WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.099 It's good to see you all. Very good. Those at the back, can you hear me? Is it good? Wow, it really is extra space. It's really good. 00:00:11.220 --> 00:00:20.140 Hey, we finished our series on, well, we were taking a pause through the book of Luke. And those of you who have been following us these last few years, we'd like to keep it simple and go through scripture. 00:00:20.559 --> 00:00:24.679 And we've been through 1 John, we've been through Thessalonians, we've been through all these different books in the Bible. 00:00:25.160 --> 00:00:28.780 But every now and again, I want to take a stop and do a bit of a slightly different thing. 00:00:28.780 --> 00:00:40.900 If we think about why we gather in the first place, why we do, well, first and foremost, the reason why we come to church and gather is because we want to worship God, because we want to glorify him, because we're here to say that he is worth more than anything else that we can imagine. 00:00:41.000 --> 00:00:46.079 And that's why we're here. After that, it's then, how do we make disciples? How do we make disciples? 00:00:46.280 --> 00:00:50.939 Jesus said last week we talked about being witnesses. He says, go and make disciples of all nations. 00:00:50.939 --> 00:00:58.600 He didn't say go and build churches that are just big and people can be entertained. That is not what he told us to do. 00:00:58.780 --> 00:01:02.579 He told us to make disciples. So what does that actually mean? 00:01:02.640 --> 00:01:08.840 And that's what we're trying to keep front and center for us, which is why we're going through this next series, because we want to move people. 00:01:08.980 --> 00:01:15.319 We hope we move people from believers to disciples, to followers, from son to the moon. 00:01:15.319 --> 00:01:18.939 So actually, believing is just one thing. Oh, I believe that. That's fine. 00:01:19.159 --> 00:01:24.739 But how can then we actually respond to what Jesus says most of the time, which isn't just believe me, believe me and you'll be saved. 00:01:24.839 --> 00:01:31.479 Yes, but follow me. Follow me with your whole life. Actually, follow me. Change the direction that you're going and follow me. 00:01:31.480 --> 00:01:41.680 The worry that I have sometimes is when we create church and when we do this kind of thing, we create spaces where people feel comfortable to believe. 00:01:42.159 --> 00:01:45.939 They are comforted when they come because there are some nice songs to sing. 00:01:46.300 --> 00:01:51.439 There is a talk to help you feel better about yourself. And then we kind of just leave you there. 00:01:52.100 --> 00:01:54.640 But how do we actually become people who are disciples? 00:01:54.640 --> 00:01:58.040 Well, the word disciple, of course, actually, what does the word disciple mean, Johnny? 00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:05.120 Follower of Jesus or just a disciple of anything. The word disciple just simply means a student follower. 00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:08.039 The root word is shared with another word, which is discipline. 00:02:09.120 --> 00:02:15.920 Actually, when you're when you when you're pursuing a discipline, you are basically trying to learn the ways of that discipline. 00:02:16.280 --> 00:02:21.500 And so how can we be the question I want to ask is, can we be disciplined disciples? 00:02:21.500 --> 00:02:27.860 Can we be disciplined disciples? Maybe a couple of decades ago, the church realized that it was losing a lot of people. 00:02:28.020 --> 00:02:31.680 And it was like, let's let's create church that's really comfortable for the nonbeliever. 00:02:32.060 --> 00:02:35.240 We call them the seekers sensitive church where you can come in. 00:02:35.280 --> 00:02:37.500 We are just like you. Don't worry. Just sit. Enjoy. 00:02:37.759 --> 00:02:42.800 It won't cost you a thing to be here and you can just enjoy life and be comforted. 00:02:43.400 --> 00:02:47.139 And yet our Lord says, hey, everyone has to count the cost. 00:02:47.379 --> 00:02:51.420 There is a cost to discipleship. There is a cost to discipline. 00:02:52.080 --> 00:02:55.939 Growing up when I was at university, my favorite passage of scripture was one Corinthians nine. 00:02:56.240 --> 00:02:58.740 I discipline my body, training it to do what it should. 00:02:58.840 --> 00:03:01.500 Lest after preaching to others, I myself might be disqualified. 00:03:01.620 --> 00:03:03.759 I do not run without knowing where I'm going. 00:03:03.840 --> 00:03:05.460 I do not box without boxing aimlessly. 00:03:05.979 --> 00:03:08.360 I am pushing on and I am disciplined. 00:03:09.639 --> 00:03:14.000 The problem is we have this discipline in the church for many, many years. 00:03:14.080 --> 00:03:15.659 And then we kind of lost our way. 00:03:15.659 --> 00:03:18.080 And then it ends up becoming, hey, each to their own. 00:03:18.460 --> 00:03:20.699 Everyone's faith looks different. Don't worry about it. 00:03:20.699 --> 00:03:25.399 And what we end up with is actually disciples who were not disciplined at all. 00:03:25.839 --> 00:03:31.659 If you can think about the clock created by monks in the 14th century to basically remind them to pray. 00:03:32.179 --> 00:03:36.179 That was the whole point of why they use a time device. 00:03:36.180 --> 00:03:39.520 And yet we've lost the reason why we use it. 00:03:39.560 --> 00:03:40.980 And we now just are slaves to time. 00:03:41.020 --> 00:03:41.920 And we always say what? 00:03:42.219 --> 00:03:43.080 We don't have time. 00:03:44.460 --> 00:03:47.120 How disciplined are you in your faith? 00:03:48.379 --> 00:03:50.700 How disciplined are you in your rhythms? 00:03:51.120 --> 00:03:54.460 Growing up, there was a book that I read, which is called The Celebration of Discipline. 00:03:54.520 --> 00:03:55.120 Who's read that book? 00:03:56.280 --> 00:03:58.120 Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster. 00:03:58.120 --> 00:04:04.120 Maybe another book that is in a similar area is called The Spirit of the Disciplines, which is Dallas Willard. 00:04:04.280 --> 00:04:08.300 If you are young and new and maybe you are maybe in your teens or early 20s, 00:04:08.360 --> 00:04:13.719 then maybe John Mark Comer's book Practicing the Way is probably the modern version of that book. 00:04:13.980 --> 00:04:18.420 But it's this idea of, hey, if we're going to be disciples, we have to be disciplined. 00:04:18.420 --> 00:04:23.680 And so we're going to spend these next few months going through some of these disciplines. 00:04:23.800 --> 00:04:25.340 But just again, just a word of warning here. 00:04:25.699 --> 00:04:29.379 I talked a couple of weeks about the Pharisees, where for 400 years they were like, 00:04:29.439 --> 00:04:30.640 we have to be disciplined, guys. 00:04:30.759 --> 00:04:35.759 We have to put these rules in place so you guys don't stray and lose sight of who God is and that he's coming back for us. 00:04:35.920 --> 00:04:37.240 So then they created all these rules. 00:04:37.600 --> 00:04:40.860 Fast forward 400 years and suddenly you've got them just focusing on rules 00:04:40.860 --> 00:04:44.800 and completely have forgotten about the purpose of it, which is relationship. 00:04:45.160 --> 00:04:48.139 You see these people who have forgotten that the real reason is connection 00:04:48.139 --> 00:04:50.240 and they just are obsessed with compliance. 00:04:51.159 --> 00:04:53.419 And so they create programs and ignore the people. 00:04:54.360 --> 00:04:55.740 That's not what we're trying to do here. 00:04:55.939 --> 00:04:59.240 And as we pursue discipline, what we're really trying to do isn't just to say, 00:04:59.339 --> 00:05:02.279 let's just be disciplined and let's just be rigid and strict. 00:05:02.560 --> 00:05:03.259 That's not what it is. 00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:07.800 The whole point is, can we start on the journey of discipline and end up in desire? 00:05:08.560 --> 00:05:11.039 And go, actually, I want to do this. 00:05:11.759 --> 00:05:13.579 I really want this. 00:05:14.039 --> 00:05:17.000 This is something that I am going to make time for. 00:05:17.000 --> 00:05:21.980 Because actually what has happened is in our kind of just lacks going, hey, you guys can do whatever you want. 00:05:22.019 --> 00:05:22.420 It's OK. 00:05:22.980 --> 00:05:24.259 Then we wonder why we don't grow. 00:05:24.500 --> 00:05:28.240 And then we wonder why everyone's just staying in the baby phase. 00:05:28.699 --> 00:05:31.459 And then we wonder why we don't like reading this book. 00:05:31.819 --> 00:05:33.959 We like reading books that talk about this book. 00:05:34.100 --> 00:05:39.480 Or rather, we like watching Instagram reels of people talking about this book for 10, 15 seconds. 00:05:39.480 --> 00:05:41.840 And then we wonder why we're not growing. 00:05:42.720 --> 00:05:47.420 So the question that I have for us is, in these next few weeks, we're going to go through some of the spiritual disciplines. 00:05:47.520 --> 00:05:49.680 John Mark Comer has called them the rules of life. 00:05:50.420 --> 00:05:51.800 And actually, they're simple ones. 00:05:52.040 --> 00:05:53.180 They're reading the Bible. 00:05:53.720 --> 00:05:54.280 They're praying. 00:05:54.400 --> 00:05:54.900 They're solitude. 00:05:55.040 --> 00:05:55.379 They're Sabbath. 00:05:55.960 --> 00:05:58.400 And today we're going to start with one, which is fasting. 00:05:58.620 --> 00:06:03.960 At January 1st, I told you guys, I started a new discipline myself, which is I wrote a psalm a day. 00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:09.079 And so every day I would use my remark, I would open up the word, and I would write it out. 00:06:09.699 --> 00:06:13.799 By Psalm 11, my wife walked past me at the dining table. 00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:16.000 And she was like, hey, what are you getting out of it? 00:06:16.019 --> 00:06:17.620 Is this enjoyable? 00:06:17.979 --> 00:06:19.019 Is the Lord speaking to you? 00:06:19.060 --> 00:06:20.500 And I was like, no, not at all. 00:06:20.779 --> 00:06:21.740 This is just painful. 00:06:22.579 --> 00:06:25.219 But I just kept going and going and going. 00:06:25.219 --> 00:06:26.319 And I hit to Psalm 50. 00:06:26.419 --> 00:06:27.019 And I was like, you know what? 00:06:27.079 --> 00:06:27.979 I want to take a pause here. 00:06:28.019 --> 00:06:31.179 Because the whole point isn't just about forcing myself to do something. 