Proclaimed Fast

Have you ever participated in a group fast? Some churches have been known to declare a fast for their entire congregation for a period of time to seek God on a matter. If you’ve had the opportunity to participate in such a fast, I trust that God gave you an answer to the purpose of your fast. Group fasting is biblical. Entire nations have fasted when they’ve needed a move of God, and I believe when God sees this kind of humility and unity amongst his people, he can’t help but meet them in the midst of it. Jehoshaphat found that out when he was faced with war as a vast army was on the move against him. It says in second Chronicles 20, verses 2 through 4: 

“Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, ‘A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Sea. It is already in Hazazon Tamar’. Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed they came from every town in Judah to seek him.”

And when they came together as one and fasted, seeking the Lord earnestly, God answered. He spoke through his prophet telling Judah that he would fight the battle for them. The Bible says that God told them to, “stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you.” Then God set an ambush and the armies ended up fighting against each other. You see, God is always listening. But sometimes, when we have an issue that is urgent, when we have a problem that requires a miracle, nothing gets God’s attention faster than believers fasting, praying and crying out to him. Jehoshaphat proclaimed a nationwide fast, and the whole nation of Judah answered that call. Maybe our churches, and even our nation, should take a page out of Jehoshaphat’s playbook.

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You may have fasted on your own when you’ve had an urgent issue to bring before the Lord. And if so, that is very biblical. But it is also biblical for large groups of believers to fast, and as second Chronicles puts it, “to come together to seek help from the Lord.” Our urgency and earnestness can influence God. When as a group we fast and cry out to the Lord, I believe that he sees our heightened urgency and in realizing how utterly desperate we are, responds accordingly. Of course, God knows what we need before we even ask him, but this portion of scripture proves that it is always helpful when he knows that we know that as well.

Overcome Evil

I am so happy that Jesus modeled the way we are to live, because some of his commands sound impossible in theory. But, because he was able to model it for us, I have hope that we can accomplish it as well. Take for example the command from Romans chapter 12, verse 21. Sure, Paul wrote it, but Jesus definitely modeled it. It says: 

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

It makes sense to want to answer evil with evil. If someone hits you, it is natural to want to hit them back. If someone wrongs you, it is natural to wish judgment upon that person, but that is not the way we, as believers, are supposed to respond. We are called to overcome evil with good. In essence, we are called to go against our nature to accomplish a godly outcome. So, instead of wanting the person who wronged you to get what is coming to them, we are to treat them with love. Hopefully, you and I can be like Jesus when we are wronged so that we are not overcome by evil, but that we overcome evil with good.

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“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good”. It is difficult to do, and it goes against our fleshly nature, but isn’t that how it is with many of God’s commands? To be an effective Christian is to obey God’s word even when it goes against what we want or how we feel. Loving our enemies is difficult. And to take action to show that love with good deeds is even harder. But when we do, I believe the spiritual word is shaken. A darkness can lift off of our enemy, and conviction or even healing can begin to occur. This is certainly one area where God wants us to take the high road. Are you willing?

No Discrimination

Do you harbor any form of prejudice in your heart? For example, do you look down on the homeless and view them as a stain on society? Do you harbor negative feelings toward an ethnic group, the gay community or even hate groups? Do you think of, or treat others differently, who don’t agree with your world view even though your world view may be Christian? If you do, remember that true love is all inclusive. We need to learn how to love every soul even if, at the moment, that soul may be opposed to our world view or live contrary to our way of life. We need to really love our neighbor as we love ourselves no matter who they are. We need to treat everyone as Jesus would treat them. James chapter 2, verses 8 and 9 tells us: 

“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.”

You may have heard it said regarding sinners and unbelievers that we should “love the person, but hate the sin.” Though that may be true, I believe that many Christians find it difficult to separate the two. The Bible tells us that our battle isn’t against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Every person was created by God, and every person has a soul; a soul that God wants to save. The Bible reminds us that it isn’t God’s desire that any should perish. Any of us. We are all people, loved by God so much that he died for us… all of us. John 3:16 says, “for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” In light of these truths we need to evaluate what it truly means to love the person, but hate the sin. For all people we should never discriminate, we should not show favoritism because as James says, when we do, “we sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.”

