Hezekiah was one of the five outstanding Kings, who ruled in the southern kingdom. 2 Chronicles 29:2 “And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done.” In the book of Kings. It is said that after Hezekiah was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. He tore down the high places, cleansed the temple, broke the bronze serpent which had become an idol and again did what was right in the eyes of God. Hezekiah even tried to get the northern kingdom to take part in a Passover celebration with the southern kingdom. Some of the northern inhabitants did come south, but many ridiculed Hezekiah.
The righteous King Hezekiah and the southern kingdom had a miraculous deliverance from the Assyrians. Although heavily outnumbered, Hezekiah rested in the assurance that He who fought with them was greater than the Assyrians. I have a grandniece who sings in what is called the “Cherub Choir” at her church. I mentioned to my brother that the cherubs were not as pictured, fat little babies with wings, but they were a force to be reckoned with as the Assyrians found out.
Later Hezekiah was told to get his affairs in order, as he was soon to pass away. There was great intercession to the Lord to spare Hezekiah and he was granted another 15 years of life. I’m currently reading a book written by Dr. David Jeremiah titled “What Are You Afraid Of” in which he includes a chapter on the fear of disease. Dr. Jeremiah refers to Isaiah 103:1-3 as a reminder that upon recovering from illness we must first thank Jehovah-Rophe, The Lord who heals us.
During the 15 years of extended life granted Hezekiah he lost favor with God as he became more obsessed wealth. He made the mistake of showing his treasures to a group from Babylon. Years later when the Babylonians would attack Judah they had a roadmap to the treasures. Isaiah foretold God's judgment on the nation, Isaiah 39:6-7, “Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” Such was the fate of the righteous Daniel.
The 15 year extension of life granted Hezekiah accomplish two things, the continuance of the Davidic Dynasty and the birth of the wicked Manasseh. Manasseh reigned for 55 years and lead the people back into idolatry. While his father Hezekiah had cleanse the temple, Manasseh desecrated it.
From Hezekiah we learn to be careful what we wish for. The demand for unearned entitlements gifted the United States with our current administration.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
What did it mean to the people of the Old Testament to “sanctify” themselves? What does it mean to be “stiff-necked?” What modern-day application of these do you see? 512 - 14 - 7
Job 1:1, “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.” Disaster after disaster befell Job, nevertheless, he never lost his faith in God and grew in his sanctification.
Abraham and Sarah stumbled in their absolute faith in God and as a result, the Middle East is still sharply divided between the two sons of Abraham. That said, Abraham and Sarah had great faith in God throughout their life and Abraham was called a friend of God.
This is a little off topic, however, it offers interesting insight into Israel specifically and the religious world in general. Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri died several years ago and left a note to be read one year after his death. It has been argued whether or not he actually named Jesus as the Messiah or not. He did state that the then Prime Minister of Israel, Ariel Sharon, would die prior to the Messiah coming forth.
Author Carl Gallups in his book "The Rabbi Who Found Messiah: The Story of Yitzhak Kaduri and His Prophecies of the End" pointed out that the flood did not occur until "after all the men who walked in the ways of the Lord had been removed." The flood occurred after the death of Methuselah, a righteous man whose name translates, “When he is dead it shall be sent.” Mr. Gallups suggests that since "Methuselah’s death indicated the coming literal flood of judgment so might Ariel Sharon’s death signify the coming flood of judgment upon an unrepentant world; or the redemption of the righteous in Christ!"
2 Chronicles 30, "Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified forever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you."
Both the rabbi's son and grandson repudiated the possibility that the old Rabbi was referring to Jesus as the Messiah. Was this being stiffnecked, or was there justification?
After reading Mr. Gelb's book I'm confused myself. On one hand, I would like to believe that he was referring to Jesus when he spoke of Yeshua being the Messiah, on the other hand, the note is at best rather confusing. The suggestion has been made that rather than referring to Jesus as the Messiah, It could possibly be the coming Antichrist.
After years in a coma Ariel Sharon is very near death. So there is quite a bit of speculation being bandied about in prophetic circles today. Interestingly enough Sharon's name means “Lion of God” or “Jerusalem” or “Fertile Land” and after forcing the expulsion of Jews from Gaza, Ariel Sharon was demonized.
