WEBVTT 00:00:07.880 --> 00:00:11.099 Hey guys, this is Tracy. If at any time you'd 00:00:11.099 --> 00:00:15.019 like to connect with HCV, go to hcv .church forward 00:00:15.019 --> 00:00:18.100 slash connect. If you feel called to give, go 00:00:18.100 --> 00:00:21.980 to hcv .church forward slash give. And if at 00:00:21.980 --> 00:00:23.920 any time you feel called to make a change in 00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:29.399 your life, text change me to 970 -00. Enjoy the 00:00:29.399 --> 00:00:33.020 message. Hey, good morning, everyone. So good 00:00:33.020 --> 00:00:34.840 to see everybody here. So glad you're here. Thank 00:00:34.840 --> 00:00:37.060 you for journeying out in the just tundra and 00:00:37.060 --> 00:00:39.579 the snow. You know, it's like a foot out there. 00:00:39.799 --> 00:00:43.179 And, man, you're committed. Love it. Thank you. 00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:44.780 If you're joining us from home and it was too 00:00:44.780 --> 00:00:48.179 dangerous to come out, God bless you guys. Thank 00:00:48.179 --> 00:00:51.539 you for welcoming us. Into your space. Just a 00:00:51.539 --> 00:00:53.100 couple things I want to hit on real quick. The 00:00:53.100 --> 00:00:57.200 giving letters from the 2025 giving statements, 00:00:57.280 --> 00:00:59.659 they've been emailed out to you. Please check 00:00:59.659 --> 00:01:02.240 your email. If you haven't gotten them, please 00:01:02.240 --> 00:01:05.359 see Tracy at the Welcome Hub directly after this. 00:01:05.379 --> 00:01:08.930 She'll arrange for you to get it. Our groups 00:01:08.930 --> 00:01:11.689 kick off, launches this week. All of our growth 00:01:11.689 --> 00:01:14.329 groups will begin meeting and gathering. There 00:01:14.329 --> 00:01:17.209 is food, free food, available for you in the 00:01:17.209 --> 00:01:19.450 A -frame. If you'd like to go check out all of 00:01:19.450 --> 00:01:23.969 our groups, sample some soup, soup du jour, chili, 00:01:24.129 --> 00:01:26.609 all that kind of stuff. Stop by and grab some 00:01:26.609 --> 00:01:28.549 food, meet some people, and jump in a group. 00:01:29.129 --> 00:01:32.250 Reminder, skate night, you need a ticket. Okay, 00:01:32.329 --> 00:01:35.140 so go to the Welcome Hub, get a ticket. For either 00:01:35.140 --> 00:01:37.480 the first session, 5 to 6 .30, or the second, 00:01:37.599 --> 00:01:42.379 6 .30 to 8. And finally, HTV is once again serving 00:01:42.379 --> 00:01:45.480 children in our local community through Micah's 00:01:45.480 --> 00:01:48.579 Backpack. There was a need in two local elementary 00:01:48.579 --> 00:01:52.019 schools, Lincolnshire and Hickory. We began serving 00:01:52.019 --> 00:01:56.019 there a few weeks ago with 10 students. That 00:01:56.019 --> 00:01:59.719 has now grown to over 50. So Micah's Backpack 00:01:59.719 --> 00:02:02.439 provides food for children. that wouldn't have 00:02:02.439 --> 00:02:05.359 food over the weekend, we stuff bags, we put 00:02:05.359 --> 00:02:07.359 food in it, we deliver it. If you would like 00:02:07.359 --> 00:02:10.240 to help Steve, Steve Wetzel is overseeing it. 00:02:10.280 --> 00:02:12.319 He'll be at the Welcome Hub. He is building a 00:02:12.319 --> 00:02:15.719 team so that we can weekly pack these bags and 00:02:15.719 --> 00:02:18.219 get them to the people that need them. Amen? 00:02:18.780 --> 00:02:21.039 All right. I just want to open in prayer because 00:02:21.039 --> 00:02:24.460 God kind of led me in a different direction today. 00:02:24.900 --> 00:02:28.199 I wasn't planning on sharing the message that 00:02:28.199 --> 00:02:32.259 God put in my heart, but... He told me to. So 00:02:32.259 --> 00:02:36.219 just being obedient here. And it's going to be 00:02:36.219 --> 00:02:38.360 challenging. Just throwing that out there now. 00:02:38.819 --> 00:02:41.780 And I want you to receive it and not get too 00:02:41.780 --> 00:02:44.560 mad at me and walk out the door. All right? So 00:02:44.560 --> 00:02:46.740 we'll let God open our hearts there. So Holy 00:02:46.740 --> 00:02:50.360 Spirit, come. God, we're just thankful that we're 00:02:50.360 --> 00:02:54.460 freely able to gather in your name. I just pray, 00:02:54.539 --> 00:02:57.560 God, that you would rest in this place. We give 00:02:57.560 --> 00:02:59.580 this entire gathering to you. Silence distractions, 00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:03.159 open our minds, ears, and hearts to receive your 00:03:03.159 --> 00:03:06.259 truth. And may we all be changed and transformed 00:03:06.259 --> 00:03:11.740 in Jesus' name. Amen. So I want to be real honest 00:03:11.740 --> 00:03:15.120 with you this morning. This week as I was praying 00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:18.439 for all of you, I was convicted that many of 00:03:18.439 --> 00:03:20.780 you have not been fasting to kick off this new 00:03:20.780 --> 00:03:25.500 year. And I feel it's my fault. And it's my responsibility 00:03:25.500 --> 00:03:29.599 that you're not because during our first gathering 00:03:29.599 --> 00:03:32.560 of this series, when I introduced 21 Days of 00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:36.360 Prayer and Fasting, I was focused on the morning 00:03:36.360 --> 00:03:38.520 gatherings, the 6 a .m., getting people there. 00:03:38.620 --> 00:03:42.039 I was focused on the 24 -7 prayer that is happening 00:03:42.039 --> 00:03:44.939 this week that you heard Rhett share about. And 00:03:44.939 --> 00:03:47.659 it's almost like I skipped over the fasting part. 00:03:47.939 --> 00:03:50.840 And God just convicted me and challenged me that 00:03:50.840 --> 00:03:55.180 we need to go back, rewind. And refocus on that 00:03:55.180 --> 00:03:58.680 important part. God led me specifically to Romans 00:03:58.680 --> 00:04:02.159 chapter 7. Where Paul was writing about the battle 00:04:02.159 --> 00:04:05.319 that he had going on inside of himself. The war 00:04:05.319 --> 00:04:10.000 between flesh and spirit. Paul writes these words 00:04:10.000 --> 00:04:12.740 in verses 18 through 19. And I know that nothing 00:04:12.740 --> 00:04:15.699 good lives in me. That is in my sinful nature. 00:04:16.060 --> 00:04:18.680 I want to do what is right but I can't. I want 00:04:18.680 --> 00:04:21.220 to do what is good but I don't. I don't want 00:04:21.220 --> 00:04:24.620 to do what is wrong but I do it anyway. I want 00:04:24.620 --> 00:04:28.720 to read the Bible, but I don't. I want to pray, 00:04:29.040 --> 00:04:31.819 but I'm too distracted. I want to connect with 00:04:31.819 --> 00:04:33.939 others. I want to serve. I want to be in a group, 00:04:34.040 --> 00:04:38.040 but I keep making excuses. I find myself angry 00:04:38.040 --> 00:04:41.259 and frustrated. I want to change. I try to change, 00:04:41.399 --> 00:04:45.040 but I can't. I don't want to struggle with lust 00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:47.660 and pornography. I ask God to set me free, but 00:04:47.660 --> 00:04:51.079 the grip is too strong. So you can hear Paul 00:04:51.079 --> 00:04:54.860 struggling. and wrestling with his flesh and 00:04:54.860 --> 00:04:58.079 the spirit. That thorn that he talks about that 00:04:58.079 --> 00:05:00.959 so many people struggle with, I believe, is you 00:05:00.959 --> 00:05:05.139 and me. It's our flesh. It's the sin nature that 00:05:05.139 --> 00:05:07.920 none of us can take off until we are delivered 00:05:07.920 --> 00:05:09.899 from this body and set free in God's kingdom. 00:05:10.879 --> 00:05:13.100 Now, I attended a celebration of life yesterday 00:05:13.100 --> 00:05:15.860 for a man that pursued Jesus from the time he 00:05:15.860 --> 00:05:18.980 was 16 until the time he passed away just a few 00:05:18.980 --> 00:05:22.689 weeks ago at the age of 74. This man had a profound 00:05:22.689 --> 00:05:26.310 impact on my life because he was the pastor that 00:05:26.310 --> 00:05:29.490 married Jess and I and ultimately led the first 00:05:29.490 --> 00:05:32.509 mission trip that I ever was a part of. And on 00:05:32.509 --> 00:05:35.449 that missions trip, he actually handed me his 00:05:35.449 --> 00:05:38.069 Bible on a Thursday morning and said, hey Chris, 00:05:38.209 --> 00:05:42.069 you're sharing today. Please understand, I had 00:05:42.069 --> 00:05:44.410 only begun a relationship with Jesus about eight 00:05:44.410 --> 00:05:47.170 months earlier. I looked back at him and said, 00:05:47.209 --> 00:05:52.470 I haven't read that book yet. It's on my list 00:05:52.470 --> 00:05:56.490 of things to do. I promise. But I haven't did 00:05:56.490 --> 00:05:59.889 it. And he said, God will give you what to share. 