WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:04.639 Today we're celebrating our annual edition of what we call Rep Your Team Sunday. 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:09.279 This is why so many people have different team gear on uh all around here. 00:00:09.359 --> 00:00:16.480 And so with that in mind, I always want to give you an opportunity for those of you who are NFL fans in the room, give your team a shout-out. 00:00:18.800 --> 00:00:19.760 What's your favorite team? 00:00:21.519 --> 00:00:23.600 Seahawks, Ravens, who else? 00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:25.199 The Saints. 00:00:25.440 --> 00:00:26.640 Look, there's a Christian over here. 00:00:26.719 --> 00:00:27.199 The Saints. 00:00:27.280 --> 00:00:28.480 It's fantastic, okay? 00:00:29.039 --> 00:00:32.320 For NBA or dare I say, W NBA fans. 00:00:32.399 --> 00:00:32.799 Let's hear it. 00:00:32.880 --> 00:00:34.880 You got your team that you want to give a shout-out real quick. 00:00:35.039 --> 00:00:35.200 Go. 00:00:35.520 --> 00:00:35.920 Grizzlies. 00:00:36.159 --> 00:00:37.280 Grizzlies, come on, dude. 00:00:37.359 --> 00:00:37.679 Let's go. 00:00:37.759 --> 00:00:38.399 Anyone else? 00:00:38.479 --> 00:00:39.679 We just lost John Morant. 00:00:39.840 --> 00:00:40.960 What's gonna happen to the Grizzlies? 00:00:41.039 --> 00:00:42.000 I have no idea. 00:00:42.640 --> 00:00:43.359 Lakers? 00:00:43.520 --> 00:00:45.280 Oh, yikes, brother. 00:00:45.439 --> 00:00:46.159 I'm sorry. 00:00:46.399 --> 00:00:47.119 Anyone else? 00:00:47.200 --> 00:00:47.520 Okay. 00:00:47.759 --> 00:00:50.399 Um, do we have any MLB fans in the room? 00:00:50.560 --> 00:00:53.039 Any Cardinals fans in the room today, all right? 00:00:53.600 --> 00:00:54.880 Braves fans out there? 00:00:55.039 --> 00:00:56.320 I feel like those are the only two teams. 00:00:56.479 --> 00:00:57.679 Anyone else I'm missing? 00:00:58.640 --> 00:00:59.679 Okay, lots of them. 00:00:59.759 --> 00:01:00.719 Yankees, someone else. 00:01:00.880 --> 00:01:05.439 We got any UTM people in the room, any Bethel University people in the room? 00:01:05.599 --> 00:01:07.760 Okay, okay, now let me do this real quick. 00:01:08.000 --> 00:01:14.480 If you're also an Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Florida State, Auburn, Kentucky fan, make some noise. 00:01:15.359 --> 00:01:18.480 Yes, if you're a Bama fan, make some noise. 00:01:18.959 --> 00:01:24.000 Okay, prayer team, mark down where all of those shouts came from. 00:01:24.079 --> 00:01:27.680 That's where all the dark energy is gonna be coming from today. 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:30.239 Intercede for me, move that direction. 00:01:30.400 --> 00:01:34.480 Walter, Pam, just stretch your hands, believe for salvation this morning. 00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:36.079 And I don't want to waste your time. 00:01:36.159 --> 00:01:38.480 I feel like I'm wasting so much time right now. 00:01:38.640 --> 00:01:48.239 So uh I'm not gonna do that anymore, but let me remind you that record team Sunday also means that this evening we're hosting our annual churchwide kickball game. 00:01:48.400 --> 00:01:53.599 And so this is a reminder, it's happening in McKinsey this year at the McKinsey City Park from 5 p.m. 00:01:53.760 --> 00:01:54.560 to 8 p.m. 00:01:55.040 --> 00:01:59.040 The first pitch gets thrown at 5 30. 00:01:59.200 --> 00:02:08.000 But we have to pick teams before that happens, which means if you want to play, you have got to actually be there by 5 p.m. 00:02:08.240 --> 00:02:09.199 at like 5 10. 00:02:09.280 --> 00:02:10.319 We're starting to pick teams. 00:02:10.479 --> 00:02:12.240 If you're not there, you're not getting on a team. 00:02:12.400 --> 00:02:16.240 So get there, bring a chair, eat before you come, bring your own beverages or whatever. 00:02:16.400 --> 00:02:17.360 Let's go ahead and have some fun. 00:02:17.439 --> 00:02:28.000 But with all that being said, today's week seven of a series we've been in all summer called Red Letter Summer, where we're spending every Sunday covering Jesus, Jesus, and more Jesus. 00:02:28.159 --> 00:02:33.280 We're talking quotes from Jesus, parables from Jesus, stories from Jesus, stories about Jesus. 00:02:33.439 --> 00:02:40.879 And because Jesus' words have typically shown up in red font within our Bibles, that's the idea behind the series titled Red Letter Summer. 00:02:41.039 --> 00:02:58.560 And as I mentioned last week, for the next two weeks, I said last week, which would count last week and today, that we are going to be drawing from some passages that are found within, dare I say, the most famous sermon of all time, the most famous sermon ever preached, known as the Sermon on the Mount. 00:02:58.719 --> 00:03:08.159 And if you are new to Christianity, or if you're new to the Bible, the Sermon on the Mount is found in uh Matthew, chapters 5, 6, and 7. 00:03:08.319 --> 00:03:15.759 And not only is it Jesus' longest recorded sermon, but it's also by far the most influential sermon that he ever preached. 00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:21.039 I mean, for the last 2,000 years, Christians have considered this Jesus' manifesto. 00:03:21.199 --> 00:03:26.960 It is his take on what life in the kingdom of God on the earth can and should look like. 00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:40.479 And last week we pulled from Matthew 6 and 7 to begin learning, or for most of you who've been here for longer than a year, maybe to remember some practicals concerning the spiritual disciplines of Bible reading and prayer. 00:03:40.639 --> 00:04:02.240 But as I also mentioned last week, and this is a date for you to write down so that you can keep it in your mind and you don't have to ask and you don't have to miss out on it, on Monday, August 3rd, on Monday, August 3rd, as soon as you wake up, we begin our annual church-wide back-to-school 21-day fast. 00:04:02.560 --> 00:04:11.360 And with that in mind, even though we've talked about this many times over as a church, one, that does not mean you were here when we talked about it. 00:04:11.439 --> 00:04:15.520 And two, if this reminder was good for me, I guarantee you it's gonna be good for you. 00:04:15.680 --> 00:04:22.800 And so today, because we've got a fast on the horizon, of course, we're gonna spend some time talking about the spiritual discipline of fasting. 