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DECLARING A CONGREGATIONAL FAST @ VICTORY CHURCH

As Senior Pastor of Victory Church, today I am declaring a "Congregational Fast" for the approval of a $1.3 million loan for phase one of our building project.

Joel 2:12-13, 15-16 (HCSB) Even now- [this is] the Lord's declaration- turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Tear your hearts, not just your clothes, and return to the Lord your God. Blow the horn in Zion! Announce a sacred fast; proclaim an assembly. Gather the people; sanctify the congregation; assemble the aged; gather the children, even those nursing at the breast.

Below is a study on "Prayer and Fasting" I taught at Victory:

BREAKING STRONGHOLDS THROUGH FASTING

Matthew 6:16-18 (HCSB) “Whenever you fast, don’t be sad-faced like the hypocrites. For they make their faces unattractive so their fasting is obvious to people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward! But when you fast, put oil on your head, and wash your face, so that you don’t show your fasting to people but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

For many of you this is a new “subject/experience” in your Christian life, but it’s a very biblical practice.

John Wesley said about fasting, “Some have exalted religious fasting beyond all Scripture and reason; and others have utterly disregarded it altogether.”

We live in a world obsessed with food.

• It is almost impossible to drive a city block without passing a local pizza parlor or fast-food restaurant.
• Some would argue that we have a national addiction to food.
• There are support groups for people who cannot control their eating habits.
• It is natural to eat! That’s why the subject of fasting is something that appears unnatural or strange.

What is fasting? It is the biblical discipline from food for spiritual purposes.

Fasting must always be for spiritual purposes, not for public attention! The Sermon on the Mount is best known for the “Beatitudes” or the “Blessed are…” statements.

• Because we have focused so much of our attention on the beatitudes, we have inadvertently missed what Jesus said about certain activities that should be done in privacy away from neighbors and friends.
• He admonished the crown to be careful about what they did in public because of the tendency to do it out of misguided motivation.

Jesus talked about three things we should refrain from doing in public:

1. We should refrain from public notoriety. (Matthew 6:2)
2. We are admonished to pray in private. (Matthew 6:5)
3. We should fast in private. (Matthew 6:16)

Nothing is fundamentally wrong with doing these things in public, but Jesus understood the tendency of people to do things for admiration of their peers instead than for the glory of God. Therefore, to keep our hearts pure, Jesus thought it best for us to do these things in private.

THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT FASTS WRITTEN ABOUT IN THE BIBLE:

1. NORMAL FAST

• Involves abstaining from all food, but not from water. Matthew 4:2 (HCSB) After He had fasted 40 days and 40 nights, He was hungry. Luke 4:1-2 (HCSB) Then Jesus returned from the Jordan, full of the Holy Spirit, and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for 40 days to be tempted by the Devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over, He was hungry.
• Now it did not say anything about Him being thirsty.
• Since the body can normally survive no longer than 3 days without water, we assume that He drank water during the 40 day fast.
• The most common Christian fast is to abstain from food and drink water or fruit juices. 

2. PARTIAL FAST

• This is a limited diet but not total abstinence from food and water.
• This fast is demonstrated in Daniel 1:12 where we are told that Daniel and his friends had only “vegetables to eat and water to drink.”

3. ABSOLUTE FAST

• This means to abstain from both water and food.
• There are several references in Scripture regarding an absolute fast. Ezra 10:6 (HCSB) Ezra then went from the house of God, walked to the chamber…where he spent the night. He did not eat food or drink water, because he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.
• This type of fast is recorded when Esther requested the Jews fast and pray on her behalf. Esther 4:16 (HCSB) “Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa and fast for me. Don’t eat or drink for three days, night and day. I and my female servants will also fast in the same way. After that, I will go to the king even if it is against the law. If I perish, I perish.” 

4. PRIVATE FAST

• This fast is referred to in Matthew 6:16-18.
• Jesus spoke about fasting in a way not to be noticed by others.
• Fasting for public attention or political power was not an acceptable reason to fast.

