We’re Starting a series that will SET THE TONE for the next year as a CHURCH FAMILY
Called “IN MY GENERATION”
BIG QUESTION:
What do we want to see God do in OUR GENERATION?
What are we hoping to see?
- To Change
- To Happen
- To be Healed
- To be Broken
I need to point out an issue that plagues us MODERN CHRISTIANS…
When we pray, we are often asking God to BLESS what we have already CHOSEN instead of asking God to show us what He was already BLESSED
- We are doing things backward
The reason is that we ARE NOT seeking God but SEEKING SELF
We know our wants but not God’s
Being honest: It’s not easy to know the will of God
- But we must try
We should take our cues from the first Christians…
Acts 1
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem—a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they arrived, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14 They all were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
Because they were waiting on God’s direction…
Acts 2
2 When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. 3 They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them. 4 Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them.
I’m convinced that part of the reason that we do not see God moving mightily in our generation is…
- We are more interested in how he can help us get what we want than being HOLY, HONORING, OR SUBMITTING to HIS AUTHORITY
So how can we see God move in OUR GENERATION?
One of the things repeated in scripture OVER and OVER is the idea of…
CONSECRATION: The setting apart of a person, thing, or place as sacred.
For the Christian believer, Consecrating yourself is to CHOOSE to set apart your:
- Life
- Ideas
- Desires
- Hopes and dreams
- And to give them ALL to the Lord
This is what Paul means when he writes…
Romans 12:1
1 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.
Living Sacrifices
- Set apart for the Kingdom of God
God doesn’t want what you have; He wants YOU
This is difficult to do
- What does it look like?
Colossians 3
3 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, God’s wrath is coming upon the disobedient, 7 and you once walked in these things when you were living in them. 8 But now, put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator. 11 In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.
Those categories no longer define you
- You are defined by WHO you are IN, not what you WHERE
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. 14 Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everythingin the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
This is what a set-apart life looks like
- In the world, not of it
But there are moments in our life when we need to specifically set ourselves apart (Consecrate ourselves to God)
Moments when:
- We need a specific answer
- When we need direction
- When we want to draw closer to God
- When we need to overcome a difficult issue
- When we are interceding for others or ourselves
How do we set ourselves apart (Consecrate Ourselves before the Lord?)
Dedicated prayer and fasting do 2 things:
1: Clarifies and Refocuses
- Right priorities. What is most important
We don’t usually focus on what we’re supposed to UNTIL it’s too late
As Christian believers, that’s not how we do it
- We ACTIVELY seek the Lord
- We ACTIVELY desire to know His will
David wrote…
Psalm 35:13
Yet when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, and my prayer was genuine.
Dedicated Prayer and Fasting helps us:
Refocuses: Puts our priorities right
- Do I really need to be on social media?
- Is watching tv the right thing for my time?
- Should I be sleeping in this late
Clarifies: What Is really happening
- In my life
- What are my actual struggles
- stops the NUMBING that we are used to
- It puts us in touch with discomfort and struggle
2: Prepares
Planting a garden requires
- Weeds and rocks removed
- hard ground tilled
- Water to be brought in
- Fertilizer to be put down
In order for the RIGHT THINGS to grow
Your heart is the ground
Dedicated prayer and fasting is the act of removing the junk, tilling the soil, and watering God’s truth in your life
1 Peter 2
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Here is my challenge to you
Take part in 21 days of prayer and fasting as a church
- SEEK 2023
- Seeking God for what he wants to do in OUR generation
What to do:
1: Pray and Pick a fast
- Fasting starts tomorrow
- Information on the website and app
- From Jan 9th – 29th
Types of fasts
COMPLETE FAST
- Only Water
- Short term
PARTIAL FAST
- Not eating at specific times
- ex: Morning or night
SELECTIVE FAST
- Abstaining from specific foods
- ex: Chocolate/meat
SOUL FAST
- Abstaining from distractions
- ex: Social media/tv
2: Be in prayer for these 3 specific things:
YOURSELF
- What is God want to do in you?
- What are you asking Him to do?
YOUR FAMILY
- What does God want to do in your family?
- What are you asking him to do?
OUR CHURCH
- What does God want to do in our church?
- What does he need you to do in the church?
3: Take part in Corporate Prayer Gatherings
- Jan 11 – 7-7:30am
- Jan 18 – 12-12:30am
- Jan 25 – 6:30-7am (Family Corporate Prayer)
I really want to encourage you to take part in this
- Are you desperate to see God move?
If you are feeling a little overwhelmed, START HERE:
START THE MORNING WITH GOD AS THE FIRST THING
- No phone/social/news/breakfast
- Get up just a little earlier if necessary