>>> FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THE PROMISES OF YOUR WORD. I THANK YOU, GOD, THAT THEY STILL STAND, THE GOD OF JACOB, ISAIAH, IS THE GOD OF LIBERTY TONIGHT IN 2020. HE'S THE GOD OF THIS MOMENT. WE READ TONIGHT THAT YOUR GLORY COULD BE OUR REAR GUARD AND THAT THAT WOULD BE WHAT WE WOULD WANT WITH OUR LIFE. YOUR RE19, YOU BEING MADE MUCH OF, YOUR GLORY, GOD, WOULD BE OUR REAR GOD. I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD HIDE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS FROM WHAT WOULD BE MY OPINION AND THE THINGS THAT ARE ME WOULD QUICKLY BE FORGOTTEN. THE THINGS THAT ARE OF YOU HAVE LASTING IMPRESSION. LET US BE DOERS OF. WE PRAY THIS IN YOUR NAME, AMEN. SO WE'VE BEEN IN A SERIES, THIS BEING OUR THIRD WEEK CALLED DEEPER. THIS IDEA THAT THE DEEPEST PART OF US, LIKE IT SAYS IN PSALM FOR THE, HAS A LONGING FOR THE DEEPER PARTS OF GOD. THAT, GOD, WHEN WE COME TO HIM AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS, DOESN'T JUST GIVE US SALVATION, BUT HE ALSO GIVES US ACCESS TO SANCTIFICATION. THAT IS GOD ALLOWING US TO BECOME IN PRACTICE WHAT WE BECAME IN POSITION TO JUSTIFICATION. AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS WHEN GOD SAVES US WE INSTANTLY BECOME HIS. EVEN THOUGH WE'RE HIS, WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF THE GOING TO DO. WITH BECOME NEWBORN PEOPLE. IF ANYONE IS IN CHRIST, THE BIBLE SAYS, BEHOLD, HE IS A NEW CREATURE. WHEN GOD SAVES US WE INSTANTLY WALK INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. WE'RE IN THE KIDDIE AREA, THE SHALLOW SHORE, BUT GOD GIVES US ACCESS. NOT JUST TO BE SOMEBODY WHO IS A SHALLOW CHRISTIAN, BUT TO GO DEEPER AND DEEPER IN OUR WALK WITH HIM. THE DEEPEST PARTS OF US AS WE DEVELOP AND GROW ALL OF A SUDDEN HAS A GREATER EXPECTATION FOR DEEPER PARTS OF WHO HE IS. ISN'T IT AMAZING THAT GOD IN HIS CHRISTIANNESS WOULD GIVE US THAT KIND OF ACCESS TO HIM. WE TALKED LAST WEEK ABOUT HOW MEDITATION, THE IDEA OF MARE NATION, IS GOD GIVES US TO BE ABLE TO CROCK POT THE TRUTHS OF GOD. SLOW THINGS DOWN. THAT INWARD SPIRITUAL TOOL IS A LOT LIKE THE ONE WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS WEEK BECAUSE THIS WEEK WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT FASTING. THE INTERESTING THING IS WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS SERIES. NEXT WEEK WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PRAYER, ALMOST EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM WOULD LIFT THEIR HAND AND SAY I PRAYED ALREADY TODAY. WHEN WE NEXT WEEK TALKED ABOUT PRAYER AND I GOT UP HERE, HAVE YOU EVER PARADE, YOU GO I PRAYED JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE. I PRAY ALL THREE MEALS, I'M A COLLEGE STUDENT WHO IS ILL PREPARED FOR A LOT OF TESTS, I PRAY BEFORE TESTS, I PRAY ALL THE TIME. AS MUCH AS WE KNOW ABOUT PRAYER AND EXERCISING ANOTHER DISCIPLINE WE'LL STUDY IS BIBLE STUDY, BECOMING A STUDENT OF GOD'S WORD, THE TRUTH IS, MOST OF US ARE FAMILIAR WITH BIBLE STUDY AND FAMILIAR WITH PRAYER, BUT THINGS LIKE MEDITATION BECOME LAST FAMILIAR FOR US. WE HAVE TO RESCUE THAT FACT. OF ALL THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE, WHAT IS INTERESTING IS THE ONE THAT WILL BE LEAST EXERCISED IS THE ONE WE'LL TALK ABOUT TONIGHT, WHICH IS THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF FASTING. IF YOU WONDER WHY FAST -- FAST IS SUCH A RARE DISCIPLINE ON THE MENU BY GOD AS WAYS WE CAN KNOW HIM DEEPER. NINEED YOU KNOW THIS IS THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY AND THEY'RE WELL-KNOWN FOR TWO OR THREE ITEMS OUTSIDE OF CHEESECAKE. EVERYBODY GETS THOSE ITEMS EVERY TIME THEY GO THERE. THEY KNOW IN THE KITCHEN WE HAVE TO STOCK UP ON PASTA, SO THEY GET A LOT OF THAT. THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT DON'T GET ORDERED AS MUCH. THESE BELIEVE THAT FASTING IS ONE -- FASTING IS ONE OF THE OFFBEATEN PATHS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US AND IT SHOULDN'T BE THAT WAY. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS CERTAINLY EXERCISED IN SCRIPTURE. 64 DIFFERENT PEOPLE, A LOT MORE THAN 64 TIMES, BUT 64 CHARACTERS IN THE BIBLE FIND THEMSELVES FAST IN THE WORD OF GOD. LET'S START WITH THE LORD HIMSELF. JESUS FASTED IN HIS MINISTRY. MOSES FASTED BEFORE RECEIVING THE 10 DEMANDS. DAVID FASTED WHEN MOURNING HIS CHILD'S ILLNESS. EVERYWHERE HE WENT THERE WAS A MINEFIELD. THERE WAS TEMPTATION HERE, GOSSIP. HE KNEW IN THAT MOMENT, I BETTER HAVE MY WIFI ON, MY ANTENNA FULLY UP BY GOD. EZRA FASTED WHEN MOURNING OVER SIN. I JUST RELATE TO HIM SO MUCH IN MY LIFE. WHEN I READ THE STORY ANDNAIRETIVES I FIND MYSELF GOING ALL THE TIME I FEEL LIKE EZRA. HE WAS IN AN ENVIRONMENT, WHERE, HE SAID GOD FORGIVE ME. BEGIN WITH ME, SO WHEN EZRA WAS AWAKENED TO THE SIN THAT WAS AROUND HIM, HE FASTED WHILE MOURNING OVER SIN. ESTHER IS ONE OF THE GREATEST CHARACTERS IN ALL OF SCRIPTURE, BUT ESTHER SAID VERY FEW THINGS. PAUL WAS A MAN WHO SPOKE OUT A LOT. JESUS WAS. ESTTER WAS WISE AND GENTLE AS A DOVE. WISE ENOUGH TO KNOW WHEN TO SAY SOMETHING AND WHEN NOT TO SAY ANYTHING. ESTHER KNEW, NEVER MISS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SHUT UP. ESTHER KNEW AT THE END OF THE NIGHT WHAT IT FELT LIKE TO SAY MAN, I SHOULDN'T HAVE TALKED SO MUCH SO SHE KNEW HOW TO HOLD THINGS BACK, NOT TO BE DECEPTIVE. SHE KNEW WHEN GOD TOLD HER THIS IS YOUR MOMENT, SHE HAD THE WISDOM OF KNOWING I'M WAITING. EZRA