00:05:59.970 --> 00:06:04.910 You're doing it anyway. Dare I say, from that 00:06:04.910 --> 00:06:06.930 day on, now my pursuit has been Jesus and the 00:06:06.930 --> 00:06:11.810 kingdom of God. From that day forward. This life 00:06:11.810 --> 00:06:14.529 that I'm now living is focused on God's kingdom, 00:06:14.750 --> 00:06:17.769 my family, Jess and the kids, this community 00:06:17.769 --> 00:06:20.410 of faith that God has led me to birth and lead. 00:06:20.529 --> 00:06:25.310 But most importantly, the most important thing 00:06:25.310 --> 00:06:27.750 in my life is to see God's kingdom forcefully 00:06:27.750 --> 00:06:31.189 advance through his people, which are you. You're 00:06:31.189 --> 00:06:33.009 a part of those people. You're a part of the 00:06:33.009 --> 00:06:36.329 church. And I believe God wants to forcefully 00:06:36.329 --> 00:06:39.519 advance his kingdom through you. It's not about 00:06:39.519 --> 00:06:41.480 the lights. It's not about fame. It's not about 00:06:41.480 --> 00:06:44.600 this stage or this platform. It's not about money. 00:06:45.279 --> 00:06:48.839 It's not even about recognition. It's about becoming 00:06:48.839 --> 00:06:53.120 more and more like Jesus every single day. Becoming 00:06:53.120 --> 00:06:58.220 1 % better as each day passes. And what I have 00:06:58.220 --> 00:07:00.199 found personally is the more I grow closer to 00:07:00.199 --> 00:07:03.459 Jesus, the more I hate the issues that I struggle 00:07:03.459 --> 00:07:08.180 with in this flesh. Think about it. There was 00:07:08.180 --> 00:07:10.720 a time when this issue with the flesh was not 00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:14.139 a problem. When the first human beings were perfect 00:07:14.139 --> 00:07:18.779 and walked with intimacy with God. There was 00:07:18.779 --> 00:07:22.660 no struggles with the flesh. Until they thought 00:07:22.660 --> 00:07:24.959 they were smarter than God, were deceived by 00:07:24.959 --> 00:07:26.879 the enemy, and plunged the whole world, you and 00:07:26.879 --> 00:07:29.399 me, into sin. And because of that decision, all 00:07:29.399 --> 00:07:32.819 of us have to keep wrestling with this thing 00:07:32.819 --> 00:07:36.600 called the flesh. See, all those issues we struggle 00:07:36.600 --> 00:07:38.660 with in life flows from the sinful nature in 00:07:38.660 --> 00:07:42.079 our heart. The guilt, the shame, the insecurities, 00:07:42.139 --> 00:07:44.420 the jealousy, the pride, the arrogance, the judgment, 00:07:44.500 --> 00:07:48.980 the criticism. The negativity, the doubt, marital 00:07:48.980 --> 00:07:51.019 struggles, relationship issues, fights, wars, 00:07:51.220 --> 00:07:54.500 sickness, disease. All those things that we hate, 00:07:54.620 --> 00:07:57.540 that we struggle with in this life flow from 00:07:57.540 --> 00:08:01.980 the sinful nature in our hearts. And please understand 00:08:01.980 --> 00:08:04.199 the best treatment for all those issues that 00:08:04.199 --> 00:08:06.439 we struggle with on a daily basis is the presence 00:08:06.439 --> 00:08:11.879 of God. I'm all about counselors. I'm all about 00:08:11.879 --> 00:08:14.000 prayer. I'm all about laying on of hands. I'm 00:08:14.000 --> 00:08:16.579 all about medication when needed. But the best 00:08:16.579 --> 00:08:19.399 treatment for all those issues within our heart 00:08:19.399 --> 00:08:25.319 is the presence of God. The best treatment for 00:08:25.319 --> 00:08:26.839 the issues of the human heart is God himself. 00:08:28.490 --> 00:08:30.129 And how do I know that? Well, in the garden, 00:08:30.149 --> 00:08:33.629 mankind walked in perfection with God. No sin. 00:08:34.529 --> 00:08:37.330 But now the sin is in our world. Our flesh keeps 00:08:37.330 --> 00:08:40.769 this barrier between us and God. It's almost 00:08:40.769 --> 00:08:43.230 like a wall. It's almost like a cap above our 00:08:43.230 --> 00:08:45.870 heads. And there's people that struggle for days, 00:08:45.950 --> 00:08:48.809 weeks, months, even years to draw close to God, 00:08:48.889 --> 00:08:51.009 to feel his presence, to walk in his power and 00:08:51.009 --> 00:08:54.809 his authority. They desire to want to be with 00:08:54.809 --> 00:09:00.690 him, but they can't. They fall short. And they 00:09:00.690 --> 00:09:02.730 constantly are bagging their heads against that 00:09:02.730 --> 00:09:06.250 barrier. But friends, there's one ancient practice 00:09:06.250 --> 00:09:08.389 that weakens the flesh and causes the spirit 00:09:08.389 --> 00:09:11.669 to grow strong. And through this practice, we 00:09:11.669 --> 00:09:13.929 connect with God in such a way that the flesh 00:09:13.929 --> 00:09:17.450 is silenced and God can be heard so clearly. 00:09:19.090 --> 00:09:21.950 It's the ancient discipline of fasting and prayer. 00:09:22.830 --> 00:09:25.169 And so we have to understand that fasting is 00:09:25.169 --> 00:09:29.120 denying the body what it wants most. Food. Food 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:32.179 and pleasure. Fasting is telling the flesh, you 00:09:32.179 --> 00:09:36.580 have no power over me. And when we take authority 00:09:36.580 --> 00:09:39.480 over the flesh and we deny it what it wants most, 00:09:39.659 --> 00:09:44.200 we can draw closer to God. We tell the flesh 00:09:44.200 --> 00:09:47.419 for a period of time, no food for you. We tell 00:09:47.419 --> 00:09:50.419 the flesh for a period of time, you are not stronger 00:09:50.419 --> 00:09:53.919 than my spirit. My spirit will win. We invite 00:09:53.919 --> 00:09:57.080 the Holy Spirit to come alive inside of our lives, 00:09:57.120 --> 00:10:01.200 inside of our hearts. As we fast, we draw closer 00:10:01.200 --> 00:10:04.519 to God, and we become more sensitive to his desires 00:10:04.519 --> 00:10:08.259 for our life. And many of you are thinking, well, 00:10:08.279 --> 00:10:10.279 Chris, how do I know this is true? Well, the 00:10:10.279 --> 00:10:12.360 Bible is full of people that fasted and prayed 00:10:12.360 --> 00:10:14.899 corporately to seek God's face, which leads us 00:10:14.899 --> 00:10:17.600 to our first thought. See, through fasting, God 00:10:17.600 --> 00:10:21.450 meets knees. In Ezra chapter 8, there was a priest 00:10:21.450 --> 00:10:25.610 named Ezra around 500 BC. He was a scribe. He 00:10:25.610 --> 00:10:28.409 was a leader in the Jewish community. The people 00:10:28.409 --> 00:10:31.090 of God were currently living in exile. And Ezra 00:10:31.090 --> 00:10:34.330 is about to lead more than a thousand Jews out 00:10:34.330 --> 00:10:37.389 of exile back to Jerusalem. But the route that 00:10:37.389 --> 00:10:41.269 they had to take to get home was a route that 00:10:41.269 --> 00:10:43.389 was treacherous, full of dangers and thieves 00:10:43.389 --> 00:10:47.970 that would murder, rob, kill, and steal. Anyone 00:10:47.970 --> 00:10:51.629 who was traveling along that path. When knowing 00:10:51.629 --> 00:10:55.029 this decision, Ezra calls the people to a corporate 00:10:55.029 --> 00:11:00.029 fast. Notice Ezra 8, 21 -23. And there by Ava 00:11:00.029 --> 00:11:02.789 Canal, I gave orders to all of us to fast and 00:11:02.789 --> 00:11:05.610 humble ourselves before God. We prayed that he 00:11:05.610 --> 00:11:07.429 would give us a safe journey and protect us, 00:11:07.509 --> 00:11:10.389 our children, and our goods as we travel. For 00:11:10.389 --> 00:11:12.710 I was ashamed to ask the king for the soldiers 00:11:12.710 --> 00:11:15.370 and horsemen to accompany us and protect us from 00:11:15.370 --> 00:11:18.009 the enemies along the way. After all, we had 00:11:18.009 --> 00:11:21.429 told the king, our God's hand of protection is 00:11:21.429 --> 00:11:23.509 on all who worship him, but his fierce anger 00:11:23.509 --> 00:11:26.850 rages against those who abandon him. So again, 00:11:26.909 --> 00:11:29.929 notice, we fasted and earnestly prayed that our 00:11:29.929 --> 00:11:32.429 God would take care of us, and he heard our prayer. 00:11:33.149 --> 00:11:37.389 So we see Ezra was begging for God to intervene. 