Corporate Fast Proclaimed
Dr Juan P Barrientez II | September 10, 2007DISCOVER LIFE BIBLE STUDY
Instructor- Dr. Juan P. Barrientez II
Corporate Fast Proclaimed
Key Verse: Ezra 8:23, “So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.”
Scripture Text: Ezra 8:21-23
21 Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. 22 For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, “The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.” 23 So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.
Definitions:
- Proclaim - To announce officially and publicly; declare. Made widely known; “their announced intentions”;
- Humble - marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful
- Submission – the act of giving over or yield to the power or authority of another
- Seek - to go in search or quest of: to seek the truth. To try to find or discover by searching or questioning.
Key Points:
- Corporate fast is called by the leader, for the overall good of the people (church).
- Corporate fast should have purpose, Ezra and the children of Israel fasted for protection and a prosperous journey. In conjunction with fasting they,
- Submission - humble ourselves before our God
- Prayer - to seek from Him the right way
- Manifest God’s Power - The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him.
- Corporate fast expresses a singleness of mind and purpose (agreement - Matthew 18:18-20). They acted as one (we fasted), spoke as one (entreated our God), and was blessed as one (answered our prayer).
This Week’s Challenge
Submit to the proclaimed corporate fasting and prayer list