The Rapture Ready website had an interesting article today, "The Old Rabbi’s Vision" by Cynthia Nuara. Ms. casts serious doubt that the Rabbi’s vision wasof the true Messiah Jesus.
http://www.raptureready.com/soap/nuara15.html
Added Later:
This is more nearly a note to self. "Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary" has been one of my favorite praise and worship songs for years. This discussion question has given me some insight into why the song is so special to me.
"Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary
Pure and holy, tried and ture
With thanksgiving, I'll be a living
Sanctuary for You"
Abraham and Sarah stumbled in their absolute faith in God and as a result, the Middle East is still sharply divided between the two sons of Abraham. That said, Abraham and Sarah had great faith in God throughout their life and Abraham was called a friend of God.
This is a little off topic, however, it offers interesting insight into Israel specifically and the religious world in general. Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri died several years ago and left a note to be read one year after his death. It has been argued whether or not he actually named Jesus as the Messiah or not. He did state that the then Prime Minister of Israel, Ariel Sharon, would die prior to the Messiah coming forth.
Author Carl Gallups in his book "The Rabbi Who Found Messiah: The Story of Yitzhak Kaduri and His Prophecies of the End" pointed out that the flood did not occur until "after all the men who walked in the ways of the Lord had been removed." The flood occurred after the death of Methuselah, a righteous man whose name translates, “When he is dead it shall be sent.” Mr. Gallups suggests that since "Methuselah’s death indicated the coming literal flood of judgment so might Ariel Sharon’s death signify the coming flood of judgment upon an unrepentant world; or the redemption of the righteous in Christ!"
2 Chronicles 30, "Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified forever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you."
Both the rabbi's son and grandson repudiated the possibility that the old Rabbi was referring to Jesus as the Messiah. Was this being stiffnecked, or was there justification?
After reading Mr. Gelb's book I'm confused myself. On one hand, I would like to believe that he was referring to Jesus when he spoke of Yeshua being the Messiah, on the other hand, the note is at best rather confusing. The suggestion has been made that rather than referring to Jesus as the Messiah, It could possibly be the coming Antichrist.
After years in a coma Ariel Sharon is very near death. So there is quite a bit of speculation being bandied about in prophetic circles today. Interestingly enough Sharon's name means “Lion of God” or “Jerusalem” or “Fertile Land” and after forcing the expulsion of Jews from Gaza, Ariel Sharon was demonized.
The Rapture Ready website had an interesting article today, "The Old Rabbi’s Vision" by Cynthia Nuara. Ms. casts serious doubt that the Rabbi’s vision wasof the true Messiah Jesus.
http://www.raptureready.com/soap/nuara15.html
Added Later:
This is more nearly a note to self. "Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary" has been one of my favorite praise and worship songs for years. This discussion question has given me some insight into why the song is so special to me.
"Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary
Pure and holy, tried and ture
With thanksgiving, I'll be a living
Sanctuary for You"
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Profile your own "Four D’s" 532-2 - 1 - 3
Lazarus
was:
· Dead
· Defeated and bound
in his grave
clothes.
· Dangerous after
Jesus called his back to life
· Dines with Jesus
Lazarus had been dead for four days and was wrapped in his grave clothes. He had a napkin covering his face as well. The time of even the professional mourners was passed so no one could possibly deny that Lazarus was indeed dead and decomposing. Jesus called Lazarus forth from the grave and told the people to remove his grave clothes. Without the justification afforded us by the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus we would be spiritually dead and defeated and restricted by our own grave clothes. Our grave clothes can take many forms and to me would be anything that distracts from our devotion to God. Loyalty and love for family and friends who are not born again Christians can be draining as can old habits, a form of stifling grave clothes.
The gem shows are underway here in Quartzsite, AZ. I’m already loaded down with inventory, however, I found some very special beads and mineral specimens. Inventory, grave clothes or a good investment? Perhaps both.
After Lazarus was restored to life he was dangerous to the Jewish
leadership who sought to kill him. Passover was at hand and one can only imagine
the stories that were being passed around Jerusalem. Jesus certainly was not
politically correct when it came to voicing his opinion of the Pharisees and was
quick to point out their hypocrisy. Jesus walked the desert for three years in
homespun and sandals preaching a simple message of salvation. By comparison the
temple elites dressed in their Royal regalia and were suffocated by the grave
cloths of perpetual rituals.
