Tag: repentance

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Exposing The Heart of Idolatry

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For the last couple of weeks, I have been looking at idolatry (here and here) and how many times our hearts are captured by things that are not God, nor are they worthy of our worship. I have received a lot of great feedback from some of you, sharing your own struggles with idolizing ministry and other things. Some have shared how the Lord has been speaking to them some of these same things for this season of life. And some of you have written emails to discuss some of the nuances of idolatry. I am grateful for all of it!

I want to take some of this feedback (questions, comments, and advice) I have received and go a little deeper into what idolatry is and how we guard our hearts and minds against getting to that place.

Old Testament Idols

Throughout the Old Testament, discussions about idolatry were centered on actual carved idols, made of wood or stone. These were human-created images representing the various gods of the nations. In some cultures, idol-making was a huge business.

Concerning one question I was asked, my personal belief is that the pagan gods whom the idols represented were not just figments of human imagination. I believe they were actually heavenly beings, given authority to rule in the earth, but were acting in rebellion against God. (For examples, see Luke 4:5-6, Deuteronomy 32:8, and Psalm 82. I also recommend the book “The Unseen Realm” by Michael S. Heiser for deeper study on this topic.)

Whether these were real demonic beings or simply human creations, we must understand that people really did worship these idols. They really prayed to them and trusted them for their own security and blessing. They really sacrificed to them, sometimes even their children (2 Kings 17:31, Isaiah 57:5).

These idols had so captured the people’s hearts that they would give or do anything in worship of them.

What Makes Something An Idol?

This kind of veneration and service to these false gods goes beyond a surface level of sinfulness. This was not that people would occasionally give lip service to a false god or would just go to enjoy a party that might have been thrown in some false god’s name.

No. What raises this to the level of idolatry rather than simply sin is that the people came to love their idols. Their whole lives were wrapped around that thing. This is why over and over again when speaking to the issue of idolatry, the Lord condemns His people as prostitutes and whores! (You can find examples in Psalm 106:39, Jeremiah 3:1, Ezekiel 16:16, Hosea 4:12, et al.)

Though the form our idols take has changed over the millennia, the fact that we love things in the place of God has not!

Idolatry is a Love Issue.

One of the pushbacks I received from the first post on ministry idolatry was that as Christians, our hearts have been fully restored by the Lord in salvation. Therefore, our hearts are not where the problem lies, but it is a problem of mindsets. We must “be transformed by the renewing of our minds” and “set our minds on things that are above” (Romans 12:2 and Colossians 3:2).

The problem is that other places in the New Testament continually remind us to establish, purify, and guard our hearts! Just look at Romans 1:21-25; 6:17, 10:10; Ephesians 1:18, 3:17; Philippians 4:7; Colossians 3:15; 1 Thessalonians 2:3-4, 3:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:17, 3:5; 1 Timothy 1:5; Hebrews 10:22; James 5:8; 1 Peter 3:15; 1 John 3:19-21.

Jesus Himself said that the fruit of a person’s life comes not out of the mind, but from deeper inside them; inside their hearts — the core of their being.

“The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

Luke 6:45

Sin is a Mind Issue

I am not at all discounting that the mind has a major part to play in our sanctification. Most of our daily battles with sin come from mental temptations. Even Peter’s denial of Jesus was because his mind was in the wrong place (Matthew 16:23). This is why, when I discuss repentance, I am quick to point out that the Greek word, metanoia, carries the idea of first changing one’s mind, and their actions will follow.

In fact, just a few months ago, I wrote a whole series on spiritual warfare, beginning with an article called “the battle of the mind.”

My point here, however, is that when something goes to the level of “idolatry,” it has moved from a temptation issue to a love issue. When a person “loves” something at the level only God deserves, it becomes an idol, and begins to take control of aspects of their lives where only Christ should be ruling!

If sex becomes my idol, I move from God’s design to worshipping sex with my whole being. I will look for any willing partner. I will get addicted to pornography. I will start frequenting sexually promiscuous stores and businesses. When sex becomes god, our lives will fall in line to worship it.

When money becomes my idol, I will become greedy rather than charitable. I will exploit others to gain access to this god I worship, including shady business tactics, Ponzi schemes, and worse!

