Get Ready for Takeoff!.
We are about 4 weeks away from our Fall Launch in which we begin the race that runs the next church year. It starts September 12th.
a. Now we do a “fall launch” because it is when summer comes to an end, vacations finish up, kids go back to school, everyone begins a new routine and establishes new patterns for life for the next year.
b. This fall, however, we are facing an opportunity that I believe exceeds any in this church’s history. We are on the threshold of incredible growth, both in new families as well as in our own spiritual lives.
c. Consider some of these benchmarks:
i. Our vacation Bible school led us to dozens of children who have no church home.
ii. We have 5 or 6 new babies coming into our church on the wings of either existing families or new families.
iii. We have done 16 baptisms in the past 12 months, and will do more on September 12th.
iv. Over 26 people have committed to this congregation as members in the past year.
v. We are averaging 87 people per Sunday compared with 68 per Sunday just one year ago.
vi. We have seen a considerable number of people saved in the past year.
d. And yet…we aren’t even close to achieving what God has in mind for us.
i. God’s vision for our church eludes our ability to grasp it, because we limit Him by our own abilities, limitations, and sight.
ii. I believe that God has something much, much greater in store for us this next year than we could ever ask or imagine.
iii. But discovering what it is that God has in store for us, and achieving it will not be without personal cost and sacrifice.
iv. Today’s sermon will be dealing with your and my response to God’s challenge to be a catalytic church.
II. What kind of response?
a. Open your bibles to Acts 13:1-4
b. Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. And while they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus
i. Antioch is the first city in which gentiles (non-Jews) heard the gospel and responded to it in large numbers. It appears that the numbers that responded were overwhelming. In Acts 11 you will find that when the church in Jerusalem hears about it, they send Barnabas to go help out. But when Barnabas gets there, he sees that there are so many new Christians, that he calls for an old buddy named Paul who is ministering obscurely in a city called Tarsus.
ii. At Antioch, they stay a whole year, and verse 26 of Chapter 11 says that they “taught a great number of people.” In other words…they had pretty good success and people were responding to the truth that Jesus died for their sins.
iii. The passage we just read takes place at the end of that year. It tells us of a very special event that happened that affected a great number of people. In fact, these 4 verses, tell us something very important.
iv. So what were they doing in these four verses?
1. Saul (Paul) and Barnabas and some of the church in Antioch were worshipping -- ministering to the Lord -- and fasting (v. 2).
v. Why were they fasting?
1. Judging by what happened, I think the burden that drove them to fast was question, "Where do we go from here as a church?"
2. They were fasting to because they wanted God direction.
3. Now, you might wonder, why fast? Why not just pray about it and wait for God’s answer.
4. The answer to that lies in the results that followed. You see, there weren’t content to simply “let life just happen to them.” They wanted to Experience God Now.
5. Some of you have been going through Experiencing God.
a. It has been a life changing, life challenging experience for many of you.
b. Even our youth have been doing it as well.
c. The premise of Experiencing God is to “find out where God is working and get on board with Him.”
d. Don’t try to go your own way and ask God to bless it.
e. Don’t just do the same old programs and activities.
f. Seek Him first and wait for an answer…then when you get it, go at it with all you got.
g. If what you are doing can be done by yourself, then it really isn’t going to bring God glory.
h. Unless the challenge is so great, so big, so hard, so impossible, that it brings you to your knees, it is probably just from your own mind and dreams.
i. But if it seems impossible. It seems like an insurmountable task, but it gives your heart hiccups every time you think about it and you get glory bumps every time you think about it…then you might be onto something that God is pointing to.
III. Let’s go back to Antioch and look at the group that were fasting and praying.
a. You see, they were looking for God’s ACTIVE direction and not just some status quo, some “more of the same.” Something deep inside of them led them to seek God in a deeper way to find out what He had in store for them.
b. Their little prayer meeting, joined with fasting, had two significant results.
i. They heard God.
ii. Their work for God took an amazing turn. (describe how amazing later).
c. Why? I think that the answer lies in how they sought God.
d. A fast, coupled with prayer, can humble the soul of man to hear the Spirit of God in ways he may not have been able to previously.
i. A couple of warnings about fasting first:
1. A fast will not get you in “good” with God.
2. A fast won’t make your prayers more likely to be answered.
3. A fast won’t earn you God points.’
e. So why fast?
i. So you can hear God better!
1. I have spoken with many of you about your experiences with hearing God.
2. Many of us can say, “Yes, I remember when God spoke to me and said…”
a. But let me ask you a question. When was that time? How long ago? 6 months ago? 1 year ago?
b. Do you think it is sufficient to hear God just once or twice a year? Or do you think that maybe, just maybe, God is continuously talking and we aren’t able to hear because our spiritual ears are clogged with stuff?
c. Or…do you think that the reason we aren’t hearing God more often is because we aren’t seeking Him with ALL our hearts?
