I sense the need and direction from the Lord to fast and pray as a church.  When people fast and pray in the Bible, God gives them:

Discernment – Dan 9:3, 22.  God gave Daniel skill and understanding and the ability to discern the ultimate significance of the prophecy given to Jeremiah.  He had to fast and pray, Dan 9:1-3 in earnest.  In the Laodicean age in which we live, we are prone to depend upon our possessions and wealth and overlook our desperate needs.

We must fast and pray to know, from the Lord, the application of the scriptures for our church and our day.  How do we proceed with things like the Preachers Conference, the Spanish ministry, the training and ministry of Robert and Auré and others in our church the Lord intends to use?  How do we effectual continue our efforts to reach the lost?  Where and when do we go on another Missions trip?  God knows.

Direction – Acts 13:2-4.  There were certain prophets and teachers that ministered to the Lord and fasted in Antioch.  The Holy Ghost told them what to do.  They fasted and prayed and two of them were sent forth by the Holy Ghost.  And the others stayed in Antioch to continue the work in that local church.  We need specific direction from the Lord once we have discerned his will concerning the ministries and ministers of our church.

Deliverance – Est 4:16.  God delivered the Jews From Haman.  When God is going to use a man to get something done for him, there’s Satan standing at his right hand to resist him, Zech 3:1-2.  Paul wanted to go to Thessalonica, 1 Thes 2:18 … but Satan hindered us.  Paul endured many persecutions and afflictions, 2 Tim 3:11 … but out of them all the Lord delivered me.  At Paul’s first answer no man stood with him, but the Lord did, 2 Tim 4:17 … and I was delivered out of the mouth of the Lion.

As we attempt to follow the Lord with the men and women God wants to use and in the things God wants us to do, we can anticipate resistance from the adversary.  When we fast and pray, God will deliver us when the devil or adversity might stop us.

Conclusion: From Monday July 10 thru Wednesday July 12, let’s fast and pray together as a church.  Many of us should come together for our Wednesday night prayer meeting.  We will seek God for discernment, direction, and deliverance and trust him for all three.