It's Time

"Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and FASTED, the Holy Spirit said, 'Now separate to me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' Then, having FASTED and PRAYED, and laid hands on them, they sent them away." - Acts 13:1-3

One of the most difficult things for a believer to do, with regard to Christian discipline, is to fast. In the early church, fasting was not fanatical....it was normal.

What is fasting? Fasting is not dieting in Jesus' name. Fasting is going without food for a period of time. But you need to know that fasting does not change God, but it changes us! Malachi 3:6 says, "For I am the Lord, I change not." In Philippians 3:19, Paul talks about a people "whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is their shame - who set their mind on earthly things." Fasting changes you! Fasting teaches you that you can control your flesh. The intent is to say to the flesh that it does not rule, and to say to God that He comes first over something that is important to you.

Fasting makes you spiritually aware. It is denying the needs of the flesh to awaken the spirit man.

There are different types of fasts:

A TOTAL FAST - doing without food or water (I do not recommend this). You should only do this if God impresses you....use wisdom.

A NORMAL FAST - a normal fast is doing without food under God's direction for a set period of time (drink 5-6 glasses of water a day).

A PARTIAL FAST - a pleasant food fast (Daniel 1) - no meats, no sweets (pleasant bread), and no bread, and no wine (water - no cokes, etc.)

As we join for 21 days of fasting here at theTURN, I am believing for God to raise up leaders in our ministry. Sons and daughters finish the work of their fathers. Between the fire and the fathering stands the fast. Elijah fasted forty days and fathered a double portion son, Elisha. Moses fasted forty days and had a spiritual son named Joshua, which means, "the Lord is salvation."

We need a young generation of Elisha's to go on an extended fast to be cleansed from lust, tv addiction, pornography, spiritual mediocrity, rebellion towards their parents, questionable magazines and internet sites, and gossiping. This fast may a double portion of the Holy Spirit rest on our lives and ministries!

Fasting opens the way for a greater submission to the Holy Spirit. In fasting, we can more readily say, "We love you Lord, more than anything in the world." Lust of any kind is perverted worship, but fasting enables us to cleanse the sanctuary of our hearts from every other rival.

It's time....many more details on Thursday night!

pcraig