Re: Verse reading–2 Chronicles 20:1-4, 13-15; Matthew 6:16-18; Acts 13:1-3 (day seven)
“He fasted forty days and forty nights.” (Matthew 4:2) “It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God.” (Luke 6:12) “And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping.” (Matthew 26:40) God is supernatural. ABOVE nature in power and worth. Glorious and good and eternal. The ancients, therefore, understood that at important moments it is beneficial and wise to place His concerns ABOVE normal (and legitimate) human needs. Not standard practice, but acceptable under certain conditions. Needs like eating or sleeping were subordinated. Prayer ABOVE food and sleep. The importance of fasting needs to be recovered in our day. Remember the disciples in the garden? They wanted to support, but in their immaturity had not yet learned to seek the spiritual ABOVE the physical. Only Jesus can make us supernatural. It is still His desire to do so.
Author: Don Guthrie
Don Guthrie is the Senior Pastor at FBCSA.
If my people will humble themselves. . .
Re: Verse reading–2 Chronicles 20:1-4, 13-15; Matthew 6:16-18; Acts 13:1-3 (day six)
“Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.” (2 Chronicles 20:3) The human heart is naturally proud. Self-centered. No instruction required. Big problem with God! Intimacy with Him (and help from Him) requires a “pride-ectomy”. Fasting can be helpful. Self-denial from a meal or a pleasure can be a strong signal to the human ego that someone/something of higher priority is present. Fasting temporarily puts human desires and demands below the pursuit of God on the ladder of priority. It humbles the constant craving and ceaseless demanding that so often shouts its way into soul control. The squeaky wheel . . . “If my people will humble themselves” is a familiar line of Scripture. What is often lacking is the practical understanding of the path toward this beneficial goal. Fasting may be a helpful place to start. How could you, today, say “no” to yourself in pursuit of God?
What matters most?
Re: Verse reading–2 Chronicles 20:1-4, 13-15; Matthew 6:16-18; Acts 13:1-3 (day one)
“Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.” (2 Chronicles 20:3) It is a law of life. Everything is not equally important. All of us worth-ship some things and, therefore, not others. What matters most to you? The answer may not be apparent until a choice comes. Question–when you really need to concentrate on spiritual matters, can you clear your schedule and find the time to “be still and know that I am God.” Or, is your pattern of anxious seeking so unbreakable that you cannot clear your schedule (from meals or creature comforts) to seek God? We focus this week on fasting. Unfamiliar to some in a modern world, it still reflects the value structure of Jesus. “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4) Hearing from God matters more than another meal!
Faith–the door and the duty
Re: Verse reading–Proverbs 3:5-6; Galatians 2:15-21; Ephesians 2:8-10 (day seven)
“The life that I now live I live by faith in the Son of God.” (Galatians 2:20) We are saved by faith. Sola Fides. “Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15) “Not by works so that no one can boast”, says Ephesians 2:9. This must never suggest, however, that work is permanently be out of the equation. Jesus is the door. Narnia-like, we trust Him and walk into a new world. But Jesus is also the Lord. Once in this new world, we, believers, apply ourselves to every assignment, every attitude that requires change. Faith is the comprehensive word that describes both activities. Notice the juxtaposition in Ephesians 2? Salvation is not the WORK of any man. We are God’s WORKmanship. We are, nevertheless, made for good WORKS. The same faith that leads us to the door and through the door teaches us the duty of hard and grateful effort.
Faith IN Jesus Christ
Re: Verse reading–Proverbs 3:5-6; Galatians 2:15-21; Ephesians 2:8-10 (day six)
“We. . .(know) that a man is not justified by observing the Law, but by faith IN Jesus Christ. . and the life that I now live, I live by faith IN the Son of God.” (Galatians 2:15-16, 20) Peculiar language. Very specific. Overlooked at times for its familiarity. Just as some people believe IN the power of positive thinking, we believe IN Jesus. Jesus is the FOCUS of our faith. No argument here. But, Paul may also be pointing to the LOCATION of the believer as he exercises faith. We are IN Christ, supernaturally joined to Him, resting in Him, obeying Him, rejoicing in Him. This union with Christ gives faith its power. Christians are not spectators to the life of God. We are participants. Shareholders. Are you IN Christ today, friend? Have you confessed Him as Lord? If He is IN you, you are IN Him. Trust! Discover the power of your new position!