I’m justified
by the blood of Jesus, a free gift not earned but accepted by faith in Jesus. I
am working on my sanctification and hopefully becoming dangerous as the hour is
late and I find it very difficult to soft-pedal my beliefs around Catholics and
Mormon friends. It is easier to talk to a nonbeliever about Jesus than those who
think they are Christian, but don’t accept His truth; “It is finished.” The
level of apostasy in this country hasn't gotten to the point where to Christians
are killed for their beliefs, however, the mention of the word Jesus seems to
bring out the worst in many people. If we are true ambassadors for Jesus we will
be dangerous to the world owned by the spirit of anti-Christ.
When the
blessed hope comes and we are called to be with Jesus we will partake of the
wedding dinner with our Lord, the final D
What is your take on 2 Chronicles 25:2? What is the condition of your heart? Who is someone you know who fits this description? 512 - 13 - 3
2 Chronicles 25:2, "And he did that
which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect
heart."
In her book "Expecting to See Jesus: A Wake-Up Call for God's People" Billy Graham's daughter Anne Graham Lotz refers to a statement made by coach Landry. He said that "during his career he came across many good athletes — but very few great ones. He said the difference between a good athlete and a great one is eighteen inches — the distance from the head to the heart. From his observation based on a lifetime of involvement in sports, he explained that good athletes have exceptional ability and a thorough understanding of the game, but great athletes have heart — a passion to play that drives them to selfless sacrifice, brutally long hours of practice, undivided focus, and ultimately, to achieve extraordinary accomplishments."
Mrs. Lotz makes an equivalence when it comes to good Christians and great Christians. "While there are many good Christians who have a head knowledge of Scripture, attend church regularly, are familiar with church traditions and rituals, and are comfortable with prayer, group Bible study, and outreach ministries, there are very few who are great." Sounds a little like 2 Chronicles 25:2, "And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart."
To Mrs. Lot, the really great Christians are the ones who are so in love with Jesus that they put him first in their lives and make whatever sacrifices of time, money and desires and are all in for Jesus.
Mark Batterson wrote about being all in his book "All In: You Are One Decision Away From a Totally Different Life." Mr. Batterson tells of missionaries who were told to pack their coffins as they entered the mission field. "Jesus didn’t die to keep us safe. He died to make us dangerous. Faithfulness is not holding the fort. It’s storming the gates of hell. The will of God is not an insurance plan. It’s a daring plan. The complete surrender of your life to the cause of Christ isn’t radical. It’s normal." These would be those who not only did what was/is right in the sight of the Lord and did it with a perfect heart.
I’m privileged to have a very good friend who teaches two weekly Bible studies, one at church and one in a tent in the desert. She is all in with respect to her studies and not only takes an in-depth look at the Bible, she digs in with a backhoe. She lives to serve and is totally given over to the love of the Lord, someone I would classify as a great Christian. As for me, I’m devoted to learning and have a deep love for Jesus and eagerly await his return for his Church. That said, I am not a great Christian, just one working towards sanctification.
In her book "Expecting to See Jesus: A Wake-Up Call for God's People" Billy Graham's daughter Anne Graham Lotz refers to a statement made by coach Landry. He said that "during his career he came across many good athletes — but very few great ones. He said the difference between a good athlete and a great one is eighteen inches — the distance from the head to the heart. From his observation based on a lifetime of involvement in sports, he explained that good athletes have exceptional ability and a thorough understanding of the game, but great athletes have heart — a passion to play that drives them to selfless sacrifice, brutally long hours of practice, undivided focus, and ultimately, to achieve extraordinary accomplishments."
Mrs. Lotz makes an equivalence when it comes to good Christians and great Christians. "While there are many good Christians who have a head knowledge of Scripture, attend church regularly, are familiar with church traditions and rituals, and are comfortable with prayer, group Bible study, and outreach ministries, there are very few who are great." Sounds a little like 2 Chronicles 25:2, "And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart."
To Mrs. Lot, the really great Christians are the ones who are so in love with Jesus that they put him first in their lives and make whatever sacrifices of time, money and desires and are all in for Jesus.
