Sidewalk Chalk and what you can do with it
As I write this, I am reminded of my message this past Sunday. I know some of you were concerned about my state of calling at Northcrest and wondered if I were resigning. Of course, I confirmed that this was not the case. I’m simply (not simply) being stirred from within and in the midst of many circumstances. In response to this, I described this as being a great low in my ministry career and life as a Christ-follower. In the same breath, I described how I decided to respond to God. I have gone straight to the Bible, His Word to us, and to prayer. Therefore, It has resulted in being, perhaps, the greatest spiritual high I’ve experienced since my journey as a Christ-follower. Oh, I’m not finished…He is still working in me. I’m encouraged by Galatians 6:9, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” In addition, thank you for your prayers and encouragement as I am also reminded that we are not in a battle against each other, but “against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12)
Therefore, I am calling for a church-wide, and all who will, time of prayer and fasting. This is not for my own good, but for all!
I would like to share some thought with you about fasting. I realize some of you may have a healthy handle on the subject, but I also realize many do not and avoid it, usually do to a lack of understanding.
Fasting is refraining from eating food. The Bible describes three main forms of fasting:
- The Normal Fast, involving the total abstinence of food. Luke 4:2 reveals that Jesus “ate nothing.” Jesus abstained from food but not from water.
- In Acts 9:9 we read of an Absolute Fast where for three days Saul (became Paul) “did not eat or drink anything.” This was a life changing and transforming period in ‘Saul’s’ life. The total abstinence from both food and water seems to have lasted no more than three days at a time (Ezra 10:6 and Esther 4:16).
- The Partial Fast – in Daniel 10:3 the emphasis is upon the restriction of diet rather than complete abstinence. The context implies that there were physical benefits resulting from this partial fast. However, this verse indicates that there was a revelation given to Daniel as a result of this time of fasting.
Fasting is laying aside food for a period of time when the believer (Christ-follower) is seeking to know God in a deeper experience. It is done as an act before God in the privacy of your own pursuit of God. Take a moment to glance at these additional Scriptures: Exodus 34:28; I Samuel 7:6; I Kings 19:8; Matthew 6:16-18.
Fasting is to be done with the objective of seeking to know God in a deeper experience (Isaiah 58; Zechariah 7:5). Fasting relates to a time of confession (Psalm 69:10). Fasting can be a time of seeking a deeper prayer experience and drawing near to God in prevailing prayer (Ezra 8:23; Joel 2:12). The early church often fasted in seeking God’s will for leadership in the local church (Acts 13:2). When the early church wanted to know the mind of God there was a time of prayer and fasting.
I don’t know about you, but I want to do what God wants, not you or I.
If you join with me, and you’re serious about Fasting, you must:
- Put God first;
- Persevere in Prayer;
- Remove barriers (disobedience to God/sin, obstacles, personal desires, etc)
- Check your motives (losing weight is not the reason for this fast)
- Be a blessing to the Lord (worship Him, praise, thanks, etc)
Someone once said, It is a piece of chalk with which we kneel and draw a circle around ourselves and then look to heaven expectantly and pray, “Lord God, send revival, and begin it right here in this circle!”
I am praying for you and hope many of you will join me. If you have further questions, please comment (I’ll be posting this in my blog as well) or email me. It will be a great pleasure for me to help in whatever way I can.
Enjoying The Journey!
Mike
Mike Belt,Lead Pastor