The same can be said of any idol!

Demonization Follows Idolatry

One other major issue to be aware of is that behind every false idol we prop up in our lives, there are still demonic forces attached that will seek control of our lives. For example, behind the god of sex is a spirit of lust and perversion. Likewise, behind a god of money is the spirit of mammon.

The same can be true of most things. As we give our hearts to worship and love something other than God, we open ourselves up to the spirit world and often give control of those areas of our lives to demons! (Though I intend to write more about demonization and deliverance in the future, for now, I would highly recommend the book “Healing Through Deliverance” by Peter Horrobin. It is the best resource on the subject, including the question, “Can a Christian have a demon,” that I know of.)

Core Idols

Moving back to a broad view of idolatry, then, we must be aware that even as believers, there will be temptations in our hearts to love, worship, and live for certain things as replacements for God. Though we may not worship wooden figurines, statues, or in a Parthenon of gods, our culture still has idols we give in to all the time. I won’t even dig into sports teams, celebrity culture, or political activism. I want to go broader than that.

A few years ago, when I was still on staff at a church in Texas, much of our time in personal counseling with people was spent digging below the surface level of sin to root out if there was a “core idol” operating at the heart level, which was affecting the mental level of the person toward sin. The four core idols we looked for, more than any other, were power, comfort, security, and control. These are things that people don’t just stumble into as sin. These are things people hid in their hearts as the things they live for.

Power

The idol of power encompasses a love of success, money, and social status. It is a heart that desires to be elevated above other people in pride and arrogance. This is the core idol Naaman struggled with in last week’s post.

In the church, the idol of power is very often connected with a religious spirit. There is no freedom, only rules and regulations which must be followed, or else you are “out of alignment.”

Comfort

The idol of comfort is a heart that values my own ease over anything else. Greed may be involved, but not always. It may simply be a love for “me time” over a heart to serve the Lord and others.

As a missionary, I can tell you for sure that many in the Western world struggle with the idol of comfort when it comes to getting involved in cross-cultural missions. To give financially to global missions is a “sacrifice” rather than a “privilege.” To actually go visit a “third-world” country on a mission trip is unthinkable because it directly challenges this idol.

The idol of comfort comes out in many ways. Some people live with a general sense of entitlement about their comforts. Others “work hard to build the life” they want. Both of those may still be an idol.

Security

The security idol is another major player in most of our lives. Just look at how the world has transformed in the last few decades. Warning labels have popped up on everything from heavy machinery to disposable coffee cups. Children are not allowed to do many of the things I did as a child in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s.

In the realm of faith, where the early church boldly went into the world, facing persecution and martyrdom, our fear of creating enemies keeps us quiet about the gospel in the least-confrontational environments.

Security isn’t just about not getting physically hurt, either. Emotional wounding, traumatic experiences, or just the risk of getting offended has shut down people’s lives and love for God. Instead of resting in the shadow of His wings, we create safe spaces where we can hide so nothing can hurt us.

Control

Probably the biggest core idol of the four, the need to be in control is the one worshipped universally by people, at one time or another, in life. I will go anywhere or do anything so long as I remain in control. As soon as I am no longer in charge of myself and my faculties, then this idol begins to fight back.

I cannot think of any other false idol worshipped in the American church as that of “control.” After all, it is the American spirit — independence and self-reliance. It is the promise of having “my rights,” and no one else can tell me what to do. Just look at any “Karen” video on social media, and you will see this idol at work.

Guarding Our Minds and Hearts

For the Christian, then, whose heart is supposed to be captivated by Jesus and whose mind is being transformed by His Holy Spirit, we must come to understand that we must guard both!

We must fill our minds with righteous and holy things, just as the Word of God instructs (Philippians 4:8). So much of our battle with sin, temptation, and the devil has to do with letting our minds wander and, at least in the moment, forgetting who we are in Christ. Where we allow our minds to go, our lives will follow.

Still, though, at a deeper level, we must do a heart check from time-to-time, to make sure that it is still Jesus sitting on the throne.

Returning to First Love

My mind goes to Christ’s rebuke of the church of Ephesus in the book of Revelation. The Lord says:

“I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.”

