Sacrifice doorway to greater service.

Sacrifice doorway to signs and wonders 

Matthew  9:14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

This question was directed to Christ’s disciples during His earthly ministry.

Unfortunately, it is a question for you too, as a believer and even as a pastor, who are guilty of feasting and no room for fasting to grow spiritually.

How many times have you quoted the Bible verse below and never experienced it?

Matthew  18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

You are not alone, even Christ’s disciples in His earthly ministry, suffered the same set back.

Mark  9:28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

Why  did they failed to witness  what Jesus said to them all, even when previously, He gave them power.?

Matthew  10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.  10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Mark  16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;  16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Jesus answer was for them and for you as a believer and pastor.

Mark  9:28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?  9:29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

If you must bind and loose, you must be giving to consistent fastings and prayers.

Paul was used mightily in miracles and casting out demons, effortlessly.

Acts  16:16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:  16:17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.  16:18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

Acts  19:11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:  19:12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

Why did this promise fulfilled in Paul’s ministry?

Matthew  18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Listen to his secrets.

Paul did what Jesus said. God will do same in your own life, if you will commit yourself to fastings and prayers as Jesus exhorted.

2 Corinthians  6:3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:  6:4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,  6:5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

2 Corinthians  11:23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.  11:27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

Our Lord said, except they see signs and wonders, they will not believe.

John  4:48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

For you to bring glory to God as a believer and pastor, you must be committed to consistent fastings and prayers lifestyle.

Daniel  9:3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:

Acts  14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

The good Lord will help you in Jesus name.

Let us pray.