Mark Batterson wrote about being all in his book "All In: You Are One Decision Away From a Totally Different Life." Mr. Batterson tells of missionaries who were told to pack their coffins as they entered the mission field. "Jesus didn’t die to keep us safe. He died to make us dangerous. Faithfulness is not holding the fort. It’s storming the gates of hell. The will of God is not an insurance plan. It’s a daring plan. The complete surrender of your life to the cause of Christ isn’t radical. It’s normal." These would be those who not only did what was/is right in the sight of the Lord and did it with a perfect heart.
I’m privileged to have a very good friend who teaches two weekly Bible studies, one at church and one in a tent in the desert. She is all in with respect to her studies and not only takes an in-depth look at the Bible, she digs in with a backhoe. She lives to serve and is totally given over to the love of the Lord, someone I would classify as a great Christian. As for me, I’m devoted to learning and have a deep love for Jesus and eagerly await his return for his Church. That said, I am not a great Christian, just one working towards sanctification.
How does paganism manifest itself in our culture today? Is abortion an equivalent? 512 - 13 - 2
One only has to look on the back of a dollar bill to realize that the
all-seeing Eye of Horus is above the pyramid; just one example of paganism.
There seems to be little awareness of how embedded the Masonic Order is in this
country with their strange and pagan rites. As it seems to be with the Mormon
faith, the majority of the lower-level Masons are not so attuned to the upper
echelon and their rituals. At its most perverse and highest degrees, there is a
certain amount of Lucifer worship with the Masons. The Mormon prophet Joseph
Smith was quoted as saying that “As man is God once was and that as God is man
can become.” In his arrogance, man listens to the beguiling voice of Lucifer
that you can be like God.
The gods of old, also known as mighty men of the Bible, represented a mixing of the human race with the fallen Angels. Today the approach is a less obvious as trans-humanism and the singularity point are envisioned. I can remember years ago when we discussed man-print at work. At that time, it dealt with the interface between man and equipment. Everything had to be within easy reach of the pilot in that outdated version of man-print. Today it would be more of a combining of computer and man.
But back to the mundane, money is worshiped by many and we are a very self-centered and materialistic society. Designer bags that cost thousands of dollars, cars with control panels that look like the console of a jet, homes of several thousand square feet for one or two people and the list goes on. Being a capitalist, I certainly don’t begrudge people the money they earn or how they spend it. It’s the love of money and the drive to get it at all costs that is evil.
We worship youth and marginalize the wisdom of the elderly. Our politicians take expensive vacations while much of the population lives below the poverty level.
Even some of the evangelical churches are falling by the wayside as same-sex marriage and abortion are tolerated. The abortionists Dr. Tiller, nicknamed “Dr. Tiller the baby killer”, was shot at church where he was an elder and his wife sang in the choir. This leads me the other part of the question, is there an equivalency between abortion and paganism. I would say no as that I recall that CM said that in some pagan society’s abortion was against their law. Yes, they threw newborns into the fiery furnace, but I suspect far fewer were thrown into the furnace than the 50 million or so babies that have been ripped piecemeal from their mother’s womb or subjected to caustic fluids while still in the womb. The video “The Silent Scream” was such a strong demonstration of the pain felt by the unborn that one abortionists became a pro-life advocate
Added Later:
I finally completed Tom Horn and Cris Putnam's book, "Petrus Romanus: The Final Pope Is Here." The book deals with Malachy who experienced a vision commonly called “The Prophecy of the Popes.” The prophecy is a list of Latin verses predicting each of the Roman Catholic popes from Pope Celestine II to the final pope, “Peter the Roman,” whose reign would end in the destruction of Rome. The pope following Benedict XVI is/was to be the final pontiff, Petrus Romanus or Peter the Roman.
And entered Pope Francis who seems to be golly and at ease with diversity. He has gained the love of many throughout the planet and seems to be straying from some of the long-held Catholic doctrine. Interestingly enough, Pope Francis is a Jesuit and the Jesuits have pretty much been the militant branch of the Roman Catholic Church. I am suspicious of the Vatican that has long lusted for control of Jerusalem. These are indeed interesting days in which we are living.
The book also deals with the history of the Roman Catholic Church and the Papacy. Like the Davidic dynasty, there've been a few good popes, but most of them have been horrible. And of course, the Catholic Church does seem to incorporate many pagan rituals, including the worship of icons in their doctrine of transubstantiation. Just in magic rituals in which one is to call down the powers of the directions and/or the pagan gods, the Catholic priest supposedly calls down the real body and blood of Jesus. In my opinion, paganism on steroids.
