Regaining Lost Ground

Pastor Shane Idleman: I've been spiritually alive and I don't ever want to go back. I don't ever want to go back there. And the enemy's pulled me back there sometimes, getting close to that edge. Getting close to that edge. But I also want to talk to the person who might not know God. This is a salvation calling to you.

Did you know that you are not guaranteed another day? You are not guaranteed another message from a pastor. You might not be given another shot. I had a young man tell me this, I think it's been five years ago, something like this. He said, "I'll give God a shot someday." As God is my witness, I've never seen that man again. Don't play that game.

Guest (Male): Thank you for joining us here at Westside Christian Fellowship, located in Leona Valley, California, one hour north of Los Angeles. Today's message on regaining lost ground is titled "When The Church Had Power." In this message, Pastor Shane urges all Christians to reflect on the history of the true church and seek God with a greater hunger and thirst for more of his presence in our lives.

It is a powerful call to return to our first love, our beautiful Savior Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords. You can hear the whole message at Pastor Shane's YouTube and Rumble channels. Make sure to subscribe today.

For more information, visit us online at WestsideChristianFellowship.org. We also encourage you to hear more truth from Pastor Shane with the *Idleman Unplugged* weekly podcast. And now, from Westside Christian Fellowship in Leona Valley, California, here's Pastor Shane Idleman.

Pastor Shane Idleman: When you deal seriously with your sins, God will deal seriously with you. In other words, when you take God seriously. At the risk of repeating last week, I just want to say this. The first step is repentance. Repentance always lights the fire of revival.

What I didn't mention was the New Hebrides revivals, the First Great Awakening, the Second Great Awakening, the Welsh revivals of 1904, 1905, or the 1700s. It's always lighting the fire of revival. God's people would say, "Oh God, would you come down?" But before that, they would often say, "Oh God, give me clean hands and a pure heart."

Lord, I've lifted up my soul to an idol. I've been deceptive, I've been angry, I've been cheating, I've been stingy. God, I've been addicted to this; lust has taken over. And they would cry out, they would repent of their sin, and God would begin to ignite that revival fire. Then what happens? Then you bring prayer and fasting along, and that keeps the fire going. That throws fuel into the fire.

And here's my concern as well: the danger of familiar and routine words. Many people hear prayer and fasting and think, "Yeah, yeah, I got that. I know." There's a danger in the familiar words. So let me give you two other words, or phrases, instead of prayer and fasting. How about communicating with God and starving the flesh?

That's what needs to take place. So I want to talk about those two things briefly. Fasting basically is this: when I am full of fleshly appetites, it leaves little room for the Spirit. A little secret for preaching, I'll just tell those pastors out there: you have to come to the pulpit hungry. You have to come to the pulpit hungry.

What I mean by natural appetites are suppressed so spiritual appetites can be increased. And when you're full of pride, you lack humility. When you're full of covetousness, you lack generosity. When you're full of anger, you lack love. And when you're full of food, that often outweighs the fullness of the Spirit.

Listen, I don't like it any more than you do. I love a big dinner. I love a big steak and potatoes and Mexican food, and I even like Chinese food. I like food. But if I'm always full and I'm always consuming those fleshly appetites, it will leave little room for God. Fasting is a period of starving the flesh so I can be filled with the Spirit of God.

Moses actually received the Word of God when he fasted. King Jehoshaphat experienced victory after he fasted. Esther received protection after she fasted. Elijah was restored and renewed because of fasting. Daniel experienced the supernatural because of fasting. Ezra received direction and safe passage because of fasting.

Nehemiah was strengthened. Joel offered the cure for judgment by fasting. And Jesus was empowered by fasting. On and on it goes. I can take you to early church fathers. I can take you to revivalists. There was always a sense of fasting, of starving the flesh to be filled with the Spirit.

Now, here's what's happening. You can see this. Truth is being minimized, mocked, and removed. Prayer—we're too busy. America's too busy. Prayer is out of schools, prayer is out of our home life. We're all too busy. And fasting—oh, you're going to kill yourself if you fast; you're going to die. You know how many times I've heard that? That's why you don't tell people you're fasting all the time. They say, "That's stupid." See, all these truths, these great truths of the Bible, are being minimized.

Here's one response. Here's the people's response in the book of Joel I just quoted. Basically, when all hope was gone—the grasshopper, the locust, just consumed all their food, not unlike what's happening in parts of Africa—so what was the answer? What did Joel say? "People hide, hide from the wrath that is to come. People run to your house, hide from God, go as far away from here as you can."