KNEW SHE HAD TO BE THERE, IN THAT MOMENT OF GREAT AWARENESS SHE FASTED FOR HER PEOPLE. WHEN SHE KNEW IT WAS TIME TO BE BOLD, TO SPEAK, SHE SPOKE UP. DANIEL FASTED FOR AN ANSWER TO A SPECIFIC PRAYER. YOU SEE HOW DANIEL NEEDED NOT JUST PRAYERS THROWN OUT, CANNONBALL ABOUT ONE SPECIFIC THING. HE COMES TO GOD NOT TO SAY I FASTED, GOD, SO NOW YOU GOT TO ANSWER, I FASTED SO MAKE SURE I DON'T MISS YOU. SO DAMAGE FASTED FOR -- FASTED FOR A SPECIFIC ANSWER. ED PAUL FASTED IN THE WAKE OF HIS CONVERSION. HE BECOMES A BELIEVER. THIS IS NOT LATER ON WHEN PAUL IS THE GREAT THEOLOGIAN THAT WROTE A FOURTH OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. THIS IS IN THE BEGINNINGS OF HIS LIFE. WHEN HE BECOMES THE GUY THAT WRITES COLOSSIANS. NO, THIS IS BABY PAUL. HE JUST GOT SAVED AS A BABY STEP, AS A NURSING STEP, LIKE MATURING BEGINNING OUT THE SHOOT STEP, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS HE DOES AS A BELIEVER IS HE FASTEST. HE KNOWS THAT THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL WAY FOR HIM TO NOT GET AHEAD OF HIMSELF. SEE WHEN WE FAST IRONICALLY WE SLOW DOWN. WHEN WE FAST IRONICALLY WE DON'T GET AHEAD OF OURSELVES. SO PAUL EVEN AS A BABY BELIEVER HAD THE MATURITY TO KNOW THAT IN THE WAKE OF HIS CONVERSION HE FASTED. HOW UNAMERICAN. CAN YOU IMAGINE YOU GO TO YOUR LOCAL CHURCH IN AMERICA, THE FIRST THING WE TELL THEM IS WELCOME TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR 40-DAY FASTING PLAN. BECAUSE THE REALITY IS IN THE AMERICAN CULTURE OF CHRISTIANITY, WE SEE FASTING AS A TOOL FOR THE MATURE, NOT FASTING AS A MEAN TOWARDS MATURITY. FASTING IS WHAT DEEP PEOPLE DO. NOT WHAT DEEPER PEOPLE, TOO. THE ENEMY WILL THINK THAT IS WAY TOO DRASTIC OF A THING. FOR THE PEOPLE THAT TEACH IN OUR SCHOOL OF DIVINITY. WHERE DEEP THINKERS LIKE TROY, WHO RUNS OUR SCHOOL OF DIVINITY. GREAT MEN OF GOD WHO MEMORIAL RISES SCRIPTURE. PASTORS, SPECIAL GUESTS WHO COME, BETH MOOREs OF THE WORLD. OR SOMEBODY LIKE BILLY GRAHAM OR FRANKLIN GRAHAM. WE THINK HE IS FASTING FOR SPIRITUAL GIANTS, NOT FASTING AS A WAY TO GROW, BUT IT'S FOR THOSE WHO ALREADY GROW. AND PAUL REMINDS US IN THE VERY WAKE, IN THE BEGINNING MOMENTS OF HIS FAITH THAT WE NEED TO BE FASTING. THE ELDERS IN ANTIOCH FASTING TO SEND OUT MISSIONS. FASTING IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF CHRISTIAN GROWTH, A PART OF YOU AND I PRAYING FOR OTHERS, PRAYING FOR SOMEONE IN OUR OWN LIVES. SO PASSES IS A GIFT FROM GOD THAT MOST OF US DON'T PICK OFF THE MENU. I'LL TAKE IT ONE STEP FURTHER. IT IS A SIN TO NOT FAST BECAUSE FAUCETTING IS NOT A SUGGESTION IN THE BIBLE, BUT A COMMAND. I LOVE THIS. WE'RE NOT GOING TO SPEND A TON OF TIME ON THIS BECAUSE NEXT WEEK'S TEXT IS OUT OF THE BIG CERTIFY -- SERMON ON THE MOUNT. I LOVE WHEN JESUS IS TALKING ABOUT FASTING HE'S ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT THREE DIFFERENT THINGS HE DOESN'T TEE IT UP BY PRAYING IF YOU FAST OR IF YOU PRAY OR IF YOU GIVE. HE SAYS WHEN. WHEN YOU FAST DON'T BE LIKE THE HYPOCRITES WHO FAST TO SEE IF THEY CAN GET THEIR OWN EARTHLY REWARD. WHEN, NOT IF. FASTING IS NOT A SUGGESTION FROM GOD. IT IS A PRESUMPTION. FOR GOD TO LOOK AT THE PEOPLE OF GOD. GOD PRESUMES IF YOU ARE A CHILDREN OF GOD THIS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU GO THAT IS FOR SOME PEOPLE, NOT FOR ME. I'VE GIVEN YOU MEDITATION, FOR ALL MY PEOPLE. WORSHIP, FOR ALL MY PEOPLE. WE'VE BEEN IN HERE THIS MORNING AND WE DID A CONVOCATION AT 10:30 AND 3:30 AND THIS THING TONIGHT AND HE LOOKS VERY DIFFERENT IN THE WAY WE LED WORSHIP, BUT IT WAS STILL WORSHIP. WE HAD 74-YEAR-OLDS IN HERE AT 3:30 IN THE AFTERNOON. THEIR WORSHIP MIGHT NOT LOOK AS LOUD OR CONTEMPORARY AS YOURS, BUT IT'S WORSHIP. THE CALL ISN'T ONE STYLE VERSUS THE OTHER. WHAT REALLY MATTERS IS WE ASCRIBE TO GOD GRATEFULNESS AND THANKSGIVING. IT CAN BE HAND BILLS AT RIVER MONTH PRESBYTERIAN OR LIKE CHARLES, BRINGING IT. IT GOD SAYSED I WANT WORSHIP TO BE SOMETHING THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US DO. MAYBE YOU'RE IN OLD HYMNS. DON'T JUDGE SOMEBODY WHO SAYS I REALLY PREFER THIS SONG, I'VE SEEN THEM, I WANT TO SEE HIM MOVE AGAIN. IT'S NOT A SUGGESTION FROM GOD. THESE ARE NOT SUGGESTIONS FROM GOD, THEY'RE COMMANDING FROM GOD, GIFTS FROM GOD. THEY'RE NOT THINGS WE GOT TO DO. THEY'RE THINGS WE GET TO DO. WE GET TO FAST. WE GET TO, BUT SADLY WE DON'T. LET ME DEFINE THAT. FAST IS HOLY DEPRIVATION. KEYWORD THERE, HOLY. EDED DRAWING US NEAR IN STEP WITH THE HEART BOAT OF GOD. THAT WILL BE WHAT WE GO TO. EVERYTHING ABOUT FASTING HAS A TWO-HEADED PRONG. IT IT'S REALLY ONE CREATING A RESULT OF THE OTHER. IT'S A DEFAULT CONSEQUENCE. EVERYTHING ABOUT FASTING IS GETTING WITH GOD AND 13 GETTING FOR GOD. GETTING NEAR GOD, INSTEAD WITH THE HEARTBEAT OF GOD. RICHARD FOSTER, HUNDREDS OF US HAVE BEEN READING HIS BOOK. HE SAID THE CENTRAL IDEA IN FASTING IS THE VOLUNTARY DENIAL OF AN OTHERWISE NORMAL FUNCTION FOR THE SAKE OF INTENSE SPIRITUAL ACTIVITY. LET ME DEFINE THAT. FASTING ISN'T WHAT YOU DO ABOUT SIN. THE BIBLE DOESN'T SAY THAT YOU SHOULD FAST FROM SIN. THAT THAT IS NOT NORMAL ACTIVITY FOR A CHRISTIAN. THAT IS ABNORMAL ACTIVITY FOR A CHRISTIAN. IF YOU'RE SIN IS AS A CHRISTIAN GOD MADE YOU A SAINT AND YOU'RE ACTING IN OPPOSITION OF YOUR IDENTITY. WHEN YOU'RE BEING A SINNER, GOD MADE YOU THE LEAST OF THE SAINTS. SO THE NORMAL THING, BY THE WAY, I KNOW IT SOUNDS ABNORMAL TO BE BEAT, IT'S ABNORMAL TO