Conversations Start Journeys
Moving Forward Prayer Series
Jeff Ecklund
James 4:6
This message starts with a primer on fasting but is about prayer (conversations) and how they start journeys, are transformative and should be a natural part of the journey of a believer.
Story goes:
In a small Texas town (Mt. Vernon), Drummond's Bar began construction on a new building to increase their business. The local Baptist church started a campaign to block the bar from opening with petitions and prayers.
Work progressed right up till the week before opening when lightning struck the bar and it burned to the ground. The church folks were rather smug in their outlook after that, until the bar owner sued the church on the grounds that the church was ultimately responsible for the demise of his building, either through direct or indirect actions or means. The church vehemently denied all responsibility or any connection to the building's demise in its reply to the court.
As the case made its way into court, the judge looked over the paperwork. At the hearing he commented, "I don't know how I'm going to decide this case. It appears that we have a bar owner who believes in the power of prayer, and an entire church congregation that does not."
So we are continuing on this morning with our Moving Forward series to start the New Year and we are focusing on 21 days of prayer and fasting.
Fasting was a very common practice among early Christians. In fact it would be strange of you for not fasting.
In his book "Hunger for God," John Piper writes: "Christian fasting, at its root, is the hunger of a homesickness for God. Christian fasting is not only the spontaneous effect of superior satisfaction in God, it is also a chosen weapon against every force in the world that would take that satisfaction away."
Quick primer on fasting. It typically is about laying aside food…could be a partial fast like Daniel did in the Old Testament. Could be a day here or there or ...
Moving Forward Prayer Series
Jeff Ecklund
James 4:6
This message starts with a primer on fasting but is about prayer (conversations) and how they start journeys, are transformative and should be a natural part of the journey of a believer.
Story goes:
In a small Texas town (Mt. Vernon), Drummond's Bar began construction on a new building to increase their business. The local Baptist church started a campaign to block the bar from opening with petitions and prayers.
Work progressed right up till the week before opening when lightning struck the bar and it burned to the ground. The church folks were rather smug in their outlook after that, until the bar owner sued the church on the grounds that the church was ultimately responsible for the demise of his building, either through direct or indirect actions or means. The church vehemently denied all responsibility or any connection to the building's demise in its reply to the court.
As the case made its way into court, the judge looked over the paperwork. At the hearing he commented, "I don't know how I'm going to decide this case. It appears that we have a bar owner who believes in the power of prayer, and an entire church congregation that does not."
So we are continuing on this morning with our Moving Forward series to start the New Year and we are focusing on 21 days of prayer and fasting.
Fasting was a very common practice among early Christians. In fact it would be strange of you for not fasting.
In his book "Hunger for God," John Piper writes: "Christian fasting, at its root, is the hunger of a homesickness for God. Christian fasting is not only the spontaneous effect of superior satisfaction in God, it is also a chosen weapon against every force in the world that would take that satisfaction away."
Quick primer on fasting. It typically is about laying aside food…could be a partial fast like Daniel did in the Old Testament. Could be a day here or there or ...
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