST AND PRAY BUT NO BREAKTHROUGH?

Because:
We do form without requirements — 2 Tim 3:5 — Having form of godliness, but denying power thereof

We fast with strife, pride, social media display — Isa 58:3-4
We pray with unclean life — Anger, unforgiveness, lust, secret sin — And expect God to hear

Spirit teaches: Fasting is not to force God — It is to humble us so we hear God — Psalm 35:13 — I humbled my soul with fasting

IV. APPLICATION — HOW TO FAST & PRAY FOR BREAKTHROUGH NOW:

Ask Spirit — Should I fast? When? How long? — Rom 8:14
Set apart — Separate, shut phone, open Bible — Make it Word + prayer, not hunger strike — Matt 4:4
Cleanse life before — Repent, forgive all, conf