Posts with the tag “fasting”

We're invited into a season of spiritual renewal through 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting, but more importantly, it challenges us to examine what's blocking the life-giving breath of God in our souls. We're reminded that God never stops breathing life into us - we simply get clogged up. The message traces this struggle back to Genesis and the two trees in the Garden of Eden: the Tree of Life representing dependence, trust, and relationship with God, versus the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil representing control, self-reliance, and performance. We discover three primary ways our spiritual airways become blocked: when control replaces trust, when knowledge replaces dependence, and when religion replaces relationship. The call isn't to try harder or do more - it's to come closer. Jesus invites the weary and burdened not to another religious checklist, but to proximity with Him. As we enter this season of fasting, we're challenged to identify what we need to sacrifice, to write down our commitments, and to gather together for corporate prayer. This isn't about earning God's favor through our efforts; it's about clearing the pathways so we can receive the abundant life He's already freely offering us.  Read More

In this powerful exploration of humility, we're challenged to examine our hearts and motivations. The sermon delves into Jesus' teachings from the Sermon on the Mount, specifically Matthew 6:1-18, where He addresses giving, prayer, and fasting. We're reminded that these spiritual practices aren't about impressing others or seeking applause, but about deepening our relationship with God. The Lord's Prayer is presented not as a magic formula, but as a blueprint for humble, authentic communication with our Father. A key takeaway is that true humility means living in constant dependence on God, bringing even our smallest needs to Him daily. We're also confronted with the difficult but transformative act of forgiveness, recognizing that extending grace to others is a reflection of the undeserved forgiveness we've received from God. This message invites us to embrace a 'hidden life' where our good deeds, prayers, and spiritual disciplines are seen and rewarded by God alone, freeing us from the exhausting pursuit of human approval.  Read More

In this powerful message, we're challenged to embrace boldness in our prayer lives. Drawing from Acts 4 and 5, we see how the early church responded to opposition with fervent, united prayer. Their first instinct wasn't to strategize or celebrate their release, but to seek God's face together. This reminds us that our initial response to challenges should be prayer, not just action. The early believers prayed for two things: boldness to speak God's word and for miracles to be performed. This teaches us that our prayers often reflect our view of God. Are we praying small, safe prayers or are we boldly asking God to move in miraculous ways? We're encouraged to pray in a way that, when answered, could only be attributed to God's power. This message urges us to step out of our comfort zones and pray with audacity, believing in a God who can do the impossible. It's a call to align our prayers with God's perspective rather than our own self-centered desires.  Read More

In a world that often encourages us to blend in, there's a powerful call for believers to stand out—not through ostentatious displays, but through a quiet, unwavering boldness that stems from an unshakeable faith. This boldness isn't about being loud or confrontational; it's about living with a conviction so deep that it naturally influences our behavior and choices.The early Christian church was ...  Read More