Fasting & Deep Joy + Wed. Night For Everyone!
Good morning Immanuel. Fasting will not cause you to be forgiven, but it might help you feel forgiven.
“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster" (Joel 2:12-13).
Over the next six weeks, our Immanuel iKids Director, Taylor Cheek, will be teaching our Kids Discipleship Groups the spiritual discipline of fasting. Every Wednesday during this six-week period, we will share a brief lesson on fasting adapted from her work in The Gospel Project For Kids Leader Bible Study (Lifeway). You are also invited to join her and others for Zoom prayer meetings on Thursdays at noon from March 9th to April 13th as we pray for the children of Immanuel.
Fasting can help us experience the groaning of our spirits, which long to be free from these bodies of sin and this world of grief (Romans 8:23). To be clear, no amount of fasting or any other action on our part can earn our forgiveness. Only the blood of Jesus can atone for sin. But even once we have placed our trust in Jesus alone for salvation, we may still sin in such a way that simply confessing it verbally feels dishonoring to our Lord and the great sacrifice He made for us...There are many instances in the Bible of fasting to express repentance, and every indication that we can fast as often as we feel led by the Holy Spirit. Repentance does not always call for fasting, but it would certainly be inappropriate to feast if we are truly grieved by our sin.
The Lord pronounced this condemnation of Jerusalem through His prophet Isaiah: “On that day the Lord God of Armies called for weeping, for wailing, for shaven heads, and for the wearing of sackcloth. But look: joy and gladness, butchering of cattle, slaughtering of sheep and goats, eating of meat, and drinking of wine—‘Let’s eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!’ The Lord of Armies has directly revealed to me: ‘This iniquity will not be wiped out for you people as long as you live.’ The Lord God of Armies has spoken” (Isaiah 22:12-14).
Acts of repentance do not make us any more worthy of forgiveness, but acting inconsistently with repentance can make us miss out on fully experiencing God’s grace. Remember, we practice spiritual disciplines after we have already received the mercy of God in order to change our affections. Fasting will not cause you to be forgiven, but it might help you feel forgiven.
Taylor Cheek, The Gospel Project For Kids, Leader Bible Study (Lifeway, 2023). Used with permission by the author.
March 22, 2023 - Immanuel At a Glance
Resources
THIS PAST SUNDAY
OTHER RESOURCES
Gospel Culture - At Immanuel, we talk a lot about Gospel Culture. In 2022, Pastor TJ Tims and Immanuel’s founding pastor, Dr. Ray Ortlund, discussed Ground-Level Gospel Culture. Listen here!
Wednesday Night: Teaching + Community For Everyone
Join us tonight as we gather for Wednesday night at Immanuel!
Adults will continue our study in the book of Acts.
Students will gather for City Groups.
iKids will be gathering for Discipleship Groups
On the Horizon
ONLINE PRAYER - Every week, Jenn Ross, one of our Discipleship Groups leaders, facilitates online prayer meetings that everyone is welcome to join. On Thursdays through the second week of April, Thursday Zoom meetings will be led by Taylor Cheek and focus on praying and fasting for our kids. The Zoom meeting times and links are below:
Every Thursday afternoon from 12:00-12:45 pm
Every Sunday morning from 7:30-8:00 am
EASTER - The risen Christ is worthy of our trust and worship. Join us on April 9 as we celebrate the wonder of his resurrection. Be on the lookout for more info!
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