Is that what Joel said? Of course not. What did he say? "Consecrate a fast," which means set apart a fast. Show God that you are serious. And then he said, in addition to that, "Call a sacred assembly. Call men and women and young adults, call the elders, call the leaders, call the rich, call the poor."

God's power does not look for the rich and the powerful; he looks for the broken and the humble. He said, "Call all those people from all over the land." He said, "Call them into my house, my house that is a house of prayer; it is a sanctuary." He said, "And when you get here, cry out to God Almighty, cry out to the Lord that he would stay his hand of judgment." That's always the cure with situations like this.

That's the people's call, but did you know there's a pastor's call? I actually have a proof text for being loud. Isaiah 58:1-4. God told Isaiah, "Listen, be gentle. Just hold the people, be gentle." What did he say? He said, "Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast. Shout with the voice." See, I'm in good company with Isaiah. I would love to hear some of these guys preach.

Shout with a trumpet voice, a blast. God said, "Isaiah, shout out loud. Don't be timid. Tell my people Israel of their sin." Why is that? Because sometimes you have to give a clarion call. Do you know what a clarion call is? A clarion was an instrument they used that was long and narrow, and it was a call to warfare. It was a call to battle.

So at some point, you have to wake up a dead and lethargic church and say, "Get up, arise, church, and fight. Get to battle." This is a clarion call. This is a wake-up call for the church of God. And it's funny, I do hear people like to tell me when they hear negative things about me. But I often hear, "Oh, that guy's in your face. He's too loud. He's too hardcore. He's too extreme."

But what are we supposed to do when the lines of evil have clearly been drawn? Realize that in our country, folks, the lines of evil have clearly been drawn. You have groups like Planned Parenthood that actually want to allow kids to use their parents' insurance without the parental consent for sex changes and for abortions.

There are school districts coming down from high offices of government officials that want to teach perversion to our little boys and our little girls. And at some point, you have to say we're drawing the line. That is evil. That is wicked. And we will call out the unfruitful works of darkness.

We will shout with the voice of a trumpet blast. We will shout aloud. We will not be timid when you see that evil's trying to prevail and we have all these passive people not saying anything, not doing anything. That's not the heart of God. God would wake them up with the breath of his nostrils.

He said, "Tell my people of their sins." Yet they act so pious. They come to the temple every day and seem to delight to learn all about me. They act like a righteous nation that would never abandon the law of its God. They ask me to take action on their behalf, pretending they want to be near to me.

Church, we have to get back to prayer and fasting. To me, it really boils down to this: "God, I'm so desperate to hear from you. I'm so desperate for you to move, I'm going to deny this appetite so I can be filled with the appetite for your Spirit." There's a book by Gordon Cove entitled *Revival Now through Prayer and Fasting*. And he said this. I'm going to read a couple things.

"A close survey of Scripture indicate that the deeply spiritual men who obtained things in answer to prayer often came to God on empty stomachs. It is not a good thing to be lightly entered upon," talking about fasting, "for undoubtedly it will bring you into one of the greatest spiritual battles you have ever fought with Satan. Satan does not want you to do it because he knows that it will lead you onto greater spiritual heights and victories in the Christian life."

Fasting is not to weaken the body but to strengthen the spirit. Fasting means that you got to a place of spiritual desperation. It means that you are now determined at all costs to put God first. How can we say, "God, I'm searching for you with all of my heart, with all of my soul, with all of my strength," and not incorporate some type of fasting into our lives?

Now, I know there's a lot of questions. People say, "I'm on medication, I'm a diabetic, I'm this, I'm that." I'm just going to encourage you to go to our website. It's actually in the Facebook description. And there's a book I wrote, *Feasting and Fasting*. It's a free download on our church website, and it will help you get your body ready and get through difficult seasons of fasting.

He also said this: "But many people excuse themselves from fasting by saying that they are not strong enough, when all the time they are not really prepared to get desperate with God. How many of you will go on a one-week water fast if you received ten thousand dollars when it was over? So don't tell me we're not serious. Don't tell me we're too weak. The problem is our priorities are not aligned."

And then finally, he said, "When a person wants a thing so much that he is willing to go without food to obtain that thing, then the fast itself becomes a prayer. It is an inward, outspoken heart cry." And I can tell you from experience that that is so true. The fasting itself becomes a prayer. It's not like, "Well, I'm fasting and then I'm going to go over here and pray."

When you're fasting, there's an emptiness there. There's a denying of the flesh and to be a fullness of the Spirit, and that becomes a prayer. And you say, "Oh God, I am so weak. Would you strengthen me in this weakness? Would you build me up? Would you encourage me?" And you're not going to die from fasting.

