Catalyst Church of Carrollton

Being About It

Ekklesia

Koinonia 

 

Sundays matter. 

 

Let us think about each other and help each other to show love and do good deeds. You should not stay away from the church meetings, as some are doing, but you should meet together and encourage each other. Do this even more as you see the day coming. -Hebrews‬ ‭10:24-25‬ ‭NCV‬‬

 

On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. -Acts ‭2:1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

Sundays aren’t enough. 

 

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its salty taste, it cannot be made salty again. It is good for nothing, except to be thrown out and walked on. “You are the light that gives light to the world. A city that is built on a hill cannot be hidden. And people don’t hide a light under a bowl. They put it on a lampstand so the light shines for all the people in the house. In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and will praise your Father in heaven. ‭‭-Matthew‬ ‭5:13-16‬ ‭NCV‬‬ 

 

12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.[f] 14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, 24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. -1 Corinthians 12:12-27 NLT 

 

YOU are a…

 

Contributor-“God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.” -Ephesians‬ ‭2:10‬ ‭NCV‬‬

Creator-“So God created human beings in his image. In the image of God he created them. He created them male and female.” -Genesis‬ ‭1:27‬ ‭NCV‬‬

 

Producer- “The apostles were doing many miracles and signs, and everyone felt great respect for God. All the believers were together and shared everything. They would sell their land and the things they owned and then divide the money and give it to anyone who needed it. The believers met together in the Temple every day. They ate together in their homes, happy to share their food with joyful hearts. They praised God and were liked by all the people. Every day the Lord ADDED those who were being saved to the group of believers.” -‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:43-47‬ ‭NCV‬‬ 

“If I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people toward me.” -John‬ ‭12:32‬ ‭NCV‬‬

Wisdom

Wisdom: “the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise” -Oxford Languages

 

“The Lord made me at the beginning of His creation, before His works of long ago. I was formed before ancient times, from the beginning, before the earth began. I was born when there were no watery depths and no springs filled with water. I was delivered before the mountains and hills were established, before He made the land, the fields, or the first soil on earth. I was there when He established the heavens, when He laid out the horizon on the surface of the ocean, when He placed the skies above, when the fountains of the ocean gushed out, when He set a limit for the sea so that the waters would not violate His command, when He laid out the foundations of the earth. I was a skilled craftsman beside Him. I was His delight every day, always rejoicing before Him. I was rejoicing in His inhabited world, delighting in the human race.” -Proverbs‬ ‭8:22-31 HCSB

 

Wisdom comes to any heart willing to ask for it and pursue it.

 

“At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask. What should I give you? ” And Solomon replied, “You have shown great and faithful love to Your servant, my father David, because he walked before You in faithfulness, righteousness, and integrity. You have continued this great and faithful love for him by giving him a son to sit on his throne, as it is today. “Lord my God, You have now made Your servant king in my father David’s place. Yet I am just a youth with no experience in leadership. Your servant is among Your people You have chosen, a people too numerous to be numbered or counted. So give Your servant an obedient heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours? ” Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had requested this. So God said to him, “Because you have requested this and did not ask for long life or riches for yourself, or the death of your enemies, but you asked discernment for yourself to understand justice, I will therefore do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again. In addition, I will give you what you did not ask for: both riches and honor, so that no man in any kingdom will be your equal during your entire life. If you walk in My ways and keep My statutes and commands just as your father David did, I will give you a long life.”” -1 Kings‬ ‭3:5-14‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

 

“Wisdom is supreme-so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding.” -Proverbs 4:7 HCSB

 

“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, listening closely to wisdom and directing your heart to understanding; furthermore, if you call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” -Proverbs‬ ‭2:1-6‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

 

5 Actions: Accept, Listen, Direct, Call and Lift, Seek and Search

 

Accept- “If you accept my words and store up my commands within you…”

 

“Listen, for I speak of noble things, and what my lips say is right. For my mouth tells the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips. All the words of my mouth are righteous; none of them are deceptive or perverse. All of them are clear to the perceptive, and right to those who discover knowledge. Accept my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. For wisdom is better than jewels, and nothing desirable can compare with it.” -‭‭Proverbs 8:6-11 HCSB

 

Listen- “listening closely to wisdom”

 

Direct- “directing your heart to understanding”

 

Call and lift- “if you call out to insight, and lift your voice to understanding”