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James says that, “if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.” We need to truly love our neighbors as we love ourselves because remember, without Jesus, we could’ve been one of the people we currently abhor. We could’ve been that which we revile the most. We could’ve been the worst of sinners, misguided, and maybe even one who preys on the innocent. But as far as our walk with the Lord is concerned, we are not to discriminate. If God loves the world, we should too. I pray that we all learn how to truly love the person, while at the same time hating the sin; realizing that these are two separate entities. Our job is to show the love of Christ while allowing the Holy Spirit to help us in that effort.

Vile Honored

In America we are in the midst of experiencing a monumental shift in the nation’s moral compass. At an ever quickening pace what was once considered vile is now honored. And what was once honored is now considered vile. As this pattern continues, believers may find themselves in harms way as identifying with Christ becomes less and less popular. If we look around the world at nations where belief in Christ is opposed, we understand that our Christian brothers and sisters suffer great persecution. Will we experience that here in America? Will we see that level of persecution in our lifetimes? Will we have to hide while the wicked strut about freely? Look at these words in Psalm chapter 12, verses 7 and 8 which says:

“O Lord, you will keep us safe and protect us from such people forever. The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men.”

This verse is as true today as when it was written. When what is vile becomes that which is honored, the wicked will freely strut about. And as the tide continues to turn in our nation, I’m sure believers will feel what David felt when he wrote these words. Earlier in this chapter, in verses 1 and 2, David says:

“Help, Lord, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men. Everyone lies to his neighbor; their flattering lips speak with deception.”

Even if you feel as if you are the only one left who honors the word of God, I encourage you to stand strong. It might be a good idea to examine your dedication to the Lord now; to decide what you might do in the event that our nation fully turns its back on God to the point where it seems that “godly men are no more”, as David puts it. If this happens, would you be willing to stand alone? I hope you would, and I hope I would too.

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David prayed that the Lord protect him from those who are vile; those who openly sin and strut about with pride as their sins are honored by men. He laments that his world has turned dark with sin; that there are no more godly men and that everyone around him are liars and deceivers. We may not live in that world now, but we should know how we will respond if, some day, we find ourselves in that world. Yes, some vile acts are honored in our country. But at least, right now, people of God can be found, and we are still free to live out our faith. As things get darker, I pray that we, as believers, become the beacon of light; the light on a hill as the Bible describes. Are you willing to be that light? I encourage you to consider how far you are willing to go for the Lord.

God Is Near

When you pray, do you envision God as being way up in heaven looking down from his throne hearing your request from afar? I used to. And when I’m not focused, I still might. But when my heart is in step with the Spirit, and when my walk is strong with the Lord, I understand that when I pray to God he isn’t far, but very near. You may have experienced the presence of the Lord yourself when you’ve prayed; the feeling that God is physically with you right then and there. But even when you don’t feel him, have faith to believe that he is close. He was close to the Israelites when they prayed, and he is close to us as well. Moses said in Deuteronomy 4 verse 7:

“What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him?”

I believe that God wants to be close to us. The Bible tells us that the Lord wanted to be close to the Israelites. That is why the tabernacle and the temple were built, so that he could be physically close to them. In Genesis, God was close to his creation, speaking directly to Adam. And even now, God wants to be close to us. Moses says that God is near us whenever we pray to him. Do you believe that? In the midst of your pain and sorrow, when you cry out to him, I encourage you to know that God is not far off, but he is very near. And even when you pray to him casually, I believe that God is still very near. So when you talk to God, don’t think of him as being on a phone listening to you from somewhere else. Think of it as if you are visiting him; that when you pray to him, he is in the same room with you. Because as Moses shares in Deuteronomy, God is near us whenever we pray to him.

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The Bible reminds us that where two or three are gathered together in his name, God is right there in the midst of them. And Moses encourages us that when we pray to God, he is near to us. He could’ve been referring to the tabernacle, where the ark of the covenant and the physical presence of the Lord resided; that when the Israelites prayed, the ark of the covenant was close by. But I think he was explaining that any of us; past, present and future; no matter where you are, or what time of day it is, that God is near you when you pray. Whether God is near or far may not matter to some. But I find it very comforting to know that God is near, and so did Moses.