"Building a Church Through Outreach"
A Year With No Limits
-Part 5-
ELCOG 1/20/08
Text: 2 Cor. 10:3-5
Over the past couple of weeks I have been laying out the theme for 2008; "A year with no limits" I have preached messages on the topics of a year with no limits in out-reach, a year with no limits in power, a year with no limits in prayer and a year with no limits in faithfulness. Today I want to try to help you to understand how we will achieve such a year. I think most Christians would all agree that they really want a year with no limits, but how? Today, I will begin to lay the ground work for the month of February. Today, I will preach a sermon that will help you plan for February 3rd. I will challenge you and encourage you to show God that you are really serious about having a year with no limits. I want to encourage you this morning to begin to remove any road blocks that would hinder you from achieving the goal for a year with no limits. The devil wants to stop you from having a year that I have laid out. He would rather war with your spirit, but we have a God that gives us the strength to pull down the strong holds that stand in our way. God gives us the ability to destroy the barriers that try to hold us in a place that God never intended for us to be. I don’t want us to become comfortable where we are. I don’t want us to become satisfied staying in this place. I want us to move forward. I want us to live in year with no limits.
Let me remind you of this scripture:
Eph. 6:12
12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph. 6:13
13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph. 6:14
14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph. 6:15
15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph. 6:16
16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph. 6:17
17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Eph. 6:18
18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
I hope that all of us remember that we are soldiers with the armour, so why are we not advancing? What must we do now? While praying for a year with no limits and seeking God for help this scripture began to ring in my spirit:
Matt. 17:14
14And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
Matt. 17:15
15Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
Matt. 17:16
16And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
Matt. 17:17
17Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
Matt. 17:18
18And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
Matt. 17:19
19Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
Matt. 17:20
20And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Matt. 17:21
21Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
This is the word for today….. This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
If we really want to destroy the enemy that attacks this church and if we really want to live in a year with no limits and if we want to survive the attacks then we must step up our plan and realize that in order to defeat this devil we must pray and FAST! We have to apply God’s requirement for power and begin to move to the next level.
Definition: Fasting is abstaining from food or bypassing the opportunity to eat with a specific spiritual goal in mind.
Matt. 6:16
16Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Notice Jesus says "When you fast" not if, but when. It is expected that we as Christians should fast. Therefore, February 3, 2008 we will begin a 21 day fast. I am asking everyone who really wants this church to destroy the enemy and move forward in Christ and to live in a year with no limits to join me in these 21 days of fasting and prayer. We have talked about victory and prayed for victory, but some things will only happen when you pray and fast! We want this church to grow and prosper, but we must be willing to fast so that we can destroy the enemy that holds us back. I believe that as you join me in fasting and prayer you will experience break through in the church as well as in your personal life! I am giving you a two week notice. I want you to begin to pray and plan how you will be able to fast fro 21 days. I want you to begin to lay out your plan and to begin to work your schedule around so that you can be at prayer meetings. Plan now to be successful in February on this mission.
Kinds of Fasts:
A Normal (full) Fast – Abstaining from food, drinking only liquids (water and/or specific juices)
An Absolute Fast – Abstain from food and liquids.
The Daniel (Partial) Fast – Abstain from meats, breads and sweets, drink only water. (Unseasoned vegetables and most natural fruits are acceptable)
Dan. 10:2
2In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.
Dan. 10:3
3I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
Combination Fast- Begin the first three days with a full or normal fast. Continue by observing the Daniel Fast for the remaining 18 days.
Joel 2:14
14Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?
Joel 2:15
15Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
Joel 2:16
16Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
Joel 2:17
17Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?
Purpose of Fasting:
1. The Passionate Pursuit of the Heart of God.
Isa. 58:3
3‘We have fasted before you!’ they say. ‘Why aren’t you impressed? We have done much penance, and you don’t even notice it!’"
I will tell you why! It’s because you are living for yourselves even while you are fasting. You keep right on oppressing your workers.
Isa. 58:4
4What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me.
Luke 2:37
37She was now eighty-four years old. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer.
Matt. 4:4
4But Jesus told him, "No! The Scriptures say,
‘People need more than bread for their life;
they must feed on every word of God.’"£
James 4:8
8Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, you hypocrites.
2. The Need for Understanding, revelation, and Insight and the Need for Spiritual Breakthrough.
Isa. 58:6
6"No, the kind of fasting I want calls you to free those who are wrongly imprisoned and to stop oppressing those who work for you. Treat them fairly and give them what they earn.
Isa. 58:7
7I want you to share your food with the hungry and to welcome poor wanderers into your homes. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.
Isa. 58:8
8"If you do these things, your salvation will come like the dawn. Yes, your healing will come quickly. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind.
Isa. 58:9
9Then when you call, the LORD will answer. ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.
"Stop oppressing the helpless and stop making false accusations and spreading vicious rumors!
Do you desire victory in your life and in your church? Then join me in these 21 days of prayer and fasting. I am going to put you to the task. I want more than a verbal commitment. Please plan now how you can make this happen. Plan on how you can deal with the shakes and the nervous feelings. Plan now on how you can do this and still take medicines. You have two weeks to begin to plan. I’ll talk about this a lot over the next couple of services. Join me in 21 days of prayer and fasting and let’s have a year with no limits.