Immeasurably More | Fasting for More
Ephesians 3:16-21(NIV) 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
The Ask
Paul’s ask/prayer focuses on us…
1) being strengthened and empowered by the indwelling Spirit of Christ
2) having a deeper experience with the love of Christ
3) being filled to the measure of all the fullness of God
#3 means to be completely saturated with God's presence, character, and love, essentially living a life fully aligned with God's will and experiencing the richness of His nature to the fullest extent possible.
The God of the Ask
Be MORE consumed with the God of the Ask and LESS concerned with the ask.
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory [attention] in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Paul wants us assure us that …
Seen challenges [front and center] do not overshadow an unseen [behind the scenes] God. “Out of natural sight” doesn’t mean “out of spiritual position.” God doesn’t do “behind the scenes” or “out of position” He does “in the mix” & “right time, right place.”
Paul wants us assure us that …
Our lack is of no challenge to God’s capacity.
A.W. Tozer said “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” The knowledge of the Holy: The Attributes of God; Their Meaning in the Christian Life. If we believe our circumstances supersede God’s capacity than our circumstances are god. If we believe God is the God of immeasurably more – God is our God.
Paul wants us assure us that …
God’s answer to our needs is not dependent on our understanding of our needs (more than we can think or imagine).
Paul wants us assure us that …
An immeasurably more God isn’t just an external force, He is also a present, partnering, and active internal force. … “at work within us”.
What’s our roll in immeasurably more?
Changed Perspective: Think LESS “I want God to do more for me.” Think MORE “I want God to do more in me, through me and with me.”
Changed Position: Don’t sit passively by waiting for more to happen – make room for more, make yourself available for more.
More is a partnership promise. More is a movement promise.
“To be still before God” doesn’t mean to be cement before God, it means to still your heart, calm your anxiousness.
We have more of a role to play in our more than we think, but we are to live out that role with less anxiousness and more anticipation.
More giving = less self-absorption = more room for God’s provision.
Giving is a trust deposit: “God, You have all that I need!” Our giving reflects a heart that trusts God as our source.
More prayer = less self-determination = more room for God’s direction.
Prayer is a control deposit: God, your will and path are all I want!!” Prayer reflects a heart that trusts God as Father.
More fasting = less self-consumption = more room for God’s presence.
Fasting is a dependency deposit: “God, You are all that I need!” Our fasting reflects a heart that trusts God as full-filler.
Somewhere deep inside we know that self-indulgence is an empty practice. Self-indulgence over promises and consistently under delivers.
Fasting is less a self-denial move and more a self-directed consumption move.
Fasting redirects our consumption from indulgence and entertainment – which bloats us and dulls us – to a consumption of God Himself which full-fills us and dials us in.
Matthew 4:1-4 (The Message) Next Jesus was taken into the wild by the Spirit for the Test. The Devil was ready to give it. Jesus prepared for the Test by fasting forty days and forty nights. That left him, of course, in a state of extreme hunger, which the Devil took advantage of in the first test: Since you are God’s Son, speak the word that will turn these stones into loaves of bread.” Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.”
John 4:31-35 (NIV) 31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” 33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” 34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
Daniel 1:8 (NIV) But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.
Daniel 1:20 (NIV) “In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.
Let me encourage you to choose 1 of 2 fast time frames
1) 10-day identity fast
2) 21-day breakthrough fast
More requires Movement.
Fasting is an identity move. We are in this world but we are not of the same substance of this world.
Fasting is a dependency move. We live in this world but we are not dependent on this world for life.
Fasting is a partnership move. We work in this world but we don’t work alone, in the same patterns or for the same purposes of this world.
What more do I want for Gateway?
More spiritual influence. I want our collective presence to move more people closer to Jesus.
More campus development. I want to maximize 1288 Lewisburg Pike’s physical location for renewals and resurrections.
More spiritual movement. I want to help you move toward the more God has for you.