 5. CONGREGATIONAL FAST

• This is where the prophet Joel proclaimed a fast… Joel 2:15-16 (HCSB) Blow the horn in Zion! Announce a sacred fast; proclaim an assembly. 16 Gather the people; sanctify the congregation; assemble the aged; gather the children, even those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his bedroom, and the bride her honeymoon chamber.
• The congregation at Antioch was involved in a fast… Acts 13:2 (HCSB) As they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work that I have called them to.” 

6. NATIONAL FAST

• The response of King Jehoshaphat to an invasion was to call a national fast… 2 Chronicles 20:3 (HCSB) Jehoshaphat was afraid, so he resolved to seek the Lord. So he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.
• Other references of a nation fasting is found in Neh. 9:1; Esther 4:16; Jonah 3:5-8 • In the early days of our nation, Congress proclaimed 3 national fasts.
• Three presidents (John Adams, James Madison, and Abraham Lincoln) called the nation into fasts.
• Abraham Lincoln called for a fast 3 times during the War Between the States. 

LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT FASTING IS NOT INTENDED TO DO:

1. FASTING IS NOT INTENDED TO PERSUADE GOD TO CHANGE HIS MIND. 

• Some have the mistaken idea that fasting is a sure way to get God on their team; therefore, they learn the hard way that fasting was never intended to be a tool to manipulate God!
  

2. FASTING WILL NOT MAKE YOU MORE ACCEPTABLE IN GOD’S EYES.

• It is not another item on the “to-do-list” in order to be accepted by God!

3. FASTING IS NOT DONE TO LOSE WEIGHT.

• That’s the way the world thinks! Our world has become obsessed with the outward appearance—fasting was never to be intended to be a diet plan!

SPECIFIC REASONS FOR FASTING PRESENTED IN SCRIPTURE:

1. FASTING PREPARES US.

• Fasting puts us in a proper attitude for God to is calling us to do and be.
• Fasting provides an opportunity to get away from the negative impact of the world and provides a time to really listen to the Voice of God.
  

2. FASTING CLEANSES US.

• Fasting is a means of personal cleansing for the physical body, ridding it of impurities.
• Not only our physical bodies are cleansed, but our “soul” is cleansed as well. 

3. FASTING EQUIPS US.

• Fasting equips us for the battle we wage against Satan!
• There is a powerful verse that deals with fasting and the way it is connected to our victory over the strongholds in our lives is found in Isaiah. Isaiah 58:6 (HCSB) Isn’t the fast I choose: To break the chains of wickedness, to untie the ropes of the yoke, to set the oppressed free, and to tear off every yoke?
• When Satan gains a foothold in our lives, we usually try everything except fasting! • When Satan did his very best to tempt Jesus in the wilderness, it was a fasting Messiah that triumphed over the evil one! 

Conclusion:

• The more you know about what the Bible has to say about fasting, the better equipped you will be when God leads you.
• Never fast out of pride or in an effort to draw attention to yourself. Scripture says that will be your only reward!
• The bottom line in fasting is to be done to honor and glorify the Lord.
• This is a limited diet but not total abstinence from food and water.
• This fast is demonstrated in Daniel 1:12 where we are told that Daniel and his friends had only “vegetables to eat and water to drink.”

VIDEO: Easter Is Just the Beginning!

GOD'S WAYS ARE NOT OUR WAYS - Isaiah 55:8-9

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways.” [This is] the Lord’s declaration. “For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”—Isaiah 55:8–9

Rarely does God do something exactly as we think He will. Our problem is that we try to second-guess God, saying, “Oh, now I know what God is planning to do!” Moses experienced this as he learned how God was going to deliver the Hebrews out of Egypt. God told him He would harden Pharaoh's heart. Yet, the result was not what Moses anticipated. Rather than allowing the Hebrews to leave, Pharaoh increased their hardship. Rather than becoming a hero among the Hebrews, Moses was despised by them for bringing greater suffering. Moses returned to the Lord and asked, “Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me?”(Exod. 5:22).

Much of the frustration we experience as Christians has nothing to do with what God does or doesn't do. It has everything to do, rather, with the false assumptions we make about how we think God will and should act.

