What's the purpose of prayer and fasting? This sermon delivered by Wayne Cornwell explores the reasons why these practices are just as important to today's christian as they were in the first century.

1. What’s the
Purpose?
May 3, 2015

2. Scripture Reading:
Luke 18:9-14

3. Luke 18:9-14
9 Also He spoke this parable to
some who trusted in
themselves that they were
righteous, and despised
others: 10 “Two men went up
to the temple to pray, one a
Pharisee and the other a tax
collector.

4. Luke 18:9-14
11 The Pharisee stood and
prayed thus with himself,
‘God, I thank You that I am
not like other men—
extortioners, unjust,
adulterers, or even as this tax
collector.

5. Luke 18:9-14
12 I fast twice a week; I give
tithes of all that I possess.’
13 And the tax collector,
standing afar off, would not
so much as raise his eyes to
heaven, but beat his breast,
saying, ‘God, be merciful to
me a sinner!’

6. Luke 18:9-14
14 I tell you, this man went
down to his house justified
rather than the other; for
everyone who exalts himself
will be humbled, and he who
humbles himself will be
exalted.”

9. What’s the
Purpose?

10. What’s the Purpose?
Prayer:
Not a speech but a conversation

11. Luke 18:11,12
11 The Pharisee stood and
prayed thus with himself, ‘God,
I thank You that I am not like
other men—extortioners,
unjust, adulterers, or even as
this tax collector. 12 I fast twice
a week; I give tithes of all that I
possess.’

12. Genesis 24:12-14
12 Then he said, “O LORD God of my
master Abraham, please give me
success this day, and show
kindness to my master Abraham.
13 Behold, here I stand by the well
of water, and the daughters of the
men of the city are coming out to
draw water.

13. Genesis 24:12-14
14 Now let it be that the young
woman to whom I say, ‘Please let
down your pitcher that I may
drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I
will also give your camels a
drink’—let her be the one You have
appointed for Your servant Isaac.
And by this I will know that You
have shown kindness to my
master.”

14. What’s the Purpose?
Prayer:
Not a speech but a conversation
Expressing real need to God

15. Matthew 7:7,8
7 “Ask, and it will be given to
you; seek, and you will find;
knock, and it will be opened to
you. 8 For everyone who asks
receives, and he who seeks
finds, and to him who knocks it
will be opened.

16. Psalm 37:3-5
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good;
dwell in the land, and feed on His
faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself
also in the LORD, and He shall give
you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD,
trust also in Him, and He shall
bring it to pass.

17. What’s the Purpose?
Prayer:
Not a speech but a conversation
Expressing real need to God
Fasting:
Focus deeper on God

18. Luke 2:36,37
36 Now there was one, Anna, a
prophetess, the daughter of
Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
She was of a great age, and had
lived with a husband seven
years from her virginity;

19. Luke 2:36,37
37 and this woman was a widow
of about eighty-four years, who
did not depart from the
temple, but served God with
fastings and prayers night and
day.

20. What’s the Purpose?
Prayer:
Not a speech but a conversation
Expressing real need to God
Fasting:
Focus deeper on God
A sacrificial lifestyle

21. Isaiah 58:3-7
3 ‘Why have we fasted,’ they
say, ‘and You have not seen?
Why have we afflicted our
souls, and You take no
notice?’ “In fact, in the day of
your fast you find pleasure,
And exploit all your laborers.

22. Isaiah 58:3-7
4 Indeed you fast for strife and
debate, and to strike with the
fist of wickedness. You will
not fast as you do this day, to
make your voice heard on
high.

23. Isaiah 58:3-7
5 Is it a fast that I have chosen,
a day for a man to afflict his
soul? Is it to bow down his
head like a bulrush, and to
spread out sackcloth and
ashes? Would you call this a
fast, and an acceptable day to
the LORD?

24. Isaiah 58:3-7
6 “Is this not the fast that I
have chosen: to loose the
bonds of wickedness, to undo
the heavy burdens, to let the
oppressed go free, and that
you break every yoke?

25. Isaiah 58:3-7
7 Is it not to share your bread
with the hungry, and that you
bring to your house the poor
who are cast out; when you
see the naked, that you cover
him, and not hide yourself
from your own flesh?

26. What’s the Purpose?
Prayer:
Not a speech but a conversation
Expressing real need to God
Fasting:
Focus deeper on God
A sacrificial lifestyle