 

Insight: “the power or act of seeing into a situation” -Merriam-Webster

 

Seek and search- “if you seek it like silver, and search for it like hidden treasure”

 

“then you will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God.” -Proverbs 2:5 HCSB

 

“For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” -Proverbs 2:6 HCSB

 

“Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.” -James‬ ‭1:5‬ HCSB

 

“I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the perception of your mind may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength. -Ephesians‬ ‭1:17-19 HCSB

No More Reruns

“Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’ “The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.” ‭‭-Luke‬ ‭13:6-9‬ ‭NLT

____________ is why you’re stuck in reruns. 

Your Perspective.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” -‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:16-18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” -Colossians‬ ‭3:1-2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 

Other People’s Perspective. 

 

“When they heard this, the people in the synagogue were furious. Jumping up, they mobbed him and forced him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push him over the cliff, but he passed right through the crowd and went on his way.” ‭‭-Luke‬ ‭4:28-30‬ ‭NLT

 

“And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then Jesus went from village to village, teaching the people.” ‭‭-Mark‬ ‭6:5-6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

Your Past. 

 

“Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! The Lord, the God of Israel, says: I anointed you king of Israel and saved you from the power of Saul. Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “Yes, but the Lord has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin.” -2 Samuel‬ ‭12:7, 13‬ ‭NLT

 

‬‬Your Pride. 

“Some people think they are doing right, but in the end it leads to death. -Proverbs 14:12 NCV

 

“Laughter can conceal a heavy heart, but when the laughter ends, the grief remains.” -Proverbs‬ ‭14:13‬ ‭NLT

 

Your Reference. 

 

“The Lord said to Abram, “Leave your country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land I will show you. I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you. I will make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you, and I will place a curse on those who harm you. And all the people on earth will be blessed through you.” ‭‭-Genesis‬ ‭12:1-3‬ ‭NCV‬‬

 

GIRL, STOP!

Leah-Delicate or Weary

Rachel-Ewe 

You’re gonna exhaust yourself to death (or out of living). 

31 When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, he enabled her to have children, but Rachel could not conceive. 32 So Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “The Lord has noticed my misery, and now my husband will love me.” -Genesis 29:31-32 NLT 

Reuben-Behold, A Son .

33 She soon became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She named him Simeon, for she said, “The Lord heard that I was unloved and has given me another son.” -Genesis 29:33 NLT 

Simeon-Hearing

34 Then she became pregnant a third time and gave birth to another son. He was named Levi,[c] for she said, “Surely this time my husband will feel affection for me, since I have given him three sons!” Genesis 29: 34 NLT 

Levi-Attachment 

35 Once again Leah became pregnant and gave birth to another son. She named him Judah, for she said, “Now I will praise the Lord!” And then she stopped having children. -Genesis 29:35 NLT 

Judah-Praise
1 When Rachel saw that she wasn’t having any children for Jacob, she became jealous of her sister. She pleaded with Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!” 2 Then Jacob became furious with Rachel. “Am I God?” he asked. “He’s the one who has kept you from having children!”3 Then Rachel told him, “Take my maid, Bilhah, and sleep with her. She will bear children for me,  and through her I can have a family, too.” 4 So Rachel gave her servant, Bilhah, to Jacob as a wife, and he slept with her. 5 Bilhah became pregnant and presented him with a son. 6 Rachel named him Dan,  for she said, “God has vindicated me! He has heard my request and given me a son.” 7 Then Bilhah became pregnant again and gave Jacob a second son. 8 Rachel named him Naphtali, for she said, “I have struggled hard with my sister, and I’m winning!” -Genesis 30:1-8 NLT 

Dan-Judgment 

Naphtali-Wrestle 

9 Meanwhile, Leah realized that she wasn’t getting pregnant anymore, so she took her servant, Zilpah, and gave her to Jacob as a wife. 10 Soon Zilpah presented him with a son. 11 Leah named him Gad, for she said, “How fortunate I am!” -Genesis 30:9-11 NLT 

Gad-Troop/Good Fortune 

12 Then Zilpah gave Jacob a second son. 13 And Leah named him Asher,  for she said, “What joy is mine! Now the other women will celebrate with me.” -Genesis 30:9-13 NLT