BE SHALLOW, TO BE DISTRICT OBEDIENT. IT'S NORMAL TO BE OBEDIENT TO GOD. IT'S NOT WE'RE SITTING AND WE GOT TO FAST FROM IT. YOU DON'T FAST FOR 40 DAYS, ME AND MY GIRLFRIEND ARE GOING TO STOP HAVING SEX. IF YOU'RE HAVING SEX YOU DON'T FAST FOR 40 DAYS. THAT IS SIN. YOU THROUGH OFF AND RUN AWAY FROM. YOU DON'T FAST FROM SIN. THIS IS NOT UNGODLY. IT'S NOT LIKE SIN FOR YOU TO WATCH TELEVISION, A SIN FOR YOU TO HAVE AN INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT. WE'LL THROUGH ANYTHING WE LIVE IN THIS WORLD TO BE A SIN. IT'S NOT A SIN TO BE ATHLETIC, A SIN TO BE ABOUT ALL THINGS THESE. IT'S A SIN TO MAKE THEM AN IDOL. IT'S NOT A SIN TO EAT FOOD, TO ENJOY A CHEESEBURGER CHEESEBURGER, BUT WHEN WE FAST WE'RE GIVING UP SOMETHING THAT IS NOT A SIN, BUT SOMETHING THAT GOD ALLOWS SO THAT WE CAN -- IN FASTING, DON'T MISS THIS, IN FASTING WE'RE OPENING UP A SPACE FOR GREATER FEASTING. IN FASTING, WE'RE OPENING UP A SPACE IN THAT NEGATIVE SPACE, ALL RIGHT, SO WHEN WE FAST WE ALLOWS OUR APPETITE FOR GREATER CONCENTRATION. FASTING IS SPIRITUAL CONCENTRATION. IT'S HEIGHTENING OUR AWARENESS WITH GOD. WHEN WE FAST, I LOVE THIS, WE INTERRUPT THE ORDINARY. WE INTERRUPT THE ORDER IN ORDER TO INVITE THE EXTRA ORDINARY. NOW ANYBODY HERE WATCHING LIVE, I KNOW THERE ARE THOUSANDS WATCHING LIVE, WE WOULDN'T GET YOU HERE, I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL WE GET BACK IN THE VINE CENTER, ANYBODY ELSE WATCHING, HOW MANY OF YOU AS A CHRISTIAN WANT AN ORDINARY CHRISTIAN LIFE? THAT IS NOT BAD. NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT. HOW MANY OF YOU GO, IF IT WERE ORDINARY VERSUS EXTRA ORDINARY, I WANT EXTRA. IN FASTING WE ENDS INTERRUPT THE ORDINARY. THE ORDINARY IN ORDER TO INVITE THE EXTRAORDINARY. WE INTERRUPT IN FASTING, FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE'RE ASKING GOD FOR REVIVAL, LIKE, GOD, YOU HAVE MOVED IN MY HULL, YOU ARE ALIVE IN MY HULL. GOD, YOU'RE SAVING IN HIGH HULL. THE LAST THREE WEDNESDAY NIGHTS IN A ROW, ALMOST EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT I HAVE GONE TO BED OR WOKEN UP THE NEXT MORNING WITH TEXTS FROM SOME OF YOU THAT YOU LED A ROOMMATE TO THE LORD. ALMOST EVERY WEEK I HEAR ABOUT SOMEBODY WHO GETS SAVED. WHAT WOULD IT LOOKS LIKE TO WAKE UP AND WE HEAR 350 STUDENTS GOT SAVED. A WORSHIP NIGHT STARTED AND HADN'T STOPPED. WHAT WOULD IT LOOKS LIKE FOR US TO SEE REVIVAL, NOT JUST THE PRESENCE OF GOD, BUT THE SPECIAL PRESENCE OF GOD. FASTING BEGINS TO MOTIVATE OUR HEART TOWARDS SOMETHING LIKE THAT. IT'S NOT THAT WE ARE MANIPULATING GOD, THAT WE'RE BARTERING WITH GOD. IF WE START MISSING A FEW MEALS WE'RE GOING TO BACK YOU INTO A CORNER. WE'RE DOING THIS FOR YOU SO YOU GOT TO DO THIS FOR US. NO. NOT TO EARN HIS LOVE, EARN HIS SPECIAL FAVOR, FALL DOWN, BUT INSTEAD TO SAY WE JUST LONG FOR IT. ANYBODY WANT TO BE AROUND PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BE AROUND JESUS? FASTING SAYS I WELCOME YOUR SPECIAL PRESENCE IN MY LIFE. THE BOOK THAT ACTUALLY AFFECTED ME IS IN IN FASTING, THE ENTIRE PLEA IS FASTING AROUSE THE APPETITE, THE LONGING FOR GOD, AND GOD IS SAYING TO YOU THERE'S SOMETHING DEEP KNEW THAT WANTS THE DEEP EGGS PARTS OF GOD. FASTING HAS MANY SECONDARY RE-- REWARDS. S WE'RE ASKING GOD TO REALIGN SOME OF WHAT WE'RE DOING. IN THAT, WE FAST AND WE GET ROW INTOAL. PRESIDENT PREVO AND HIS WIFE ARE WITH US. CAN WE THANK THEM FOR BEING HERE? WHERE ARE YOU? [ APPLAUSE ] YOU'RE HERE SOMEWHERE. THERE YOU ARE. I LOVE YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. THEY HAVE BEEN HOSTING ALL DAY. I THOUGHT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO COME TONIGHT. THEY'VE HAD SOME CAFFEINE AND THEY'RE HERE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. HE SAID TO OUR FACULTY AND STAFF, HE SAID ONE OF THE REASONS GOD BROUGHT ME TO THIS PLACE TOSS REALIGN SPIRITUAL -- THE SPIRITUAL OF TEMPERATURE, REALIGN THE SPIRITUAL FER VENUE SEE OF THIS. THAT IS RENEWAL. HE SAID THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS I TOOK THIS. WHEN HE SAID THAT I THOUGHT RENEWAL IS A GOOD THING. REALIGNMENT IS A A GI -- GOOD THING. AMEN. IT'S NOT A BASH ON WHAT GOD IS ALREADY DOING. I LOVE WHAT YOU'RE DOING, BUT I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU COULD BE DOING, WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE US NEXT. IF THERE IS ANYTHING HINDERING US FROM ALL WE CAN BE, WE WANT THAT OUT OF THE WAY. IF YOU'RE THERE, GIVES GIVES IT. I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT IS A SECONDARY, A RESULT, THAT IS A SECONDARY PART OF WHAT FASTING GIVES US. IT'S ALSO REALIGNMENT, ALSO RECEPTION. I KNOW THAT SOUNDS WEIRD, BUT I WANTED TO PUT SOME WORDS IN THERE. LET ME EXPLAIN THAT. RECEPTION WHEN SOMETIMES YOU'RE IN A VALLEY AND I'M NOT GETTING MY BARS THAT IS NOT HEARING FROM GOD. ANYBODY EVER PRAY, AND PRAY, GOD, AM I HITTING THE CEILING, ARE YOU EVEN HEARING ME? MAYBE SOMEBODY TONIGHT IN THIS STADIUM YOU LOOK TO YOUR LEFT AND RIGHT AND SOMEONE JUST RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU THEY ARE GOING AFTER GOD. ALL OVER YOU THEY'RE SINGING, THEY'RE ALSO CRYING. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT A SWEET PRECIOUS 19-YEAR-OLD LADY. A JOCK. I'M CRYING. WHY AM I NOT FEELING IT. HAVE YOU EVER GONE THROUGH THOSE DRY SEASONS WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE I'M NOT HEARING FROM GOD? SOMETIMES WE GOT CLOGGED UP WITH DISTINCTIONS. WE NEED BETTER RECEPTION. GUESS WHAT GOD GIVES US AS A SECONDARY GIFT. HE GIVES US CLEARER RECEPTION. THAT IS A GOOD THING. AS GOOD AS RENEWAL AND REALIGNMENT AND RECEPTION ARE, THE PRIMARY AGE IS INTIMACY. IT'S NOT I'M DOING SOME REALIGNING, I'M GETTING WITH YOU, SO MY DAD WILL GET SAVED. I'M NOT GETTING WITH YOU TO GET FROM YOU. I'M GETTING WITH YOU BECAUSE I WANT TO BE WITH YOU. INTIMACY. THAT IS THE PRIMARY GIFT THAT GOD GIVES US IN FASTING. LEVI, WHO IS GOING TO BE WITH US THIS SEMESTER, LEVI IS GOING TO COME AND DO WEDNESDAY MORNING CONVO FOR US AND THEN WEDNESDAY NIGHT WITH US, HE SAID THIS, IN FASTING, WE SEE THE UNSEEN. IN FASTING, WE SEE THE UNSEEN. WHAT I LOVE IS YOU SHOULD READ HIS WRITINGS ABOUT THIS. WHAT HE SAYS IS WHAT I MEAN BY I SEE THE UNSEEN ISN'T THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN SOMETHING THAT WASN'T VISIBLE BECOMES VISIBLE. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT ALL OF A SUDDEN BECOMES NOTICEABLE. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? MY WIFE JENNIFER IS HERE. WHERE ARE YOU, SWEETHEART? SHE'S RIGHT THERE, THAT ROW ALL THE WAY AT THE END BEFORE MAN, I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, I HAVE NO ONE IN MY LIFE THAT I KNOW BETTER THAN JENNIFER NASSER AND NO ONE, NO ONE IN THIS WORLD KNOWS ME BETTER THAN JENNIFER NASSARER. SHE CAN TELL YOU NOT JUST WHAT I DID, BUT WHAT I'M PROBABLY GOING TO DO. SHE CAN WALK TO A RESTAURANT AND LOOK AT THE MENU HE'S GOING TO GET THIS, BUT HE'S GOING TO SAY, PLEASE TAKE OUT THIS AND DO THIS. SHE CAN TELL YOU SO MANY THINGS. SHE CAN FINISH MY STENTS FOR ME. SHE KNOWS ME AI KNOW HER. WE HAVE JUST BEGUN, JUST BEGUN TO REALLY GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER. THE FIRST TIME WE EVER WENT ON A DATE, I REMEMBER WE DIDN'T EVEN HOLD HANDS. WE WERE ON A DATE, SO WE WERE JUST TALKING, LIKE TALKING ABOUT JESUS AND GOD AND ABOUT THESE THINGS, GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER. I HADN'T EARNED THE RIGHT TO HOLD HER HAND. SECOND DONATED, I DON'T THINK I EVEN HELD HER HAND. THIRD DATE I WENT FOR IT. WE WERE SITTING SOMEWHERE AND I WENT -- PINKY. I WAS LIKE PINKY. I GOT LIKE TWO MINUTES OF PINKY CLICK. IT WAS AWESOME. [ LAUGHTER ] >> IT WAS AWESOME. I WAS SO NERVOUS, SHE'S GOING TO BE LIKE POW. SHE DIDN'T. I WENT LIKE THIS. I WAS LIKE PINKY AHH P. [ LAUGHTER ] CAN I TELL YOU THIS? I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH, I'VE LEARNED THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF LAUGHTER. THE FIRST TIME I HEARD HER LAUGH. THAT IS A COOL LAUGH. A REALLY WEIRD LAUGH WOULD BE A HUGE HURDLE FOR ME. YOU COULD BE GODLY, GORGEOUS. IF YOU'RE SITTING THERE, TELLING ME THE BIBLE FROM MEMORY AND YOU'RE LIKE -- [ LAUGHTER ] LAKESHORE. >> I HAVE A FRIEND YOU SHOULD DATE. ANYBODY ELSE? I ACTUALLY WOULDN'T BE THAT WAY. I WAS FISHING YOU OUT. YOU NEED TO GO DEEPER. ANYWAY, FIRST TIME I HEARD HER LAUGH THAT IS SUCH AN AMAZING LAUGH. HER SMILE IS INSANE. SHE'S GOT GREAT TEETH. THANK GOD FOR MY IN-LAWS. THEY SPENT MONEY GETTING THOSE BRACES. GREAT TEETH. SHE LITERALLY JUST HAD HER FIRST CAVITY. I'M JUST TELLING YOU SHE'S GOT GREAT HYGIENE, GREAT TEETH, GREAT SMILE. NOW I DON'T KNOW HER SMILE, I KNOW HER FAKE SMILE, HERE REAL SMILE. I KNOW HER THAT IS REALLY FUNNY LAUGH, I KNOW HER THAT IS BEING POLITE LAUGH. SHE HAS 20 DIFFERENT KINDS OF LAUGHS AND I KNOW WHAT ONE IS COMING OUT AT ONE MOMENT. WE'RE IN A DEEP RELATIONSHIP, WHERE YEAR AFTER-YEAR AFTER-YEAR AFTER-YEAR AFTER-YEAR AFTER-YEAR AFTER-YEAR AFTER-YEAR AFTER YEAR WE HAVE BEEN RIGHT IN THIS INDEPENDENT MET RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER. FIRST TEAM I SAW HER SHE'S BLONDE. I LOVE BOND. JUNGLE FEVER. I WAS SO EXCITED. NOW THAT I KNOW HER SHE'S NOT JUST A BLONDE. IF YOU WENT AND YOU LOOKED AT HER HAIR, IT'S NOT BLONDE. IT'S A MILLION SHADES OF BOND. IF YOU LOOKED AT HER HAIR, LOOKED REALLY, REALLY CLOSE, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED, DON'T BE A CREEP, IF I COULD GET YOU A ZOOM CAMERA. IT'S NOT JUST BLOBBED THE WAY GOT CREDENTIAL IT. IT'S DIFFERENT SHADES OF BOND. ONE NIGHT SHE WAS SLEEPING, THIS WAS A COUPLE YEARS AGO. NOT IN THE HOUSE WE'RE IN NOW, BUT THE HOUSE BEFORE, THE WAY OUR BATHROOM LIGHT -- WAS ALWAYS LEFT ON, SO WE WOULDN'T TRIPLE UP IN THE NIGHT IF WE GOT UP, THE LIGHT WAS GLISTENING OFF HER FOREHEAD. I WAS LAYING THERE, I WOKE UP, I CAN'T BELIEVE I GET TO BE MARRIED TO THIS AMAZING WOMAN. SO I WAS JUST LOOKING AT HER AND I'M JUST STARING AND I NOTICED HER BOND HAIR. I WAS LIKE THIS IS AMAZING. I GOT A LITTLE CLOSER. IT WAS BOUNCING OFF HER FOREHEAD. I WAS LIKE OH MY GOODNESS. WOW. AS I WAS STARING AT IT, ALL OF A SUDDEN I NOTICE SOMETHING ABOUT HER TEMPLE. HER TEMPLE HEARTBEAT IS GOING -. [ UTTERANCE ] ALL OF A SUDDEN I COULD SEE MY HEART BEAT ON HER TEMPLE. I WENT CLOSER AND CLOSER. AS I WAS STARING AT HER I REALIZED IT WASN'T JUST BEATING. IT WAS LIKE BEATING TO LIKE QUEEN BEE. ♪ [ SINGING ] ♪ IT WASN'T THAT. I WAS LOOKING. SHE WOKE UP. WHAT ARE YOU DOING. I WAS LIKE I LOVE YOU. [ LAUGHTER ] I DIDN'T DO THAT. [ LAUGHTER ] BUT AS I'M TELLING YOU THIS, HOW MANY OF YOU COLLEGE LADIES ARE GOING I WANT TO MARRY A MAN WHO I'LL WAKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT STARING AT MY FOREHEAD. CAN I SAY THIS? YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE SOMEONE IN YOU WANTS SOMEONE WHO WANTS INTIMACY IN A RELATIONSHIP. IT