3. Others of you may be feeling spiritually dry.
a. You are running on spiritual empty, and the warning light is on your dashboard. You know you are going to run dry and when you do, you will be stuck at the side of life’s road with your hazard lights on.
b. You feel burnt out. You have used all your energy to serve God and wonder how you can go on.
4. There is really only one answer for that dryness, for burnout, for spiritual emptiness.
a. That is the very presence of God.
b. But that presence of God that can fill your cup doesn’t just come because you say, “God, I’m empty, fill er up!”
5. (Jeremiah 29:13,14) "When you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you"
a. When a man or woman is willing to set aside the legitimate appetites of the body to concentrate on the work of praying, they are demonstrating that they mean business, that they are seeking God with all their heart.
b. That is, when people are really, really serious about seeking God, they fast.
i. Spiritual quickie prayers don’t suffice.
ii. “God help me” prayers just don’t measure up.
iii. No, when people know they need God really bad, they go to their knees and they deny their flesh.
iv. They fast because they want to hear God more than they want to even eat.
6. Fasting is an expression of wholeheartedness.
a. This is clear from Joel's call to the nation of Israel: "Yet even now," says the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting. . ." (Joel 2:12).
ii. The second reason to fast is So your spirit might rule your flesh!
1. Fasting is an intentional act of humbling oneself.
a. "to humble oneself before the Lord" (Psalm 35:13; 1 Kings 21:29; Ezra 8:21).
b. I read this week about Nehemiah, one of the Israelites, who was in captivity in Babylon 70 years after the fall of Jerusalem. He hears about the condition of his home country and the bible says, “When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.” (Neh 1:4)
c. Over and over in the bible, when people discovered that they had sinned, or that they needed to get closer to God, they humbled themselves by fasting.
2. We find a clue in Leviticus 16:29. This verse says that fasting is synonymous with "afflicting one's soul."
3. Andrew Murray said, "Fasting helps to express, to deepen, and to confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything - to sacrifice ourselves - to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God."
4. Very frankly, I have an aversion to fasting.
a. It requires my body to become submissive to my spirit.
b. It means that I am going to tell my body to “die” a little bit so that my spirit might submit to the spirit of God and hear Him.
c. Dying is hard. My flesh doesn’t want to die. It wants to rule.
d. I resist the call to fast because I really don’t like humbling myself to the point of pain. And fasting causes discomfort and pain.
e. But very frankly…(READ LOUD AND SLOW) you and I cannot and will not hear God as long as we are comfortable.
iii. The third reason is that So you might experience spiritual power.
1. Last week, we heard Jesus say, “This kind only comes out through prayer and fasting.” The disciples had authority but not power, because they weren’t charged!
2. When you are walking by the flesh, you will not reap the fruits of the Spirit.
3. Crucify the flesh, and walk by the Spirit and you will reap the fruit of the Spirit.
4. Spiritual power won’t come by willing it. It comes by the Spirit. And the Holy Spirit’s power is evidenced in the crucified man.
5. Fasting is a means to that end!
6. Do you want to see spiritual power in your life?
IV. A fast, coupled with humble prayer, can change the world!
a. It is almost impossible to overstate the historical importance of the moment in Antioch that we read about for the history of the world.
i. Before this word from the Holy Spirit there seems to have been no organized mission of the church beyond the eastern seacoast of the Mediterranean.
ii. Before this, Paul had made no missionary journeys westward to Asian Minor, Greece or Rome or Spain.
iii. Before this Paul had not written any of his letters which were all the result of his missionary travels beginning here. In fact, he had an obscure ministry in the town of Tarsus where he was sent by the other disciples.
iv. This moment of prayer and fasting resulted in a missions movement that would make Christianity the dominant religion of the Roman empire within two and a half centuries and would yield 1.3 billion adherents of the Christian religion today with a Christian witness in virtually every country of the world.
v. 13 our of the 29 books of the New Testament were the result of the ministry that was launched in this moment of prayer and fasting.
vi. So I think is it fair to say that God was pleased to make worship and prayer and fasting the launching pad for a mission that would change the course of world history.