00:04:22.879 --> 00:04:30.160 And so if you have your Bibles and you'd like to worship Jesus with your minds today, I want to invite you to open them up to Matthew chapter six. 00:04:30.480 --> 00:04:48.319 Matthew chapter six, uh, while this is on my mind, we have got an individual in the room right now who has just graduated from solely serving in kiddos, and he is serving on our production team today, right over there on Cam 2 for the first time. 00:04:48.399 --> 00:04:50.560 Give it up your Uriah wealthy. 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:59.279 You've seen him on many a kid tributor day, and now you're seeing him on a regular Sunday because that's what it looks like to raise up the next generation. 00:04:59.360 --> 00:05:02.639 They don't just serve in youth and all the other times, they serve on Sundays. 00:05:02.720 --> 00:05:04.319 So shout out to your Uriah. 00:05:04.560 --> 00:05:05.759 Thank you for being over there. 00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:07.360 Made me look good, big dog. 00:05:07.680 --> 00:05:08.319 All right. 00:05:08.639 --> 00:05:12.160 Matthew 6, we're gonna start in verses 16 and 18. 00:05:12.319 --> 00:05:15.680 Matthew 6, 16 and 8, 16, 17, and 18. 00:05:16.079 --> 00:05:23.519 Jesus says, When you fast, don't look somber as the hip as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces. 00:05:23.600 --> 00:05:26.560 They have a frown on their face all the time when they're fasting. 00:05:26.879 --> 00:05:31.279 Truly I tell you, they've received their reward in full. 00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:34.240 When you fast, put oil on your head. 00:05:34.399 --> 00:05:48.079 That is a that's that is an ancient way for saying, wash your hair, take a shower, look nice, and wash your face so that it won't be obvious to others that you're fasting, but only to your father who is unseen. 00:05:48.399 --> 00:05:53.040 And your father who sees what's done in secret will reward you. 00:05:53.279 --> 00:05:59.199 I'd like to use this verse to preach a sermon that we're gonna call the forgotten discipline. 00:05:59.519 --> 00:06:01.279 The forgotten discipline. 00:06:01.519 --> 00:06:15.120 And we'll explain that title here in just a moment, but right before we read what we just read here in Matthew 6 about fasting, Jesus uses the almost the exact same terminology to talk about two other subjects. 00:06:15.279 --> 00:06:19.680 And those subjects are giving and prayer, and he opens them all up the same way. 00:06:19.920 --> 00:06:31.040 He says, when you give, reinforcing that giving, living generously is an expectation for Christians when you give. 00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:33.360 And then he says, when you pray. 00:06:33.439 --> 00:06:37.839 And we talked about this last week, letting us know that we're not invited to pray, we're expected to pray. 00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:45.279 A lifestyle of prayer is something that he expects from his followers because it's not if you pray, it's when you pray. 00:06:45.439 --> 00:06:53.120 And to some of your shock, Jesus then goes on in Matthew 16, as we just read, and he also says, When you fast. 00:06:53.360 --> 00:07:14.959 Now, I don't know about you guys, but back in the day, when I read this verse for the very first time, when I read verse 16, it took me off guard because having grown up in and around church my entire life, I had regularly heard youth pastors and pastors and other leaders, uh, Sunday school teachers talk about how Christians are expected to give and live generously. 00:07:15.040 --> 00:07:18.879 And I definitely heard people talk about how Christians are expected to pray. 00:07:18.959 --> 00:07:27.519 And we're supposed to, if I mean, at bare minimum, if we're not engaging in daily habits of prayer, like we're at least expected to pray when we come to church, you know. 00:07:27.600 --> 00:07:33.199 Like, I think it's fair to say Christians understand that we're supposed to be generous and we're supposed to pray. 00:07:33.439 --> 00:07:42.639 But somewhere along the way, it seems like someone forgot to read the rest of this verse because no one ever told me that we were expected to fast. 00:07:42.959 --> 00:07:46.000 And I think, I don't know if it was intentional. 00:07:46.160 --> 00:07:57.120 I think what happens is that many well-meaning Christians convince ourselves that fasting is reserved for elite Christians. 00:07:57.279 --> 00:08:00.240 Fasting is reserved for professional Christians. 00:08:00.399 --> 00:08:08.560 Fasting is reserved for paid Christians, it's reserved for monks or priests or pastors or church leaders, but certainly not just regular church people. 00:08:08.720 --> 00:08:11.439 And because of that, this is why I call it the forgotten discipline. 00:08:11.519 --> 00:08:20.800 We talk about Bible reading and prayer and giving and community, but very rarely do you hear people talk about fasting, which is interesting because Jesus is pretty clear here in verse 16. 00:08:21.040 --> 00:08:24.000 He, like with giving and prayer, he says, when you fast. 00:08:24.240 --> 00:08:25.759 He doesn't say if you fast. 00:08:25.839 --> 00:08:28.240 And some of you are probably like, well, that's just semantics. 00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:34.480 The issue, though, is that when Jesus says that word when, he is doubling down on something he already said in Matthew chapter 9. 