Prayer & Fasting | December 28 2025 (10:30am)

Fasting is presented as God’s gift to awaken spiritual hunger and “kick it up a notch” in devotion. From Jesus’ forty-day fast to the early church in Antioch, Scripture shows that fasting is not punishment but a focused pursuit of God’s presence, will, and power. Four biblical causes emerge. First, when direction is needed, fasting aligns a community to hear the Spirit, as in Acts 13 when Barnabas and Saul were set apart and sent. Second, fasting accompanies repentance, as Ezra tore garments and humbled himself for the nation’s compromise; it is a way to admit, “our guilt has mounted up,” and to return to fidelity. Third, fasting intensifies worship, seen in Nehemiah’s day as the people read God’s law, confessed, and adored for hours. Fourth, fasting seeks provision only God can supply, as Ezra trusted the Lord for a protected journey rather than human escorts.

Beyond outcomes, fasting repositions the heart. God does not move—people do. In the fog of routine and self-sufficiency, hunger exposes deeper desire: not just for bread, but for every word from God. Fasting embodies humility—bowed heads, simple dependence, a quiet cry for mercy—while increasing attentiveness to God’s nearness. Jesus’ teaching shapes the practice: fast without fanfare, for the Father who sees in secret, and always pair fasting with prayer. Without prayer, it’s dieting; with prayer, it becomes an embodied exclamation point: “We hunger for You to come in power.”

Practically, fasting can follow a Spirit-led rhythm—occasional days, weekly patterns, and ad hoc moments sparked by urgent need. It can be adapted for medical, vocational, or recovery realities, because the aim is not a rule but a posture: “How can I make myself low and needy before God?” Even a missed meal, used for prayer, can become a steady surrender. Hunger pangs become prompts: “Lord, I’m hungrier for You.” A church-wide fast can unite believers to seek more—more discipleship, more salvation, more of God’s moving—without boasting, legalism, or pressure. It is an invitation to intensified prayer for direction, repentance, worship, and provision, trusting the Father who rewards what is done in secret.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Fast to seek God’s direction Fasting creates space to listen rather than force outcomes. When a community removes distractions, the Spirit often clarifies assignments and next steps, as happened in Antioch with Barnabas and Saul. Direction is not merely an answer; it is alignment with God’s mission beyond comfort. [35:03]
• 2. Repentance that reshapes the heart Fasting deepens confession by embodying grief over sin and a return to covenant faithfulness. Ezra’s lament wasn’t performative; it was solidarity with a compromised people and a plea for renewal. True repentance turns from entanglement toward wholehearted obedience. [41:16]
• 3. Ask boldly for God’s provision When only God can do it, fasting helps shut down self-reliance and open hands to His help. Ezra risked reputation by trusting God for protection rather than leveraging human power. Fasting teaches a courageous dependence that honors God’s name. [44:17]
• 4. Repositioned low to receive grace Fasting lowers the soul so pride cannot hide. As David bowed with fasting, weakness became a meeting place with God’s strength. This posture clarifies reality: every breath is provision, and humility is the doorway to deeper communion. [47:05]
• 5. Pray and fast in secret sincerity Jesus aims fasting at the Father’s eyes, not human applause. Hiddenness purifies motive; prayer fills the empty space with expectancy. Without prayer, fasting is subtraction; with prayer, it becomes a lived cry for God to move. [49:42]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:40] - Matthew 4: Jesus’ fasting pattern
• [02:30] - Playoff intensity and the purpose of fasting
• [05:20] - What fasting is and why it matters
• [35:03] - Church-wide fast and three-part roadmap
• [36:10] - Seeking direction: Antioch and mission
• [38:20] - Ezra and Nehemiah: rebuilding under pressure
• [41:16] - Repentance in exile: Ezra’s lament
• [42:50] - Worship intensified: Nehemiah 9’s long devotion
• [44:17] - Provision sought through fasting: Ezra 8
• [47:05] - Fasting as repositioning and humility
• [49:42] - Jesus’ guidance: fast in secret
• [53:12] - Prayer and fasting: inseparable partners
• [56:35] - Personal rhythm: “No Breakfast Fridays”
• [59:32] - Piper: fasting as a physical exclamation
• [62:32] - Guided prayer prompts for the new year
• [70:30] - Closing, resources, and invitation to fast

1. In Matthew 4:1-4, who leads Jesus into the wilderness, and how does Jesus answer the temptation to turn stones into bread? What does that show about the place of God’s Word when we’re hungry for more than food?
2. In Antioch, what were believers doing when the Spirit gave direction, and what specific step did they take next with Barnabas and Saul? [36:10]
3. What risk did Ezra take when he refused a military escort, and how did fasting fit his trust in God for a safe journey? [44:17]
4. According to Jesus’ teaching, what tone and posture should mark fasting—especially in terms of being seen or hidden? [49:42]

1. Matthew 4:1-4 shows Jesus answering hunger with Scripture. What might this teach about the way fasting re-trains desire—shifting from immediate relief to deeper reliance on the Father’s word?
2. The Antioch church wasn’t satisfied with local fruit; they sought wider mission and waited on the Spirit. What does that suggest about fasting as a way to align a community with God’s assignments beyond comfort? [36:10]
3. If fasting is a “repositioning” of the heart rather than moving God, why is humility so central? How does lowering oneself open space to receive grace and become more attentive to God’s nearness? [47:05]
4. Jesus says, “When you fast… in secret.” How might hiddenness purify motives, and why does pairing fasting with prayer keep it from becoming mere self-denial? [49:42]

1. Where do you need direction right now (home, work, ministry, relationships)? What would it look like to set aside one meal this week simply to listen—no screens, just Scripture and quiet—asking the Spirit to clarify next steps? [36:10]
2. Is there any compromise you need to grieve and turn from? How could you embody repentance in a simple way (kneeling, a missed meal, a written confession to God) without drama or show? [41:16]
3. Think about worship. What would “kick it up a notch” look like for you—perhaps a longer block of Scripture reading and confession paired with a fast? When could you try a focused hour this week? [38:20]
4. Where do you need God to do what only He can do? What “escorts” (backup plans, image management, control) are you tempted to rely on? What faith-risk would it take to open your hands and ask boldly for His provision? [44:17]
5. When are you most self-sufficient? How could you practice lowliness before God this week—skipping a meal, bowing your head, or taking a quiet walk—to say, “I am needy and You are near”? [47:05]
6. How will you keep fasting hidden and sincere? Who actually needs to know (for safety or scheduling), and what will you do to avoid subtle ways of drawing attention to yourself? [49:42]
7. What simple rhythm could you try for the next month (for example, “No Breakfast Friday”)? What will you pray during that time, and how will you let hunger pangs become prompts to pray, “Lord, I’m hungrier for You”? [56:35] [53:12]