Mercy Culture Church
It's Easy | Fasting is Easy
Mercy Culture Church | Pastor Landon Schott
Locations & Times
Mercy Culture Church
1701 Oakhurst Scenic Dr, Fort Worth, TX 76111, USA
Sunday 8:00 AM
Sunday 11:00 AM
Fasting is easy in the presence of God!
Hard things become easy in His presence.
▪ The yoke = wooden beam = cross
▪ The cross brings us into the presence of God where it’s EASY.
▪ If it's heavy, you’re carrying something you shouldn’t be carrying!
▪ Everything is easy in his Presence!
▪ The cross brings us into the presence of God where it’s EASY.
▪ If it's heavy, you’re carrying something you shouldn’t be carrying!
▪ Everything is easy in his Presence!
Warning
Some of you have dishonored fasting in your heart. Today you need to turn your heart towards it.
Some of you have dishonored fasting in your heart. Today you need to turn your heart towards it.
What is fasting?
Fasting
Deliberate and temporary abstention from food for spiritual reasons.
Fasting is denying the flesh and feeding the spirit!
Fasting
Deliberate and temporary abstention from food for spiritual reasons.
Fasting is denying the flesh and feeding the spirit!
Fasts are primarily food, but other fasts are beneficial.
Different Kinds of Fasts
⁃ Water fast
⁃ Partial fast (Daniel 1:8-14)
⁃ Full fast (Esther 4:16)
⁃ Liquid fast
⁃ Marital fast (1 Corinthians 7:5)
⁃ Corporate fast (Joel 1:14)
⁃ Talking fast
⁃ Anything fast
Different Kinds of Fasts
⁃ Water fast
⁃ Partial fast (Daniel 1:8-14)
⁃ Full fast (Esther 4:16)
⁃ Liquid fast
⁃ Marital fast (1 Corinthians 7:5)
⁃ Corporate fast (Joel 1:14)
⁃ Talking fast
⁃ Anything fast
Question
Do I need to hear God for myself before I fast?
Hear God through the spiritual leaders that you’re submitted to!
Do I need to hear God for myself before I fast?
Hear God through the spiritual leaders that you’re submitted to!
Mercy Culture Church was built on prayer and fasting.
Fasting without prayer is just a diet.
Fasting was God’s idea.
Fasting was God’s idea.
Jesus modeled a life of prayer and fasting.
Fasting is for everyone!
Fasting is for all followers of Jesus!
Disciples = followers of Jesus!
Disciples = followers of Jesus!
Deny
To say no!
To say no!
Aparneomai
(aper-neo-may) - I deny, disown, repudiate (either another person or myself), disregard. "strongly reject", to say no!
(aper-neo-may) - I deny, disown, repudiate (either another person or myself), disregard. "strongly reject", to say no!
Practical Advice for Fasting
⁃ Name your fast
⁃ Don’t boast about fasting
⁃ Be aware your flesh will be provoked
⁃ Be wise about your fast
⁃ Consult the Father
⁃ Take vitamins and protein
⁃ Focus on pleasing the Lord
⁃ Teach your kids fasting
⁃ If you fail, start over
⁃ Push yourself
⁃ Pray about where to break your fast
⁃ Name your fast
⁃ Don’t boast about fasting
⁃ Be aware your flesh will be provoked
⁃ Be wise about your fast
⁃ Consult the Father
⁃ Take vitamins and protein
⁃ Focus on pleasing the Lord
⁃ Teach your kids fasting
⁃ If you fail, start over
⁃ Push yourself
⁃ Pray about where to break your fast
7 Spiritual Benefits of Fasting
1.You spiritually grow by fasting!
1.You spiritually grow by fasting!
Matthew 6 speaks to giving, praying, and fasting as standard practice for a Christian’s life.
Fasting directly reflects spiritual strength!
Giving, praying, and fasting are 3 areas that directly reflect spiritual maturity! If you’re not giving, praying, and fasting, you’re not spiritually growing!
You spiritually grow by denying your flesh and feeding your spirit. Fasting does both at the same time.
Fasting directly reflects spiritual strength!
Giving, praying, and fasting are 3 areas that directly reflect spiritual maturity! If you’re not giving, praying, and fasting, you’re not spiritually growing!
