Dear all, welcome to THE NATHAN REPORT, your weekly Sunday sermon blog. We started off with this beautiful Praise and Worship session, below is the list:
1) O come let us adore Him - Hymn
2) Because He lives - Bill and Gloria Gaither
3) Prince of Peace - Michael W. Smith
4) Once again - Matt Redman
5) All to Jesus I surrender - Hymn
1) O come let us adore Him - Hymn
2) Because He lives - Bill and Gloria Gaither
3) Prince of Peace - Michael W. Smith
4) Once again - Matt Redman
5) All to Jesus I surrender - Hymn
Post 'Praise & Worship" we had few announcements. Here is the list of announcements:
- There will be a special women's fellowship program on 13th December at 4:30 PM.
- Men's fellowship will be at 6:30 AM.
- 21 days Fasting and Prayer started on 24th November will go on till 14 December 2014. Church that Prays together, moves ahead together.
As you all know that we are having a 21 days fasting and prayers, today we will be discussing about spiritual hunger and the power of prayer.
Isaiah 58:3-4, "3 ‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’ Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. 4 Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high."
A fast is a day to afflict the soul; if it does not express true sorrow for sin, and does not promote the putting away of sin, it is not a fast. These professors had shown sorrow on stated or occasioned fasts. But they indulged pride, covetousness, and malignant passions. To be liberal and merciful is more acceptable to God than mere fasting, which, without them, is vain and hypocritical. Many who seem humble in God's house, are hard at home, and harass their families. But no man's faith justifies, which does not work by love. Yet persons, families, neighbourhoods, churches, or nations, show repentance and sorrow for sin, by keeping a fast sincerely, and, from right motives, repenting, and doing good works. The heavy yoke of sin and oppression must be removed. As sin and sorrow dry the bones and weaken the strongest human constitution; so the duties of kindness and charity strengthen and refresh both body and mind. Those who do justly and love mercy, shall have the comfort, even in this world. Good works will bring the blessing of God, provided they are done from love to God and man, and wrought in the soul by the Holy Spirit.
The delight of verse 2 is false for it is an emotional mechanism for pressuring God into compliance with human wishes. When God refuses to be used, the people or the people offended, that their religion does not "work". Their unacknowledged attempt to gain advantage with God is exposed to their overbearing use of people: Obsess all your workers... hit with a wicked fist. God called his people to show humanity in their social life, but they are failing to do this.
Fasting is not a favor for God, but for our own spiritual health. Its not also not done to do good to our physical health, rather, for God.
Illustration: The late great Algerian Berber philosopher and theologian, Augustine (354 - 430) - early church father and Bishop of Hippo - once said, "Let my soul take refuge from the crowding turmoil of worldly thoughts beneath the shadow of Thy wings; let my heart, this sea of restless waves, find peace in Thee, O God." One of the most powerful forms of prayer is to rest back upon the Divine Presence of Almighty God; and, be lifted up by Him!
Fasting as a hypocrite is wrong. Being hypocritical is a real danger when fasting. There are four reasons people fast, and all but one are false and hypocritical. People fast to gain a sense of God’s approval and of self-apporval. People fast to fulfill a religious act. People fast to gain religious recognition. People fast to genuinely meet God for some special purpose. Pride in fasting is not from God, but satan. You need not to murmur that how you have survived fasting or how many days you have fasted. It doesn't matters how you have fasted, what matters is the change of heart. There is no benefit in fasting if the heart is not changed.
Illustration: I met someone who appeared to be a very humble individual. He always used to greet with "Praise the Lord, Pastor", "Praise God Pastor", "Bless me Pastor" etc. Few days back I saw him fighting and abusing with all his might. He was even willing to hit his opponent's head with a steel rod.
It doesn't matters what we do, but if there is no change in heart, and actions shows our real selves, that means there is a problem. The problem is that we are not spiritually hungry. Are you physically hungry or spiritually hungry? If you are physically hungry, is it taking your spiritual hunger down as well?
The psalmist, in Psalm 63:1, tells us: "A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water."
Matthew 5:6, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."
Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness are happy. Righteousness is here put for all spiritual blessings. These are purchased for us by the righteousness of Christ, confirmed by the faithfulness of God. Our desires of spiritual blessings must be earnest. Though all desires for grace are not grace, yet such a desire as this, is a desire of God's own raising, and he will not forsake the work of his own hands.
We need to have a genuine compassion towards poor and needy. We need to have a desire to change. God's spirit is a very gentle spirit, it will never force you. We need to ask God and allow him to work in us. We need to be spiritually hungry and spiritually thirsty and always available to let God's spirit work in our lives. When spirit of God is in and with us, we are not alone, God is with us. Are you allowing God to work in your lives or are you working by yourselves?
Leviticus 16:29, "And it shall be a statute to you forever that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict yourselves and shall do no work, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you."
Illustration: The late great Algerian Berber philosopher and theologian, Augustine (354 - 430) - early church father and Bishop of Hippo - once said, "Let my soul take refuge from the crowding turmoil of worldly thoughts beneath the shadow of Thy wings; let my heart, this sea of restless waves, find peace in Thee, O God." One of the most powerful forms of prayer is to rest back upon the Divine Presence of Almighty God; and, be lifted up by Him!
