Embracing True Fasting: A Heart for God

"Because we just had, the separation was just too much and they just couldn't, couldn't keep away. And so as I was doing my exercises, it was a little bit of a functional one, you know, like deadlifts and box jumps and then I did some sit-ups, right? And so I was going through my motion and I, you can tell the character of my children. They're very, three very different individuals, right? Same womb. Who knew? Like, they were so different. My mother was from London and she, she sat on it. She, I mean, she just takes space and like, she doesn't know that it's not hers, you know? And she was just like, that's my mommy." [00:56:40] (40 seconds)


"And there's lessons to be learned from God in every moment, right? And so I just felt that the Lord really was teaching me how often we come before God like that. You know, the Bible says that our efforts are like filthy rags in his eyes. And sometimes we can come to his, his face and we just be like, look how good my efforts were here. Look at this degree Lord, I did great. And he's like, I made the universe. Well done baby, well done." [02:03:12] (25 seconds)


"You know, and I just think so often we can come with all these accolades that we think is going to impress God. And the Lord's like, I just want to be with you. I just, I'm hoping for you to just be like me. So how about you just copy me and emulate me and I'll cheer you on. I'm a good father, right? And as we enter into this word, I pray that that's how we come in. That God is encouraging and exhorting us to do all we can to look like him. Are we going to get it right? Are we going to be perfect? Probably not. But he's still there. Love you, baby. Keep going. You're doing great." [03:06:31] (37 seconds)


"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen? To loose the chains of injustice and tie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke. Is it not to share your food with a hundred people? Is it not to share your food with a hundred people? Is it not to share your hunger and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter? When you see the naked, to clothe them and not turn away from your own flesh and blood. When your light shine, then your light will shine forth like the dawn and your healing will quickly appear." [08:56:36] (33 seconds)


"And at the time that was common, where this Bible, this Isaiah 58 was written, the people of God were, they were religious about their practices. They did it because they had to, and they did it to show off. And God was saying, you're not doing it with Levav. And not only are you not doing it with Levav, you blame me. And then you start telling me that I haven't given you what you asked for as you were doing it, the way I didn't ask for it to be done." [14:14:50] (30 seconds)


"Because fasting and praying was regular back in the day. Everyone did it. There were so many reasons why they fasted and prayed. It was like the thing to do. So many people all the way through the Bible, you can read it, kings and leaders, when they wanted personal, personal and national repentance, they fasted. Entire nations fasted to get repentance and to get help from God. Anna, she fasted in anticipation of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. The psalmists, because there's more than one writer of the psalmist, they fasted for the deliverance of their enemies." [16:11:14] (37 seconds)


"God is saying, if you're going to fast, fast the whole thing. Like take away wickedness. That's the heart that God is pouring back into the acts, the practice of spiritual fasting. And in his gracious, loving way, he always tells us, he gives us a rule book, etiquette, fasting etiquette that we may be able to live by. Isaiah 58, 67, is this not the fast that I choose to loose the bonds of wickedness, undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry?" [24:43:56] (38 seconds)


"If we're going to do this fast well, let's get accountable so that we can stop playing the blame game and take responsibility for some stuff. Stop judging other people and pointing out there, that's what a godly fast looks like. It's not just what we do with the food that goes into our body. If we're going to fast well, let's do all we can to remove wickedness from our lives because what does sin do? Separate us, creates a barrier between us and God. And God's trying to get closer to us, not further away." [32:54:62] (36 seconds)


"God is saying, if you fast well, if you fast mature, you're not thinking just about what I can give you, you're thinking about how much I can trust you. It's a stewardship issue. And we as a church, we've got to get trustworthy. Why? To whom much is given, much is required. We want all this blessing, Lord. Why? So you can sit heavy, sit and just live la vida loca. Why? The day we desire to be a blessing more than we desire to be a blessing. The day we desire to be blessed is the day the vats will open. I believe it." [33:30:04] (47 seconds)


"How much more powerful would it be for the entire church to lay down our own agenda and step into the will of God? Because how many know that we need breakthrough now more than ever before? So for me here, I'm going to say, I'm going to say, I'm going to say, I'm going to say, I'm like, what could we achieve? And so it's so much more than just about you. So much more than just about me. We're in this together." [37:42:93] (35 seconds)