RCCG HOUSE FELLOWSHIP LEADER’S MANUAL LESSON NINETEEN(19) SUNDAY 6 OF JANUARY 2019 – PRAYER AND FASTING: A POWERFUL COMBINATION
HOUSE FELLOWSHIP ANTHEM
1. I love this family Of God,
So closely knitted into one,
They have taken me into their arms
And ‘am so glad to be
A part of this great family
2. I bless this family of God,
So greatly prospered by the Lord,
They have taken me into their arms
And ‘am so glad to be
A part of this great family
3. I know this family of God,
So deeply rooted in the word,
They have taken me into their arms
And ‘am so glad to be
A part of this great family
4. I see this family of God,
So highly lifted above all,
They have taken me into their arms
And ‘am so glad to be
A part of this great family
5. Come and join this family of God,
So highly favoured by the Lord,
They have taken me into their arms
And ‘am so glad to be
A part of this great family
*SUGGESTED TIME SCHEDULE*
10 minutes for Opening Prayer, Praise and Worship
10 minutes for Testimonies
15 minutes for Bible Discussion
15 minutes for General Prayers
10 minutes for Questions & Answers
5 minutes for Welcoming New Members
10 minutes for Announcements,
Offering,House Fellowship Anthem & Closing Prayers.
PRAYER POINT: Father, please give me the strength to wait on you.
BIBLE PASSAGE: Mark 9:14-29
And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.
And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.
And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?
And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not. Read – Open Heaven 6 January 2019
He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.
And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.
But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?
And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
Esther 4:16-17
Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.
Esther 5:1-3
Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, over against the king’s house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.
And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand.
So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.
Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.
INTRODUCTION: To relate with the Holy Spirit, you must be holy, you must exercise a living faith, pray and fast. Prayer and fasting is required to handle situations that appear very tough and resilient. Mark 9:14-29
MEMORY VERSE: And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting. Mark 9:29
TEXT REVIEW: Mark 9:14-29, Esther 4:16-17, 5:1-3
i. Prayer and fasting helps to overcome unforeseen challenges.
ii. It helps in developing spiritual strength to destroy the works of the devil.
iii. It aids commitment and concentration to God.
iv. Combination of prayer and fasting aid answers to prayer.
v. Our faith and confidence is increased when we fast and pray.
LESSON OUTLINE
Meaning of Prayer and Fasting
Prayer is simply defined as a two way common nic action between God and the person praying.
Prayer is not aone way traffic as many people often load their requests to God, only to disappear immediately from His presence. God has feelings too (Ephemeral 4:30) and He may want to pass certain information, secrets, instructions etc. to us either on our requests or outside our requests. Let us always tarry in His presence during our private prayer sessions.
Prayer is the master key to lock and unlock any door in the spirit realm.
Fasting can be described as abstinence from food, drinks and or other legitimate practices that give pleasure to the body. It strengthens the spiritual man to fight spiritual battles.
It is also a measure of hum blog one’s soul. For a Christian, fasting is not to become “a mere keep for exercise”, it must be backed up with prayers.
Available Combinations To A Christian.
a) Fasting without prayer- This is a mere wasteful exercise that does not have any spiritual impact.
b) Prayer only without fasting- Good but has limitations because certain mountains will not move except you add fasting to your prayer. Mark 9:29
c) Prayer and fasting- A very powerful combination and was recommended by Jesus Christ in Mark 9:29. This, when rightly observed, can move what ever mountain is before us.
Effects of Prayer and Fasting
1. To avert divine wrath, like in the case of David. 2 Samuel 12:16-17
2. It is a means of experiencing penitence and sorrow for sin like the days of Nine ah. Jonah 3:5-10
3. It draws us closer to God. Mark 2:20
4. To set the captives free. Acts 16:25-30
5. It open our hearts to spiritual revival. Acts 1:8
6. It breaks satanic strongholds. Mk 9:29
7. It makes the impossible possible Esther 4:16-17
SUMMARY: Prayer and fasting is part of spiritual exercises that every believer should engage in for spiritual growth.
CONCLUSION: Fasting is good physically for our health, however spiritually, it is not sufficient to fast alone but more importantly, we should back it up with prayer, because it is a spiritual exercise with prayer revival, meditation in the Word of God and watchfulness in all things.
ASSIGNMENT: Discuss the importance of prayer and fasting to spiritual life.
PRAYER POINTS:
1. Thank God for His grace and power over you.
2. Father, please help me to pray my through to my next level.
3. Father, please release upon me the to pray without ceasing. 1 Thess. 5:17
4. Father, please give us in RCCG, the grace to regularly subject ourselves to fasting and prayer for spiritual elevation and sensitivity in Jesus’ name
5. Pray for rapid growth of RCCG, spiritually, numerically, and economically and physically.
6. Pray that God will level every mountain before Daddy and Mummy GO.
7. Other personal prayer request.
GOLDEN DIET FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY: Isaiah 65:24. Father, please answer my prayers immediately.
TUESDAY: Psalm 27:8. Seek the face of God today.
WEDNESDAY: Gen. 32:26. Prayer is the key.
THURSDAY: Matt. 17:21. Fasting is necessary.
FRIDAY: Acts 6:4. Give yourself to prayers and the Words
SATURDAY: Matt. 21:2. Pray in faith.
SUNDAY: Matt. 14:23. Jesus is our role model.
