Fasting and Prayer from believing God, undisciplined from unbelief (1 John 5:14, John 9:31, Jonah 3:5-10, Jer 14:10-12)

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” 1 John 5:14, "We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will."  John 9:31

"(They) believed God’s message...pray(ed) earnestly to God... turn(ed) from their evil ways and stop(ped) all their violence...When God saw what they had done (believed) and how (turned) they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened. Jonah 3:5-10

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:10-12).

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. Eph 1:3

I'm excited to get back to Teen Challenge Portland house this Tuesday. Guys and anyone on their guest list comes with their own dinner at 5. We start the video at 5:15, we have 30 minutes to discuss and dismiss at 6:15. This year we're doing the 9 week Prayer Course, Followed by 5 weeks for the Unanswered Prayer Course. 

We pray for the guys by name on Thursdays (over Google Meet), ask them to join while in line for food. We add treats and gifts to incentivize them like Sliced Apple and Carmel for dessert with cookies and giving gifts to anyone who comes two weeks in a row, with an additional bonus gift for 3rd week. These gifts are books on prayer. Keys to Powerful Prayer, How to Pray: The Best of John Wesley on Prayer, Prayers to Start Your Day, Winning Your Spiritual Battles, 199 Promises of God. 

This week in BSF our doctrine is prayer:

Prayers of the repentant: Jonah 3:5-10,Acts 3:19,1 John 1:9, shows they "believed God’s message" and committed to "(fast and) pray earnestly to God", turn from their evil ways, stop their violence with hope that God would spare their lives. 

• When we believe God, it's always followed by repentance. "Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away." Acts 3:19
• "if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." 1 John 1:9

Prayers of non-believers are not answered by God: Proverbs 1:24-28,Isaiah 59:3,Jeremiah 14:10-12,John 9:31 because He calls but non-believers refuse to answer, He reached out but non-believers ignore His advice and reject the correction God offered. So when non-believers "cry for help, I will not answer. Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me." Proverbs 1:28

• Non-believers are undisciplined who are God's people: Isaiah 59:3 says look at your hands, they are the hands of murderers and our fingers are filthy with sin, your lips are full of lies and your mouth spews corruption. Jeremiah 14:10, LORD says to his people: You love to wander far from me and do not restrain yourselves. Therefore, I will no longer accept you as my people. now I will remember all your wickedness and will punish you for your sins."