"Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst." (John 6:35)
I am struck with how often I say yes to things that so routinely capture my desire. I am practically unaware of these things when they crowd in for attention. But whenever I fast, this tyranny of desire comes into focus. I am writing this from China, a place where people have learned to say no – not because they were trying to discipline their appetites, but because they didn’t even have the option of saying yes. Whether regarding heat, clothing, housing, travel or food, they say no because they cannot say yes. But I live in a culture that until recently hasn’t had to say no very often. So I fast. Fasting gives me the chance to recognize the frequency of the demands of appetite and the urging of the soul to be satisfied. In fasting, in saying no to those urges, the sufficiency of Christ to meet all needs becomes a point of clarity. When I have to say no to one thing, I find myself saying yes to another. When other desires are set aside during a fast, I find that there is nothing more satisfying than the Bread of Life.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
Listening to God
Psalm 46:10
“Be still and know that I am God”
Can you recall a time when someone was yelling to get your attention at a sports event but you didn’t hear him? There were so many other voices-people yelling, music playing, your own cheering-that you couldn’t hear your name being called. For the same reason, we often don’t hear God speaking to us. We get so busy talking, working and rushing here to there that we cannot hear Him.
We may also miss the voice of God in another way. Have you ever been so focused on what you were doing that you didn’t hear your name being called? Watching TV or working on the computer, someone was calling your name but you never knew it? It was not that you couldn’t hear it, or that the voice they were using was too soft. It was simply a matter of attention. You didn’t hear your name being called because you weren’t paying attention.
Two amazing things happen when we take time to fast. First, we slow down and become quiet so we can hear God. Second, we take time away from our normal daily routine so that we can focus our attention on Him.
Now, listening can be difficult. Sometimes, if we don’t listen, natural consequences arise. Your engine is knocking but you don’t pay attention to it, something inconvenient and expensive is bound to happen! In the same way, listening to the wrong voice can be problematic. We receive all kinds of thought when we are praying and fasting. Some are wonderful thoughts from God, and others might be conflicting thoughts from our memory. Some originate from our selfish nature and draw us away from God and point us in the wrong direction. How can we know which is from God and that which is not? Ask yourself a few simple questions:
· Is the message disruptive, confusing or point in many different directions? Probably not from God.
· Is the message contrary to God’s Word? Definitely not from God.
· Is the message clear, purposeful, peaceful and in alignment with His Word? Then it’s probably a correction, encouragement or directive from God.
Usually when God speaks to us, he is persistent. God called Samuel more than once: “The Lord called yet again, ‘Samuel’” (1 Samuel 3:6). Now, the most important discipline of fasting isn’t the act of fasting from something and enduring the temporal longings for what we are choosing to go without. No, the most critical aspect of fasting is when God speaks or reveals something, we respond and yield to His will, doing what He commands.
Our lives have become hectic. There are jobs, chores, demands, commuting and traffic. We need to come out of the everyday routine, slow down, get still, fast, and make time to listen to God.
What are the results of fasting? Quiet and focus.
Tips on Listening
1. Get Ready. Find a quiet, distraction-free place that is comfortable and dedicate an amount of time to be there. Also, make sure you have your Bible, a journal or notebook to jot down notes, thoughts and scripture (don’t forget your pen).
2. Get Quiet. Like Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still…” If you do all the talking, all you’ll learn is what you already know.
3. Get Still. “Being still” usually refers to the absence of physical motion or activity. Can you “be still” while in motion or among others? Yes! You can “be still” before God while you exercise, on the plane, in the yard, etc. The secret is establishing a “still spirit” or a listening attitude and intent, not just a still body. “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
“Be still and know that I am God”
Can you recall a time when someone was yelling to get your attention at a sports event but you didn’t hear him? There were so many other voices-people yelling, music playing, your own cheering-that you couldn’t hear your name being called. For the same reason, we often don’t hear God speaking to us. We get so busy talking, working and rushing here to there that we cannot hear Him.
