Desiring Intimacy with God Through Fasting and Prayer
Summary
### Summary
Today, we gathered to reflect on the goodness and mercy of God, acknowledging His provision and grace in our lives. We began by expressing our gratitude for the ways He has brought us through difficult situations, healed our sicknesses, and provided for us when there seemed to be no way. We owe our lives to Him, for while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, offering us freedom and life. As we joined our faith together, we prayed for those who are broken, weak, and ministering to loved ones, asking for supernatural grace, peace, and compassion.
We also celebrated the generosity of our youth, who raised significant funds for missions, and honored Ms. Janine for her exceptional service to our community. As we enter a new series and a week of prayer and fasting, we are reminded that our desires drive us. Just as my daughter was driven by her desire for a new phone, we too are driven by our desire to be closer to God. This week, we are called to set aside good things to focus on the best things, expressing our deepest desire for intimacy with God through prayer and fasting.
Fasting is not just a fad or a means for weight loss; it is a spiritual discipline that Jesus Himself practiced. In Luke 4, we see Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, led into the wilderness to fast and be tempted by the devil. This act of fasting was a declaration of His heart's movement toward God, not a demand for God to move. It was a way to discipline His flesh and prevent it from dictating His desires. As we embark on this week of fasting, we are reminded that our hearts long for more of God, and through fasting, we can silence our flesh and draw closer to Him.
We are encouraged to pray, prepare, and plan for this week of fasting, asking God how He would have us participate and making intentional efforts to invest in our spiritual growth. As we gather each night for prayer, we believe that God will move in powerful ways, breaking strongholds and bringing us into a deeper relationship with Him. Let us embrace this opportunity to express our desire for more of God and experience the fullness of His presence in our lives.
### Key Takeaways
1. Gratitude for God's Provision: Reflect on the moments when God has provided for you in seemingly impossible situations. Recognize that His grace and mercy have brought you through sickness, difficulties, and challenges. Our lives are a testament to His goodness, and we owe Him our praise and gratitude. [28:16]
2. Desire for Intimacy with God: Our hearts naturally long for a closer relationship with God. This desire is embedded in our spiritual DNA, as we were created to walk closely with Him. Jesus exemplified this by seeking solitude and communion with the Father, even when He was fully God and fully human. [55:31]
3. Disciplining the Flesh: Fasting is a powerful tool to discipline our flesh and prevent it from dictating our desires. By setting aside physical needs, we can focus on our spiritual hunger for God. Jesus' fasting in the wilderness teaches us the importance of silencing our flesh to hear God's voice more clearly. [01:01:30]
4. The Wilderness as a Battleground: The wilderness is not just a place of isolation but a battleground where our faith is tested. Jesus used fasting as a weapon of warfare to overcome temptation. Similarly, our times of fasting reveal the true state of our hearts and help us align our desires with God's will. [01:05:44]
5. Intentional Preparation for Fasting: To make the most of our fasting experience, we must pray, prepare, and plan. Ask God how He wants you to participate, prepare mentally and spiritually for the challenges, and plan your fasting schedule in advance. This intentionality will help you stay committed and experience the spiritual benefits of fasting. [01:10:41]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[28:16] - Gratitude for God's Provision
[29:02] - Prayer for Healing and Strength
[29:40] - Cleansing and New Life in Christ
[30:46] - Welcome to New Visitors
[31:18] - Seven Days of Prayer and Fasting
[31:49] - Youth Fundraising Success
[32:22] - Honoring Ms. Janine
[35:07] - Ms. Janine's Ministry to Widows
[39:23] - Thanking the Pastoral Team
[40:17] - Praying for Students and Staff
[41:01] - Introduction to New Series
[45:09] - Desire for Closer Relationship with God
[50:35] - Jesus' Teaching on Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness
[52:10] - Prayer and Fasting as Heart's Movement Toward God
[53:40] - Jesus' Fasting in the Wilderness
[55:31] - Our Hearts Desire Intimacy with God
[01:01:30] - Disciplining the Flesh
[01:05:44] - The Wilderness as a Battleground
[01:10:41] - Intentional Preparation for Fasting
[01:18:04] - Weekly Prayer Gatherings
[01:19:06] - Closing and Blessing
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Luke 4:1-2: "Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry."