00:08:34.639 --> 00:08:41.519 In Matthew 9, he publicly says, quote me on this, my disciples will fast. 00:08:42.240 --> 00:08:48.080 Not they could consider fasting or they should fast if things are going wrong in their life. 00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:50.000 No, he says they will fast. 00:08:50.240 --> 00:09:01.679 And I understand that this is a shocking concept for some of you, but I want to be clear in saying this isn't new, this isn't crazy, this isn't radical, and it's not unheard of. 00:09:01.919 --> 00:09:14.480 Jesus fasted, his disciples fasted, the entire early church fasted, every major biblical character that ever existed fasted, and all Christians through all church history have fasted. 00:09:14.559 --> 00:09:17.440 And we're gonna talk about some of those people here in just a little bit. 00:09:17.600 --> 00:09:31.919 But I bring this up first and foremost to remind you that the forgotten discipline of fasting, it's not an invitation that God extends to the radical few, it is an expectation for every single believer. 00:09:32.159 --> 00:09:40.240 Fasting isn't something that God invites people who really want to be on fire for him and really want to take their walk with him to the next level. 00:09:40.879 --> 00:09:46.799 It's something that he doesn't even just invite you to, it's something he expects out of every single one of us. 00:09:47.120 --> 00:09:52.720 Fasting is not a spiritual discipline reserved for the navy seals of the Christian faith, okay? 00:09:53.039 --> 00:09:55.279 Fasting is for you. 00:09:55.440 --> 00:10:00.559 Okay, on the count of three, look at the person next to you and say, fasting is for you. 00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:03.360 Now, if there's no one in your row, you're gonna have to look behind you, okay? 00:10:03.440 --> 00:10:04.799 One, two, three, go. 00:10:06.720 --> 00:10:07.759 That's right. 00:10:08.240 --> 00:10:10.799 Fasting is for you. 00:10:11.039 --> 00:10:14.879 Fasting is for students and teachers alike. 00:10:15.039 --> 00:10:21.120 It's for moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas, brothers and sisters, parents and children. 00:10:21.360 --> 00:10:26.080 Fasting is for business owners and healthcare professionals and construction workers. 00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:31.679 Fasting is for single people, it's for married people, it's for athletes and band members. 00:10:31.840 --> 00:10:37.600 Fasting is for priests and monks and pastors and deacons alike. 00:10:38.159 --> 00:10:47.759 As a follower of Jesus, you are expected to faithfully give, pray, and fast. 00:10:48.559 --> 00:11:01.919 Now, with that being said, we should probably talk about what fasting actually is as opposed to what we think it is, or as opposed to maybe what we've told other people it is. 00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:07.120 And so if you're taking notes, the first thing I want you to write down is the word soom. 00:11:07.279 --> 00:11:09.759 That is T-S-U-W-M. 00:11:10.799 --> 00:11:12.960 T-S-U-W-M. 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:16.399 In your Bible, the English word is fast. 00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:23.759 When you go back to the Hebrew version of these writings, the English word that we translated fast is the word sum. 00:11:24.159 --> 00:11:26.559 And here's the definition for those of you taking notes. 00:11:26.799 --> 00:11:29.200 It means to cover your mouth. 00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:35.919 To cover your mouth for the purpose of abstaining from food. 00:11:37.679 --> 00:11:42.080 To cover one's mouth for the purpose of abstaining from food. 00:11:42.159 --> 00:11:45.919 That is the actual definition of the word fast. 00:11:46.080 --> 00:11:47.200 I'm making any of this up. 00:11:47.279 --> 00:11:50.559 You can go to your strong's concordance and you can look it up yourself. 00:11:50.879 --> 00:11:53.600 To cover one's mouth with the purpose of abstaining from food. 00:11:53.679 --> 00:12:00.399 The reason I bring this up is because Christians have a nasty habit of trying to fast literally everything except for food. 00:12:00.960 --> 00:12:07.600 The word fast means abstain from food, but we try to use fast in the context of abstaining from everything but food. 00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:23.120 I have grown up in a culture where from an earlier age I was like fasting, but a lot of times, and many of you have heard this terminology as well, I would say, I just feel like God is asking me to fast from dating for a season. 00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:26.240 He's asking me to fast from watching TV. 00:12:26.399 --> 00:12:33.519 He's asking me to fast from online shopping, he's asking me to uh fast from listening to secular music. 00:12:33.679 --> 00:12:36.240 And let me say this all of that is great. 00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:41.679 And I think there's time periods in your walk with God where the Holy Spirit's going to ask you to give up stuff like that. 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:47.440 And I actually believe that when you're fasting, you are supposed to move away from stuff like that. 00:12:47.519 --> 00:13:11.039 And we're gonna talk about it soon, but biblically speaking, none of that is actually fasting because the word fast doesn't pertain to anything but somebody abstaining from food or some type of food, and then of course giving themselves to more time spent in prayer for the purpose of growing in their walk with God. 00:13:11.279 --> 00:13:13.600 That is actually what fasting is. 00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:22.159 And if you're not giving up food or some type of food for some period of time during a fast, you are not actually going on a fast. 00:13:22.559 --> 00:13:28.720 And I say this, and I know that some of it's just your minds are just crumbling right now because you're like dead. 00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:29.360 No! 00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:34.159 I'm like, he's ripping away all of my joy and saying this stuff. 