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.
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?
Clarity
Re: Verse reading–2 Chronicles 20:1-4, 13-15; Matthew 6:16-18; Acts 13:1-3 (day five)
14 Then in the midst of the assembly the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah
I have heard it many times already this week as we’ve been at camp- teenagers that have had a clear unmistakable “word” or insight from The Lord. (I will sit at breakfast this morning with another one- He’s wants to “talk”) It always amazes them when it happens. It’s a reminder to me (hopefully us) that when you peel away many of the stresses, pressures, activities, responsibilities, and distractions that compete for our heart’s attention and affection, the still small voice of the Holy Spirit becomes louder, stronger and more recognizable. It’s a discipline that must be repeated and recaptured often. Fasting is one way to facilitate the possibility. The result is the sweetest thing we could hope to hear and understand- the voice of the Living God speaking into the human heart!!
Seek First
Re: Verse reading–2 Chronicles 20:1-4, 13-15; Matthew 6:16-18; Acts 13:1-3 (day four) Crisis has a way of bringing out our true colors when it hits. Jehoshaphat had a crisis. Word came to him that a mass of armies was headed his way and they were not coming for a friendly visit. Verse 3 says he was afraid. The first thing he did was to turn his attention to seek the Lord. When crisis hits in your life, where do you turn. Do you begin to figure out your next move? Do you begin to calculate your own resources? Do you start contacting potential rescuers? Jehoshaphat made the right move…he sought the Lord. We may want that to be our first response, but in the middle of the crisis, we just don’t think about it. 2 Chronicles 19:3 says of Jehoshaphat, “and you set your heart to seek God.” Jehoshaphat had determined beforehand where he would turn in time of crisis. Don’t wait until crisis hits, decide before to seek the Lord!
Voice
Re: Verse reading–2 Chronicles 20:1-4, 13-15; Matthew 6:16-18; Acts 13:1-3 (day three)
“Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.” The indulging of bodily appetites become habits—but these habits are at their core spiritual habits, born as they are out of a longing for certainty, safety, love, joy, intimacy, dominion, community. These habits are attempts to fulfill these longings, and they will prevent us from placing our bodies before the Lord and listening to him. We cannot, by direct effort alone, hear God; our habitual practice has not trained to hear him but to hear our bodies instead. When we deny our bodies in a fast, the demands of our bodies grow louder at first, then weaken to the level at which we can isolate the Lord’s voice and listen to him.
Cleanse
RE Verse reading–2 Chronicles 20:1-4, 13-15; Matthew 6:16-18; Acts 13:1-3 (day two)
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Wash your face. What outward sign are we to give that we are being cleansed from within? An outward cleanliness. Jesus instructs us to show the result, not the nitty gritty of the process. By fasting we are being cleansed, purified, made ready for use. Let us approach the concept of a fast with this mindset. Jesus is making us ready for his purposes, and that should cause us to show outward joy when we focus on the result rather than the process.
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!
Pursue Faith
Proverbs 3:5-6; Galatians 2:15-21; Ephesians 2:8-10 (day five)
The next 2 weeks our teenagers will be at youth camp. The theme is Pursue (from 2 Timothy 2:22). Timothy is challenged to pursue: righteousness, faith, love and peace. These are such pivotal moments for teenagers to test, grow, and solidify their faith. They are transitioning to “faith ownership” as they become young men and women (that’s what we want for them). Will you pray these next 2 weeks for them and their “faith”? Will you pray for The Holy Spirit to speak the truth and wisdom of the Gospel into their hearts and minds through Scripture, Youth Ministry Staff, and Camp Counselors?
That process should never stop, even for adults. From our camp curriculum: “It is normal for teenagers to doubt and question what they believe. Searching for who and what we believe helps answer tough questions. There is a difference between doubt and unbelief. Doubt comes from a struggling mind while unbelief comes from a stubborn will that refuses to surrender to God.”