2. Matthew 5:6: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."
3. 1 Corinthians 9:25-27: "Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."
#### Observation Questions
1. What did Jesus do in the wilderness for forty days according to Luke 4:1-2?
2. In Matthew 5:6, what promise is given to those who hunger and thirst for righteousness?
3. According to 1 Corinthians 9:25-27, what analogy does Paul use to describe the discipline required in the Christian life?
4. How did the pastor describe the purpose of fasting in the sermon? [49:42]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus chose to fast for forty days in the wilderness? What might this teach us about the importance of fasting? [53:40]
2. How does the promise in Matthew 5:6 encourage believers to pursue righteousness? What does it mean to be "filled"?
3. Paul talks about disciplining the body in 1 Corinthians 9:25-27. How can this concept be applied to spiritual disciplines like fasting and prayer?
4. The pastor mentioned that fasting is not about demanding something from God but about moving our hearts toward Him. How does this perspective change the way we approach fasting? [52:10]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's provision in a difficult situation. How did that experience shape your faith and gratitude? [28:16]
2. The pastor shared a story about his daughter's determination to get a new phone. What are some "good things" in your life that you might need to set aside to focus on the "best things" and draw closer to God? [44:43]
3. Fasting is described as a way to discipline the flesh and prevent it from dictating our desires. What specific desires or habits might you need to discipline through fasting? [01:01:30]
4. The wilderness was described as a battleground where Jesus used fasting as a weapon of warfare. How can you use fasting and prayer to overcome spiritual battles in your life? [01:05:44]
5. The pastor encouraged intentional preparation for fasting. What steps can you take to prepare mentally and spiritually for a period of fasting? How will you plan your fasting schedule to stay committed? [01:10:41]
6. During the week of prayer and fasting, the church will gather each night for prayer. How can participating in these gatherings help you experience the fullness of God's presence in your life? [01:18:04]
7. Think about your deepest desire for intimacy with God. What practical steps can you take this week to express that desire through prayer, fasting, and other spiritual disciplines? [45:09]
Devotional
Day 1: Gratitude for God's Provision
Description: Reflect on the moments when God has provided for you in seemingly impossible situations. Recognize that His grace and mercy have brought you through sickness, difficulties, and challenges. Our lives are a testament to His goodness, and we owe Him our praise and gratitude. [28:16]
Psalm 34:10 (ESV): "The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing."
Reflection: Think of a specific time when you felt hopeless and God provided for you. How can you express your gratitude to Him today?
Day 2: Desire for Intimacy with God
Description: Our hearts naturally long for a closer relationship with God. This desire is embedded in our spiritual DNA, as we were created to walk closely with Him. Jesus exemplified this by seeking solitude and communion with the Father, even when He was fully God and fully human. [55:31]
James 4:8 (ESV): "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to draw closer to God and deepen your relationship with Him?
Day 3: Disciplining the Flesh
Description: Fasting is a powerful tool to discipline our flesh and prevent it from dictating our desires. By setting aside physical needs, we can focus on our spiritual hunger for God. Jesus' fasting in the wilderness teaches us the importance of silencing our flesh to hear God's voice more clearly. [01:01:30]
1 Corinthians 9:27 (ESV): "But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."
Reflection: Identify one area of your life where your flesh often takes control. How can you practice self-discipline in this area today?
Day 4: The Wilderness as a Battleground
Description: The wilderness is not just a place of isolation but a battleground where our faith is tested. Jesus used fasting as a weapon of warfare to overcome temptation. Similarly, our times of fasting reveal the true state of our hearts and help us align our desires with God's will. [01:05:44]
Deuteronomy 8:2 (ESV): "And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent challenge or "wilderness" experience. How did it test your faith, and what did you learn about your heart's true desires?
