Christmas – 2019 – Fasting and Prayer
Subject – The Christmas Story Tied to Fasting and Prayer
by Rick Welborne
Luke 2:1‑20 (NIV)
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
3 And everyone went to his own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
–Joseph and Mary take Jesus to the temple to present Him to the Lord...Simeon recognizes him as the Messiah and blesses Him.
Luke 2:36‑40 (NIV)
36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,
37 and then was a widow until she was eighty‑four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.
40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.
–As I prayed and sought the Lord about what to share...I am very aware that it is Christmas time but I am also keenly aware that we will be challenging you to fast and pray with us Jan. 1.
--Fasting is probably one of the more difficult things we American Christians are asked to do especially after the abundant food we have during Thanksgiving and during all the Christmas season.
--Most of us declare or at least raise our hands when we are asked do we want God to send revival.
--It will not happen without fasting and praying with sincerity. We want the King of Glory to burst through the doors of Life Church with salvation and with healing in His wings. He is at the door waiting:
Revelation 3:20 (NKJV)
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
–It is time and especially here at Christmas that we open up or raise up the doors and let the King of Glory come in! Listen to King David:
Psalms 24:1‑10 (NKJV)
1 The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.
2 For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters.
3 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face. Selah
7 Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.
8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.
10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah
–Fasting and prayer will be or can be the push that will swing open the door that we are praying for. God wants to so manifest Himself to His people.
2 Chronicles 15:1-2 & 12-13 (NKJV)
1 Now the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded.
2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: "Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.
1 Now the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded.
2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: "Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.
12 Then they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;
13 and whoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel was to be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.
13 and whoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel was to be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.
–Also, I believe Jesus wants us to know that our previous fasting, praying, and persevering have accumulated before Him and He was about to pour out Holy Spirit on Life Church…those who are hungry and seeking.
--Our fasting and prayer has to be sincere. It is not a weight loss program or just an adjustment to your diet. If you are not seeking God, your motivation is wrong. What miracle do you need from God?
–Ok, Pastor Rick, what does all this have to do with Anna and her declaration about Jesus and fasting and prayer?
Luke 2:37-38 (NIV)
37 and then was a widow until she was eighty‑four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
–In these two verses I see three things that will help us to get ready for Jesus ( the door of the sheep) to come to us and we will see what Anna did as she waited...
1. To be ready for Jesus to come Anna had a dedication to God’s House...She never left the temple.
--Church was not optional for her but she had a passion for God’s house.
Psalms 69:9 (NLT)
9 Passion for your house has consumed me…
Hebrews 10:24-25 (NKJV)
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
--Let me encourage you in this coming new year to make God and His House a priority. Please don’t tell me you want revival to show up at Life Church when you are not willing to be here to pray for it.
Mark 11:17 (NKJV)
17 Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'?”
17 Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'?”
--Anna was expecting the Messiah to be revealed and she knew the temple would be the greatest place for having an encounter with Him. The same is true for us. My house…God says…not your house!
--I am calling for a solemn assembly during our week of prayer January 5-10...Make it a major priority for you to be here...we all say we want Him to come...let us come seeking Him with all our hearts.
--With everything being shaken that can be shaken...get to God’s house...His refuge for us! Be faithful to be here to seek Him and to minister to others…exhorting one another.
--If you are going thru a tough time...get to church...remember Simeon and Anna had an encounter with Christ at the temple.
Jim Cymbala – Maybe the reason you are going through a tough time is because God wants to talk to you again. You want come to Him unless your life is disrupted.
2. To be ready for Jesus to come Anna made a choice to worship God night and day.
--Just an observation: those who make the choice to worship God night and day, thru the bad and good, thru blessed times and rough times...those individuals have peace with God and experience Him more often.
--It just stands to reason that if we have a love for God and His House and we worship Him continuously that everything will be alright! Let me remind us!
Psalms 34:1, 18‑19 (NKJV)
1 I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.
--Don’t miss it...Anna saw Jesus because she was a worshiper. Worshipers encounter God because when you seek Him with all your heart…you find Him!
3. To be ready for Jesus to come we must be willing to fast and pray.
--Anna loved God’s house, she worshiped night and day, and she fasted and prayed.
--Your pastor and church leadership are admonishing you to join with us in fasting and praying beginning January 1. Fasting and praying should be a normal part of a Christian’s life.
--We are asking you to do a true biblical fast...fast food...you can fast TV, FB, watching sports, or other stuff but fast food in some way. It helps understand what it means to crucify our flesh.
--We deny our flesh something that it wants so that we can get what our spirit needs.
Matthew 5:6 (NKJV)
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
--We know some of you have to be careful and some of you may have to check with your doctor but all of us can fast something for 21 days. So many different ways to fast. Daniel. Partial fast. Complete fast.
--A lot of us will be ok because we have stored up like a bear going into hibernation.
--We are asking for 100% participation...we are asking for you to especially join with us starting Monday, January 6 for our Annual week of Prayer.
--We are asking everyone who can to come out every night that week and join us in seeking after God for a sovereign move of His Spirit! Anna had an encounter because she was in God’s temple seeking.
--We believe that as we are unified in this fasting and praying that God will reveal Jesus to us in a greater way. As I said we want a true Biblical fast with Biblical results:
Isaiah 58:6-14 (NKJV)
6 "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?
7 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?
8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.' "If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
10 If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday.
11 The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
12 Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
13 "If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, From doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight, The holy day of the LORD honorable, And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, Nor finding your own pleasure, Nor speaking your own words,
14 Then you shall delight yourself in the LORD; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the LORD has spoken."
6 "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?
7 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?
8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.' "If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
10 If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday.
11 The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
12 Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
13 "If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, From doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight, The holy day of the LORD honorable, And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, Nor finding your own pleasure, Nor speaking your own words,
14 Then you shall delight yourself in the LORD; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the LORD has spoken."
--Anna fasted and prayed in God’s temple and she found the One Who could do this…Jesus!
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