00:06:31.500 --> 00:06:33.500 It's like, can there be desire that comes out of it? 00:06:33.500 --> 00:06:37.660 And actually, the reason why we're going to start this series is because I went to, I was in Psalm 35. 00:06:37.839 --> 00:06:38.740 So this was early February. 00:06:39.920 --> 00:06:42.439 And I talked about something that really caught my attention. 00:06:42.720 --> 00:06:43.939 And this is where we're going to go today. 00:06:44.139 --> 00:06:47.459 And what I'm going to start off with today is the topic of fasting. 00:06:47.939 --> 00:06:49.579 Which, again, is not a favorite. 00:06:50.379 --> 00:06:52.519 Because especially, no, just shaking our heads. 00:06:52.660 --> 00:06:53.439 Fasting is not cool. 00:06:53.699 --> 00:06:54.579 Especially not in Hong Kong. 00:06:54.759 --> 00:06:55.699 Feasting is okay. 00:06:56.180 --> 00:06:57.379 But fasting is not okay. 00:06:57.699 --> 00:06:59.199 And it's a lost art in the church. 00:07:00.039 --> 00:07:03.539 And the reason why we're going to do it is because coming up on Wednesday 5th is what? 00:07:03.599 --> 00:07:04.759 Does anyone know what Wednesday 5th is? 00:07:05.479 --> 00:07:06.459 The beginning of Lent. 00:07:06.920 --> 00:07:13.420 The beginning of the 40 days where the church remembers the 40 days that Jesus spent in the wilderness fasting and praying. 00:07:14.159 --> 00:07:21.079 And I want to basically give a proposal to you guys and consider in these next few days, would you consider fasting together? 00:07:21.759 --> 00:07:24.919 If you're in your life group, would you consider fasting with your life group on something? 00:07:25.659 --> 00:07:29.219 But first of all, we have to think about what fasting even is. 00:07:29.560 --> 00:07:33.939 There was a church pastor who told me recently who has done these kinds of things. 00:07:33.959 --> 00:07:37.259 And he was like, you can't expect what you don't teach in the church. 00:07:37.799 --> 00:07:40.879 If I'm going, my church doesn't have any disciplined disciples. 00:07:41.899 --> 00:07:44.699 Then he'd say, well, you can't expect what you don't teach. 00:07:45.459 --> 00:07:48.180 But if you teach it, then you can expect it. 00:07:48.819 --> 00:07:50.199 And so this is why we're doing this. 00:07:50.199 --> 00:07:52.259 So we're going to go through these different spiritual disciplines. 00:07:52.339 --> 00:07:55.319 And I want you to ask yourself, how can I become more disciplined? 00:07:55.740 --> 00:07:58.139 How can I make commitments to God? 00:07:58.219 --> 00:08:02.000 Not just out of discipline and not just out of guilt, but out of desire. 00:08:02.219 --> 00:08:02.899 God, I want you. 00:08:03.420 --> 00:08:03.920 I want this. 00:08:04.139 --> 00:08:05.599 So we're going to go through Psalm 35. 00:08:05.939 --> 00:08:08.180 I'm actually going to invite Jojo to come up and read it for us. 00:08:09.240 --> 00:08:16.659 But just as is our custom, when we read scripture, we like to stand because we want to remember that this is the word of God. 00:08:17.099 --> 00:08:19.539 That this is worth paying attention to. 00:08:19.540 --> 00:08:23.300 This isn't just some bite-sized fridge magnet tips that we're looking for here. 00:08:23.480 --> 00:08:24.439 This is the word of God. 00:08:24.520 --> 00:08:25.700 But just a light warning here. 00:08:26.120 --> 00:08:27.760 Today's is a little bit longer than your usual. 00:08:28.300 --> 00:08:30.640 So when you're standing there, you're like, oh, my goodness, is it going to finish? 00:08:30.720 --> 00:08:31.640 There are 28 verses. 00:08:32.039 --> 00:08:36.879 But maybe just for a bit of comparison, back in the old days, people would stand for the whole sermon. 00:08:37.019 --> 00:08:41.840 So when you're feeling a little bit tired, at least you can find relief that I'll be sitting down after 28 verses. 00:08:41.960 --> 00:08:43.680 So can I invite you to stand for the word of the Lord? 00:08:43.679 --> 00:08:48.120 Psalm 35. 00:08:48.120 --> 00:08:52.679 Psalm 35. 00:08:52.679 --> 00:08:55.500 Oh, Lord, oppose those who oppose me. 00:08:55.939 --> 00:08:57.620 Fight those who fight against me. 00:08:58.079 --> 00:08:59.779 Put on your armor and take up your shield. 00:09:00.339 --> 00:09:02.139 Prepare for battle and come to my aid. 00:09:02.759 --> 00:09:05.759 Lift up your spear and javelin against those who pursue me. 00:09:06.379 --> 00:09:08.579 Let me hear you say, I will give you victory. 00:09:09.500 --> 00:09:12.059 Bring shame and disgrace on those trying to kill me. 00:09:12.799 --> 00:09:15.559 Turn them back and humiliate those who want to harm me. 00:09:16.099 --> 00:09:20.699 Blow them away like chaff in the wind, a wind sent by the angel of the Lord. 00:09:20.700 --> 00:09:24.940 Make their path dark and slippery with the angel of the Lord pursuing them. 00:09:25.240 --> 00:09:27.900 I did them no wrong, but they laid a trap for me. 00:09:28.220 --> 00:09:31.180 I did them no wrong, but they dug a pit to catch me. 00:09:32.080 --> 00:09:35.320 So let sudden ruin come upon them. 00:09:35.759 --> 00:09:38.080 Let them be caught in the trap they set for me. 00:09:38.600 --> 00:09:41.100 Let them be destroyed in the pit they dug for me. 00:09:41.580 --> 00:09:43.480 Then I will rejoice in the Lord. 00:09:43.720 --> 00:09:46.140 I will be glad because he rescues me. 00:09:46.800 --> 00:09:49.120 With every bone in my body, I will praise him. 00:09:49.120 --> 00:09:51.320 Lord, who can compare with you? 00:09:51.600 --> 00:09:53.940 Who else rescues the helpless from the strong? 00:09:54.259 --> 00:09:57.799 Who else protects the helpless and poor from those who rob them? 00:09:58.679 --> 00:10:01.000 Malicious witnesses testify against me. 00:10:01.539 --> 00:10:05.600 They accuse me of crimes I know nothing about. 00:10:06.299 --> 00:10:08.659 They repay me evil for good. 00:10:08.940 --> 00:10:10.120 I am sick with despair. 00:10:10.860 --> 00:10:13.200 Yet when they were ill, I grieved for them. 00:10:14.039 --> 00:10:16.440 I denied myself by fasting for them, 00:10:16.860 --> 00:10:18.779 but my prayers returned unanswered. 00:10:19.139 --> 00:10:22.139 I was sad as though they were my family or my friends, 00:10:22.339 --> 00:10:24.319 as if I were grieving for my own mother. 00:10:24.839 --> 00:10:27.120 But they were glad now that I am in trouble. 00:10:27.699 --> 00:10:29.860 They gleefully join together against me. 00:10:30.240 --> 00:10:32.240 I am attacked by people I don't even know. 00:10:32.620 --> 00:10:34.399 They slander against me constantly. 00:10:35.139 --> 00:10:37.159 They mock me and call me names. 00:10:37.419 --> 00:10:38.399 They snarl at me. 00:10:38.919 --> 00:10:42.079 How long, O Lord, will you look on and do nothing? 00:10:42.600 --> 00:10:44.519 Rescue me from their fierce attacks. 00:10:44.799 --> 00:10:46.939 Protect my life from those lions. 00:10:46.940 --> 00:10:50.340 Then I will thank you in front of the great assembly. 00:10:50.640 --> 00:10:52.800 I will praise you before all the people. 00:10:53.560 --> 00:10:56.680 Don't let my treacherous enemies rejoice over my defeat. 00:10:57.020 --> 00:11:00.560 Don't let those who hate me without cause gloat over my sorrow. 00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:02.800 They don't talk of peace. 00:11:02.799 --> 00:11:06.079 They plot against innocent people who mind their own business. 00:11:06.240 --> 00:11:07.599 They shout, aha, aha. 00:11:07.839 --> 00:11:10.059 With our own eyes, we saw him do it. 00:11:10.799 --> 00:11:12.859 O Lord, you know all about this. 00:11:13.219 --> 00:11:14.359 Do not stay silent. 00:11:14.719 --> 00:11:16.379 Do not abandon me now, O Lord. 00:11:16.899 --> 00:11:17.479 Wake up. 00:11:17.699 --> 00:11:18.659 Rise to my defense. 00:11:18.659 --> 00:11:22.459 Take up my case, my God and my Lord. 00:11:23.000 --> 00:11:27.139 Declare me not guilty, O Lord, my God, for you give justice. 00:11:27.860 --> 00:11:30.980 Don't let my enemies laugh about me in my troubles. 00:11:31.539 --> 00:11:33.759 Don't let them say, look, we got what we wanted. 00:11:34.139 --> 00:11:35.759 Now we will eat him alive. 00:11:36.620 --> 00:11:40.240 May those who rejoice at my troubles be humiliated and disgraced. 00:11:40.639 --> 00:11:45.360 May those who triumph over me be covered with shame and dishonor. 00:11:45.360 --> 00:11:48.919 But give great joy to those who came to my defense. 00:11:49.340 --> 00:11:54.500 Let them continually say, great is the Lord who delights in blessing his servant with peace. 00:11:55.080 --> 00:11:59.580 Then I will proclaim your justice and I will praise you all day long. 00:12:00.019 --> 00:12:01.200 This is the word of the Lord. 00:12:02.779 --> 00:12:03.600 Thank you, Jojo. 00:12:03.639 --> 00:12:04.399 Please take a seat. 00:12:05.220 --> 00:12:06.019 Wow, thank you. 00:12:06.639 --> 00:12:10.360 In case you're interested, I asked Jojo to read from the New Living Translation 00:12:10.360 --> 00:12:15.340 because it just feels like with a longer passage, it would be easier to kind of digest. 00:12:15.899 --> 00:12:19.320 But in case you didn't realize, David's not having a good time. 00:12:20.539 --> 00:12:22.340 His mates have turned against him. 00:12:23.580 --> 00:12:27.659 Commentators think he's likely hiding in a cave at this point because he's being chased down. 00:12:27.720 --> 00:12:28.620 Who's he being chased down by? 00:12:30.220 --> 00:12:30.620 Saul. 00:12:31.300 --> 00:12:33.580 Most likely Saul, but it could even be Absalom, his son. 00:12:33.720 --> 00:12:37.500 I mean, David was a great king, a man after God's own heart, but he wasn't really a great father. 00:12:37.940 --> 00:12:39.860 And so that didn't really work out well for him. 00:12:39.860 --> 00:12:42.600 But he's probably hiding in a cave, running away from Saul. 00:12:42.759 --> 00:12:45.620 And he's writing this passage, this psalm, this song. 00:12:45.779 --> 00:12:50.539 And if it feels just confused and convoluted, it's because that's exactly how he felt. 00:12:50.600 --> 00:12:51.539 Have you felt that way before? 00:12:52.019 --> 00:12:57.139 When you're just like, when there is just a battle around you, when you're getting in trouble with all kinds of people, 00:12:57.240 --> 00:13:00.860 when work isn't going well, when people are betraying you and stabbing you behind the back, 00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:03.240 all these things and all these emotions, he's just a mess. 00:13:03.240 --> 00:13:14.299 And he's like, I'm going to go back to the ESV in case you're wanting to follow Psalm 35. 