Life Hacks, Part 1

Intro 1

a hack is a term used to describe something simple that can make life better or easier

Examples

take pics of business cards, and don’t have to worry about storing them or losing t hem

if my bathroom sink get stopped up with hair (Sherry), don’t need plumber or special tool, I just get a wire hanger from the closet and stuff it down

squint your eyes when taking a picture to make your smile look more genuine

There are some Christian life hacks that can make your life better, easier

Intro

Invited to preach at Life Inspirational Community Outreach and Resource Center

simplified recap and conclusion: the Holy Spirit will reveal more to you, if you become more spiritual

talked about how good it is for you, when the Holy Spirit reveals things to you

how would you like revelation about your relationships, finances, health, and career decisions, knowing what God is up to

and spoke on how dangerous it is to not hear from the Holy Spirit, to be in the dark about what God is doing

give you an example: Noah knew what God was up to and saved himself and family. Those who did not know what God was up to perished in the flood.

Therefore, it is my goal that every member of WMBC becomes more spiritual, closer to God

they will benefit personally, their family will benefit, the church will benefit

more power, more wisdom, more understanding, more peace, more joy

So how do we become more spiritual?

prayer, meditate on the word more, be around spiritual people, and obey

preached that we need to level up in all of these areas

Today it is my charge to talk about specific part of prayer that is often ignored. It is a prayer hack . . . make your prayers better, more effective

It is a very scary word, but it will not be scary by the end of this word . . . . fasting

let’s jump right in

What is fasting?

spiritual fasting - denying yourself of something while you pray

most often it is food

sometimes food and water

sometimes it is other things . . . but there is a denying of what you normally eat, drink, or do . . . while you pray

Should we fast?

is it expected?

In Matthew 5, Jesus begins his sermon on the Mount. Teaching about a great many things. Teaching with authority.

By chapter 6, Jesus teaches about how to give to the poor, very matter of factly - cause that’s what we do, it’s a given, let’s just work on the how

Then Jesus taught about praying - that’s a given too, he just wanted to explain how

then we get to . . .

Matthew 6:16 NASB95

16 “Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

Whenever you fast . . . it is also a given that followers of Jesus will fast, Jesus just wanted to talk about the how

Yes, we are supposed to fast

Did people in the Bible fast?

resounding yes

we won’t show every person or reference in order to save time.

Moses

Deuteronomy 9:9 NASB95

9 “When I went up to the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant which the Lord had made with you, then I remained on the mountain forty days and nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water.

he was getting the word of God directly from God, and he fasted . . . yeah that’s getting a revelation from God!

how could he survive? Miraculous time, another miracle

Ezra fasted for three days for repentance of his people (Ezra 10)

Esther fasted that she would be able to save her people (Esther 4)

Daniel fasted

Daniel 10:3 NASB95

3 I did not eat any tasty food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all until the entire three weeks were completed.

3 weeks, seeking an understanding of a vision (Daniel 10)

no tasty food, meat, or wine . . . and did not do a lot of self care

people put this with what Daniel did earlier, and call it the Daniel fast - only eat fruits, vegetables, water

accurately it says no tasty food, delicacies, rich food

King of Nineveh, (Jonah chapter 3)

Jonah said, God will destroy you all in 40 days because you are so evil, so the king called for a fast to plead for mercy (no food or drink, put on clothes of mourning, and stop evil ways and violence . . . even animals can’t eat)

doesn’t say how long this lasted . . . God had mercy on them

Nehemiah, (chapter 1)

cup bearer for the king . . . important position, trusted position, advising

got report that his people were in trouble, and he fasted and prayed . . . he wanted favor with the king, so the king would grant him what he needed to go back to Jerusalem and help

Anna, (Luke 2)

constantly fasted

could recognize the Messiah as a baby . . . revelation

Paul (Acts 9)

fasted after his conversion, 3 days, no food or water

regain sight

direction

God sent a Christian, named Ananias by to lay hands on him: healed and filled with the Holy Ghost

how did Ananias know to to that? Revelation (don’t know if he was fasting, but there is power in revelation)

Church leaders fasted in Acts 13

by normal fasting, they got instructions on sending Paul and Barnabas out

then fasted and prayed for the special reason that Paul and Barnabas would be successful

Jesus (Matthew 4)

fasted for 40 days, before beginning his ministry

flesh was weak, but spiritual man strong and ready to take on the devil

so it is safe to say that fasting is supposed to be normal for us

Why do we fast?

