Faith, Prayer, and Deliverance in Challenging Times
Devotional
Day 1: The Transformative Power of Prayer and Fasting
In times of darkness, prayer and fasting are not just religious rituals but powerful spiritual disciplines that align us with God's will. They serve as conduits for divine intervention, enabling us to stand against the forces of darkness. Through these practices, we can experience God's power in our lives and society, moving mountains and witnessing His intervention. As we engage in prayer and fasting, we open ourselves to the Holy Spirit's guidance, allowing God to work through us to bring about change and deliverance. [03:21]
Isaiah 58:6-7 (ESV): "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?"
Reflection: What specific area of your life can you dedicate to prayer and fasting this week, seeking God's intervention and guidance?
Day 2: Being the Standard Against Darkness
As believers, we are called to be the standard that God raises against the enemy. Our purpose is not to live for ourselves but to be a light in the world, bringing hope and truth to those in darkness. This requires a deep commitment to God's work and a willingness to sacrifice for His glory. By rediscovering our purpose, we align ourselves with God's mission, becoming vessels through which His love and truth can flow into the world. [05:42]
Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV): "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Reflection: How can you actively be a light in your community this week, demonstrating God's love and truth to those around you?
Day 3: The Urgency of Spiritual Awakening
We are living in a critical time where the next generation is at risk of being lost to godless philosophies. The church must rise and pray, seeking a spiritual awakening that will turn the tide and bring deliverance to our nation and its children. This urgency calls for fervent prayer and action, believing that God can bring about a mighty outpouring of His Spirit. As we intercede for our nation, we trust that God will move powerfully, drawing people to Himself and transforming lives. [15:54]
Joel 2:28-29 (ESV): "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit."
Reflection: What specific steps can you take to engage in prayer and action for a spiritual awakening in your community and nation?
Day 4: Faith as Small as a Mustard Seed
Even the smallest amount of faith, when aligned with God's will, can accomplish great things. We are called to have faith that moves mountains, believing that nothing is impossible with God. This faith comes from a life surrendered to God's purposes, trusting Him to work through us to achieve His plans. As we cultivate this mustard seed faith, we open ourselves to the miraculous, witnessing God's power in our lives and the world around us. [21:36]
Matthew 17:20 (ESV): "He said to them, 'Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, "Move from here to there," and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.'"
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to exercise mustard seed faith, trusting God to accomplish the impossible?
Day 5: A Call to Active Participation in God's Work
The time for casual religion is over. We must be active participants in God's work, standing in faith and prayer for a mighty outpouring of His Spirit. This is a call to rise, pray, and believe for a great harvest of souls and a spiritual awakening in our time. As we commit ourselves to God's mission, we become partakers in His work, witnessing His transformative power in our lives and the world. [23:14]
James 2:17-18 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."
Reflection: How can you actively participate in God's work this week, using your gifts and talents to further His kingdom?
Sermon Summary
In these challenging times, America and its children are in desperate need of deliverance. As we gather in prayer and fasting, we seek the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit to lift us from the darkness of human thinking into the light of spiritual realities. We are called to humble ourselves and pray, as outlined in 2 Chronicles 7:14, to seek God's intervention for our nation and the world. The story from Matthew 17 serves as a powerful reminder of what can happen to a society that turns away from God. Jesus rebuked the demon from the child, illustrating the power of faith and prayer in overcoming darkness.
Our society is at a crossroads, much like the generation Jesus addressed as faithless and perverse. We face a culture that seeks to control thought and speech, standing against the Word of God. Yet, Isaiah 59:19 assures us that when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. We, as the people of God, are that standard. With faith as small as a mustard seed, we have the power to move mountains through prayer and fasting.
The call is clear: we must rediscover the power of God in our lives and stand against the encroaching darkness. This is not a time for casual religion but for a deep commitment to God's work on earth. We must be willing to sacrifice, as Abraham did, and live for the glory and will of God. Our faith must be active, seeking God's will and power to make a difference in the world. We are challenged to pray fervently for a spiritual awakening, believing that God can bring about a mighty outpouring of His Spirit.
As we fast and pray, we believe for a great harvest of souls, for 60 million people to turn to Christ. This is not just about avoiding judgment but about seeing mercy triumph over judgment. We are called to be partakers in God's work, to stand in faith and prayer, and to see a generation delivered from darkness. Let us rise as a church, deny ourselves, and seek God's face for the future of our nation and the world.
