Will you be joining with me?
In his letter to the Corinthians the Apostle Paul writes,
But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. — 2 Corinthians 11:3
O dear FRamily, as we fast TOGETHER tomorrow I share a burden in my soul for you and for us. Yes, God is in control and Jesus is WITH us, but my shepherd’s heart longs to be WITH too. Stay strong!
I’ll be honest, it has been a struggle to fix my focus on Christ, even in this ‘Resurrection Season.’ So please pray for:
your Pastor
your church FRamily & one another
your neighbors, coworkers, classmates
your leaders, nation and the world
during these unprecedented times.
Where the darkness is the light can shine ever more brightly. Where the ‘bad stuff’ increases,
the ‘good stuff’ becomes all the more noticeable.
This is why we are joining together to FAST from after dinner Tuesday until dinner Wednesday — IF you are physically able to do so. I have taught a little on fasting a few times in the past couple months. Remember, we are not fasting to:
Get God’s approval — His grace covers that all on its own.
Get God’s attention — His attention is always fully on us.
Get what we want — He knows what we need and He is what we want.
Get a sense of sacrificial holiness or superiority — our fasting does not make us super-spiritual
So why are we fasting? Glad you asked. :-)
Isaiah 58:2–4
2 “Yet they seek Me day by day and delight to know My ways, As a nation that has done righteousness And has not forsaken the ordinance of their God. They ask Me for just decisions, They delight in the nearness of God. 3 ‘Why have we fasted and You do not see? Why have we humbled ourselves and You do not notice?’ Behold, on the day of your fast you find your desire, And drive hard all your workers. 4 “Behold, you fast for contention and strife and to strike with a wicked fist. You do not fast like you do today to make your voice heard on high. God is saying, "You say you seek Me and My will, but you seek your own way and your own will. You are so caught up in the economy and in politics and your kingdom — what about MY KINGDOM???"
Isaiah 58:5–9
5 “Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Is it for bowing one’s head like a reed And for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed? Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the Lord? 6 “Is this not the fast which I choose, To loosen the bonds of wickedness, To undo the bands of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free And break every yoke? 7 “Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry And bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, to cover him; And not to hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 “Then your light will break out like the dawn, And your recovery will speedily spring forth; And your righteousness will go before you; The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. 9 “Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; You will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’
So what is fasting for?
Wether food — like we will do starting after dinner tonight until dinner tomorrow, or a specific fast from some other distraction — as I mentioned in Sunday’s message…
FASTING is not just about stopping something BUT replacing something — like repentance. We don't just stop sinning, we move TO Christ!
We need to see it not so much as ‘FASTING’ BUT RATHER AS FOCUSING!
Fasting is really about making time to evaluate, and give increasing attentiveness to, the spiritual condition of your soul. It is turning your mind’s attention and hearts affection to Him praising Him for who He is and what He’s done.
In a word — it is worship.
As we walk into the Resurrection Season in a time that keeps us from physically gathering, things like fasting TOGETHER can be used by the Spirit to knit our hearts together in their absence. Will you join me? I pray you will for TOGETHER we are Kingdom PEOPLE, living by Kingdom POWER for Kingdom GLORY.
MUCH LOVE!
Pastor Doug
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