Fasting does not mean, you get what you want . . . not a way of tricking God to answer your prayer

David fasted, hoping that God would save the life of his newborn son. Seems that he fasted from food, did nothing but lay on the ground and pray. But on day 7 his infant child still died.

2 Samuel 12:19–20 NASB95

19 But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead; so David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” And they said, “He is dead.” 20 So David arose from the ground, washed, anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he came into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he came to his own house, and when he requested, they set food before him and he ate.

people fasted for various reasons . . . to hear from God, favor, healing, understanding, mercy, direction, success endeavors, or just part of their normal routine

so what’s the common thread

Matthew 9:15 NASB95

15 And Jesus said to them, “The attendants of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

Jesus said that his disciples don’t need to fast, because I am with them right now, but later when I am taken away (ascend into heaven) they will need to fast

purpose - get a stronger connection with God, denying the flesh so that the spiritual part of you can grow

in this verse, Jesus was in the flesh, Immanuel . . . walking, talking, touching . . . so their is an easy connection, relationship, and spiritual growth in abundance

but later when Jesus ascends into heaven, they will need help in establishing/keeping that connection

Fasting is not a life hack to getting whatever you want, fasting is a life hack to connecting with God

and when you get that stronger connection, closer to his presence - you often get these things: hear from God, favor, healing, understanding, mercy, direction, success endeavors, blessings

David did not get what he wanted, David’s child was not healed, but he did get a stronger connection with God, he grew spiritually

look at how he responded to bad news - worshipped

look at what he wrote during that time (Psalms 51)

ultimately, WE FAST TO BE MORE SPIRITUAL (holy ghost spiritual, not one with nature spiritual, deep thinker spiritual . . . but real spirituality)

How to fast?

we see a lot of fasting from food and water

also saw just certain foods

also saw fasting from self care, even animals made to fast

and all of this for various lengths of time

there is no set method or time established by the Bible:

so to fast, you need to withhold something for a set length of time

I believe this can include: social media, TV, video games, sports, coffee, sodas,

As one preacher/prophet who fast all the time . . last time he prophecied that I would receive a special blessing by the end of the week and church blessed me with money and a portrait by the end of the week . . . . start with something (even if it’s from gum), and build your way up

Also, this is not a competition to see who can be the most miserable . . . this type of fasting needs to be filled with more excitement and expectation than “I can’t wait until it is over”. Don’t make it too hard.

speaking of being miserable

Matthew 6:17–18 NASB95

17 “But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face 18 so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

this is in response to those who fasted to be recognized by men . . . so they would put on a how on how much they were suffering “for the Lord”

we want to do fasting that is recognized by God

but this is an incredible promise . . . we don’t fast for reward, but there is a reward in fasting

this is a life hack for Christians!

the closer you are to God, the closer you are to provision, protection, favor, mercy, grace, joy, peace, understanding, wisdom

complaint: I’ve fasted one time, and it didn’t work

let me give you a statement, I went to the gym one time, and it didn’t work

fasting is more of a lifestyle than a one time event

Have you taken the first step?

Fasting shows that you recognize God, next level recognition

but 1st level is accepting Christ

what if I fast anyway, before accepting Christ . . . if you are seeking to get closer with the Creator God, almighty God, God of the Universe, omnipotent, omniscient, all knowing God

you will hear his voice telling you to accept Jesus Christ as both Lord and Savior

there is a bigger hack than fasting

salvation hack - Jesus did the hard part!

suffer, bled, and died, rose again

you just have to accept him as Lord and Savior

you don’t have to work your way in like other religions

you’ll work, but not to get in heaven

you don’t have to hope you get in like other religions

whosever shall call on the name . . .

Salvation hack, then you can start on life hack, prayer hack

Remarks

Thanks to sis. West for Bulletin board