This is the second sermon in a four part series on Prayer and Supplication.  For part one, see Humble Prayer and Supplication. For part three, see Prayer and Supplication with Crying. This sermon is about the benefits of prayer and supplication with fasting.  Adding fasting to your prayer:

Sharpens your understanding – Dan 9:2-3, 21-24.  Daniel understood by books the significance of Jeremiah’s prophecy concerning the seventy year captivity of Judah.  Yet when he prayed to the Lord with prayer and supplication with fasting, he learned even more about the future fulfillment of this prophecy.

Many of us have prayed for wisdom from the Lord regarding passages of scripture that we only understand in part.  If you still can’t get it, then add fasting to your prayer.  When Daniel fasted, the Lord gave him an understanding of the scripture that takes us all the way through the earthly ministry of Jesus, the coming of the antichrist, and the Second Advent.  Jerusalem will eventually have the peace for which Daniel was praying in v.16-17.

Strengthens your faith – Matt 17:19-21.  Jesus had already given his disciples power to cast out devils, Matt 10:8.  And they had seen this power at work in their lives, Lk 10:17-19.  So, the trouble with them not being able to cast the devil out of the boy was not the lack of power.  Their problem was unbelief, a lack of faith.  Jesus said that the kind of devil the boy had would only come out by prayer and fasting.  Prayer and fasting strengthens your faith.

Satisfies your soul – Matt 4:2-4.  Jesus could have easily turned the stones into bread.  But, though he was hungry, his soul was satisfied by the words of God.  By neglecting your appetite your have more desire for the words of God, 1 Pet 2:2-3.  When you hunger and thirst after righteousness, you will be filled, Matt 5:6.  Jesus said, “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you”, Matt 6:33.  The things that he adds to you are what you eat and what you drink, Matt 6:31.  Fasting helps you hunger and thirst for righteousness.  You don’t want a lean soul like the Jews in the wilderness, Ps 106:15.

Supercharges your prayer – Est 4:15-17.  When Esther, her maidens, and all the Jews in Shushan fasted and prayed, God got involved.  He answered their prayer by giving her favor with the king, wisdom to delay her request by a day, and courage to accuse Haman.  All of these combined to save a nation and turn the tide of Purim.  There are times when your prayer seems to not be getting through.  Then try prayer and supplication with fasting.