Many of you know, I don't want to talk too much about it, but this is day number fourteen now I've been doing a water fast. I've lost fifteen pounds, but I've gained a lot of spiritual weight. And I do eat now and then, for example, before this sermon, before last Saturday, when I need energy to preach. Because God's not looking at perfection; he's looking at the condition of our heart.

Fasting is spiritual warfare. Fasting is spiritual warfare. Even though you might lose a battle, you don't have to lose the entire war. Get up and keep fighting. Get up and keep fasting. For example, I see so many people. "Shane, I tried it for a day and then I just caved in and had a taco."

Okay, get back on track and follow God again. Fasting is like our spiritual walk. Do you walk perfectly, the Christian walk? Now, I'm not giving you excuses to indulge; I'm giving you permission to fall forward and get back up. See, the problem isn't that we fall; it's that we don't get back up. Fasting is warfare. Yes, you might have got me on that meal, but I'm coming at you, devil. I'm going to starve this flesh and seek the heart of God, and God will answer the cries of his people.

You see, I remember when the church had power. Do you remember when the church had power? You read the books, you read the Bible, and you say, "God, we need that power." You hear about missionaries, you hear about the underground church in China and Iran. The Middle East is growing, and you'd be amazed at what they are seeing, what they are experiencing.

I remember when the church sought God in an upper room for days until fire fell. I remember when we were not in a hurry, and extended worship services drove us to our knees. I remember when we prayed for people and they were healed. I remember when people were excited about seeking God. I remember when we took authority over the demonic realm.

Remember this, listener: the weakest saint on their knees makes Satan tremble. Did you know that? Why? Because he can't touch you on your knees. He can't get you back in that addiction on your knees. You're not going to get angry on your knees. When you're praying, the enemy has no right to you. He might try to distract you, but as you're praying and contending with God, you are on good soil.

And we love to sing that song, "This Is How I Fight My Battles." But at some point, you will have to fight. Oh, isn't that easy? "This is how I fight my battle." Oh, that's wonderful, and I love worship. But at some point, you got to fight. It's not all about singing; it's about fighting and travailing, crying out to God in prayer.

And then, of course, prayer—fasting and prayer. Why is prayer... here's what prayer does. Prayer releases God's purpose in your life and in the life of our nation, in the life of our churches, in the life of our families. Prayer releases that. When I still my heart, when I'm still and waiting on God, I surrender my will.

Do you know the Bible says, "Commit your works to the Lord and your thoughts will be established"? Then you begin to pray according to God's will. And when you start to pray according to God's will, no devil in hell can stop those plans. When you begin to pray with targeted prayer like arrows in the hands of an archer, they hit their target and there's nothing the enemy can do because I've spent time with God.

My prayer is on target. Prayer is a great sin-killer. It is a fear-quencher. It is a power-bringer. It is a victory-giver. It is a holiness-promoter. It is a lust-eliminator. It is an obstacle-remover. It is a time-changer. It is a life-sustainer. It is a demon-slayer. Prayer is a wisdom-giver. It is a peace-promoter. It is a desperation-lifter. It is an anxiety-demolisher. It is an anger-suppressor, a weakness-remover, a strength-booster, and it is a revival-stimulator.

Prayer moves the hand of God. Nothing can happen without prayer moving the hand of God. Anything that is negative is counterbalanced by prayer. Jesus said, "When you pray, when you pray, go lock yourself up in the room and cry out to God; and God who hears you in secret will reward you openly."

The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. And Paul cries out—I believe it was Paul—he said, "Oh, would to God that men everywhere would lift up holy hands without praying without ceasing and seek the heart of God." Jesus said, "Ask and you shall receive. Ask and that stronghold will come down. Ask and that marriage will be restored. Ask and that prodigal son and daughter will come home."

It's not a quick asking; it's a travailing. It's a fasting. It's a getting before God and saying, "God, I have to hear from you. You have to save my child or they will be lost. You have to move in our nation or we are destroyed. Oh God, we cry out to you." Why do you think Satan is trying to draw you back into sin and addiction? Why do you think Satan is trying to keep you so busy?

Why do you think Satan is fueling anger and bitterness in your heart? Why do you think Satan wants to keep you critical and negative? There's one reason and one reason only: he wants to rob you and me of spiritual power. What can Satan do to a believer other than rob them of spiritual power?

It's my personal conviction that Satan's not too worried about the person sitting at home, doing nothing, not praying, not talking to anybody about Jesus. They are dead spiritually. He's not too worried about that person. Why? Because you're robbed of spiritual power. You are no threat to his kingdom.

