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And When You Fast | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes/2819/And When You Fast

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And When You Fast

Philip Anthony Mitchell·2819

Monday, January 5, 2026

Summary

Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell calls the church to pause and engage in a seven-day season of holy consecration through fasting and prayer at the start of the new year. Drawing from examples in Ezra, Acts, Joel, and Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6, he explains that true biblical fasting subdues the demands of the flesh to heighten spiritual clarity and draw closer to God. Believers are urged to fast sincerely and in secret, seeking God's guidance, spiritual awakening, and freedom from sin.

Key Scriptures

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Ezra 8:21-23↗Acts 13:1-3↗Joel 2:12-13↗Matthew 6:5-6↗

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These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.

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Themes

Consecration and FastingSpiritual AwakeningPrayer and Intimacy with GodSubduing the FleshRepentance and Alignment

Pastor's Points

1.Option 1: Total Fast — Abstaining from all food for the entire period as led by the Spirit (excluding those with medical conditions or physical labor demands).
2.Option 2: Partial Fast — Abstaining from delicacies, eating specific simple foods like Daniel, eating one meal a day, or fasting from sunup to sundown.

Key Points

1.A spiritual awakening and warning are necessary for the church to stop wasting time on temporary ambitions that will not matter at judgment.
2.The beginning of a new year offers an essential opportunity to reflect, recalibrate, and reorient life around God's highest priorities.
3.Biblical fasting is the abstinence from food for a period of time to turn one's heart fully toward God in prayer, devotion, and seeking His face.
4.Fasting takes authority over the flesh by denying it food and physical pleasure, making the spirit strong while weakening earthly appetites.
5.Scripture shows that corporate fasting leads to God providing for needs, granting divine guidance, and speaking clearly to His people.
6.God invites even those who feel distant, weak, or stuck in rebellion to return to Him through brokenness, weeping, and fasting.
7.Jesus expects His followers to pray and fast, using the phrase 'when you fast' rather than 'if you fast'.
8.Fasting must be done in secret unto God rather than for public approval or performative show, guaranteeing a heavenly reward.
9.Immature fasting focuses legalistically on what one cannot eat, whereas true spiritual fasting focuses on getting closer to Christ and experiencing His power.

Sermon Moments

“I thought about all of us who are filled with so much ambition, building monuments like sandcastles that are going to wash away on the shores of judgment.”

“Biblical fasting is the abstinence from food for a period of time to turn one's heart fully towards God in prayer and devotion and seeking His face.”

“When you fast, your body grows weak, but your spirit grows strong. You become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit.”

“God disrupted the economy to get their attention, because when God loves His children, He will disrupt what you built to draw you back.”

“Jesus never said 'if you fast,' He said 'when you fast.' It is expected of every follower of God.”

“When you fast, anoint your head, wash your face, and don't look gloomy. Do it in secret unto your Father.”

“If it don't hurt your flesh, it's not a fast. Gorging yourself while skipping TV is American, not biblical.”

“You have no idea what God will do with a surrendered body for seven days.”

This Week

Commit to a seven-day fast starting Monday, choosing either a total fast or a partial fast as led by the Holy Spirit.
Refuse to complain about food limitations or fall into legalism; focus instead on seeking spiritual intimacy with Christ.
Replace standard media consumption and ungodly music with worship, scripture reading, and audio Bibles throughout the day.
Set aside dedicated daily time in secret prayer to talk with God, seek guidance, and listen for His voice.
Re-evaluate personal vision boards and goals for the year, surrendering worldly ambitions that fall outside of God's will.
Reach out to fellow believers throughout the week to share scriptures, offer encouragement, and hold each other accountable.
Identify areas of sin, addiction, or unhealthy habits and use this week of consecration to ask God for complete deliverance.

Remember This

Biblical fasting is a vital discipline that subdues the flesh and positions believers to hear God's voice, receive His guidance, and draw closer to Christ.

A Challenge for You

Consecrate the first week of the new year to God by turning down your plate and your sin, burying yourself in Scripture, and seeking His face with your whole heart.

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