00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:16.639 But I, when they were sick, I wore sackcloth. 00:13:16.740 --> 00:13:18.379 I afflicted myself with fasting. 00:13:18.799 --> 00:13:21.899 I prayed with head bowed on my chest. 00:13:22.919 --> 00:13:27.039 I was like, wait, that's a, he's in a bit of a rut right now. 00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:30.100 He's hiding because they're trying to kill him. 00:13:30.100 --> 00:13:34.680 And yet he's talking about fasting and he's talking about fasting for them. 00:13:35.180 --> 00:13:36.480 And I was like, this is weird. 00:13:37.019 --> 00:13:37.800 This is strange. 00:13:37.860 --> 00:13:41.899 And if you go to verse one, let's just have, just take a glimpse of what he's actually talking about here. 00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:47.759 Verse one, contend though, Lord, with those who contend with me, fight against those who fight against me. 00:13:47.980 --> 00:13:50.240 Verse seven, for without cause, they hid their net for me. 00:13:50.519 --> 00:13:53.279 Without cause, they dug a dip for a pit for my life. 00:13:53.500 --> 00:13:54.639 These guys are coming for him. 00:13:54.920 --> 00:13:56.300 There is a battle facing him. 00:13:56.300 --> 00:13:58.120 And if he gets caught, he will be killed. 00:13:58.120 --> 00:14:04.220 So this is a battle that he's fighting, but he fights it in the most interesting kind of way. 00:14:04.460 --> 00:14:07.159 Verse 11, he says, there are malicious witnesses against me. 00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:12.480 So people are basically lying about him, trying to put blame onto him. 00:14:14.039 --> 00:14:15.120 But then he fasts. 00:14:16.159 --> 00:14:17.299 It doesn't make sense. 00:14:17.539 --> 00:14:18.519 He afflicts himself. 00:14:19.240 --> 00:14:19.919 He laments. 00:14:20.200 --> 00:14:20.759 He mourns. 00:14:21.539 --> 00:14:23.419 He grieves for them. 00:14:23.419 --> 00:14:26.360 And I was like, that's just, that's just something different. 00:14:28.479 --> 00:14:36.039 When was the last time you were betrayed by someone and stabbed behind the back and you decided, I'm going to fast and pray for these people? 00:14:38.360 --> 00:14:41.159 And actually, fasting itself is something that is completely different. 00:14:41.259 --> 00:14:42.379 And I mean, I think I've shared about this. 00:14:42.439 --> 00:14:47.639 If you've been around long enough before, fasting is just something that we don't like to do. 00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:47.860 Why? 00:14:47.960 --> 00:14:50.559 Because it just deprives us of what our flesh desires. 00:14:51.720 --> 00:14:54.319 When I first got to Hong Kong, I was looking at the Sermon on the Mount. 00:14:54.779 --> 00:14:59.179 Jesus says, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 00:14:59.799 --> 00:15:05.259 And I remember thinking to myself, in Hong Kong, I am never hungry or thirsty. 00:15:06.159 --> 00:15:06.439 Never. 00:15:06.819 --> 00:15:11.080 Every meeting I have is about eating and drinking. 00:15:12.519 --> 00:15:14.519 Those Chinese people just believe in it. 00:15:14.519 --> 00:15:17.460 Even when we say we're just going to drink tea, yum cha. 00:15:18.439 --> 00:15:19.919 Yum cha is not just yum cha. 00:15:21.019 --> 00:15:21.879 It is eating. 00:15:22.819 --> 00:15:24.419 And so I'm never really that hungry. 00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:28.039 And I was just reflecting, a coffee with someone, and oh, let's have this. 00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:31.319 And then I realized, well, if I'm never hungry, am I ever satisfied? 00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:38.000 If we just constantly fill ourselves with the things of this world, are we ever truly satisfied? 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:45.700 Or actually, are we just content on nibbling on these snacks and these drinks, and in my case, matcha lattes all the time? 00:15:46.379 --> 00:15:50.960 But I'm not actually really, do I really hunger and thirst for God? 00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:53.100 And the truth is, I don't. 00:15:53.720 --> 00:15:55.059 And this is where fasting comes in. 00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:59.159 And so, can you just show me your hand if you've fasted before? 00:16:00.059 --> 00:16:01.279 You don't have to tell me why you fasted before. 00:16:01.419 --> 00:16:01.779 Great. 00:16:01.779 --> 00:16:03.360 So I am preaching to the choir here. 00:16:04.980 --> 00:16:10.659 And there is something beautiful about it, but there is something deeply painful about fasting, too. 00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:15.240 I think it was a couple of years ago, I was fasting meats. 00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:19.740 And for those of you who know me, that's a big thing, fasting meat. 00:16:20.039 --> 00:16:27.159 And actually, just aside from the fact that just the inconvenience of trying to find restaurants in Hong Kong that are just for vegetarians, 00:16:27.279 --> 00:16:30.159 it was painful, to say the least. 00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:32.839 But fasting brings about something else. 00:16:32.919 --> 00:16:39.199 You hear about people who fast, and actually, they become more clear in their vision for what they're supposed to be doing here. 00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:43.579 They are more in tune with the voice of God to be able to hear His voice. 00:16:44.179 --> 00:16:48.819 As I share with you a bit more about fasting, I want you to ask the Spirit yourself and go, 00:16:48.899 --> 00:16:52.399 is there something that you're calling me to fast in these next 40 days? 00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:54.419 Is there something that you want me to give up? 00:16:54.439 --> 00:16:56.699 And hopefully, through this, we'll be able to tell you a little bit more. 00:16:56.700 --> 00:17:02.280 It's a lost art right now in church, in most churches, but I'll say, if you look at this book, it is everywhere. 00:17:03.020 --> 00:17:07.900 Moses, when he goes on to Mount Sinai and gets those two tablets and those two iPads with the Ten Commandments, 00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:14.220 he then spends 40 days fasting and praying without food nor water. 00:17:15.059 --> 00:17:15.740 So he's fasting. 00:17:15.940 --> 00:17:17.680 There's a part of it which is just about instruction. 00:17:18.539 --> 00:17:22.160 Of course, he is preparing, of course, and being in the presence of God. 00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:25.680 You see David, he messes up with Bathsheba. 00:17:25.980 --> 00:17:28.080 They have a kid and it's sinful. 00:17:28.340 --> 00:17:30.240 And God says, you're going to lose this child. 00:17:30.980 --> 00:17:32.220 Actually, we're just going to go there. 00:17:32.380 --> 00:17:33.960 It's just a fascinating passage. 00:17:35.160 --> 00:17:38.400 If you have your Bibles, it's easier for you because you're scrolling through your apps. 00:17:39.120 --> 00:17:41.080 Just remember, I'm still judging you about that. 00:17:41.220 --> 00:17:43.120 You really need to get yourself a paper Bible. 00:17:43.800 --> 00:17:45.560 Only those with paper Bibles will be saved. 00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:48.160 To James chapter 2, verse 4. 00:17:48.920 --> 00:17:51.940 Anyway, I was joking, by the way. 00:17:51.940 --> 00:17:53.960 Kind of. 00:17:55.059 --> 00:17:56.660 To Samuel 12. 00:17:57.460 --> 00:18:01.240 So this child that David and Bathsheba have, it's out of wedlock. 00:18:01.460 --> 00:18:03.180 He commits a whole bunch of crimes. 00:18:04.140 --> 00:18:06.320 And he ends up with this place with this child and the child. 00:18:07.100 --> 00:18:07.940 And it says, 00:18:08.039 --> 00:18:11.240 And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and he became sick. 00:18:11.779 --> 00:18:14.080 David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. 00:18:14.180 --> 00:18:17.580 And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. 00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:19.460 He knew he'd messed up. 00:18:19.839 --> 00:18:22.279 But he was fasting because he doesn't want this baby to die. 00:18:23.159 --> 00:18:24.439 And so he's fasting and praying. 00:18:24.859 --> 00:18:26.319 And he's beyond himself. 00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:30.339 The people who are trying to talk to him, you'll see here, he's not even responding to them. 00:18:30.659 --> 00:18:35.599 But to the point where when the child does die, they get so scared, they don't even dare talk to him. 00:18:35.799 --> 00:18:43.179 Because they're like, wait, if he's a mess when the child was sick, he's going to lose it when he finds out the child is dead. 00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:45.819 And yet somehow he realizes this. 00:18:45.819 --> 00:18:49.279 And he turns to them and says, is the child dead? 00:18:49.299 --> 00:18:50.119 They said, he is dead. 00:18:50.279 --> 00:18:53.539 Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. 00:18:53.859 --> 00:18:56.099 And he went into the house of the Lord and worshipped. 00:18:56.939 --> 00:18:57.480 I was like, wow. 00:18:58.419 --> 00:19:02.599 So fasting for him was he was praying, God, your will be done. 00:19:02.679 --> 00:19:03.559 I have messed up. 00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:05.200 This is my problem. 00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:09.259 But please, would you save this child? 00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:11.619 But he puts God first. 00:19:11.619 --> 00:19:17.000 And even though the baby dies, he's just like, OK, that's OK, then God's decided. 00:19:17.500 --> 00:19:20.339 And he goes back into the house of the Lord and worships and he stops fasting. 00:19:20.439 --> 00:19:20.899 He said, he's done. 00:19:21.599 --> 00:19:24.639 So you see here he's repenting about this as well. 00:19:24.759 --> 00:19:30.579 You see in the book of Jonah, the Ninevites who find out from Jonah, who, of course, last summer we had this whole story about it. 00:19:31.119 --> 00:19:34.459 And they find out from Jonah that they've they've they've basically upset God. 00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:35.159 And what do they do? 00:19:35.299 --> 00:19:37.859 They tear their sack off and they fast and they go, we repent. 