UNUSAL FAVOR & FASTING

Written By Trestan Patton
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Key Passages :

  • Luke 4:4: Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.

  • Luke 4:14: Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit.

  • Daniel 10:3: "I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over."

  • Isaiah 58:6-9: “This is the kind of fast day I’m after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. What I’m interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill- clad, being available to your own families. Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way. The God of glory will secure your passage. Then when you pray, God will answer. You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, ‘Here I am.’”

Key Concepts:

  • Unusual Favor: Unearned, uncommon, unexplainable, unusual preferential treatment from God. It goes beyond blessings and involves God working in supernatural ways to open doors and create opportunities.

  • Fasting: A spiritual discipline involving abstaining from something (typically food) for a designated period. It is a way to seek God's will, repent, break free from distractions, and draw closer to Him.

  • Spiritual Alignment: Fasting helps to align our will with God's will, enabling us to live in obedience and tap into the power and favor He has for us.

  • Power vs. Fullness: The speaker differentiates between simply being “full” of the Holy Spirit and walking in the “power” of the Holy Spirit, which comes through a willingness to go through challenges and emerge stronger.

  • Repentance: A change of mind and heart, turning away from sin and towards God. The speaker emphasizes that repentance is not just about feeling sorry, but about actively choosing to align our thoughts and actions with God’s will.

  • Clarity: The purpose of fasting is not simply to skip meals, but to gain clarity and hear God's voice more distinctly amidst the noise and distractions of life.

Types of Fasting:

  • Absolute Fast: No food or drink is consumed for a specific period. (Example: Moses on the mountain for 40 days.)

  • Partial/Daniel Fast: Restriction of certain foods or substances. (Example: Daniel abstaining from choice foods, meat, wine, and lotions for three weeks.)

  • Normal Fast: Abstaining from food but allowing water. (This is the fast Jesus practiced.)

  • Corporate Fast: A collective fast undertaken by a group of people, such as a church or a nation. This is often done in times of crisis or repentance.

Quiz:
Instructions: Please answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each.

  1. What is the connection between fasting and favor, according to the sermon?

  2. Why is simply being “full” of the Holy Spirit not enough, according to the

    sermon? What else is required?

  3. What is the significance of the "wheel alignment" analogy used in the sermon?

  4. What does the speaker mean when he says, "Fasting isn’t about skipping meals;

    it’s about gaining clarity”?

  5. Describe the difference between a partial/Daniel fast and a normal fast.

  6. How does fasting address the issue of “what’s trapped and what’s trending,”

    according to the speaker?

  7. Explain the meaning of the term "RELATIONTRIPS" as used in the sermon.

  8. What is the role of authenticity in prayer, especially during a fast?

  9. Why does the speaker encourage praying "big prayers" during a fast?

  10. What is the ultimate goal of fasting, according to the speaker? Is it a one-time event or a lifestyle?

Answer Key

  1. The speaker emphasizes that fasting and favor go "hand in hand." Fasting is presented as a necessary step to releasing the favor already present within oneself.

  2. The speaker highlights that while being "full" of the Holy Spirit is good, it's not enough to operate in the "power" of the Holy Spirit. This power comes through actively engaging in spiritual disciplines like fasting, confronting challenges, and emerging with greater strength and authority.

  3. The "wheel alignment" analogy illustrates how fasting helps to align our will with God's will, similar to how a wheel alignment keeps a car moving in the right direction. Without proper alignment, we can veer off course and miss out on God’s blessings and favor.

  4. The speaker stresses that fasting goes beyond the physical act of skipping meals. The true purpose is to gain spiritual clarity, quiet the noise and distractions of life, and hear God's voice more clearly.

  5. A partial/Daniel fast involves abstaining from certain types of food and substances, while a normal fast involves abstaining from all food but allowing water.

  6. The speaker explains that fasting helps to address what's “trapped” and “trending” in our hearts and minds. This refers to breaking free from negative patterns, unhealthy habits, and lies that we may have been believing.

  7. “RELATIONTRIPS” refer to those relationships in our lives that trip us up or hinder our spiritual growth. Fasting can help us identify these relationships and give us the strength to create healthy boundaries or distance ourselves from them.

  8. The speaker emphasizes that prayer during a fast should be authentic and honest. It's not about eloquent words, but about bringing our raw emotions, struggles, and questions before God.

  9. The speaker encourages praying “big prayers” because fasting helps us to break free from limiting beliefs and tap into the boundless power and resources of God. By fasting, we acknowledge that we need God to do what we cannot do on our own.

  10. The ultimate goal of fasting is to deepen our relationship with God, cultivate spiritual strength, and walk in alignment with His will. The speaker presents fasting as a lifestyle choice, not just a one-time event.

Essay Questions

  1. Analyze the definition of unusual favor. How does this concept differ from a general understanding of God’s blessings? What role does obedience play in accessing unusual favor?

  2. Explore the emphasis on aligning our will with God’s will. What are the obstacles that prevent us from being aligned with God? How does fasting help us overcome these obstacles?

  3. Discuss the use of the “rocks in the funnel” illustration. What do the rocks represent, and how do they hinder the flow of God’s favor and blessings in our lives?

  4. Examine the explanation of different types of fasting. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each type? How should individuals determine which type of fast is best for them?

  5. Analyze the passage from Isaiah 58:6-9. How does this passage expand our understanding of fasting? What social and ethical implications does it have for those who practice fasting?

Glossary of Key Terms

  • Favor: Unearned and undeserved kindness, often with divine assistance.

  • Fasting: The act of abstaining from all or some food or drink for a period of time, typically for religious or spiritual purposes.

  • Spiritual Discipline: A practice that promotes spiritual growth and strengthens one's relationship with God.

  • Repentance: The act of turning away from sin and turning towards God, involving a change of heart and mind.

  • Clarity: The state of having a clear understanding or perception. In the context of fasting, it refers to a heightened awareness of God’s voice and direction.

  • Alignment: In the context of the sermon, it refers to the process of aligning one’s will with the will of God.

  • Authenticity: The quality of being genuine and sincere, free from pretense or artificiality.

  • Intercession: The act of praying on behalf of others.

  • Level Up: To advance to a higher level of spiritual maturity, strength, or understanding.

  • Injustice: Lack of fairness or justice.

  • Exploitation: The act of treating someone unfairly in order to benefit from their work.

  • Oppressed: Subject to harsh and authoritarian treatment.

  • Ill-clad: Inadequately clothed.

  • Turnaround: A positive change in direction or outcome.

Trestan Patton