We may also miss the voice of God in another way. Have you ever been so focused on what you were doing that you didn’t hear your name being called? Watching TV or working on the computer, someone was calling your name but you never knew it? It was not that you couldn’t hear it, or that the voice they were using was too soft. It was simply a matter of attention. You didn’t hear your name being called because you weren’t paying attention.
Two amazing things happen when we take time to fast. First, we slow down and become quiet so we can hear God. Second, we take time away from our normal daily routine so that we can focus our attention on Him.
Now, listening can be difficult. Sometimes, if we don’t listen, natural consequences arise. Your engine is knocking but you don’t pay attention to it, something inconvenient and expensive is bound to happen! In the same way, listening to the wrong voice can be problematic. We receive all kinds of thought when we are praying and fasting. Some are wonderful thoughts from God, and others might be conflicting thoughts from our memory. Some originate from our selfish nature and draw us away from God and point us in the wrong direction. How can we know which is from God and that which is not? Ask yourself a few simple questions:
· Is the message disruptive, confusing or point in many different directions? Probably not from God.
· Is the message contrary to God’s Word? Definitely not from God.
· Is the message clear, purposeful, peaceful and in alignment with His Word? Then it’s probably a correction, encouragement or directive from God.
Usually when God speaks to us, he is persistent. God called Samuel more than once: “The Lord called yet again, ‘Samuel’” (1 Samuel 3:6). Now, the most important discipline of fasting isn’t the act of fasting from something and enduring the temporal longings for what we are choosing to go without. No, the most critical aspect of fasting is when God speaks or reveals something, we respond and yield to His will, doing what He commands.
Our lives have become hectic. There are jobs, chores, demands, commuting and traffic. We need to come out of the everyday routine, slow down, get still, fast, and make time to listen to God.
What are the results of fasting? Quiet and focus.
Tips on Listening
1. Get Ready. Find a quiet, distraction-free place that is comfortable and dedicate an amount of time to be there. Also, make sure you have your Bible, a journal or notebook to jot down notes, thoughts and scripture (don’t forget your pen).
2. Get Quiet. Like Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still…” If you do all the talking, all you’ll learn is what you already know.
3. Get Still. “Being still” usually refers to the absence of physical motion or activity. Can you “be still” while in motion or among others? Yes! You can “be still” before God while you exercise, on the plane, in the yard, etc. The secret is establishing a “still spirit” or a listening attitude and intent, not just a still body. “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
The Nature of God's Love
He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously [freely] give us all things? (Romans 8:32)
Too often I’ve caught myself trying to make God in my image. I typically recognize that whenever I catch myself trying to use prayer to promote my own selfishness. My will or God’s will ... that always comes down to whether I’m going to trust or distrust God’s love for me. And I never win whenever I protect my distrust of His love.
That's why this Scripture is so helpful In it, the Holy Spirit presses me to contrast these two divine gifts: on one side of the scale is Jesus, my Savior, who freely chose to die for me (Romans 5:8) and whom the Father freely gave up for me. On the other side is "all things." My natural greed starts salivating over the prospects of what the "all things" on that side of the scale might include. However, "all things" is eternally secondary to Christ. This priceless “all things” includes whatever I need in order for me to gain in my relationship with Him. It includes tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, swords, death, demons, or literally anything else (Romans 8:35-39) ... and it's worth the price! It's my unfair gain.
What the world doesn't understand, but what the Holy Spirit reveals, is that such selflessness, such love, is infinitely powerful yet positive ... it's pure goodness. That is the nature of God's love.
Here, God reveals the perfection of His goodness. By deciding to "not spare," we see the wealth behind His giving: "I will not offer anything that cost me nothing" (1 Chronicles 21:24). From the double possessive ("His own son"), we see the deep love bond between Father and Son: like Isaac being bound by cords of love (as demonstrated by His submission, obedience, and trust), his rope cords were redundant (Genesis 22:9). From the double negative followed by the absolute positive ("did not spare" and "gave Him up"), we begin to see the very personal price the Trinity paid for this gift. Finally, from the simple words "for us all" we barely begin to glimpse the Father's and Son's unselfishness, their distinct but identical desires to risk all things so someone might accept their grace.
