Pastor Ralph Posted August 15, 2017 Report Share Posted August 15, 2017 Q1. (Ezra 8:21-23) Why does Ezra call the people to fast? Does fasting compel God to answer our prayers? What does fasting accomplish in us? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blezed Posted October 7, 2017 Report Share Posted October 7, 2017 On 8/15/2017 at 5:35 PM, Pastor Ralph said: Q1. (Ezra 8:21-23) Why does Ezra call the people to fast? Does fasting compel God to answer our prayers? What does fasting accomplish in us? Ezra called the people to fast to humble them. Fasting and prayer prepared them spiritually by showing their dependence on God for protection. Fasting does not compel God to answer our prayers. Fasting helps us humble ourselves before God, so we are more able to hear him when he speaks, and obey him when the path is clear. It helps us understand our complete reliance upon God Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinstonY Posted October 7, 2017 Report Share Posted October 7, 2017 (edited) Q1. (Ezra 8:21-23) Why does Ezra call the people to fast? Does fasting compel God to answer our prayers? What does fasting accomplish in us? Ezra calls the people to fast so that they can find God's will and they asked God to be with them on their journey and upon their venture. Fasting helps us to come before God and to Humble ourselves so that we can pray to him in a meaningful way. Fasting can bring us closer to God. Edited October 20, 2017 by WinstonY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JanMary Posted October 7, 2017 Report Share Posted October 7, 2017 On 8/15/2017 at 2:35 PM, Pastor Ralph said: Q1. (Ezra 8:21-23) Why does Ezra call the people to fast? V.21 "Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a straight and right way for our little ones and all our possessions". (for their journey to Jerusalem) Does fasting compel God to answer our prayers? No, it's not a bribe or manipulative way of getting answers. What does fasting accomplish in us? I've found that it opens my heart more quickly to hear from the Lord, and focuses my attention on Him and His Word and voice and less on me and what I want or need at the time. Somehow the "deprivation" is humbling and abasing. Quiets my voice and internal "noise".....Less of me, more of HIM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charisbarak Posted October 8, 2017 Report Share Posted October 8, 2017 For a safe journey and that God's hand would be on them. No, it's to humble ourselves. It opens up communication with Him, we believe God will lead us according to His will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Dave Posted October 8, 2017 Report Share Posted October 8, 2017 Q1. (Ezra 8:21-23) Why does Ezra call the people to fast? Does fasting compel God to answer our prayers? What does fasting accomplish in us? Ezra called for the fast so that the people would humble themselves before God. They were asking God for safety for all the people and all the possessions they would be traveling with unaccompanied by any of the king’s soldiers. There is nothing we can do, fasting included to make God do as we would like to see take place. Fasting, however, helps us to humble ourselves before God because when you are hungry you quickly find out that without God, who created food, we are nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Jerry Posted October 9, 2017 Report Share Posted October 9, 2017 Ezra called the people to fast because it will draw them closer to God. Fasting does not compel God to answer our prayers it just shows that we are dependent on Him. Fasting just brings us closer to God. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haar Posted October 10, 2017 Report Share Posted October 10, 2017 Q1. (Ezra 8:21-23) Q. Why does Ezra call the people to fast? A. To seek the face of the Lord God Almighty to grand the protection- of themselves and the treasure worth millions that has been given to them for the work of rebuilding the temple of God in Jerusalem Q. Does fasting compel God to answer our prayers? A. NO Q. What does fasting accomplish in us? A. It enable us to humble ourselves before God showing our dependency on Him for that which we are seeking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debra Grant Posted October 11, 2017 Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 Q1. (Ezra 8:21-23) Why does Ezra call the people to fast? Does fasting compel God to answer our prayers? What does fasting accomplish in us? 1. It was because they are carrying a great deal of money. Ezra called a fast to humble them and to petition God for protection. 2. No 3. Fasting helps us to be aware of our need for him, rather than continue to be self-deceived by a sense of self-sufficiency. Our prayers become humble, earnest, faith-filled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertha Posted October 11, 2017 Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 Ezra calls the people to fast that the Lord's favor may be upon them and He would protect them from any enemies they could encounter on the way to rebuild the temple. Fasting demonstrates a spirit of humbleness and dependency on the Almighty God, our Creator. God is moved when we let Him know that we are helpless without Him. That we depend on His providence. I believe this moves the heart of God and He shows mercy upon us. Yes, true humility can move God's heart to favor us, but we must not use it as a means to get God to do whatever we want. At the end of it all, God will do what He wills to do. Fasting allows us to say "NO" to the flesh, and feed of God's word. It allows us to take our minds off of the worldly things and the desires of the flesh and focus completely on God. God promises to help us as we overcome the flesh and put all carnal temptations into subjection. It takes us into another dimension. It awakens our spiritual senses. It might be what we need to experience our "breakthrough" in difficult areas we are struggling with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanks Posted October 