Fasting, Faith, and the Journey to Significance
Summary
In our journey of faith, we are often reminded of the power of fasting and prayer as tools to draw closer to God. Fasting is not merely an act of abstaining from food or other pleasures; it is a spiritual discipline that creates space for God to work in our lives. It is like using a power tool, enhancing our sensitivity to God's voice and presence. As we fast, we are reminded of the importance of resisting the lies of the enemy, who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. Instead, we are called to embrace the truth of God, which sets us free and transforms our minds.
As we approach the end of our fasting period, we prepare to break it with communion, symbolizing our unity with Christ and each other. This act of communion is a powerful reminder of the prayers we have lifted before, during, and after the fast, reinforcing our faith in God's promises. We are encouraged to resist the enemy's lies and hold onto the truth that God reveals to us, for it is the truth that liberates us from bondage.
Financial stewardship is another area where we honor God. By giving a portion of our income, we acknowledge God as our source and provider. This act of giving is not just a transaction but a declaration of trust in God's provision and a commitment to His kingdom. We are reminded that God desires abundance for His house and His people, and as we honor Him with our finances, He blesses us in return.
In our spiritual journey, God has plans for us that are beyond our imagination. He desires for us to move from survival to success and ultimately to significance. Survival is about overcoming challenges and trusting God for provision. Success is about achieving goals and thriving in various aspects of life. But significance is about impacting others, being a light in the world, and bringing glory to God through our lives. As we seek God, He reveals His plans to us, and we are called to align our lives with His purposes.
Key Takeaways:
- Fasting is a spiritual discipline that enhances our sensitivity to God, allowing us to resist the enemy's lies and embrace the truth that sets us free. It is a powerful tool that creates space for God to work in our lives. [01:47]
- Breaking the fast with communion symbolizes our unity with Christ and reinforces our faith in God's promises. It is a reminder of the prayers we have lifted and the power of God's truth in our lives. [05:21]
- Financial stewardship is an act of honoring God as our provider. By giving a portion of our income, we declare our trust in God's provision and commitment to His kingdom, believing that He desires abundance for His people. [10:33]
- God desires for us to move from survival to success and ultimately to significance. Survival is about overcoming challenges, success is about thriving, and significance is about impacting others and bringing glory to God. [19:18]
- As we seek God, He reveals His plans for us, calling us to align our lives with His purposes. We are encouraged to think bigger, look up, and embrace the significance God has for us, being a light in the world. [45:48]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:47] - The Power of Fasting
[05:21] - Breaking the Fast with Communion
[10:33] - Financial Stewardship
[11:19] - God's Plans for Us
[15:40] - Seeking God and Finding Truth
[18:08] - Revealed by the Spirit
[19:18] - From Survival to Success
[24:25] - Overcoming Challenges
[26:13] - More Than Conquerors
[29:01] - Heaven on Earth
[30:51] - Success from Heaven's Standpoint
[35:27] - Thinking Bigger
[37:05] - Reigning in Life
[45:48] - Significance and Impact
[51:10] - Being the Light of the World
[56:04] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. John 10:10
2. Jeremiah 29:11
3. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10
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Observation Questions:
1. According to John 10:10, what is the purpose of the enemy, and how does it contrast with Jesus' purpose for us? [05:21]
2. In Jeremiah 29:11, what are the thoughts that God has towards us, and how do they reflect His intentions for our lives? [11:19]
3. How does 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 describe the way God reveals His plans to us, and what role does the Holy Spirit play in this revelation? [18:08]
4. What examples from the sermon illustrate the concept of moving from survival to success and ultimately to significance? [19:18]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the act of fasting enhance our sensitivity to God's voice, and why is it compared to using a power tool in the sermon? [01:47]
2. What does it mean to break the fast with communion, and how does this act reinforce our faith in God's promises? [05:21]
3. In what ways does financial stewardship serve as a declaration of trust in God's provision, and how does it align with the idea of honoring God as our provider? [10:33]
4. How does the sermon describe the transition from survival to success and significance, and what biblical principles support this journey? [19:18]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when fasting or prayer helped you resist the lies of the enemy. How did it change your perspective or actions? [01:47]
2. How can you incorporate the practice of breaking a fast with communion in your spiritual routine, and what significance does it hold for you personally? [05:21]
3. Consider your current approach to financial stewardship. What steps can you take to better honor God with your finances, and how might this impact your trust in His provision? [10:33]
4. Identify an area in your life where you feel you are merely surviving. What practical steps can you take to move towards success in that area, and how can you seek God's guidance in this process? [24:25]
5. Think about a recent challenge you faced. How did you respond, and what might it look like to overcome it with God's help? [26:13]
6. In what ways can you think bigger and look up to align your life with God's purposes? How can you actively seek His plans for you this year? [35:27]
7. How can you be a light in your community, and what specific actions can you take to impact others and bring glory to God through your life? [45:48]
Devotional
Day 1: Fasting as a Gateway to Spiritual Sensitivity
Fasting is a spiritual discipline that enhances our sensitivity to God, allowing us to resist the enemy's lies and embrace the truth that sets us free. It is a powerful tool that creates space for God to work in our lives. As we fast, we intentionally set aside distractions and focus on deepening our relationship with God. This act of self-denial is not just about abstaining from food or other pleasures but about creating a sacred space for God to speak and move in our lives. By fasting, we become more attuned to God's voice, discerning His guidance and truth amidst the noise of the world.