This changes the way I pray. My goal is to know my Savior, to know that perfect love that keeps me voluntarily bonded and bound to Him. I want to know His peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). I revel in the delightful knowledge that He won't allow anything to separate me from His love (Romans 8:39). I don't understand what He gets from this, but I'm very grateful!
Too often I’ve caught myself trying to make God in my image. I typically recognize that whenever I catch myself trying to use prayer to promote my own selfishness. My will or God’s will ... that always comes down to whether I’m going to trust or distrust God’s love for me. And I never win whenever I protect my distrust of His love.
That's why this Scripture is so helpful In it, the Holy Spirit presses me to contrast these two divine gifts: on one side of the scale is Jesus, my Savior, who freely chose to die for me (Romans 5:8) and whom the Father freely gave up for me. On the other side is "all things." My natural greed starts salivating over the prospects of what the "all things" on that side of the scale might include. However, "all things" is eternally secondary to Christ. This priceless “all things” includes whatever I need in order for me to gain in my relationship with Him. It includes tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, swords, death, demons, or literally anything else (Romans 8:35-39) ... and it's worth the price! It's my unfair gain.
What the world doesn't understand, but what the Holy Spirit reveals, is that such selflessness, such love, is infinitely powerful yet positive ... it's pure goodness. That is the nature of God's love.
Here, God reveals the perfection of His goodness. By deciding to "not spare," we see the wealth behind His giving: "I will not offer anything that cost me nothing" (1 Chronicles 21:24). From the double possessive ("His own son"), we see the deep love bond between Father and Son: like Isaac being bound by cords of love (as demonstrated by His submission, obedience, and trust), his rope cords were redundant (Genesis 22:9). From the double negative followed by the absolute positive ("did not spare" and "gave Him up"), we begin to see the very personal price the Trinity paid for this gift. Finally, from the simple words "for us all" we barely begin to glimpse the Father's and Son's unselfishness, their distinct but identical desires to risk all things so someone might accept their grace.
This changes the way I pray. My goal is to know my Savior, to know that perfect love that keeps me voluntarily bonded and bound to Him. I want to know His peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). I revel in the delightful knowledge that He won't allow anything to separate me from His love (Romans 8:39). I don't understand what He gets from this, but I'm very grateful!
Putting Obedience First
When you come to appear before me,
who has asked this of you,
this trampling of my courts?
Stop bringing meaningless offerings!
Your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—
I cannot bear your evil assemblies.
When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I will hide my eyes from you;
even if you offer many prayers,
I will not listen.
Your hands are full of blood;
Wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds
out of my sight!
Stop doing wrong,
Learn to do right!
Seek justice,
encourage the oppressed.
Defend the cause of the fatherless,
plead the case of the widow.
(Isaiah 1:12-17 NIV)
At first glance, this is kind of a tough passage of Scripture to read. I try to imagine what it would feel like to hear these words directed at me as someone who claims to be a follower of the Lord. I cannot think of anything more devastating than to know that God is “hiding His eyes” from me when I pray and worship Him. I’m sure that most of us have gone through times where we “feel” like our prayers aren’t reaching heaven, but in this case, God is letting His people know that He is rejecting their prayers & acts of worship.
Why?
