Podcast Summary: River Valley Church – "Then They Will Fast" | Pastor Kirk Graham

Episode Date: January 4, 2026
Host/Speaker: Pastor Kirk Graham, River Valley Church

Episode Overview

Theme:
Pastor Kirk Graham launches River Valley Church's annual 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting by unpacking the biblical purpose and practice of fasting. The episode aims to inspire, equip, and challenge listeners to embrace fasting—not as tradition or performance—but as a pathway to closeness with Jesus, spiritual breakthrough, and supernatural transformation for the year ahead.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Vision for the Year & Posture for Fasting

• Gratitude for the Past, Expectation for the Future:
  Pastor Kirk reflects on the blessings of 2025 and urges the church to enter 2026 with expectation for God’s miraculous power (00:00–02:00).
• Setting the Stage:
  The River Valley community begins 21 days of prayer and fasting to seek breakthrough, aligning with past and forthcoming church vision.

2. Biblical Foundations of Fasting

• Revisiting Last Year’s Vision Verse:
  2 Corinthians 4:16–18 is read as encouragement to "fix our eyes on what is unseen" and embrace temporary discomfort for eternal reward (02:10).
  • "Jumping into prayer and fasting is an opportunity to fix your eyes on what is unseen, to engage in a spiritual discipline, to say, God, more than any momentary affliction...I want you more." (03:40)
• Jesus’ Teaching in Matthew 9:
  • John’s disciples question why Jesus’ followers do not fast (05:00).
  • Jesus’ reply: Fasting would be for when "the bridegroom is taken away" (his ascension)—which is now.
  • “Then they will fast. That’s the title of the message today. We are they, and we will fast. Amen.” (06:15)
• Invitation to Align with God’s Will:
  A prayer is offered that God would "awaken within us a hunger for more of Jesus...and help us align our lives with your will" (07:10).

3. Practical and Theological Understanding of Fasting

• What Fasting Is (and Isn’t):
  • Definition: Voluntary, Spirit-led separation from normal activities (mostly food), to intensify spiritual focus and curb fleshly cravings (08:25).
  • Not a method to earn God’s love, forgiveness, or salvation (09:15).
• Fasting as Normal Christian Practice:
  Jesus says “when you fast”—implying it should be a normal part of discipleship (Matthew 6:16–18) (09:30).
  • “Fasting is an act of worship. It’s sacrifice. It’s obedience. Fasting is a God-designed holy limitation that makes room for God himself.” (13:10)

4. Honest Reflections on Fasting

• Personal Testimony:
  Pastor Kirk shares his own emotional lows during fasting—“the first mealtime, I get extremely sad…I feel like a child…fasting is difficult” (10:10).
  • "If fasting means nothing to you, it means nothing to God. You gotta give up something that means something to you." (11:15)
• Spiritual Benefits:
  The discomfort is meant to redirect the believer toward reliance on God’s Word and presence. Grief at the end of a fast is replaced by closeness with God (12:00).

5. Four Mindsets or Statements for Fasting

Pastor Kirk structures the practical application of fasting around four core statements:

I. I’m Fasting for Jesus and More of Him (13:10)

• Fasting as a living expression of longing for God.
• “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Fasting is a way to draw nearer to God.” (14:15)
• Like John the Baptist: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

II. I’m Fasting Like Jesus to Be Like Jesus (16:10)

• Contrasts Adam and Eve’s failure in the garden (choosing appetite over obedience) with Christ’s victory in the wilderness (choosing God's Word over hunger).
• “Appetite does not rule my life. The Word of God rules my life.” (21:10)
• Personal story: Fasted during the loss of a child, later experienced the miracle of new life (22:10).

III. I’m Fasting to Destroy What Wants to Destroy Me (24:00)

• Fasting breaks the power of gluttony and lust, both physically and spiritually.
• Historic Christian voices (Tertullian, Augustine) cited:
  • “Through the love of eating, love of impurity finds passage.” - Tertullian (25:10)
  • “Fasting cleanses the soul, raises the mind, subjects one’s flesh to the Spirit, renders the heart contrite and humble…” - Augustine (25:30)
• Get Control of Your Cravings:
  • Examples from Scripture of downfall following fleshly desires (Adam & Eve, Esau, David, Samson, Judas, etc.) (27:45).
  • “Your spirit man needs to rise up and tell your body and your soul...We are putting cravings to death. I want Jesus more.” (29:30)

IV. I’m Fasting to Receive the More God Has for Me (31:15)

• Limiting oneself spiritually positions the believer to receive God’s direction, presence, strength, blessing, and freedom.
• “Restricting what I want to do to release what God wants to do.” (31:50)
• “When we limit ourselves, we’re positioned to receive.” (33:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Fasting is a real practical way to live out your longing for Him...I'm going to live out my longing for you." — Pastor Kirk (13:10)
• "Less of me usually requires all of me. I have to be completely surrendered." — Pastor Kirk (15:45)
• “Appetite does not rule my life. The Word of God rules my life.” — Pastor Kirk (21:10)
• “Get control of your cravings. Get control of your will. All throughout the Bible are stories of people that made the wrong decision and had to live out the consequences.” — Pastor Kirk (27:55)
• “Maybe we shouldn’t say, ‘God, fill me up,’ but say, ‘God, I’m going to empty myself...’ It’s in the emptying of yourself that you will be filled by the Spirit of God.” — Pastor Kirk (32:20)

Important Timestamps

• 00:00–02:30 — Welcome, gratitude for 2025, launching 21 days of prayer and fasting
• 02:10–05:30 — Reading & applying 2 Corinthians 4:16–18; fixing eyes on the unseen
• 05:00–06:30 — Matthew 9:14–15: “Then they will fast”; Jesus’ context for fasting
• 07:00–08:30 — Prayer for hunger for Jesus, less of distractions, more of God’s will
• 08:25–10:30 — What fasting is (definitions, Biblical teaching, practical instructions)
• 10:10–12:00 — Pastor Kirk’s honest personal experiences with fasting
• 13:10–16:10 — First statement: Fasting for more of Jesus; living out spiritual longing
• 16:10–22:10 — Second statement: Fasting like Jesus; contrasting Genesis & Gospels
• 24:00–29:30 — Third statement: Fasting as warfare against gluttony and lust
• 31:15–33:00 — Fourth statement: Fasting to receive more from God; supernatural exchange
• 33:00–end — Closing prayer and commissioning for fasting season

Summary Takeaways

• Fasting is not about religious duty but relational hunger for Jesus.
• When we fast, we declare that God, not bodily cravings, is in control.
• Fasting is a practical response to spiritual longing, a weapon against destructive appetites, and a means to receive God’s best.
• The invitation is for all believers: ‘Then they will fast.... We are they, and we will fast.’

Useful for:

• Anyone seeking to understand Christian fasting
• Believers preparing to enter a period of intentional prayer and fasting
• Listeners needing practical and theological encouragement to seek breakthrough and deeper intimacy with God