00:13:34.320 --> 00:13:46.559 But I want to make sure you understand that there are the the scriptures give us lots of different types of fasting that people have engaged in, not counting like now, but like 2,000 years ago and way before that. 00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:52.159 So your first type of fast, for those of you taking notes, is what we're gonna call an absolute fast. 00:13:53.200 --> 00:13:59.440 I would say when we go on a 21-day fast, this probably isn't gonna be the one that any beginner in here wants to embark on. 00:13:59.840 --> 00:14:06.480 An absolute fast is where someone does not drink any liquid or eat any food for the duration of their fast. 00:14:06.559 --> 00:14:10.320 And then, of course, they give themselves some more time spent in prayer and Bible reading. 00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:15.440 The second type of fast, and the most common fast that we see in the Bible, is what we call a normal fast. 00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:21.840 This is where people continue drinking water, not bone broth, not chicken broth, not water. 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:28.480 That's a normal fast, and they don't eat any food for a set period of time during their fast. 00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:30.399 You see this all through the scriptures. 00:14:30.559 --> 00:14:35.919 Um, and then of course, they give themselves to more time spent in prayer and more time meditating on God's promises. 00:14:36.080 --> 00:14:39.679 The third type of fast is what we'll call a partial fast. 00:14:39.840 --> 00:14:42.960 Many of you have probably referred to this as a Daniel fast before. 00:14:43.039 --> 00:14:51.679 We only see this happen one time in the scriptures, but Daniel and his friends, they essentially, for 21 days, they just give up all food that tastes good at all. 00:14:51.840 --> 00:14:56.799 They don't eat meat, they don't eat bread, they don't eat, or they don't drink alcohol, and they don't eat anything sweet. 00:14:56.960 --> 00:15:06.000 And they do so for the purpose of, of course, um giving themselves some more time to spend in prayer, more time focusing on God, and more time meditating on God's promises. 00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:12.240 Now, with all that in mind, other times in the Bible, people fast for one meal. 00:15:12.399 --> 00:15:22.000 Sometimes people fast for a whole day, sometimes they fast for a week, sometimes 10 days, sometimes 21 days, like Daniel, like the one that we're about to embark on. 00:15:22.159 --> 00:15:25.360 When you get to Jesus and Moses, they fasted for 40 days. 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:29.200 Jesus went on an absolute fast, no food, no water for 40 days. 00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:30.720 That's pretty intense. 00:15:30.799 --> 00:16:01.200 And uh the only reason I'm bringing all this stuff up is because I really want to drive home this point that every time you see the word fast, fasts, fasted, or fasting used in the Bible, it is always used in conjunction with somebody giving up, abstaining from food or some type of food for a period of time for the purpose of giving themselves to prayer, meditating on the scriptures, and growing in their relationship with God. 00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:04.159 That is literally what fasting always is. 00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:08.720 Now, in that same frame of reference, Jesus builds on the concept of fasting. 00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:16.960 By the time we get to Matthew chapter 6, as we just read, Jesus also makes it clear that we don't fast to look holy and impressive. 00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:19.519 This is why he invites us to fast in secret. 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:21.919 Now, let me translate that to 2026. 00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:26.320 If you go on a fast, oh, this is this is what's gonna happen if you do this. 00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:28.799 I'm gonna drive to your house and I'm gonna egg it, okay? 00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:33.279 I am going to deface your property if you do this, and I'm gonna kick you out of our church. 00:16:33.440 --> 00:16:37.840 In 2026, you're not allowed to go on a fast and post about it on Facebook. 00:16:38.080 --> 00:16:39.360 You're not allowed to do that. 00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:41.679 That is literally anti-Bible. 00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:43.200 You cannot post on Facebook. 00:16:43.279 --> 00:16:45.360 Hey guys, I'm about to go into a season of fasting. 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:49.600 So if I don't respond to these messages, no, don't do that. 00:16:49.679 --> 00:16:52.399 I promise you, 21 days, no one's gonna be like. 00:16:53.279 --> 00:16:55.279 Why aren't they liking my post? 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:57.120 They're not looking for it, okay? 00:16:57.279 --> 00:17:03.360 We don't fast so that we can look holy and impressive to other people, and the other people on Facebook think, wow, that person's awesome. 00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:06.160 Um, also, when you're fasting, Jesus is clear. 00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:08.480 He says, wash your face, wash your hair. 00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:11.839 In other words, don't complain about your fast 24-7. 00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:14.480 Don't complain about your fast every day. 00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:18.319 Like you don't wake up in the morning and go, I really wanted breakfast. 00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:19.440 I can't have it. 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:30.160 And every meal when you're fasting and you're not eating meat, you don't get to sit at the table with your kids and with your spouse and constantly complain about how bad I want meat. 00:17:30.319 --> 00:17:32.720 That is not how a Christian fasts. 