The Shed
1/18/27 morning
- I Just Feel Like Something Good
- Let God Arise
- im on the battlefield for my lord
- I am blessed
- my God's got an army
- Have the value statement and the discipleship path passed out.Review Shed Value Statement Series we will finish todayToday is the final sermon of the season of answering the question, “Who are we at The Shed.”If you’re new here and still trying to figure us out, I encourage you to go back and watch this series from the beginning.It will give you insight into who we are, step by step through the vision and core values that guide our growth.We began by walking through our discipleship pathway together, leaning in on the fact that discipleship isn’t a class, it’s not a curriculum, it’s not a book…Discipleship is life lived together, learning and growing into the image of Jesus on the earth.The Shed is a greenhouse where disciples grow…We grow disciples in here that embody Jesus out there.And because Growth is the expected avenue that members should be traveling on, each of our six core values are an expression of how we grow…You will notice, each begins with “Growing”…Growing with… Growing through… Growing from…All of these are intended to guide us in and propel us to GROWTH.These are how we grow…The expected result of what we do in here is growth.So “We grow disciples in here that embody Jesus out there.”And this is how we do it:By…Growing with IntentionGrowing through EncouragementGrowing through CommunityGrowing through the SpiritGrowing through ServiceAnd..Growing from God’s WordWe grow deeper by rooting all we do in the timeless truth of God’s word.(2 Tim. 3:16-17)The wording of the description of this core value is intentional and specific with depth being connected to and rooted in the study of God’s word.There are those who think depth is found elsewhere: either in some spiritual experience, a manifestation of some sort, a feeling we get, an experience we have, or in things like prophecy and miracles and deliverance…Here’s a test: I’m going to say this and I want you to monitor your initial reaction. What’s the immediate feeling you get or thought you have when I say this:You cannot go any deeper than what you find in God’s word…Now there are usually two camps: first is the camp that amens and wholeheartedly believes this with everything they are, because they can’t get enough of the word, they are always reading in it, studying through it, discovering more with it…Then there is the second camp that has tuned out my entire description of the first camp because as soon as I said that, your hackles rose up and your first thought was, “Well, I just don’t think you can put a limit on God like that…”Let me be clear: If you think the revelation of God in His word is limited, you don’t understand the depth and breadth of what has been deposited in the words of these pages…So if that’s you, please listen close… today is especially for you.I want to hopefully give you a glimpse into what the Word really is and why we are so adamant about it here at The Shed…First, God’s Word doesn’t begin when the authors of scripture began to write…Before it was written, it was spoken.Before man walked the earth, before animals crawled on the ground, before rivers or oceans, before clouds or rain, before the sun or starts began to shine…There was darkness over the depth of the void…But in the midst of that emptiness came a sound… a sound that shook the heavens… a sound that carried unmatched power…That sound was the very first command… the Word of God…
Genesis 1:3 NASB95 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.At the very word of God, darkness had to retreat, emptiness was suddenly filled, and light burst forth with an intensity and impact that still reverberates across the expanse of space today…It wasn’t just energy, it wasn’t just power, it was the Word that brought the fullness of creation and life….The Word was so powerful it caused everything that can be seen today to come from nothing but the sound of the voice of God Himself…The Word was so intentional it could even hang the earth on nothing and cause it to stay…The Word was so authoritative, even the oceans listened with God said you shall come this far and no further…Job 38:11 NASB95 11 And I said, ‘Thus far you shall come, but no farther; And here shall your proud waves stop’?This is the power of The Word of God…Those words were later transcribed, recording in writing, allowing us to see God's progressive revelation of Himself to mankind through His word.Exodus 24:4 NASB95 4 Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord…God has spoken from the beginning before it was written, then for your sake and mine inspired men to write His words as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit…When it was written down, it didn’t become any less God’s word. On the contrary, it gave record to the Word God had spoken throughout history, preserved for generations to come…It is of this Word that the psalmist speaks in Psalm 119:Psalm 119:9 NASB95 9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.Psalm 119:11 NASB95 11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.Psalm 119:15–16 NASB95 15 I will meditate on Your precepts And regard Your ways. 16 I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word.Psalm 119:17 NASB95 17 Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word.Psalm 119:89 NASB95 89 Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.This is the beauty and majesty and wonder found in the Word of God!This is the same Word that was carried by prophets like Jeremiah who said…Jeremiah 1:4 NASB95 4 Now the word of the Lord came to me saying,or Ezekiel who said…Ezekiel 12:17 NASB95 17 Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me saying,or Isaiah who said…Isaiah 6:1 NASB95 1 In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple.This word carried by men who spoke not of their own accord, but as they were empowered and inspired by the Holy Spirit..It was this word that warned and