I confess that I am not a biblical theologian, so please only take the word of the Bible and not my write-up. Please share any scriptures that point to a different or more complete explanation of these spiritual practices. The scriptures I used to make the key points are just a few possible passages we can discuss. 

Faith

Faith in Jesus Christ is our means of Salvation. We would not have salvation without devoted faith in Christ’s sinless and finished works, His death on the cross, His burial, His resurrection, and His ascension.

Keys:

1. Everyone is unrighteous before God. Romans 3:10-11: “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.”
2. The only remedy for our unrighteousness is to have Christ’s righteousness imputed to each of us. 1 Peter 3:18 “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”
3. Christ’s righteousness is received ONLY by faith. Romans 3:25: “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness because in his forbearance, he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished.”

Knowing and believing in God and doing His works is not enough. We must have faith in Christ alone for our salvation. James 2:19: “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!”

1. Eph 2: “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
2. 2 Cor 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight
3. Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
4. Hebrews 11 The entire chapter
5. Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
6. Luke 7:50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
7. Luke 8:48 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
8. Luke 18:42 And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.” he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

Prayer:

Let’s be careful how we understand this next statement, but it does not change the truth of God’s word. Prayer itself does not bring salvation. Salvation is by the grace of God in Faith in Jesus Christ. 

Why should we pray? 

Prayer is not to furnish God with new knowledge. He knows our needs. We pray to pour our hearts out to God, confess our sins, beg for forgiveness, and make requests for ourselves and others. Does He hear all of our prayers? 2 Chronicles 7: “14 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place.”

How to pray effectively. 

“Prayer becomes effective only as the truth of the Scriptures shapes it. The Holy Spirit takes the Word and enables believers to pray in accordance with God’s will.” anonymous. James 4: “2 … You do not have to because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive because you ask with the wrong motives, so that you may spend what you request on your pleasures.” How often do we pray for something without expectation or confidence that it will come to pass? Our confidence in prayer is directly proportional to our faith (trust).

Prayer is effective because God has chosen to use it to accomplish His purposes. Therefore, it is essential to know how to pray correctly. Prayer should include adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication (asking for something earnestly). We should not pray in a manner that does not glorify God. This is why knowing His Word and being directed by His Spirit when we come before His throne is essential.

How the Holy Spirit helps us pray with Faith.

In Romans 8, we learn that Holy Spirit helps us pray effectively even when we don’t have the faith we want.

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. How does prayer complement faith?

Prayer and Faith are not separated but complementary. They are two sides of the same coin. 

Do we have so much faith in Christ that we boldly ask for what we want? Read Matthew 8:5-10. How much faith did the centurion have? We need that boldness as well. Faith, at its core, is trust! Do you trust the word of God, Christ, as your personal Savior, God the creator of all, the power of the Holy Spirit? 

Can prayer change the world?

Yes, without question! James 5: “…A prayer of a righteous person, when brought about, can accomplish much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain, and the earth produced its fruit.”

Fasting

The Biblical definition

Fasting means, In Hebrew, it means to “cover over the mouth.” In Greek, it means “to abstain from food”. Still, fasting can be accompanied by other “things” we give up during this time of fasting. 

I did not find anywhere in the bible that food was not given up for fasting. For instance, Daniel gave up food, but in addition, he also gave up wine and ointments. Dan 10: “3 I did not eat any tasty food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment until the entire three weeks were completed.” Ezra 4:16: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

The Purpose of Biblical Fasting

The brief answer is that fasting shows our dependence on God. Biblical fasting is not a hunger strike between you and God. Going without food puts us in a state of helplessness. Shows how we rely on His grace in every situation. Mandates that we ask in prayer for the Lord to help with all our hearts.

Scripture often links the spiritual discipline of prayer to fasting (Dan. 9:3; Luke 2:37).

Brief History of Fasting

The Law called the first fast once per year on the day of Atonement (Lev 23:27.) Christ atoned for all once without the need of an additional sacrifice, so we no longer look to a day of atonement. 

The Bible contains examples of people who have abstained from food to seek God:

1. Jesus fasted before He began His public ministry (Luke 4:1,2).
2. Nehemiah fasted to help him confess his sins to God, turn away from them, and ask God for favor in the sight of the king of Persia to get permission to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1:4).
3. David fasted to ask God to intervene because of injustice (Psalm 35:13). In 2 Samuel 12:17, 23, he asked for a miraculous healing.
4. The early church fasted while worshiping and committing their ministry to the Lord. They also sought the Lord through fasting for guidance when they appointed leaders (Acts 13:2; 14:23).

Why fast

• To follow Jesus’ example
• To humble oneself before God
• To express grief or repentance
• To seek God’s guidance or answers
• To grow closer to God and worship Him
• To gain spiritual strength and freedom
• To discipline oneself and depend on God
• To strengthen one’s prayers

Are we required to fast?

Fasting in the new covenant is not commanded by God. Fasting is not a means to earn anything from God. Fasting is an act of humility where we acknowledge our lust for the flesh and then prayerfully focus more on who we are in Christ.