Have you ever done the will of God and then things seemed to become worse? Moses completely misunderstood what the results of His obedience to God would be. When things did not turn out as he anticipated, Moses became discouraged. God had told Moses what to do, but He had not told Moses what the consequences would be.

It is foolish to attempt to do God's work using your own “common sense.” God does not eliminate your common sense, He consecrates it. He gives you His wisdom so you can understand His ways.

As you look back on God's activity in your life, you will recognize the supreme wisdom in how He has led you. As you look forward to what God may do, be careful you do not try to predict what He will do next. You may find yourself completely off the mark.

PRINCIPLES TO LIVE BY

This is the response to why I don’t drink alcohol, gamble, smoke or any other questionable social practice.

1 Corinthians 6:12-20 (HCSB) “Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is helpful. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be brought under the control of anything. 13 “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food,” but God will do away with both of them. The body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 God raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. 15 Don’t you know that your bodies are a part of Christ’s body? So should I take a part of Christ’s body and make it part of a prostitute? Absolutely not! 16 Don’t you know that anyone joined to a prostitute is one body with her? For Scripture says, The two will become one flesh. 17 But anyone joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 18 Run from sexual immorality! “Every sin a person can commit is outside the body.” On the contrary, the person who is sexually immoral sins against his own body. 19 Don’t you know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body.

To help make the moral decisions of your life we must use biblical principles.

There are some great eternal standards of right and wrong that have been set and settled by the Word of God. We call these the 10 commandments:

1. 'You shall have no other gods before Me.'
2. 'You shall not make for yourself a carved image--any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.' 
3. 'You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.' 
4. 'Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.' 
5. 'Honor your father and your mother.' 
6. 'You shall not murder.' 
7. 'You shall not commit adultery.' 
8. 'You shall not steal.' 
9. 'You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.' 
10. 'You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's.'

However, there are a lot of issues that are not settled by the 10 commandments.  Why is this?  Well, first of all, we must be reminded that the bible is not primarily a rule book, it is primarily a guide book. The bible is not a book of minute laws, but a book of many principles. 

I’m personally glad it’s not a book of laws, but a book of principles.  Let me give you an example: if the bible were a book of laws and rules, what would relate to one age would not relate to another age.  Let’s consider obeying the laws of the land.  Driving 65 on interstates and 35 on any road not posted makes perfect since to us in the 21st century.  But, to the people of Corinth in the 1st century this would have been completely ludicrous!  However principles can apply to the 1st and 21st century.  Also, there are loop-holes in laws and rules, but not in principles.

One last thought about rules verses principles; rules are for children, principles are for those who are mature.  Let me illustrate.  When my children were young I had to specifically communicate to them to “stay out of the road” and “stay in the yard!”  I was very specific with my instructions and/or rules.  But, as they matured I no longer had to tell them to “stay out of the road.”  Why? Because they grew to know and understand the danger of playing in the road.

How do you make up your mind what is right and wrong for you?

Allow me to share with you six principles which should come into play as we make our moral decision of what is right and wrong for us to indulge in.

1. EXPEDIENCY (I Cor. 6:12a)

Number one is the Principle of Expediency.  Listen to what the Apostle Paul says in his letter to the Corinthians from three different translations:

I Corinthians 6:12a (HCSB) “Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is helpful.”

1 Corinthians 6:12a (KJV) All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient:

1 Corinthians 6:12a (AMP) Everything is permissible (allowable and lawful) for me; but not all things are helpful (good for me to do, expedient and profitable when considered with other things).

How do I make up my mind what is right and wrong for me?  Don’t ask yourself this question, “Is it lawful?” Rather ask yourself this question, “Is it expedient?”

What does expedient mean?  The root word is expedition, which means to be on a journey.  Therefore, we need to ask, “Will doing this thing, whatever it may be, bring me to my appointed destination or goal?  Will it help me in reaching my destination?”

Let me ask you a question, “Do you have some God-given ambitions and goals for your life?”  If yes, then a lot of things will be settled for you.