00:19:38.039 --> 00:19:41.099 So there's a repentance aspect to this that is so important. 00:19:41.099 --> 00:19:44.039 And you see Ezra, who's trying to get the Israelites back into Jerusalem. 00:19:44.259 --> 00:19:46.819 And he's scared because they're going to get jumped by all these enemies. 00:19:47.059 --> 00:19:49.459 And so he says, everyone, let's humble ourselves before God. 00:19:49.559 --> 00:19:53.919 And let's fast so that he would give a safe passage back into Jerusalem. 00:19:54.379 --> 00:19:56.299 You see Nehemiah, Nehemiah. 00:19:56.419 --> 00:20:00.539 He finds out that Jerusalem is just completely, completely destroyed. 00:20:00.859 --> 00:20:01.619 And what does he do? 00:20:01.679 --> 00:20:02.339 He weeps. 00:20:03.579 --> 00:20:04.740 And what does he do after weeping? 00:20:04.919 --> 00:20:06.339 He fasts. 00:20:06.359 --> 00:20:07.859 He's like, and he prays. 00:20:07.859 --> 00:20:11.359 God, my heart is just broken for my people, for my city. 00:20:12.299 --> 00:20:14.919 And now I want to go to you and I want to fast. 00:20:14.979 --> 00:20:17.659 And I want to ask you, what's your vision for the city? 00:20:17.919 --> 00:20:19.099 How can we rebuild it? 00:20:19.399 --> 00:20:22.559 You see Esther, who again, trying to save the Jews. 00:20:22.740 --> 00:20:23.959 And what does she say in Esther 4? 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:28.319 She says, go and fast for me so that when I go and approach the king, I won't die. 00:20:28.319 --> 00:20:32.119 So you see this fasting is just about this dependence on God. 00:20:32.220 --> 00:20:35.119 And final one, I'm going to turn you to this is 2 Chronicles. 00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:38.639 Probably, probably my favorite verse in the whole of the Old Testament. 00:20:38.839 --> 00:20:39.439 I kid you not. 00:20:40.519 --> 00:20:41.599 And it's in Chronicles. 00:20:41.879 --> 00:20:45.980 2 Chronicles chapter 20 is Jehoshaphat who's saying a prayer. 00:20:46.299 --> 00:20:50.519 Now they're about, the people of Judah are about to be destroyed. 00:20:51.379 --> 00:20:53.200 And Jehoshaphat here does a prayer. 00:20:53.639 --> 00:20:59.259 And of course, verses 3, verse 3 says this. 00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:04.839 Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 00:21:05.480 --> 00:21:11.539 So he's going, hey, we should all fast for our people because we're about to be destroyed. 00:21:12.440 --> 00:21:15.500 And then this is where my favorite verse is in chapter 12, verse 20. 00:21:15.859 --> 00:21:16.480 It says this. 00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:20.059 Oh, our God, will you not execute judgment on them? 00:21:20.279 --> 00:21:21.440 The people are going to destroy them. 00:21:22.120 --> 00:21:25.420 For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. 00:21:25.720 --> 00:21:29.319 We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you. 00:21:30.420 --> 00:21:33.420 Can you imagine if you're just facing the biggest challenge that you have, 00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:37.099 whether it's a lawsuit or a business deal or something happening in your family, 00:21:37.220 --> 00:21:41.279 and you say, I am powerless against this great horde that is coming against me. 00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:45.819 I do not know what to do, but my eyes are on you. 00:21:47.099 --> 00:21:49.839 He says that through fasting and praying. 00:21:50.120 --> 00:21:53.680 He says that through an absolute dependence on God. 00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:54.940 What will you fast? 00:21:55.039 --> 00:22:01.480 What will you give up to help you get to the point where you realize your dependence on God? 00:22:01.900 --> 00:22:07.000 So let's go back to Psalm 35, and I want to share a quick few points about that with you here. 00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:11.700 When we talk about fasting, the first thing is when you fast is basically you declaring, God, I need you. 00:22:12.660 --> 00:22:13.460 There is nothing else. 00:22:13.460 --> 00:22:14.420 Verse 1, he's fighting. 00:22:14.559 --> 00:22:16.299 He's saying, contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me. 00:22:16.460 --> 00:22:17.680 I can't fight this anymore. 00:22:17.980 --> 00:22:21.059 Verse 3, he says, say to my soul, I am your salvation. 00:22:21.180 --> 00:22:25.880 He's saying, I need to know in the depths of my heart that you are going to save me, 00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:27.819 that I am not going to be the one that saves myself. 00:22:27.940 --> 00:22:32.019 I am powerless against this great horde against me, but you can save me. 00:22:32.019 --> 00:22:36.220 Can you tell my soul that you are my salvation? 00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:37.840 Can you be my protector? 00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:40.539 Can you be the one that rescues me? 00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:44.619 Verse 9 says this, then my soul will rejoice in the Lord, exulting in his salvation. 00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:48.759 All my bones, that's my deepest being, shall say, O Lord, who is like you? 00:22:49.119 --> 00:22:53.139 Delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, the poor and needy from him who robs him. 00:22:53.220 --> 00:22:54.559 There are people who are robbing me, God. 00:22:54.819 --> 00:22:56.579 There are people who are too strong for me. 00:22:56.939 --> 00:22:58.299 Would you stand by my side? 00:22:58.359 --> 00:22:59.419 There is no one like you. 00:22:59.480 --> 00:23:01.519 If you are for me, then none can be against me. 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:03.039 Would you be with me? 00:23:03.039 --> 00:23:06.079 I need you and only you is what he's saying. 00:23:06.399 --> 00:23:09.180 When you fast, that is really what you are saying. 00:23:09.299 --> 00:23:12.539 God, I need you more than I need food. 00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:16.460 It's what Jesus said when he was fasting in Matthew 4 in the wilderness. 00:23:17.019 --> 00:23:22.980 He's saying, God, man does not live by bread alone, but by the words of God. 00:23:22.980 --> 00:23:28.779 So when we fast, we're saying, God, I repent of my self-sufficiency. 00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:33.860 I repent of my ambitions to achieve the goals that I have. 00:23:34.799 --> 00:23:37.339 I can't do this on my own is what he's saying. 00:23:37.420 --> 00:23:40.779 And to be honest, if Jesus went and fasted, we probably should too. 00:23:41.579 --> 00:23:47.059 If Jesus realized his need for God, then we definitely need to realize our need for God. 00:23:47.059 --> 00:24:02.379 And this can be applied in any and every context, any battle that you face, whether it's exams that are coming up or whether it's business deals that are going wrong or whether these lawsuits that you're facing, whatever it is, is your heart's cry. 00:24:02.679 --> 00:24:06.539 God, I need you and only you. 00:24:07.139 --> 00:24:08.299 And you are my salvation. 00:24:08.500 --> 00:24:10.720 You are the only one who can save me. 00:24:10.960 --> 00:24:12.319 So that's one reason for fasting. 00:24:12.419 --> 00:24:15.259 The main one that we are basically depending on God. 00:24:15.259 --> 00:24:17.059 God, if you don't come through for me, it doesn't matter. 00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:20.319 The second then is this. 00:24:20.379 --> 00:24:23.799 If you carry on in verse 14 and 15 again, but I, when they were sick. 00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:27.160 So he's talking about the people who are now chasing him, who are trying to kill him. 00:24:27.460 --> 00:24:28.539 So it's probably Saul. 00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:29.819 It could be some of the soldiers. 00:24:30.079 --> 00:24:32.559 Now, remember, there was a time when David was in Saul's court. 00:24:32.619 --> 00:24:33.759 So he would have known these people. 00:24:33.960 --> 00:24:38.980 And so he's probably remembering times where, hey, I remember when you were sick and I was fasting and praying for you. 00:24:39.900 --> 00:24:41.339 And now you're turning on me. 00:24:42.460 --> 00:24:44.379 And so he describes what he was doing. 00:24:44.380 --> 00:24:45.200 And I will sackcloth. 00:24:45.380 --> 00:24:47.000 I afflicted myself with fasting. 00:24:47.280 --> 00:24:49.200 I prayed with head bowed on my chest. 00:24:49.400 --> 00:24:51.980 I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother. 00:24:52.340 --> 00:24:56.300 As one who laments his mother, I bowed down in mourning. 00:24:56.299 --> 00:25:00.319 This is the most radical kind of fasting. 00:25:01.019 --> 00:25:06.240 It's fasting for those who, well, it's just, it's fasting for anyone other than yourself, to be frank. 00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:11.680 So often when we're praying and fasting, it's kind of like, it's because I have an important career choice to make. 00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:15.299 So I'm going to fast because I want to make the right choice for me. 00:25:15.299 --> 00:25:22.539 And when I mean right choice, I mean the one that gives me the most money and the greatest work-life balance that I can have so I can live the life that I want to live. 00:25:22.940 --> 00:25:23.879 And so therefore I fast. 00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:26.480 But that's not what it's saying here. 00:25:27.460 --> 00:25:28.259 Do we fast? 00:25:28.319 --> 00:25:31.339 Are we willing to fast and pray for those around us? 00:25:32.819 --> 00:25:34.359 Maybe I'll ask for another show of hands. 00:25:34.440 --> 00:25:37.519 Has anyone fasted and prayed for someone other than themselves? 00:25:37.519 --> 00:25:40.619 Thank you. 00:25:42.879 --> 00:25:46.759 Of course, the group reduces a little bit because this isn't natural to us. 00:25:47.259 --> 00:25:49.940 Because we want to pray and fast about the things that we care about. 00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:56.200 But there's something just incredible about fasting for those around you who are in need. 00:25:57.139 --> 00:25:59.940 For you to have that heart of compassion for someone. 00:26:00.420 --> 00:26:04.279 The word compassion, one interpretation of the word compassion is co-suffering. 