00:11:37.470 --> 00:11:40.909 Why? Because Ezra was bragging about God. He 00:11:40.909 --> 00:11:42.809 couldn't go to the king. He couldn't ask him 00:11:42.809 --> 00:11:44.590 for help. He couldn't ask him to get involved 00:11:44.590 --> 00:11:47.190 with soldiers and protection. So what did they 00:11:47.190 --> 00:11:51.409 do? They fasted. And not only did they fast, 00:11:51.450 --> 00:11:54.029 not only did he fast, everyone fasted. It was 00:11:54.029 --> 00:11:57.690 a corporate prayer and fast. And as they did 00:11:57.690 --> 00:12:00.590 it, God intervened, and he stepped in and made 00:12:00.590 --> 00:12:04.450 a way. God met a need through corporate fasting 00:12:04.450 --> 00:12:06.850 and prayer. And see, church, God meets our needs 00:12:06.850 --> 00:12:09.730 when we put him first and prioritize our relationship 00:12:09.730 --> 00:12:13.210 with him. Jesus said this in Matthew 6. Seek 00:12:13.210 --> 00:12:15.470 the kingdom of God above all else, live righteously, 00:12:15.590 --> 00:12:19.320 and notice, He will give us everything we need. 00:12:20.360 --> 00:12:23.259 Prioritize Jesus. Put him first in your life. 00:12:23.299 --> 00:12:25.940 Seek him with your whole heart, and he will meet 00:12:25.940 --> 00:12:28.799 all our needs, which leads us to our next example 00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:31.960 of corporate fasting. See, through fasting, the 00:12:31.960 --> 00:12:35.059 Holy Spirit speaks and gives direction. Jesus 00:12:35.059 --> 00:12:38.059 was crucified. Jesus is resurrected, returns 00:12:38.059 --> 00:12:41.259 to heaven. It's the first century A .D. The church 00:12:41.259 --> 00:12:43.440 is born on the day of Pentecost in the city of 00:12:43.440 --> 00:12:46.700 Jerusalem. As you read through the book of Acts, 00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:48.899 you know the church grows rapidly by the thousands. 00:12:49.179 --> 00:12:51.919 And then suddenly, immediately, they start experiencing 00:12:51.919 --> 00:12:55.279 persecution. The first martyr is killed. His 00:12:55.279 --> 00:12:57.759 name was Stephen. Then James is killed. And the 00:12:57.759 --> 00:13:00.980 rest of the church scatters to all these different 00:13:00.980 --> 00:13:04.720 cities. A new church is birthed in Antioch. And 00:13:04.720 --> 00:13:07.279 the followers of Jesus are seeking guidance on 00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:09.919 what to do next, where to go. And we read this 00:13:09.919 --> 00:13:13.980 in Acts 13, 1 -3. Among the prophets and teachers 00:13:13.980 --> 00:13:16.399 of the church of Antioch of Syria were Barnabas. 00:13:17.059 --> 00:13:19.480 Simeon called the black man, Lucius, Cyrene, 00:13:19.700 --> 00:13:22.279 Manan, the childhood companion of King Herod, 00:13:22.279 --> 00:13:26.580 of Antipas, and Saul. One day, as these men were 00:13:26.580 --> 00:13:29.840 worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit 00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:31.840 said, appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special 00:13:31.840 --> 00:13:35.259 work for which I've called them. So after more 00:13:35.259 --> 00:13:38.039 fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands 00:13:38.039 --> 00:13:41.169 on them and sent them on their way. So notice, 00:13:41.269 --> 00:13:44.330 in Antioch, the church was called for a corporate 00:13:44.330 --> 00:13:47.590 fast. And while they were fasting, the Holy Spirit 00:13:47.590 --> 00:13:51.450 spoke. And see, when we fast, church, our spirits 00:13:51.450 --> 00:13:58.149 are strong. Our flesh is weak. Fasting sets us 00:13:58.149 --> 00:14:00.889 up to hear God's voice more clearly. Proverbs 00:14:00.889 --> 00:14:02.950 chapter 3 tells us, trust in the Lord with all 00:14:02.950 --> 00:14:05.909 your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding. 00:14:06.009 --> 00:14:08.169 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show 00:14:08.169 --> 00:14:11.190 you which path to take. So we just read about 00:14:11.190 --> 00:14:13.350 one group of people in a corporate fast and God 00:14:13.350 --> 00:14:16.429 provided a need. We see another group of people 00:14:16.429 --> 00:14:18.610 in a corporate fast and God what? Speaks to them. 00:14:19.350 --> 00:14:23.289 So we see during fasting that God provides needs 00:14:23.289 --> 00:14:26.529 and there are people gathered here today and 00:14:26.529 --> 00:14:29.750 watching online and you have a need. In fact, 00:14:29.750 --> 00:14:33.029 some of you have many needs. Maybe you're struggling 00:14:33.029 --> 00:14:36.330 mentally or emotionally or financially. I want 00:14:36.330 --> 00:14:39.740 to challenge you. God can meet those needs during 00:14:39.740 --> 00:14:43.580 a fast. There's some of you gathered here today 00:14:43.580 --> 00:14:45.500 and you're confused. You need guidance. You need 00:14:45.500 --> 00:14:48.720 direction. You're desiring, God, speak to me. 00:14:49.500 --> 00:14:51.559 Should I be in this relationship? Should I get 00:14:51.559 --> 00:14:53.320 married? Should I rent this apartment or buy 00:14:53.320 --> 00:14:55.919 this home? Should I move to another city for 00:14:55.919 --> 00:14:59.259 that job? Well, we just learned that during fasting, 00:14:59.419 --> 00:15:02.600 the Holy Spirit speaks. And some of you need 00:15:02.600 --> 00:15:04.720 guidance before moving forward with a decision 00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:08.500 that will radically change your life. And friends, 00:15:08.580 --> 00:15:10.580 this is the reason we do 21 days of prayer and 00:15:10.580 --> 00:15:14.019 fasting to kick off a new year. In this community 00:15:14.019 --> 00:15:16.039 of faith, we desire to hear from God regarding 00:15:16.039 --> 00:15:19.000 the direction for our lives because walking through 00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:21.720 the same old routines, the same old struggles, 00:15:21.779 --> 00:15:24.220 with the same old habits year after year after 00:15:24.220 --> 00:15:25.620 year, I don't know about you, but it gets old. 00:15:27.159 --> 00:15:30.399 And it beats us down. And we're no good for God's 00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:33.720 kingdom. Jesus speaks these words of truth to 00:15:33.720 --> 00:15:38.750 us in John 16, 13, when the spirit of truth He's 00:15:38.750 --> 00:15:40.429 going to guide you into all truth. He will not 00:15:40.429 --> 00:15:43.129 speak of his own will, but he will tell you what 00:15:43.129 --> 00:15:44.889 he has heard. He will tell you about the future. 00:15:46.710 --> 00:15:48.529 Now there's other of you gathered here today 00:15:48.529 --> 00:15:50.590 and you're currently struggling spiritually. 00:15:51.730 --> 00:15:53.590 Maybe you haven't heard from God for a while. 00:15:53.629 --> 00:15:57.110 Maybe you haven't sensed his presence. Maybe 00:15:57.110 --> 00:15:58.590 you haven't been praying. You haven't been reading 00:15:58.590 --> 00:16:01.269 your Bible. And you find yourself constantly 00:16:01.269 --> 00:16:04.070 struggling to overcome habits and addictions. 00:16:04.860 --> 00:16:07.580 You have no confidence in your relationship with 00:16:07.580 --> 00:16:10.960 Jesus. Maybe for some, you've never fasted before. 00:16:12.059 --> 00:16:14.799 And it's that group of people you're questioning, 00:16:14.960 --> 00:16:17.820 why would I fast? It's not even possible for 00:16:17.820 --> 00:16:19.840 God to move in my life, but I want to change 00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:21.399 that opinion because it leads us to our third 00:16:21.399 --> 00:16:25.879 thought. God challenges everyone to turn to him 00:16:25.879 --> 00:16:29.240 and fast. It doesn't matter if you're in a relationship 00:16:29.240 --> 00:16:31.019 with God, not in a relationship with God, distant. 00:16:31.860 --> 00:16:34.629 The people of God that I'm about to read, to 00:16:34.629 --> 00:16:38.750 you, they've been living in disobedience. And 00:16:38.750 --> 00:16:40.929 their disobedience led to God sending a plague 00:16:40.929 --> 00:16:43.230 of locusts on their land that ravished their 00:16:43.230 --> 00:16:46.629 economy. The people had no money. They couldn't 00:16:46.629 --> 00:16:50.590 pay their bills. Food was scarce. And God is 00:16:50.590 --> 00:16:52.750 trying to get their attention. And I want to 00:16:52.750 --> 00:16:55.269 highlight for some of you, you may be struggling 00:16:55.269 --> 00:16:56.970 because God is trying to get your attention. 