rebuked, blessed and declared, set up kings and kingdoms and tore them back down again…This Word that still carried the power of the God of the universe…This is the Word of God!But something unimaginable happens after Israel repeatedly turned their back on God and refused to heed His powerful Word…God went silent..For 400 years, there was no prophet to carry the Word of the Lord..In fact, we have writings from that time from outside the bible that say,1 Maccabees 4:45–46 NRSV 45 And they thought it best to tear it down, so that it would not be a lasting shame to them that the Gentiles had defiled it. So they tore down the altar, 46 and stored the stones in a convenient place on the temple hill until a prophet should come to tell what to do with them.Later in the same writing it says,1 Maccabees 9:27 NRSV 27 So there was great distress in Israel, such as had not been since the time that prophets ceased to appear among them.Those that lived at this time recognized something had happened and the Word of God was no longer being inspired on the Earth, no prophet came forth, and no scripture was written…400 years slowly pass... that's nearly double the lifetime of the United States of America... 400 years of silence.... no word... no revelation...Then one man, dressed in camel skins, a voice crying in the wilderness…REPENT! FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND…One lone cry heralded the coming of what had been missing for 400 years... THE WORD!As it turns out, this man was there, leaping in his mother's womb when the WORD was placed in Mary by the Holy Spirit...When the angels showed up with a message of hope and salvation... when Gabriel appeared to Mary with a message... Greetings favored one! The LORD is with you!When a host of angels appeared to the shepherds in the field... GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHSEST! AND ON EARTH, PEACE AMONG MEN WITH WHOM HE IS PLEASED..."Finally after 400 years of silence, the Word broke through the barrier of silence, but this time it was different...This time the word was wrapped in flesh....John the revelator says of Him...John 1:1–5 NASB95 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.According to verse 9, this word…John 1:9 NASB95 9 …was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.And verse 14 reveals this:John 1:14 NASB95 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.The elders looked for Him... John testified about Him...Mary carried Him... The angels sang of Him...The demons trembled before Him...the pharisees tried to kill him... but death couldn't hold Him, because he is not just a man, HE IS THE VERY WORD OF GOD!The same Word that saw light come forth in the darkness…The same Word than hung the earth on nothing…The same Word that commanded the oceans, separated the firmament, and brought forth all that is seen…The angel called him Yeshua... his disciples called him teacher...the sadducees called him a heretic...the Church calls him the hope of our salvation...But I CALL HIM JESUS!He always has been and He always will be the WORD OF GOD...But as if that’s not enough, here's the amazing thing...He told his disciples, its good that I go so that the helper will comeJohn 15:26 NASB95 26 “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me,and this is what Jesus promised of Him…John 16:13 NASB95 13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth…In other words, The Word in the flesh is telling them, there will be one who resides in you that will speak of me...He will deliver the word to you... And you will do even greater works than if I stayed...What we see after that is the spread of the gospel, the good news about Jesus, the Word, providing a way for salvation, not only to the Jews but to the whole world...And Jesus' promise was fulfilled when the Holy Spirit inspired the Apostles to begin recording what was being revealed to them...The very Word of God alive in their hearts, revealed in them...They began to write and develop the letters that we now call the New Testament...They even recognized this themselves… Look at what Paul writes about the Word in 1 Thess. 2:131 Thessalonians 2:13 NASB95 13 For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.And look at what he says it does now… “Which also performs its work in you who believe…”This word hasn’t gone stagnant, it’s not dead, and it’s not just a thing of history…This word works in you who believe!Hebrews 4:12 NASB95 12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.Being rooted in the Word is not just a line of study, it is engaging in surgery that leaves us transformed!We have been given the opportunity to share in the Word by accepting the gift of salvation offered in Jesus, thereby welcoming the Holy Spirit into our heart, transforming us, renewing us, regenerating us, so that when we look at these words, we don't just see ancient records....No, we begin to read these words and the Holy Spirit illuminates the Word of God that lies within these pages, joining the Word of God that resides within our hearts, and becoming the Word of God proclaimed from our own mouths, preached to the whole world, declaring the very words of John the baptist…The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand!We hold the same ministry he did in that it is the calling of the church to make ready a people prepared for the Lord...Because he didn't just come and leave, but He will be back again...John the revelator saw a glimpse of it when he said this...Revelation 19:11–16 NASB95 11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. 13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. 