Revelation 2:2-4

The Lord recognized that the church had a hatred of sin and evil and had gone out of their way to protect themselves from being infected from false teachings and lies from the enemy at the mental level. However, His condemnation comes at the heart level. “You are losing your love for Me!”

In the midst of their toil to live faithfully to the gospel, Jesus was losing His place at the center. That is idolatry.

For us, today, we must check our hearts and make sure Jesus is really the one we love. Jesus, who is our King, must be given the power over our lives rather than holding it for ourselves. The Holy Spirit of God must be our comfort, just as Jesus promised He would be. The covering of God’s love must be our security. And when we call Him our Lord, we must lay down our control and let Him be the one who guides our every step.

The Bible says, “love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). Jesus loved us so perfectly that all of our sin has been covered and dealt with. Now it is time for us to find complete freedom from idolatry, as we love Him back completely.

Let’s Connect

If you want to keep in touch, join me on social media for more #ChristianLife and #Gospel Leadership insights throughout the week. I can be found on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and LinkedIn, and would love to see you there.

You can also make sure to never miss any future posts by subscribing to my newsletter below. I promise never to spam your inbox or share your info with others.

If you’re enjoying the content I produce, a little caffeine to keep me going would be appreciated!



© Anthony Scott Ingram 2021. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by DESIGNECOLOGIST on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for any purchases made using the links on this post. Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry!

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Naaman and the Idols of Our Hearts

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In my last post, we looked at the various idols of ministry, including the worship of ministry itself, idolizing God’s blessings toward us, or even idolizing our own public recognition, and the fact that we need to repent. As I have had several conversations with people who were touched by that post and some who were hearing the same thing from God at the same time, I have continued to look at how ministry can become an idol, alongside many other things in our lives.

Truly, idols can be made of anything. We can idolize fame and fortune, success, money, houses, cars, clothing, status in society. We can idolize our family, spouse, kids, or names. We can idolize celebrities, politicians, and sports teams. So, though last week I was speaking primarily to ministers, I want to go a little broader this week in exposing the idols of our hearts.

To do this, I want us to look at a particular passage found in 2 Kings 5. It is a story I studied and shared about a few years ago but has a lot of value for us as we look at this topic today.

The Story of Naaman

Naaman was a commander of the Syrian army, a warrior of great standing who had won many battles. Because of his success, he had found great favor with his King, and they had become close. The only negative mark found on Naaman’s life is that he suffered from leprosy (2 Kings 5:1). In those days, leprosy was a death sentence, and given the Jewish law (though Naaman was not a Jew), made you ritually unclean and an outcast from society. This makes Naaman’s journey into Israel a questionable idea from the start.

In the story, an Israelite slave girl tells Naaman about the prophet Elisha, living in Samaria, who has the God-given ability to heal him of his leprosy (2 Kings 5:2-3). Naaman, therefore, goes to his king and requests to go and see this prophet. The king, however, sends Naaman with a letter to the king of Israel instead, asking him to heal Naaman (2 Kings 5:4-5). At this, the king of Israel goes into a rage. This letter asks him to do the impossible. Rather than looking to his God for the miracle, he tears his clothes and makes a public showing that his kingdom is intentionally being set up for an attack by the king of Syria (2 Kings 5:7).

Elisha hears what happened and sends a note to the king for Naaman to be sent to him, seemingly promising to heal him (2 Kings 5:8). Naaman goes, but instead of meeting Elisha, he is greeted by a messenger who tells him to dip himself in the Jordan river seven times, and he will be healed (2 Kings 5:9-10). Instead of rejoicing in the news that he will be healed, Naaman throws a fit. “Does this prophet know who I am,” he seems to ask. “And are not the rivers back in Syria much better than the Jordan.” Naaman, feeling that his own personal status has been attacked because the prophet wouldn’t look him in the eye, and had sent a messenger telling him to do some detestable thing, ignores the message and starts to return home (2 Kings 5:11-12).

Fortunately for Naaman, there are men with him who did not share his level of pride, and they press him to “do this simple thing.” Naaman does and is immediately healed from his leprosy (2 Kings 5:13-14). He returns to Elisha’s house bearing gifts of silver and gold and many new clothes, but Elisha refuses to accept them (2 Kings 5:15-16). Naaman then takes some dirt from Israel home with him and vows never to worship any god but the God of Elisha (2 Kings 5:17). He then makes this request: “Please forgive me, because when I return home, I must go into the temple with the king, and as he bows to worship, I will bow also.” Elisha sends him away in peace (2 Kings 5:18-19).

