Wednesday Service | FAITH TRAINING: What It Means To Be A Disciple | Part 9 – Fasting and Memorizing Scripture | Jordan Brawner

[1] Jesus and scripture

Matthew 4:1-4 (NIRV)

The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert. There the devil tempted him. ² After 40 days and 40 nights of going without eating, Jesus was hungry. ³ The tempter came to him. He said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

⁴ Jesus answered, “It is written, ‘Man must not live only on bread. He must also live on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” 

• Memorization trains our for battle

Matthew 6:11, 13 (NKJV)

Give us this day our daily bread… ¹³ And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.

[2] Jesus his disciples to fast

Matthew 6:17-18 (NIV)

17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

[3] Fasting teaches my whole being that it upon God

Matthew 16:24 (ESV)

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

• The practice of temporarily myself of comforts and entertainment will increase my capacity for self control

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIRV)

²² But the fruit the Holy Spirit produces is love, joy and peace. It is being patient, kind and good. It is being faithful ²³ and gentle and having control of oneself. There is no law against things of that kind.

[4] Fasting teaches my body I can have control over my and

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 (NIRV)

³ God wants you to be made holy. He wants you to stay away from sexual sins. ⁴ He wants all of you to learn to control your own bodies. You must live in a way that is holy. You must live with honor. ⁵ Don’t desire to commit sexual sins like people who don’t know God.

[5] Prayer and fasting increases my spiritual

Matthew 17:18-21 (AMP)

18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed at once.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, “Why could we not drive it out?” 20 He answered, “Because of your little faith [your lack of trust and confidence in the power of God]; for I assure you and most solemnly say to you, if you have [living] faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and [if it is God’s will] it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 [But this kind of demon does not go out except by prayer and fasting.]”

• Fasting increases my ability to deal with spiritual

[6] Fasting like Jesus is about entering the of God

Luke 5:33-35 (NLT)

33 One day some people said to Jesus, “John the Baptist’s disciples fast and pray regularly, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees. Why are your disciples always eating and drinking?”

34 Jesus responded, “Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. 35 But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.”

Joel 2:12 (NLT)

¹² That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.

[7] Fasting and myself is an effective way to position myself for God’s

Ezra 8:21, 23 (NLT)

21 And there by the Ahava Canal, I gave orders for all of us to fast and humble ourselves before our God. We prayed that he would give us a safe journey and protect us, our children, and our goods as we traveled… 23 So we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and he heard our prayer.

Psalm 35:13 (AMP)

But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth (mourning garment); I humbled my soul with fasting, And I prayed with my head bowed on my chest.

James 4:10 (NLT)

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

[8] There are different kinds of fasts

[a] fast: no food or water

[b] fast: abstaining from food but drinking lots of water

[c] fast: can be done in a variety of ways (Daniel’s Fast)