“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:25
“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” – Heb. 3:13
Here we are on Day 16! It is exciting to remember that as we fast, we are investing in something that will outlast us! There is always purpose in what we are doing – we are never just getting by when we are fasting and seeking God. Be encouraged by that today, and encourage others as they fast with you as the Bible exhorts us to do in the above Scriptures. Jesus had purpose even as He was dying – there was purpose down to the last moment! The late A.W. Tozer once said, “It is not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular. It is why he does it.” Isn’t that a reality check for our motives in fasting? Why are you still fasting at this point? It is important to maintain pure motives that are always filtered through the Holy Spirit as we participate in spiritual disciplines such as fasting.
As each of you know, the Holy Spirit is the key to success in any area you are involved in. This is certainly true of ministerial success. What we need in America is a renewed dependence on Spirit-empowered leadership. Expansion of the church is a work of God by the power of the Holy Spirit. I pray that during this fast you are upholding your spiritual leaders in prayer. Continue to pray for them that God would pour out on them a fresh infilling of His Spirit!
I came across the following Scripture the other day, and I want to share with each of you:
“Having started with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh?” –Gal. 3:3
It is true that each of us began our walk with God by His choice, His action, His initiative. We must always remember that! If we drift from that place we gut the gospel of its transforming and marvelous power. You and I never found God; He found us. It was not Him who was lost and was found – you and I were lost and He found us! Praise God for that! And I want to ask you a question: having started this fast with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh? I pray not! Stay so dependent upon His Spirit every day as you consecrate yourself to His purposes! We need His power in our lives like never before. Training and education are stimulating, but the Spirit is where the power comes from. Principles help us stay in control, but the Spirit directs us to do what God wants us to do.
During this fast, we must remember the purpose of Spirit-baptism. It is solely for the enhancement of our witness; for the empowerment of service in God’s Kingdom. Let’s look at what the Scripture states.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 1:8
Tongues may be evidence of Spirit-baptism, but witness is essence. If we are baptized in His Spirit, we must be reaching out to others with the hope of Jesus Christ. So many today dismiss the existence of Spirit-baptism saying it ended with the death of the last apostle John. But I have a thought: if the Great Commission is still in charge, the power thereby to discharge this commission must still be available as well! God thank you for your Spirit!
Here is my prayer for each of you during these final days of this fast. It is not only a prayer for you individually but a prayer for the ministries that you are part of as well.
“For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.” – 2 Tim. 1:7
The Spirit gives each of us the trilogy of power, love, and self-discipline. It is interesting to note that whenever a church is alive, all three of these components are present. These are the ABC’s of ministry. Do these three mark the ministry you are a part of? Would you pray that God would make manifest power, love, and self-discipline in the ministry of His Church? Scripture anticipated the days we are living in, when immorality would spread like cancer and the church would hold “to the outward form of godliness but deny its power” (2 Tim. 3:5). As leaders, as those seeking after God while fasting, we don’t need new principles, ideas, or buildings. We need a renewed dependence on God!
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” – 2 Peter 1:3
Would you say this out loud with me according to 2 Peter 1:3? Say this, “No matter what I am facing today, His power has given me everything I need! I have everything I need in Jesus’ name!
Do you long for His presence? Are you seeking a fresh baptism of His Spirit as a subsequent experience to your salvation? Do you really believe that He has given you everything you need for life and godliness? Are you living that way currently?
To the last week of the FAST,
Pastor Craig Mosgrove
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