16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”We have the WORD to proclaim the WORD, to prepare for the return of the WORD…The same word that was revealed from the beginning...The same word that is reflected in these scriptures...The same word we now have in us by the Holy Spirit and revealed to us through the writings of scripture...So when we say we grow deeper by rooting everything we do in the timeless truth of God's word, we are not only talking about studying an ancient text...We are partnering with the illuminating power of the Holy Spirit to be transformed by the renewing of our mind...The study of the Word is not a boring trek through history... it is a journey through a living well, a depth of wisdom inspired by the very Spirit of God and embodied by Jesus Himself...Jesus said the one who hears my words and does them is like a man who built his house on a rock, a firm foundation...Matthew 7:24 NASB95 24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.He also said, if you love me, you will keep my commands...John 14:15 NASB95 15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.The study of the Word is not a chore, is a process of discovery through which we can gain insight into who The Word really is...So we root ourselves in the Scriptures, for they contain the very words of God...The Inspiration of Scripture is the first of the Assemblies of God fundamental truths, because everything flows from this...At the Shed, we are a bible believing church and if we are to grow, we must be rooted in the Word of God.Because We grow from God's word...Call Worship TeamI want to give you something practical here, because I've heard this is a struggle for some of you, and I want you to feel confident in your study and reading of the Word.So here's what we are going to do.You already know we are launching a Friday night grow group at the first of the year going through Financial Peace University. Jimmy will be leading that.In addition to that, we are also launching a new bible study class on Sunday mornings. Here's how it will work:At 9:30 every Sunday morning, for the first 10 weeks of the year, we will have a bible study basics class.It will last 30 minutes, then we will have coffee with the pastors after that.So from 9:30-10am every Sunday morning starting Jan. 4th, 4 weeks from today, we will have a bible study basics class.Yes, I'll have the cinnamon rolls ready, but this will be an intentional time of training in basic bible study.I hear from many that you're not sure where to start in your reading or how to study, so this class is especially for you.Don't worry, if you have kids, bring them on. They will love the cinnamon rolls.In case you didn’t pick it up, I’m passionate about the Word, and I think with the right tools, you too can discover the depth that can be found in these scriptures.I want to commend you as Paul commended Timothy:2 Timothy 2:15 NASB95 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.So that you can be equipped as he said in the next chapter:2 Timothy 3:16–17 NASB95 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.This is how we are Growing…We are…Growing with IntentionGrowing through EncouragementGrowing through CommunityGrowing through the SpiritGrowing through ServiceGrowing from God’s WordLet’s worship together… - Wouldn't it be like You
- Take up missions offering - adding Project Rescue as a monthly missions partner in 2026Explain why we are doing this and the Lounge (an international support addition and a local project) at the first of the year.Welcome to 2026!I believe this year will be a year of Harvest at the Shed, but not just at the Shed.I believe this year we will see a continued surge in line with the momentum we have seen begin to build over 2025.New research from Barna Group, as part of their ongoing State of the Church initiative with Gloo, reveals a surprising shift: Millennials and Gen Z are driving a resurgence in church attendance.According to Barna’s latest data, 66 percent of all U.S. adults say they have made a personal commitment to Jesus that is still important in their life today. That marks a 12-percentage-point increase since 2021, when commitment levels reached their lowest in more than three decades of Barna tracking.Put simply, this equates to nearly 30 million more U.S. adults who claim to be following Jesus today than just five years ago in 2021.Weekly bible reading has increased 12 points just since 2024 with the largest increase being seen in Gen Z and Mellinials. Among those age groups nearly half of both generationsnow read their bible weekly.Among those same generations, what was a steady fall in church attendance has seen a spike to all time highs, nearly doubling since 2020.Globally, Christianity is growing at a rate that outpaces the natural population growth, especially in pentecostal and charasmatic movements.This momentum represents both an opportunity and a challenge for the church today.The opportunity is that there is a resurgence of interest and a rise in the answer to the call of God.The challenge is this: that we as a body are responsible for the discipleship that comes with this rise in interest.This is what the harvest of 2026 is going to look like, it is a harvest of discipleship that can only happen in the context of relational connectivity.Why did we add another mission to support and start the year off with a project like the lounge?Because I believe there is a harvest coming and we have already begun to see the first ripening in the momentum that has been building here at the Shed.In the scriptures, when there was harvest, the first thing that God instructs is that there should be an offering of first fruits brought to God.This is a principle that predates the law, it carries through the Old Testament and is revealed again in the New Testament…When Cain and Able brought their sacrifices to God they were described this way:
Genesis 4:3–4 NASB95 3 So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. 4 Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering;Notice what the author contrasts in their offerings… Cain brought his offering in the course of time, but Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock…It wasn’t the leftovers God wanted. It was the first of Abels flock that pleased him…It wasn’t about whether it was from the flock or from the crops, it was the order in which it was done.In fact, this teaching is often connected with money, but giving monitarily is only one way to engage with this principle…For Abel it was his flock…For Abraham it was the spoils of battle…In Genesis 14, Abraham won a battle and with it all the goods of the enemy, but before he even went home, he gave 10% as an offering of firstfruits to God through Melchizedek.In Deuteronomy, it’s even the first wool from the shearing of the sheep:Deuteronomy 18:4 NASB95 4 “You shall give him the first fruits of your grain, your new wine, and your oil, and the first shearing of your sheep.In the Law there were at least three different first fruit offerings that were given, one for the barley, one for the wheat, and one for the fall fruits…Exodus 23:16 NASB95 16 “Also you shall observe the Feast of the Harvest of the first fruits of your labors from what you sow in the field; also the Feast of the Ingathering at the end of the year when you gather in the fruit of your labors from the field.There was another kind of first fruits described in Numbers 15:19-21Numbers 15:19–21 NASB95 19 then it shall be, that when you eat of the food of the land, you shall lift up an offering to the Lord. 20 ‘Of the first of your dough you shall lift up a cake as an offering; as the offering of the threshing floor, so you shall lift it up. 21 ‘From the first of your dough you shall give to the Lord an offering throughout your generations.Leviticus says it this way:Leviticus 23:17 NASB95 17 ‘You shall bring in from your dwelling places two loaves of bread for a wave offering, made of two-tenths of an ephah; they shall be of a fine flour, baked with leaven as first fruits to the Lord.Chronicles describes it like this: 2 Chron 31:52 Chronicles 31:5 NASB95 5 As soon as the order spread, the sons of Israel provided in abundance the first fruits of grain, new wine, oil, honey and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of all.Solomon taught about it:Proverbs 3:9–10 NASB95 9 Honor the Lord from your wealth And from the first of all your produce; 10 So your barns will be filled with plenty And your vats will overflow with new wine.Nehmiah mentioned it:Nehemiah 10:35 NASB95 35 and that they might bring the first fruits of our ground and the first fruits of all the fruit of every tree to the house of the Lord annually,In the New Testament Paul utilizes the metaphor of firstfruit in 1 Cor. 15:201 Corinthians 15:20 NASB95 20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.Jesus was a type of first fruits, the first of a harvest, the first representative of what was to come…Because one of these days, we will rise like Jesus rose with new bodies to live and be with Him forever!And we know this because He rose first, as a first fruits, a representation of what was to come…That’s what this principle of firstfruits is all about.It’s not about taking up a good offering. This principle is about prioritizing the Kingdom of God first and representing that prioritization by giving of the first fruits…The first fruits were given before the rest of the crop was touched…This was before they knew it would all work out, it was before they started in on it themselves…It was before they divided it up to make sure they had enough.It was before they calculated how much was gained or lost.It was FIRST.Matthew 6:33 NASB95 33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.Matthew 22:37–38 NASB95 37 And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 “This is the great and first commandment.So why did we begin the year with a project that benefits the community rather than doing something for us? Because we as a church want to start by giving FIRST, in anticipation for the harvest we believe is coming this year.Again, this isn’t just about money, it applies to every area of life.When put into practice, what this principle does is twofold:1. It shows your trust in God.In order to give to God first, you have to trust that He will provide the rest.Psalm 9:10 NASB95 10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.Psalm 56:3–4 NASB95 3 When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. 4 In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?Psalm 37:5 NASB95 5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.This is what dedicating your first, highest, and best does! It shows your trust in God!The second thing this principle does when you put it into action in your life is…2. It Dethrones Idol KingsSome of you remember me mentioning the three kings that are dethroned when I talked about fasting last time, but over the next three weeks I will expand on three areas this principle applies to and the three kings that we will dethrone in our hearts by putting this into action:The first is King Appetite…Next week, I will be teaching about fasting, because we are beginning the year with a fast.If you were here when I taught about fasting several months ago, you can join me in fasting starting this week.If you haven’t heard me teach about fasting yet, I encourage you to be here next week and listen and get on the same page before you start your fast.If you want to fast track that and start with us this week, you can go back and listen to that sermon on our website or youtube.We are dedicating these first weeks of the year back to God as a time of firstfruits in every area. This fast is a dedication of firstfruits and the dethroning of king appetite…The following week we will talk about dethroning King Busyness. When we prioritize what God prioritizes rather than our worldly cares, we actively dethrone the idol of busyness…When we dedicate the first fruits of our time back to God as we are doing in this first month of the year, we are showing our Trust in God that He will direct our paths and give us the time we need to accomplish what He wants…And the last week of the month we are going to finally talk about a firstfruits offering in finances.Before we get there, however, we are starting the year off beginning this Friday, with an arrangement of our finances through Financial