Our church has decided to embark on a 21 day fast starting January 4th, 2010. Different people are doing different fasts, but we're all fasting nonetheless. Corporate fasts are powerful! Also, in Bible school, we're learning about fasting. We've already had this class at least once, but it's amazing how the Holy Spirit will continue to teach you things you supposedly have already learned ;) It's humbling really.
One of these instances is an effect of fasting that the Scriptures reveal. Personally, I have never noticed this before.
Did you know that on more than once occasion, the growth of the church is related to fasting? Don't feel stupid, none of us made the connection either! Haha. But it's true. Observe:
1. Acts 10:9-14 describes Peter's vision of the unclean animals being let down from heaven on a vessel. A voice said, "Rise, Peter, kill and eat..." This is significant of Peter's ministry of the Gospel to the Gentiles (the unclean). Later in the chapter, we see that before this event transpired, Cornelius was fasting (see verse 30). WOW! Could it be that Cornelius' fast was significant toward the coming Gospel ministry to the Gentiles (even if it wasn't through Peter)? I think so. Their Gospel inclusion was at least somewhat related to fasting!
2. In John 4, we read the popular story of the Samaritan woman meeting Jesus at a well. Jesus woos her and she in turn flees to her city to tell all the people of her encounter. She says, "Come, see a man, which told me all things that I ever did: is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came to him" (vs. 29-30). A few verses later, we get the subtle hint that Jesus may have been fasting during this time. In verse 31, Jesus' disciples urge Him to eat, but He does not. Rather, He says, "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work" (vs. 34). Could it be that the dramatic evangelism of the Samaritan woman's entire city was directly correlated to Jesus' fasting? I think so. When it comes to the Scriptures, I do not believe in coincidences.
3. Isaiah 58, the great and popular chapter about fasting, one of the listed effects is this: "thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in..." (vs. 12). This is in direct effect of verse 6: "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to lose the bands of wickedness, to undo heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?" What greater yoke is there to break than that of eternal separation from the glory and presence of God? Such godly fasting is correlated to the harvest!
Of course there are many more benefits of this godly discipline, such that cannot now be discussed. This one truth, however, is enough to plunge us into a desire to fast, pray and seek the Lord for a right way for us, our families and our nation (see Ezra 8:21-23, 31).
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