00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:39.680 And then the third thing, and I'm gonna throw this one in there for you, never fast because you feel pressured to fast. 00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:42.319 Not even in the 21-day churchwide fast. 00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:51.759 If you're only doing it because you feel pressured, because you don't want to feel ashamed, because you feel like I live in your head and I'm going fast, fast, fast, fast. 00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:54.720 If that's the only reason you're doing it, don't do that. 00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:58.240 Christians fast because we want to. 00:17:58.720 --> 00:18:08.400 And despite the fact that we live in a culture that says that you're not allowed to do anything good without posting it on social media and getting the applause that mom and dad didn't give you enough of when you were seven. 00:18:08.640 --> 00:18:14.720 Jesus cheers us on and says, Hey, when you fast, I want you to do this in a way where you are secretly awesome. 00:18:14.880 --> 00:18:23.839 I want you to fast with such intentionality that outside of the other people who are fasting with you, no one in your life even knows that you're fasting. 00:18:24.160 --> 00:18:26.559 That's how Christians fast. 00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:27.119 Okay? 00:18:27.359 --> 00:18:31.279 Now the next question is why would we fast? 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:33.920 Why would we give up food? 00:18:34.079 --> 00:18:40.640 I mean, the most basic desire that we have, the most basic need that we have, why would we do that? 00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:42.160 Why would we do it for a short period of time? 00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:43.839 Why would we do it for a long period of time? 00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:49.839 Pastor and author John Tyson, who authored the book, Beautiful Resistance, he says it like this. 00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:58.079 Says, all through the Bible, we see story after story about how sin is related to the simple comforts of food. 00:18:58.240 --> 00:19:05.359 You gotta pay close attention when you're reading the scriptures, but you'll notice that a lot of times sin is directly related to the simple comforts of food. 00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:06.640 You don't have to look far either. 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:08.640 The very first one is in Genesis. 00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:10.400 Remember the story of Adam and Eve? 00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:18.240 Now, the story is not about their physical cravings as much as it is about their desire to become like God and to become God. 00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:21.440 But what was the route through which the enemy tempted them? 00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:24.559 If I'm not mistaken, it was through food. 00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:39.519 And then you continue reading and get to the story of Jacob and Esau, and the author of Hebrews goes as far as to remind us that Esau's disordered craving for food is what caused him to miss out on all the promises of God for his life. 00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:44.000 He literally sells God's plan for his life, his birthright for what? 00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:45.920 A bowl of soup. 00:19:46.079 --> 00:19:47.119 I don't even like soup. 00:19:47.200 --> 00:19:52.000 That's what's crazy, is I'm like, that's a weak meal to sell your birthright for. 00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:57.839 It's like selling your birthright for some broccoli and cheddar soup from Panera just seems insane to me, you know. 00:19:57.920 --> 00:19:58.880 But he gives it up. 00:19:58.960 --> 00:20:01.279 And then you continue reading, you get to the book of Exodus. 00:20:01.599 --> 00:20:06.240 God does all these crazy things for the people of Israel, sets them free from slavery. 00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:09.599 They're out in the wilderness, and then suddenly they're like complaining. 00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:15.039 And they're saying, Man, we just will we we wish we could go back to Egypt and become slaves again. 00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:15.599 And why? 00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:16.960 Why is it that they're complaining? 00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:18.079 This is so wild. 00:20:18.160 --> 00:20:22.240 They go, the food in Egypt was just so much better. 00:20:22.559 --> 00:20:26.240 The food in Nashville was just so much better than it is in McKinsey. 00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:36.319 And we wish we could go back instead of having to eat all this manna that God Himself is making for us, we'd rather go back to Egypt because they had good spices in their food. 00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:41.519 Which is, you read it and you just think, that is a really crazy thing to say. 00:20:41.839 --> 00:20:45.039 But then here's probably the one of the craziest ones, gonna blow some of your minds. 00:20:45.119 --> 00:20:46.000 You've never heard this. 00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:47.920 Ezekiel 16, 49. 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:49.920 Don't try to turn there, just read along with me. 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:50.799 You can write it down. 00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:53.200 Ezekiel 16.49. 