GET YOUR EDGE BACK
clay nesmith | january 8
A sports team can get the edge over their opponent by having the right training and tools for the job. And God desires for us to have the edge in life. Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.
All of us express faith every day. When we put that faith in God and connect it with the grace He offers to us freely through Jesus, we will have an amazing edge in our lives. To have a connection with God, we have to make sure we’re putting our faith in the right thing. When it feels like our life isn’t flowing properly, it’s because we don’t understand how to use the tools God has given us to live incredible, fulfilling lives.
Three tools to keep our faith empowered: Matthew 6:3-4, 17-18
…when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you…when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you...when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
1) Giving Grace flows through a generous spirit. Imagine that you’re trying to use a chainsaw to cut through a log. Giving is like the lubricant that keeps the chainsaw running efficiently and smoothly.
2) Prayer Prayer fuels our faith. It’s the gas in the chainsaw—that chainsaw can be the best chainsaw ever, but if it doesn’t have any fuel, it won’t be any use at all.
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GET YOUR EDGE BACK
clay nesmith | january 8
3) Fasting Fasting is like the file that sharpens the chainsaw’s teeth. If the blade is dull, the chainsaw isn’t going to perform optimally. Together, these tools make a chainsaw that is well equipped to fulfill its purpose of cutting through a log. And in our lives, if we’re missing either giving, prayer, or fasting, we may not feel like the tools we do have are doing us any good. Many of us are familiar with giving and prayer and practice them regularly, but fasting is less common in our culture. Fasting means abstaining from food for a period of time to grow closer to God. It does not make someone more spiritual. Fasting is not a requirement, but is rather a tool that helps us navigate life.
Two reasons we should fast: 1) Fasting prepares us for purpose. Matthew 4:1-4
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. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Fasting reminds us that our purpose is bigger than the temptations we face every day. It trains us to not be diverted, and sharpens our heart to saying yes to God, but saying no to our flesh.
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GET YOUR EDGE BACK
clay nesmith | january 8
2) Fasting fills us with newness. In the Old Testament, fasting was for repentance and mourning for God to change His heart towards sin. But Jesus changed the covenant between God and people to a new one of grace. Before, fasting was asking for God’s mercy to come. Now, it’s for looking back at God’s goodness and helping our faith to flourish. Matthew 9:14-17
One day the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked him, “Why don’t your disciples fast like we do and the Pharisees do?” Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. “Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before. “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved.”
Jesus had an expectation that people would continue to fast when He was no longer on Earth, but out of rejoicing, not mourning. Fasting allows room for God to expand and influence our lives with newness. It disciplines us to let God fill our lives.
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GET YOUR EDGE BACK
clay nesmith | january 8
Group Questions Have you fasted before? What was your experience like? If you’ve never fasted, what are some of the questions, fears, or concerns you have? How can fasting help us discover the direction God is leading us in? How does fasting help us prepare for facing temptations? Fasting isn’t the only tool we have to empower our faith. How do giving and prayer also help us gain the edge in life? If you are fasting with other people, how can you support each other?
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