2. ENSLAVEMENT (I Cor 6:12)

Number two is the Principle of Enslavement.  Once again, listen to what the Apostle Paul wrote to the believers at Corinth.

I Cor. 6:12 (HCSB) “Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is helpful. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be brought under the control of anything.

Friends, do you realize that Jesus came to set you free! 

John 8:31-32 (HCSB) So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you really are My disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Therefore, you should not be “enslaved” to anything.  Are you a free person or is there something that has enslaved you?  Review the list below (realize this is not an exhaustive list, but there is enough here to get us thinking in the right direction):

• Pornography
• Lust
• Alcohol
• Nicotine
• Caffeine
• Music
• Television
• Sports

All of these are habit forming vices which can enslave you and bring you under bondage.  It has been said of old, “No man is fully free who drags his chain with him!” 

3. EXAMPLE (I Cor 8:8-13)

Number three is the Principle of Example.  Once again, listen to what the Apostle Paul wrote to the believers at Corinth.

1 Corinthians 8:8-13 (HCSB) Food will not make us acceptable to God. We are not inferior if we don’t eat, and we are not better if we do eat. 9 But be careful that this right of yours in no way becomes a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone sees you, the one who has this knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, won’t his weak conscience be encouraged to eat food offered to idols? 11 Then the weak person, the brother for whom Christ died, is ruined by your knowledge. 12 Now when you sin like this against the brothers and wound their weak conscience, you are sinning against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to fall, I will never again eat meat, so that I won’t cause my brother to fall.

Wow!  There is so very much to be pondered in these verses, but the bottom line is this:

If what I am partaking in or of causes somebody else to stumble, then DON’T do it!

Notice with me, if you will, the later part of the very first verse in this chapter:

1 Corinthians 8:1b (HCSB) Knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up.

I believe what the Apostle Paul is trying to convey is this, “As you go through life, don’t let your head run away with your heart.”  Listen, we are to operate by love! There are some things I don’t do because somebody else may stumble.

It is very selfish to say, “How will this hurt me?!”  The far greater and bigger question is to ask, “Will this hurt somebody else?”

Listen to what the Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Rome:

Romans 14:19-21 (HCSB) So then, we must pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another. 20 Do not tear down God’s work because of food. Everything is clean, but it is wrong for a man to cause stumbling by what he eats. 21 It is a noble thing not to eat meat, or drink wine, or do anything that makes your brother stumble.

This is the key verse for why I don’t drink, gamble, smoke cigarettes or cigars, and a number of other practices which I may be able to handle! 

It’s the Principle of Example!

In the area of alcohol, many will say that “moderation” is the answer.  Just don’t get drunk!  Well, I have counseled with a number of alcoholics and every one I have spoken with, counseled, and consoled all believed in drinking in moderation!  However, it took hold of them and destroyed their homes and families.   

Here’s something else to remember about moderation. “What you do in moderation, your children will do in excess!”  This is true in every area of your life, including the questionable areas.  I love my children too much not to strive to set a Godly example for them to follow.  I would hate to think that one day my son or daughters life would be destroyed by alcohol because they watched dad indulge in “social drinking.”  I’m not sure I could live with myself. 

Oh yeah, by the way, it’s foolish to say that will never happen to me or my family.  Listen to what the Scripture says about that mindset:

Proverbs 20:1 (KJV) Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

The bottom line is that nobody knows whose going to become an alcoholic! Everybody who drinks in “moderation” thinks someone else will!

Once again, it has been said of old, “First the man takes a drink, then the drink takes a drink, then the drink takes the man!”


4. EDIFICATION (I Cor 10:23)

Number four is the Principle of Edification.

1 Corinthians 10:23 (HCSB) “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is helpful. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything builds up.

Listen, everything you do is either building you up or tearing you down.  We must stop long enough, before making a decision to indulge in a questionable practice and ask the question, “Will this build me up, will it build others up, will it build Christ up? Or, will it tear me, others, and the cause of Christ down?”

