I THOUGHT WE WERE “EASTER PEOPLE”
Jim Castleman
Woodland Church
March 18, 2026
1. “FORTY DAYS OF FASTING AND PRAYER.” WHY 40 DAYS?
· From the Old Testament
· From the New Testament
· Why “these” 40 days?
· What is the purpose?
Psalm 46 (ESV)
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
2. SO WHY FAST?
Isaiah 58:6-9 (LSB)
“Is this not the fast which I choose,
To loosen the bonds of wickedness,
To release the bands of the yoke,
And to let the oppressed go free
And break every yoke?
“Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry
And bring the afflicted homeless into the house;
When you see the naked, you cover him;
And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
“Then your light will break out like the dawn,
And your recovery will speedily spring forth;
And your righteousness will go before you;
The glory of Yahweh will be your rear guard.
“Then you will call, and Yahweh will answer;
You will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’
If you remove the yoke from your midst,
The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness,
1. Fasting is not:
a. …a Christian diet plan
b. …a ritual to prove your spiritual depth (Matthew 6:16-18)
c. …intended to punish our flesh
2. Fasting has the benefit of:
a. …freeing our heart
b. …healing
c. …strengthening us
d. …discerning God’s will
3. Prayer. What are we praying for?
a. Jesus’ prayer in the Garden (Matthew 26:36-46)
· He prayed for God’s will, not His own
· He prayed for us, in a time of soul-searching
b. Penitential Prayers (Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143)
SEARCH ME, O GOD
by J. Edwin Orr (1912-1987)
Verse 1
Search me, O God, And know my heart today;
Try me, O Lord, Know my thoughts, I pray:
See if there be Some wicked way in me,
Cleanse me from ev’ry sin, And set me free.
Verse 2
I praise Thee, Lord, For cleansing me from sin;
Fulfill Thy Word, And make me pure within;
Fill me with fire, Where once I burned with shame
Grant my desire To magnify Thy Name.
Verse 3
Lord, take my life, And make it wholly Thine;
Fill my poor heart with Thy great love divine;
Take all my will, My passion, self and pride;
I now surrender— Lord, In me abide.
Verse 4
O Holy Ghost, Revival comes from Thee;
Send a revival— Start the work in me:
Thy Word declares Thou wilt supply our need;
For blessing now, O Lord, I humbly plead.
Growthwork
1. Beginning Sunday, March 29, pick one penitential psalm and read it in unison with your family.
2. Following the reading, spend a few moments in silent prayer, asking God to search your heart and identify any sin. Confess those privately to God.
3. Read the hymn “Search Me, O God”.
4. Finally, thank God for the sacrifice He made for us on the cross and thank Him for making us “Easter People!”