00:26:04.279 --> 00:26:11.940 Am I willing to sit alongside you, kneel alongside you, feel your pain as though it is my pain? 00:26:13.099 --> 00:26:15.480 Grieve for your mother as though she was my mother? 00:26:17.819 --> 00:26:18.899 That's what fasting is. 00:26:18.980 --> 00:26:20.240 And that's when you are hungry. 00:26:21.639 --> 00:26:24.740 There is no better reminder to pray for other people than just hunger. 00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:27.339 And just go, man, I need food. 00:26:27.420 --> 00:26:28.740 I need to pray for that person. 00:26:29.660 --> 00:26:33.019 I need to pray for my brother and my friend and my sister. 00:26:33.019 --> 00:26:35.579 And he's not praying a happy prayer. 00:26:35.680 --> 00:26:38.259 He's like, oh, pray that they'll get that great job that they've always wanted. 00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:39.599 He's mourning. 00:26:40.099 --> 00:26:41.019 He's lamenting. 00:26:41.460 --> 00:26:42.259 He's grieving. 00:26:42.500 --> 00:26:45.279 His head is down to his chest is what he's saying here. 00:26:45.440 --> 00:26:48.759 There is a sign of humility here, a sign of brokenness. 00:26:48.879 --> 00:26:52.579 As Jesus followers, we have to be able to pray for those kinds of people. 00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:56.839 Those who are in need, who are poor, who are in deep need of help. 00:26:57.180 --> 00:26:58.960 Are we willing to get alongside them and go, hey. 00:26:59.420 --> 00:27:00.660 And I challenge us to do this. 00:27:00.660 --> 00:27:05.519 If you're with someone right now or you know someone in your circle who's going through a tough time, 00:27:06.340 --> 00:27:08.540 I'll tell you this because someone's done this for me before. 00:27:08.940 --> 00:27:11.400 If you text them and go, hey, I've been thinking about you and I'm praying about you. 00:27:11.420 --> 00:27:13.800 And actually, I've decided I'm going to fast and pray for you this week. 00:27:14.880 --> 00:27:23.180 That is one of the most powerful just signs of friendship and care that you can do for someone right now. 00:27:23.180 --> 00:27:25.100 Someone who is afflicted. 00:27:25.900 --> 00:27:29.920 You being willing to afflict yourself so you can be co-suffering with them. 00:27:30.880 --> 00:27:31.900 Can you think of that person? 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:34.160 I think there's people that are propping up in your mind already. 00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:37.279 And, of course, all of this is just a sign of humility. 00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:38.860 It's just you saying, God, I don't know. 00:27:38.900 --> 00:27:41.860 And I can't even help that person who has a friend, who has a loved one, 00:27:42.039 --> 00:27:44.640 who is going through a terminal illness and you can't do anything about it. 00:27:44.700 --> 00:27:45.000 You can't. 00:27:45.180 --> 00:27:45.920 You are helpless. 00:27:46.480 --> 00:27:49.200 You are powerless against this great horde that is coming, that is the cancer, 00:27:49.340 --> 00:27:50.480 that is whatever sickness there is. 00:27:51.380 --> 00:27:53.779 For us to say, hey, I'm going to stand alongside you. 00:27:53.800 --> 00:27:56.539 I'm going to kneel alongside you and I'm going to fast on your behalf. 00:27:58.240 --> 00:27:59.460 And ask for God's will to be done. 00:27:59.779 --> 00:28:02.100 And I truly do believe that God will heal as well. 00:28:03.580 --> 00:28:06.660 And then when you pray, you'll sense that there is a difference in your prayer. 00:28:07.080 --> 00:28:11.480 When you pray from an empty stomach, it makes a difference, I assure you. 00:28:12.320 --> 00:28:15.640 It's hard to pray when you have a full stomach, especially after lunch. 00:28:16.600 --> 00:28:18.500 Because you close your eyes and you're in a different place. 00:28:21.140 --> 00:28:24.060 But when you pray hungry, you know, I'm too hungry to even sleep here. 00:28:25.800 --> 00:28:30.120 This need that I feel is the need that they have. 00:28:31.860 --> 00:28:34.180 And this is me just standing alongside them. 00:28:35.400 --> 00:28:37.240 Can we be a people who are praying for others? 00:28:37.500 --> 00:28:40.600 Now, of course, when it comes to this and just the imagery that he has here, 00:28:40.600 --> 00:28:43.060 I bow down, I prayed with my head bowed on my chest. 00:28:43.320 --> 00:28:44.240 There is just humility. 00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:45.819 So that's something else about fasting. 00:28:45.900 --> 00:28:48.759 I don't want to focus too much on because you don't seem like a prideful people. 00:28:49.120 --> 00:28:50.440 But Jesus talks about this. 00:28:50.819 --> 00:28:54.180 He says, actually, when you fast, don't turn it into a thing. 00:28:55.680 --> 00:28:58.420 Don't print yourself a T-shirt and say, I'm fasting because I'm holy. 00:29:00.140 --> 00:29:00.920 Fast quietly. 00:29:01.559 --> 00:29:02.039 Fast humbly. 00:29:02.759 --> 00:29:04.880 In fact, fast with a smile on your face. 00:29:06.339 --> 00:29:07.579 I mean, who gets hangry here? 00:29:08.599 --> 00:29:09.759 Put your hand up, confession time. 00:29:10.039 --> 00:29:10.700 Oh, hangry. 00:29:11.099 --> 00:29:11.799 Grumpy hangry. 00:29:12.039 --> 00:29:12.660 Where's my wife? 00:29:12.660 --> 00:29:13.720 She should put her hand up too. 00:29:18.340 --> 00:29:21.400 I was once given the advice, when you fast, fast with a smile on your face. 00:29:22.980 --> 00:29:24.080 And it doesn't feel natural. 00:29:24.200 --> 00:29:24.840 It doesn't feel right. 00:29:25.980 --> 00:29:29.040 And every part of your body is just crying out and being angry. 00:29:30.140 --> 00:29:31.360 But the whole point is, can you? 00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:33.320 And again, it's not about faking it. 00:29:33.360 --> 00:29:36.220 It's about going, God, can you clean me from the inside out? 00:29:36.220 --> 00:29:43.839 This feeling I'm feeling, this hunger pain I'm feeling, I want to turn it into hunger and thirst for you and your righteousness. 00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:46.539 Because I know that only then will I be satisfied. 00:29:47.160 --> 00:29:50.480 And so he says, Jesus says in Matthew 6, hey, make it a private thing. 00:29:50.539 --> 00:29:51.579 Don't make it a public thing. 00:29:52.079 --> 00:29:54.759 You don't need to be showing everyone what you're doing here. 00:29:55.019 --> 00:29:58.519 And again, so there is no better reminder to pray for other people than to hunger. 00:29:58.519 --> 00:30:03.779 And the final thing that I can see here is when you pray whilst you're fasting, you're actually seeking justice. 00:30:04.039 --> 00:30:05.160 You're praying for justice here. 00:30:05.220 --> 00:30:06.519 Verse 24, it says this. 00:30:07.779 --> 00:30:10.059 Verse 22, you have seen, O Lord, be not silent. 00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:11.339 O Lord, be not far from me. 00:30:12.859 --> 00:30:17.359 And then verse 24 says this, vindicate me, O Lord, my God, according to your righteousness. 00:30:17.700 --> 00:30:20.259 He wants to see justice. 00:30:22.180 --> 00:30:22.940 For himself. 00:30:22.940 --> 00:30:26.700 But as we pray and fast as followers of Christ, I wonder what justice looks like. 00:30:26.759 --> 00:30:28.180 I mean, let's ask a law professional. 00:30:28.279 --> 00:30:30.299 What's the definition of justice, Queenie? 00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:33.559 Fairness. 00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:36.519 Getting what you deserve. 00:30:38.559 --> 00:30:38.880 Yeah. 00:30:39.180 --> 00:30:42.019 And if I just add an extra layer, because I know that you're able to do this. 00:30:42.259 --> 00:30:43.259 What about biblical justice? 00:30:46.019 --> 00:30:46.380 Yeah. 00:30:46.500 --> 00:30:47.220 What's God's justice? 00:30:51.360 --> 00:30:52.860 I'm putting her on the spot, but she's. 00:30:53.600 --> 00:30:54.680 She's good enough to do this. 00:30:56.420 --> 00:30:57.200 What's justice? 00:30:58.519 --> 00:30:59.779 It's beyond what we can understand. 00:31:01.600 --> 00:31:03.519 Because his holiness is also a problem. 00:31:03.720 --> 00:31:03.840 Yeah. 00:31:04.920 --> 00:31:06.880 Because we all fall short of his holiness. 00:31:07.799 --> 00:31:08.440 We all. 00:31:09.820 --> 00:31:10.480 We all. 00:31:12.360 --> 00:31:16.620 We think that we fall short in different ways, but actually just falling short is that that's it. 00:31:17.059 --> 00:31:17.240 Yeah. 00:31:17.640 --> 00:31:19.360 So his justice would be that none of us. 00:31:19.980 --> 00:31:20.100 Yeah. 00:31:21.220 --> 00:31:21.559 That's it. 00:31:21.559 --> 00:31:23.079 In case you didn't hear. 00:31:23.299 --> 00:31:23.940 She said God. 00:31:24.220 --> 00:31:28.859 God's justice is something that is beyond what we can understand because we all fall short of God's justice. 00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:30.440 We are incapable of getting there. 00:31:30.679 --> 00:31:34.099 And we don't really understand what God means when he means for fairness. 00:31:34.099 --> 00:31:37.539 In fact, when we're talking even about the kingdom of God, I've heard it described. 00:31:37.619 --> 00:31:41.299 The kingdom of God is God's people in under God's rule in God's land. 00:31:41.699 --> 00:31:50.079 And it's just this idea when you are praying, when you're fasting for God's justice, you're saying, God, can you have your way in all of us in all of this land? 00:31:50.079 --> 00:31:53.419 And it's beyond our own comprehension. 00:31:53.859 --> 00:31:56.079 And it's beyond our own ability to get it. 00:31:56.079 --> 00:31:58.299 And we're going to fast. 00:31:58.500 --> 00:31:59.839 And we're going to pray for it. 00:32:01.220 --> 00:32:01.699 I don't know. 00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:10.379 If you watch the news and you see interviews in the Oval Office, and I don't want to step into politics here. 00:32:10.380 --> 00:32:16.900 As a follower of Christ, that should break your heart, whichever side you're on. 00:32:17.900 --> 00:32:21.620 You should go, God, I need to fast for my country. 00:32:21.700 --> 00:32:22.980 I need to fast for this world. 00:32:23.100 --> 00:32:25.920 I need to fast for the leaders of this world. 00:32:27.900 --> 00:32:32.860 Because this world is in so deep, dire need of its king. 00:32:34.480 --> 00:32:35.400 His justice. 