In this heightened state of spiritual awareness, we are better equipped to resist the lies of the enemy, who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. Instead, we embrace the truth of God, which liberates us from bondage and transforms our minds. Fasting empowers us to break free from the chains of deception and align our thoughts and actions with God's will. As we draw closer to God through fasting, we experience a renewed sense of purpose and clarity, enabling us to live out our faith with boldness and conviction. [01:47]
Isaiah 58:6-7 (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? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?"
Reflection: What distractions or habits can you set aside this week to create more space for God to speak into your life?
Day 2: Communion as a Symbol of Unity and Faith
Breaking the fast with communion symbolizes our unity with Christ and reinforces our faith in God's promises. It is a reminder of the prayers we have lifted and the power of God's truth in our lives. Communion is a sacred act that brings us together as a community of believers, united in our faith and commitment to Christ. As we partake in the bread and the cup, we remember the sacrifice of Jesus and the new covenant established through His blood.
This act of communion is not just a ritual but a profound expression of our faith and trust in God's promises. It serves as a powerful reminder of the prayers we have offered during our fasting period and the assurance that God hears and answers them. Through communion, we reaffirm our commitment to live according to God's truth, embracing the freedom and transformation it brings. As we break the fast with communion, we are reminded of our unity with Christ and each other, strengthening our resolve to walk in faith and obedience. [05:21]
1 Corinthians 10:16-17 (ESV): "The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread."
Reflection: How can you use the act of communion to deepen your sense of unity with Christ and your community this week?
Day 3: Financial Stewardship as an Act of Trust
Financial stewardship is an act of honoring God as our provider. By giving a portion of our income, we declare our trust in God's provision and commitment to His kingdom, believing that He desires abundance for His people. Stewardship is not merely about managing resources but about recognizing God as the ultimate source of all we have.
When we give, we acknowledge that everything we possess comes from God and that we are merely stewards of His blessings. This act of giving is a declaration of our trust in God's provision and a commitment to His kingdom. It is an expression of our faith, believing that as we honor God with our finances, He will bless us in return. Financial stewardship is a tangible way to demonstrate our reliance on God and our desire to see His kingdom flourish. As we give, we participate in God's work, contributing to the abundance He desires for His house and His people. [10:33]
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (ESV): "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."
Reflection: In what ways can you practice financial stewardship this week to honor God and support His kingdom work?
Day 4: Moving from Survival to Significance
God desires for us to move from survival to success and ultimately to significance. Survival is about overcoming challenges, success is about thriving, and significance is about impacting others and bringing glory to God. Our spiritual journey is not just about getting by but about living a life of purpose and impact.
God has plans for us that go beyond mere survival. He wants us to thrive and achieve success in various aspects of life, but more importantly, He calls us to live lives of significance. Significance is about using our gifts and resources to make a difference in the world, being a light that reflects God's glory. As we seek God, He reveals His plans for us, guiding us from survival to success and ultimately to a life of significance.
This journey requires us to trust in God's provision, embrace His truth, and align our lives with His purposes. As we do so, we experience the fullness of life that God intends for us, impacting others and bringing glory to His name. [19:18]
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV): "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Reflection: What steps can you take this week to move from merely surviving to living a life of significance that impacts others for God's glory?