GOD CRAFTED THAT DESIRE IN YOU. WHEN IT'S HOLY IT'S BEAUTIFUL. WHAT IF I SAID THE SAME SCENARIO. YOU KNOW, KEVIN FROM THE WORSHIP COLLECTIVE, HE'S ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS. THE OTHER NIGHT I WAS STARING AT HIS FOREHEAD. WHAT AM I SAYING? INAPPROPRIATE, APPROPRIATE. INTIMACY. INTERTHE COVENANT OF GOD. YOU'RE LIKE ARE YOU KIDDING? I AM KIDDING. THE REASON I'M TELLING YOU THIS AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS HE DOESN'T JUST BRING YOU SALVATION. HE SAYS CALL TO ME AND I WILL ANSWER YOU. ISN'T IT BEAUTIFUL THAT THE GOD OF THIS UNIVERSE WANTS YOU TO KNOW THE MOST INTIMATE PARTS OF HIM. : GOD OF THIS UNIVERSE WANTS YOU TO SEE WHERE HIS HEART BEATS. NOT IN THE LOUDEST PLACES, NOT IN THE MOST OBVIOUS PLACES, NOT WHEN HE'S RUNNING WILD AND ANYONE CAN HEAR HIS HEARTBEAT. ANYONE CAN FEEL A PULSE AFTER SOMEONE HAS JOGGING. ANYONE CAN HEAR GOD WHEN HE'S FLEXING HIS BIG MUSCLES AND HE'S MOVING SOMETHING. SO GRAND. WHAT DOES IT LOOKS LIKE FOR US TO BE SO INTIMATE WITH GOD THAT WE DON'T MISS HIS WHISTLE PERCENT, WE DON'T MISS HIS HEARTBEAT. AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE POUNDING FOR US TO GRAB IT. GOD GIVES US THAT. LET'S READ THAT AGAIN. IN FASTING, LEVI SAID, WE SEE THE UNSEEN. THE THINGS THAT WERE HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT, BUT AVAILABLE TO US THROUGH SPIRITUAL CONCENTRATION. ONE MORE THING. IN FASTING, IN FASTING, WHAT HAPPENS IS IT'S ALL ABOUT THE VERTICAL WITH GOD AND INTIMACY WITH GOD. IN FASTING, THE PROOF, THE PROOF OF SOMEONE WHO IS INTERNET -- INTIMATE WITH GOD IS SOMEONE WHO IS KIND FOR GOD. THE VERTICAL ASPECTS OF FASTING HAD A HORIZONTAL EFFECT. YOU WILL FOOL YOURSELF IF YOU SAY I AM DEEP WITH GOD, BUT YET I'M COLD WITH OTHERS. COLD WITH OTHERS. I'M SENSITIVE TO GOD, BUT I'M INSENSITIVE TO GOD'S PEOPLE. THAT IS WHY THE PASSAGE THAT WAS READ FOR US TONIGHT IS SUCH A MOMENT WHEN GOD IN LOVE AND IN MERCY IS CONFRONTING, IN AN ACT OF LOVE, LOVE IS WHEN GOD LOVES US ENOUGH TO TELL US THE TRUTH EVEN THOUGH IT'S HARD TRUTH WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR. GOD SAYS LOOK, I LOVE YOU AND IN VERSES 3 TO 56 HE'S SAYING I KNOW YOU'RE THINKING WHY IS THIS NOT WORKING, WE'RE DOING A LOT OF RELIGIOUS, FERVENT ACTIVITY. GOD SAYS I LOVE YOU, BUT YOU KNOW IT'S NOT WORKING, RIGHT, BECAUSE YOU'RE DOING THE RIGHT THINGS, YOU'RE FASTING, YOU'RE MEMORIZING SCRIPTURES, YOU'RE DOING ALL THE RIGHT THINGS FOR YOUR WRONG REASON. INTENT. RESULTS IN HORIZONTAL EFFECT. LET'S LOOK AT IT. IT IS NOT THE KIND OF FASTING I HAVE CHOSEN TO LOOSEN THE CHAINS OF INJUSTICE AND UNTIE THE CORDS OF THE YOKE, TO SET THE OPPRESSED FREE AND BREAK EVERY YOKE, IS IT NOT TO SHARE YOUR FOOD WITH THE HUNGRY? I LOVE HOW THE PROPHET ISAIAH IS BEING A MOUTHPIECE FOR GOD. HE'S REMINDING US WHEN YOU'RE REALLY GETTING INTIMATE TO GOD, YOU KNOW WHAT IT MAKES YOU TO OTHER PEOPLE? CARING. A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE GET A LOT OF INFORMATION. THE THEOLOGY AND INFORMATION MAKES YOU FEEL HAUGHTY THAT IS THE OPENS AT THIS TIME EFFECT. THE FASTING MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER THAN THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT FASTING IN THE NEXT 40 DAYS, IF IT MAKES YOU FEEL SUPERIOR, THAT IS THE OPPOSITE EFFECT OF WHAT HAPPENED. WHEN YOU'RE FASTING YOU'RE AWARE OF YOUR OWN DEPRAVITY MORE THAN YOU EVER HAVE. YOU DON'T TAKE THE BIBLE AND BEAT PEOPLE UP WITH IT. YOU TAKE THE BIBLE AND YOU LOVE POEM WITH IT. YOU DON'T WEAPONIZED SPIRITUALITY. INSTEAD, YOU USE AS A FEW WELL IN YOUR LIFE. THAT IS A TRIGGER WORD. THAT IS LIKE SOME OF THE LEANING PEOPLE USE IN THE SOCIAL JUSTICE WORLD. I WANT TO PURPOSELY BRING THAT BEFORE YOU BECAUSE I WANT TO BE REALLY, REALLY CLEAR AND TELL YOU THAT THIS VERSE IS NOT ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE. IT'S NOT ABOUT IF YOU'RE GODLY, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE YOU PUT A WELL WHERE THERE'S NO CLEAN WATER TO DRINK. YOU PUT WHERE THERE IS HUNGRY FOOL. WHEN THERE IS AND/OR NEGLIGENCE IN, YOU PUT ONE IN. THAT IS NOT THE GOSPEL. BY THE WAY, PEOPLE ARE INTO NEED OF A WATER WELL. WE'RE GOING TO BRING SCOTT HARRISON IN FROM CHARITY WATER. HE'LL TALK TO ABOUT THE PREEMINENT LOWERED IN THE WORLD TO BRING WATER TO KIDS BECAUSE THEY'RE DYING BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE CLEAN WATER. IT'S NOT GOSPEL. IT'S CONNECTED THE NEED OF CONNECTING PEOPLE TO ETERNAL NULL TRUTH. SO WE CAN TELL THEM JESUS IS LIVING WATER. IT'S ABOUT COMING TO A POOR PERSON WHO IS HUNGRY AND BRINGING THEM FOOD. IF ALL WE DO IS GIVE THEM FOOD THEN WE'RE MEETING THEIR MOMENTARY NEED. THAT IS JOSH SOCIAL JUSTICE. WE SEE SOMEBODY WHO IS HUNGRY AND THEY'RE HUNGRY. BY THE WAY, 36,000 PEOPLE TODAY, TODAY, 36,000 PEOPLE TODAY WILL DIE OF STARVATION IN THIS WORLD. THAT IS AN AVERAGE DAY. MAYBE WE'RE HAVING A BETTER DAY. I HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE NUMBERS. MAYBE TODAY IS A REALLY GOOD TODAY. MAYBE IT'S THE WORST DAY AND WE HAD 41,000. ON AVERAGE THIS YEAR, BELOVED, 36,000 PEOPLE WILL DIE OF STARVATION. THAT IS ON OUR WATCH. I KNOW SOMEBODY IS SAYING THAT IS SOCIAL JUSTICE BECAUSE THEY CAN STILL BE FED AND GO TO HELL. I KNOW. YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAR OF PEOPLE TO FIGURE THAT OUT BEFORE A LOT OF US ARE WELL FED AND YOU'RE HEADED TO HELL. SOME OF YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT ARE WEALTHY, NOT PHYSICALLY WEALTHY, THEY HAVE MANY CARS AND MANY HOMES. ALL OF THAT IS STILL MAKING THEM TOO DRUNK WITH POWER AND GLUT REFOR POWER, BUT THEY'RE STILL STAR STRING FOR TRUTH. PHYSICAL STARVATION, 36,000 PEOPLE WILL DIE TODAY OF STARVATION. IT TAKES AWHILE TO DIE OF STARVATION. YOU DON'T JUST DON'T EAT FOR A WEEK AND DIE OF STARVATION. YOU HAVE TO NOT EAT AND NOT EAT AND NOT EAT. YOUR BODY BEGINS TO TURN ON ITSELF, NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DRINK. EVEN WHEN SOMEBODY GIVES YOU FOOD YOUR BODY IS ALREADY BEGINNING THE RAPID DEATH. YOU KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE YOU EVENTUALLY BREATHING YOUR LAST DEATH INTO STARVATION? I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU WHAT DOES IT DO TO YOU WHEN I SAY 36,000 PEOPLE TODAY WILL DIE OF STARVATION. DOES YOU GO THAT IS JUST SAD OR DO YOU GO IT BREAKS THE HEART OF GOD AND, SO THEN IT BREAKS MY HEART. I WANT TO BE AN ANSWER TO THAT. NOT SO WE CAN MEET THEIR TEMPORARY NEED. MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE DYING OF STARVATION ROUND THE WORLD TODAY WILL NOT TAKE US SERIOUSLY WHEN WE SAY JESUS IS THE BREAD OF LIFE. THE WAY YOU EARN THE RIGHT TO SAY JESUS IS THE ETERNAL LIFE IS, IS WHEN YOU SAY I CARE ABOUT YOU NOW. GOSPEL GOSPEL IS I'M GOING TO STEP IN YOUR LIFE, MEET YOUR PHYSICAL -- YOU KNOW WHO DOES THAT BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE LIVE IN THE WORLD TODAY? OUR GUEST. FRANKLIN GRAHAM IS LITERALLY THE WORLD LOWERED IN THE BIGGEST ORGANIZATION CALLED SAMARITAN'S PURSE. IF YOU GO DAY-TO-DAY AND CHECK OUT WHAT THEY DO, THEY ARE FEEDING THE STARVING PEOPLE. DROPPING IN, DOING CLEFT PALLET SURGERY, THEY'RE WALKING IN AND DOING SURGEONS WITH CLINICS, BUILDING CLONE WATER WELLS. THEY ARE CONSTANTLY DOING THAT. DO YOU KNOW WHY THEY'RE OUR NUMBER WON PARTNER? SOME OF YOU MAY NOT LIKE HIS STYLE BECAUSE HE'S NOT COOL AND HIP WITH SKINNY JEANS OR WHATEVER. THE REASON WE PARTNER WITH THEM, WHEN THERE IS PROBABLE TROUBLE, ALL THE FIRES IN CALIFORNIA, WE HAVE GONE WITH THEM THERE AND WE WEAK INTO A HOUSE WHERE EVERYTHING IS GONNA FIRE. WE LOOK FOR THE FAMILY, DIG FOR THE ASHES TO FIND THE ONE LITTLE RING THAT MADE IT THROUGH THE FIRE. WE GIVE IT TO THEM WITH A BIBLE. IN THAT MOMENT IF GOD ALLOWS WE SHARE THAT BIBLE. EVERY SLIP WE DO WITH SAMARITAN'S PURSE, THEY ARE THE ONES EQUIPPING US TO SHARE THE GOSPEL. WE PULL A WHOLE LOT OF MILDEW CARPET OUT OF THEIR HOUSE. MOLD IS ON THEM. WE SERVE THEM AND WE SERVE AND WE SERVE. WE'RE JUST LOOKING FOR EYE CONTACT. SOMEONE SAYS WHY ARE YOU TAKING A BEAK OUT OF YOUR SCHOOL TO GO DO THIS? THANKS FOR ASKING. BECAUSE JESUS CHRIST IS LORD. SO A LOT OF US WILL NEVER BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY ABOUT THE ETERNAL POWER OF THE GOSPEL WHEN WE DON'T CARE ABOUT THE TEMPORARY THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AROUND US. I JUST WANT TO GO BACK AND SAY 36,000 PEOPLE TODAY WILL TIE OF STARVATION. I'M NOT A SOCIAL JUST PERSON. I'M A GOSPEL GOSPEL PERSON. THEIR BELLY GROAN WILL DRIVE OUT OUR BIBLE VERSES UNTIL WE WALK INTO THEIR LIFE. THERE ARE 183 MILLION ORPHANS TONIGHT WHO DON'T HAVE A MOM, DAD, A PLACE TO CALL HOME. ANYBODY TODAY THAT? 182,000 -- 183 MILLION PEOPLE DON'T. IT THERE IS NO SALVATION IN BEING AN AMERICAN. IT'S A GREAT COUNTRY, ISSUING MA, TRUST ME, BUT IT'S A HORRIBLE GOD. THERE'S NO SALVATION IN BEING HERE. WHAT DO WE GET? WHEN WE COME INTO THEIR LIVES AND SAY WE'RE GOING TO STEP IN YOUR LIFE, ADOPT YOU AND BRING YOU INTO OUR HOME. WE'RE GOING TO SAY THIS IS NOTHING, BUT AN EARTHLY PICTURE, AND NORTHWESTERN ETERNAL PICTURE THAT YOU CAN BE ADOPTED INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD, SO THAT CHILD WILL TAKE MORE CEASE WHEN WE SAY HOW GREAT IS THE LOVE OF THE FATHER THAT YOU COULD BE CALLED THE CHILDREN OF GOD. THAT CHILD WILL TAKE IT MORE CEASE WHEN YOU BLING THAT CHILD HOME. YOU THINK THIS IS COOL, YOU HAD NOWHERE TO LIVE, YOU THINK I'M A DECENT DAD? WAIT UNTIL YOU REACH YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER. WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE WHAT GOD PREPARED FOR YOU. NOBODY IS SAYING THAT IS GOSPEL. A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN ADOPT SOMEBODY AND GIVE THEM ALL THOSE THINGS ANT SHOULDN'T HAVE ETERNAL EFFECT. SHOULDN'T WE AS BELIEVERS TAKE THIS AND SAY GOD SAYS I KNOW YOU'RE FASTING AND SINGING AND PRAYING, ALL OF THAT STUFF IS REAL, IT MAKES YOU GO IF THERE IS INJUSTICE GOING ON, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE INJUSTICE TO ME TO AFFECT ME. IT CAN BE INJUSTICE AROUND ME AND IT AFFECTS ME. IF THERE IS HUNGER GOING ON IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE HUNGER TO ME. IF IT'S HUNGER TO OTHERS AROUND ME AND IT BOTHERS GOD, IT BOTHERS ME. S DOES MA MAKE SENSE? SO YES, FASTING EFFECTS OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. IT'S PRIMARILY ABOUT INTIMACY WITH GOD. THAT RESULTS IN EVANGELISM FOR GOD. GOSPELS SHARING FOR GOD. I KNOW THIS SOUNDS REALLY CHOICEY, BUT I'M GOING TO SAY IT ANYWAY. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT NEED CLEAN HEARTS. CAN I TELL YOU HOW WE CLEAN THEIR HEARTS? GET DIRTY. WE SHOW UP, DO YARDWORK. SHOW UP, STICK AROUND. SHOW UP, A FEW WELL IN ONE HAND AND A BIBLE IN ANOTHER. A RAKE IN ONE HAND AND A BIBLE IN THE OTHER HAND. I THINK A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE ARE SEEING CHRISTIANS, THEY GOT A BIBLE IN ONE HAND AND A BASEBALL BAT IN ANOTHER HAND. FINDING EVERYTHING THAT IS WRONG WITH MY LIFE INSTEAD OF SAYING WHAT IS BROKEN. I JUST GET TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF THAT FOR YOU. SO THAT IS WHAT YOU NEED. I WANT TO READ IT TO YOU AND THEN I'LL CLOSE US IN PRAYER. THE MESSAGE IS NOT A TRANCE LIST OF THE -- TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE. I WANT TO COMMENT IT'S A COMMENTARY. IT'S NOT A TRAPS LOCATION OF THE BIBLE. YOU HAVE DIFFERENT TRANCE LOCATIONS OF IT. THIS IS THE MESSAGE. THIS IS LOOSE COMMENTARY ON THE BIBLE. I'LL READ THIS TO YOU: GET RID OF EXPLOITATION IN THE WORKPLACE, FREE THE OPPRESSED, CANCER DEATHS, WE'RE NOT -- IS SHARING YOUR FOOD WITH THE HUNGRY, INVITING THE HOMELESS POOR IN YOUR HOMES. DO THIS AND THE LIGHTS WILL TURN ON. HERE IS ANOTHER WAY TO SAY IT. THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE, I'M GOING TO LET IT SHINE. AND YOUR LIVES WILL TURN AROUND AT ONCE. YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL PAVE YOUR WAY. NOT YOUR SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS, BURR YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. THE GOD OF GLORY WILL SECURE YOUR PASSAGE. THEN GOD, WHEN YOU PRAY -- THEN WHEN YOU PRAY, GOD WILL ANSWER. YOU'LL CALL OUT FOR HELP AND I'LL SAY HERE I AM. LOVING PEOPLE IS NOT SOCIAL FOR US, BUT A WAY TO SHARE THE GOSPEL. IN FASTING, FASTING TUNES TO US THE HEARTBEAT OF GOD AND YOU CANNOT HAVE YOUR HEART TUNED TO THE HEARTBEAT OF GOD. GOD'S HEART IS BROKEN OVER SOMETHING LIKE INJUSTICE, HUNGER, ORPHANS. BROKENNESS. WHAT IS GOING ON WITH YOUR ROOMMATE, SOMEONE HERE IN SCHOOL WITH MAYBE 16,000 PEOPLE AND ALONE? THAT IS BREAKING THE HEART OF GOD THAT SOMEBODY IS HERE ALONE. I THINK THAT YOUNG MAN IS KIND OF ALONE. WHY DON'T I JUST NOT OUT OF PITY, BUT OUT OF LOVE GO AND MAKE SURE THIS GUY THIS WEEKEND HAS SOMEONE TO HANG OUT WITH BECAUSE THAT IS THE HEARTBEAT OF GOD. YOU BEGIN TO NOT SEE HIS HEARTBEAT. LET ME PRAY FOR US. FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS MOMENT. TONIGHT GOD, YOUR WILL WHO COMES AND CONFRONTS AND LOVES US AND REMINDS US WHAT THIS CAN LOOKS LIKE, THE HEART OF A BELIEVER, WHAT THIS COULD PLAY OUT TO BE. WE THANK YOU WHEN WE ARE INTIMATE, BUT WE BECOME JUST EVANGELISTIC FOR YOU. WE THANK YOU FOR THE POWER OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN GOD WE GET TO BE CLOSER TO YOU, WE GET TO CONCENTRATE, GET TO BE MORE AWARE, WE BEGIN TO BE HEIGHTENED IN OUR AWARENESS THAT THAT JUST RESULTS NOT IN US BEING MORE LOYAL, BUT US BEING MORE HUNGRY, US BEING MORE LOVING. I PRAY THAT GOD TONIGHT AS WE TALK ABOUT THIS WE WOULD SAY IN FASTING IS THAT KINDS OF A MEANS TO AN END, I WANT IT. SO BEFORE I GIVE YOU A FEW -- I GOT FOUR MINUTES OF SOME THINGS I WANT TO TELL YOU, I WANT TO BEGIN WITH CONFESSION. IF YOU'RE WATCHING AS A COMMUNITY GROUP OR IF YOU'RE HERE IN THE FOOTBALL STADIUM, IF YOU'RE HEARING THIS, I SENSE GOD IS INITIATING IN ME A DESIRE TO FAST AS A MEANS TO AN END, A DESIRE TO WALK INTO A SEASON, MAYBE NOT 40, MAYBE AN AFTERNOON, UNITED STATES NETTED, FOOD, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT ALL THOSE DETAILS YET. IF THAT IS YOU WILL YOU JUST STAND WHEREVER YOU ARE? BY THE WAY GOD DOES NOT CALL EVERYBODY AT ALL TIMES. I JUST SENSE THAT GOD IS CALLING US TO SOME FORM OF FASTING. THIS IS A CALL THAT AROUSED THE NEED, I FEEL LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING GOD IS CALLING TO ME NOW. ANYBODY? FANTASTIC. IF YOU'RE STANDING UP CLOSE ARE EYES FOR A SECOND. GOD I'M HUNGRY FOR MORE, SO INDIFFERENT THAT I NEED TO BE MORE BROKEN HEARTED, SOMETHING THAT WAS SAID TONIGHT HAS BROUGHT ME TO THIS MOMENT, AND LONG BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH YOU HAD SET THIS MOMENT FOR ME TO SAY I'M READY TO STEP INTO FASTING. FEASTING. IF YOU'RE STANDING UP JUST PRAY. BEGIN TO MAKE YOURSELF AVAILABLE TO HIM. WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK, SING ONE SONG AND I'LL COME BACK AND GIVE YOU FIVE QUICK MINUTES OF WARNINGS AND WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF CLASSES SET UP FOR YOU IN THE COMING DAYS, TO GO BE PART OF CLASSES. WHAT THE ENEMY WILL WANT TO DO IS TAKE THIS GOOD INTENT AND WEAPONIZED IT IS AGAINST YOU SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE TO GIVE YOU THIS. ALL YOU'RE PRAYING RIGHT NOW IS I'M AVAILABLE. I SENSE THAT THIS IS A MOMENT THAT MAYBE BEGINS A MOVEMENT THIS MY LIFE. THE REST OF US, STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, LET'S SING THIS AND I'LL COME BACK AND GIVE YOU JUST A FEW WORDS. >>> JUST A FEW THOUGHTS. YOU CAN REMAIN STANDING. IT WILL BE JUST BE A FEW MINUTES FOR US AND WE'LL BLESS YOU, STEP OUT. IF THIS MOMENT IS ACTUALLY THE VISIBLE MANIFESTATION OF IT, SEEING LITERALLY HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF YOU SAYING -- I KNOW SOME OF YOU ARE GOING I NEED TO GO BE ALONE WITH GOD FOR A MINUTE AND THINK ABOUT THIS AND PRAY, I NEED THE CLASSES THAT WILL BE OFFERED, I'M EMOTIONAL BECAUSE YOU TOUCHED ON A FEW THINGS FOR ME, THAT IS WHY WE'LL OFFER YOU MULTIPLE AVERAGES OF AVENUES OF THOUGHT. WE PARTNERED WITH THE CHURCH, THEY HAVE GIVEN US THIS FASTING MATERIAL FOR ALL KINDS OF FASTING CLASSES. BEFORE WE GET INTO THIS JUST A FEW WARNINGS. 