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Scripture: Matthew 6:1-18; Isaiah 58; 1 Peter 5:7

As we prepare for our 21-day fast, we turn to Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6, where He instructs us on three foundational practices of faith: giving, praying, and fasting. These actions are not suggestions; they are essential disciplines of the believer’s life. Jesus says, “When you give… When you pray… When you fast…” (Matthew 6:2, 6, 16). 

Each of these acts reflects our trust in God and our desire to align our hearts with His.

Last week, we explored the theme of fasting through the special message on fasting. If you missed it, you can log on to www.clci.us and check the “The Pulpit and the Pen” to dive deeper into the biblical foundation of fasting and the call to spiritual renewal. Let this message be a guide as we embark on this journey together.

The Call to Give:
“When you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets…” (Matthew 6:2). Giving shifts our focus from ourselves to others, reminding us of God’s heart for compassion and justice. It is an act of faith that declares God as our provider and allows us to participate in His work of blessing others.

The Call to Pray: 
“When you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father…” (Matthew 6:6). Prayer is an act of surrender and humility, where we exchange our anxieties for His peace. Prayer is the intentional, heartfelt act of communicating with God, where we align our thoughts, desires, and will with His. It is a sacred dialogue in which we express adoration, gratitude, confession, and petition while listening for His guidance, comfort, and assurance. Through prayer, we draw near to God, finding strength, peace, and clarity to live according to His purpose.

The Call to Fast: 
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do…” (Matthew 6:16). Fasting is a powerful discipline that moves us from physical dependence to spiritual renewal. Isaiah 58 reveals the blessings of true fasting:

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice, and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?

“Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.“ (Isaiah 58:6, 8).

Fasting is not simply abstaining from food but engaging in God’s purposes. As we fast, we align our hearts with His, bringing light, healing, and freedom to ourselves and those around us.

Are you anxious about your health, family, finances? Remember action absorbs anxiety! When we feel the weight of worry, the actions of giving, praying, and fasting absorb that anxiety, replacing it with peace and purpose. These disciplines allow us to actively cast our cares on the Lord and experience His provision, power, and presence. In 1 Peter 5:7, Peter tells us to “cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” The act of casting is not passive but intentional. Each gift, prayer, and act of fasting, lifts the weight of worry and places it in the hands of the One who holds all things

As we begin this fast, let us take these actions to heart. Give generously, pray earnestly, and fast sincerely. Revisit last week’s message or watch it online at www.clci.us to strengthen your understanding of fasting’s spiritual power. Together, let us seek the Lord, trusting in His promises and the blessings He has prepared for us.

Father, as we enter this 21-day fast, we commit ourselves to give, pray, and fast as acts of devotion and faith. Teach us to cast our anxieties on You through these practices and to trust in Your care. May the blessings of Isaiah 58—healing, freedom, and Your glory—be evident in our lives and our church. Let this time be one of renewal and revival for Your glory, in Jesus’ name, amen.

“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ Then Jesus told them this parable: ‘Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.” I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.’”
(Luke 15:1-7, NIV)

The image of the shepherd leaving the ninety-nine sheep to seek after the one lost sheep is powerful and profound. In a practical sense, the shepherd could reason that the flock of ninety-nine is sufficient. There is safety in numbers, right? And yet, the shepherd goes after the one. There’s an interesting dimension to this, especially when we consider that among those ninety-nine sheep, there were likely pregnant sheep carrying new life.

But here’s the truth of this parable: God is not looking for replacements. He’s not calculating numbers or seeing how He can fill the void if we wander away. He’s not thinking about “future sheep” or the potential of more sheep being born. His heart is entirely set on rescuing the one that is lost.

In the world, when something is lost, we often replace it with something new. We might think: “If I lose this, I can get another.” But God’s love for us is so personal and specific that He will not replace us. He doesn’t look at us as dispensable or interchangeable.

The heart of the Good Shepherd is for you. Even though He has ninety-nine others, each one is precious, irreplaceable, and uniquely known by Him. He pursues the lost sheep with the same passion and care as if it were His only one. God’s love is never about maintaining numbers or ensuring productivity—it’s about relationship. Every individual matters.

This parable demonstrates that no matter how far we’ve wandered, God seeks to rescue, not replace. He knows your value, and He refuses to let you remain lost. His love is relentless, and He celebrates when you are brought back into His fold, not because He is restoring a number but because He is restoring you.

Take comfort in knowing that God is pursuing you with great love. He is the Shepherd who will leave the ninety-nine to find you, not because you are just one of many, but because to Him, you are irreplaceable.