Shortly after Naaman is gone, Elisha’s servant, a man named Gehazi, decides that Elisha had made a great mistake by not taking the gifts. He goes after Naaman, makes up a story as to why Elisha had changed his mind, returns with the gifts and hides them for himself (2 Kings 5:20-24). The problem for Gehazi is that his boss is a prophet, and God had shown Elisha exactly what went down (2 Kings 5:25-26). Elisha then tells Gehazi that his punishment for what he had done is that from now on, he and his children would carry Naaman’s leprosy (2 Kings 5:27).

Each Man Had His Idols

As I studied this story out, thinking about heart-idols, each of the four characters caught my attention because of where they focused their attention, to build and maintain their identity.

The Idol of Power and Success

The first character is the King of Israel. He is the king of God’s people. He knew the stories of how God had delivered them over and over again. He knew the law and the promise of God. Yet, when time came to look to God, he doesn’t. He instead laments that his Kingship is being threatened. 

For the king, his identity comes through his success as a leader and his ability to maintain peace. When it seems that may be taken away, the King cannot handle it. His relationship with God is hurt by his desire for power and success. This was his idol.

The Idol of Wealth

The second character that sticks out to me is Gehazi. He is a prophet and had served under the leadership of Israel’s greatest prophet for some time. He wasn’t even the “lead pastor” in their ministry. Anyone in full-time ministry knows that it is safe to assume his pay isn’t that great. 

Unfortunately, when the opportunity to get rich quick comes his way, Gehazi throws everything he has away. His mind is angry about Elisha’s wasted financial opportunity. His eyes are fixed on the treasure walking away. Yet as his heart becomes consumed with getting the money, his relationship with God is hurt by his greed. Wealth was his idol.

The Idol of Social Status

The third character, and the one that stands out so prominently to me, is Naaman himself. 

Naaman has attained great social status in Syria. He is friends with the King, and can do or have anything he wants. He is a national hero. A celebrity of sorts. When he comes to Israel, he is offended when the King can’t give him what he wants, and then the prophet refuses to even see him face to face. This is one of those “do you know who I am” moments.

Still, God does an awesome work in his life, to the point that Naaman vows to never worship any other god. The one thing Naaman refuses to do, however, is to live that out in front of others in such a way that it might remove him from among the elites in Syria. 

It is clear that he has no intention of letting his newfound ‘love’ for God get in the way of his social status. He will go through all the motions necessary to maintain his friendship with the King and his celebrity status in Syria, even if it means making the appearance of worship in the temples of Syria’s false gods. Naaman’s relationship with God is hurt by his idolization of social status.

True Worship Overpowers Idolatry

The final character in the story is, of course, Elisha the prophet. 

Elisha has a history of committing himself to his relationship with God. He spends time in fellowship with the Lord, and his life exemplifies that, no matter what anyone thinks. 

Elisha could have publicly embarrassed the King of Israel by making a show of what he could do. His own “power” was greater than the king’s. 

He could have made a great friend of Naaman, the commander of the army of Israel’s enemy, and never worried about an attack on himself. This could have opened the door to nations and Kingdoms, and all the fame that comes with it.

Elisha could have used what God was doing through him to, televangelist style, make a name for himself and get very very rich, even greater than what Gehazi could have imagined. 

However, through it all, Elisha cared more about his relationship with God, than he did for money, success, or status. His worship of the Lord trumped all the allure of these false idols in the hearts of other men.

Where are Our Hearts?

Just as all of these men had made decisions regarding what they would pursue above all else, the challenge for our lives comes when we, too, have to make the decision of who or what we will love more – our creator, God, or the stuff He created. 

The truth is there is nothing wrong with success, or money, or status, so long as you can still fully submit yourself to God. But if those things hinder your relationship with Him, they have become idols of your heart, and need to be destroyed. That is the lesson Gehazi learned the hard way. What is it going to take for us to learn it ourselves?