Asher-Happy 

14 One day during the wheat harvest, Reuben found some mandrakes growing in a field and brought them to his mother, Leah. Rachel begged Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.” 15 But Leah angrily replied, “Wasn’t it enough that you stole my husband? Now will you steal my son’s mandrakes, too? ”Rachel answered, “I will let Jacob sleep with you tonight if you give me some of the mandrakes.” 16 So that evening, as Jacob was coming home from the fields, Leah went out to meet him. “You must come and sleep with me tonight!” she said. “I have paid for you with some mandrakes that my son found.” So that night he slept with Leah. 17 And God answered Leah’s prayers. She became pregnant again and gave birth to a fifth son for Jacob. 18 She named him Issachar, for she said, “God has rewarded me for giving my servant to my husband as a wife.” -Genesis 30:14-18 NLT 

Issachar-Reward

19 Then Leah became pregnant again and gave birth to a sixth son for Jacob. 20 She named him Zebulun, for she said, “God has given me a good reward. Now my husband will treat me with respect, for I have given him six sons. -Genesis 30:19-20 NLT 

Zebulun-Dwelling 

21 Later she gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah.  -Genesis 30:21 NLT 
Dinah-”Nothing Symbolically significant in her name”
22 Then God remembered Rachel’s plight and answered her prayers by enabling her to have children. 23 She became pregnant and gave birth to a son. “God has removed my disgrace,” she said. 24 And she named him Joseph,  for she said, “May the Lord add yet another son to my family.” -Genesis 30:22-24 NLT 

Joseph- May He Add

“After a very hard delivery, the midwife finally exclaimed, “Don’t be afraid—you have another son!” Rachel was about to die, but with her last breath she named the baby Ben-oni (which means “son of my sorrow”). The baby’s father, however, called him Benjamin (which means “son of my right hand”).” -Genesis‬ ‭35:17-18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Flip the Script

Daniel-God is My Judge

Belteshazzar-”Bel’s Prince”. Nebuchadnezaar said this “Finally, Daniel came to me. (I called him Belteshazzar to honor my god, because the spirit of the holy gods is in him.)” ‭‭Daniel‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭NCV

5 The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service. 6 Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the young men chosen, all from the tribe of Judah. 7 The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names: Daniel was called Belteshazzar. Hananiah was called Shadrach. Mishael was called Meshach. Azariah was called Abednego. Daniel 1:5-7 NLT

Hannaiah (Beloved by the Lord) to Shadrach-(Illuminated-their sun god).

Mishael-(Who is as God) to Meshach-(Who is like Shach-believed to be a Babylonian goddess). 

Azariah (The Lord Is My Help) to Abednego-(Servant of Nego). 

8 But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods. Daniel 1:8 NLT

9 Now God had given the chief of staff both respect and affection for Daniel. 10 But he responded, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has ordered that you eat this food and wine. If you become pale and thin compared to the other youths your age, I am afraid the king will have me beheaded.” 11 Daniel spoke with the attendant who had been appointed by the chief of staff to look after Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 12 “Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,” Daniel said. 13 “At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see.” 14 The attendant agreed to Daniel’s suggestion and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king. Daniel 1: 9-15 NLT

 

16 So after that, the attendant fed them only vegetables instead of the food and wine provided for the others. 17 God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams. 18 When the training period ordered by the king was completed, the chief of staff brought all the young men to King Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and no one impressed him as much as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they entered the royal service. 20 Whenever the king consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, he found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom. Daniel 1:16-20 NLT

 

3 SHIFTS-

1. See the world. See People. Not the enemy. 

2. Quit spending so much time rejecting culture. 

3. Quit living with a chip on your shoulder.

Around OR Through?

Jacob-SUPPLANTER, TO CIRCUMVENT (FIND A WAY AROUND), LIAR, MANIPULATOR, DECEIVER).

 

“When the second baby was born, he was holding on to Esau’s heel, so that baby was named Jacob....” -Genesis‬ ‭25:26‬ ‭NCV‬‬

 

Jacob’s Secondary meaning-UNFINISHED. 

 

Israel-FIGHTER OR WRESTLER OF GOD. 

 

Faith is an intentional fight. 

 

Jacob learned to live by what caused him to limp. 

 

“Let us not glide through this world and then slip quietly into heaven, without having blown the trumpet loud and long for our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Let us see to it that the devil will hold a thanksgiving service in hell, when he gets the news of our departure from the field of battle.” -CT Studd

Stubborn OR Unstoppable?

