​The Power of Fasting and Prayer
 
Fasting and and prayer are weapons of warfare.
Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith.
We look at how He fasted.
 
Fasting keeps our heart conditioned to hear from God.  It does not move God, it moves us!
It does not work If it is not connected with prayer and the word of God.
Deny the flesh and natural appetites to better equip ourselves spiritutally.
There are benefits it brings to others as well as ourselves. 
Jesus in the wilderness experiences with the devil ,
 understand how to overcome Satan in our personal lives.
Our private victory is necessary first.
Submit yourselves to God resist the devil and he must flee.
Jesus’ temptations and encounters with Satan
Luke  when they were ended he afterward hungered.
 
The sword of the spirit is the word of God.
Fasting causes the word from our mouths to come forth with power!

• Luke 4:1-14 KJV; And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.

Jesus had been baptized by John and the holy spirit came upon him in the form of a dove.  He was immediately led into the wilderness to be tested of the evil.
 
1John 3:8  for this purpose
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 
 
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He showed us that we overcome the wiles of the devil and the ways of the flesh. 
We cannot have fasting and prayer with the word of God!!
It is important in our personal lives to be effective  as a witness and to have power to deliver and set others free.
 
We are in a battle!
not against flesh and blood
Our spiritual weapons give victory over the enemy
There is nothing new in this battle.
These are enemies of our souls.
temptations come in different boxes and wrappings but the same thing
3 basic forms of temptations to overcome in this life!
1John 2  love not the world…
the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life
He that doeth the will of God
 
Be transformed
2Cor 4  Satan is the god of this world, the prince of the power of the airways
 
We love the people, not the ways of the world
If you love the world, the love of the father is not in you.

• 1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Do not love the world or the things in the world.

 
 
The trinity of evil. – the world, the flesh and the devil.
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
 
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Galatians 5:16  flesh against spirit  there is warfare within your soul.
the spirt of God is in your heart but the flesh/old man needs to be transformed.
 
Sow to the spirit and not to the flesh.
If you sow to the flesh, you sow corruption.
If the flesh is stronger, the flesh will lead.
Feed the spirit.
 
Man does not live by bread alone.  Keep your spirit built up!  Fasting helps that happen.
 
Genesis 3:6 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her
 The lust of the flesh
Food was the first temptation
The word of God described a group of people this way:  “Whose belly is their God.”
they were controlled by natural appetites food has become an idol to many
Job said:  “More than my necessary food, my should desires you.”
As the deer panteth after the waterbrook, my soul desires you.
 
Jesus says, “He that hungers and thirsts after righteousness shall be filled.”
There are other desires that tempt, too.
 
Our offensive weapon is the sword of the spirit.
Mathew 4:4 In the wilderness, Jesus used the word against Satan.. “It is written, man shall not live be bread alone but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth  God.”
 
The lust of the eyes.   Jesus’ 2nd temptation in the wilderness.
Matt 4”98  Satan showed Jesus all the kingdoms of this world in a moment of time.
And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 
Jesus replied,  Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
 thou shalt not tempt the lord thy god.”
When Adam submitted to satan, all that he had and all that he was belonged to Satan.
 
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Jesus knew the temptation was real.   He replied, “Get thee behind me satan.
Satan wants you to take shortcuts, to take a more convenient way.
 to short circuit God’s plan for your destiny.
 
This work is a process
The time will come when the kingdoms of this world will be returned to Him.
There is a process, a time.
I once heard an old prophet council an anxious saint, “You must take the stairs, not the elevator, my son.”
Wait on the Lord.  You have need of patience.
 
The enemy offered a quick fix.  “Get the kingdom now, Jesus.”
cast yourself down and the angels will catch you.
You don’t need to fall!  Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God.
 
Jesus’ Reply:  “it is written again, thou shalt not tempt the lord thy God.”
 Satan’s original sin:  I will be like the most high.
Revelation 12  Satan, the dragon.
 
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The pride of life
There is temptation to exalt our will above the word of God.  “Pride goeth before a fall.” 
 
Pride says, my way is better than yours.  Pride in our education, ethnicity, social economic status, superiority, are tricks of the devil.
Honor the lord.
Take stewardship over what God gives.
lust of the flesh.  turn the stone into bread.
 
Lift yourself up.
verse 13  departed for a season.  The fame of Jesus went to all regions.
 
He was led into the wilderness for personal battle. His will was challenged and He overcame.
Phil. 2  let this mind be in you 
 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Acts 10:38  How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
 
 
He humbled himself in the wilderness and came out in power!
Anointed with the holy Ghost and with power
He went about doing good.
Jesus read, Isaiah 60 and Luke 4:18,19 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
 
Jesus had given this promise to his disciples:  Acts 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
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preach the good news to those who are lost
this is a time of fasting, building ourselves up in the holy ghost.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Walking in the Wisdom of God 
 
Daniel 2:22  “He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in  darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.” 
The spirit of wisdom and revelation  is necessary for our victory in this hour!
Eye hath not seen, but the spirit searches all things
 
1Corintians 2 2 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.
Psalm 2  “Why do the heathen rage,and the people imagine a vain thing…?”
The wisdom that the Holy Ghost teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things
The lord will do nothing except he first reveal it to his prophets
Dreams, visions, supernatural revelations in tune on another level
Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and could not remember what it was. He was very troubled behind this dream
He called his magicians, astrologers and men in his court whom he considered to be men of wisdom to reveal and interpret the dream to him.
Daniel asked for time to seek the Lord for the interpretation.
The confessions of the world are man’s ways exposed as the world is in confusion and chaos.
Men are seeking ungodly councel
Man is still determined to reject God and go his own way!
People must realize that God’s way is the only way.
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weather patterns, storms, etc. are a wake up call