So, sincerely, I want to encourage you. What is your highest pursuit right now? Maybe its one of these three things, or maybe its something else completely. If it isn’t the Lord, then the truth is your life is heading the wrong way, and only by returning to Him for relationship will turn it around!

Let’s Connect

If you want to keep in touch, join me on social media for more #ChristianLife and #Gospel Leadership insights throughout the week. I can be found on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and LinkedIn, and would love to see you there.

You can also make sure to never miss any future posts by subscribing to my newsletter below. I promise never to spam your inbox or share your info with others.

If you’re enjoying the content I produce, a little caffeine to keep me going would be appreciated!



© Anthony Scott Ingram 2021. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Gary Meulemans on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for any purchases made using the links on this post. Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry!

(An earlier version of this article was first published February 24, 2011, which has been revised and edited for this post.)

fasting

Two Breakthrough Benefits of Extended Fasting

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For the past 6 years, our ministry has begun each January with a 21-day extended fast. It has become a part of our annual rhythms, and has produced so much fruit in the lives of our churches and leadership, that it would be difficult to remove it from our calendars.

In the same way, many of you also begin the new year with dedicated time to fast and pray, as part of your annual re-focusing on the Lord for the next season. In fact, where I live in Uganda it is unusual to see Christians not fasting, in some capacity, during this season.

Despite the difficulty of an extended fast, many of the benefits of fasting are well established and attested to. We have seen numerous miracles, financial breakthroughs, physical healings, and more. It is also no secret that fasting has a large number of physical benefits for the human body as well. While all of these things are great, I want to narrow our focus a little bit in this post, and share two of the most beneficial effects of fasting in our spiritual walk with the Lord. Before we get there, let me address the question of “why” we fast in the first place.

Why Fast?

Fasting is an ancient practice, older than Christianity. It was a common practice of the Jewish people, as well as almost every other religious system. That in itself is not enough of a reason for us to do it, but does lay out the view that nearly every culture has found spiritual value in the practice.

According to the Lexham Bible Dictionary:

“In the ancient Near East, fasting held social significance similar to feasting. Both practices could create or renew a social bond and displayed an individual’s or group’s current state. While feasting was often a public display of wealth and success, fasting was a display of humility and grief…Fasting by people in the ancient world also could indicate a troubled spirit…By fasting, individuals could dissociate themselves from other people and society, perhaps to move closer to the divine…”

David Seal and Kelly A. Whitcomb, “Fasting,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).

This is the same sentiment we read throughout the Old Testament, as people would fast in seasons of grief and mourning, or as a method of seeking God’s guidance in preparation to face uncertainty, such as before a battle. They would also fast in connection with the Day of Atonement, which likely included fasting from more than only food. It also meant abstaining from sexual activity, personal activities which would draw attention to yourself in public (such as fragrant oils or bathing), and possible even from wearing comfort items, like shoes.

Fasting has always been a spiritual tool to aid a person’s prayers, seeking the grace of the Lord in difficult situations, and victory in the circumstances ahead.

Jesus Expected His Disciples To Fast

As fasting was simply a part of Jewish life, and Christianity is a fulfillment of the Jewish law and prophets, it is no wonder that Jesus expected that his disciples would continue the act of fasting. In one of His earliest public sermons – the sermon on the mount – He gave clarifying instructions on a number of spiritual practices, implying that they should continue.

In Matthew 6:2, Jesus begins these instructions by saying “when you give to the needy,” do not do it for show. Those who make a big ado about their giving have their reward in the praise of man.

In Matthew 6:5, He continues: “when you pray,” don’t do it just to look spiritual in front of people. It’s better to go into hiding, in the secret place with the Lord, than to pray with ulterior motives publicly.

Finally, in Matthew 6:15, He says, “when you fast” don’t put on a public spectacle of yourself. Instead of showing off your piety for all to see, keep it between you and the Lord, and He will reward you.

Christians Fast For More of Jesus

In Matthew 9:14, a question arose among the disciples of John the Baptist as to why they, and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but Jesus’ disciples did not. Jesus answered essentially that they could not fast because the answer to their prayers (Himself) was already with them. However, after He would leave them, they would fast.