00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:59.839 Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom. 00:21:00.640 --> 00:21:08.880 She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and the abundance of idleness. 00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:13.519 Neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and the needy. 00:21:13.920 --> 00:21:15.519 Now, this is why I bring this up. 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:19.599 For many of you who've grown up in church, you know the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:24.079 It's an Old Testament story where God essentially nukes a city. 00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:27.680 I mean, just wipes them off the map, blows them away. 00:21:27.839 --> 00:21:35.599 And Christians oftentimes placate this idea that it happened because of the sin of homosexuality. 00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:56.400 When in reality, if you just go read Ezekiel and hear from God Himself, he says, nah, the reason I did this is because of the sins of pride, laziness, they wouldn't help the poor, and the sin of gluttony, andor they had the fullness of food. 00:21:56.640 --> 00:21:58.079 Isn't that insane? 00:21:58.400 --> 00:21:59.759 All through the scriptures, and these. 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:02.000 Are just a few examples all through the scriptures. 00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:04.319 I mean, pay close attention. 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:11.839 You will see people literally eat themselves away from the will of God for their lives, eat themselves out of purpose, eat themselves away from their destiny. 00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:17.119 And if we're being honest, let's not act like that's not us two. 00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:21.119 It is us, it's us all the time, every day, every week. 00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:25.359 We are the most food-obsessed group of humans, not just at this church. 00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:32.559 I just kind of mean our generation, the last couple hundred years, we're the most food-obsessed group of humans that's ever existed on planet Earth. 00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:37.839 You realize we have entire TV shows where all we do is watch people cook food. 00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:44.480 Many of you have social media accounts, and your top 10 people that you follow are all people that cook food. 00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:46.720 We take pictures of food. 00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:56.079 Some of you, myself included, have scheduled entire vacations or anniversary trips around what city has the best food. 00:22:56.319 --> 00:22:57.759 We are obsessed with food. 00:22:57.839 --> 00:23:01.039 And if you think you're not obsessed with food, then don't eat for three days. 00:23:01.359 --> 00:23:03.279 Don't eat for three days. 00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:07.839 And I promise you, you will have to look at me dead in the face and go, I lied. 00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:09.519 I am obsessed with food. 00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:13.920 I have thought about food every moment since the day I stopped eating food. 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:15.119 We're obsessed with food. 00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:18.799 And the reality is food's destroying some of our lives. 00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:24.480 The horrible fight that you got in with your spouse a couple of weeks ago, for some of you, it's not because you don't love your spouse. 00:23:24.640 --> 00:23:25.920 It's because you were hangry. 00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:32.480 You hadn't had your snicker bar that day, and therefore you start taking it out and being mean to the people that you love the most. 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:36.559 For other people, maybe not, it's maybe it's not you, maybe it's someone you love. 00:23:36.799 --> 00:23:49.680 We have people that are suffering from serious health conditions, like deadly health conditions, and it's because of our allegiance to foods that we know are slowly killing us. 00:23:49.920 --> 00:24:04.880 For others of you, you are suffering deep financial problems, and as a result, you're also now dealing with anxiety and depression and maybe loneliness, and none of that has anything to do with your salary. 00:24:05.119 --> 00:24:16.000 It has everything to do with the fact that you cannot stop wasting money on expensive coffee, loaded teas, nicotine, alcohol, and fast food. 00:24:16.160 --> 00:24:24.319 And if you cut all of that out of your budget, suddenly you would have hundreds and hundreds more dollars to spend every single month. 00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:31.119 And if you are hearing this and you're full of shame and you're like, I'm the worst person in the world, no, we're all this. 00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:32.000 We are all this. 00:24:32.079 --> 00:24:33.200 I'm right there with you. 00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:37.359 This isn't a new problem, it's not a you problem, it's a human problem. 00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:45.519 Serving the idol of our appetites has from the beginning led people into incredible amounts of sin and compromise. 00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:55.119 But even with that being said, you have to remember the forgotten discipline of fasting is not about you saving money, though that's a good thing. 00:24:55.359 --> 00:25:01.759 The forgotten discipline of fasting is not about going on a fat diet, though dieting can be good. 00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:05.440 The forgotten discipline of fasting is not about you losing weight. 