The gods of old, also known as mighty men of the Bible, represented a mixing of the human race with the fallen Angels. Today the approach is a less obvious as trans-humanism and the singularity point are envisioned. I can remember years ago when we discussed man-print at work. At that time, it dealt with the interface between man and equipment. Everything had to be within easy reach of the pilot in that outdated version of man-print. Today it would be more of a combining of computer and man.
But back to the mundane, money is worshiped by many and we are a very self-centered and materialistic society. Designer bags that cost thousands of dollars, cars with control panels that look like the console of a jet, homes of several thousand square feet for one or two people and the list goes on. Being a capitalist, I certainly don’t begrudge people the money they earn or how they spend it. It’s the love of money and the drive to get it at all costs that is evil.
We worship youth and marginalize the wisdom of the elderly. Our politicians take expensive vacations while much of the population lives below the poverty level.
Even some of the evangelical churches are falling by the wayside as same-sex marriage and abortion are tolerated. The abortionists Dr. Tiller, nicknamed “Dr. Tiller the baby killer”, was shot at church where he was an elder and his wife sang in the choir. This leads me the other part of the question, is there an equivalency between abortion and paganism. I would say no as that I recall that CM said that in some pagan society’s abortion was against their law. Yes, they threw newborns into the fiery furnace, but I suspect far fewer were thrown into the furnace than the 50 million or so babies that have been ripped piecemeal from their mother’s womb or subjected to caustic fluids while still in the womb. The video “The Silent Scream” was such a strong demonstration of the pain felt by the unborn that one abortionists became a pro-life advocate
Added Later:
I finally completed Tom Horn and Cris Putnam's book, "Petrus Romanus: The Final Pope Is Here." The book deals with Malachy who experienced a vision commonly called “The Prophecy of the Popes.” The prophecy is a list of Latin verses predicting each of the Roman Catholic popes from Pope Celestine II to the final pope, “Peter the Roman,” whose reign would end in the destruction of Rome. The pope following Benedict XVI is/was to be the final pontiff, Petrus Romanus or Peter the Roman.
And entered Pope Francis who seems to be golly and at ease with diversity. He has gained the love of many throughout the planet and seems to be straying from some of the long-held Catholic doctrine. Interestingly enough, Pope Francis is a Jesuit and the Jesuits have pretty much been the militant branch of the Roman Catholic Church. I am suspicious of the Vatican that has long lusted for control of Jerusalem. These are indeed interesting days in which we are living.
The book also deals with the history of the Roman Catholic Church and the Papacy. Like the Davidic dynasty, there've been a few good popes, but most of them have been horrible. And of course, the Catholic Church does seem to incorporate many pagan rituals, including the worship of icons in their doctrine of transubstantiation. Just in magic rituals in which one is to call down the powers of the directions and/or the pagan gods, the Catholic priest supposedly calls down the real body and blood of Jesus. In my opinion, paganism on steroids.
Other Scriptures Concerning Fasting 512 - 12 - 8
In my answer to another discussion question. I mentioned the six-day
fast proposed by our pastor and one of the examples that he cited, Esther 4:16. In addition he suggested we read passages from
both the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Daniel 9:3, "And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:"
Daniel knew from the prophet Jeremiah that the 70 years of the captivity in Babylon was coming to an end. Daniel prayed and fasted and waited on the Lord. It took 21 days before the angel Gabriel, likely with the help of the angel Michael, was finally able to break through and appear to Daniel. Through his prayer and supplication, Daniel was given what is perhaps the most astounding prophecy in the Text. Daniel 9:25, "Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times."
Jeremiah 36:6, "Therefore go thou, and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of the Lord in the ears of the people in the Lord's house upon the fasting day: and also thou shalt read them in the ears of all Judah that come out of their cities."
In Jeremiah 36:2 God told Jeremiah to "Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day." God’s word was ignored with very disastrous results.