00:16:58.090 --> 00:17:01.529 Because see, when God speaks or touches our money 00:17:01.529 --> 00:17:06.559 or our livelihood, he gets our attention. For 00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:08.259 all of you who feel like I'm not good enough, 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:11.099 I've made too many mistakes, I sin, I'm not close 00:17:11.099 --> 00:17:13.940 enough to God for him to speak to me so I can 00:17:13.940 --> 00:17:17.500 hear him. While these people were living in disobedience, 00:17:17.500 --> 00:17:20.900 listen to God's heart, Joel chapter two, verses 00:17:20.900 --> 00:17:25.859 12 to 13. That is why the Lord says, turn to 00:17:25.859 --> 00:17:29.680 me now while there's time. Give me your hearts, 00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:33.319 come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. So 00:17:33.319 --> 00:17:36.839 notice, God is calling some of you today. I know 00:17:36.839 --> 00:17:39.160 you're far away. I know you haven't been praying. 00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:40.880 I know you haven't been reading your Bible. I 00:17:40.880 --> 00:17:42.759 know you've been living in sin and disobedience. 00:17:43.500 --> 00:17:47.579 You're disconnected from me. But in that disobedience, 00:17:47.619 --> 00:17:50.920 God is saying, return to me. Let's continue. 00:17:51.119 --> 00:17:54.099 Don't tear your clothing in your grief, but tear 00:17:54.099 --> 00:17:56.140 your hearts instead. Pause there a second. Some 00:17:56.140 --> 00:17:58.079 of you are thinking, I like my shirt. Why do 00:17:58.079 --> 00:18:01.440 I want to rip it? Well, in this culture, when 00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:05.539 the people, were frustrated and upset, there 00:18:05.539 --> 00:18:08.039 was an outward sign of them ripping their clothes 00:18:08.039 --> 00:18:13.220 and throwing ashes on their heads. But God is 00:18:13.220 --> 00:18:17.759 saying, I don't want no outward signs of reverence. 00:18:18.380 --> 00:18:20.819 I don't care about your church attendance. That's 00:18:20.819 --> 00:18:23.259 not good enough. I don't care about you checking 00:18:23.259 --> 00:18:25.799 a box that you read a verse this morning. I want 00:18:25.799 --> 00:18:28.500 you to search your heart. I want you to look 00:18:28.500 --> 00:18:32.599 inward. And notice, let's continue. Return to 00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:34.599 the Lord your God for he is merciful and compassionate. 00:18:35.140 --> 00:18:37.519 Slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. 00:18:37.859 --> 00:18:41.680 He is eager to relent and not punish. And I want 00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:43.859 you to see, church, that God is inviting us home. 00:18:45.140 --> 00:18:49.579 In our insecurities, come home. In our sin, return 00:18:49.579 --> 00:18:52.720 home. In our breakingness, return home. In our 00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:55.660 negativity and doubt, come home. And you say, 00:18:55.700 --> 00:18:59.339 why? Because God is gracious and merciful. He 00:18:59.339 --> 00:19:02.299 welcomes us home. That's why Jesus told us this 00:19:02.299 --> 00:19:04.599 story in Luke 15. So he returned home to his 00:19:04.599 --> 00:19:08.359 father. This story of the prodigal son. You remember 00:19:08.359 --> 00:19:11.480 he ran away. He spent all his father's hard earnings. 00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:16.039 Found himself caught up in sin. And while he 00:19:16.039 --> 00:19:18.019 was still a long way off, his father saw him 00:19:18.019 --> 00:19:20.380 coming. And this is God for some of you. Filled 00:19:20.380 --> 00:19:22.140 with love and compassion, he ran to his son, 00:19:22.200 --> 00:19:26.490 embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to 00:19:26.490 --> 00:19:27.869 him, Father, I've sinned against both heaven 00:19:27.869 --> 00:19:29.670 and you. I'm no longer worthy to be called your 00:19:29.670 --> 00:19:32.150 servant. But his father said to his servants, 00:19:32.210 --> 00:19:34.730 Quick, bring the finest robe in the house. Put 00:19:34.730 --> 00:19:36.809 it on him and get a ring for his finger and sandals 00:19:36.809 --> 00:19:40.369 for his feet. See, I want to invite you and encourage 00:19:40.369 --> 00:19:42.589 you. There's no excuse for any of us not to fast 00:19:42.589 --> 00:19:46.309 and pray. We're all invited by God to be changed. 00:19:47.210 --> 00:19:49.269 And for those of you who say, I haven't been 00:19:49.269 --> 00:19:51.369 in a relationship with Jesus long enough to fast. 00:19:51.529 --> 00:19:53.210 I don't understand it. That's for the spiritual 00:19:53.210 --> 00:19:56.950 elite. I was just baptized two weeks ago. Answer 00:19:56.950 --> 00:19:59.349 for yourself this question. Did Jesus call his 00:19:59.349 --> 00:20:03.630 followers to fast and pray? That leads us to 00:20:03.630 --> 00:20:06.769 our fourth thought. See, Jesus calls his followers 00:20:06.769 --> 00:20:10.390 to fast. The answer is yes. In his most famous 00:20:10.390 --> 00:20:12.740 sermon, the Sermon on the Mount. We read this 00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:15.319 in Matthew chapter 6, verses 5 through 6. And 00:20:15.319 --> 00:20:17.460 when you pray, and notice what Jesus said there. 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:21.680 When you pray. Don't be like hypocrites who love 00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:23.559 to pray publicly on the street corners and in 00:20:23.559 --> 00:20:27.240 the synagogues where everyone can see them. I 00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:29.039 tell you the truth, that is all the reward they'll 00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:31.099 ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, 00:20:31.259 --> 00:20:33.740 shut the door behind you and pray to your father 00:20:33.740 --> 00:20:36.640 in private. Then your father who sees everything 00:20:36.640 --> 00:20:40.509 will reward you. So notice, twice Jesus speaks 00:20:40.509 --> 00:20:43.210 to us, to me and you. He challenges us and he 00:20:43.210 --> 00:20:47.849 says, when you pray. See, Jesus expects us to 00:20:47.849 --> 00:20:51.910 pray. It doesn't say, if you pray, maybe you'll 00:20:51.910 --> 00:20:56.089 get to praying. The text says, when you pray. 00:20:57.490 --> 00:20:59.990 See, fasting and prayer is not for the spiritual 00:20:59.990 --> 00:21:04.490 elite. This is for anyone who calls himself or 00:21:04.490 --> 00:21:08.460 herself a follower of Jesus. He calls us to pray. 00:21:09.799 --> 00:21:13.119 He calls us to pray in a private place. And it's 00:21:13.119 --> 00:21:16.200 amazing. This jumped off the pages for me this 00:21:16.200 --> 00:21:19.240 week. Notice that when we pray, we will receive 00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:23.440 a reward. Who likes to receive a reward? Like, 00:21:23.460 --> 00:21:27.180 I want a reward. But the interesting thing, notice, 00:21:27.319 --> 00:21:30.180 Jesus never tells us what the reward will be. 00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:34.690 I was like, God, what's that all about? It's 00:21:34.690 --> 00:21:36.589 like the Holy Spirit whispered to me so we don't 00:21:36.589 --> 00:21:39.990 limit our minds in what God is going to do through 00:21:39.990 --> 00:21:42.950 us and in us. Because if we knew what the reward 00:21:42.950 --> 00:21:46.130 was, then we'll just give a little bit. I'll 00:21:46.130 --> 00:21:49.049 get the reward. But when we don't know what it 00:21:49.049 --> 00:21:51.990 was, we want to go all in to get the greatest 00:21:51.990 --> 00:21:55.450 reward. Because see, I believe the greatest reward 00:21:55.450 --> 00:21:58.950 we receive from prayer is intimacy and closeness 00:21:58.950 --> 00:22:02.859 with Jesus. Because I don't know about you, but 00:22:02.859 --> 00:22:04.720 for me, in times of prayer, I've experienced 00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:08.460 peace and rest that can only be experienced through 00:22:08.460 --> 00:22:13.140 him. In times of prayer, I've experienced direction, 00:22:13.180 --> 00:22:22.920 joy, happiness, tears, gratefulness. But it's 00:22:22.920 --> 00:22:25.539 a choice. Church, it's a choice to pause, to 00:22:25.539 --> 00:22:28.970 silence distractions and pray. But notice, he 00:22:28.970 --> 00:22:30.990 doesn't just call us to pray. Jesus takes it 00:22:30.990 --> 00:22:34.829 a step further, Matthew 6, 16 through 18. And 00:22:34.829 --> 00:22:39.650 when you fast, don't make it obvious as the hypocrites 00:22:39.650 --> 00:22:41.750 do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled 00:22:41.750 --> 00:22:44.349 so people admire them for their fasting. I tell 00:22:44.349 --> 00:22:46.710 you the truth, that is the only reward they will 00:22:46.710 --> 00:22:50.210 ever get. But when you fast, there it is again, 00:22:50.910 --> 00:22:54.769 comb your hair, wash your face. In other words, 00:22:54.890 --> 00:22:59.119 look presentable, church. Comb your hair. Put 00:22:59.119 --> 00:23:05.000 some deodorant on. Present yourself as a person 00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:07.000 that loves God. And don't let anyone know you're 00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:08.819 fasting. Don't walk around complaining, yeah, 00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:15.259 pastor's got me fasting this week. Jeez. Did 00:23:15.259 --> 00:23:17.440 you realize that if you're complaining about 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:22.220 a fast, all that is is a hunger strike? Like 00:23:22.220 --> 00:23:23.859 if you're going to complain about a fast, don't 00:23:23.859 --> 00:23:27.059 even do it. Because hunger strikes aren't going 00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:28.859 to do anything for you. Just make you hungry. 