In verses 23-24 two basic principles are given to guide us in using our Christian liberty for God's glory:

    A. Edification over Gratification (vs. 23)
 
Paul’s use of “all things are lawful” always refers to questionable practices, the gray areas of Christian living that are not specifically forbidden in the Bible.

The basic meaning of edify is "to build a house," and, by extension, the term refers to the literal or figurative building of anything. It is often used in the New Testament to describe the spiritual growth, or upbuilding, of believers. Whatever contributes to spiritual growth constitutes what is profitable, or beneficial, helpful, advantageous, or useful. Only things that are profitable are able to edify.

When we are faced with a decision about a practice, we should first ask if we have a right to do it. If it is not forbidden in Scripture the answer is yes. But our next question should be, “Is it profitable, edifying, and upbuilding for ourselves and for others?” If the answer to both questions is yes, then we can do it to God's glory. If the answer to either question is no, we cannot do it to His glory.

    B. Others over Self (vs. 24)

The second principle for using Christian freedom for the glory of God is even more demanding. Even if something will build us up we should not do it if it is not also for the good of others. Our primary concern should be for the good of our neighbor, a principle contrary to basic human nature.

Philippians 2:3-4 (HCSB) Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Once again, ask, “Will I be built up and matured in Christ; will I become spiritually stronger?” If not, then it’s wrong.


5. EXALTATION (I Cor 10:31)

Number five is the Principle of Exalation.   We need to ask, “Does this thing I’m about to partake in exalt the Lord Jesus Christ?”  If yes, then do it, if you have to pause for a split second and ponder that question, then don’t do it!

Everything you do in life either honors or dishonors the Lord.  Therefore, we need to ask, “Is God glorified in what I’m doing?”

Can you honestly say, “Lord Jesus, this thing I’m partaking in or of, is what I’m doing for Your glory.”


6. EVANGELISM (I Cor 10:32-33)

Number six is the Principle of Evangelism.

Once again, when deciding on what is right or wrong for you to do, ask this question, “Is what I’m doing keeping me, or hindering me from bringing someone to Christ”   If it does, then it’s wrong.

The most important thing on earth for me is for others to know that I love the Lord Jesus Christ and I have a desire to introduce Him to them!  Therefore, I do not do a lot of things that may be lawful for me to do..

Conclusion: 

In deciding about whether or not to participate in any behavior that is questionable or doubtful, the following principles make a good checklist to follow.

1. Expediency. "All things are lawful for me," Paul says, "but not all things are profitable," or expedient (1 Cor. 6:12). Is what I want to do helpful and useful, or only desirable?

2. Enslavement. I Cor. 6:12b (HCSB) “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be brought under the control of anything.”  Is the activity or habit necessary, or is it merely an extra that is not really important?  Could I possibly become “enslaved” or is this activity “addictive” in nature?  If so, run from it!  (Ref.Hebrews 12:1)

3. Example. Are we setting the right example for others, especially for weaker brothers and sisters? If we emulate Christ, others will be able to emulate us, to follow our example (1 Tim. 4:12).

4. Edification. Will I be built up and matured in Christ; will I become spiritually stronger? "All things are lawful, but not all things edify" (1 Cor. 10:23).

5. Exaltation. Will the Lord be lifted up and glorified in what I do? God's glory and exaltation should be the supreme purpose behind everything we do. "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31).

6. Evangelism. Is my testimony going to be helped or hindered? Will unbelievers be drawn to Christ or turned away from Him by what I am doing? Will it help me conduct myself "with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity" (Col. 4:5)?

THIS WEEK'S PARENTAL PRAYER OF BLESSING AT VICTORY - Repentance

Weekly Scriptural Parental Prayer of Blessing For Our Children:

REPENTANCE

Prayer: "Father, when my children sin, quickly lead them to confess and repent so they might enjoy a clear conscience and unbroken fellowship with You, Amen."

Psalms 32:1-2 (HCSB) How joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! 2 How joyful is the man the LORD does not charge with sin and in whose spirit is no deceit!

1 John 1:5-9 (HCSB) Now this is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him. 6 If we say, “We have fellowship with Him” and walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.