Simon: Listen Or Hearing.

Cephas/Peter: Rock or Stone.   

You gotta “Simon” to be “Peter”. 

13 When Jesus came to the area of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his followers, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They answered, “Some say you are John the Baptist. Others say you are Elijah, and still others say you are Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 Then Jesus asked them, “And who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”17 Jesus answered, “You are blessed, Simon son of Jonah, because no person taught you that. My Father in heaven showed you who I am. 18 So I tell you, you are Peter.[a] On this rock I will build my church, and the power of death will not be able to defeat it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; the things you don’t allow on earth will be the things that God does not allow, and the things you allow on earth will be the things that God allows.” -Matthew  16:13-19 NCV

You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests…‭‭ -1 Peter‬ ‭2:4-5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. -1 Peter‬ ‭2:9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Peter said, “Everyone else may stumble in their faith because of you, but I will not.” Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, tonight before the rooster crows you will say three times that you don’t know me.” ‭‭------Matthew‬ ‭26:33-34‬ NCV

15 When they finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”17 A third time he said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” Peter said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you!” He said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 I tell you the truth, when you were younger, you tied your own belt and went where you wanted. But when you are old, you will put out your hands and someone else will tie you and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 (Jesus said this to show how Peter would die to give glory to God.) Then Jesus said to Peter, “Follow me!” -John 21:15-19 NCV

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. -Acts‬ ‭4:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. -Acts‬ 5:14-15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. -2 Peter‬ ‭1:3-4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” -‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭1:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Nothing To Prove OR Everything To Prove?

WHY you live will define your life.

 

“I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault. I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” ‭‭-Philippians‬ ‭3:5-14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” -‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

 

“Each person should judge his own actions and not compare himself with others. Then he can be proud for what he himself has done. Each person must be responsible for himself.” ‭‭-Galatians‬ ‭6:4-5‬ ‭NCV

 

But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice.” ‭‭-Philippians‬ ‭1:18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.” ‭‭-1 Corinthians‬ ‭10:31-33‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

“May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God. From now on, don’t let anyone trouble me with these things. For I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Jesus. Dear brothers and sisters, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.” ‭‭-Galatians‬ ‭6:16-18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

“As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.” -2 Timothy‬ ‭4:6-8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Reset

GOD IS INTENTIONAL. 

 

God will isolate you. 

Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” 3 Elijah was afraid[a] and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. 7 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” -1 Kings 19:1-13 NIV

 

God will insulate you. (Daniel 3)

Shift Your Hunger

Your heart changes as your hunger changes. 

Your habits change as your hunger changes.

 

Strength happens as you shift your hunger. 

 

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.” -Matthew‬ ‭4:1-2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 

Favor happens as you shift your hunger.

 

“If you keep quiet at this time, someone else will help and save the Jewish people, but you and your father’s family will all die. And who knows, you may have been chosen queen for just such a time as this.” Then Esther sent this answer to Mordecai: “Go and get all the Jewish people in Susa together. For my sake, fast; do not eat or drink for three days, night and day. I and my servant girls will also fast. Then I will go to the king, even though it is against the law, and if I die, I die.” ‭‭-Esther‬ ‭4:14-16‬ ‭NCV‬‬

 

Redemption/Restoration happens as you shift your hunger.

 

“The Lord says, “Even now, come back to me with all your heart. Fast, cry, and be sad.” Tearing your clothes is not enough to show you are sad; let your heart be broken. Come back to the Lord your God, because he is kind and shows mercy. He doesn’t become angry quickly, and he has great love. He can change his mind about doing harm.” ‭‭-Joel‬ ‭2:12-13‬ ‭NCV

 

Clarity happens as you shift your hunger. 

 

“When I heard these things, I sat down and cried for several days. I was sad and fasted. I prayed to the God of heaven,” -Nehemiah‬ ‭1:4‬ ‭NCV‬‬ 

 

“They chose elders for each church, by praying and fasting for a certain time. These elders had trusted the Lord, so Paul and Barnabas put them in the Lord’s care.” ‭‭-Acts‬ ‭14:23‬ ‭NCV 

 

Chains break as you shift your hunger. 

 

And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” ‭‭-Mark‬ ‭9:28-29‬ ‭NKJV

 

“In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” -‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