14, 2017 Report Share Posted October 14, 2017 Q1. (Ezra 8:21-23) Why does Ezra call the people to fast? Does fasting compel God to answer our prayers? What does fasting accomplish in us? Ezra needed God’s protection and guidance for the 4-month dangerous journey of about 1300 km. Accompanying the caravan would be women and children as well as vast amounts of precious metals. At the time, bandits were a serious problem on the more northerly route they had to take, but to request a military escort would be to denounce his faith in God (8:22). So he put his faith on the line, trusting in God who delights to save those who lean on Him. God is sovereign and no way can we compel Him to answer our prayers. At the time, fasting was seen as a sign of repentance and as an expression of faith and devotion to God. Their prayers and fasting prepared them spiritually for the journey. Also, by fasting they disciplined themselves and humbled themselves before the Lord, admitting their total reliance on God for their protection and help during the long and arduous journey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commissioned Posted November 8, 2017 Report Share Posted November 8, 2017 On 8/15/2017 at 5:35 PM, Pastor Ralph said: Q1. (Ezra 8:21-23) Why does Ezra call the people to fast? Does fasting compel God to answer our prayers? What does fasting accomplish in us? Ezra calls the people to fast as a part of them consecrating themselves as they go to God requesting protection on their journey. Fasting does not compel God to answer our prayers instead it brings our body and spirit under control and humbling ourselves before God. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zilka Posted November 17, 2017 Report Share Posted November 17, 2017 Q1. (Ezra 8:21-23) Why does Ezra call the people to fast? Does fasting compel God to answer our prayers? What does fasting accomplish in us? Ezra calls people to fast, especially when they face a crisis. Fasting helps us humble ourselves before God, so we are more able to hear him when he speaks, and obey him when the path is clear. It helps us understand our complete reliance upon God (Ezra 8:21). Ezra lives out his testimony about his faith. Since he has boasted about God's greatness to Artaxerxes, he doesn't feel he can ask for an armed escort, so he seeks God earnestly for help, and God hears. People have to see us practice what we preach (Ezra 8:21-23). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damary Alembi Posted November 23, 2017 Report Share Posted November 23, 2017 Why does Ezra call the people to fast? Because he was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect them from enemies on the road. Because he had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.” So they fasted and petitioned God about it and he surely answered their prayer (Ezra 8:21-23). Ezra had been boasting to king Artaxerxes how might the Jewish God is, so he could not very well ask for an army escort. That would display unbelief in God’s power to protect him. Does fasting compel God to answer our prayers? Fasting isn’t some form of spiritual blackmail or earning favour to manipulate God to do things for us. Rather it is a way of humbling ourselves before God. What does fasting accomplish in us? Fasting helps us to be aware of our need for God, rather than continue to be self-deceived by a sense of self-sufficiency. Our prayers become humble, earnest and faith-filled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BKeane Posted December 5, 2017 Report Share Posted December 5, 2017 Primarily brings us before God in our bodies (fasting,abstinence,etc) but most importantly in a tone of obedience and humility, a precursor to Praise and Thanksgiving and petition no not a bribe it truly is intended to make us aware of our own insufficiency (and then by comparison.insight God's Greatness (a glimpse anyway) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 Q1. (Ezra 8:21-23) Why does Ezra call the people to fast? Does fasting compel God to answer our prayers? What does fasting accomplish in us? Ezra calls the people to fast in order to humble them before God and to ask God for a safe journey to Jerusalem. Fasting does not compel God to do anything. God acts on His own. What fasting does is to diminish the ego and open the soul to communicate with God. To humble oneself before God in order to listen to God. To hear God. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Posted February 19, 2019 Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 Ezra called for a fast because he wanted God’s protection. Yes, fasting compels God to answer our prayers for God’s word promises us that “Whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven” (Mathew 18-14). So I think if you are the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven, then God will be compelled to answer our prayers. What does fasting accomplish in us? We are to fast privately, (without others aware of our fast), so that we are not asking them for their approval. A form of self-righteousness for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Posted February 19, 2019 Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 Ooops, if compel means to force someone, then NO God is not forced to do anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted October 17, 2020 Report Share Posted October 17, 2020 Ezra calls on the people to fast because he is very aware that they are vulnerable and have a lot to loose if they are attacked on their journey. Ezra knows that they need God’s help and so they fast and pray. Fasting does not compel God to do as we ask! God will do what we ask humbly in prayer and fasting if it is in His will and is the correct outcome for us. When we fast we show God that we depend on Him and His goodness. It makes us humble and brings clarity to our prayers and brings us closer to God. It sharpens the mind and brings us blessings from God. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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