We are at the beginning of a new year! If we want a different year, if we want a year where we will see the supernatural of God, we need to consecrate ourselves, we need to sanctify ourselves.
“And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.””
Joshua 3:5 NKJV
If we want to see the supernatural of God, if we want to see God doing wonders in our midst, in our church, in our family, in our financial life, in our health, we need to give our bodies to God as a living sacrifice right at the start of the year.
Today’s message is: Your Faith is proven by your Sacrifice
In preparation for Our 21 day Annual Fast I want to talk about the sacrifice of fasting.
Fasting is a powerful weapon that brings transformations in our lives and opens the doors to the supernatural.
Monday 23 we start our 21days of Fasting! Daniel’s Fasting. How many of you are excited?
Many churches today do not speak or teach much about “sacrifice”. Many say that Jesus made all the sacrifice on the cross and now we just have to enjoy the grace of Jesus!
The work and sacrifice of Christ on the cross was carried out for our salvation, but once you’re saved, you are called to take up your cross and give yourselves as a living sacrifice!
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”
Matthew 16:24-25 NKJV
Jesus said: Whoever wants to save his life will have to lose it!
If we are Jesus’ disciples, where is our cross?
To take up the Cross is to sacrifice, to deny yourself, to say no to your flesh and to your stomach and let the Holy Spirit rule your life.
Christians who take up their crosses are successful Christians!
Jesus said: if you want to follow me, take up your cross!
Taking up the Cross is a sacrifice, taking the Cross is loving someone who does not love you back, taking up the Cross is paying the price to serve God and the church of Jesus, taking up the Cross is a sacrifice!
Your faith is proven by your sacrifice!
When you believe in something, you pay the necessary price, you make difficult decisions, you do not give up; you fight for what you believe.
How many miracles, victories and doors were opened in my life after a time of sacrifice.
I know the price I’m paying and the price I had to pay to be here today!
How many days of fasting, weeks of fasting without eating, just drinking water, nights of prayer. Because of the kingdom I abandoned my work, I had a good salary, I offered my salary, I left my church, family, disciples, but with a lot of joy in my heart because I knew that the Christian life is a life of sacrifices and it is worth it!
“Those who give much without sacrifice are reckoned as having given little.” Erwin Lutzer
Where is your cross? Where is your fidelity and consistency?
All the men and women that God use they must go through sacrifices and God always honours each one of them!
Value, the real value is determined by sacrifice! You always sacrifice yourself for what you love!
If Jesus Christ while being God died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.
God will honour your sacrifice! It may not come whenever you want, but it will come!
People can forget what you did for them, but God will never forget your sacrifice and everything you do for people and the Kingdom of God.
Paul said that God is not unfair to forget your work, and your sacrifice!
“Nothing of spiritual significance comes without sacrifice. Your spirituality will always be measured by the size of your sacrifice.”
Jerry Falwell
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”
Romans 12:1 NIV
You will have to offer your body as a sacrifice! A living sacrifice! You won’t die if you surrender to God, you won’t die if you fast!
Fasting is a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.
Fasting is a spiritual discipline practiced by Jesus, and by Jesus’ disciples and His followers as a source of power, strength and growth for believers and today we will learn what happens in the invisible world when we fast!
Who in the Bible do you know who fasted?
Moses , David, Elijah, Daniel , Ana , Paul and also Jesus fasted for 40 days. He was baptised, filled with the Holy Spirit and was then led by the Spirit to fast and pray for 40 days.
If it were not necessary to fast, Jesus, our example and model, would not have done it!
The Bible says that Jesus was guided by the Spirit to fast and pray and today the same Spirit is calling us to fast and pray too!
When nothing else works, Jesus said that Fasting and Praying are the only solutions!
As we start our Daniel Fast, I want to tell you about Daniel’s life.
Daniel was not only a man of faith who went to the lions’ grave, he was a man of integrity, faithful and loyal to the Lord.
He was reliable and loyal in everything he did to the king and to the Lord, his God, he was faithful.
Daniel was a man of fasting and prayer, he had the habit of praying 3 times a day on his knees and giving thanks to the Lord.
He began his life being faithful to God when he was only a teenager, when he decided not to eat of the king’s food.
And when he was about 80 years old, 65 years later, he had still not changed his habits of seeking the Lord, he would still pray 3 times a day, it was a habit, it was a routine and he lived his faith every day.
“We need to fast and pray not once a year , but prayer and fasting should be a habit or routine”
We have the habit of reading the Bible, the habit of worship, the habit of decimating and offering, because God’s habits are the seeds of integrity.
What was the result of Daniel’s integrity with the Lord? (by his prayer, fasting and integrity)
Let’s see the results of Daniel’s sacrifice when he was thrown into the lions’ den.
“When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?””
Daniel 6:20
Do you see the effect that Daniel had on the king’s life? He called Daniel the “servant of the living God” and “whom you serve continuously”!
