Fasting in the Kingdom – Renewing Your Mind and Body audio video notes. Jesus comes to a place where he tells us how to raise our spiritual talents to a new level. Have you ever wanted to increase your level of spirituality? Have you ever wanted to be a better, more mature Christ follower? Seriously, have you ever wanted to go to the next level of spirituality? If so, there are some private lessons you can take. But when you fast…
Sermon On The Mount Sermon Series
Fasting in the Kingdom – Renewing Your Mind and Body
By Pastor Delbert Young
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Fasting in the Kingdom – Renewing Your Mind and Body
Scriptures: 1 Timothy 4:7-8, Matthew 6:16-18, Luke 18:12, 2 Chronicles 20:3, 2 Chronicles 20:25,
How many of us play golf? How about tennis? Okay, how many play a musical instrument of some kind? What would you say if I asked you what you would do if you wanted to improve your competency in this area of your life dramatically? I mean, if you’re going to become very good at it, what would you do? Would you not take some private lessons from professionals – spend time with the pros – and then practice, practice, practice?
I am an excellent fisherman. I usually catch fish even if no one else is catching them. My nephew and I were out fishing in the gulf this past September. We caught our limit of Snapper and Grouper. It is illegal to clean fish on the water, so the state provides a place to clean fish at the dock where I launch my boat. We dumped our catch on the cleaning table, and people came around. They began taking pictures and admiring our catch. Other boats came in and had nothing. I have entered fishing tournaments at Lake Weiss. I won first place every year except one. Do you know how I became a good fisherman?
I took private lessons.
Professional fishing guides took me fishing and taught me how to catch the fish I wanted, and I had many fishing lessons. Now, I can do what the pros do, even better than some. It would have been nice if there were a quicker and less expensive way. I wish they could have laid hands on me and prayed. I wish they could have imparted their knowledge. Or maybe cast out all my bad techniques. It would have been nice if they could have given me books to read. But that’s not the way it works.
Fasting in the Kingdom
When I see an excellent golfer, I applaud them because of the price I know they paid. Great tennis players fascinate me. When I hear a talented musician, I applaud them because I know the price they paid. They spent hours and hours in practice and lessons. Whatever it is you are good at takes time and requires diligence.
WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT?
Jesus comes to a place where he tells us how to raise our spiritual talents to a new level. Have you ever wanted to increase your level of spirituality? Have you ever wanted to be a better, more mature Christ follower, and have you ever wanted to go to the next level of spirituality? If so, there are some private lessons you can take. When, at some point, we look into the mirror and realize we are not growing and becoming better in our spiritual life, we can take some private lessons.
Fasting in the Kingdom
When we honestly say things like, “I’m not much closer to God now than I was two, three, five years ago, I’m not a more loving person today, my character hasn’t changed, my joy is not where I want it, my sensitivity to hurting people has not increased, my desire to give has not increased, I’m not concerned about the lost” there are some lessons we can sign up for. We can practice some spiritual techniques to dramatically improve and change our spiritual lives.
1 Timothy 4:7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.
1 Timothy 4:8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
Please notice that training ourselves to be godly has value and benefits for the present life and not only for the life to come. Father wants to bless us and reveal secrets to us about life. Sometimes, life is not good because people will not train themselves. They never break bad habits. They never raise the level at which they live. When they should be playing in the majors, they continue to play T-league.
THE LORD DESIRES WE GROW AND MATURE AND GET BETTER AT LIFE SO WE CAN LIVE BLESSED AND ABUNDANT.
The more mature we become spiritually, the better our lives become. We enjoy life, and life is full and abundant.
Fasting in the Kingdom
Jesus discussed our signing up for personal lessons in the Sermon on the Mount. We are at that point in our study. Here is what he said.
Matthew 6:16-18
16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,
18 so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Fasting raises our spiritual sensitivity. When we want to grow and become more efficient at spiritual things, we are too fast.
NEHEMIAH:
There was a man named Nehemiah in the Bible. He had a great job. He was the official wine tester for a Gentile king named Artaxerxes. Though things seemed very good for Nehemiah, something stirred in his heart, and he wanted to do something special for God and God’s people. So he fasted. Shortly afterward, he left his day job and went to Jerusalem to lead the rebuilding of the walls that Nebuchadnezzar’s armies had torn down. Nehemiah fulfilled his destiny because he fasted. Nehemiah found joy and fullness in life because he fasted.
Fasting in the Kingdom
God will do that for you. I’ve got to be somewhat careful because I don’t want to relinquish my rewards, but I began fasting when I came into the kingdom. My life changed dramatically. I grew quickly. The Lord began using me in many ways. He has blessed my life and rewarded me in more ways than I can tell us. Every person I have spoken with who has spent time fasting has grown in their spirituality. They are blessed Christ’s followers. Their lives are full and abundant. Fasting is a key to an abundant life.
Matthew 6:16 “When you fast . . .” Matthew 6:17 But when you fast…”
Jesus did not say, “If you fast.” He said, “When you fast.” In the kingdom of heaven, we fast. Life in the kingdom requires fasting. It’s up to us to “when” we do it, but we are to do it. It will accomplish something within the believer that nothing else will achieve. Fasting will accomplish something that reading the Bible will not accomplish, that praying will not accomplish, that giving will not accomplish, that ministering to people will not accomplish.
Fasting is a serious spiritual experience that will make us more efficient when we read the Bible, pray, minister to people, and give. It is a training time unlike anything else we can do.