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:33.259 No one will notice that you are fasting except 00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:36.019 your father who knows what you do in private. 00:23:36.839 --> 00:23:41.519 And your father who sees everything, who knows 00:23:41.519 --> 00:23:43.319 our hearts, what's he going to do? Here it is 00:23:43.319 --> 00:23:48.660 again. Will reward you. See, Jesus says, hey 00:23:48.660 --> 00:23:51.519 church, don't make it about you. Make it about 00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:54.279 God. And notice, there's the promise again. He's 00:23:54.279 --> 00:23:58.250 going to... Reward us. Again, the reward isn't 00:23:58.250 --> 00:24:02.569 known. So that our minds will not limit what 00:24:02.569 --> 00:24:05.630 God wants to do in your life. See, when we're 00:24:05.630 --> 00:24:09.990 fasting and we're pursuing God, he desires for 00:24:09.990 --> 00:24:13.150 his people to become more like him. So we learn 00:24:13.150 --> 00:24:16.170 that during fasting, God provided or met needs 00:24:16.170 --> 00:24:19.630 for the people. During corporate fast, God, through 00:24:19.630 --> 00:24:22.809 the Holy Spirit, spoke to the people. We learn 00:24:22.809 --> 00:24:25.430 that God invites everyone. To fast and pray. 00:24:25.470 --> 00:24:28.170 Even those that don't believe. I had a lady as 00:24:28.170 --> 00:24:30.609 she was leaving this morning. She shared with 00:24:30.609 --> 00:24:33.269 me, before I gave my life to Jesus, I fasted 00:24:33.269 --> 00:24:36.710 three days. And then God made himself known to 00:24:36.710 --> 00:24:40.490 me. And I had an encounter with God that radically 00:24:40.490 --> 00:24:43.890 changed my life. So there's really no excuse 00:24:43.890 --> 00:24:47.829 for any of us not to fast and pray. And notice, 00:24:47.869 --> 00:24:53.150 Jesus said, when we pray, when we fast. We can't 00:24:53.150 --> 00:24:55.730 get ahead of God, church. I mean, there's so 00:24:55.730 --> 00:25:01.250 many of us. It's the new year, right? And you're 00:25:01.250 --> 00:25:04.190 making up goals, and you're desiring to pursue 00:25:04.190 --> 00:25:07.289 things, and you have vision boards for your life, 00:25:07.309 --> 00:25:09.150 and you have all this stuff you want to accomplish. 00:25:09.329 --> 00:25:14.930 Did you ask God about that? Because, see, God's 00:25:14.930 --> 00:25:18.869 got a plan for all of our lives this year. And 00:25:18.869 --> 00:25:20.569 here's my challenge to all of you this week. 00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:24.980 This is the final week, the last seven days of 00:25:24.980 --> 00:25:28.059 our 21 days of fasting and prayer. And even if 00:25:28.059 --> 00:25:31.180 you have not been fasting for the first 14 days, 00:25:31.259 --> 00:25:35.519 I'm challenging you, start tomorrow. Start tomorrow. 00:25:37.519 --> 00:25:40.059 Let's go after God with all of our hearts this 00:25:40.059 --> 00:25:43.579 last week. Let's make a choice to not feed our 00:25:43.579 --> 00:25:46.119 flesh, to not give it to pleasure this week. 00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:49.220 And I want to challenge you. Choose something 00:25:49.220 --> 00:25:52.799 to fast that brings you pleasure. If you're trying 00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:55.339 to figure out, well, Chris, what do I fast? For 00:25:55.339 --> 00:25:59.299 some of you, it's coffee. Get rid of it. Maybe 00:25:59.299 --> 00:26:02.660 it's soda, sugar and desserts. Maybe alcohol. 00:26:03.660 --> 00:26:05.980 Maybe breakfast or lunch or dinner. You may be 00:26:05.980 --> 00:26:07.980 a gangster and just fast all week. Everything. 00:26:08.759 --> 00:26:14.359 Just go liquid. Get some water, some juice in 00:26:14.359 --> 00:26:18.009 you. Some bone broth. All week. I said, Chris, 00:26:18.109 --> 00:26:20.789 why would I do that? To slow down and hear from 00:26:20.789 --> 00:26:25.789 God. To slow down and hear from God. To want 00:26:25.789 --> 00:26:29.630 a reward from God. To want Jesus to speak to 00:26:29.630 --> 00:26:34.069 you, to give you opportunities. And you're like, 00:26:34.069 --> 00:26:36.730 well, Chris, okay, I'm hearing the challenge. 00:26:36.789 --> 00:26:41.710 Why should I do it? Well, five reasons that we 00:26:41.710 --> 00:26:44.069 should all pursue this last seven days in a fast. 00:26:45.819 --> 00:26:48.660 surrendering our body to God this week. And the 00:26:48.660 --> 00:26:52.220 first is this, it silences the flesh. So for 00:26:52.220 --> 00:26:53.960 those of you that are struggling in these battles 00:26:53.960 --> 00:26:56.380 with the flesh, fasting is for you. Romans 8, 00:26:56.400 --> 00:26:58.480 5, those who are dominated by the sinful nature, 00:26:58.640 --> 00:27:00.720 think about sinful things, but those who are 00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:02.680 controlled by the Spirit, think about things 00:27:02.680 --> 00:27:07.740 that please the Spirit. See, God desires to free 00:27:07.740 --> 00:27:10.680 us from our habits, from our sin, from our struggles, 00:27:10.759 --> 00:27:13.710 and tear us down and pull us away from God. The 00:27:13.710 --> 00:27:15.890 apathy, the laziness, the self -interest, the 00:27:15.890 --> 00:27:18.869 stress, the negativity, the doubt, the addictions, 00:27:18.869 --> 00:27:23.750 nicotine, weed, prescriptions. Right? God desires 00:27:23.750 --> 00:27:28.269 that our spirit comes alive. And we choose to 00:27:28.269 --> 00:27:30.170 allow the Holy Spirit to lead our lives. And 00:27:30.170 --> 00:27:33.349 that happens when we put him first. Galatians 00:27:33.349 --> 00:27:35.730 5 .16. So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your 00:27:35.730 --> 00:27:40.450 lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful 00:27:40.450 --> 00:27:44.839 nature craves. You silence the self, right? You 00:27:44.839 --> 00:27:48.980 silence the flesh. And you focus on God and prioritize 00:27:48.980 --> 00:27:51.619 your spirit, which leads us to our next result. 00:27:51.700 --> 00:27:54.700 It deepens your relationship with Jesus. We're 00:27:54.700 --> 00:27:58.299 reminded in Jeremiah 29, if you look for me wholeheartedly, 00:27:58.299 --> 00:28:01.019 church, you're going to find him. See, when we 00:28:01.019 --> 00:28:03.799 engage in prayer and fasting, it's a fundamental 00:28:03.799 --> 00:28:06.619 invitation for God to enter our lives more fully, 00:28:06.720 --> 00:28:12.460 to overwhelm us with his love. The invitation 00:28:12.460 --> 00:28:16.420 that God offers to us is intimacy. And it allows 00:28:16.420 --> 00:28:20.880 for us to go closer to Jesus. And by depriving 00:28:20.880 --> 00:28:22.680 ourselves of physical food, you know what we 00:28:22.680 --> 00:28:25.740 do? We create space for spiritual nourishment 00:28:25.740 --> 00:28:29.200 and growth. We set aside distractions and we 00:28:29.200 --> 00:28:33.119 focus on prayer. We invite God into our hearts. 00:28:33.140 --> 00:28:36.200 We pave the way for personal transformation that 00:28:36.200 --> 00:28:39.430 all of us want and desire. See, this process 00:28:39.430 --> 00:28:41.730 not only strengthens our relationship with him, 00:28:41.809 --> 00:28:45.349 but it also cultivates a greater awareness of 00:28:45.349 --> 00:28:48.690 God in our lives everywhere we go. John 14, 15, 00:28:48.890 --> 00:28:51.410 if you love me, church, obey my commandments. 00:28:52.089 --> 00:28:57.029 Put him first. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide 00:28:57.029 --> 00:28:59.329 and lead your life. You know week after week 00:28:59.329 --> 00:29:03.170 here, we say, come Holy Spirit. And for many 00:29:03.170 --> 00:29:04.890 of you, this is the only place you hear it. No, 00:29:05.029 --> 00:29:06.769 we need to be praying that prayer everywhere 00:29:06.769 --> 00:29:09.900 we go. As we get into our car before we go to 00:29:09.900 --> 00:29:12.839 work, come Holy Spirit. As we get out of our 00:29:12.839 --> 00:29:17.460 car, heading into work, come Holy Spirit. As 00:29:17.460 --> 00:29:19.400 we get into a disagreement with our co -worker 00:29:19.400 --> 00:29:21.920 or our classmate, we say, come Holy Spirit, not 00:29:21.920 --> 00:29:24.880 out loud, but in our minds. Because you might 00:29:24.880 --> 00:29:31.319 get slapped. But that's how we live. Which leads 00:29:31.319 --> 00:29:33.160 us to our third truth. Church, you're going to 00:29:33.160 --> 00:29:36.630 hear from God. If you prioritize fasting and 00:29:36.630 --> 00:29:39.329 prayer this week and silence that flesh, God 00:29:39.329 --> 00:29:42.029 will speak to you. John 10, 27, my sheep listen 00:29:42.029 --> 00:29:43.609 to my voice. I know them and they follow me. 00:29:44.490 --> 00:29:47.509 See, fasting creates a space where we can hear 00:29:47.509 --> 00:29:51.430 God's voice more clearly. In the busyness of 00:29:51.430 --> 00:29:55.569 life, right, the noise of our schedules, the 00:29:55.569 --> 00:29:58.130 thoughts, the distractions, it drowns out God's 00:29:58.130 --> 00:30:00.789 still small voice. You say, God, is that you? 00:30:01.450 --> 00:30:06.269 Well, fasting quiets the external, right? Shuts 00:30:06.269 --> 00:30:10.809 it down and invites the eternal to wake up. Our 00:30:10.809 --> 00:30:14.190 hearts come alive and we receive his guidance, 00:30:14.230 --> 00:30:17.049 encouragement, and direction. Remember Revelation 00:30:17.049 --> 00:30:21.170 3 .20, look, I stand at the door and knock. Jesus 00:30:21.170 --> 00:30:23.910 is standing at the door of our hearts. Remember 00:30:23.910 --> 00:30:25.789 this letter was written to the church. It isn't 00:30:25.789 --> 00:30:28.410 for outsiders. So if you got that shirt that 00:30:28.410 --> 00:30:30.250 says stand at the door and knock, I'm knocking. 00:30:31.199 --> 00:30:34.960 That's for you, not them. I will come in and 00:30:34.960 --> 00:30:38.480 we will share a meal together as friends. See, 00:30:38.539 --> 00:30:40.759 God desires a personal relationship with you 00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:44.119 and me. One where communication flows freely. 00:30:45.079 --> 00:30:47.480 And he speaks to us as we read the Bible. Friends, 00:30:47.599 --> 00:30:49.480 we have got to spend time reading the Bible. 00:30:50.819 --> 00:30:52.920 I want to challenge you. Get up 20 minutes early. 00:30:53.000 --> 00:30:55.799 Get in a devotional and listen to God speak to 00:30:55.799 --> 00:30:59.160 you through the Bible. That's the primary way. 00:30:59.720 --> 00:31:02.160 And if we're not giving him time, he won't reveal 00:31:02.160 --> 00:31:04.319 truth to you. And you won't know the commandments 00:31:04.319 --> 00:31:07.339 to follow. You have to create quiet moments. 00:31:07.460 --> 00:31:09.799 You have to set aside time every day to be silent 00:31:09.799 --> 00:31:14.220 before God. To be still and listen. Remember, 00:31:14.299 --> 00:31:16.900 we're bombarded with what to do, where to go, 00:31:17.000 --> 00:31:20.039 what to listen to, what to wear, how we should 00:31:20.039 --> 00:31:24.039 look. Inject your face. Do this. Do that. Friends, 00:31:24.140 --> 00:31:27.069 you've got to silence that junk. You got to get 00:31:27.069 --> 00:31:29.410 quiet before God. Remember what Jesus said. Get 00:31:29.410 --> 00:31:35.009 in your room. Shut the door. Listen to me. And 00:31:35.009 --> 00:31:36.990 then when you listen to him, when you're praying, 00:31:37.170 --> 00:31:41.170 ask God some questions. Yes, share in your concerns. 00:31:41.849 --> 00:31:45.410 But share with him your questions, your decisions. 00:31:45.430 --> 00:31:48.170 God, why is this happening? What are you doing? 00:31:49.369 --> 00:31:52.190 I want to know where to go, what to do. Like 00:31:52.190 --> 00:31:55.410 be real and raw with him. He wants to hear from 00:31:55.410 --> 00:31:58.289 you. I mean, the last time I checked, Revelation 00:31:58.289 --> 00:32:01.190 3 .20 says, come in and I'll have a meal with 00:32:01.190 --> 00:32:03.109 you. When you have a meal with someone, it's 00:32:03.109 --> 00:32:05.349 give or take. It's not just Jesus downloading 00:32:05.349 --> 00:32:09.089 into you. No, you're speaking to him. And then 00:32:09.089 --> 00:32:12.789 when you hear from God, write it down. Man, that's 00:32:12.789 --> 00:32:16.490 important. Make a note in your phone, God's speaking 00:32:16.490 --> 00:32:18.609 to me, and start recording what he's saying. 00:32:19.410 --> 00:32:21.970 Because as you journal, that's how change happens. 00:32:23.430 --> 00:32:25.650 And then again, you stay sensitive to the Spirit. 00:32:26.819 --> 00:32:31.279 Holy Spirit, come. Holy Spirit, come. Fill me 00:32:31.279 --> 00:32:36.859 up. Make my heart on fire. Now, for those of 00:32:36.859 --> 00:32:39.779 you that may be wanting more of the Holy Spirit, 00:32:39.920 --> 00:32:44.200 starting in February on Sunday nights, I'm going 00:32:44.200 --> 00:32:47.640 to be leading a Holy Spirit class. In the evenings, 00:32:47.700 --> 00:32:51.779 we're going to do it. During senior high youth, 00:32:51.960 --> 00:32:53.980 we're going to start and meet in here. Rick and 00:32:53.980 --> 00:32:56.869 I are going to lead. a class on the Holy Spirit, 00:32:56.970 --> 00:32:58.950 who he is, what he does, what he doesn't do, 00:32:59.170 --> 00:33:02.650 how he speaks to us. We're going to be laying 00:33:02.650 --> 00:33:04.589 on hands praying for people. We're going to believe 00:33:04.589 --> 00:33:08.529 God's going to move. February 1st, 5 o 'clock, 00:33:08.670 --> 00:33:11.730 right here. And yes, it's during the dinner hour. 00:33:11.789 --> 00:33:18.390 Don't eat. I did it on purpose. You can eat after 00:33:18.390 --> 00:33:21.930 we learn about the Holy Spirit, which moves us 00:33:21.930 --> 00:33:23.869 to our fourth result. We receive freedom and 00:33:23.869 --> 00:33:27.319 healing. Now it's interesting, in the New Testament 00:33:27.319 --> 00:33:30.599 when we read the word fast, in the Greek it literally 00:33:30.599 --> 00:33:34.480 means no eat. Now in the Old Testament, in the 00:33:34.480 --> 00:33:37.240 Hebrew, the word translated for fasting literally 00:33:37.240 --> 00:33:42.019 means shut your mouth. I like that one better. 00:33:43.480 --> 00:33:48.200 So true biblical fasting involves the voluntary 00:33:48.200 --> 00:33:51.500 refusal to eat food for a specific period of 00:33:51.500 --> 00:33:54.579 time. in order to more intensely pray and seek 00:33:54.579 --> 00:33:57.680 God. You say, Chris, why would I do that? I love 00:33:57.680 --> 00:34:00.220 this quote by Bill Bright, founder of Campus 00:34:00.220 --> 00:34:03.200 Crusade for Christ. He said this, I believe the 00:34:03.200 --> 00:34:05.960 power of fasting as it relates to prayer is this 00:34:05.960 --> 00:34:08.840 spiritual atomic bomb that our Lord has given 00:34:08.840 --> 00:34:11.320 us to destroy the strongholds of evil and usher 00:34:11.320 --> 00:34:13.280 in a great revival and spiritual harvest around 00:34:13.280 --> 00:34:20.250 the world. I love that word, atomic bomb. And 00:34:20.250 --> 00:34:23.190 just like Rhett was sharing with spiritual and 00:34:23.190 --> 00:34:26.710 generational curses and strong, blow them up. 00:34:27.929 --> 00:34:34.469 Choose to fast. It doesn't matter what it is 00:34:34.469 --> 00:34:36.929 you're struggling with. If you say to yourself, 00:34:37.150 --> 00:34:41.429 Chris, I just can't help myself. I just can't 00:34:41.429 --> 00:34:44.199 help myself. It doesn't matter if it's sexual 00:34:44.199 --> 00:34:46.340 addictions or temptation, overeating, drinking 00:34:46.340 --> 00:34:48.579 drugs, overspending, shopaholic, depression, 00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:53.179 suicidal tendencies. I believe that if we bring 00:34:53.179 --> 00:34:55.679 them all before God in fasting and prayer, he 00:34:55.679 --> 00:34:59.260 can set you free. How do I know that? Listen 00:34:59.260 --> 00:35:02.039 to Jesus' mission in Luke 14, 18 through 19 and 00:35:02.039 --> 00:35:06.599 21. The spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has 00:35:06.599 --> 00:35:09.309 anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He 00:35:09.309 --> 00:35:11.070 has sent me to proclaim the captives will be 00:35:11.070 --> 00:35:13.010 released, the blind will see, the oppressed will 00:35:13.010 --> 00:35:15.090 be set free, and the time of the Lord's favor 00:35:15.090 --> 00:35:18.150 has come. Then he began to speak to them, the 00:35:18.150 --> 00:35:20.610 scripture you've just heard, remember he's quoting 00:35:20.610 --> 00:35:23.789 an Old Testament prophecy, has been fulfilled 00:35:23.789 --> 00:35:29.309 this very day. So think about this. The same 00:35:29.309 --> 00:35:33.650 spirit that anointed Jesus to share those words 00:35:33.650 --> 00:35:37.230 and read those verse, The same spirit that rose 00:35:37.230 --> 00:35:40.389 Jesus from the grave now lives in you and me. 00:35:42.050 --> 00:35:47.469 What? Yeah, the same spirit that Jesus said upon 00:35:47.469 --> 00:35:54.170 him is now living in us. So for those of you 00:35:54.170 --> 00:35:57.329 who are struggling, right, look, there's good 00:35:57.329 --> 00:36:00.269 news. Receive it. He has sent me to proclaim 00:36:00.269 --> 00:36:04.139 captives will be released. You'll be free. The 00:36:04.139 --> 00:36:05.980 blind will see, the oppressed will be set free, 00:36:06.039 --> 00:36:09.019 the time of the Lord's favor has come. You know, 00:36:09.039 --> 00:36:10.760 if you're struggling with a physical condition 00:36:10.760 --> 00:36:15.400 and desire healing, get up here and receive prayer 00:36:15.400 --> 00:36:20.400 today. Right? It's a desire. It's a belief. Because 00:36:20.400 --> 00:36:22.519 last time I checked, when we fast and pray, Jesus 00:36:22.519 --> 00:36:24.719 said there's going to be what? Church? A reward. 00:36:32.300 --> 00:36:34.960 Which leads us to our final truth about fasting. 00:36:35.980 --> 00:36:38.579 When we fast, then we actually practice kingdom 00:36:38.579 --> 00:36:43.139 principles. In Isaiah 58, verses 6 through 7, 00:36:43.260 --> 00:36:47.980 notice how these verses begin. No, this is the 00:36:47.980 --> 00:36:50.719 kind of fasting I want. So God was correcting 00:36:50.719 --> 00:36:54.179 the people during this season, right? The Jewish 00:36:54.179 --> 00:36:57.760 people, they were fake fasting. Ripping their 00:36:57.760 --> 00:37:01.469 clothes, throwing ash on their head. Crying out 00:37:01.469 --> 00:37:07.090 to God, but their hearts were wrong. Sin, disobedience. 00:37:07.889 --> 00:37:10.730 And God says, no, this is the kind of fasting 00:37:10.730 --> 00:37:13.530 I want. Free those who are wrongly imprisoned. 00:37:14.329 --> 00:37:15.949 Lighten the burden of those who work for you. 00:37:15.989 --> 00:37:17.809 Let the oppressed go free. Remove the chains 00:37:17.809 --> 00:37:20.570 that bind people. Share your food with the hungry. 00:37:20.670 --> 00:37:22.449 Give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to 00:37:22.449 --> 00:37:25.050 those who need them. And do not hide from relatives 00:37:25.050 --> 00:37:29.809 who need help. These were the words from God. 00:37:30.480 --> 00:37:33.820 To his people when they were just living in religious 00:37:33.820 --> 00:37:38.820 routines. Going through the motions. Hearts full 00:37:38.820 --> 00:37:43.079 of sin and disobedience. Right? When we fast, 00:37:43.440 --> 00:37:47.099 it's not about showing up to church and checking 00:37:47.099 --> 00:37:50.380 a box. No, it's about fasting and serving the 00:37:50.380 --> 00:37:54.440 poor. Right? It's not about being religious. 00:37:54.599 --> 00:37:57.380 It's about pursuing God with our whole hearts. 00:37:59.980 --> 00:38:02.239 God says, church, this isn't what I've called 00:38:02.239 --> 00:38:05.780 you to. I haven't called you to a bunch of religious 00:38:05.780 --> 00:38:07.920 duties. I've called you to change the world. 00:38:09.300 --> 00:38:14.059 That's what you are called to do. You are called 00:38:14.059 --> 00:38:19.059 to forcefully advance God's kingdom into a Western 00:38:19.059 --> 00:38:22.159 culture that is quickly forgetting about God 00:38:22.159 --> 00:38:26.409 even exists. But you have a living God, a spirit 00:38:26.409 --> 00:38:29.949 inside of you that you can hand to people, but 00:38:29.949 --> 00:38:32.269 you've got to be connected to him, and we're 00:38:32.269 --> 00:38:40.070 connected to him when we fast and pray. We have 00:38:40.070 --> 00:38:42.750 to be concerned about the needs of the people 00:38:42.750 --> 00:38:46.449 around us, both in the church and outside of 00:38:46.449 --> 00:38:49.489 the church. Friends, everywhere we go, we find 00:38:49.489 --> 00:38:53.989 broken people in the tri -state area. In our 00:38:53.989 --> 00:38:56.949 schools, in our workplaces, in our families, 00:38:57.050 --> 00:39:01.150 our friends. Everywhere you go, there's broken 00:39:01.150 --> 00:39:04.869 people. And when we fast, see, God opens our 00:39:04.869 --> 00:39:07.010 eyes to see those needs, to meet those needs. 00:39:07.070 --> 00:39:09.909 I don't think it was happens or just chance that 00:39:09.909 --> 00:39:12.329 suddenly we received this phone call this week 00:39:12.329 --> 00:39:15.670 and said, they didn't call me, but they called 00:39:15.670 --> 00:39:18.610 Steve and said, hey, can Hub City take on 42 00:39:18.610 --> 00:39:24.400 more kids? And it wasn't even a let me pray about 00:39:24.400 --> 00:39:28.579 it, it was a yes. And it was a yes because we've 00:39:28.579 --> 00:39:33.639 been praying 24 -7 for the entire week. That 00:39:33.639 --> 00:39:37.719 we know when needs need met, we meet them. Because 00:39:37.719 --> 00:39:39.239 that's what this church is called to do. We're 00:39:39.239 --> 00:39:42.280 called to change the world. You are called to 00:39:42.280 --> 00:39:43.780 change the world. Have you ever seen yourself 00:39:43.780 --> 00:39:47.900 as a world changer? And see, I believe that's 00:39:47.900 --> 00:39:50.900 the problem with our current culture. See, our 00:39:50.900 --> 00:39:53.260 current culture, especially you young people, 00:39:53.420 --> 00:39:57.320 if you're under 30, you have a purpose, man. 00:39:57.980 --> 00:40:00.159 You have meaning. You have significance. Stop 00:40:00.159 --> 00:40:02.860 playing the games. Get your head out of the TV 00:40:02.860 --> 00:40:08.360 and come serve in God's kingdom. And for you 00:40:08.360 --> 00:40:11.679 older people, yes, your body hurts. Mine does 00:40:11.679 --> 00:40:15.639 every day. You wake up and you say, man, why 00:40:15.639 --> 00:40:21.659 does that hurt again? Let me tell you something. 00:40:22.260 --> 00:40:26.280 It's only going to get worse. There's only going 00:40:26.280 --> 00:40:28.139 to be more and more and more pieces that hurt. 00:40:29.980 --> 00:40:32.420 So let's just focus on what God wants to do through 00:40:32.420 --> 00:40:34.679 us and in us, and that's changing the world around 00:40:34.679 --> 00:40:41.260 us. I want to read with you as I close that same 00:40:41.260 --> 00:40:44.139 verse, Isaiah 58, 6 through 7, from the message 00:40:44.139 --> 00:40:47.360 paraphrase. Eugene Peterson writes it this way. 00:40:48.619 --> 00:40:50.719 And I want you to reflect on and receive this 00:40:50.719 --> 00:40:54.139 truth in our fast. This is the kind of fasting 00:40:54.139 --> 00:40:57.380 I'm after. Break the chains of injustice. Get 00:40:57.380 --> 00:40:59.460 rid of exploitation in the workplace. Free the 00:40:59.460 --> 00:41:02.480 oppressed. Cancel debts. What I'm interested 00:41:02.480 --> 00:41:05.480 in seeing you doing is sharing your food with 00:41:05.480 --> 00:41:08.159 the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your 00:41:08.159 --> 00:41:10.480 homes, putting clothes on the shivering, ill 00:41:10.480 --> 00:41:12.420 -clad, being available to your own families. 00:41:12.679 --> 00:41:17.760 You hear that, dads? Make time. Do this and the 00:41:17.760 --> 00:41:19.880 lights will turn on. Your lives will turn around 00:41:19.880 --> 00:41:21.960 at once. That's called living in abundance that 00:41:21.960 --> 00:41:24.619 Jesus promised. Your righteousness will pave 00:41:24.619 --> 00:41:26.940 your way. The God of glory will secure your passage. 00:41:27.179 --> 00:41:29.559 Then when you pray, God will answer. Remember 00:41:29.559 --> 00:41:32.780 that reward? You'll call out for help and I'll 00:41:32.780 --> 00:41:35.679 say, here I am. If you get rid of unfair practices, 00:41:35.760 --> 00:41:38.059 quit blaming victims, quit gossiping about other 00:41:38.059 --> 00:41:40.460 people's sins. If you are generous with the hungry 00:41:40.460 --> 00:41:43.059 and start giving yourselves to the down and out, 00:41:43.159 --> 00:41:45.340 your lives will begin to glow in the darkness. 