Day 5: Aligning with God's Purposes
As we seek God, He reveals His plans for us, calling us to align our lives with His purposes. We are encouraged to think bigger, look up, and embrace the significance God has for us, being a light in the world. Our journey of faith is about discovering and fulfilling the unique calling God has for each of us.
God's plans for us are often beyond our imagination, and as we seek Him, He reveals His purposes for our lives. This requires us to think beyond our limitations and embrace the significance God has for us. We are called to be a light in the world, reflecting God's love and truth to those around us.
Aligning with God's purposes means surrendering our own plans and desires, trusting that His ways are higher and better. As we do so, we experience the joy and fulfillment that comes from living in alignment with God's will. We are encouraged to think bigger, look up, and embrace the significance God has for us, impacting the world for His glory. [45:48]
Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Reflection: How can you align your daily actions and decisions with God's purposes to be a light in the world this week?
Quotes
"How's everyone doing the fast? Different ones of us, maybe you're just kind of catching up with us here, but different ones of us are choosing to do without something so that we can make more space in our lives for God. Some of us doing without food or caffeine or sugar or things like that. And so that's been happening. Hope you're doing good with that. And if you're like, man, I haven't really thought about that or I haven't started anything yet, or if you've kind of, like, fallen off the bandwagon a little bit, you know, just kind of, like, had something you thought you were not going to have and it just happened. If that's happened to you, then jump back on for this last week. For this last week as a church, that's all of us as a church, just everybody that feels led, doing without something in their life to make more room for God." [00:00:37]
"And hallelujah, then you can repent later. But anyway, we didn't just because, you know, I want to set a good example, but hallelujah. Hope you're doing good on your fast and praying. Our last, as Mara mentioned, our last prayer meeting in person for these three weeks is going to be on Tuesday night. And I would love it if we could just fill our house with praise and worship and just prayer to God. And so if you have a spot on your schedule, come by. We're going to try and do it for, like, hour, hour and a bit. We'll see what God says or whatever, but try and come. Kids can come. Kids are playing and praying and whatever their kids are doing, too. So feel free to come. Come bring kids if you want to do that. But we encourage you in that. Hallelujah. And then next Sunday, special Sunday, I feel it's like a turning point. It's something that's going to happen in the spirit next Sunday when we all take communion together to break our fast. We started it with communion a couple weeks ago. We're going to break our fast with communion just as a way of saying, okay, God. And then we believe God for the prayers that we've been praying before the fast, during the fast, and after the fast, right? It doesn't change our faith. We still believe. But we believe that there's a power and a connection to God, amen, during this time. Hallelujah." [00:02:55]
"Because it's important for us to know that because right at this time as well, the enemy, he is a lion to us. Do you notice that? And I think the enemy, I'm talking about the spiritual enemy, right, the one that Jesus said comes to steal and kill and destroy from our lives. In John 10 .10, Jesus said we have an enemy and that we're supposed to resist him, right? Resist the enemy. Resist the enemy and he will flee. And that means resisting the lies that the enemy speaks to our soul. The enemies lie into us. And we don't want to buy into any of his lies because when we do, that binds us up. It restricts us. It conforms us to the pattern of this world. And what we need to do is believe the truth. Believe the truth that comes from God. Anybody say amen? Am I preaching in the right church? We need to believe truth because Jesus said the truth does what? Sets us free. Hallelujah. Praise God. And so as he reveals truth to us, the truth breaks off the lies. Hallelujah. And if we've been believing a lie and it's like we're holding on to it, right, because we believe something that's not true and that we hold on to it. Hallelujah." [00:04:04]
"All right, I want us to track with what the Spirit of God's saying over our church financially, and every Sunday we make a point to mention this. We have a giving station over there. This should be a busy station after church over here. We've got a giving station over here, too, with an envelope for giving. If you want to leave a name, an address, and just like for giving, for charitable receipt purposes, there's an envelope there. You can leave cash or check. Most of you, however, and especially if you're joining us online, you give through eTransact. You can transfer to give at gatewayvictory .com, and so you can give that way as well. And many of us supporting the church regularly, and what we believe here, and we talked about it towards the end of last year, is percentage -based giving, right? We believe and encourage everyone to be like, God, I want to honor you with my finances. And so what Mara and I do when money comes into our home, we're just kind of like, you know, Mara will go on her phone and she'll just send in, right? Just like a 10%, or more, or maybe less sometimes, but like a percentage, right? And just kind of send it in." [00:07:17]