Day 5: Intentional Preparation for Fasting
Description: To make the most of our fasting experience, we must pray, prepare, and plan. Ask God how He wants you to participate, prepare mentally and spiritually for the challenges, and plan your fasting schedule in advance. This intentionality will help you stay committed and experience the spiritual benefits of fasting. [01:10:41]
Isaiah 58:6 (ESV): "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?"
Reflection: How can you intentionally prepare for a period of fasting? What specific steps will you take to ensure you stay committed and focused on God during this time?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Our prayer is that you will feel the love of God and the presence of God. And even beyond that, our biggest prayer is that whenever you leave here today, that you are drawn so much closer to Jesus that you are walking in the fullness of everything that he has provided for you. That's our heart's desire and our heart's passion." [30:46] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "When we want something, when we desire something, it changes our lives. It changes the things that we thought we once wanted or needed. And sometimes brings, the focus becomes something greater and that we recognize that what we thought we once needed actually was a want, but there's something greater." [44:43] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Inside of our hearts, there is a desire to be closer to God. If that weren't true, you would not be in this room or you wouldn't be watching online. But there's something within us that says, God, I want to be just a little bit closer." [45:09] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Prayer and fasting are not demands that God move for us. Rather, they are declaration of our heart's movement toward God. You see, there is a group of people who are for political reasons or sometimes in prison systems or other systems where people want to demand something of those above them. Other authorities. And so they will go on hunger strikes and refuse to eat in order to demand things from those who are above them." [52:10] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The only thing that stands between you and all that God has for you is you. And we are always looking for more teaching, more training, more this and more that. If it were just more singing, more preaching, more lessons, more books, if I could just have someone come give me a lesson. The reality is that in your life, and my life, it's just me that's standing in front of me and growing with God." [51:49] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Our hearts desire intimacy with God. I wanna back up to that passage in Luke chapter three, verse 21 and 22, as Jesus is there being baptized, one of the things that you see is this profound picture where Jesus in his humanity is there being baptized, but we recognize that he was also there fully as God. That he is a part of the Godhead, and so we hear in this moment where all of the parts of the Trinity are there in this one experience." [55:31] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Fasting reveals the things that have a hold on us. It will reveal just how often like in those moments where you're tense or you're upset or you're nervous that you go grab food it will remind you whenever you can't have a piece of candy it'll remind you how much candy you eat have to take everything out of my house because I'm just by nature walking by and putting a mint in my mouth and it's just like by the end of this I've eaten a whole bag and so it tests these things." [01:05:44] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Jesus knew that he had to come through the wilderness victorious because he was on a mission from the Father. Jesus knew he was going back to the Father, but Jesus' mission was that he was sent to earth to overcome the temptations that you and I can't overcome. And Jesus chose to overcome those temptations through fasting because in the moment whenever it was mattered most, the enemy tried to have him take the temptation to satisfy his earthly desires and forfeit eternity for all of us." [01:07:33] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Our team has put together a great resource to help us throughout this week. This is gonna be an incredible week and I'm believing God's word. God's gonna change many lives through this process. Our team has written some powerful devotions. They've given a lot of insight. They've created a very creative way for us to enter into prayer each night of the seven days. It's gonna be very intentional. They're gonna guide us through it and some incredible things in there." [01:08:17] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Our hearts long, our hearts yearn, our hearts yearn for more of God. If your heart did not yearn for more of God, you would not be here. And God, we are driven by our desires. And this week will be a test of the desires that are in our hearts. And so Lord, we ask that you would allow your spirit to give us the strength to discipline the flesh, that we would not be controlled by our appetites, we would not be controlled by things of this life, we would lean in to hear from you." [01:11:51] (92 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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