Matthew 17:19-21, "Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
Daniel 9:3, "And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:"
Daniel knew from the prophet Jeremiah that the 70 years of the captivity in Babylon was coming to an end. Daniel prayed and fasted and waited on the Lord. It took 21 days before the angel Gabriel, likely with the help of the angel Michael, was finally able to break through and appear to Daniel. Through his prayer and supplication, Daniel was given what is perhaps the most astounding prophecy in the Text. Daniel 9:25, "Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times."
Jeremiah 36:6, "Therefore go thou, and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of the Lord in the ears of the people in the Lord's house upon the fasting day: and also thou shalt read them in the ears of all Judah that come out of their cities."
In Jeremiah 36:2 God told Jeremiah to "Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day." God’s word was ignored with very disastrous results.
Matthew 17:19-21, "Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
The lesson here appears to be that the disciples could not cast out
the demon because they had not done the proper prayer and
fasting.
Pastor also cited Isaiah
58:3-7, far too long to include within the 500 word
limit. What I gather from these verses here the fast was done both in the wrong
manner and for the wrong reasons. Isaiah 58:3-4, “Behold, ye fast for strife and
debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do
this day, to make your voice to be heard on
high.”
Jehoshaphat proclaimed a national fast throughout all of Judah. What were the results? Jesus talks about fasting in terms of when, not if. What are your experiences concerning fasting? 512 - 12 - 7
What a
timely question. At the Sunday evening service before Christmas Pastor Bruce of
the Assembly of God church in Quartzsite called for a fast from the day after
Christmas, until10 PM New Year’s Eve. Then we will meet and share a light snack
to break the fast. The suggestion was meant with mixed levels of
enthusiasm.
Having been diagnosed as a diabetic a complete fast is not advised and I have already given up my much loved sweets. During Christmas, I was surrounded by candy, cookies, and pie. While the family enjoyed apple pie and other goodies I ate an apple. Just before Christmas I bought a big bag of my favorite sugar-free/ diabetic candy which incidentally still has to be eaten in moderation. So no sugar-free/ diabetic candy for now, my very limited experience with fasting.
But I digress , back to Pastor Bruce and his suggestion of a fast. He referred us to the several Scriptures where fasts were called for and achieved positive results. In the book of Esther we read of her people engaging in a three-day fast after which she was able to approach her husband, the King, with the result that the Jewish population was spared.
Jehoshaphat was one of the great kings of Judah. 2 Chronicles 17:4, “But sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.”
Later, 2 Chronicles 20:1-3, "It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle. Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi. And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah."
Jehoshaphat and his people were rewarded by the Lord. 2 Chronicles 20:15, “And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.
Added later:
Our pastor suggested a six-day fast starting 12/26. He cited Scriptures relating to fasting. Of the five cited, only two seem to meet with positive results. The one he suggested by Isaiah really spoke to me.
Isaiah 58:3-7, "Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
This seemed to me to be shades of Matthew 23 with Jesus referring to the scribes and Pharisees as hypocrites. So it seems that we should approach a fast as we would our prayer time, with a right attitude of supplication.
Having been diagnosed as a diabetic a complete fast is not advised and I have already given up my much loved sweets. During Christmas, I was surrounded by candy, cookies, and pie. While the family enjoyed apple pie and other goodies I ate an apple. Just before Christmas I bought a big bag of my favorite sugar-free/ diabetic candy which incidentally still has to be eaten in moderation. So no sugar-free/ diabetic candy for now, my very limited experience with fasting.
But I digress , back to Pastor Bruce and his suggestion of a fast. He referred us to the several Scriptures where fasts were called for and achieved positive results. In the book of Esther we read of her people engaging in a three-day fast after which she was able to approach her husband, the King, with the result that the Jewish population was spared.
Jehoshaphat was one of the great kings of Judah. 2 Chronicles 17:4, “But sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.”
Later, 2 Chronicles 20:1-3, "It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle. Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi. And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah."
Jehoshaphat and his people were rewarded by the Lord. 2 Chronicles 20:15, “And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.
Added later:
Our pastor suggested a six-day fast starting 12/26. He cited Scriptures relating to fasting. Of the five cited, only two seem to meet with positive results. The one he suggested by Isaiah really spoke to me.
Isaiah 58:3-7, "Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
This seemed to me to be shades of Matthew 23 with Jesus referring to the scribes and Pharisees as hypocrites. So it seems that we should approach a fast as we would our prayer time, with a right attitude of supplication.
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