Fasting places no obligation upon God to respond in a way we have asked. He does delight in us when we show our helplessness in fasting, and He will respond by giving us more knowledge of Himself, a sense of our dependence on His grace, and yet He may give us the specific request we bring to Him.

For the Glory of God

Not to be confused with biblical fasting, but anything you refrain from self-denial of fleshly desires is a perfect way to bring glory to God. Denying ourselves and putting more trust in God will increase our faith, prayer life, and commitment to God.  

Tie these three concepts together.

The best way to consider these three biblical concepts would be to group them as Faith and (Prayer and Fasting). Ultimately, the two are both sides of one truth (two sides of one coin). 

Fasting and prayer are often linked together (Luke 2:37; 5:33). Fasting without praying isn’t fasting. It is dieting or deprivation. The only reason to fast is to make space for you to seek the Lord more urgently.

Prayer and faith are linked in prayer is the expression of faith, and faith is the foundation of prayer. 

When taken together and acted on in unison, these three critical spiritual exercises increase our spiritual maturity, in which we grow closer to God and each other and increase our strength to take the Gospel to the world. 

Pastor Schneider,

On behalf of Samaritan’s Purse, thank you for your generous support of our US Disaster Relief efforts.  Fairport Baptist Church’s recent donations empower us to serve a lot of hurting people in Jesus’ name.  We thank the Lord for your partnership in these efforts.

As you know, it has been a busy season for our US Disaster ministry.  Here are updates on how our partnership is currently making it possible to meet needs and promote the Gospel of Jesus in both Maui and Florida. 

Maui Wildfire Response: The city of Lahaina is scheduled to open to volunteers on Monday, September 25, and our teams will help homeowners sift through ashes to find any mementos that survived the fire. According to Edward Graham, our Chief Operating Officer, “Sifting is extremely important. We may think it’s something simple, but it helps bring healing and closure like no other way for a homeowner.” Billy Graham Rapid Response chaplains will continue working alongside us to offer emotional and spiritual care for these hurting people.  We have constructed a tent city where volunteers will be housed, and several thousand have already signed up to help. Samaritan’s Purse volunteers recently completed work in Kula, an upcountry region of Maui, and we praise the Lord that 52 families were assisted and 23 individuals placed their faith in Jesus Christ!

  Hurricane Idalia Response: We deployed Disaster Relief Units and support equipment to Taylor County and Pasco County in Florida, and Valdosta, Georgia, where our volunteer teams are helping homeowners with debris cleanup, mud-outs, roof tarping, and chainsaw work. Billy Graham Rapid Response chaplains are working alongside us to offer emotional and spiritual care.

Thank you again for your partnership with us in ministry. We give thanks that God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).

On a personal note, I wanted to let you know that I look forward to meeting you and learning more about you and your church.  Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or update requests.

God Bless,

Brian

Brian Gresham
SAMARITAN’S PURSE

Dear Pastor Dave,

How are you?  How has the summer in Reedville been?  I miss summers on the Bay.  I spent much of my childhood at my grandparents’ summer home in Reedville—lots of great memories. 

I am attaching a couple of pictures of the academic reinforcement classes for you to enjoy.  This year we have been able to offer consistent classes to help the students get back on track with school.  These classes are once a week, in addition to our feeding center.  We also give them a nutritious, hot drink to fill their tummies during academic class sessions since these classes do not coincide with feeding center days.

This has been a great year for us.  We have been able to identify areas in the lives of our enrolled families that need extra support, and by the grace of God, we have been able to offer that support.

I am planning a trip to Virginia in the fall.  I have several Sundays in October available and wondered if you would like  me to come and share in more detail what my staff and I have been doing this year.  I would be happy to share during the Sunday School hour or the worship hour, whatever works best. I could visit any Sunday except the 22nd.  Or, if you would rather, I could share during a WMU meeting during the week.  

Please give it some prayerful consideration and let me know your thoughts.

Serving Him,

SARAH R SMITH

www.crossculturejesus.org

Dear Pastor Dave,

Greetings from Guatemala.  My name is Sarah Smith.  Fairport has been generously sponsoring the ministry that my family runs in Guatemala for many years now.  Pastor Neale gave me your email address so that I could contact you.  I wanted to introduce myself and send my heartfelt thanks to the congregation for the support they have given over the years.

The past few years have been difficult times for us.  This country (like many developing nations) was ill-equipped to deal with the pandemic.  COVID has left a lot of suffering in its wake.  Thankfully, in large part because of your church’s generosity, we have been able to extend a hand to help many families in dire circumstances. 

I am attaching a few pictures that you might enjoy.  I have included a picture of a meal served at our Center.  These meals have made a huge difference for the families we serve, many of whom suffered great financial challenges over the past few years and could not afford to put food on the table.

There is a picture of a family that we have been supporting during the past 7 weeks as the dad recovers from surgery which kept him from work (and also from an income) then on top of that their 15 yr old daughter passed away.  The surgery plus the funeral have put them in a lot of debt.  While we can’t pay their debt, we have made sure they have food and meds.  We have visited often to pray with and for them, to grieve with them, comfort them, and encourage them.