SAUL OF TARSUS:
One day, Saul of Tarsus was on the road going to Damascus to persecute Christians. Saul knew the scriptures. He was a well-trained Pharisee. On the way to Damascus, a bright light came upon him, and the Lord told Saul to go into town and wait. He did. For three days, Saul fasted. Saul’s life changed so much that he changed his name and became Paul the Apostle. Though trained in the scriptures, Paul had a new Bible because of his new revelation. He wrote most of the books in the New Testament, which are truths that guide our lives and churches today. When he fasted, his life advanced to the next level.
Fasting in the Kingdom
That is what will happen to you and me. Sometimes, we get to the point where we don’t enjoy reading God’s word or become critical about life. Sometimes, we find ourselves on the road to Damascus wanting to hurt someone. We have gotten bitter. Sometimes, the church can lose its impact and become a chore.
Sometimes, we don’t want to do what we know we are to do for the kingdom. We all get like that from time to time. Jesus said if we fast and spend time with the pros—the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost—our spiritual level will be higher than ever. Things will change. We will be stirred up and fired up to do what we were born to do.
Matthew 6:16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
The first instruction the Lord gave us about fasting was how not to do it. Sometimes, we can do spiritual things but not get spiritual results.
Do you remember the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector who went to the prayer meeting simultaneously? Here is what the Pharisees said.
Luke 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
The problem with the Pharisee was not that he did not fast and give. The problem was how he did them. He did them externally to be applauded by people. Fasting will accomplish people’s applause. Jesus said it would. People will think a person always fasting is spiritual, but if they do it for applause, that is all that will happen.
Fasting in the Kingdom
Jesus told us how to do fasting correctly.
Matthew 6:17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,
Matthew 6:18 so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen;
We can compare their putting oil on their heads with combing or brushing our hair and splashing on some cologne or perfume. It’s not necessarily that they anointed themselves with oil to be spiritual. The point is that we avoided being obvious to people that we are fasting. We are to look normal.
FASTING, LIKE GIVING, IS FROM THE HEART.
We give from the heart. We fast from the heart. There should be an internal desire to fast and spend time with Father God.
I want to say this. I have never met or been around a genuinely spiritual person who had not spent time fasting.
CORNELIUS:
Do you remember Cornelius? He was a man who loved the Lord. He loved to give. Cornelius also loved to pray, fast, and be with the Lord. One day, he was fasting and praying, and an angel appeared. The angel gave Cornelius instructions that changed his life and the lives of his friends and family. The angel told Cornelius to send for Peter. Peter came. Cornelius and everyone there received salvation and were filled with the Holy Ghost.
Fasting in the Kingdom
ORAL ROBERTS:
Fasting stirs up and intensifies gifts within us. Judy and I went to Atlanta years ago to an event where pastors could sit and talk with Oral Roberts. Afterward, he lined us up and came down the line, praying for and touching each of us. We were able to ask questions, and he answered them. One of the questions asked Oral Roberts was about fasting. He said that he fasted frequently. We all know the ministry that he experienced.
OBVIOUS:
I like that the Lord said, “…so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting.” It’s impossible to keep my fasting a secret and live an everyday life. My wife knows I am fasting, and the people I fellowship know I’m fasting. The point is not to make our fasting evident to people. Don’t grandstand. We are to seek the Father’s approval and not the approval of people.
REWARD:
Finally, concerning this instruction about fasting, Jesus said,
Matthew 6:18 …and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
When our hearts are right, and we diligently seek the Lord, he will reward us. That is a given. Father will do something supernatural in your life if you will seek him in fasting.
JEHOSHAPHAT:
Once, the nation of Judah was in a bad place. All their enemies had gathered together to destroy Judah. King Jehoshaphat was fearful. He knew this could be the end. He knew there was no way they could defeat all those enemies. So, he fasted and proclaimed a fast for the people.
2 Chronicles 20:3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
Fasting in the Kingdom
During the fast, the Lord spoke to a prophet named Jahaziel. He told them that if they would trust the Lord and praise God, God would deliver them. The prophet said for them not to be fearful. This fight was not their battle. It was the Lord’s battle, and he would deliver them. The following day, they sang, “Praise the LORD, for his mercy endureth forever.” The Bible says that when they began singing, the Lord moved supernaturally and caused confusion. All the enemies attacked and destroyed each other until no enemies were left. Here is what then happened.
2 Chronicles 20:25 So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value – more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it.
All that happened because people fasted and began seeking God. God will reward people who seek him. He will move supernaturally on our behalf when we fast. The Lord will send angels like he did to Cornelius and people like he did with Paul. Also, he will send your answer, and you will mature and mightily grow in your walk with Christ. HE WILL REWARD YOU ABUNDANTLY! Your enemies will destroy themselves, and you will get the spoil!
Fasting is a spiritual training. Jesus was not big on ceremonies and traditions. He was intense on spiritual training and spiritual disciplines. In chapter six, Jesus spoke about the discipline of giving (Mat 6:1-4). He talked about the discipline of praying (Mat 6:5-15). He spoke about the discipline of fasting (Mat 6:16-18). We need spiritual disciplines and training to have an abundant life. They train us to expect the supernatural. They train us to move in the supernatural.
How is your heart concerning spiritual disciplines?
Fasting in the Kingdom – Renewing Your Mind and Body
Fasting in the Kingdom – Renewing Your Mind and Body
Other Related Sermons:
Fasting Remembrance In The Sight Of God
Giving in the Kingdom audio video notes
Training Our Children By Discipline Audio
Prayer in the Kingdom audio video notes
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