PRAYER & FASTING (35)

(Message by Tanny Keng)

0. Introduction

a) Prayer & Fasting for Deliverance (Matthew 17:14-21)

i) 14 And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, 15 “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. 16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”

17 Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17:14-21 NKJV)

b) Why do you pray and fast?

i) The answer is obvious. Perhaps, there may be other reason(s) that you want to see, a breakthrough in your life or the lives of those you dearly loved. Perhaps, there are other bigger reasons to this like your communities, nation and the world. 

c) How may you approach it?

i) There are 40 topics selected specially for the Prayer & Fasting Guide. You may choose and select the topics best suited for your 1-day, or 7-day, or 14-day, or 21-day, or 28-day (or 30 days) , or 40 days of Prayer & Fasting season. To ensure uniformity, each topic has been outlined as follows:

#1) Specific Scripture.

#2) Suggestions for Prayer.

#3) Questions for Reflection (thinking about yourself / your family / your church).

#4) Special Prayer for Family Members.

A. Topic 35: Church Unity

1. Specific Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22; 4:4-6; John 17:20-21

a) 11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:11-22 NKJV)
 
b) There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:4-6 NKJV)

c) 20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. (John 17:20-21 NKJV)

2. Suggestions for Prayer:

a) That the church will unite in that which binds it together - Jesus Christ.

b) That people will see unity in the church and be drawn to it.

c) For a spirit of cooperation to spread the gospel.

d) For an end to any spirit of competition between churches.

3. Questions for Reflection (thinking about yourself):

a) What have you learned about who God is?

b) What have you learned about who you are in relationship to God?

4. Special Prayer for Family Members:

a) Pray for repentance (mention their names) that they may come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

b) Pray for mercy (mention their names) that they may return to God with repentance and forgive those who hurt them.


The End ...

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