You spiritually grow by denying your flesh and feeding your spirit. Fasting does both at the same time.
7 Spiritual Benefits of Fasting
2. Fasting increases your spiritual authority
2. Fasting increases your spiritual authority
7 Spiritual Benefits of Fasting
3. Fasting produces humility
⁃ Humility is the first and primary characteristic of Jesus
⁃ Pride is the first and primary characteristic of Satan
⁃ Fasting is a pursuit of humility
⁃ It keeps you from exalting yourself
⁃ You don’t feel great when you’re fasting. It will keep you from thinking you are great
3. Fasting produces humility
⁃ Humility is the first and primary characteristic of Jesus
⁃ Pride is the first and primary characteristic of Satan
⁃ Fasting is a pursuit of humility
⁃ It keeps you from exalting yourself
⁃ You don’t feel great when you’re fasting. It will keep you from thinking you are great
7 Spiritual Benefits of Fasting
4. You hear God!
4. You hear God!
Fasting creates spiritual sensitivity!
7 Spiritual Benefits of Fasting
5. Deliverance takes place in fasting
5. Deliverance takes place in fasting
7 Spiritual Benefits of Fasting
6. Opens divine doors
6. Opens divine doors
7 Spiritual Benefits of Fasting
7. Prepares the way for miracles
7. Prepares the way for miracles
Jesus’ ministry began with prayer and fasting.
Fasting touches Heaven!
Fasting touches Heaven!
Fasting is easy!
Question
How can fasting be easy?
Question
How can fasting be easy?
Grace
Greek | charis (khar'-ece) = kindness (a) grace, as a gift or blessing brought to man by Jesus Christ, favor, gratitude, thanks, a favor, kindness.
Hebrew | xáris = inclined, favorable towards, leaning towards to share benefit – the Lord's favor – freely extended to give Himself away to people (because He is "always leaning toward them, extending Himself").
Greek | charis (khar'-ece) = kindness (a) grace, as a gift or blessing brought to man by Jesus Christ, favor, gratitude, thanks, a favor, kindness.
Hebrew | xáris = inclined, favorable towards, leaning towards to share benefit – the Lord's favor – freely extended to give Himself away to people (because He is "always leaning toward them, extending Himself").
Fasting is easy in the presence of God!
The Holy Spirit is somewhere in the fast!
Edom
Signifies red; The lentils from the red dirt of earth.
Esau was named prophetically for this accident. He desired the earth (the world's delights).
Signifies red; The lentils from the red dirt of earth.
Esau was named prophetically for this accident. He desired the earth (the world's delights).
What is the birthright?
- The right or privilege that belonged to the firstborn son in a Hebrew family. The eldest son ranked highest after the father. In the father’s absence, the son with the birthright had the father’s authority and responsibility.
- The birthright meant not only the honor of family leadership, but also an inheritance of twice the amount that was received by every other son.
- The birthright had many privileges annexed to it, such as honor and authority in the family next to parents. It was a double portion of the inheritance.
- The privilege of the birthright was accounted as sacred in the social life of the early Israelites.
- The right or privilege that belonged to the firstborn son in a Hebrew family. The eldest son ranked highest after the father. In the father’s absence, the son with the birthright had the father’s authority and responsibility.
- The birthright meant not only the honor of family leadership, but also an inheritance of twice the amount that was received by every other son.
- The birthright had many privileges annexed to it, such as honor and authority in the family next to parents. It was a double portion of the inheritance.
- The privilege of the birthright was accounted as sacred in the social life of the early Israelites.
The birthright = spiritual privilege!
The birthright = an encounter with the father!
⁃ Esau sold his birthright for soup.
⁃ Esau treaded a bowl of soup for his appointment with the father.
⁃ Esau valued the desires of the flesh over the favor of the father!
The birthright = an encounter with the father!
⁃ Esau sold his birthright for soup.
⁃ Esau treaded a bowl of soup for his appointment with the father.
⁃ Esau valued the desires of the flesh over the favor of the father!
Question
What if Esau embraced fasting?
What if you embraced fasting?
What if Esau embraced fasting?
What if you embraced fasting?
Don’t trade an encounter with God for the desire of the flesh!