00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:16.240 The forgotten discipline of fasting is about you learning how to choose and crave God more than you crave anything else. 00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:22.960 It's about you learning how to crave God more than you crave your most basic desires. 00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:34.720 When you fast, you are kicking against the cultural lie that all of your happiness is based around you feeling good and around you getting what you want every time you want it. 00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:41.279 When you fast, you are kicking against a lifestyle of enslavement to your cravings. 00:25:41.359 --> 00:25:57.359 And you are telling your flesh, and you're telling every sinful desire, you're reminding it that you don't need the burger and you don't need the bourbon, and you don't need the cigar, and you don't need the cigarette, and you don't need the dessert, and you don't need the pizza, but what you need is the presence of God. 00:25:57.519 --> 00:26:08.000 You need God to breathe on every inch of your life: your family, your home, your mind, your church, your city, your nation, and that is why we fast. 00:26:08.400 --> 00:26:15.759 We don't fast because we think that when we don't eat, it's like twisting God's arm to answer a prayer request that He didn't really want to answer until you stopped eating. 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:20.960 We don't fast because we think that God takes pleasure in watching his kids experience hunger pains. 00:26:21.200 --> 00:26:26.960 We fast because when you fast, you are reminding your flesh that it's not in control anymore. 00:26:27.119 --> 00:26:39.119 You're reminding your emotions and your cravings that they don't get to rule your life for even one more second because your emotions and your cravings and your life is ruled and reigned by Christ Jesus Himself. 00:26:39.359 --> 00:26:41.839 That is why we fast. 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:44.160 That's the joy of fasting. 00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:49.359 But let me say this: you never get to experience that. 00:26:49.599 --> 00:27:02.880 A life where you begin craving God more than your most basic desires, a life where God begins breathing on what even sometimes seem like basic, normal, everyday moments simply because you're leaning into Him just a little bit more. 00:27:03.119 --> 00:27:11.119 You never get to that spiritual condition if your idea of fasting is like not drinking Dr. 00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:13.279 Pepper for 21 days. 00:27:13.519 --> 00:27:14.880 That's not fasting. 00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:23.759 Okay, and I'm not at all on any way trying to level anybody and trying to heap on shame, but I do have to talk to you plainly right now. 00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:25.039 That's not fasting. 00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:35.279 If your idea of fasting is you're just gonna give up chocolate for 21 days, but you're gonna continue eating three square meals, eating everything you want any other time, but you're just not eating specifically chocolate, it's not a fast. 00:27:35.440 --> 00:27:36.079 Let me say this. 00:27:36.160 --> 00:27:39.759 I don't even think giving up dessert for 21 days is fasting. 00:27:39.920 --> 00:27:40.720 You wanna know why? 00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:41.839 It's not tough. 00:27:42.079 --> 00:27:43.920 That's not actually hard. 00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:46.640 A fast should be hard. 00:27:46.960 --> 00:27:53.599 We have got to get away from this weak, pathetic Western mindset of fasting. 00:27:53.839 --> 00:27:58.240 When you fast, it should hurt, it should feel like sacrifice. 00:27:58.400 --> 00:28:00.079 Let me give you some examples. 00:28:00.319 --> 00:28:02.960 The first three days of your fast, eat no food at all. 00:28:03.119 --> 00:28:06.000 Or on your fast, don't eat any bread. 00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:07.680 Don't eat any meat. 00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:09.359 Fast every other day. 00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:13.359 Fast one meal every single day, no matter what you're doing. 00:28:13.519 --> 00:28:15.200 Cut out all caffeine. 00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:18.160 That right there would kill half of you. 00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:19.680 Just not, it would kill me. 00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:20.400 Are you kidding me? 00:28:20.480 --> 00:28:21.519 I'm right there with you. 00:28:21.680 --> 00:28:28.400 But like, don't not drink caffeine for 21 days and go, wow, I've given so much up for God. 00:28:28.480 --> 00:28:32.160 Well, you've continued eating pizza and lasagna and burgers and quesadillas every night. 00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:32.960 Come on. 00:28:33.279 --> 00:28:35.279 That's not fasting. 00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:44.319 If you want to go on a real fast that merits real rewards, you're gonna have to finally embrace this thing called real sacrifice. 00:28:44.640 --> 00:28:49.920 A real fast that merits real rewards requires real sacrifice. 00:28:50.160 --> 00:28:56.240 But here's the beauty: in all that sacrifice, there are real rewards to be had. 00:28:56.400 --> 00:29:00.400 Okay, let's look back at our original verse, Matthew 16, 17 through 18. 00:29:01.039 --> 00:29:10.799 When you fast, put oil on your head, wash your face so that it won't be obvious to others that you're fasting, but only to your father who is unseen. 00:29:11.200 --> 00:29:16.960 And your father, who sees what's done in secret, will reward you. 00:29:17.200 --> 00:29:19.119 Let's talk about the rewards of fasting. 