Hunger for God: Selfless King Jesus

Luke 4 & Luke 19

Pastor Steve Poole

1. Fasting prepares us to resist temptation.

• James 4:7

• God > me

• “Here we see the most significant difference between Jesus and Adam: Jesus believed God. Let me say it again. It is not simply that Jesus believed in God, but he believed God.” ~ R. C. Sproul

2. Fasting increases our hunger for God.

3. Fasting prepares us to live out God’s purpose for our lives. (Romans 12:1)

NEXT STEPS

1. Believe in King Jesus for salvation.

2. Fast this week and ask God to increase your hunger for His will.

3. Reflect on these journal questions: How am I living out my purpose, calling and identity in Christ? What does it look like to offer myself as a living sacrifice? (Romans 12:1)

JOURNAL - How am I living out my purpose, calling and identity in Christ? What does it look like to offer myself as a living sacrifice?

MEDITATE -“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” ~Ephesians 2:4-10

PRAY - Father, help us to hunger more for you. Let your will become our will. Give us the strength to walk by the Spirit and do the good works you prepared for us to do.

Hunger For God: Fasting and Obedience

Pastor Kent Landhuis

THEME - Obedience is more important than fasting.

TEXT - Isaiah 58

LENTEN INVITATION: Focus less on lesser things to focus more on greater things.

1. When blocked, be frustrated.

· Isaiah 55:1-2

· Isaiah 58:1-7

2. When blocked, remove the blockage.

· Zechariah 7:5

· 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

3. When blocked, obey.

· 1 Samuel 15:13-22

· 1 John 4:19-21

· James 1:8-11

NEXT STEPS

1. Skip a meal (or meals).

2. Give the money you saved by not eating to the food pantry.

3. Journal about your experience. Use this prompt: What is my usual response/behavior when I am frustrated?

JOURNAL

What is my usual response/behavior when I am frustrated?

MEDITATE

“If you don't feel strong desires for the manifestation of the glory of God, it is not because you have drunk deeply and are satisfied. It is because you have nibbled so long at the table of the world. Your soul is stuffed with small things, and there is no room for the great.” - John Piper, A Hunger for God.

“Fasting might be the best way for many of us to seal the moment; fasting for a day might be what we most need to change our own pathetic passivity in the face of famine.” - Scot McKnight, Fasting.

“God is not merely concerned with what we do but why we do it. A right act may be robbed of all its value in the sight of God if it is done with a wrong motive.” - Arthur Wallis, God’s Chosen Fast.

PRAY - Ask God to reshape your heart so that you desire the same things God desires.