I also thought you might enjoy a photo of some of the kids playing a game during our last birthday celebration.  At the end of every month, we celebrate everyone who had a birthday during the month.  It is great fun. 

I hope you enjoy the photos.  Please pass along my greetings to the congregation.

many blessings.

—

SARAH R SMITH

www.crossculturejesus.org

Continuing our ten Holy Spirit concepts in ten days between the Ascension and Pentecost.

The Holy Spirit gives us the power to love others in several ways.

First, the Holy Spirit helps us see others through Jesus Christ’s eyes. When we see others through the eyes of Jesus Christ, we see them as God sees them. We see their value and their worth. We see their potential. This helps us to love them more unconditionally.

Second, the Holy Spirit helps us to forgive others. We easily hold on to our anger and resentment when others hurt us. But the Holy Spirit helps us to forgive others, even when they don’t deserve it. This powerful act of love can heal relationships and bring peace.

The Holy Spirit helps us to be patient with others, even when frustrating. This is true love.

Fourth, the Holy Spirit helps us to be kind to others. Kindness is a fruit of the Spirit and a powerful way to show love to others. The Holy Spirit helps us to be kind to others, even when they don’t deserve it. This is a way to reflect the love of God to the world.

Fifth, the Holy Spirit helps us to be generous to others. Generosity is another fruit of the Spirit, a powerful way to show love to others. The Holy Spirit helps us be generous with our time, money, and possessions. This is a way to share the love of God with others.

The Holy Spirit is a powerful helper in our love for others. He is available to all who believe in Jesus Christ and wants to help us love others more like Jesus.

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith”

Continuing our ten Holy Spirit concepts in ten days between the Ascension and Pentecost.

The Holy Spirit gives us the power to have joy and peace in all circumstances by helping us to see the world through God’s eyes. When we see the world through God’s eyes, we know He is in control and good. We see He has a plan for our lives and loves us unconditionally. This helps us to have joy and peace, even during difficult circumstances.

The Holy Spirit also gives us the power to have joy and peace in all circumstances by helping us to rely on God’s strength. When we rely on God’s strength, we are not depending on our strength. We count on God’s power, which is more significant than anything we face. This helps us have joy and peace, even when weak and afraid.

Finally, the Holy Spirit gives us the power to have joy and peace in all circumstances by helping us to focus on the future. When we focus on the end, we remember that this life is not all there is. We recognize that we have hope and a lot in heaven. This helps us have joy and peace, even when facing difficult circumstances.

The Holy Spirit is a powerful helper in our journey through life. He is available to all who believe in Jesus Christ and wants to help us have joy and peace in all circumstances.

Romans 15:13 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

Romans 5:1-2 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

Continuing our ten Holy Spirit concepts in ten days between the Ascension and Pentecost.

The Holy Spirit gives us the power to discern between good and evil in several ways.

First, the Holy Spirit helps us to develop a biblical worldview. A biblical worldview is a way of understanding the world based on the Bible. The Bible teaches us about God, ourselves, and the world. When we have a biblical worldview, we can better discern between good and evil.

Second, the Holy Spirit helps us to develop a conscience. Conscience is an inner voice that tells us right from wrong. The conscience is not perfect, but it is a gift from God that can help us to discern between good and evil.

Third, the Holy Spirit helps us to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading. The Holy Spirit is a person who wants to guide us in our lives. When we are exposed to the Holy Spirit’s leading, He will help us to discern between good and evil.

Fourth, the Holy Spirit helps us to grow in our knowledge of God. The more we know about God, the better we discern between good and evil. The Holy Spirit is our teacher, and He wants to help us to grow in our knowledge of God.

Fifth, the Holy Spirit helps us to grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of good. When we grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ, we will become more like him and better able to discern between good and evil.

The Holy Spirit is a powerful helper in our discernment. He is available to all who believe in Jesus Christ and wants to help us discern between good and evil.

Hebrews 5:14 “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

Continuing our ten Holy Spirit concepts in ten days between the Ascension and Pentecost.

The Holy Spirit gives us the power to understand the Bible in several ways.

First, the Holy Spirit helps us to understand the Bible’s meaning. The Bible is complex, and it can be challenging to understand its meaning on our own. The Holy Spirit helps us to understand the Bible’s meaning by giving us insight into its text.

Second, the Holy Spirit helps us to apply the Bible’s truths to our lives. The Bible is not just a book of history or theology. It is also a book of instructions for living. The Holy Spirit helps us to apply the Bible’s truths to our lives by giving us wisdom and guidance.

Third, the Holy Spirit helps us to grow in our relationship with God. The Bible is a book about God, and it is designed to help us grow in our relationship with Him. The Holy Spirit helps us to grow in our relationship with God by enabling us to understand the Bible and apply its truths to our lives.

The Holy Spirit is a powerful helper in our study of the Bible. He is available to all who believe in Jesus Christ and wants to help us understand His Word.

Isaiah 11:2 “And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;.”

1 Corinthians 2:10 “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”