22R2- Fasting

OVERVIEW

Problem (Tension): We all struggle with self control

Solution (Big Idea): Fasting creates self-control from the inside out.

Challenge (CTA): Commit to 21 day fast

Pray over Word

I thank you, Father, that your word has the power to change my life. I'm a hearer of the word and a doer of the word and I'll never be the same after today. In Jesus name Amen.

SERIES SETUP

is there another level to the life you should be experiencing?

feel like you're stuck in a rut

not happy with the way things are going?

What if you could hit the RESET button and re-prioritize, reorganize, and revitalize your life? In this series, we talk about what it takes to hit RESET on your life.

PROBLEM

[STORY POINTING TO PROBLEM]

Back in the 60’s Walter Mischel an Stanford professor created a test to see how various 4 olds would respond to being left alone with a marshmallow for 15 minutes with instructions not to eat it — and with the promises that if they didn’t, they would be given two.

[video clip - marshmallow test]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX_oy9614HQ&t=54s

buy: https://www.ignitermedia.com/products/7227-the-marshmallow-test?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=the-marshmallow-test#

preschoolers who waited longest for the marshmallow went on to have

higher SAT scores

more healthy

earned more money

less substance abuse

sports

better at maintaining strong relationships

coped better with stress.

Today, as we continue to talk about hitting the RESET button on our lives, we are going to be talking about one of the biggest contributors of personal and spiritual success, Self-Control.

[STATE PROBLEM]

We struggle with self disciple, self control, willpower

sounds simple and easy. Just control yourself.

It’s not a flashy idea.

[REASONS FOR THE PROBLEM]

can be as small as saying no to

another Oreo or milkshake

another half hour on Netflix or Facebook

or can feel as significant as

sobriety

sexual purity

bible reading

one of the most difficult things you can ever learn to do.

Self-control may be the perfect example of the old saying “easier said than done.”

[definition]

Self-Control: Control of one's emotions, desires, or actions by one's own will.

simply: that important, and nearly impossible practice of learning to maintain control of the beast of our own passions.

Saying yes to what you know is good for you and no to what is bad for you.

Also saying yes to what is right and no to what is wrong.

Rom 7:15

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

conflict that goes on inside of us

Rom 7:18-19

For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.

am i the only one that can relate

fruit of the spirit - when your spirit is in tune with the HS it produces.

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

we know that in a healthy successful state we have self control

its not easy

people who lack self control struggle

Proverbs 25:28

Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.

We want self control but...

We all face temptations.

problem is we try from the outside in. (brute force will power)

will power is usually a bad motivator. - we all struggle

we must figure out how to master our own lives or we will look back with regret.

we struggle with what we should/could/want to do because of lack of self control

overcoming self-centered nature and self control

Even Jesus dealt with temptations lay down his self control

Jesus was god but also 100 man.

when jesus was 12

Luke 2:52

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

he had to learn just like we did.

he had to go through everything we did.

Heb 4:15

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

Jesus had to develop self control like we do with his human body with all its weakness

We know that Jesus had unmatched self-control.

Peter quoted a prophesy from Isaiah that had come true in (Isa 53:9)

1 Pet 2:22

“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

He had so much self control.

Luke 22:44

And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

And while he was on the cross

Matt 26:53

Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?

he could have wiped everyone out but he had self control

Philippians 2:8

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!”

operating as a man, he was self control.

if jesus developed self control as a human with all its temptations, how did he do it.

[TRANS TO SOLUTION]

But the great news is that he left us a powerful recipe for self-control...

SOLUTION

[context]

before he started his ministry he was baptised with confirmation from the father and HS

After His baptism, getting ready to start his ministry, Jesus went to the wilderness for 40 days. While He was there, Satan came to tempt Him.

[main scripture]

Matthew 4:1–2

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

As we have already seen Jesus would be tempted his whole life.

Self control would have to be the mainstay of His life.

So he has to go through this tempting in the Wilderness to know for a doubt that he can stand strong in the face of temptations. Just like you and I have to go through.

So what was his secret? Lets read on.

Matt 4:3

The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

devil starts by questioning Jesus' identity, “if you are the Son of God” and then attaches to it something he wanted. Food.

Although Jesus’ fasting created a desire, (Food), it also created willpower from the inside out.

Jesus quote the scriptures in Deut

Matt 4:4

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

[STATE SOLUTION / BOTTOM LINE]

Here is the point i want to drive home today.

Fasting creates self-control from the inside out

Even in physical weakness and insane hunger, Jesus words say that He will not live for His own appetites but will live to follow God's will. God comes first.

Gym as an example of practicing self-discipline.

Matt 4:5 -6

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

why would jumping off the temple being tempting.

Satan’s statement of “if you are the Son of God” is telling.

Our actions are derived from the image you have of yourself.

at the core of temptation is “who are you”

temptation is the inside out.

So jesus answers again with the Word.

Matt 4:7

Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

again satan doesn’t give up

Matt 4:8-10

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

if you want internal strength. Fasting is how.

Its how we become other centered. but it will never come without will power.

self centeredness is at the core of satan’s temptations

fasting brings discipline.

many feel like satan is harassing us and try to bind and cast out.

James 4:7

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

too often we go to binding and casting out instead of just learning to resist the devil.

after Jesus resisted satan…

Luke 4:13

When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him....

satan would be back

Luke 4:13

When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

temptation never leaves, only waits for a more opportune time.

Luke 4:14

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit...

CHALLENGE (CTA):

I want to call a fast.

Jan 9-29

everyone do some type of fast.

Types of Fasts

Complete Fast

Daniel Fast

Partial Fast

Soul Fast

Be mindful of health issues or eating disorders

talk with you doc.

Pray and ask what you are supposed to do.

Prayer board and online

turn in prayer requests

Morning Prayer -

lwfc.org/fast

prayer cards

very excited about what God is going to do.

what if we all did it.

resist traps / temptations

self discipline from the inside out.