00:32:35.980 --> 00:32:37.180 Not what we think is right. 00:32:37.180 --> 00:32:38.480 You can't tell me how to feel. 00:32:40.380 --> 00:32:46.480 But God, can you bring your kingdom here on this earth? 00:32:47.660 --> 00:32:51.440 And so if you see news like that, I've got to check my heart with this. 00:32:51.600 --> 00:32:52.200 Do I jeer? 00:32:52.960 --> 00:32:54.480 And do I have a smug face? 00:32:55.580 --> 00:32:57.420 Or is my heart broken going, man? 00:32:59.320 --> 00:33:00.400 This is why we fast. 00:33:00.960 --> 00:33:03.360 And honestly, it means so much more when you're hungry. 00:33:04.400 --> 00:33:07.120 Because you're like, God, I'm just hungry for your justice here. 00:33:07.180 --> 00:33:07.720 Not mine. 00:33:07.720 --> 00:33:11.740 And I don't even know what I want sometimes as I look and I see all these things happening in this world. 00:33:11.940 --> 00:33:13.279 But God, I just want what you want. 00:33:13.339 --> 00:33:15.140 I want your kingdom to come here on earth. 00:33:15.339 --> 00:33:18.319 I want your people to be under your rule in your land. 00:33:20.160 --> 00:33:20.940 Biblical justice. 00:33:21.400 --> 00:33:25.000 This idea is that there is value in every single person. 00:33:25.100 --> 00:33:27.779 There is an inherent dignity in every single person. 00:33:27.940 --> 00:33:29.019 There is, requires fairness. 00:33:29.160 --> 00:33:30.000 There requires equity. 00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:36.339 True justice is one where you are praying for just human flourishing across society. 00:33:37.619 --> 00:33:39.500 And we as followers of Christ should pray for that. 00:33:40.539 --> 00:33:42.259 We should fast and pray for that. 00:33:42.319 --> 00:33:48.900 You see time and again that I just showed you in the Bible, just people, nations praying and fasting together. 00:33:48.900 --> 00:33:53.460 Instead of jeering and scrolling and laughing together. 00:33:54.460 --> 00:33:57.100 Let us pray and let us seek justice. 00:33:58.380 --> 00:33:59.700 That his kingdom will come. 00:34:00.660 --> 00:34:03.360 Now, Jesus talks about fasting in another place in Matthew 9. 00:34:03.519 --> 00:34:05.740 Because people go to him and go, hey, we fast. 00:34:05.980 --> 00:34:07.040 Why don't your disciples fast? 00:34:07.400 --> 00:34:09.440 And then he's saying, well, they don't need to fast because I'm here. 00:34:09.440 --> 00:34:12.480 But there will come a day when they should fast. 00:34:13.420 --> 00:34:14.300 And so that's the same thing. 00:34:14.400 --> 00:34:17.119 It's us going to God saying, Jesus, we know that you came. 00:34:17.220 --> 00:34:18.039 We know what you did. 00:34:18.240 --> 00:34:19.099 We know what you're doing. 00:34:19.240 --> 00:34:22.440 But we know that your kingdom of heaven is already but not yet. 00:34:22.500 --> 00:34:25.599 And we are yearning, hungry, desperate for you to come. 00:34:25.800 --> 00:34:28.059 So now is the time for us to be fasting. 00:34:29.700 --> 00:34:32.579 And going, Jesus, would you come back into our hearts? 00:34:32.740 --> 00:34:34.340 Would you come back into our families? 00:34:34.559 --> 00:34:35.920 Would you come back into our churches? 00:34:35.920 --> 00:34:39.139 Would you come back into our government, into our city, into every country? 00:34:39.440 --> 00:34:41.099 Into the whole world? 00:34:43.220 --> 00:34:44.099 Come, Lord Jesus. 00:34:45.559 --> 00:34:49.260 A few years ago, I remember just watching the news and watching the world and just going, God, Jesus. 00:34:49.980 --> 00:34:51.559 I think now is the time to call it. 00:34:52.260 --> 00:34:53.159 Just pull the plug. 00:34:53.240 --> 00:34:53.800 Just come back. 00:34:54.119 --> 00:34:55.420 Let's just finish this right now. 00:34:56.400 --> 00:34:59.440 Because I'm just like, we are so lost as a people. 00:35:00.380 --> 00:35:01.119 Fighting each other. 00:35:01.220 --> 00:35:01.880 Hating each other. 00:35:02.940 --> 00:35:04.720 Hating others who are hating others. 00:35:06.900 --> 00:35:08.840 As followers of Christ, would we, well, 00:35:09.440 --> 00:35:12.340 whatever the modern equivalent of tearing your sackcloth is. 00:35:13.420 --> 00:35:15.280 And fasting and praying. 00:35:16.559 --> 00:35:16.840 Yearning. 00:35:17.059 --> 00:35:19.420 Psalm 35 is basically summing up God's sovereignty. 00:35:20.119 --> 00:35:21.599 Saying, I'm in a battle right now, God. 00:35:22.039 --> 00:35:24.179 They are stabbing me in the back. 00:35:24.420 --> 00:35:25.360 They have betrayed me. 00:35:25.619 --> 00:35:26.679 But you are in control. 00:35:28.400 --> 00:35:31.519 And I fast and pray for them without fear. 00:35:31.820 --> 00:35:33.740 Because you are the one who has my back. 00:35:33.739 --> 00:35:35.039 That's what he's saying. 00:35:37.039 --> 00:35:39.399 But fasting should also include action. 00:35:40.359 --> 00:35:45.579 So when we fast, when we stop eating, it's actually good for us to then actually fill it with something else. 00:35:46.219 --> 00:35:50.839 Isaiah 58 is probably the most famous passage on fasting in the Old Testament. 00:35:50.840 --> 00:35:52.579 And God's saying this. 00:35:52.640 --> 00:35:53.840 Let's just go there for a second. 00:35:54.019 --> 00:35:54.260 One second. 00:35:54.380 --> 00:35:54.680 I want to put one. 00:35:55.079 --> 00:35:55.940 Isaiah 58. 00:35:56.220 --> 00:35:58.100 If you have, just put a marker in this. 00:35:58.140 --> 00:35:59.320 Because this is important. 00:35:59.480 --> 00:36:01.240 Maybe as you pray these next few days. 00:36:02.160 --> 00:36:03.800 Remember, Lent starts on Wednesday. 00:36:05.120 --> 00:36:07.260 Isaiah talks about true and false fasting. 00:36:07.260 --> 00:36:10.880 He's kind of mocking a group of people. 00:36:10.980 --> 00:36:12.500 Why have we fasted and you see it not? 00:36:12.780 --> 00:36:15.100 Why have we humbled ourselves and you take no knowledge of it? 00:36:15.520 --> 00:36:16.680 And then God responds to them. 00:36:17.280 --> 00:36:22.280 Saying, fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high. 00:36:23.240 --> 00:36:25.880 Is such the fast that I choose a day for a person to humble himself? 00:36:26.180 --> 00:36:29.840 Is it to bow down his head like a reed and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? 00:36:30.080 --> 00:36:32.400 Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? 00:36:32.700 --> 00:36:34.260 Is not this the fast that I choose? 00:36:34.260 --> 00:36:39.260 So God says, you say you're fasting and you're feeling good about yourself. 00:36:39.340 --> 00:36:41.580 Let me tell you what a real fast is, is what he's saying. 00:36:41.900 --> 00:36:46.000 Verse 6 on, he says, to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, 00:36:46.080 --> 00:36:48.460 to let the oppressed go free and to break every yoke. 00:36:48.720 --> 00:36:52.300 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house 00:36:52.300 --> 00:36:56.020 when you see the naked to cover him and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? 00:36:56.500 --> 00:37:00.940 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn and your healing shall spring up speedily. 00:37:01.180 --> 00:37:02.740 Your righteousness shall go before you. 00:37:02.739 --> 00:37:04.879 The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 00:37:05.119 --> 00:37:08.859 He's saying the kind of fasting that we're looking for isn't that you just sitting on your couch, 00:37:09.019 --> 00:37:10.119 being grumpy, that you're hungry. 00:37:10.419 --> 00:37:13.979 The kind of fasting that God is looking for is the one that spurs you into action. 00:37:15.759 --> 00:37:19.879 It's one that spurs you into action where you look for those people who are in need in your society 00:37:19.880 --> 00:37:24.500 and you actually take part in the kingdom of God in bringing his rule to his people in his land 00:37:24.500 --> 00:37:29.400 by bringing justice and allowing people to flourish by reaching those who are poor and those who are in need 00:37:29.400 --> 00:37:33.079 and actually being God's hands and feet and actually helping them. 00:37:33.079 --> 00:37:37.279 That's the kind of fasting that he's looking for. 00:37:38.400 --> 00:37:40.619 So as we think about what we're going to fast, 00:37:41.400 --> 00:37:45.319 the question is actually can we fast but then also spurs on into action 00:37:45.319 --> 00:37:47.139 that can as we seek God's justice, 00:37:47.139 --> 00:37:52.359 can we also say God can we be partners in pursuing and in bringing your justice, 00:37:52.500 --> 00:37:53.779 your justice, not his, 00:37:55.859 --> 00:37:57.839 your justice onto this earth. 00:37:58.019 --> 00:37:59.679 Can we be a part of this? 00:38:00.019 --> 00:38:03.279 God wants fasting to go beyond personal growths to acts of justice, 00:38:03.519 --> 00:38:04.799 to apply his word, 00:38:05.119 --> 00:38:06.379 to serve the city. 00:38:06.380 --> 00:38:11.160 We stand on the shoulders of giants before us because we see that there are Christians 00:38:11.160 --> 00:38:14.260 throughout these last thousands of years that have done just that, 00:38:14.340 --> 00:38:17.400 that have laid their lives down for the people around them 00:38:17.400 --> 00:38:20.500 to the point where the first aid sign is the cross. 00:38:22.680 --> 00:38:24.019 As followers of Jesus, 00:38:24.180 --> 00:38:26.340 are we willing to fast and pray for our city, 00:38:26.820 --> 00:38:28.340 to stand beside the afflicted 00:38:28.340 --> 00:38:32.660 and to actually then spur us into action to serve? 00:38:33.740 --> 00:38:35.700 That's the kind of fasting that he's looking for. 00:38:35.699 --> 00:38:39.559 That's the kind of fasting that we want and he will bring justice. 00:38:39.679 --> 00:38:40.379 How do we know that? 00:38:41.399 --> 00:38:43.480 Let's go back to Psalm 35 as we finish up here. 00:38:50.179 --> 00:38:52.419 How do I know that God is going to have his way? 00:38:52.579 --> 00:38:55.799 Vindicate me, O Lord, my God, according to your righteousness. 00:38:57.099 --> 00:38:58.179 Why? Because he's good. 00:38:59.339 --> 00:39:00.299 Because he is righteous. 00:39:01.179 --> 00:39:04.439 So when you watch things on the news that you're like, 00:39:04.440 --> 00:39:05.840 man, this world is messed up, 00:39:06.139 --> 00:39:08.700 then you weep and then you fast and then you pray 00:39:08.700 --> 00:39:12.200 and then you said, God, you will bring this deliverance. 