So in closing, there has to be a desperation. I wrote a book entitled *Desperate for More of God*. And that's the key that opens the door because what is desperation? A spouse walks out of the door and says, "I'm divorcing you," and you're desperate to keep that together. You'll do anything.

Finances. I don't know what—I lost my job. I'm desperate. I'll do anything. So why when it comes to God, we don't apply that same principle? Desperation means, "God, I'll do anything. I'll fast for a day. I'll give this career, I'll give this money. Lord, I'm desperate for you. Would you show me?"

And I'm amazed at how many people think God has bad plans for them. "Oh Shane, if I do that, I'll probably end up in the streets of Calcutta, or I'll become a missionary in Africa. If I do that, I know God; he's going to make me do this and that." No, God is going to give you the desires of your heart.

There is nothing more satisfied, there's nothing more joy-filled than being in the center of God's will, whether it's East LA or Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. It doesn't matter if you're doing God's will and God's purpose. And I'm sure some people might be thinking, "Well Shane, that's great. Your sermon title, what is it?" "When The Church Had Power."

What's the point of remembering when the church had power? Why do we have to remember back when the church had power? Here's why. Because it's a return. There's a hunger, there's a thirst. Jesus said, "Remember where you have fallen and come back. Remember that first love. Remember when you loved me with all of your heart and with all of your strength. Remember when you couldn't get enough of me and the Bible became your new source."

Remember those times. Remember, go back, go back, Shane. Go back to where I loved you and I saved you and I called you. Remember, fall on your face and begin to worship me again and allow the power of my Holy Spirit to come in. There's a hunger, there's a thirst coming up. All those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled.

Revival is a gift of love. It's a gift of love, God reviving his people. Listen, I've been spiritually dead and I've been spiritually alive, and I don't ever want to go back. I don't ever want to go back there. And the enemy's pulled me back there sometimes, getting close to that edge. Getting close to that edge.

But I also want to talk to the person who might not know God. This is a salvation calling to you. Did you know that you are not guaranteed another day? You are not guaranteed another message from a pastor. You might not be given another shot. I had a young man tell me this, I think it's been five years ago, something like this. "I'll give God a shot someday."

As God is my witness, I've never seen that man again. Don't play that game. "I'll get serious someday. I'll give God a shot someday when I'm ready." That day may never come. Today is the day of salvation. Call upon the Lord while you might be saved. Don't allow the enemy to continue to deceive you thinking that Christianity is for weak people and women.

"Shane, religion for you is a crutch. You gotta use that crutch to walk." No, it's not the crutch; it's the entire hospital. It's the ER, it's the intensive care unit. It's everything. God is everything; he's an all-consuming fire. But here's the encouragement where we started with in Isaiah. I'll leave you with this thought.

God says—actually the whole context of the chapter on fasting is the people are fasting but with the wrong heart. Don't do that. You have to have the right heart to fast. I know spiritual people that are very prideful that fast, and there's no benefit to that other than weight loss. So God said once you get your heart right, then... don't you love when God says then?

I love when I read the Bible and says, "But then," or "But." "But God." "But God." This great call to repentance and then your light will shine out of the darkness and the darkness around you will be as bright as the noon. The Lord will guide you continually. He will give you water when you are thirsty.

He will restore your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. Yeah, that sounds pretty depressing. That really stinks when you follow God. Look at what's going to happen. We have been tricked by the enemy. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.

Some of you, some of you—oh, this is encouraging—some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your city. Some of you will be known as rebuilders of the wall and restorers of the home. Another translation says, "You will restore that breach. You will break down what was driven away. You will bind up the broken, you will strengthen the sick."

And I want to know who is ready to contend for a nation? Who is ready to mend broken families? Who is ready to call down heaven to conquer hell? Because God says some of you, when you come back in the fullness of the Spirit, you will rebuild the walls that the enemy has taken down. You will restore homes that have been crushed. You will restore your community because when you get people on fire for God, they bring that into their community, and they will be called restorers of the breach.

Guest (Male): You've been listening to *Regaining Lost Ground* with Pastor Shane Idleman. You can find more information at WestsideChristianFellowship.org. That's WestsideChristianFellowship.org. And for all the latest on what God is doing with his ministry here, please be sure to follow us on most social media platforms.

Westside Christian Fellowship is located 60 miles north of Los Angeles in Leona Valley, California. Thank you again for listening to today's message of *Regaining Lost Ground*, where we are reminded daily: times change, truth does not.