NOVEMBERFAST '24: On Earth As It Is In Heaven
ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
In Matthew 6 we see Jesus demonstrate for his disciples (both those with him at the time and for those to come like us) how to pray…
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven…
ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN: Aligning Ourselves
Starts with Repentance
Before we can align anything around us with heaven, we must first make sure we’re aligned!
Isaiah 59:1-2 (ESV) Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
The work of redemption was completed by Christ Jesus but His offer of grace must be accepted by faith.
Those already following Christ still live with a sin nature in a sinful world. As such, sin will always be a threat to prayer’s effectiveness and must be addressed.
ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN: Aligning Ourselves…
Prioritizes Kingdom Over Comfort
Isaiah 58:3-11 (ESV) Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD? "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, 'Here I am.' If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
Fasting is NOT…
Asceticism: self-denial or self-punishment for the purpose of attaining status or favor with God.
Strategic leverage to persuade or force God into action (i.e. hunger strike)
Religious ritual or hypocritical showmanship
Fasting is…
An exercise of control over our mental, emotional, and physical craving to chase one self-gratification after another.
A time of concentrated, intentional engagement with the Holy Spirit through prayer, meditation on scripture, and praise.
A refocus on the priorities that God has called us to rather in lieu of self-fulfillment.
ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN: Aligning Circumstances
Accurately identifying what SHOULD BE compared to what currently IS.
Does scripture support the need for change?
What change will bring the most glory to God?
What’s in the way of that happening?
ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN: Aligning Circumstances
Declare War
Eph 6:12 (ESV) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Spiritual warfare is not optional. God’s best on this earth is under attack so we can choose to fight and win or we can choose to give territory to the enemy.
“The only thing necessary for evil to triumph, is for good men to do nothing” - unknown
Ignoring the gap between what is and what should be is a dereliction of The Great Commision that Jesus gave us.
Matthew 28:18-20 “...teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
Luke 10:9,17-20 Jesus sends out the 72
John 17:18-20 Jesus prays for all believers
We fight from a place of victory, but we must still fight.
Anticipate Resistance:
Luke 8:28b-29a (ESV) "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me." For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man.
Other Biblical examples of pushback:
Mark 8:23-25 Jesus lays hands on blind man twice
Mark 9:17-29 Disciples unable to cast out demon
The enemy will try to convince us to accept “what is” whenever we don’t see results.
Don't give in to, “I guess that’s just the way it’s supposed to be”, “maybe this is God’s plan”, or “This doesn’t work”.
Surround yourself with faith filled people who will join your fight - Who you’re around matters!
Mark 6:4-6 Jesus unable to perform many miracles in his home town due to unbelief
Return to the Lord for clarity to identify what’s “off” and adjust
Fight with Expectation:
1 John 5:14-15 (ESV) And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him
Mark 9:17-29 (ESV) “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
We may be unclear on when or how, but the question is never, “If?”
Approach the King with confidence. We’re fighting for His will to be done, so like a general that’s been given an objective:
We can ask for the resources needed
Identify the battle fronts we need support on
Present our plan to the King for approval or revision
We will relentlessly pursue God’s best until we see His will done on earth as it is in heaven.