Let’s see Daniel’s answer
“My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.””
Daniel 6:22 NKJV
Daniel was not hurt because he trusted God. Trusting in God gives you integrity and trusting in God brings you protection.
Unfortunately, many people are lazy, they don’t want to seek God, they don’t want to come to meetings, they don’t want to pray, they don’t want to fast, but they want God’s favour!
Daniel’s story shows us how fasting and prayer affect the invisible world.
“In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.” Daniel 10:2-3 NKJV
If you read Daniel chapter 1, you will see that Daniel was eating vegetables and drinking water and he gave up all the delicious food.
He made a vow, he was fasting, praying, seeking God and What was the result of his sacrifice?
“Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling.”
Daniel 10:10-11 NKJV
Again you will see that, because of his integrity and sacrifice, another angel came to him and said: you are greatly loved!
The first time he was unjustly thrown into the lion’s den an angel came to protect him. Now God sends him another angel to tell him how much he was loved.
When Daniel was in his 3 full weeks of fasting or 21 days of not eating pleasant food and seeking the Lord, the Lord responded to his sacrifice and an angel came and said: You are very Beloved!
What did God say to Daniel after his 3 weeks of fasting?
Daniel did not eat desirable food, so an angel came and said: you are desired by Me!
What is the difference between God’s Love and God’s favour?
Don’t confuse God’s love with God’s favour!
God’s love is totally free, but God’s favour does not come into your life until you do certain things that draw God’s attention!
The increase in God’s favour comes with obedience and sacrifice!
Daniel did not eat desirable food, and he became desirable by God.
How can we be highly esteemed in the heavens?
“Declares the Lord. “These are the ones I look on with favour: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.”
Isaiah 66:2 NIV
We can be esteemed in heaven and have the favour of God when we are humble and contrite in spirit.
When you humble yourself before the Lord in fasting, prayer and sacrifice then the gates of heaven are open over your life!
Let’s read what the Angel said to Daniel.
“Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.”
Daniel 10:12 NKJV
The Angel said: because you continued fasting, because you humbled yourself, your prayers were heard! Your prayers were heard and I came in response of them.
The Angel came in response to Daniel’s obedience and sacrifice!
Can you see how fasting moves the Invisible world?
There is the connection between the physical action we do here and the spiritual power that is released in the invisible world.
When you offer your body as a living sacrifice, God releases His favour!
God is calling you and me to His presence during these 21 days. It’s less from you and more from Him.
What you do physically in obedience to God releases in the spiritual world.
That’s why I want to challenge all of you to join us in these 21-day fasting period.
Our Fast starts Monday 23 and ends 12/02
The challenge for these 21 days is to skip a meal during the day, once, two or three times a week (skip breakfast or lunch, for example) and when eating, eat only vegetables, fruits and drink water. The challenge is to remove what you like and when you do eat, eat “simple” food.
You must determine how many days you will fast (you will not eat) in these 21 days, how many meals you will eat, and determine that you will eat.
Write your fasting plan!
What will the fasting be like: which days of the week will you not eat, time, what will you eat and what will you not eat. Remember that fasting is a sacrifice your Faith is proven by your sacrifice!
What are your goals for this fasting period?
Personal, spiritual, ministerial, family and goals for our Church.
Writing is a preparation for fasting.
Children do not need to fast food, they can fast privileges or sweets.
This fasting is not an obligation, each one must pray and decide how to fast. Talk to your family to decide what you will fast, because some people can’t fast for too long – due to health problems, but each one should do their best for the Glory of God!
This fasting period is very healthy, it is very good for your body (because you will probably lose weight), but the main benefit is the spiritual growth! You will have if you do it the right way, if you do it for His Glory.
How to start fasting?
Start with a clear goal. Be specific. Why are you fasting?
Maybe because you need direction, healing, salvation of your family, restoration of marriage, family problems or financial difficulties? Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance.
During this period you need to have time to pray and read the Bible daily, because Fasting has even more “power” when it goes along with prayer and reading the word.
What to expect when you Fast?
When you fast, (without eating for a while) your body detoxifies, eliminating toxins from your system. This can cause mild discomfort, such as headaches and irritability during caffeine and sugar withdrawal.
Our temporary physical discomfort has spiritual rewards. Fasting brings many miracles as a result.
Spend time listening to songs of praise and worship and pray whenever you can throughout the day.
Stay as far away from distractions as possible and keep your heart and mind in seeking the face of God.
You are fasting food and things you really like, but you should also fast the internet, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
Also limit news and WhatsApp videos because you need to use your time wisely, you must have your time with God every day. You will stop Facebook and go to FaceBible!
Your Faith is proven by your Sacrifice
In these 21 days of fasting and praying, God will open the gates of Heaven over our Church, over our city, your family and your spiritual life! More of Him and less of us!
May God bless you and keep you.