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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