What other significant events has fasting and prayer played a role?
b. In 2 Chronicles 20 the Moabites and Ammonites and Meunites came against Jehoshaphat the king of Judah. It was a terrifying horde of violent people. What could the people do? What direction should they turn? Verse 3 says,
i. Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the Lord; and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 So Judah gathered together to seek help from the Lord; they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek the Lord.
ii. So there was a great nationwide fast for divine guidance and deliverance. In the midst of that fasting assembly, verses 14-15 says,
iii. the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel . . . and he said, "Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the Lord to you, Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God's."
iv. The next day when the people of Judah went out, they found that the people of Moab and Ammon had destroyed one another, and it took them three days to gather the spoil, there was so much. What looked like defeat and calamity was overnight turned into stunning triumph.
1. Their fast humbled them.
2. Their fast allowed them to hear God.
3. Their fast permitted them to experience the Power of God.
v. The course of history was changed through the fasting of God's people.
c. John Wesley tells us in his journal of a similar kind of deliverance in 1756. The king of Britain called for a day of solemn prayer and fasting because of a threatened invasion of the French. Wesley wrote,
i. “The fast day was a glorious day, such as London has scarce seen since the Restoration. Every church in the city was more than full, and a solemn seriousness sat on every face. Surely God hears prayer, and there will yet be a lengthening of our tranquility.”
ii. Then in a footnote he added later, "Humility was turned into national rejoicing for the threatened invasion by the French was averted."
d. Promise Keepers were in fact born in the atmosphere of fasting. In 1990 Coach McCartney asked 72 men to commit to pray and fast through lunch every Wednesday [which is what I am calling for], praying specifically that Almighty God would stir the hearts of men to pursue Jesus Christ.
e. A great wave of fasting and prayer fervour swept America and the world in 1946-1947[i]
i. A book, Atomic Power With God Through Fasting and Prayer by Franklin Hall, was the spark that enflamed thousands to go on extended fasts and to seek God for revival.
ii. Then in 1947-1952 the great healing revival broke out with men like William Branham, Oral Roberts, and T.L. Osborne who were used of God to perform extraordinary miracles. Most of the evangelists followed Hall's fasting methods.
iii. In 1948 the "Latter Rain" outpouring hit North Battleford, Canada, and swept into the United States
iv. The Latter Rain brethren wrote that the truth of fasting was a major catalyst to the revival. After reading Atomic Power they entered a season of the "grace of fasting" and continued for three months. It was at this point that history was changed! .
v. In 1948 Bill Bright saw a vision of college campus awakenings (Campus Crusade for Christ), Billy Graham's ministry was released in 1949, and the Asbury College revival, along with many others, commenced in 1950.
f. It would not be difficult to multiply story after story from the Bible and after the Bible to show that fasting and prayer have changed the course of history
V. Do you think that we should sit on our hands and say, “Our church sure had a great year. In fact, we did better than 80% of the churches in Ohio. Look at all that God did. I guess we can relax now.”
i. When Paul and Barnabas met with the church at Antioch, they had already had great success in their ministry.
ii. But it wasn’t even a scratch on the surface of what God had in mind for them.
b. It is my belief that our church, that is you and I, stand on the threshold of being used by God to change the course of history…whether it be in one person’s life or hundreds this next year.
i. And as a result, I want to ask you to commit to fasting and praying.
ii. Here’s how:
1. For at least the next two Wednesdays, I would like to ask you to give up anywhere from one to three meals (if you are physically able).
a. I have fasted for a single meal before. I approach fasting with this attitude…one meal is “no problem.” So it really won’t be effective on my attitude unless I go a little further. So I will go two meals without eating. I know my body will rebel and argue with my spirit!
2. Take that time that you would normally spend eating (whether it is one, two or three meals), with an open bible and with prayer.
a. Bill Bright writes, “The more time you spend with Him in fellowship, worship, and adoration and the more you read and meditate on His Word during your fast, the greater your effectiveness will be in prayer and the more meaningful your fast will be.
b. Remember, fasting is not an end in itself. Seek the Lord, not the experience of fasting.
c. I am going to suggest that we read (daily) from the book of Psalms, starting with Psalm 90 and reading through Psalm 106. Read and pray these psalms aloud, turning the words into prayers. (we will learn how to do this tonight at 6:00 pm)
d. Pray in the following manner (it is in your bulletin)
i. Thank God for specific things He has done in your life, and then for specific things He has done in our church’s life in this past year.
ii. Bill Bright (who did many 40 day fasts) urges Christians to confess to God your failures and sins. Admit them aloud to Him. Start with your failure to trust Him, to listen to Him, and to hear Him, to make Him your top priority in life. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal hidden sin in your life and confess it as it becomes apparent.
iii. Ask Him to reveal Himself and His purposes for your life.
iv. Ask Him to reveal Himself and His purposes for our church.
v. Ask Him to show you specifically how He wants to use you to accomplish and be involved in those purposes.
vi. Pray for your pastor, your deacons, and the shepherds of the church…for safety, protection, wisdom and obedience.
vii. Close with thanksgiving.
e. I am also going to ask that the deacons and shepherds meet with me for prayer on those two Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm.
iii. What will this fast feel like? What can I expect?