'IF YOU'RE SITTING HERE AND YOU'RE LIKE I CAN'T DO IT, 40 DAYS, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN. DON'T DISCOUNT WHAT GOD CAN DO IN AND THROUGH YOU. IT CAN BE SOMETHING WHERE I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE UP INSTAGRAM 40 MINUTES, I'M GOING TO FILL THAT TIME WITH THE BIBLE APP, MAYBE THE DWELL APP. THE SECOND IS DON'T PUBLICIZE. JUST KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LOT ABOUT THIS NEXT WEEK. THE SAME PRINCIPLES OF INTENT. IF YOU'VE GOING TO WALK INTO A FAST AND THE CLASSES WILL EXPOUND ON THIS A LOT, WASH YOUR FACE, GET TO WHERE YOU KNOW THIS ISN'T GOING TO YOU YOU'RE WEARING A BADGE, I'M SORRY, YEAH LUNCH TODAY I'M FASTING. YOU TELL A FEW CLOSE FRIENDS. THIS IS AN INTIMATE GIFT FROM GOD. THE NEXT ONE IS DON'T WEAPONIZED. USE IT AS AS A WAY TO BECOME A PHARISEE. IT SHOULD MAKE YOU MORE LOVING, PATIENT, HUMBLE, MORE AWARE OF YOUR SIN, LESS AN INSPECTOR OF EVERYBODY ELSE'S. THE NEXT ONE IS DON'T LET THE ENEMY WEAPONIZED IT. I KNOW A LOT OF PARENTS WATCH THIS, FACULTY AND ADULTS COME IN. IN YOU'RE PREGNANT OR BREAST FEEDING OR IF YOU'RE SICK OR STRUGGLE WITH ANY FORM OF EATING DISORDER, THE ENEMY WOULD LOVE TO USE THIS, THIS VERY GOOD INTENT IN YOUR HEART TO WANT TO FAST, TO ALL OF A SUDDEN USE THIS AS A TRIGGER TO ACTUALLY HARM YOUR LIFE. AS WEIRD AS IT SOUNDS, IF THAT IS WHO YOU ARE, IT MIGHT BE THE ONE THING YOU REALLY NEED TO FAST FROM IS NOT EATING, THE ONE THING YOU REALLY NEED TO FAST FROM IS SOMEBODY YOU BECOME SOMEBODY ELSE IN YOUR LIFE. YOU KNOW WHO THEY ARE, THE STRUGGLES WITHIN -- WITHIN YOU. IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, STARTING TOMORROW, THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, WE'RE OFFERING DIFFERENT PLACES FOR YOU TO GO GET COUNSELING -- I MEAN GO GET TRAINING ON FASTING AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE CURRICULUM FOR YOU, TRAINING FOR YOU. HERE IS WHAT I WOULD ASK YOU, YOU'RE GOING TO DO THIS AS A COMMUNITY. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO COMMUNITY GROUPS. YOU NEED TO WALK IN IT WITH THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU THAT MIGHT BE AWARE OF SOME OF THE BLIND SPOTS KNEW THAT YOU MIGHT NOT SEE KNEW. THE ENEMY WOULD LOVE TO TAKE INSECURITIES ABOUT YOUR BODY IMAGE AND USE THIS AS A VEHICLE TO GO STARVE YOURSELF THINKING MAYBE IT'S FOR GOD. IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND THIS IS -- TO GO AND TURN YOU SKINNY. I DON'T WANT TO, YOUR HONOR -- TURN IT INTO SOMETHING EVIL AND DESTRUCTIVE. WE COULD WALK IN AND SAY WE NEED TO TEACH ABOUT THIS AND WALK WITH YOU IN THIS. SOME OF YOU MIGHT NOT FEEL LIKE YOU'RE READY BUT THIS IS A SEASON YOU'RE PREPARING YOURSELF TO ONE DAY BE ABLE TO FAST. IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN, GET YOUR PHONES OUT FOR A SECOND, TEXT SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES TO 24502. IT WILL TAKE YOU TO A PAGE WHERE ON THAT PAGE YOU'LL SEE AVENUES, WHERE YOU CAN GO AND BE INVESTED IN THINGS. IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT SHEPHERDS, YOU CAN GO AND BEGIN TO TALK ABOUT THAT. THEY CAN TAKE YOU TO AVENUES, WHERE YOU CAN GO TO THE SHEPHERDS OFFICE ON THE HILL AND TAKE PLACES -- CLASSES. I HOPE YOU GET THIS HAPPENING WITH COMMUNITY AND YOU WALK OUT OF IT. LET'S PRAY. MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU. MAY THE LORD KEEP YOU. MAY THE LORD SHINE HIS GRACIOUS RADIANT FACE UPON YOU AND MAY THE LORD TONIGHT, MAY HIS GLORY BE YOUR REAR GUARD. AMEN. WE'RE GOING TO DISMISS, BUT OUR WORSHIP TEAM IS GOING TO SING A FEW MORE SONGS FOR SOMEBODY WHO MIGHT WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT FOR A FEW MINUTES. IF YOU WANT TO STAY A FEW MORE MINUTES YOU'RE WELCOME TO. WE'RE GOING TO DISMISS, BUT OU WORSHIP TEAM IS GOING TO SING A FEW MORE SONGS FOR SOMEBODY WHO MIGHT WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT FO A FEW MINUTES. IF YOU WANT TO STAY A FEW MORE MINUTES YOU'RE WELCOME TO. . >> SO WE GOT TO GO. I REALLY DON'T WANT TO GO. EVERYTHING THAT IS OFFERED HERE IS OFFERED IN THE HEART OF THE WORSHIPER. EVERYTHING THAT IS OFFERED CAN BE EVEN MORE CONCENTRATED WHEN WE GET OUT OF THESE ROWS TONIGHT AND WALK INTO COMMUNITY CIRCLES TONIGHT. GO TONIGHT AND GO WITH THE LORD. DON'T BLESS ONE ANOTHER IN ONE MOMENT AND THEN CURSE ANOTHER IN ANOTHER. THAT IS MY WORD FOR YOU. GO TONIGHT AND BLESS PEOPLE. BLESS PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMUNITY GROUP. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO GO, GO MAYBE BECAUSE SOMEBODY -- NOT FOR YOU TO GET SOMETHING, BUT FOR YOU TO GIVE SOMETHING. SPEAK LIFE INTO ONE ANOTHER, ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER, EDIFY ONE ANOTHER. LET'S NOT CURSE ONE ANOTHER. AMEN. I LOVE YOU. I'M HERE FOR YOU. WE GOT TO CLEAN THIS UP. IF YOU'RE ON THE GROUND, FIELD, WHATEVER, FOLD YOUR CHAIR, FOLD, AND REAL QUICK, I THINK -- I'M NOT SURE WHAT WE DO WITH THEM WHEN WE DO THAT. SOMEBODY WANT TO TELL ME? WHAT IS THE BEST PLACE. TAKE THEM AGAINST THE WALL? LET'S DO THIS REALLY, REALLY NEATLY, SO THAT IT'S EASY FOR THEM. IF YOU WOULD TAKE IT ALL THE WAY TO EURO, TO THE END OF EURO, THOSE OF YOU HERE GO THAT WAY AND STACK THEM SO WE CAN HELP THEM. WE STAYED AN EXTRA HOUR. CAN WE THANK ALL THE PEOPLE WHO DO OUR PRODUCTION AND EVERYTHING? PUT THEM UP NEATLY, SO THEY'RE EASY TO PICK UP. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT WILL BE A BIG HELP. GOD BLESS YOU GUYS. GO TO COMMUNITY GROUP. GO BLESS SOMEBODY.
