Insights on Prayer, Fasting, and Spiritual Armor in Christianity

CLASS #5 Praying, Fasting & Your Armor Some Christians think it s of no use to pray. They argue that GOD knows all things, knows everything that will be and knows the state of every soul. Therefore prayer is not necessary. Yet, the scriptures teach us that we should always pray. In this study, we ll look deeper into prayer & fasting and also talk about the Christian Armor. ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ __________________ ___________________ 1. What do you think Prayer Is? SOME TRUTHS ABOUT PRAYER Prayer is the expression of man s dependence upon GOD for all things Prayer is the privilege given to man to talk with and listen to GOD Prayer is communication with God Prayer changes things. Sometimes it changes the situations we are praying about, sometimes it changes us so that we are able to bear the situations we are praying about, and sometimes it changes both the situation and us Prayer helps keep us humble Consistent Prayer is the most effective thing you can do to change your life 2. WHAT ARE SOME TRUTHS YOU HAVE LEARNED ABOUT PRAYER? ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Page 1 of 7 PRAYER

CLASS #5 Praying, Fasting & Your Armor WHY should we pray? ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 3. Ephesians 6:18 ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 4. Philippians 4:6 ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 5. Romans 8:26-30 ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 6. Ephesians 3:20 7. List some of the things we should pray for? _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ Page 2 of 7 PRAYER

CLASS #5 Praying, Fasting & Your Armor What is required for you to receive what you have prayed for? ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ 8. John 16:24 9. Matthew 7:7-11 10. James 4:2-3 11. Ephesians 3:20 12. Psalms 66:18 Page 3 of 7

CLASS #5 Praying, Fasting & Your Armor The Model Prayer: Matthew 6:5-15 5 And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.[b] 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.[c] 14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 13. What is met by The Our Father Prayer being the Model Prayer? _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ 14. Who is instructing us on how to pray in Matthew 6? ____________________________________________________ 15. How do the hypocrites who pray on the street corners or in the street already have a reward? _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ Page 4 of 7

CLASS #5 Praying, Fasting & Your Armor 16. What is met by And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ In Matthew 6:5 Jesus says, And when you pray . Jesus is instructing each of us to pray. It s okay to ask someone to pray with you or for you, but you should also be praying for yourself and praying about other things and people that God lays on your heart to pray for. 17. The following have been suggested for a good prayer life: The following have been suggested for a good prayer life: Have a regular time to pray (set aside a time you will pray). Just like you set aside time for other important things you need to do. Have a private place you can pray without being distracted Spend time speaking to God and spend time listening to God Remember that praying is not just asking God what you want It s also about spending time with Him and getting to know him. Tell Him about your day. How you feel, what you ve been thinking about and ask Him what He thinks about these things. If you get off track don t allow the enemy to hold you in condemnation just start again. Use the ACTS technique (Four important areas of prayer) A = ADORATION: Praise Him C = CONFESSION: Admit your sins, be honest and humble T = THANKSGIVING: Thank HIM for all things S = SUPPLICATION: Make specific request for yourself & others Page 5 of 7

CLASS #5 Praying, Fasting & Your Armor In a fast, the believer chooses, for a set time, to do without something that is hard to do without. This is done so it does not come between the believer and God, so it cannot act as a god over that relationship and over the life of the believer. Usually, the fast is to do without food. Food is one of the great blessings of God in our lives, a true pleasure and a true necessity. Even if you are sick you can fast. You can do a healthy fast which will also benefit you. no sweets, no meats, no bread , no soda and other foods that you enjoy but are not healthy FASTING IS ASSUMED BY THE NEW TESTAMENT: When JESUS spoke about fasting, he didn t say IF YOU FAST , but HE said WHEN YOU FAST (MATTHEW 6:16) YOU CAN PRAY WITHOUT FASTING, BUT YOU SHOULDNT FAST WITHOUT PRAYING Reasons to Fast In Repentance Obeying GOD In Mourning a death Asking GOD for Mercy Requesting Protection Asking GOD for life Direction Ordination of Church Leaders Special Revelation Healing for the Sick Deliverance for the oppressed Gain of Self Discipline REASONS NOT TO FAST When it s time to celebrate; CHRISTmas, Easter, etc Not as a punishment to yourself You don t need to fast to be saved In a way that seriously harms your health When it s time to do what your fasting for A manipulative tool Scriptures 1 Samuel 7:6; 31:13 Jonah 3:5-9 Isaiah 58:6 Matthew 6:16- Acts 13:2-3 Jeremiah 14:12 Acts 23:12-14 Ezra 8:21-23 2 Samuel 12:22-23 Esther 4:15-16 Daniel 1:15; 10:3 TYPES OF FAST NORMAL FAST Sunset to Sunset PARTIAL FAST Restrictive diet EX: vegetables & water only RADICAL FAST Refrain from both food & water OR simply food (but drink water) for an extended period of time. This type can be dangerous to your health. (This should definitely be a GOD instructed fast Page 6 of 7

CLASS #5 Praying, Fasting & Your Armor FASTING CONTINUED When starting a fast, your body will be releasing toxins from your body on the first few days. Be prepared for headaches, dizziness, or nausea. Also pay particular attention to your hygiene during this time; 25. If you have never fasted before, start of with a partial fast or a normal fast for a short period of time. Break a prolonged fast gradually with meals that are light and easy to digest. Trying to gorge yourself following a fast can make you sick Enter the fast with a positive faith that GOD will reward you Keep checking your motives concerning your fasts. Make sure spiritual pride does not enter in and that you are fasting with the right motives. YOUR ARMOR 26. As Christians, we are soldiers. Based on Ephesians 6:12 who and what are we fighting? _______________________, _________________________, __________________________, _______________________________ 27. As soldiers, We have Armor. Based on Ephesians 6:10-18, what does our Christian Armor consist of? DEFENSIVE WEAPONS: OFFENSIVE WEAPONS: 1________________________ 2________________________ 3________________________ 4________________________ 5________________________ 6_______________________ 7_______________________ 28a Based on Ephesians 6, What is our most important defensive weapon? ______________________________________________________ 28b Base on Ephesians, WHY is this the most important? ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ Page 7 of 7