March 2020 Fasting and Prayer — Saturday Sessions
This is the third in a series of three posts about the March 2020 fasting and prayer weekend held at our church. During our fasting and prayer sessions, it is usual for the Holy Spirit to speak to us through Pastor Praveen. The first post in this series was a summary of key points from the March sessions. The second contained my notes from the Friday sessions. This post contains detailed notes from the two Saturday sessions and will benefit readers who want to delve deeper into what the Holy Spirit spoke. I did not add to or comment on what was said.
Saturday AM
Pastor Praveen reiterated several scripture verses he shared during the Friday sessions: Exodus 15:26*; Exodus 23:25; and Hebrews 4:12. His word will never change. We are delivered from Egypt/all kinds of sickness — we need to claim this always.
He also shared the following verses:
Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside. “Watch me,” he told them. “Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon.’” Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands. (Judges 7:16-19; emphasis added)
While the angel who was speaking to me was leaving, another angel came to meet him and said to him: “Run, tell that young man, ‘Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the great number of people and animals in it. And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will be its glory within.’ (Zechariah 2:3-5; emphasis added)
We are clay jars with fire in us. When we break the jar (our hearts) the fire will come out. The fire will protect us; a wall of fire around us/our family/communities/city/nation.
When you speak the name of Jesus, fear will go out and power will come in. Speak His name! The enemy will see the blood of Jesus in your life/on your houses and will flee. There is power in His blood/name because His name is above all names. He is the Alpha and Omega. He is holding the world in His hands. Speak His name!
Remember what happened when the Israelites crossed the Red Sea and the Egyptians tried to follow: “[God] jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.” (Exodus 14:25) Some translations say, “He took off the wheels from the chariots.” How will the enemy follow you/your family/church/community without wheels?
When the Israelites were frightened, “Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.’” (Exodus 14:13) Whatever is going on in your lives today, you have this promise, the faithfulness of God. “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
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We are all chosen people – Children of God. He wants to use everybody. Are you willing to obey/follow? Only 3 percent of those following Gideon were chosen to be used – those who lapped water like a dog (see Judges 7:5-8). Are you willing to do that? Then He will put fire in the clay jar. Then you can smash the jar for His purpose to save the people. But first, we need to repent before the Lord and ask Him to use us.
Saturday PM
God is always watching over us. Fasting and prayer is for purification and sanctification. Without sanctification we cannot please our God. It doesn’t matter how many years ago you were saved. Where are you now? “Adam, where are you?” (see Genesis 3:9). Repent!
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When Jesus ascended to heaven, He was covered by a cloud – the Holy Spirit (See Acts 1:9). He is now standing at the right hand of God – the Great High Priest (see 1 Peter 3:22 and Hebrews 4:14). He will come back the same way he went, in a cloud of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 1:11).
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See Matthew 21:1-11 – the account about how Jesus road into Jerusalem on a donkey. When they put the cloaks on the donkey for Jesus to sit on and put the palm branches on the road, the donkey maybe was thinking, “What an important donkey I am, covered with cloaks and walking on palm branches.” But the donkey is just a donkey. The people were not looking at the donkey, they were looking at Jesus. This is what we want. For people not to see us, but to see Jesus. If Jesus is in our lives, people will not see us – they will see Jesus. No one wants to see us and that is how we want it. We want them to see Jesus. We are like jars of clay. God intercedes/works through us. It is not us, it is Him in us. Pray always according to God’s will. Only the Holy Spirit knows the mind of God (see 1 Cor 2:11).
Pastor Praveen was like this donkey – tied up. God sent people to untie him. His family was angry with him for changing religions, but God told them, “I need this donkey from your family.” Now nearly all of his siblings are saved. Likewise, Pastor Praveen wants God to use him to untie many donkeys, because someone untied him. God always sends people two by two – to untie donkeys.
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See the account in Luke 18:35-42 about the blind beggar who received his site from Jesus. Because of his faith, God opened the man’s eyes. The others who were following did not see Jesus as the Son of David. They thought, “He’s a carpenter’s son.” The blind man needed his sight. He was a needy person. He called out, and when the people told him to be quiet, he called louder. So Jesus stopped. “What do you want me to do for you?” Those who call him by faith – He stops for them – “What can I do for you?” He will answer you. ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know’ (Jeremiah 33:3).
Pastor Praveen said that we are all needy people and God knows that. God wants to use needy people so that he gets all the glory.
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Consider 1 Kings 19:11-13:
The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
God was in the whisper. Whispers of love. He told Elijah to go back because he needed to anoint more people.
At this time God’s Spirit fell heavily upon those gathered at the fasting and prayer session. People were crying in the Spirit. Pastor Praveen said that when this kind of thing happens, it means revival is beginning. Pastor Praveen was walking up and down the aisle speaking in the Spirit. When he went back to the front, he said that even as when the angel released Peter from prison and Peter thought he was in a vision, only now did Pastor Praveen know where he was. It was like he had been dreaming and woke up. “Only now do I know that I am standing here in front of you.” He said that he had been “somewhere else.” Pastor Praveen said that he saw a light on everyone.
You will hear the sound of feet in the top of poplar trees. Then go quickly. Like Bartimaeus, throw your old cloak aside (see Mark 10:46-52 and following). God will give you a new cloak/double portion.
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Consider 1 Kings 18:41-44:
Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go get something to eat and drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!” So Ahab went to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees. Then he said to his servant, “Go and look out toward the sea.” The servant went and looked, then returned to Elijah and said, “I didn’t see anything.” Seven times Elijah told him to go and look. Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.” Then Elijah shouted, “Hurry to Ahab and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!’”
Before Elijah prayed for rain, he heard the sound of rain. Prayer always depends on the Holy Spirit. After receiving confirmation, he began to pray. Before doing something, ask for confirmation. Inquire – “Shall I?”
The Lord told King David in 2 Samuel 5:24 – “As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.” Pastor Praveen said he needs to hear the sound of wind before going for God’s purpose. Now, he has heard the sound of wind, which will turn into fire as in the upper room (See Acts 2).
We always need to hear the voice of the Great Shepherd. The sheep will hear His voice. Then we are well protected. Don’t move until you hear the sound of marching. Then, move quickly.
*Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations come from the NIV.