Key Takeaways
1. The Power of Prayer and Fasting: In times of darkness, prayer and fasting are essential tools for spiritual deliverance. They align us with God's will and empower us to stand against the forces of darkness. Through these practices, we can move mountains and see God's intervention in our lives and society. [03:21]
2. Rediscovering Our Purpose: As believers, we are called to be the standard that God raises against the enemy. Our purpose is not to live for ourselves but to be a light in the world, bringing hope and truth to those in darkness. This requires a deep commitment to God's work and a willingness to sacrifice for His glory. [05:42]
3. The Urgency of the Hour: We are living in a critical time where the next generation is at risk of being lost to godless philosophies. The church must rise and pray, seeking a spiritual awakening that will turn the tide and bring deliverance to our nation and its children. [15:54]
4. Faith as a Mustard Seed: Even the smallest amount of faith, when aligned with God's will, can accomplish great things. We are called to have faith that moves mountains, believing that nothing is impossible with God. This faith comes from a life surrendered to God's purposes. [21:36]
5. A Call to Action: The time for casual religion is over. We must be active participants in God's work, standing in faith and prayer for a mighty outpouring of His Spirit. This is a call to rise, pray, and believe for a great harvest of souls and a spiritual awakening in our time. [23:14] ** [23:14]
In Matthew 17:14-21, what was the condition of the child brought to Jesus, and how did Jesus respond to the situation? [02:32]
According to 2 Chronicles 7:14, what are the steps that God’s people must take to seek His intervention? How does this relate to the sermon’s call to prayer and fasting? [01:51]
How does Isaiah 59:19 describe the response of the Spirit of the Lord when the enemy comes in like a flood? How is this relevant to the sermon’s message about standing against darkness? [05:42]
What does Jesus mean when He says that faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains? How is this concept illustrated in the sermon? [03:05]
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Interpretation Questions:
How does the sermon interpret the story in Matthew 17 as a reflection of society’s current spiritual state? What parallels are drawn between the biblical account and today’s world? [03:45]
The sermon mentions the urgency of the hour and the risk of losing the next generation to godless philosophies. What are some specific examples given in the sermon that illustrate this risk? [15:54]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that traditional religion is powerless in confronting the current spiritual challenges? How does this relate to the call for a deeper commitment to God’s work? [10:59]
The sermon emphasizes the need for a spiritual awakening. What role does prayer and fasting play in this process according to the sermon? [23:14]
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Application Questions:
Reflect on the call to humble oneself and pray as outlined in 2 Chronicles 7:14. What specific steps can you take this week to incorporate more humility and prayer into your daily routine? [01:51]
The sermon challenges believers to rediscover their purpose as the standard God raises against the enemy. How can you actively be a light in your community this week? What specific actions can you take to bring hope and truth to those around you? [05:42]
Considering the urgency of the hour mentioned in the sermon, what are some practical ways you can engage with and support the next generation in your community to prevent them from being lost to godless philosophies? [15:54]
The sermon speaks about faith as small as a mustard seed. Identify a specific area in your life where you need to exercise this kind of faith. What steps will you take to align your faith with God’s will in that area? [21:36]
The sermon calls for a move away from casual religion to a deeper commitment. What are some specific sacrifices you might need to make to deepen your commitment to God’s work? How can you start making those sacrifices this week? [23:14]
Reflect on the sermon’s call to action for a spiritual awakening. How can you participate in this call through prayer and fasting? What specific prayer focus will you have during your next fasting period? [23:14]
The sermon mentions a goal of seeing 60 million people turn to Christ. How can you contribute to this vision in your personal life, church, or community? What specific steps can you take to share your faith with others? [24:50]
Sermon Clips
I thank you for the anointing of your Holy Spirit that lifts us out of the darkness of human thinking and brings us into an understanding of spiritual realities. Thank you God for the anointing of your spirit in this sanctuary and upon your word. Lord, we face a darkened day and we ask you God, as according to your word, you tell us that the entrance of your words gives light. [00:20:07]
Matthew chapter 17 beginning at verse 14, and when they had come to the multitude, a man came to him kneeling down to him and saying, Lord have mercy on my son for he is an epileptic and suffers severely, for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. So I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him. [00:36:58]
Jesus rebuked the demon that came out of him. The child was cured from that very hour. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, why could we not cast it out? So Jesus said to them, because of your unbelief, for shortly I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, move from here to there, and it will move. [00:79:91]
Now this story above all else shows us a picture. It's a type of what can happen to any society that casts away the true seeking of God on its forward journey. Any nation's history has shown us there's only one generation away from becoming something that God never intended it to be. [00:212:19]
For those who want to control society, those who want to control people, control their thought, control their speech, have to eventually stand against the Word of God because the entrance of the words of God gives light, causes us to be able to think. We respond to truth. [00:297:90]
The only standard is the people of God. You understand that you are the standard. If you are a son or daughter of God, you are the standard that the Lord will raise up, will use your life to make a difference. You will have power to stand against the onslaught of darkness and push it back. [00:342:30]
There's incredible power in the prayers of you and I when we are surrendered to the will of God, when we understand why we're on the earth, what the purpose of our life now that we're redeemed, what is our purpose, why are we left here, what does God desire to do through us, and what can he do through us. [00:384:28]
We are living in a moment like this, folks. Listen to me real careful. Not only content with killing children in the womb, now we want to consider killing them outside the womb strictly for convenience sake. It's almost unthinkable that a nation such as this would even start to have this kind of a worldview. [00:673:15]
God spoke to Abraham right after he was willing to take that which was dearest to his heart and sacrifice it to God. He was not a man who was living to preserve himself. He was a man who was living for the honor, for the glory, for the word, and for the will of God. [00:838:06]
We either have a spiritual awakening in this country or we go into unspeakable darkness. These godless philosophies that take over nations, especially nations that once knew God, always turned to violence and always turn against the Church of Jesus Christ. [00:958:42]
To bring this generation to Jesus, we have to be partakers of his work in this world, not ours, his. His work. This casual approach to God is going to cost everybody. Nobody's going to escape. There's a hardship, folks, coming on this country that in just a few years that we don't see a spiritual awakening. [01:211:39]
This kind that grips a generation of young people, this kind that distorts the viewpoint, this kind that does not allow people to freely think but indoctrinates them, this kind that can grip and captivate a future generation doesn't go out but by prayer and fasting. [01:354:55]