Crossroads Church is beginning a 40 day period of fasting on Monday, August 9, 2010. I will not divulge to you what specifically I am choosing to 'fast', as that is unimportant to anyone but myself and God. I will say, however, that I am very excited to see what it is that God is going to do in the lives of our people. What I want to encourage all who read this post to do is to pray for our congregation. Not that we would be able to endure through the fast, but that indeed our folks would "loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke" (Isaiah 58).
This time of prayer and fasting is for "oneness" in our church. The thing that we choose to fast should be replaced with time spent in prayer or study with God. Fasting accomplishes a few things in our lives, then.
First, biblically, fasting is to loose the bands of wickedness, undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke. The 'bands of wickedness' means that if you are in bondage to this world in any way, fasting can be one way to free yourself from that bondage. Addictions, attitudes, bad thought processes, lack of discipline, etc. If you feel like you are in prison to the "bands of wickedness", then perhaps you should prayerfully consider a biblical fast to loose the bands of wickedness.
It is also to undo the heavy burdens. When we bear the weight of our sin, it is like a backpack loaded with weights. You have to carry whatever you put in there. Jesus told us to set that 'weight' aside, and to take on his burden, his yoke, because it is light and easy. If you think that is easier said than done, then perhaps you should prayerfully consider a biblical fast to undo that heavy burden.
It is also to 'let the oppressed go free'. Are you harboring bitterness against a brother or sister in Christ? Maybe even to someone who is not a believer? Your anger and bitterness towards others is a form of oppression. Maybe you feel that person really really deserves your anger because they are such a weasel (or worse). If you have the power to let the oppressed go free, then you are the one doing the oppressing. If you have ought against any person, then perhaps you should prayerfully consider a biblical fast to let the oppressed go free.
Finally, this verse says it is to 'break every yoke.' Do you know what a yoke is? Merriam-Webster defines it as "a wooden bar or frame by which two draft animals (as oxen) are joined at the heads or necks for working together b : an arched device formerly laid on the neck of a defeated person c : a frame fitted to a person's shoulders to carry a load in two equal portions d : a bar by which the end of the tongue of a wagon or carriage is suspended from the collars of the harness e (1) : a crosspiece on the head of a boat's rudder (2) : an airplane control operating the elevators and ailerons f : a frame from which a bell is hung g : a clamp or similar piece that embraces two parts to hold or unite them in position" A yoke is both an instrument that allows certain types of work, and something that binds two things together. Perhaps you are in a bad relationship or friendship. You may be in a job that works you so hard you can't stay in balance in other areas of your life. If you find yourself under a 'yoke' that you should not be shouldering or are in a damaging relationship, you should prayerfully consider a biblical fast to break every yoke.
I have more to say on the next verse, but for now, you just need to know that today's post, if you didn't figure it out already, is about "Inreach" on a personal level.
I really hope you all have a fantastic Monday!!!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Hardening of hearts
Today's reading was in Exodus 14-15 and Matthew 17. Read online at http://bit.ly/64hMby.
I got to thinking today about why people come up with reasons to reject God. I know there are plenty, and I don't want to be so naive as to think that there are any legitimate reasons to reject Him. By legitimate reasons I mean those that God would say "oh, yeah, good point" to.
In line with that thinking, Exodus 14-15 tell the story of the first part of Israel's journey - out of the city of Rameses up to the place where they go through the Red Sea. So, as if all of the plagues that God sent into Egypt to persuade Pharaoh to let Israel go weren't enough, Pharaoh turned his heart yet again against Israel and pursued them, saying "why did we let Israel go from serving us? What were we thinking?!" Isn't that a decision to fight against God?
So after Pharaoh made his decision, God decided to use this for His glory, and hardened the heart of Pharaoh. So hard that Pharaoh and the Egyptian host saw the pillar of fire and of smoke, yet continued with their desire to pursue Israel. Then they saw the waters of the Red Sea open up and DRY LAND appear there. That is two separate miracles, folks! So the pillar stands between the Egyptians and Israel, presumably following behind Israel as a barrier until Israel gets to the other side. As the pillar moves, the Egyptian army pursues Israel by going through the same way, but when they get to the middle, the unthinkable happens: God looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar and 'troubled' the host of the Egyptians. Then God takes the wheels off their chariots so they bogged down right there. THEN they say "let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians." Really? So, they didn't figure that out during the plagues? No, they didn't really repent of their actions, they just got "caught". We do the same thing, don't we? We keep living our lies until it becomes impossible to do anymore. Sometimes, however, by that time it is too late to avoid the dire consequences of those lies.
So what do we learn from this? Whatever you do, do not harden your heart against the things of God. People will always let you down - never let what other people do/have done be an excuse for why you won't surrender your life to God. You know what I mean - "I don't wanna be like THOSE people"; "If THAT's what a Christian is, then I don't wanna be one"; blah blah blah.We must draw near to God, grow our relationship with Him through his Word and prayer so we will recognize the things he does in our lives, have the right response to those things and not wait until we are getting pummeled and drowned by the waves of the Red Sea before we take action.
Are you ignoring the workings of God in your life? Maybe you don't even think there is anything God is doing in your life. You would do well to open your eyes, and if you desire to see those things and still don't, please get with me or someone else who can help you with the Bible and discover what it is God is doing! :-)
I got to thinking today about why people come up with reasons to reject God. I know there are plenty, and I don't want to be so naive as to think that there are any legitimate reasons to reject Him. By legitimate reasons I mean those that God would say "oh, yeah, good point" to.
In line with that thinking, Exodus 14-15 tell the story of the first part of Israel's journey - out of the city of Rameses up to the place where they go through the Red Sea. So, as if all of the plagues that God sent into Egypt to persuade Pharaoh to let Israel go weren't enough, Pharaoh turned his heart yet again against Israel and pursued them, saying "why did we let Israel go from serving us? What were we thinking?!" Isn't that a decision to fight against God?
So after Pharaoh made his decision, God decided to use this for His glory, and hardened the heart of Pharaoh. So hard that Pharaoh and the Egyptian host saw the pillar of fire and of smoke, yet continued with their desire to pursue Israel. Then they saw the waters of the Red Sea open up and DRY LAND appear there. That is two separate miracles, folks! So the pillar stands between the Egyptians and Israel, presumably following behind Israel as a barrier until Israel gets to the other side. As the pillar moves, the Egyptian army pursues Israel by going through the same way, but when they get to the middle, the unthinkable happens: God looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar and 'troubled' the host of the Egyptians. Then God takes the wheels off their chariots so they bogged down right there. THEN they say "let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians." Really? So, they didn't figure that out during the plagues? No, they didn't really repent of their actions, they just got "caught". We do the same thing, don't we? We keep living our lies until it becomes impossible to do anymore. Sometimes, however, by that time it is too late to avoid the dire consequences of those lies.
So what do we learn from this? Whatever you do, do not harden your heart against the things of God. People will always let you down - never let what other people do/have done be an excuse for why you won't surrender your life to God. You know what I mean - "I don't wanna be like THOSE people"; "If THAT's what a Christian is, then I don't wanna be one"; blah blah blah.We must draw near to God, grow our relationship with Him through his Word and prayer so we will recognize the things he does in our lives, have the right response to those things and not wait until we are getting pummeled and drowned by the waves of the Red Sea before we take action.
Are you ignoring the workings of God in your life? Maybe you don't even think there is anything God is doing in your life. You would do well to open your eyes, and if you desire to see those things and still don't, please get with me or someone else who can help you with the Bible and discover what it is God is doing! :-)
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