00:29:19.200 --> 00:29:22.480 I'm sure there's more than this, but I've narrowed it down to at least four. 00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:27.920 Reward of fasting, number one, is a more intense desire for God. 00:29:28.400 --> 00:29:35.680 The first and most important reward of fasting is you craving God more. 00:29:36.400 --> 00:29:41.359 Is your hunger pains turning into a hunger for God? 00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:49.839 Only when you fast can you begin to, as the author of Psalm 34 would say, taste and see that the Lord is good. 00:29:50.319 --> 00:30:02.319 Only when you fast can you identify with the author of Psalm 42, when they write, as the deer longs for the streams of water, so my soul longs for you. 00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:07.759 You see how hunger and thirst pains are then tied to growing spiritually right there? 00:30:08.160 --> 00:30:14.000 Only when you fast can you identify with Jesus Himself when He says, My food is to do the will of the Father. 00:30:14.880 --> 00:30:21.920 Fasting first and foremost sets you up to crave and desire God more than you normally do. 00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:24.400 The second reward of fasting is power. 00:30:25.519 --> 00:30:31.279 Power over your flesh, power over sin, and power over the enemy. 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:39.279 In Matthew 4, right before Jesus steps onto the scene and begins his earthly ministry, he goes on a 40-day fast. 00:30:39.519 --> 00:30:45.839 And during this time in the wilderness, when he's fasting, he's essentially tempted in the same way that Adam and Eve are tempted in the garden. 00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:52.160 But the second time, Jesus, being the second Adam and the better Adam, he doesn't give in to the temptation. 00:30:52.240 --> 00:31:03.440 He overcomes his flesh, he overcomes his sin, he overcomes the enemy, and in doing so, he teaches us that when we fast, we have unique power over the enemy and over our sin and over our flesh. 00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:06.240 And let me break it down and make it very clear as to what I'm saying. 00:31:07.440 --> 00:31:09.200 You've been to the conferences. 00:31:09.759 --> 00:31:11.119 Have you tried fasting? 00:31:11.519 --> 00:31:12.799 You've been to therapy. 00:31:13.279 --> 00:31:14.640 Have you tried fasting? 00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:19.920 You've been to church, you've read the books, you've listened to the podcast. 00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:28.640 Have you done the thing that followers of God have been doing for thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands of years called fasting? 00:31:29.440 --> 00:31:33.680 There are certain things that just seem to happen. 00:31:33.839 --> 00:31:37.200 There's a certain amount of power that you get when you fast. 00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:38.400 And it's not an equation. 00:31:38.480 --> 00:31:40.079 I can't tell you what that's gonna look like. 00:31:40.240 --> 00:31:43.839 I'd love to put it on paper and say this is exactly what's gonna happen, but I can't. 00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:53.920 All I can tell you is that coming from the Bible and even from my own life, fasting is a tool that you can utilize in your fight against oppression, addiction, anxiety, anger, lust, all sorts of stuff. 00:31:54.079 --> 00:31:55.440 Have you tried fasting? 00:31:55.680 --> 00:31:58.640 One time, I've I've quoted this before, but it never gets old to me. 00:31:58.720 --> 00:32:00.400 This is one of the greatest quotes I've ever heard. 00:32:00.640 --> 00:32:11.519 One time an American pastor was interviewing a pastor in the underground secret church in another country, a pastor that's in the persecuted church, in a place where it's not legal to be Christian. 00:32:11.680 --> 00:32:14.400 And he said, What's your thought on American Christians? 00:32:14.559 --> 00:32:21.279 And the American church, and the pastor looks back at him and he goes, So much food, so little power. 00:32:22.240 --> 00:32:24.559 So much food, so little power. 00:32:25.119 --> 00:32:26.720 You want to experience a little bit of power? 00:32:27.119 --> 00:32:28.720 Get rid of that food for a second. 00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:35.279 And just watch as you begin tuning in with God and thus experiencing him more and thus walking in the power that's available for you more. 00:32:35.359 --> 00:32:41.759 Number three, the third reward of fasting, I don't have any other way to say this other than special breakthroughs. 00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:43.759 How vague is that? 00:32:43.920 --> 00:32:44.960 Special breakthroughs. 00:32:45.119 --> 00:32:46.240 Let me give you some examples. 00:32:46.400 --> 00:32:51.359 In Joel 2, God makes all sorts of promises that are attached to genuine fasting. 00:32:51.519 --> 00:32:52.880 Go back, read it, write it down. 00:32:53.119 --> 00:32:54.240 Joel chapter 2. 00:32:54.400 --> 00:32:57.359 God makes all sorts of promises that are attached to fasting. 00:32:57.519 --> 00:33:05.839 Uh when you begin reading the story of Hannah, you notice that she goes on a fast and she ends up conceiving and then giving birth to a prophet that would change the course of an entire nation. 00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:07.759 The same thing happens with Esther. 00:33:07.920 --> 00:33:13.039 She calls the people of God on a fast that ends up setting them free from a full-blown genocide. 00:33:13.200 --> 00:33:13.519 Okay? 00:33:13.839 --> 00:33:17.200 There are certain specific breakthroughs that happen when you fast. 00:33:17.279 --> 00:33:22.799 Okay, some of you are believing for a breakthrough in your health, a breakthrough in your finances, a breakthrough in your marriage, a breakthrough in your career. 00:33:22.960 --> 00:33:24.400 Have you tried fasting? 00:33:24.640 --> 00:33:28.960