Peace University…If this year is to be a year of Harvest, we can only be effective if we aren’t drowing in debt, always just catching up, and living paycheck to paycheck, so this grow group will spend the first ten weeks of the year aligning us with God’s mission in our finances.If you would like to sign up for that, you can do so on Church Center. We believe in this so much that Jimmy will be leading the group and the church will pay for your license if you will come.We will start that this Friday night at 6pm, then on the last Sunday of this month we will be talking about Dethroning King Mammon by dedicating the firstfruits of our finances to God.Again this shows our trust in Him to provide what we need because He is our source and provider.That last Sunday we will take up a firstfruits offering where we will put our faith into action and start the year off with a dedication to God.That will also be the Sunday we break our fast together at Meet’n’Eat. At that Meet’n’Eat, we will take communion together, share a meal, then present the Lounge that we are working on now.This is our month of Firstfruits…There’s one more thing we are going to do this morning and I can’t think of a better way to start off the year, but with worship and with a baptism.We are going to worship together and in just a few minutes we are going to have our very first baptism of 2026! - the more i seek You
- nothing else
- Used to this
- firm foundation
Mark 2:18–20 NASB95 18 John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and they came and said to Him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?” 19 And Jesus said to them, “While the bridegroom is with them, the attendants of the bridegroom cannot fast, can they? So long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20 “But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.Title: Dethroning King AppetitePrayOver the last few weeks we have been talking about harvest and vision and what 2026 will look like.Last week, we began a season of dedicating our firstfruits to God.As a church we have begun our first project of the year and taken on a new monthly missions pledge as our institutional firstfruits.Both of those things are us giving to God what is first in the year.We could have started with lights or chairs or an internal remodel, but we chose to give the time and resources back to God in firstfruits fashion, doing something for the community with no direct benefit for us.For today and the next two weeks, we will be talking about dedicating our first to God in ways you might not have thought about.I would pose this challenge to you that if you will participate in these words for the next three weeks and not just listen, but put them to action, you will see that the realignment of these three areas do something drastic in us…Aligning the three areas I’m going to talk about strip down the excuses and break down the walls that keep our own preferences on the throne of our heart and return God to His rightful place there.In fact, I would go so far as to say there are three idols that every believer must contend with and dethrone from their heart and allow God to reign in their life.Those three idols are Appetite, Busyness, and Mammon.For the next three weeks we are going to put God first, give him our first, and in so doing, dethrone the three idol kings that would take His place on the throne of our hearts.This week we begin the process of dethroning King Appetite by reminding ourselves of our need for God’s voice and His word.Fasting is one of those topics that everyone has an opinion on, but few have scriptural reference for.In fact, in my own life, I have avoided it, pushed it back, fought it, wrestled with it, gotten excited about it, wrestled with it some more, prayed it through, studied it endlessly, and now I’m delivering to you the fruits of that process.I went through all that before preaching this message because the vast majority of writers I’ve read and preachers I’ve listened to appeal largely to their own experience and testimonies from others when supporting their opinions about fasting.I am leery of any doctrine, tradition, or belief that pulls more from experience than from scripture, and most of the teachings I have heard about fasting do just that.In fact, I have had my own experiences that I will share with you in fasting, both good and bad.But Today, we are going to go on a biblical journey together to discover what the bible actually says about fasting.Many religions all over the world use fasting as a religious tool, and this has been the case for millennia.In ancient times, fasting was used by many cultures as a way to avoid demonic or spiritual oppression.In Greek and Roman cultures, fasting was done to receive ecstatic revelations.Fasting has been used in magic and by soothsayers.Native Americans fasted for many of their spiritualist rituals, learning that fasting causes one to be sensitive to visions and dreams.Fasting is customary in every major religion on earth: Judaism, Mohammedism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity.Hindus fast to “raise one’s consciousness to union with God.”Buddhists fast to “guard, control, and lift the senses to a peak experience.”Muslims fast each year during the daylight hours of the month of Ramadan to invoke Allah’s blessing, to develop spiritual discipline and self control, to purify the body and spirit, and to evoke in themselves sensitivity and generosity toward the poor.Every culture, on every continent, in every religion have a place for fasting. The Zulu people in Africa have a saying, “The continually stuffed body cannot see secret things.”So the question we have to ask ourselves about fasting must be that of God’s message to Zechariah:Zechariah 7:5 NASB95 5 “Say to all the people of the land and to the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months these seventy years, was it actually for Me that you fasted?What is the motivation for fasting? Why is it important? And how is what we are doing