00:39:12.820 --> 00:39:13.800 You will have your way. 00:39:13.880 --> 00:39:14.519 Your will be done. 00:39:14.579 --> 00:39:15.700 Your kingdom will come. 00:39:15.960 --> 00:39:16.559 Because why? 00:39:16.679 --> 00:39:17.760 Because you are good. 00:39:18.000 --> 00:39:20.159 According to your righteousness. 00:39:22.059 --> 00:39:22.639 It's funny. 00:39:22.780 --> 00:39:24.099 After that, verse 24, he says, 00:39:24.179 --> 00:39:25.019 according to your righteousness. 00:39:25.260 --> 00:39:26.320 Later on, he says this. 00:39:26.320 --> 00:39:27.720 Verse 27, 00:39:27.860 --> 00:39:30.360 let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy 00:39:30.360 --> 00:39:32.640 and be glad and say forevermore. 00:39:33.240 --> 00:39:34.320 Within a short few verses, 00:39:34.539 --> 00:39:36.559 he goes from according to your righteousness 00:39:36.559 --> 00:39:39.380 to now let them see my righteousness. 00:39:40.480 --> 00:39:43.400 How does God's righteousness become our righteousness? 00:39:45.360 --> 00:39:48.300 How do we have hope in this world 00:39:48.300 --> 00:39:49.539 that is setting itself on fire? 00:39:51.160 --> 00:39:52.480 Well, there is only really one name. 00:39:52.480 --> 00:39:55.539 The one who says, I am your salvation. 00:39:56.400 --> 00:39:57.800 And I will give you my righteousness 00:39:57.800 --> 00:39:58.740 to be your righteousness. 00:39:59.440 --> 00:40:01.960 And I will bring God's kingdom, 00:40:02.159 --> 00:40:04.039 God's justice into this world. 00:40:04.480 --> 00:40:05.840 And I will wipe away every tear. 00:40:05.980 --> 00:40:07.960 And I will, and death itself will be gone. 00:40:08.000 --> 00:40:08.920 And every sickness will be gone. 00:40:08.960 --> 00:40:09.940 And every pain will be gone. 00:40:10.019 --> 00:40:10.199 Why? 00:40:10.380 --> 00:40:11.539 Because of Jesus. 00:40:12.920 --> 00:40:15.059 We sit here with his righteousness 00:40:15.059 --> 00:40:16.320 because of what he gave up. 00:40:17.119 --> 00:40:18.400 And others will see our good work 00:40:18.400 --> 00:40:19.179 and praise him. 00:40:19.179 --> 00:40:21.339 So would we be a people 00:40:21.339 --> 00:40:23.539 whose hearts weep and burn 00:40:23.539 --> 00:40:26.219 and break for the things around us? 00:40:27.199 --> 00:40:28.440 Whether it's for ourselves, 00:40:28.679 --> 00:40:30.000 you can look at yourself and go, 00:40:30.059 --> 00:40:33.000 my life right now is not where it's supposed to be. 00:40:33.239 --> 00:40:34.399 In that case, I encourage you, 00:40:34.440 --> 00:40:35.559 Wednesday, pray and fast. 00:40:36.259 --> 00:40:36.960 Give up something. 00:40:38.319 --> 00:40:39.919 Remind yourself of your dependence on God. 00:40:40.019 --> 00:40:41.159 Hunger and thirst for him 00:40:41.159 --> 00:40:42.440 and you will be satisfied. 00:40:43.960 --> 00:40:45.699 So it can be about yourself too. 00:40:45.699 --> 00:40:47.879 But then also make it about someone else. 00:40:47.880 --> 00:40:49.720 As you look at the people around you 00:40:49.720 --> 00:40:50.760 who you love, 00:40:52.220 --> 00:40:53.320 go, how can I pray for you? 00:40:53.380 --> 00:40:55.280 How can I be fasting for you during this time? 00:40:55.800 --> 00:40:56.980 I want to be fasting for 40 days 00:40:56.980 --> 00:40:58.200 and I want to remember you every day. 00:40:58.260 --> 00:40:58.940 Can you tell me something 00:40:58.940 --> 00:41:00.039 that I can be praying for you? 00:41:02.180 --> 00:41:03.900 And all of it, really putting that hope, 00:41:04.260 --> 00:41:05.039 seeking that justice 00:41:05.039 --> 00:41:07.160 in the man that is Jesus. 00:41:07.340 --> 00:41:08.500 In fact, Jesus himself, 00:41:08.640 --> 00:41:10.320 he showed us that he needed God 00:41:10.320 --> 00:41:12.220 by going in the wilderness for 40 days 00:41:12.220 --> 00:41:12.660 and fasting. 00:41:13.059 --> 00:41:14.220 But in reality, 00:41:14.220 --> 00:41:15.800 his whole life was a fast. 00:41:17.880 --> 00:41:19.400 That he would give up 00:41:19.400 --> 00:41:21.079 his place in heaven. 00:41:21.519 --> 00:41:23.240 That he would empty himself 00:41:23.240 --> 00:41:24.300 and come to earth 00:41:24.300 --> 00:41:25.599 and eat the food that we eat 00:41:25.599 --> 00:41:28.940 and be disconnected from God 00:41:28.940 --> 00:41:29.880 in the way that he was. 00:41:30.180 --> 00:41:31.980 His whole life was a fast 00:41:31.980 --> 00:41:33.360 for us 00:41:33.360 --> 00:41:34.720 to bring justice 00:41:34.720 --> 00:41:35.880 to this world. 00:41:36.180 --> 00:41:36.800 He himself, 00:41:37.180 --> 00:41:38.700 who was utterly dependent on God, 00:41:38.760 --> 00:41:39.079 he says, 00:41:40.019 --> 00:41:41.400 the son is nothing without the father. 00:41:41.920 --> 00:41:42.980 I'm here because of the father 00:41:42.980 --> 00:41:44.660 and I only do what I see the father doing. 00:41:44.659 --> 00:41:46.699 He is intimately connected to the father. 00:41:48.859 --> 00:41:50.599 Utterly dependent on him. 00:41:51.219 --> 00:41:53.159 But also came to intercede for us. 00:41:54.539 --> 00:41:56.519 To be the propitiation of our sins. 00:41:57.099 --> 00:41:59.259 To pay the debts that we incurred. 00:42:00.920 --> 00:42:02.599 And so that we would be made right in God 00:42:02.599 --> 00:42:04.099 and that we would have the righteousness 00:42:04.099 --> 00:42:06.299 of Christ within us. 00:42:06.359 --> 00:42:07.399 He who was without sin 00:42:07.399 --> 00:42:09.259 suffered the injustice 00:42:09.259 --> 00:42:11.059 so that he would bring justice 00:42:11.059 --> 00:42:11.719 into this world. 00:42:11.719 --> 00:42:15.439 We're going to finish 00:42:15.439 --> 00:42:15.959 and we're going to spend 00:42:15.959 --> 00:42:17.399 a little bit of time 00:42:17.399 --> 00:42:19.000 asking God ourselves. 00:42:19.679 --> 00:42:20.099 And really, 00:42:20.219 --> 00:42:21.859 this whole prayer of Psalm 35 00:42:21.859 --> 00:42:22.719 is really saying, 00:42:22.839 --> 00:42:23.619 deliver us from evil. 00:42:25.239 --> 00:42:26.599 God, deliver us from evil. 00:42:27.379 --> 00:42:28.279 We empty ourselves 00:42:28.279 --> 00:42:30.219 of our fleshly desires, 00:42:31.439 --> 00:42:32.179 our pursuits 00:42:32.179 --> 00:42:34.239 of all the sensualities, 00:42:35.659 --> 00:42:36.419 and we go, 00:42:36.559 --> 00:42:38.559 God, we want only you. 00:42:40.259 --> 00:42:41.000 Nothing else. 00:42:41.719 --> 00:42:42.899 We want only you. 00:42:43.279 --> 00:42:44.779 And we fast to participate 00:42:44.779 --> 00:42:45.659 in his story. 00:42:47.139 --> 00:42:48.399 But maybe just a final few tips 00:42:48.399 --> 00:42:49.239 as you consider this. 00:42:49.919 --> 00:42:51.199 There are different ways to fast. 00:42:51.319 --> 00:42:53.179 If you haven't ever fasted before, 00:42:53.319 --> 00:42:55.059 then don't jump into 00:42:55.059 --> 00:42:56.899 a 40-day water fast. 00:42:57.480 --> 00:42:58.539 We do want to see you 00:42:58.539 --> 00:42:59.459 in these next 40 days. 00:43:01.659 --> 00:43:02.500 Do something. 00:43:02.639 --> 00:43:03.839 Do something that's just like 00:43:03.839 --> 00:43:04.659 a first step. 00:43:05.659 --> 00:43:06.639 The intermittent fasting, 00:43:06.839 --> 00:43:08.239 the 16-8 fasting, 00:43:08.500 --> 00:43:09.039 are good ones 00:43:09.039 --> 00:43:10.459 where you fast for 16 hours 00:43:10.460 --> 00:43:11.179 and you eat for eight. 00:43:12.860 --> 00:43:14.220 The Anthony Davis 00:43:14.220 --> 00:43:15.639 alternate days fast, 00:43:16.280 --> 00:43:17.400 where you fast one day 00:43:17.400 --> 00:43:17.920 and you don't fast 00:43:17.920 --> 00:43:18.500 the next day, 00:43:18.900 --> 00:43:20.400 is a good one as well. 00:43:20.740 --> 00:43:21.340 I personally, 00:43:21.519 --> 00:43:22.699 or fast one meal a day, 00:43:23.880 --> 00:43:25.920 I'm going to be doing 00:43:25.920 --> 00:43:26.840 just one meal a day. 00:43:27.420 --> 00:43:28.980 In 1600 AD, 00:43:29.079 --> 00:43:29.840 when the Pope first 00:43:29.840 --> 00:43:31.360 introduced Lent and fasting, 00:43:31.440 --> 00:43:32.039 that was what it was, 00:43:32.039 --> 00:43:33.199 just one meal a day. 00:43:33.199 --> 00:43:34.500 But there's a Daniel fast, 00:43:34.779 --> 00:43:35.759 there's a Nazarite fast. 00:43:37.859 --> 00:43:38.899 There's also other things 00:43:38.899 --> 00:43:39.639 that if you look at, 00:43:39.960 --> 00:43:40.939 the Holy Spirit 00:43:40.939 --> 00:43:41.719 might be just going to you, 00:43:41.799 --> 00:43:42.639 hey, you just need to 00:43:42.639 --> 00:43:43.960 stop on social media. 00:43:45.699 --> 00:43:46.339 I'm just going to say, 00:43:46.480 --> 00:43:47.399 you just need to stop 00:43:47.399 --> 00:43:48.079 on social media 00:43:48.079 --> 00:43:49.379 and let me show you something. 00:43:49.659 --> 00:43:50.879 40 days without social media 00:43:50.879 --> 00:43:51.759 and guess what, 00:43:51.799 --> 00:43:52.339 when you come back, 00:43:52.399 --> 00:43:53.819 social media will be just fine. 00:43:53.939 --> 00:43:54.519 It will be there. 00:43:54.799 --> 00:43:55.659 Nothing will have changed. 00:43:56.639 --> 00:43:57.239 So don't worry, 00:43:57.339 --> 00:43:58.239 you weren't yourself 00:43:58.239 --> 00:43:59.339 holding up social media. 00:43:59.599 --> 00:44:00.179 You're okay. 00:44:00.399 --> 00:44:00.879 Let it go. 00:44:02.759 --> 00:44:03.739 I think many people 00:44:03.739 --> 00:44:04.159 have done that. 00:44:04.219 --> 00:44:04.940 I've known who've done that 00:44:04.940 --> 00:44:05.699 and just have received 00:44:05.699 --> 00:44:06.919 the blessings from that. 00:44:07.259 --> 00:44:07.779 To the point where 00:44:07.779 --> 00:44:09.379 after doing it 00:44:09.379 --> 00:44:10.579 for a few years, 00:44:10.639 --> 00:44:10.899 I was like, 00:44:10.919 --> 00:44:11.139 you know what, 00:44:11.139 --> 00:44:11.799 I don't even need it 00:44:11.799 --> 00:44:12.319 on my phone anymore. 00:44:13.879 --> 00:44:14.559 So that's something 00:44:14.559 --> 00:44:15.779 that is just a big, 00:44:15.779 --> 00:44:17.899 big stronghold today. 00:44:19.359 --> 00:44:21.199 Maybe this is where it is. 00:44:23.539 --> 00:44:24.539 Fast for things, 00:44:24.940 --> 00:44:25.960 actually I do think 00:44:25.960 --> 00:44:27.119 food should still be 00:44:27.119 --> 00:44:27.619 a part of it. 00:44:27.759 --> 00:44:28.739 That's my own personal opinion. 00:44:28.839 --> 00:44:29.440 There's just something 00:44:29.440 --> 00:44:30.460 about just the physical 00:44:30.460 --> 00:44:31.240 fasting of food 00:44:31.240 --> 00:44:32.860 that is so important to do. 00:44:33.079 --> 00:44:33.960 But there are other things 00:44:33.960 --> 00:44:34.440 that you can do 00:44:34.440 --> 00:44:35.320 on top of that as well. 00:44:35.619 --> 00:44:36.480 Social media being one, 00:44:36.559 --> 00:44:37.300 Netflix being another. 