This has proven to be the case. Since Jesus left, Christians in every generation have been faced with situations, both in private life and publicly, that have needed God’s divine intervention. Whether it be overcoming personal sin and demonic torments, or staying strong in the face of persecution, our only answer is to experience more of Jesus in our present lives. It is upon this point that I will build my case for the two big benefits of fasting.

Jesus Fasted

I believe that in all things, Jesus is the greatest example we have to follow in living the Christian life, and His Word gives us a view into His fasted life. In Luke 4:1, immediately after His baptism by John and His filling with the Holy Spirit, the Bible tells us:

And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry.

While Jesus was in the wilderness, He was fasting and praying. Modern science typically agrees that a 40 day abstinence from food is pretty much the extent of human capability. Death will follow not long after. That means that Jesus was not out for a refreshing spiritual retreat. He was desperate for God’s intervention in His life, and His ministry which was about to begin.

During this time, the Devil comes and tempts Jesus with many things, but only the final three temptations are recorded. The first was that He should turn stones to bread. Now, as someone who has not eaten for 40 days, and is possibly near death, this temptation would be a tough one. Still, Jesus resists the temptation. Then there is the temptation to test His identity as the Son of God. “Throw yourself off the Temple, and angels will rescue you.” Again, Jesus was victorious. Finally, the biggest test came. “I will give you everything you want, without the need to die on the cross, if you will worship me.” In full submission to God’s Word and will, Jesus sent the devil packing.

And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country.

Luke 4:13-14

It is from this simple story that I want us to look at the biggest benefits we, as Christ-followers, can receive when we partake of an extended season of fasting.

Benefit 1: Triumph Over Sin and the Devil

The first benefit I see in fasting is that it gives us the opportunity to take our physical limitations out of the equation in our pursuit of righteousness in our lives. As we put aside the daily cares of life, we are able to truly feel the Lord’s grief with our sin, and to mourn the wickedness He reveals in our hearts.

In the case of Jesus, we do not know the full extent of His temptations. Luke seems to say the temptations lasted for the entire 40 days, yet we only hear about the final day’s challenges. Even the rest of the gospels do not give us a deeper insight into the sinful temptations our Savior faced. What we do know is that the author of Hebrews testifies to us:

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Hebrews 4:15

I believe that Jesus faced every sort of temptation that we do: temptation towards self protection and self promotion, temptations toward sexual sin, temptations toward personal comforts and security, and more. Yet, during this season of fasting, the devil’s temptations were exhausted and Jesus walked away victorious.

Facing Our Own Temptations

Within the Body of Christ, there are many believers who struggle with the same sinful desires and temptations year-in and year-out, who never find the victory they seek, and wondering what can be done. One big answer is fasting.

Now, it isn’t a magic formula, where you stop eating and all the temptations just disappear. Your fasting must be purposeful. You should be mourning over your sin before the Lord, and looking for Him to strengthen you to withstand.

You should also be dedicating more time during your fast to the Word of God. After all, Jesus overcame His temptations by quoting the Word of God to the Devil. If the Word of God is not inside of us, we will not be able to use it as the weapon God intended.

Fasting Defeats The Devil

Just as we see Jesus overcoming the Devil through His extended season of fasting and prayer, we also hear Him teaching His disciples to do the same. In Mark 9, while Jesus is on the mountain being transfigured in the presence of Elijah and Moses, the majority of His disciples are at the bottom of the mountain failing at deliverance ministry. When Jesus returns from the mountain and exorcises the demons from the child, the disciples ask Him why they were incapable. His answer was that “this kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer” (Mark 9:29).

Although I cannot fully express what happens, there is a very clear spiritual dynamic at work that when we fast before the Lord, spiritual stamina is added to us to overcome every sinful temptation and demonic stronghold we face.

It doesn’t mean the tempter won’t return “at a more opportune time,” but it does give us victory for the current season.

Benefit 2: Empowerment By the Spirit of God

The second benefit I see demonstrated by Jesus’ 40-day fast was that it leads to a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit. Remember, Jesus had just been baptized in Luke 3, and when He came out of the water “the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove…” (Luke 3:22). Whenever He leaves the baptismal site, Luke 4:1 tells us very clearly that Jesus was “full of the Holy Spirit” and that it was the Spirit that led Him into the wilderness to fast and pray!