1. If your health is questionable, please don’t fast more than a single meal.
a. If you are diabetic, fasting is not wise. Choose instead to pray.
2. About the time of your first meal you are giving up, you will hear your stomach rumble more than usual.
a. You will probably be aware of it more than you would normally.
b. Your flesh will be making noise! It will not stop its rule without a fight.
c. Drink a glass or two of water and remind your flesh who is in authority!
3. As you get ready to pray, you will likely be distracted.
a. If it is possible, play some music that helps raise your mind to God.
4. Every time for the next few hours that your stomach cries out, use that moment to remind your flesh who is in charge, and give God thanks for the victory in Christ.
a. Offer up a prayer to God for someone else every time you think about food.
5. You will feel like snacking an hour after the meal you skipped.
a. Don’t do it. Don’t eat again until your regularly scheduled next meal (or next day).
b. Be prepared for opposition. I guarantee you will notice the donuts at the office the day of your fast!
c. Make sure your family is in agreement with the fast. If only one of you is fasting, then make sure that the rest of the family isn’t tempting you through the smell of cooking.
d. If you fail (because you snack), remember “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
i. Fasting is not about legalism, it is about learning to submit to the Spirit of God. Emphasis: Learning.
ii. If you break your fast early…thank God for what you learned. Then commit to trying again next week.
6. Enter with a positive faith that God will reward those who fast with the right motives. - Jesus gave this promise: "When you fast, your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" (Matthew 6:18).
7. Watch out for spiritual pride as a result of your fast….”I did it! Look at me!”
8. Water and juice are permissible.
VI. Now that God has your attention and you are willing to respond, then there are a few other responses you can make as well. Three significant decisions.
a. Pray. Serve. Connect.
i. Pray: When we resume our prayer meetings this fall, (and we are praying about the day of the week, about worship leadership for it, and about how it will look), commit to being a part of that prayer meeting.
b. Serve:
i. Be ready to serve somewhere in church (or maybe outside of church). Look for an opportunity to present itself to you. Jump into it.
ii. Don’t be content to be an attender. Be a difference maker!
c. Make a decision to connect.
i. In Hebrews 10:24,25 the writer exhorts us like this: Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
ii. Notice, again, it does not say, "Meet together so the pastor can stir you up to love and good works, and encourage you." It says, "Consider how to stir up each other … encourage one another."
iii. The church of Here’s Hope cannot accomplish the mission of God without you.
1. If you aren’t here, someone suffers.
a. Someone is not being encouraged.
b. Someone is not being stirred up to love and good works.
c. You make a difference. Don’t believe the lies that no one will miss you.
iv. Connect through two avenues:
1. Sunday School. (list all that there is). Connect or serve in Sunday School.
2. Small Groups (Shepherd groups). They are being reshuffled this fall. Some of you will be in the same one, others will be in new groups. What a great time to build relationships where people can be encouraged.
a. Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2). No one, married or single, male or female, young or old, can carry a crushing burden alone.
b. In order to obey the law of Christ we have to build close, trusting relationships.
i. Otherwise, you don't even know what the burdens are, let alone have occasion to share their weight.
ii. And we believe that to build those relationships we must form small, regular gatherings of believers.
iii. One of the burdens of life that we should not try to bear alone, which often makes us physically ill, and which hinders love and good works is hidden sin.
iv. Therefore, Jesus commands us: "Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed" (James 5:16). In what sort of setting can we be free to confess our sins to each other?
v. The answer is surely in a small group of believers who have won our trust, who know us and love us, and have committed themselves to care for us. And what about praying for each other? The bigger the group the more impersonal the prayers will be
Evangelist Mario Murillo wrote concerning fasting: "You stand before the greatest door of history. Beyond this door lie the most precious gifts of God. Beyond this door you will find the keys to the secrets of heroes of faith who have gone before you. They shook their generations and they stood at one time where you now stand."
VII. What is your response today?
a. Will you fast and pray the next two Wednesdays?
b. Will you be open to serve in ways you haven’t before?
c. Will you be open to do something you have never done before?
d. Will you be open to HEAR GOD in a way you haven’t before?
e. Will you choose to risk and connect with some other adults through SS or SG?
f. Or will you simply be informed without being transformed? (attend without change).
g. Will you choose the STATUS QUO of your life (because it is comfortable)
i. Or will you seek God with all your heart and say, “YES God, I want You. I want more of you!”
Let us pray.