00:41:45.599 --> 00:41:48.019 Your shattered lives will be bathed in sunlight. 00:41:48.360 --> 00:41:50.639 I will always show you where to go. I will give 00:41:50.639 --> 00:41:53.400 you a full life in the emptiest of places. Firm 00:41:53.400 --> 00:41:56.280 muscles, strong bones. You'll be like a well 00:41:56.280 --> 00:41:58.340 -watered garden, a gurgling spring that never 00:41:58.340 --> 00:42:00.800 runs dry. You'll use the old rubble of past lives 00:42:00.800 --> 00:42:03.739 to build anew. Rebuild the foundations from out 00:42:03.739 --> 00:42:06.219 of your past. You'll be known as those who can 00:42:06.219 --> 00:42:08.699 fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and 00:42:08.699 --> 00:42:15.260 renovate, make the community livable again. I 00:42:15.260 --> 00:42:25.880 want that for the tri -state area. You know, 00:42:25.880 --> 00:42:28.099 people can call this place a crap hole. It's 00:42:28.099 --> 00:42:34.099 no good. It's not worth anything. People never 00:42:34.099 --> 00:42:37.420 change. There's drugs everywhere. This is my 00:42:37.420 --> 00:42:43.579 home. This is my home. And I love this place. 00:42:44.400 --> 00:42:47.960 And I love the people in it. And here's your 00:42:47.960 --> 00:43:00.579 mission, church. Will you stand with me? I'm 00:43:00.579 --> 00:43:02.059 going to close with a simple challenge. I'm going 00:43:02.059 --> 00:43:06.039 to get you out of here. I want to challenge all 00:43:06.039 --> 00:43:08.159 of us in this room, all of you that can hear 00:43:08.159 --> 00:43:15.480 my voice. I need you to fast this week. I want 00:43:15.480 --> 00:43:18.599 you to commit seven days to fasting and prayer 00:43:18.599 --> 00:43:22.320 like you've never done before. I want you to 00:43:22.320 --> 00:43:24.440 figure out what God's telling you to give up. 00:43:25.219 --> 00:43:26.780 And I want you to give it up. And I want you 00:43:26.780 --> 00:43:28.559 to say no to that. And I want you to silence 00:43:28.559 --> 00:43:31.659 that flesh. And I want you to draw closer to 00:43:31.659 --> 00:43:36.019 Jesus like you've never done before. Talk to 00:43:36.019 --> 00:43:39.179 him. Cry out to him. Believe that God will use 00:43:39.179 --> 00:43:41.420 you, that will transform you. Step out in faith. 00:43:41.539 --> 00:43:44.400 Pray for people. Lay hands on people. Believe 00:43:44.400 --> 00:43:46.380 that God's going to move and use you. And if 00:43:46.380 --> 00:43:48.280 you're fasting and you're praying, I believe 00:43:48.280 --> 00:43:50.699 you're going to receive a reward. For others 00:43:50.699 --> 00:43:52.320 of you that are struggling, you're distant, you're 00:43:52.320 --> 00:43:54.739 far from God, you're struggling with habits and 00:43:54.739 --> 00:43:56.019 addictions, I believe God's going to set you 00:43:56.019 --> 00:43:59.380 free this week. I believe healing will be released 00:43:59.380 --> 00:44:05.340 in your life this week. I had no intention of 00:44:05.340 --> 00:44:08.539 sharing these words this morning, but God put 00:44:08.539 --> 00:44:10.199 it on my heart this week that I need to challenge 00:44:10.199 --> 00:44:12.539 you to do it. That it's going to be life -changing 00:44:12.539 --> 00:44:15.699 for many of you. You have no idea what you're 00:44:15.699 --> 00:44:18.619 doing? Okay, this is what you do. Figure out 00:44:18.619 --> 00:44:21.269 what God's telling you to give up. something 00:44:21.269 --> 00:44:23.050 that brings you pleasure, some type of food. 00:44:23.130 --> 00:44:25.489 I'm not talking about social media or NFL games 00:44:25.489 --> 00:44:31.070 or NBA games. I'm talking about food. Cut it 00:44:31.070 --> 00:44:36.750 out and replace it with God. Prayer, reading 00:44:36.750 --> 00:44:40.150 the Bible, and serving other people. And when 00:44:40.150 --> 00:44:42.030 you do that, you'll receive a reward that will 00:44:42.030 --> 00:44:44.730 vastly outnumber anything that you could do in 00:44:44.730 --> 00:44:49.190 your own strength. And I believe many of you 00:44:49.190 --> 00:44:53.489 already know what you need to give up. You already 00:44:53.489 --> 00:44:55.989 know. Now make that choice to step out and go 00:44:55.989 --> 00:44:59.530 after God for a week. And I believe we'll gather 00:44:59.530 --> 00:45:01.769 back here next Sunday on fire for God like we've 00:45:01.769 --> 00:45:04.070 never seen before. And I already know what I'm 00:45:04.070 --> 00:45:05.650 going to share next Sunday. It's just like this 00:45:05.650 --> 00:45:09.329 download is happening. And I believe a lot of 00:45:09.329 --> 00:45:11.030 that download is happening because of what's 00:45:11.030 --> 00:45:14.550 going on in the walls, 24 -7 prayer, like people 00:45:14.550 --> 00:45:16.909 are pursuing God like we've never pursued before. 00:45:17.420 --> 00:45:19.780 I was at that celebration of life yesterday and 00:45:19.780 --> 00:45:21.519 everybody's like, man, I hear good things there. 00:45:21.579 --> 00:45:23.119 I hear good things there. I hear good things 00:45:23.119 --> 00:45:26.300 there. I'm like, yeah, God's on the move. And 00:45:26.300 --> 00:45:27.840 it's not anything we're doing. We're just following 00:45:27.840 --> 00:45:32.519 along. It's not me. I certainly am not the eloquent 00:45:32.519 --> 00:45:34.840 speaker. I'm just a person that's being used 00:45:34.840 --> 00:45:37.780 by God. John Wimber used to say, I'm a fat man 00:45:37.780 --> 00:45:42.880 in God's pocket. I can't use that quote because 00:45:42.880 --> 00:45:50.099 I'm not a fat man. I'm just a man that's broken, 00:45:50.159 --> 00:45:52.480 that struggles with his flesh, but is pursuing 00:45:52.480 --> 00:45:54.260 Jesus and wants to see the world change. Amen? 00:45:55.280 --> 00:45:57.420 Let's go do it together. So before we go, I want 00:45:57.420 --> 00:45:58.940 to pray a simple prayer. I believe people are 00:45:58.940 --> 00:46:00.900 here that need to get back in right relationship 00:46:00.900 --> 00:46:03.380 with God. Maybe you're distant, far from God, 00:46:03.420 --> 00:46:04.760 never have been in relationship with Him. We're 00:46:04.760 --> 00:46:06.340 all going to pray together this simple prayer, 00:46:06.519 --> 00:46:08.679 believing that you're going to come home to God's 00:46:08.679 --> 00:46:12.420 kingdom. Amen? Let's pray. Jesus, I'm broken. 00:46:13.079 --> 00:46:18.500 I'm full of doubt, shame, regret. Sin. Change 00:46:18.500 --> 00:46:23.699 me. Forgive me. I believe you're God's son. I 00:46:23.699 --> 00:46:27.739 believe you died for me. I believe you're alive 00:46:27.739 --> 00:46:33.099 today. Make me new. Set me free. Fill me with 00:46:33.099 --> 00:46:37.019 your spirit, God. In Jesus' name, amen. All right, 00:46:37.039 --> 00:46:39.679 I'm going to that. No one leave. I got to share 00:46:39.679 --> 00:46:41.159 words of knowledge, and I'm going to that door 00:46:41.159 --> 00:46:44.300 to say goodbye to everyone. Prayer team is here 00:46:44.300 --> 00:46:47.039 on my left and right. These were the words of 00:46:47.039 --> 00:46:49.380 knowledge shared with me this week. If you're 00:46:49.380 --> 00:46:52.320 struggling with sciatica pain, come receive your 00:46:52.320 --> 00:46:55.659 healing. You have pain in your left hip, come 00:46:55.659 --> 00:46:58.219 receive your healing. You have right knee pain, 00:46:58.300 --> 00:47:01.119 it's causing problems when you walk, come receive 00:47:01.119 --> 00:47:04.460 your healing. You have severe headaches and migraines, 00:47:04.639 --> 00:47:07.820 come receive your healing. You have healing loss 00:47:07.820 --> 00:47:11.519 in either ear, come receive your healing. You 00:47:11.519 --> 00:47:15.019 have outside pain. of the heel of your foot that 00:47:15.019 --> 00:47:18.559 moves to the front of your foot. That's my right 00:47:18.559 --> 00:47:21.099 foot. So if that's you, come forward and receive 00:47:21.099 --> 00:47:26.199 your healing. And for those of you that missed 00:47:26.199 --> 00:47:29.400 out on coming forward last week and receiving 00:47:29.400 --> 00:47:33.059 the blessing of experiencing God's presence, 00:47:33.360 --> 00:47:36.539 if you want more of the Holy Spirit, come forward 00:47:36.539 --> 00:47:38.199 and allow the prayer team to pray for you. Amen? 00:47:38.960 --> 00:47:41.280 God bless you guys. This series closes next Sunday. 00:47:41.380 --> 00:47:42.699 Can't wait to see you and connect with you.