Fasting as a hypocrite is wrong. Being hypocritical is a real danger when fasting. There are four reasons people fast, and all but one are false and hypocritical. People fast to gain a sense of God’s approval and of self-apporval. People fast to fulfill a religious act. People fast to gain religious recognition. People fast to genuinely meet God for some special purpose. Pride in fasting is not from God, but satan. You need not to murmur that how you have survived fasting or how many days you have fasted. It doesn't matters how you have fasted, what matters is the change of heart. There is no benefit in fasting if the heart is not changed.
Illustration: I met someone who appeared to be a very humble individual. He always used to greet with "Praise the Lord, Pastor", "Praise God Pastor", "Bless me Pastor" etc. Few days back I saw him fighting and abusing with all his might. He was even willing to hit his opponent's head with a steel rod.
It doesn't matters what we do, but if there is no change in heart, and actions shows our real selves, that means there is a problem. The problem is that we are not spiritually hungry. Are you physically hungry or spiritually hungry? If you are physically hungry, is it taking your spiritual hunger down as well?
The psalmist, in Psalm 63:1, tells us: "A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water."
Matthew 5:6, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."
Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness are happy. Righteousness is here put for all spiritual blessings. These are purchased for us by the righteousness of Christ, confirmed by the faithfulness of God. Our desires of spiritual blessings must be earnest. Though all desires for grace are not grace, yet such a desire as this, is a desire of God's own raising, and he will not forsake the work of his own hands.
We need to have a genuine compassion towards poor and needy. We need to have a desire to change. God's spirit is a very gentle spirit, it will never force you. We need to ask God and allow him to work in us. We need to be spiritually hungry and spiritually thirsty and always available to let God's spirit work in our lives. When spirit of God is in and with us, we are not alone, God is with us. Are you allowing God to work in your lives or are you working by yourselves?
Leviticus 16:29, "And it shall be a statute to you forever that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict yourselves and shall do no work, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you."
'Afflict' - This term expresses self denial and self mortification connected with fasting and prayer. By faith we put our hands upon the head of the offering; relying on Christ as the Lord our Righteousness, pleading his satisfaction, as that which alone is able to atone for our sins, and procure us a pardon. By repentance we afflict our souls; not only fasting for a time from the delights of the body, but inwardly sorrowing for sin, and living a life of self-denial, assuring ourselves, that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. By the atonement we obtain rest for our souls, and all the glorious liberties of the children of God. Sinner, get the blood of Christ effectually applied to thy soul, or else thou canst never look God in the face with any comfort or acceptance. Take this blood of Christ, apply it by faith, and see how it atones with God.
What kind of fast are you doing?
We need to fast that God orders when he needs us to.
- Dividing your bread and giving to hungry and poor.
- Providing homes to homeless.
- Providing clothing.
Isaiah 58:4, "Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high."
Whenever we fast, satan is always looking forward to bring some kind of confusion which ends up in quarrels and fights.
Illustration:
- Brother and sister of Moses stood against him.
- Strife came in.
- Quarrels entered within them.
We need to rely on God the way Moses relied on HIM.
Even Miriam was struck with leprosy but healed at the prayer of Moses.
Illustration:
- Lot under the times and hold of Abraham was generously blessed.
- They made good fruits (blessings) out of their land.
- Properties expanded and quarrels between servants began.
- Lot left.
- Lot's godly influence also left him.
We need to humble ourselves and bow down and seek forgiveness.
Fasting for recognition is wrong. It brings up several serious dangers that must be guarded against, such as the danger of feeling super-spiritual. Very few believers truly fast. So when we really fast, we must guard against a sense of super-spirituality and pride. Our confidence is to be in God, not in self. After a true genuine fast we must go forward depending on the strength of Christ and not our own energy and effort. After we have been through a true fast, and have really been in the presence of God, we are anxious to share it, especially to those who are closest to us. The best advice would be keep it between you and the Lord, and take what you have learned and apply it to your life, don’t try to apply it to someone else’s life. Fasting the wrong way has its reward. The reward will be the recognition and esteem of people, but that is all the reward you will receive. Are we seeking this reward or the rewards of heaven?
Fasting the right way has its reward. Fast in secret and God will reward us openly. God will honor the fast that is done the right way with the right motive. There are a lot of benefits to fasting. Fasting will keep you in God’s presence. Fasting will humble your soul before God. Fasting teaches our dependence upon God. Fasting demonstrates to God our seriousness before Him. It is time that take our relationship with God serious. Maybe there are some things that you have been praying about that just have not come to pass, it maybe that God wants to see how serious you are about it. Maybe you want to seek God in a deeper way and begin a fast, if you do keep it between you and God.
Post sermon, we had Holy Communion and a beautiful prayer session.
Do you feel a need of a renewal in your life? If yes, we encourage you all to pray with us this beautiful Psalm from 51:9-12.....
9 Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Amen!
We hope you enjoyed today's service. Have a blessed week, God bless!
Image Source: http://selaradio.com/2014/08/02/pray/
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