different than any of the other fasting done in other religions?I think to get to this place, we must recognize the priority and frequency with which fasting is spoken of in scripture:Positive Fasting Examples:2 Corinthians 6:5; 11:27 – Paul mentions being “in fastings often”Paul and Barnabas fasted to appoint elders in every church the planted (Acts 14:23).The church at Antioch fasted → and the Spirit set apart Paul and Barnabas for mission (Acts 13:2–3).Anna fasted in the temple → and God let her see the Messiah (Luke 2:37).Jesus fasted 40 days → and triumphed over Satan in the wilderness (Matt. 4:2).Daniel fasted → and God sent angelic revelation (Dan. 9:3; 10:2–3).Esther and the Jews fasted → and God delivered them from Haman’s plot (Est. 4:16).Ezra fasted at the river → and God gave safe passage home (Ezra 8:21–23).Nineveh fasted at Jonah’s preaching → and God spared the city (Jon. 3:5–10).Jehoshaphat called a fast → and God gave Judah victory without lifting a sword (2 Chr. 20:3–30).Israel fasted after defeat → and God gave them victory (Judg. 20:26).Moses fasted 40 days → and received the Law on Mount Sinai (Ex. 34:28).So apparently there is something to this fasting thing, but I also see this:Negative Fasting ExamplesPharisee’s boast → “I fast twice a week” (Luke 18:12) → rebuked as self-righteousness; the tax collector went home justified instead.David fasted for his sick child (2 Sam. 12:16–23) → child still died; shows fasting does not manipulate God’s will.Ahab fasted after Elijah’s rebuke (1 Kings 21:27) → judgment only delayed, not removed; repentance was shallow.Israel’s fasts in exile (Zech. 7:5) → God: “When you fasted… was it really for Me?” → fasting condemned as empty ritual.Isaiah’s rebuke (Isa. 58:3–7) → people fasted while oppressing others; God said, “Is this the fast I choose?” → fasting worthless without justice and humility.Here’s the Pattern: Every failed fast = wrong motive.Self-righteousness (Pharisee).Manipulation (David).Shallow repentance (Ahab).Empty ritual (Israel in exile).Hypocrisy (Isaiah’s audience).“The Bible is clear: fasting works — but not as a performance, not as a hunger strike, not as a cover for sin. Wrong fasting gets rebuked every time.”So what is fasting and how do we do it correctly?Word Study: What Fasting Means BiblicallyHebrew: tsûm = to abstain from food.Chaldee: tev-awth’ (Dan 6:18) means hungerGreek: nēstis = ne (not) esthio (eat)Always food-related.Other denials of pleasure and comfort = consecration, not fasting.You may consecrate the time you normally spend on facebook in prayer, or you may give up TV to consecrate that time, but fasting is something different, because it is connected to a different Spiritual principle.In His book on Fasting, Jentezen Franklin points out what he calls the “Three Duties” of every Christian, which are outline by the three assumptions of Jesus in Matthew 6.On three different topics, Jesus said, “When you…” Not if, but when you… These are the assumptions of Jesus.Jesus assumes you will do these three things because they are the duties he taught his disciples.The first was in Matt. 6:2Matthew 6:2 NASB95 2 “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.Again in the next verse in case you missed it the first time:Matthew 6:3 NASB95 3 “But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,The second is When you pray…Matthew 6:5 NASB95 5 “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.A second time in verse 6:Matthew 6:6 NASB95 6 “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.And a third time before his own example of prayer:Matthew 6:7 NASB95 7 “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.The final “When you” statement in this portion of scripture is about fasting:Matthew 6:16 NASB95 16 “When you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.And again in the next verse:Matthew 6:17 NASB95 17 “But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your faceJesus said when you pray… when you give… when you fast.Not “if” — these are assumed duties of every disciple.Then He follows all the teaching on these three things with this:Matthew 6:19–21 NASB95 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.it almost seems like Jesus is just smashing things together, but follow His train of thought…When you give, when you pray, when you fast… Each one He says to do for the Father’s eyes only, not for the attention of man and the Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you…These rewards He describes as treasures…Re-read v. 19-20So by doing these things, not for man or for attention or for the respect of others, but before God and IN SECRET, we are storing up treasures in heaven…Now look again with that in mind at verse 21: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also…We always automatically equate this verse with money, but Jesus is referencing the teaching just before this about the three duties: Giving, Prayer, and Fasting…Each represents one of life’s three commodities:1. Giving = Money/Provision2. Prayer = Time/Focus3. Fasting = Sustenance/SurvivalDo you see it yet?Jesus isn’t just teaching about general principles for life, He is addressing the root of the three most prominent idols for all the human race…It’s the same three temptations He was dealt with after his own fast:Matthew 4:8–9 NASB95 8 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; 9 and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.”There’s money and provision. You don’t have to rely on God, I’ll give it to you…Matthew 4:5–6 NASB95 5 Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command His angels concerning You’; and ‘On their hands they will bear You up, So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’ ”There’s answer to prayer: He promised it, but will He come through? This echos the temptation in the Garden, “Did God really say?”Matthew 4:3–4 NASB95 3 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’ ”There’s sustenance and survival.Here’s what you need to realize: These three areas are