However (and seeing that this is Jesus we are talking about, this is a big “however”), verse 14 makes sure to emphasize that after fasting, Jesus returned from the wilderness “in the power of the Spirit.”

Now, we must understand that as Jesus had laid aside His Godhood when He incarnated and took on flesh, everything He did on earth (miracles, healing, raising the dead, casting out demons, etc) was not done as God. It was all done as a man filled with the Holy Spirit. (See Philippians 2:5-8.) What we see in this passage is that Jesus Himself experienced varying levels of the Holy Spirit’s presence and activity in His life. The key to more of the Spirit? Extended fasting!

Receiving Our Own Upgrade

Again, Jesus is an example to us. If He was able to go to higher levels of anointing through fasting and dealing with sinful temptations, we should expect the same for our own lives.

To repeat myself, it isn’t a magic formula whereby we simply stop eating food and the Holy Spirit falls on us. It is a specific pursuit and heartfelt hunger for more of the Lord that will stir Him and draw Him close. There are many scriptures which emphasize this point:

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:13

But from (among the nations) you will seek the LORD your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Deuteronmoy 4:29

And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Acts 4:31

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Luke 11:13 (emphasis mine)

Although the biblical command is that we should continually be filled with the Holy Spirit of God (Ephesians 5:18), there is something that happens when we shut ourselves out of the world for a season, and seek more of God’s presence in our lives. (This is especially true when connected to the newfound holiness after dealing with sin).

Getting Practical

I do understand the difficulty in modern life to even find the time for an extended fast, however I cannot more highly impress upon you the benefits it will have on your Christian walk. My advise is to start small. If you cannot set aside a long period of time to fast and pray, then start with a two- or three-day fast. Give a weekend up to the Lord. As you experience the grace that will follow, I’ll bet you will be drawn to more. It can also be practical to set aside a regular one or two days a week to fast. I know some leaders who fast every Tuesday and Thursday, in order to keep their spiritual walk with the Lord close, continually.

Perhaps, when you are ready for a little more, do a week-long fast. If you can take off work, that is ideal, although not completely necessary. If you stick with fruit and veggie juices, you should have the energy to do what you have to do, while spending your free time (lunch breaks, morning and evenings, etc) with the Lord in prayer. As seven is the Biblical number of completion, I find this to be a perfect goal for starting out with extended fasting.

In many seven-day fasts, I have seen breakthrough for extremely difficult temptations and much answer to prayer for more of His presence.

Whatever you decide to do, I would simply encourage you that fasting is a biblical practice, and Jesus expected that His followers would practice it as a normal part of the Christian life. You don’t have to wait on a “word from the Lord” that you should fast, just as you don’t wait on Him to call you to pray. Just go for it.

As a final point, I would say, do not do it as a legalistic “must-do” practice just because Pastor Scott said to, and don’t view it as a religious burden that is expected of you. Instead, let it be a time of resting in God’s grace, and see what He will do in and through you when you dedicate yourself to Him, and Him alone, in a new way.

Let’s Connect

As this is the first post of 2021, I want to say a quick thank you to all of you faithful readers who have been with me throughout the past year and all of you who have already connected with me through my newsletter and social media. You encourage me, so much, to keep going with this blog!

For those who haven’t yet signed up, it would be my great honor to have you sign up to receive my weekly newsletter. This is especially true in this season where conservative voices are being silenced on social media. The newsletter is the only sure way to make sure you never miss a new post.

You can also join me on various social media platforms for more #ChristianLife and #Gospel Leadership insights throughout the week. I can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Parler, and LinkedIn, and would love to see you there.

If you’re enjoying the content I produce, a little caffeine to keep me going would be appreciated!



© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Jonathan Pielmayer on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

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The Process of Repentance

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It’s the beginning of 2019, and just like I try to do every January, I have been pursuing God and making plans for the new year. I have been very excited at the potential that this year holds, yet it seems that this season has also been filled with an unusually large amount of spiritual attacks from the enemy. One financial breakthrough leads to ongoing attacks on finances immediacy afterwards. Personal pursuits of the Lord are disrupted by strife with the family. And of course, for a guy, a major part of this warfare comes in the form of sinful temptations toward lust, apathy, and depression. I am sure you have had these kinds of seasons of life as well, and if all of us are honest, there are times when we don’t win these battles with the enemy when they come. 

