Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to that we might humble ourselves before our God, to

seek from Him the right way for us and our little seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. For I was ashamed ones and all our possessions. For I was ashamed

to request of the king an escort of soldiers and to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the horsemen to help us against the enemy on the

road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, "The hand of our God is upon all those for good "The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are

against all those who forsake Him." So we fasted against all those who forsake Him." So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered and entreated our God for this, and He answered

our prayer.our prayer.

• James 4:2;James 4:2; You do not have because You do not have because you do not askyou do not ask

• Scientific Studies of cardiac patientsScientific Studies of cardiac patients

• Negative results of removing prayer Negative results of removing prayer from schoolsfrom schools

• 2 Pet. 3:92 Pet. 3:9; The Lord is not willing that ; The Lord is not willing that any should perish but that all should any should perish but that all should come to repentance.come to repentance.

• Matt. 6:10Matt. 6:10; Your will be done on earth as ; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.it is in heaven.

• John 14:14John 14:14; If you ask anything in My ; If you ask anything in My name, I will do itname, I will do it

• John 16:23John 16:23; whatever you ask the ; whatever you ask the Father in my Name, He will give it to youFather in my Name, He will give it to you

• Matt. 16:18; Matt. 16:18; on this rock I will build My on this rock I will build My church and the gates of Hades shall not church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it; I will give you the keys prevail against it; I will give you the keys of the Kingdom…whatever you bind… of the Kingdom…whatever you bind… whatever you loose.whatever you loose.

• Luke 17:19Luke 17:19; I give you the authority to ; I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.nothing shall by any means hurt you.

• Ezra 8:21-23; Ezra 8:21-23; Then I proclaimed a Then I proclaimed a fast…that we might humble ourselves fast…that we might humble ourselves before our God…so we fasted and before our God…so we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.answered our prayer.

• Matt. 17:21Matt. 17:21; However, this kind does not ; However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.go out except by prayer and fasting.

• FASTING IS AN MANIFESTATION OF FASTING IS AN MANIFESTATION OF HUMILITYHUMILITY

• Job 23:12Job 23:12; I have treasured the words of ; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.His mouth more than my necessary food.

• FASTING IS AN DEMONSTRATION OF FASTING IS AN DEMONSTRATION OF FAITHFAITH

• James 5:16-17James 5:16-17; The effective, fervent ; The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah prayed earnestly that it would not Elijah prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain…rain, and it did not rain…

• FASTING IS AN EXPRESSION OF FASTING IS AN EXPRESSION OF WHOLE-HEARTEDNESS & DILIGENCEWHOLE-HEARTEDNESS & DILIGENCE

• Prov. 8:1Prov. 8:1; I love those who love me, and ; I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find methose who seek me diligently will find me

• Heb. 11:6Heb. 11:6; Without faith it is impossible to ; Without faith it is impossible to please Him; he who comes to God must please Him; he who comes to God must believe that He is, and He is a rewarder believe that He is, and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.of those who diligently seek Him.

So I sought for a man among them who So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap would make a wall, and stand in the gap

before Me on behalf of the land, that I should before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.not destroy it; but I found no one.