the umbrellas under which all other temptations fall…So when Jesus is teaching about these two chapters later, He’s not just randomly teaching. He is teaching on the very temptations He conquered in the wilderness after His own fast…These are the three things the enemy uses to tempt us, but often these three things are what we allow to have a place in our life…Not only do we allow them a place, but we give them full reign unless we follow the commands of Jesus, grab a hold of the power He offers us and dethrones the three kings…The three Kings are the three idols that represent what we allow on the throne of our hearts:1. King MammonKing mammon starts ruling when we allow the pursuit of provision to engulf our daily lives, proudly assuming that it is us who provides, rather than God being the source of our provision…A heart with king mammon on the throne sounds like this:“If I just had a little more money, then I’d finally have peace.”“I can’t afford to give right now — maybe later, when things aren’t so tight.”“My hard work is what keeps food on this table. I earned this — it’s mine.”“If I don’t hustle, if I don’t grind, we’ll lose everything.”“I’ll trust God with my soul, but my finances? That’s on me.”There’s only one act of faith that dethrones King Mammon: Giving…Giving isn’t just to keep the church going, it’s not just because you’re supposed to… It’s not even because the early church did it…Giving is the act of faith that breaks the back of King Mammon, removes him from the throne of our heart and cancels his influence on our lives…You have the power to stand in the face of King mammon and give in faith, knowing God is your provider because you put your trust in Him!Not in the government, not in the American Dollar, not in the rise of bitcoin, not in a mark on your hand or forehead, but in YHWH Jireh! The Lord my Provider!Every time you give, you put your finger in the eye of the enemy and declare God is my source!If He can provide for the sparrows, He surely keeps His hand on me.. .Giving Dethrones King Mammon.Giving Declares: “Money given to God is not lost — He is my supply.”2. King BusynessKing busyness starts ruling when we allow the tasks of life to take up all our time without spending any time with the one who created it…“I know I should pray, but I just don’t have the time today.”“If I slow down, everything will fall apart.”“Rest is weakness. Hustle is survival.”“I’ll make time for God once life calms down — but right now, I’ve got too much going on.”“Prayer feels unproductive when my to-do list is this long.”Prayerlessness is in direct correlation to your trust in God… The less you pray, the less you trust Him…There’s only one act of faith that dethrones King Busyness: Prayer…Prayer isn’t something just to check off a list…Prayer is the act of faith that utterly destroys the bonds of King Busyness, removes him from the throne of our heart and cancels his influence on our lives…You have the power to stand in the face of King Busyness and pray in faith, knowing God is in control and you have the opportunity to connect with Him!Every time you pray, you put your finger in the eye of the enemy and declare God is the eternal, everlasting one who created time and space!In Him i put my trust and the first fruits of my time in prayer.When you give up your time on social media or watching TV to pray, you dethrone King Busyness.Time in Prayer Dethrones King Busyness.Spending time in Prayer Declares: “Time with God is not wasted time — it is time spent with the maker of time who will redeem the remaining parts of my day if I give Him the first.”At this point, everyone is on board, because everyone feels the urge to give and to pray. Everyone recognizes the importance, but the minute I start talking about the third king….3. King AppetitePhilippians 3:18–19 NASB95 18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.King appetite started ruling way back in the garden in Genesis 3:6Genesis 3:6 NASB95 6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.Franklin says it this way:Fasting Chapter 2: Dethroning King StomachThey literally ate themselves out of house and home. They ate themselves out of the will of God for their lives. They ate themselves out of God’s provision and plan for their lives and out of His magnificent presence. But their stomachs were temporarily satisfied, and we still suffer the consequences of their appetites today.
King Appetite reigned in Sodom and Gomorrah:Watch for all three kings in play here:Ezekiel 16:49–50 NASB95 49 “Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy. 50 “Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them when I saw it.There is all three kings, led by King Appetite.King appetite is the most heinous and the most insidious of all the kings because the temptation of this king is not from without, it is from within…Mammon is external; Time is what we live in; but hunger is within us…If you don’t think this is a major idol, just look at how quickly your own mind began to bring up objections to fasting…I would venture to say that nearly everyone in the room has one reason or another it’s not a good time to fast…There’s always a reason we can start it in a few weeks…There’s always a reason I just can’t fast right now…“I could never go without food — I get cranky if I miss a meal.”“God knows my heart, so why would He care if I fast or not?”“I’ll start fasting… maybe after the holidays… or after my birthday…. or after the kids birthdays… or after we get the first of the year behind us….”“Skipping food won’t make me holier — so why bother?”