Message Date: January 16, 2022
Bible
Review
- Habits are more about who you’re being–who you are becoming–than what you’re doing.
- Real change only happens at the level of identity.
- God is the true source of your identity, and so is the only One who can truly change how you really see yourself.
- 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. II Corinthians 3:18 NKJV
- We left off last week talking about how to read the word in such a way that it brings change: where you hear God’s voice in His word, and His spirit helps to change you and free you from vice.
- 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. II Corinthians 3:17 NKJV
- We ended talking about how to turn that into a prayer, so that it becomes a conversation.
Prayer
- Parallel: eat right and exercise || read your Bible and pray
- 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints Ephesians 6:18 NKJV
- Prayer should always be a habit.
- Just like He helps in Bible reading and brings change, He helps us in our praying—the purpose being GLORY AND LIBERTY.
- Prayer doesn’t change God—it changes us.
- 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:17-23 NKJV
- Wisdom: skillful, practical use of knowledge
- Revelation: unveiling
- Intimacy: knowledge of Him
- 14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14-19 NKJV
- Prayer is about seeking to know Him and who you are in relationship to Him.
- 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:17-23 NKJV
Fasting
- Fasting does not change God. Fasting changes you.
- 16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Matthew 6:16-18 NKJV
- Fasting puts your flesh under.
- The goal is not to lose weight, but to be the kind of person that doesn’t overeat.
- 1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? I Corinthians 3:1-3 NKJV
- Spiritual: Spirit-governed
- Carnal: flesh-governed
- 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Acts 13:2 NKJV
- 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. Galatians 6:7-8 NKJV
- Corruption: decay; not as good as God intended; not ripe; runs out; spoils; need more and more, because it gets old
- Everlasting life: not quantity of life, but quality; never gets old; constantly fresh, and ripe, and the way God intended