"You know, God is on your side financially. If there's a financial need in your life, just bring that to the Lord right now. A bill that you can't pay, maybe a debt you don't know how you're going to resolve, maybe just Christmas. You know, if there's... If there's a challenge in your life financially, you know, you just heard Lenore's testimony about how just in her seeking God, God answered her prayer for them to be able to move, for them to be able to get a place. And that's not super easy in Calvary, yeah? And so God will honor you as you honor him. And so right now, if there's a need, financial need before you, maybe you need wisdom to know what to do with some of the funds that you have and the money that's coming in. So God, right now, whatever these needs are across this room. And watch it online. Father, we thank you that you're the provider. God, thank you that you give wisdom in Jesus' name. Thank you, God, that you give favor for jobs and better jobs in the mighty name of Jesus. Father, we believe you for supernatural debt elimination. Hallelujah in Jesus' name. We believe you that debts are canceled supernaturally." [00:09:28]
"Jeremiah chapter 29, and we've been in verse 11, and talking about these things right at the beginning of the year, because at the beginning of the year, I don't know about you, but we have lots of thoughts about our lives, lots of things that we want to talk about. What we want to do, what things that we want to accomplish, and kind of whether you're into goal setting and New Year's resolutions and all that. I don't know how much of you you're into that, but whether you're into it or not, it kind of crosses your awareness that, man, another year has passed. Anybody else? Just kind of like, wow." [00:11:19]
"And if you're parenting, those years go by like so fast, don't they? I just took this tree down, and now we're putting it back up, because another year has come and gone. And if you think about it in a proactive way, you've got lots of ideas and thoughts about where you want to be and what you want to do. And maybe you want to travel, or maybe there's a nagging issue in your life that this is going to be the year that you want to resolve it, you know, or whatever it might be. Maybe you have some spiritual goals too, man. I'd love to, I'd love to, you know, we went around the room just in our leadership team talking about different goals that we have as a leadership team, different hopes, and just to kind of get to know each other a little bit better. And a few of us, like a number of us, said, I want to read through the Bible this year. You know, so maybe that's like a thought that you have, like just, I want to get more into the Word of God. I want to, you know, sometimes you're like, I'm going to buy a Bible this year, you know. But you've got to like, you know, there's different ideas that we have about the year, but here's what we've started to say and started to understand is that God has ideas for us for this year. That God has thoughts about us for the year. You know, we might want to do certain things, and some of those might touch on what God wants, but God wants things for us this year. Praise God. Isn't that kind of neat? I don't know, there's a corollary to that, and that is that the devil has plans for you this year." [00:13:06]
"There's a calling out kind of prayer where we're like, God, come and help. And many times we don't see anything change or shift in our lives until we're like, God, I'm asking you to help. Remember I told you that story, you can go back and listen to it. Like, dad, I can't get down. When there's an urgency, there's something in heaven that responds to our hearts when we're like, God, I need your help. So you will call to me and pray to me. And that word pray means an intervention where you're like, you're not just like, God, come and help. But you're like, God, let your kingdom come. All right. So there's a bit of a progression here. As we grow in the things of God, you will call to me and you will pray to me. And then it says, God says, I will listen to you." [00:15:40]
"There's this whole idea that God has prepared a way for you to walk. He has plans for you. We looked at it where it says, It says every day in your book was written before one of them came to be. God has prepared things for us to do. He has thoughts, things he wants us to accomplish. And here it says, No eye has seen, nor ear has heard, nor has entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love him. Verse 10. But God has revealed them to us by his spirit. It's like you get these glimpses, this understanding of what God wants. Hallelujah. Pray this with me. Say, Holy Spirit, show me what you have prepared for me." [00:19:18]