00:44:38.059 --> 00:44:39.159 You can't fast homework 00:44:39.159 --> 00:44:39.740 and studying there, 00:44:39.780 --> 00:44:40.019 by the way. 00:44:40.119 --> 00:44:41.659 That must remain. 00:44:46.300 --> 00:44:47.159 But can you pray 00:44:47.159 --> 00:44:47.619 and ask, 00:44:49.000 --> 00:44:49.599 God, 00:44:49.659 --> 00:44:50.519 what is it 00:44:50.519 --> 00:44:51.340 that you want me 00:44:51.340 --> 00:44:51.720 to give up? 00:44:53.300 --> 00:44:54.280 Not because it's going 00:44:54.280 --> 00:44:55.139 to be painful to me, 00:44:55.200 --> 00:44:56.159 but because you gave up 00:44:56.159 --> 00:44:56.860 everything for me. 00:44:56.860 --> 00:44:59.200 I'm not doing something 00:44:59.200 --> 00:45:00.539 just to afflict pain 00:45:00.539 --> 00:45:01.140 on myself, 00:45:01.140 --> 00:45:01.900 but I'm doing it 00:45:01.900 --> 00:45:02.820 because you afflicted 00:45:02.820 --> 00:45:04.320 pain on yourself 00:45:04.320 --> 00:45:05.200 and that's the reason 00:45:05.200 --> 00:45:05.940 why I sit here. 00:45:06.920 --> 00:45:07.460 And so I want to be 00:45:07.460 --> 00:45:08.220 in tune with you. 00:45:08.280 --> 00:45:08.900 I want to be in tune 00:45:08.900 --> 00:45:09.320 with the people 00:45:09.320 --> 00:45:09.940 who are suffering 00:45:09.940 --> 00:45:10.920 next to me. 00:45:11.200 --> 00:45:11.920 I want to fast 00:45:11.920 --> 00:45:12.880 and pray for them 00:45:12.880 --> 00:45:13.780 as well as for myself. 00:45:14.380 --> 00:45:15.220 And as a church, 00:45:15.280 --> 00:45:16.620 can we be the people 00:45:16.620 --> 00:45:18.000 who are the disciplined 00:45:18.000 --> 00:45:19.300 disciples that we're going for? 00:45:21.000 --> 00:45:22.000 That's what we're praying here. 00:45:22.000 --> 00:45:23.360 And one of the other things 00:45:23.360 --> 00:45:24.900 is fast using scripture. 00:45:26.320 --> 00:45:27.539 And that's why next week, 00:45:27.639 --> 00:45:28.800 Pastor Gabe is actually 00:45:28.800 --> 00:45:29.320 going to lead us 00:45:29.320 --> 00:45:30.679 and going through Psalm 1 00:45:30.679 --> 00:45:32.039 talking about scripture. 00:45:32.599 --> 00:45:33.539 Because when you empty 00:45:33.539 --> 00:45:34.219 yourself of something, 00:45:34.300 --> 00:45:34.960 you've got to fill yourself 00:45:34.960 --> 00:45:35.420 with something. 00:45:36.099 --> 00:45:36.420 Otherwise, 00:45:36.559 --> 00:45:37.360 it's actually not really, 00:45:37.619 --> 00:45:38.260 you're not really 00:45:38.260 --> 00:45:38.860 any use to anyone. 00:45:39.920 --> 00:45:40.739 But fill yourself 00:45:40.739 --> 00:45:41.400 with the word of God. 00:45:42.920 --> 00:45:43.800 We're going to spend 00:45:43.800 --> 00:45:44.239 the time now 00:45:44.239 --> 00:45:44.760 and I invite you 00:45:44.760 --> 00:45:45.300 maybe just to 00:45:45.300 --> 00:45:46.579 bow your heads 00:45:46.579 --> 00:45:49.099 as we go into communion 00:45:49.099 --> 00:45:49.519 as well. 00:45:49.519 --> 00:45:58.679 Maybe the first thing 00:45:58.679 --> 00:45:59.800 I'll ask you is, 00:45:59.940 --> 00:46:00.880 what battle are you fighting? 00:46:03.519 --> 00:46:04.440 David was running 00:46:04.440 --> 00:46:05.659 for his life. 00:46:06.119 --> 00:46:06.940 What are you fighting? 00:46:07.099 --> 00:46:08.199 What are you facing 00:46:08.199 --> 00:46:09.559 right now? 00:46:14.800 --> 00:46:15.739 Is there something, 00:46:17.280 --> 00:46:18.739 is there an uphill battle 00:46:18.739 --> 00:46:19.759 that you are facing 00:46:19.759 --> 00:46:20.319 that you're like, 00:46:20.399 --> 00:46:20.879 oh God, 00:46:21.439 --> 00:46:22.139 if I don't have you, 00:46:22.179 --> 00:46:22.639 I'm not going to be able 00:46:22.639 --> 00:46:22.959 to do it. 00:46:29.500 --> 00:46:30.699 We fast as a reminder 00:46:30.699 --> 00:46:31.319 that we live 00:46:31.319 --> 00:46:32.079 in a broken world 00:46:32.079 --> 00:46:34.079 where pain exists, 00:46:35.099 --> 00:46:37.219 where sickness exists, 00:46:38.339 --> 00:46:39.159 where division 00:46:39.159 --> 00:46:40.159 and hate exists. 00:46:40.159 --> 00:46:45.920 there is a battle 00:46:45.920 --> 00:46:46.599 for your attention, 00:46:47.039 --> 00:46:47.759 there is a battle 00:46:47.759 --> 00:46:48.379 with anxiety, 00:46:48.559 --> 00:46:49.019 there is a battle 00:46:49.019 --> 00:46:49.559 with fear, 00:46:50.659 --> 00:46:51.319 there is a battle 00:46:51.319 --> 00:46:51.920 with addictions. 00:46:54.539 --> 00:46:55.219 And as followers 00:46:55.219 --> 00:46:55.619 of Christ, 00:46:55.679 --> 00:46:56.319 we take comfort 00:46:56.319 --> 00:46:56.859 and solace 00:46:56.859 --> 00:46:57.239 in the fact 00:46:57.239 --> 00:46:58.000 that we face 00:46:58.000 --> 00:46:58.559 these battles 00:46:58.559 --> 00:47:00.739 knowing that we are 00:47:00.739 --> 00:47:01.339 not the only ones 00:47:01.339 --> 00:47:01.679 who fight. 00:47:01.679 --> 00:47:12.099 So I encourage you 00:47:12.099 --> 00:47:12.879 to take those battles 00:47:12.879 --> 00:47:13.199 to God 00:47:13.199 --> 00:47:14.199 and say, 00:47:14.299 --> 00:47:14.460 God, 00:47:14.519 --> 00:47:15.480 they belong to you. 00:47:23.879 --> 00:47:25.359 I will climb this mountain 00:47:25.359 --> 00:47:26.619 with my arms wide open 00:47:26.619 --> 00:47:27.319 and I will fight 00:47:27.319 --> 00:47:27.859 this battle 00:47:27.859 --> 00:47:30.819 on my knees. 00:47:31.679 --> 00:47:35.159 Lord, 00:47:35.219 --> 00:47:35.579 we hunger 00:47:35.579 --> 00:47:36.139 and thirst 00:47:36.139 --> 00:47:37.519 for your righteousness, 00:47:38.039 --> 00:47:39.440 for your justice 00:47:39.440 --> 00:47:41.079 and we won't be satisfied 00:47:41.079 --> 00:47:42.199 until we get you 00:47:42.199 --> 00:47:45.179 and only you. 00:47:50.000 --> 00:47:51.359 So decide in your heart 00:47:51.359 --> 00:47:51.779 today 00:47:51.779 --> 00:47:53.559 what is the battle 00:47:53.559 --> 00:47:54.199 that you're going to fight? 00:47:54.639 --> 00:47:55.519 Be clear about it. 00:47:55.940 --> 00:47:56.419 You can't fight 00:47:56.419 --> 00:47:56.899 every battle 00:47:56.899 --> 00:48:01.639 but set out 00:48:01.639 --> 00:48:02.219 on the season 00:48:02.219 --> 00:48:02.599 of Lent 00:48:02.599 --> 00:48:03.500 with one battle. 00:48:10.379 --> 00:48:11.420 And decide in your heart 00:48:11.420 --> 00:48:12.039 that today 00:48:12.039 --> 00:48:14.079 I join alongside 00:48:14.079 --> 00:48:14.779 brothers and sisters 00:48:14.779 --> 00:48:15.379 beside me 00:48:15.379 --> 00:48:16.079 because I can't do this 00:48:16.079 --> 00:48:16.460 on my own. 00:48:16.519 --> 00:48:16.940 I'm going to fight 00:48:16.940 --> 00:48:17.319 that battle. 00:48:17.960 --> 00:48:18.739 I'm going to go home 00:48:18.739 --> 00:48:19.460 with a new conviction. 00:48:19.599 --> 00:48:20.000 I'm going to go back 00:48:20.000 --> 00:48:20.739 to my family dinner 00:48:20.739 --> 00:48:21.519 with a new conviction 00:48:21.519 --> 00:48:24.900 that this battle 00:48:24.900 --> 00:48:25.539 belongs to God, 00:48:26.159 --> 00:48:27.099 that He is my defender, 00:48:27.219 --> 00:48:28.500 that He is my protector, 00:48:29.000 --> 00:48:30.019 He is my salvation. 00:48:30.019 --> 00:48:38.179 If you are part 00:48:38.179 --> 00:48:39.119 of a community here, 00:48:39.599 --> 00:48:40.980 especially if you are 00:48:40.980 --> 00:48:42.280 a leader of a community, 00:48:43.000 --> 00:48:43.940 what we call 00:48:43.940 --> 00:48:44.579 life groups here, 00:48:45.320 --> 00:48:46.059 can I invite you 00:48:46.059 --> 00:48:48.059 to lead your people 00:48:48.059 --> 00:48:48.579 and go, 00:48:48.679 --> 00:48:48.780 hey, 00:48:48.860 --> 00:48:49.360 what is it 00:48:49.360 --> 00:48:50.519 that we can fast together in? 00:48:51.579 --> 00:48:52.800 There is a beauty 00:48:52.800 --> 00:48:53.599 in accountability. 00:48:54.340 --> 00:48:54.960 There is a beauty 00:48:54.960 --> 00:48:55.619 in community 00:48:55.619 --> 00:48:56.139 and support 00:48:56.139 --> 00:48:56.420 and going, 00:48:56.480 --> 00:48:57.519 let's do this together. 00:48:57.519 --> 00:49:10.340 Jesus, 00:49:10.480 --> 00:49:11.199 the battle belongs 00:49:11.199 --> 00:49:11.559 to you. 00:49:15.219 --> 00:49:16.360 We give you praise 00:49:16.360 --> 00:49:18.320 and declare your victory 00:49:18.320 --> 00:49:20.099 in our lives. 00:49:20.099 --> 00:49:24.380 We approach this season 00:49:24.380 --> 00:49:25.599 of Lent with humility, 00:49:25.860 --> 00:49:27.159 with need, 00:49:28.579 --> 00:49:29.400 with hunger 00:49:29.400 --> 00:49:30.259 and thirst. 00:49:37.779 --> 00:49:38.579 You're the one thing 00:49:38.579 --> 00:49:39.019 we seek, 00:49:39.440 --> 00:49:39.920 the one thing 00:49:39.920 --> 00:49:40.420 we are after 00:49:40.420 --> 00:49:41.500 and we want to taste 00:49:41.500 --> 00:49:42.759 and see that you are good. 00:49:42.760 --> 00:49:47.740 Lord, 00:49:47.780 --> 00:49:48.320 would you be 00:49:48.320 --> 00:49:49.480 with your people? 00:49:52.540 --> 00:49:53.760 Would you speak to us 00:49:53.760 --> 00:49:55.320 in this season? 00:49:55.320 --> 00:50:01.360 and may our fasting 00:50:01.360 --> 00:50:02.600 be one that pleases you, 00:50:03.840 --> 00:50:05.280 that breaks the chains 00:50:05.280 --> 00:50:05.900 of injustice 00:50:05.900 --> 00:50:09.640 and points everyone, 00:50:10.700 --> 00:50:13.740 everyone to you. 00:50:14.960 --> 00:50:15.539 Thank you, 00:50:15.640 --> 00:50:15.720 Lord. 00:50:15.719 --> 00:50:20.719 it's in your powerful 00:50:20.719 --> 00:50:23.379 precious name we pray. 00:50:25.000 --> 00:50:25.399 Amen. 00:50:27.500 --> 00:50:28.199 Take a seat. 00:50:30.959 --> 00:50:31.559 Thank you. 00:50:36.000 --> 00:50:37.199 It's the end of our time here 00:50:37.199 --> 00:50:38.639 but I really encourage you, 00:50:38.679 --> 00:50:39.319 you've got a few days, 00:50:39.659 --> 00:50:40.519 think about what it is 00:50:40.519 --> 00:50:45.239 that you'd like to do 00:50:45.239 --> 00:50:45.780 to head into 00:50:45.780 --> 00:50:46.599 this season of Lent 00:50:46.599 --> 00:50:49.119 and let this just be 00:50:49.119 --> 00:50:50.000 a season that takes 00:50:50.000 --> 00:50:51.480 us all deeper, 00:50:51.860 --> 00:50:52.900 deeper into the heart 00:50:52.900 --> 00:50:53.300 of Christ 00:50:53.300 --> 00:50:55.759 and fill us with more hope 00:50:55.759 --> 00:50:57.199 regardless of the battles 00:50:57.199 --> 00:50:57.759 that we face.