Growing in Intimacy, Humility and Faith Through Fasting January 17, 2010

4 things we are looking to take place from this fast Increased intimacy Learning to Love like He loves. Increased humility Greater revelation of our total dependency on God. A desire to serve the Father through serving others. Increased Faith A greater confidence in God A realization that God is bigger than we can imagine. More of the manifest presence of God in our midst.

The Laodicean Church had a number of problems The greatest of which was they thought they were spiritual and they were not. Because they were satisfied and comfortable in their spiritual condition they had become lukewarm. This is a place of compromise and lethargy.

The solution to Lukewarmness Rev 3:18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

How do you buy faith from Jesus? Standing faithful in the midst of the fire allowing the Holy Spirit to work. Faithfulness is not unfaltering faith. It is standing even when you don’t know why. It is not being perfect in the midst of the storm. It is knowing that God is still in control even if you don’t act accordingly. Faithfulness will produce faith.

Luke 18:8 …when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" The truth that Jesus had been teaching was that God would deliver His people from their calamities and save them, though He allowed them to go through suffering. He asks them here whether, when He came, He would find "this faith," or a belief of "this truth," among His followers? Would they be found persevering in prayer, and "believing" that God would avenge them; or would they cease to pray and give up?"

Buy white garments that you might be clothed. White garment are the righteous acts of the saints. How do you buy “White Garments”? James 2:23-24 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. NKJV White Garments are purchased through selfless acts of faith.

Jesus says, “anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.” Job 42:3-6 I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 4 Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, 'I will question you, and you shall answer Me.' 5 "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. 6 Therefore I abhor myself …And repent in dust and ashes." NKJV

Through fasting and prayer we are transformed by the Holy Spirit and we move from the attitude of; Victim to victor we recognize that we are overcomers and act accordingly Entitlement to servant We live to serve others and regard their needs as greater than our own. Complaining to grateful Selfish to giving Judgment to love and compassion

Rev 3:20-21 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. NKJV

Fasting and prayer are a way of opening the door and saying yes to Jesus. It is a way of denying ourselves and saying, “Jesus you are more important than anything else in life. I want to spend time with you.” Jesus promises to have intimate fellowship with those that invite Him in.

Jesus makes this incredible promise, 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. NKJV When we overcome lukewarmness, lethargy and complacency, we will rest in the authority that Jesus has given to us.

The key to overcoming is inviting Jesus in. After we invite Him in, initial salvation, then we must dine with Him.

Allow me to suggest this dining is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Problem some have is they never seen the value of being filled with God’s Spirit. The other problem people have is they say “been there done that” I am filled. Problem is the Father wants to continually pour His Spirit out on us.

John 7:38-39 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. NKJV