"are some, is this, this kind of like mega trend in your life that God wants for you, and we know this from a multitude of different scriptures, and this, these are the kinds of things that God wants in your life, okay, for 2025, for the years that you will be alive here on the planet, these are some of the things that God wants, are you ready, we're like, okay, of all the possible things that it could be, we're going to narrow it down to these things, and we're going to look at what God wants for you, and it's between you and the Holy Spirit to say, okay, Holy Spirit, reveal that to me, right, to take this like mega trend of what God is doing, of what God wants to do, and to say, Holy Spirit, reveal to me what, what my part of that is, God, let me see your thought for me when it comes to this, all right, so I'm going to give you three different stages that God wants to lead you through, okay, three different stages, and this will apply to every area of your life, if you're a goal setter, or somebody that thinks about your goals, you probably do this a little bit, where you, where you're kind of like, I've got, you know, how many of you know we wear different hats in life, isn't that right, I'm a husband, right, I'm a father, you know, I'm an entrepreneur, I'm a pastor, I'm a fantastic public speaker, you know, and praise God, some of you are yawning, it's okay, we'll get you all awake here in a second, so we all wear these different hats, and we all have these different maybe goals, or like challenges, or obstacles in these areas, but it's up to you and I to say, Holy Spirit, what do you want for me in these areas, okay, I'm going to give you three, three things, three stages that God wants to lead you through, do you have pen and paper ready, or a mind quick to remember, okay, here we go, number one, God wants you on this level of survival, okay, number one, doesn't sound very exciting, but hear me out for a second, God wants you to survive, you know, which maybe doesn't sound that motivating for you, but if you're like, going through the desert, and it's been like day two, and there's no water anywhere, how many of you know that's good news," [00:20:32]
"God wants you to survive, that's pretty good news, right, that there's going to be an answer somewhere, there's going to be an oasis, come on, and some of you, you know, your marriage might be in that place, or your, you know, your finances, or your business, your investment might be in that place, you might be, you might think, you know what, that really applies to kind of like my career, I'm just trying to keep my job, I'm just trying to survive, you know, or how many of you have ever had like food scarcity in your life, where you're like, I actually don't know where, how we're going to buy the next set of groceries, you know, I don't know how many of you have ever been there, you know, we've kind of scraped that kind of level a few times in our lives, where we're kind of like, okay, well, let's just trust God, because He knows what we need, and how many of you know we serve a faithful God, huh, speaking of that, yeah, there's, there's a whole bunch of, out in the foyer, and it's coming to us every other week, just a free donation, and there's some really good food there, and so anybody that wants to, you don't even have to have like a desperate need in your life, or something, but anybody who wants to, just kind of go through, and see if there's anything that you want to take after the service, you'll see it there in the foyer, but that's not a, please help yourself, absolutely, but God, God, God wants us to survive, huh, so if you're like, I don't know how I'm going to pay that bill, stay on top of that commitment, God wants you to survive, God wants that to happen for you, you with me, if you, if you don't know how that medical issue in your body is going to be resolved, God's got breakthrough for you, yeah, if you're facing a challenge, where you're like, if I don't win this, if I don't get through this, if I don't figure this out, then this is bad news," [00:22:41]
"God wants you to survive, that's pretty good news, right, that there's going to be an answer somewhere, there's going to be an oasis, come on, and some of you, you know, your marriage might be in that place, or your, you know, your finances, or your business, your investment might be in that place, you might be, you might think, you know what, that really applies to kind of like my career, I'm just trying to keep my job, I'm just trying to survive, you know, or how many of you have ever had like food scarcity in your life, where you're like, I actually don't know where, how we're going to buy the next set of groceries, you know, I don't know how many of you have ever been there, you know, we've kind of scraped that kind of level a few times in our lives, where we're kind of like, okay, well, let's just trust God, because He knows what we need, and how many of you know we serve a faithful God, huh, speaking of that, yeah, there's, there's a whole bunch of, out in the foyer, and it's coming to us every other week, just a free donation, and there's some really good food there, and so anybody that wants to, you don't even have to have like a desperate need in your life, or something, but anybody who wants to, just kind of go through, and see if there's anything that you want to take after the service, you'll see it there in the foyer, but that's not a, please help yourself, absolutely, but God, God, God wants us to survive, huh, so if you're like, I don't know how I'm going to pay that bill, stay on top of that commitment, God wants you to survive, God wants that to happen for you, you with me, if you, if you don't know how that medical issue in your body is going to be resolved, God's got breakthrough for you, yeah, if you're facing a challenge, where you're like, if I don't win this, if I don't get through this, if I don't figure this out, then this is bad news," [00:22:41]
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