Matthew 6:16 “Now when you fast, don’t go around looking miserable, like the hypocrites. They make sour faces so that people will know they are fasting. Yes! I tell you, they have their reward already! 17 But you, when you fast, wash your face and groom yourself, 18 so that no one will know you are fasting — except your Father, who is with you in secret. Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Complete Jewish Bible).
Thoughts from Pastor Jeremy about leading the children in Wednesday Nught Buble Study about Jesus walking on water as we prepare our hearts and minds to prayer, worship in giving of our tithes & offerings, as well as maybe worship in song by our children. Lord Jesus, guide me to be to turn to give my tithe & offering from my Social Security Retirement as well as my income from IHSS in support of my son. Thank you Jesus for your help in this matter.
Focus on God
Food to eat and air we breathe in and out.
How are we too focused on food?
Making gourmet meals for Jeremy's wife, Chelsea.
As we speak of fasting, we realize how important food is.
We are called to fast from time to time for us to be drawn closer to God and His mission through us.
Why would anybody fast instead of eating?
Fasting is wierd and makes miserable when we are going through our fast.
People in Scripture spent time fasting to be drawn cloaer to God in being prepared for what God is about to do in our lives.
Fasting is associated with repentance, breakthroughs, and with worship.
Look at Jonah and his call to preach to the people of Ninevah to repent or perish. The people of Ninevah went fasting, repenting, to seek God to not destroy them.
How do you fast and when were you first made aware of fasting?
Sometimes food is used to comfort us.
A video by children given a marshmallow to eat or wait and get anotger marshmallow.
Fasting is a gift from God that we are able to control our bodies rather than our bodies controlling us.
The Spiritual Disciplines are practices or activities that train us or give us power to live in the goodness of the Kingdom.
The Bible teaches us to love to receive joy. People who want joy need to train for joy.
Our quest is to live in the Kingdom immersed in the power and love of God, not to see how many disciplines we can practice .
1. Think of fasting as feasting on God.
2. Think of fasting as caring.
Isaiah 58 is one of most powerful passages in the Bible. With fasting we as receive a transformed life.
Some of the most smartest people in the world try to get us to feed our appetites or desires that take us away from God.
Would I be able to take some time this week to fast seeking God way for the church.
Coming to prayer, seeking God to transform us, worshop in song, prayer, benediction, sending forth to live new lives in Jesus.
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