No other way
Re: Verse reading–Proverbs 3:5-6; Galatians 2:15-21; Ephesians 2:8-10 (day one)
Strange cure for human sin. Not what we expected. Faith! God saves those who believe/trust Him. “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become children of God, even to those who believe on His name.’ (John 1:12) Unchanging truth. “Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6) “If you will not believe you will not last”, said Isaiah to stubborn king Ahaz. (Isaiah 7:9) This ego-shattering, control-surrendering commitment of trust is a hard thing for us to do. But, it is the only thing that can a make a man right with God again. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him, should not perish, but should have eternal life.” (John 3:16) Did you trust Christ to save you? Do you trust Christ to save you? Will you trust Christ to save you? There is no other way.
True confession
Re: Verse reading–Psalm 51:1-19; 1 John 1:9 (day seven)
“If we confess our sins. . .” Confession in the Bible is a more specific word than we normally think. Homologeo (the Greek word) means “to speak the same thing” Homo=same. Logos=word. So, confession is more than secret sins finally admitted. More, even, than sorrow or regret. True confession is an agreement reached between a holy God and a sinner. A shared perspective, a joint statement of purpose going forward. It is an agreement on sin and the damage done. Good question. Have I waited for God on the subject of my sin? Do I know what He feels, thinks about it? Both are true–sin separates us from God and separation from God is our sin. “Come, let us reason TOGETHER,” says the Lord. “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”–Isaiah 1:18. Have you had this hard and helpful conversation with God? It is what the Bible calls true confession.
The GREATNESS of Thy compassion
Re: Verse reading–Psalm 51:1-19; 1 John 1:9 (day six)
“According to the GREATNESS of Thy compassion blot out my transgressions.” (v 1) When I feel guilty, my focus usually goes to the wrong place. All I see is my failure. All I feel is shame, a lonely separation from God. I fear the consequences to come. Recovery requires a new place to look. When David knelt to pray out his confession in Psalm 51, he focused on God’s character. Slowly, powerfully his vision cleared to see the GREATNESS (size) of God’s compassion. Ultimately, the only reason that sinners can be forgiven is that God wills it. Only the GREAT mercy of God, His eternal purpose that sinners be rescued and restored can assure our troubled hearts. “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for us sins.”–1 John 4:10. This is our hope. Our only hope. God’s mercy is great!
We need to talk.
Re: Verse reading–Psalm 51; 1 John 1:9 (Day One)
“Have mercy on me, O God. . .For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, and you only have I sinned.” (Psalm 51:1, 3-4) We need to talk! Ever had a friend say this to you? Something hurtful has entered the relationship. Anger. Disagreement. Left unaddressed this tension will weaken the friendship and possibly destroy it. Only an honest, vulnerable conversation can deal with the disappointment and restore trust. Same with God. It is called confession. Not to priest, but to God Himself, by means of prayer. The subject? Sin. Hard? Yes. Embarrassing? Yes. Necessary? Yes. Psalm 51 may be the best know prayer of confession in the world. After his affair with Bathsheba, after he murders his friend to cover-up, David comes clean in a conversation with God. We all have much to learn from his example. Listen carefully, friend, you may hear the Lord say, “We need to talk.”
Wise for salvation, equipped for service
RE Verse reading–Psalm 119:9-16; Acts 17:10-12; 2 Timothy 3:14-17 (day seven)
“From infancy you have know the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. . .that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:15, 17) We are caught in a philosophical conflict. The world against the Spirit. Hugely important! Is there a God? Is He NECESSARY for life? Most of us tend toward philosophical humanism. The bias of the present age. Consequently, we believe that we are capable of making good decisions and free to do so (even when we fail) without fear of being criticized because we were “true to ourselves.” The scripture denies such SELFishness. It declares that a “word” from God is necessary. His word and wisdom, external to us and higher than us, is something we desperately need. Ego-shattering! Life-giving! Only through Holy Scripture can we have wisdom for salvation and equipment for God-planned good works.