Renewal 2022: Fasting
Renewal 2022
Fasting
Pastor Charlie Weir
The Hebrew word for breath is Ruach.
The Greek word for breath is Pneuma which also means Spirit.
John 20:19-22 19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
A Spirit infusion brings a renewal of spiritual peace, spiritual identity and spiritual purpose.
2 Timothy 3 Paul describes scripture as God breathed. This makes ingesting scripture like taking a deep breath of renewal similar to Jesus Himself breathing the Holy Spirit onto us!
Renewal
• Re (prefix) = Again / New (root) = Fresh, Original / Al (suffix) = Indicating Process or Action
• Renewal = A replenishing process for original fresh life. A God-Act of restoring original life.
• Renewal is something we receive not achieve.
• Renewal Posture = Aware, Ask, Offer and Obey. n2=a2o2
The Biblical practice of fasting is a life palate cleanser. A beginning year fast is a path to remove the residue last year has left behind.
Fasting is a renewal path of…
• Presence.
• Personhood.
• Purpose.
Jesus’ Fast
Matthew 3:13- 4:1-11 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.17 And a voice from
heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
Matthew 4:1-2 “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
1. Renewal of Presence.
Matthew 4:3-4 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
John 14:1-6 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way (path) to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way (path)?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way (path) and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
The path to spiritual renewal is an intentional emptying of old dependencies and old reliances to make room for the re-new-al. Fasting reveals our addiction to self satisfying actions, shifts our dependency to God and creates spiritual capacity for more of His Presence.
2. Renewal of Personhood (Identity).
Matthew 4:5-7 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
3. Renewal of Purpose.
Matthew 4:8-10 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
During a fast God renews your purpose, realigns your path and reveals temptations for what they are, empty and expensive.
Fasting How To’s
Fasting is a purposeful change of pace and practice for renewed presence, personhood and purpose.
1. Decide on the type of fast
2. Set the length of your fast
3. Include a partner in your fast