Fasting: A Forgotten Door!
Hey Friends,
So far this year I have read two books on fasting. I want to be as close to Christ as possible and I know that is your heart as well. I read Jentezen Franklin’s book and Ronnie Floyd’s book and both were great. God is stirring in my spirit as I get back to fasting. I am going to call for one soon at FPC. Let me give you nine things Dr. Floyd listed that will happen if a church participates in a corporate fast:
1. Focus. It is easy to get busy and miss the Master in the ministry. Don’t lose your first love.
2. Wonder. Do we still have the wonder and awe of the God we worship?
3. Sensitivity. As a family are we hearing the voice of the Spirit of the living God?
4. Unity. Jesus said, “A Kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.” The devil is about dividing the family of God and defusing our power.
5. Growth. I know church growth is not a dirty word, but as long as it is a biblical concept I will keep it and do it, no matter how the current Christian culture sees it. I will not apologize for winning the lost and adding to His Church!
6. Anticipation. When a church fasts there will be anticipation of what God is about to do. Do you feel it?
7. Enlargement. When we fast our vision will grow as we see how big our God is.
8. Engagement. We will engage our community with compassion and with the gospel.
9. Advancement. As we fast we will move toward the fulfillment of the Great Commission.
We are at war with the devil who owns the souls of the lost. We must advance on our knees and with the power of God. I wonder how we forgot the door of fasting that opens to us the power of God? What do you need God to do that requires supernatural power and where fasting could open that door?
See you in the Spirit!
Pastor Chris
4 Comments
I agree.
Fasting has been on many hearts. Lesley and I have been talking about it this week…even the students on the MSM Fuel Team have been asking about it. I believe God is calling us to a fast, Pastor.
Call it!
I’ll admit that I’m still confused when is an appropriate time to fast. I have fasted when I really need God’s help, when I really need God’s wisdom, and when I really want God’s blessing on something. At my current level of understanding the Bible, I can’t recall a lot of clear guidance on the subject of fasting.
On the list from Dr. Floyd, some items on the list make sense from my individual experience (focus, wonder, sensitivity, and anticipation). Any time you worship and devote yourselves to God as a group or “choir” (everyone bringing their best for God in harmony) you build unity. The other items on the list… uhm, I don’t know… are these things you fast for?
Andy Kercher.
“This is the kind of fasting I have chosen: Loosen the chains of wickedness, untie the straps of the yoke,let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke. Share your food with the hungry, take the poor and homeless into your house, and cover them with clothes when you see them naked. Don’t refuse to help your relatives.” – Isaiah 58:6,7
Do it. Do it. And don’t be surprised when you start (or even now, as you plan) at the attacks that will be waged and at those who will drop by the wayside and leave you. (I know you better than that to be worried about those who drop off). Follow the promptings of the Lord. I’m excited for what this will do for God’s church! Be blessed today my brothers and sisters!