The activities of worship (feasts, songs, prayer, etc) are meaningless without a lifestyle of obedience. It’s true that the activities themselves in ancient Israel were somewhat different than the ways work out our faith today, but the goal is the same … we seek to be people who draw near to God and have an intimate relationship with Him. This cannot be accomplished in a weekly church service or by checking off a list of religious actions. Worship & prayer need to be part of a lifestyle that follows God’s commands everyday. Some days are easier than others to live this way, and it’s on the difficult days that obedience requires the most from me. My greatest goal is that my life would be defined by heartfelt, authentic worship of the Lord. However, my “actions” of worship are completely hypocritical if they aren’t accompanied by repentance, a clean heart, obedience to God’s commands, and a faith that gets worked out in service and love (vs.15-17). If my priorities are right and I’m walking in obedience to God’s word each day, then my expressions of prayer & worship are natural outflows of a heart that is worshiping God through my actions, decisions, and conversations 24/7. I want to commit myself to obey first, and then watch what happens in my prayer & worship before the Lord.
who has asked this of you,
this trampling of my courts?
Stop bringing meaningless offerings!
Your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—
I cannot bear your evil assemblies.
When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I will hide my eyes from you;
even if you offer many prayers,
I will not listen.
Your hands are full of blood;
Wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds
out of my sight!
Stop doing wrong,
Learn to do right!
Seek justice,
encourage the oppressed.
Defend the cause of the fatherless,
plead the case of the widow.
(Isaiah 1:12-17 NIV)
At first glance, this is kind of a tough passage of Scripture to read. I try to imagine what it would feel like to hear these words directed at me as someone who claims to be a follower of the Lord. I cannot think of anything more devastating than to know that God is “hiding His eyes” from me when I pray and worship Him. I’m sure that most of us have gone through times where we “feel” like our prayers aren’t reaching heaven, but in this case, God is letting His people know that He is rejecting their prayers & acts of worship.
Why?
The activities of worship (feasts, songs, prayer, etc) are meaningless without a lifestyle of obedience. It’s true that the activities themselves in ancient Israel were somewhat different than the ways work out our faith today, but the goal is the same … we seek to be people who draw near to God and have an intimate relationship with Him. This cannot be accomplished in a weekly church service or by checking off a list of religious actions. Worship & prayer need to be part of a lifestyle that follows God’s commands everyday. Some days are easier than others to live this way, and it’s on the difficult days that obedience requires the most from me. My greatest goal is that my life would be defined by heartfelt, authentic worship of the Lord. However, my “actions” of worship are completely hypocritical if they aren’t accompanied by repentance, a clean heart, obedience to God’s commands, and a faith that gets worked out in service and love (vs.15-17). If my priorities are right and I’m walking in obedience to God’s word each day, then my expressions of prayer & worship are natural outflows of a heart that is worshiping God through my actions, decisions, and conversations 24/7. I want to commit myself to obey first, and then watch what happens in my prayer & worship before the Lord.
Devote Yourselves to Prayer
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Col. 4:2
Paul encourages us to be a people devoted to prayer. Our devotion is to the Lord and prayer is how we communicate with Him. Jesus taught us to pray and often exampled it to us as well. In Luke 18:1-8 Jesus told a parable about a persistent widow. He told this parable for two reasons. He encourages us to always pray and never give up. The greatest thing about prayer is the communication and communion we share with God. The answers, His answers, are great too, but the real blessing is found in simply being in His presence.
In Romans 12:12 we are told to, “be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer.”
In Daniel 6 we see what a big part prayer was in Daniel’s life. Daniel who influenced kings and kingdoms three times a day got down on his knees and prayed to the Lord. When the times were tough He always knew where to go. Daniel 6:10
Being watchful in prayer is so important. We need to be watchful so we can:
*Walk in the will of God, Mat 6:10
*Be wise and discerning, Prov. 22:3
*Be the answer to someone else’s prayer,
And be thankful, I Thess. 5:16, 17 & 18,
Never let your expectations and hope exceed your gratitude. We have so much to be thankful for. Phil. 4:6
Devote Yourselves to Prayer!
Paul encourages us to be a people devoted to prayer. Our devotion is to the Lord and prayer is how we communicate with Him. Jesus taught us to pray and often exampled it to us as well. In Luke 18:1-8 Jesus told a parable about a persistent widow. He told this parable for two reasons. He encourages us to always pray and never give up. The greatest thing about prayer is the communication and communion we share with God. The answers, His answers, are great too, but the real blessing is found in simply being in His presence.