1. that man’s way is not working

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evil, darkness, confusion without help, we can’t overcome spiritual forces, works of darkness that are greater than the wisdom of man!
we must put on the armor of God! 
without God there is no hope in this world
Isaiah 60  it is time to arise and shine
God’s glory shall be seen on us
there is a wisdom that will uncover and expose
A decision to make – I will trust in the Lord – hold fast, be strong n the lord
don’t lose focus
  He will grant wisdom!
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Daniel in the presence of the lord
v 19 
then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision and he blessed the Lord
“wisdom and might are his
knowledge – he knows what is in the darkness…  reveals secrets
 
The king answered Daniel, “of a atruth….
expose and solve many problems
trust in the wisdom Holy Ghost teaches!
Revelation  let him who has ears hear what the spirit is saying to the churches
the wicked become more wicked
there is greater departing from the faith
a remnant of people will hold fast while others are establishing themselves in the world
 
legislation and laws are being passed
what is good is called evil and evil called good – right and wrong are reversed
 
there is a greater truth, must hear what the spirit is saying to discern
Jesus warned of this day,  “marvel not if the world hate you.
Strengthen one another because the days are evil/
 
Psalm 2  why do the heathen rage…
As in the days of Noah when the imaginations of the heart were only continually evil, standards of right and wrong , righteousness and unrighteousness are skewed.
We are seen as misfits.
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Come out from among them and be ye separate
Be not conformed to the world
He that sitteth in heaven shall laugh…
vs 6  I have set my king upon the holy hill in Zion
 gross darkness is on the earth
 
Scientists, technology, medicine, etc. do not work.
People are even more angry.  These are the beginnings of the wrath and judgement of God in this hour.
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The wisdom of God is granted to us.  comparing spiritual with spiritual
Prov 2:1,2   My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding
(receive my words and search after knowledge)
God is our protection and preserves our way.
The lord giveth wisdom and preserves the way of his saints
many weapons form, but none prosper
God is faithful.   Never lose the desire to seek him.
He will give you insight onsight, then shall you understand when
wisdom enters into your heart
maintain, stand fast, don’t yield, don’t be enticed
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
obey him, seek him
The importance of wisdom
David, Solomon’s father,
1Kings Solomon’s prayer. “Who is  able to judge so great a people?”
 not our own wisdom or strength gives us victory.   Victory comes only when we trust Him!
God is speaking to us in dreams and visions even more in this hour!  how we can better serve Him  all these other things shall be added unto us.
We have a wisdom in this hour that is greater than the wisdom of Solomon.
We have a better covenant based on better promises.  Have an ear to hear his voice.
Know and obey the voice of Jesus in this hour! 
There are landmines everywhere!  be very sensitive to our environment.  be in tuned to the Holy Spirit.
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1Corinthians2, And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
 
James 3  Wisdom from beneath is earthly, sensual, devilish while from above is pure, peaceable, entire, easy to be entreated, without hypocrisy, full of righteousness
God is faithful to watch over his word
 
1Cor. 2:6-11
Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
 
Phil 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 
Ephesians 4:11  ‘the 5 fold ministry gifts for the perfecting of the saints in 
wisdom, righteousness, sanctification redemption and power
Holy Sprit is the spirit of truth.
God has put his wisdom in you by his spirit
the wisdom of this world comes to nought.
 
Men walk in their own truth
In the garden of Eden, Satan convinced them to “look at this tree”
They desired to be wise.
Satan told them, “you shall be as God.”
Now men seek to be led by the wisdom of their own conscience, what seems right to them.
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Even before man sinned God made provision
for wisdom to come to man, for salvation, for payment of the sin debt by his own son, the lamb of God, even before man sinned.  
God’s master plan will be executed.
It’s all part of what he has already prophesied!  Hidden wisdom from God
vs 8 had they know they would not have crucified the lord of glory!
The wisdom of God reveals to his people what is to come and how to prepare now.
?1 Corinthians 2:9-16 KJV
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, Neither have entered into the heart of man, The things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man,
 
Things revealed in this hour, supernatural manifestations,  grace abounds   he will not allow the enemy to get all honor
He is pouring out his spirit upon all flesh.
Great miracles, signs and wonders that bring glory to God.
 
John 3:3
Except a man be born again he cannot see/understand the kingdom of God
Natural understanding is not sufficient
 
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1 Corinthians 2:13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 
 
Ephesians 5:16  16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
 walk circumspectly, not as fools but wise, know what God’s will is.
eyes to see, ears to hear
the devil knows he has but a short time
God leads us through an open door
We have the wisdom of God.
walk in understanding, in paths of righteousness,
Gods wisdom is foolishness to the natural man
eternal damnation for trade?
 
 
2Cor 4:4  The God of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers.
It is harder now to penetrate their minds with the gospel of Christ.
Pray in the Holy Ghost, break up the fallow ground.
Spend more time talking to God about them than you spend talking to them about God.
(vs 15?)  But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one
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John 15:5  I call you friends
We have the mind of Christ, the ability to know and to do his good pleasure.
Seek the Lord, be in his word like never before
Our delight is in the word of the Lord.
According to the Hebrew calendar and alphabet, this year, 5782 is the 2nd year in the decade of 1980 “the decade of the mouth”
speak life, speak truth, speak the word of God
the Lord grant unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, to know what the great power is.
Get to know him in a greater way, operate in His wisdom and in His grace!
We pray that our eyes be enlightened and to know what provision, power belong to us.  We will not be in confusion, not deceived  in any way.