I have learned that when times of failure happen it must be my goal to ask for God’s forgiveness immediately, and confess to my accountability partner as quickly as possible. Running to God rather than away from Him when we sin should be the normal pattern for the Christian life, and doing so is a way to prevent the enemy from getting a foothold in our lives. The quick confession to another person also sets us up to find support and rebound from our failures, rather than walking in shame and trying to hide our guilt. 

Recently, after walking through the process of losing a battle with temptation, and walking through the forgiveness and confession processes, I took some time to prayer journal, asking God to speak to me about true repentance and how to fight a better fight next time. I believe some of the things He showed me will be helpful to you as well, so I wanted to share.

First, you need to understand that there is a difference between confession or asking forgiveness, and true repentance. Confession is recognizing our sin and is taking a step towards repentance, but it is not repentance itself. The same is true with asking for forgiveness. We can always find forgiveness when we look at the cross and let Christ take the punishment we deserve, reconciling ourselves again to God, but this is just another step toward repentance, and not repentance itself. 

While these two things put us back on equal footing with God as though the sin never happened, they are still not repentance. Repentance is the next step in this process, which sets us up to prevent the sin from happening again.

Repentance is a Two-Part Process.

First of all, it is changing the way we think, followed by changing what we do. Let’s look at these two steps in order.

1. Change the way you think.

The first step in repentance is changing the way we think. We must recognize that it is not our actions that are the root of the problem, but the beliefs we hold inside that guide our decision-making. This means before we can change our actions, we must first identify the false beliefs within us, which led to the action in the first place. These false beliefs can come from our life experiences, whether good or bad, or can come from lies the enemy directly speaks to us that we are unaware of, yet we nevertheless believe are true. 

We have to identify these thoughts and beliefs — pulling them out in the open to be seen for what they are — and then bring them into submission to the word of Christ (see 2 Corinthians 10:3-6). It is by bringing these false beliefs into subjection to the truth of the gospel that they lose their hold in our lives. This process is accomplished through meditation on relevant scriptures, spending time in prayer, and asking the Holy Spirit to write the truth of God into our hearts. 

Unfortunately, this first step in repentance seldom happens in a moment of time. It cannot be fully realized by simply quoting a verse to ourselves or quickly making a commitment to do better next time. Sadly, these are the casual attempts most of us tend to make. The reality is that most often this process will require us to wrestle with the truth before it truly sets in, which is why even fasting and other spiritual disciplines are sometimes tied with biblical repentance. It is in this meditation and wrestling with truth to overcome those lies which the Bible speaks of as “being transformed by the renewing of our minds” (Romans 12:2). This is overcoming strongholds of the kingdom of darkness and letting the truth set us free (John 8:31-32).

2. Change the way you act.

Once the unbelief and erroneous thought patterns have been identified, wrestled with, and broken by the truth, then our fleshly habits can be broken as well. This is when we can effectively commit to the change of action that is required as the second part of the repentance process. Do not hear me wrong, to do this will still require discipline on our part, but when these efforts are tied to a renewed mind set on Christ and His truth, then it is not legalistic works, but it is putting to death the deeds of the flesh in a joyful pursuit of Christ-likeness.

This makes repentance sound like a lot of work. I understand that. However, nowhere does scripture indicate that the discipleship process would be easy. Jesus said it is daily taking up your cross and following Him(Luke 9:23). I believe that repentance is the most personal act of spiritual warfare that we, as children of God, are called to engage in. It is a battle that starts by fixing our eyes (mind, and hearts) on Christ, and letting His truth set us free.

Confession and seeking forgiveness is an admission of failure in battle, but that is not enough. True repentance is making a commitment to continue in the fight by biblically transforming your mind and life.

If you truly want to be the man or woman God desires you to be, there are no shortcuts in this process. As Martin Luther once declared in dramatic fashion, “the entire life of the Christian is one of repentance.” I hope you will come to see that this lifestyle of repentance is better than giving up the fight and continuing in your sin.

(This post was originally published January 14, 2015. It has been revised and edited for reposting.)

Photo by Elena Taranenko on Unsplash

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