In Romans 12:12 we are told to, “be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer.”
In Daniel 6 we see what a big part prayer was in Daniel’s life. Daniel who influenced kings and kingdoms three times a day got down on his knees and prayed to the Lord. When the times were tough He always knew where to go. Daniel 6:10
Being watchful in prayer is so important. We need to be watchful so we can:
*Walk in the will of God, Mat 6:10
*Be wise and discerning, Prov. 22:3
*Be the answer to someone else’s prayer,
And be thankful, I Thess. 5:16, 17 & 18,
Never let your expectations and hope exceed your gratitude. We have so much to be thankful for. Phil. 4:6
Devote Yourselves to Prayer!
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Seek, Ask, Knock
Fasting. It seems like a very old practice – something for monks and holy people and guys who lived in the day when camels ruled the racetrack. Why would anyone fast today? What is the benefit, you might ask? Are Christians supposed to fast? Granted, some other religions fast, but didn’t all that go away in the New Testament?
Well, no… it didn’t. In fact, Jesus expected his disciples to fast. In Matthew 6:16 he says, “when you fast…” It is a forgone conclusion that the people of God would fast. Jesus goes on to describe a fast as something that is done as a devotion to the Father, not to men:
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:16-18)
Inasmuch as this describes private fasting, it sets what would be an expectation of a pattern of living for the people of God. This scripture is clear that God rewards those who fast. That reward first and foremost is a greater sense of His presence and leading. After that, it may be any number of blessings according to His love and grace.
There are also numerous examples of corporate fasts in the Bible, Old Testament and New. Believers would fast together when they faced important decisions or dilemmas or in order to intercede for breakthroughs. Randy reviewed a few examples when he spoke on fasting recently:
· Jehoshaphat hungered for clarity when Israel faced an overwhelming foe…
“…Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.” (2 Chronicles 20:2-3)
· Esther hungered for courage when she was about to make a sacrifice that might cost her life for the sake of the nation…
“Go gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do…”
(Esther 4:16)
· Joel hungered for a breakthrough from the destruction that had taken place in the economy of their day because of the locusts.
“Declare a holy fast…summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.” (Joel 1:14)
Which brings us to what we would like to do for the 21 days leading up to Easter. In the old church calendars a season of fasting was tied to the time leading up to Easter, known as Lent. So as a church, we want to fast together and to pray, seek and knock (Matthew 7:7). For our nation, our neighborhoods, and for our families, we want to contend against strongholds of sin and opposition. We want to turn our physical hunger into a spiritual hunger for a breakthrough from God to break the strongholds. We want to deny the appetites and desires of the flesh in order to increase our appetite and desire for God. So here is what we are asking you to do…
Prayerfully ask God how you might participate in this corporate fast.
Set something aside – fasting has to do with abstaining from food,* but it can mean the cessation of any number
of things that are controlling appetites and desires.
· Perhaps God will call you to fast one meal a day for the 21 days
· Perhaps God will call you to fast one day a week for a full day
· Perhaps God will call you to fast from something else for the duration: Television and entertainment, talk radio, sugar, caffeine, etc..
We don’t want to prescribe the manner of fasting, so we ask that you seek God and make your commitment by His leading.
If you hear from God particularly during your fasting and you think it is something for the congregation, share it with Randy (send an email to rremington@beavertonfoursquare.org)
Just as fasting leads to spiritual hunger so does spiritual hunger lead to fasting – it is out of our hunger in these days that we call out to God.
Wednesday evening services will be the focal point of our fast leading up to Easter, so Randy will continue to direct our prayers on those evenings. We look forward to this season of fasting together.
* if you are going to participate via a food fast, please be sure that you are in good health. If you are unsure or have not done so before or are on medication, please check with your doctor. Remember, you can always modify a fast.
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