Dear Lord, thank You for loving me with an irreplaceable love. Help me to trust in Your pursuit of my heart, even when I feel lost or unworthy. Thank You for rescuing me time and time again. May I always return to You, knowing that I am precious in Your sight. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of Him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” 2 Corinthians 2:14-15  “You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy. All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.” Psalm 45:7-8 Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 2:14-15 that we are the fragrance of Christ in the world. When we walk closely with Jesus, we carry His anointing into every space we enter. His love, peace, and presence saturate our lives, making a tangible difference to those around us. Like the sweet perfume of an embrace that lingers long after, the time we spend with Jesus leaves His imprint on us, affecting our families, workplaces, and communities. When we encounter Christ daily through worship and prayer, His Spirit remains with us. His fragrance becomes part of who we are, and we spread that “aroma of the knowledge of Him” wherever we go. The more time we spend in His presence, the more of Him we carry into every area of life, transforming the atmosphere around us.

Just as an embrace can transfer the scent of perfume or cologne, so does our time with Jesus transfer His anointing to us. Psalm 45:7-8 describes the anointing of God as having a sweet fragrance. When we are anointed with His Spirit, it is as though we are clothed with His essence. His righteousness, joy, and peace flow through us into our homes, workplaces, and relationships. In moments of prayer and worship, we exchange our burdens for His joy, our weakness for His strength, and our emptiness for His fullness. And just as the fragrance of Mary’s perfume filled the house (John 12:3), so His Spirit fills us and lingers, enabling us to be His representatives in the world. Lord Jesus, thank You for inviting us into Your presence, where we can encounter the richness of Your love and grace. Help us to embrace Your anointing, and may the fragrance of Your Spirit linger on us wherever we go. Fill us with Your peace, joy, and strength, and let us be the sweet aroma of Christ to those around us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

“Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.”* – Psalm 126:6 (NIV) The imagery of Psalm 126:6 is profound: a person sowing seeds while tears run down their face, yet they eventually return in joy, arms full of the harvest. This verse teaches us about the incredible power of the seed and how, even in our darkest moments, what we sow can transform our future. In this verse, the seed represents something small and seemingly insignificant, yet it contains within it the potential for abundance. Just as a single seed, when planted, can grow into a field of grain, the efforts we make during hard times can lead to great harvests in the future. In life, this seed can be our actions, our prayers, our faith, our giving, or even our kindness toward others. It’s easy to feel that what we have to give in painful seasons isn’t enough, but even when we are struggling,  God has provided to us the seeds of everything He has promised us! The act of sowing while weeping speaks to the reality that life isn’t always easy. There are seasons of loss, hardship, and discouragement. But this verse reminds us that even when we are overwhelmed by tears, we can still sow. We can still release something we have, even small, toward something we are waiting to receive. The act of sowing in sorrow is an act of faith. It shows that despite our current pain, we believe in a better future.

What’s powerful here is the understanding that we don’t have to wait for joy to sow good things. Sometimes, it is in our tears that the most powerful seeds are planted—seeds that will later bring a harvest of joy. The key is not giving up, even when we are weary. The promise of Psalm 126:6 is clear: those who sow in tears will reap with joy. The weeping sower doesn’t return empty-handed—they come back with sheaves, with abundance. This is the assurance we have in God’s kingdom. Our struggles are not wasted. Every prayer, every act of obedience, every small step forward in faith is working toward a greater harvest that God has planned for us. So, in the midst of your darkest days, when you feel like you have little to give, remember this: you are holding the seeds of change. Sow them faithfully, even through tears, and trust that God will bring forth a harvest of joy in your life. Lord, thank You for the promise of Your Word that reminds us of the power of the seed. Even in times of hardship and tears, help us to keep sowing in faith, trusting that You will bring forth a great harvest in due time. Strengthen us when we feel weary, and remind us that our pain is not the end, but the beginning of something beautiful You are growing in us. In Jesus name, amen!

Jesus said to him, ‘If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.’” – Mark 9:23 (NKJV) In the tapestry of our faith journey, doubt often weaves its intricate threads. Like an ever-present companion, it can cast shadows on our convictions and cause uncertainty to take root. But we take comfort in the words of Jesus in Mark 9:23, where He reminds us of the boundless possibilities that come through faith. This verse is a powerful declaration that belief isn’t just a passive state of mind; it’s an active force that can shape our reality and open the door to God’s miraculous works in our lives.

Doubt is a natural part of the human experience, especially in a world filled with challenges and uncertainties. Yet, the essence of faith is not the absence of doubt, but the courage to trust God in the midst of it. When we choose to believe, even when circumstances seem impossible, we align ourselves with God’s power and purpose.

Belief is a profound act of surrender, where we let go of our need to control and understand every detail, and instead, place our trust in God’s wisdom and timing. It’s in these moments of surrender that we often witness God moving in ways that surpass our expectations. The father in Mark 9, desperate for his son’s healing, cried out, ‘Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!’—a raw and honest prayer that many of us can relate to. It’s a reminder that faith doesn’t have to be perfect; it just needs to be genuine.

As we navigate our faith journey, it’s essential to remember that our belief is not in our own ability to make things happen, but in God’s limitless power. Whether we’re facing personal challenges, praying for loved ones, or stepping out in faith for something new, the promise remains: all things are possible to those who believe.

So, let us hold fast to our faith, even when doubts arise. Let us approach God with the confidence that He is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine. And in doing so, we will see His promises fulfilled and His glory revealed in our lives.