Elmer L. Towns - Fasting with the Lords Prayer: Experience a Deeper and More Powerful Relationship with God

Fasting with the Lords Prayer

2014 by Elmer L. Towns

Published by Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
www.bethanyhouse.com

Bethany House Publishers is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
www.bakerpublishinggroup.com

Bethany House Publishers edition published 2014

ISBN 978-1-4412-6729-0

Previously published by Regal Books

Ebook edition originally created 2014

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com . The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patents and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Other versions used are:

CEVContemporary English Version. Copyright American Bible Society, 1995.

KJVKing James Version. Authorized King James Version.

NKJV-Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

NLTScripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

TLBScripture quotations marked (TLB) are taken from The Living Bible, copyright 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189. All rights reserved.

Dedicated to David Yonggi Cho and Jerry Falwell, Sr.

Two men changed my prayer life.
The first was Jerry Falwell, Sr., founding pastor of
Thomas Road Baptist Church, who taught me to fast in 1971.
He called the entire church and the new college we were starting
Liberty Universityto fast for one million dollars.
From that experience I learn to fast for difficult things.

In 1982,I asked Dr. Cho,
What could I do to have more spiritual power in my ministry?
Dr. Cho wrote, I told Dr. Towns that I pray the rounds every day
just like a runner will jog around a track to keep in shape physically,
so praying the Lords Prayer several times each day
will keep you in shape spiritually.

May the influence of these men
change your life as they have changed mine.

Elmer Towns

Contents

Foreword

BY JENTEZEN FRANKLIN

I believe in fasting because Ive seen what happens when my congregation joins me in fasting for 21 days every January. Ive seen miraculous healing in answer to prayer and fasting, and Ive seen millions of dollars raised in answer to prayer and fasting. God has intervened in wonderful ways because our people have a heart for God as expressed in sacrificial fasting.

But we are not just getting things from God by fasting. We fast as a lifestyle because we know it pleases God when we meet Him in worship. Fasting is an expression of a heart of gratitude to Him.

Then there is holiness. We fast to demonstrate to God that we want to separate ourselves from the clutches and lusts of this world. Fasting and holiness go hand in hand.

I love this book by Elmer Towns. When I read one of his earlier books on fasting, I determined to get him to preach at both locations of our church in 2012. He came back again in 2013 to share more insights about fasting. As I interviewed him before our prayer meeting crowd, he pointed out an article I had written that links the Lords Prayer with fasting. Then he told me about a book he had written called Praying the Lords Prayer. I gave him permission then and there to turn my ideas into a book. He even thought of the title while we talked: Fasting with the Lords Prayer. The book you hold in your hands is the result of our interview before the people of Free Chapel. Im even more excited now than I was then about what this book can do for the larger Body of Christ.

I know that many liturgical churches pray the Lords Prayer together each Sunday during their worship service. My hope is that this book will motivate many in that branch of Christianity to fast with the Lords Prayer and experience the power that comes from this spiritual discipline.

I also know that many in Charismatic-Pentecostal churches fast on a regular basis but do not pray the Lords Prayer. I hope they will experience the spiritual results that come when fasting is combined with the prayer Jesus taught His followers to pray.

As you read, notice how often Elmer mentions the presence of God. When he begins meeting with God, he always prays the Lords Prayer. And when Elmer worships the Father through the Lords Prayer, he experiences, in his words, the atmospheric presence of God. I like that phrase, and I plan to use the Lords Prayer to receive awareness of His presence.

God bless Elmer Towns for writing this book. I want all my people at Free Chapel and those who are partners with me on Jentezen Franklins Ministries on TV to get a copy of this book. Read it for deeper insight into praying the Lords Prayer, and then fast for the greatest results you have ever seen.

I recommend this book to all believers, everywhere. May God use it to bring deeper revival to His people, and may we experience more answers to prayer as we practice Fasting with the Lords Prayer.

Jentezen Franklin, 2013
Pastor of Free Chapel

Introduction

When heaven is shut up and your prayers seem to bounce off the ceiling, fasting may be the one thing you can do to get answers from God. When the clock is ticking and you must have an answer, its time to get serious and fast with your prayers. Fasting with the Lords Prayer is for those who need a miracle. It is a guide for praying the words Jesus taught His followers to pray and adding fasting to your intercession. After Jesus taught His disciples the Lords Prayer, He continued, Now when you fast... (Matt. 6:16). According to Jesus, the Lords Prayer and fasting are meant for each other.

Fasting with the Lords Prayer offers hope to those who continually bang on the windows of heaven but cant seem to get in. To get the most out of this book, learn about fasting and prayer in the early chapters, and then make a vow to fast and pray for 21 days. Use the checklist found on page 39 to ensure you are fasting correctly. Then sign your vow to show your sincerity to God, yourself and others. Pray the Lords Prayer every day for 21 days and read the 21 daily devotions in Part III, which are designed to focus your attention on why you are fasting and to Whom you are praying.

As you fast and pray, may your faith be invigorated. And when your answer comes from the Father, may you shout Hallelujah! in thanks and praise for His loving generosity.

A fathers duty is to provide for his children, and a loving father will do what he can to give what is asked of him. If its a basic needclothes, shelter or fooda father will sacrifice to provide it for his children.