Fasting part 1

This powerful message challenges us to examine whether we're living with true allegiance to Jesus or merely holding theological knowledge. Drawing from John 14:6 where Jesus declares Himself 'the way, the truth, and the life,' we're confronted with a sobering reality: 60% of Americans identify as Christian, yet only 4% are actual disciples. Like people who believe in six-pack abs but never do the work to achieve them, many of us believe in Jesus without adopting His lifestyle. The early church understood something we've forgotten—for 1,500 years, the entire Christian world fasted every Wednesday and Friday. This wasn't legalism; it was a rhythm of life that produced power, freedom, and transformation. John Wesley considered fasting so essential he wouldn't ordain ministers who didn't practice it regularly. The sermon introduces a radical call to return to the spiritual disciplines Jesus and the early church practiced, beginning with fasting. This isn't about earning God's favor but about crucifying our flesh, gaining mastery over our desires, and positioning ourselves to receive the rewards Jesus promised. When we discipline our bodies in one area, we gain spiritual authority in all areas. The connection between denying physical appetites and overcoming sexual sin, anxiety, and other struggles is profound. As we learn to say 'no' to our flesh through fasting, we're actually saying 'yes' to the Spirit, creating space for God's power to flow through us in ways willpower alone never could.