“I need food to function; fasting would just make me useless.”Fasting is the only act of faith that dethrones King Appetite…Fasting infuriates the devil and pleases God…Fasting is a pathway of pursuit wherein we have a physical reminder of a spiritual hunger…Fasting will keep you on your knees, postured for prayer…Since the fall, appetite has been enthroned as king.The Fall was not just about fruit — it was about worship. Who will you trust to satisfy you: yourself, or God?Fasting is the reversal of the decision in the Garden, that I will not trust in myself, but in God who sustains me…Fasting dethrones King AppetiteFasting Declares: “I do not live by bread alone — but by every word from God.”Together, prayer, giving, and fasting are the rhythm of dependence and devotion — they dethrone false kings and enthrone Christ.This is why I say abstaining from other activities might be consecration of time, but it is not fasting because they dethrone different idols in our hearts…I’ll give you an example:Exodus 16:3 NASB95 3 The sons of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”I wish we had died in Egypt! They would rather have died in oppression than to trust God for His provision for their appetite…They begged for freedom and was glad to have it, didn’t fuss at the instructions on prayer, obeyed when it came to giving their possessions, but when it came to their hunger…They would rather have died as slaves than be hungry… King Appetite reigned on the throne of their hearts…And you may even say this was a one-off because God hadn’t provided manna yet, but look at Numbers 11:4-6Numbers 11:4–6 NASB95 4 The rabble who were among them had greedy desires; and also the sons of Israel wept again and said, “Who will give us meat to eat? 5 “We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, 6 but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna.”Remember the good ol days? When we were slaves who were so oppressed we cried out to God for relief? But at least we had good food…This is what it looks like when King Appetite reigns…We would rather be bound and under subjection to the enemy than to be hungry!This is King Appetite…Fasting = worship through weakness: “Not my will, but Yours.”Fasting Aligns physical hunger with spiritual hunger.Fasting Dethrones idols and enthrones Christ.Each hunger pang becomes a prayer: “Jesus, You are my bread.”Here’s what fasting is not:Fasting is not manipulating God…Fasting is not a hunger strike…Fasting is not a weight loss program…The Wrong View: David’s Bargaining Fast (2 Sam. 12:16–23)David fasted hoping to change God’s mind.Shows the error: fasting is not leverage, not to convince God of anything.The child still died and David ended his fast because his fast was not about God it was about getting something from God, and it did nothing except make him hungry.“Fasting doesn’t twist God’s arm.It doesn’t change God — it changes us.”The Right View: NT Fasting as PursuitHere’s the truth about fasting:Jesus: “When you fast…” (Matt. 6:16–18).Matthew 6:16–18 NASB95 16 “Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 17 “But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face 18 so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.It’s unto the Father, not performance.Fasting is about your pursuit of Him, nothing else.The moment fasting becomes about anything other than the pursuit of God, the motivation is wrong.Just like we don’t pursue the gift, we pursue the giver… We don’t fast for an outcome, we fast for an encounter… because the outcome is rooted in Him…No matter what we need, we find it in Him and fasting aligns us with Him…Acts 13:2–3 — church fasted and prayed; the Spirit gave direction.David’s fast = trying to change God’s will.The church’s fast = aligning with God’s will.Some Practicals:This isn’t a medical claim. Don’t take anything I said as though I’m giving you medical advice. I’m not.Always pair fasting with prayer. Fasting without prayer is just a diet.Always prepare for a fast with prayer. It’s not just a parallel, it’s a prerequisite, which is why I told you last week, if you don’t understand, wait until I can explain it to you.Not every fast is a total fast.There are many different kinds of fasts in scripture.Daniel ate no meats or desirable foods for 21 days.He ate only vegetables and drank water.Ezekiel ate even worse than that for a time with a simple bread and minimal water.Many went with water onlySome fasts are liquid fasts, partial fasts, complete fasts, daylight fasts, fasts of an important meal…Here’s the thing: I’m not going to dictate to you what kind of fast you should do…BUT… WHEN you fast as Jesus said, it should be a fast that dethrones King Appetite…If you don’t eat breakfast normally, it’s not a fast for you not to eat breakfast.Remember, the hunger should remind you of your reliance on God, dethrone King Appetite, and it will align you with the will of God…Some of you have been searching for clarity, looking for answers, and wondering how to get past the slump you’re in… Well I’m telling you this will do that. If you will give yourself to it.Commit to with us through the last Sunday of the month.If you have health concerns, talk to a doctor about what you can safely do. I’m not asking for you to do something stupid, but I’m also asking that you don’t allow King Appetite to feed you every excuse in the book, look for every loophole, and miss your opportunity during this time.Tell story of passing out because of fasting to make the point that I’ve been on the dangerous side of fasting for the sake of religiosity.We aren’t talking about legalism… We are talking about dethroning King Appetite through a posture that is only found in fasting…“The real question isn’t if you’ll fast. Jesus already said you would. The real question is: will you dethrone King Appetite and enthrone King Jesus?”So here’s what I’m challenging us to… As a firstfruit dedication to God, let us fast and pray until the last Sunday of the month.We will break our fast together with communion on the last Sunday of the month at Meet’n’Eat.Do what you can, but it’s time to dethrone King Appetite and put Jesus back on the throne of our hearts.Matthew 6:2ESV
Matthew 6:3ESV
Matthew 6:5ESV
Matthew 6:6ESV
Matthew 6:7ESV
Matthew 6:16ESV
Matthew 6:17ESV
Matthew 6:19–21ESV
Matthew 6:33ESV
Acts 2:42ESV
Philippians 3:18–19ESV
2 Timothy 3:1–4ESV
Matthew 6:24ESV
Philippians 2:3ESV
Isaiah 31:1ESV
Luke 9:23ESV
2 Timothy 3:5ESV
Matthew 6:33ESV