Tuesday, January 26th, 2010
Fasting Day 17
I beleive that one major problem with our country and if I might pick a little bit, even our churches today is that we must get to the place where we are desperate for God again. We must begin to desire Him more than anything else, yes even more than food or drink, this is why we fast. The eleventh chapter of Hebrews is often referred to as the Faith chapter. Verse 1 says, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (NIV) Alright there is how the Bible defines faith … Now let’s also consider what the writer of Hebrews says about Faith in verse 6, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (NIV) Ok without Faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God … now there is more here as well … If you are a Christian you became a Christian because you believe that God is who He says He is. Like the verse says You Believe He exists. That’s two points we see in this verse but there is a third as well He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
So let’s put these three things together in our words … Since you’re a Christian you believe that God exist and you can’t please God unless you have faith in Him but if you have faith and earnestly seek Him (Which we’ve learned is done by fasting) He will reward you. You know I imagine all of us would want it to said of our life that WE PLEASE GOD …
If you want to please God, you must Believe God. In other words take Him at his Word. Like the Corinthians said in 2 Corinthians 5:7, “We walk by faith, not by sight.” (NIV) Now let’s imagine Daniel and the boys (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) they joined Daniel on his fast to not eat the Kings food and certainly walked by faith rather than by sight. Consider what they saw on their way into the furnace. It had been heated seven times hotter than normal. The heat was so intense that it killed the guards standing by the doors. If they had walked by sight, they would have said, “Well here goes the Bar-B-Q guess we’re going to be ashes” Instead they walked on in the furnace saying “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.” (NIV)
Do you feel like you’re headed to the furnace? Is the heat getting turned up? Are you on your way to having a Bar-B-Q or do you have faith which pleases God that He will deliver you! Faith is the evidence of things unseen. God I don’t know how you’re going to do this, God I don’t understand but I know no I Believe YOU can!
Remember Jesus put the emphasis on how great our God is, not how great our faith is. With only a tiny bit of faith, like a mustard seed, we can move mountains, and nothing shall be impossible with God. Matthew 17:20
Be Blessed
PJ
