Fasting and Feasting is NOT an oxymoron!

I haven't blogged in a couple of weeks since I began our corporate fast.  A couple of the aspects of this fast to not watch TV, and to finish writing my book.  So, I have spent most of my time praying and writing to complete my book by January the 28th.  But I had to put my immediate thoughts to paper before there are gone forever(kind of like that sock lost in the dryer!).

Though I have fasted before, I have never done the full food fast for 21 days.  Now despite the private aspects of fasting, I feel God has prompted me to share this with you.  Fasting consists of setting aside time you would normally eat a meal and replace it with prayer or some other pursuit of God.  What I have found though, is that after 8 days, I have been FEASTING during this fast! It reminiscent of a full belly, after my wife's chicken and dumplings, only now its full in my soul, and not my belly.  I feel that God is pouring HIS newness into my very spirit.

I am also feasting on HIS glory in everything I see.   Everywhere I turn, I see God. I see HIS providential hand at work in ways I haven't noticed before.  Interestingly, it has taken me slowing down to see these things.  In fact, much of my day-to-day activity deals with food!  I had no idea how much time I spent "preparing to eat".   Let me explain.  Most people probably take an hour or so for lunch break and about the same for dinner.  Breakfast is a different story.  In our busy lifestyle, most of us usually do the whole "breakfast on the run" or just grab a large cup of Java to kick-start our day.  But God showed me how much time I spend talking about food, or going to this restaurant, or meeting for lunch, or complaining with the "I am starving...what's for dinner" comment (to which I tell my kids, "you are NOT going to starve!).

Here's my point.  As a pastor, a husband, a father and the many other hats I wear in a given day, God has told me to "redeem the time" or "to make the most of the right now" all for HIS glory!  In the last week or so, since I have not built my day around what or when I eat, I am feasting on the glory of God.

 It hit me this morning before church, just how relentless God was when He pursued me.  I was minding my own business and was totally oblivious to HIS love for me.  Why does HE love me so much?  Why does HE love you so much?  The short answer is we are the most important thing on this planet to God!  We have the fingerprint of God on our heart.  We have a copy of HIS precious Word which hold the answers to all of life's questions.  We are already situated in heavenly places. We are joint heirs with Christ, and though He does not need us to tell HIS story, He uses us!

HIS glory is seen at every turn.  Can you see it?  Fasting or bringing your flesh into subjection to the spirit, means that you can feast on the often overlooked glory of God!  He is worthy!  Please don't miss it!

Feasting on HIM!
Marc

Show Me a Sign!

Since the dawn of mankind, people have desired to see "proof" in order to believe anything.  With God, nothing is different.  Today, many still search for "evidence" of the Noah's Ark, the Holy Grail, the Cross, etc., etc.  Why do men seek this "proof"?  In the easiest of terms...because everyone wants that irrefutable evidence to truly believe and maybe then everyone else will too!

However, in the economy of God, it is clear that faith is the means by which we believe.  The Hebrews writer states "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (emphasis mine).  Interestingly, God's Holy, inspired Word (2 Tim. 3:16) teaches irrefutably that we are to believe when we cannot see evidence.  The Apostle Paul teaches in Ephesians "For by grace are you saved through faith..." (this is the same faith whereby no evidence is seen).  Think about it, if you are saved, you were born again, by place full confidence in something you cannot see, touch, smell, or feel; yet you believe!  Talk about supernatural!

Then, how are we to know? How can I tell if I am in HIM and HE in me?  Before I answer that, let me address one issue as it pertains to "signs and wonders", more often referred to as "gift signs".  The Jews  "...require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified." (1 Cor. 1:22-23)  The Apostle Paul deals with this exhaustively in his first letter to the church at Corinth, who desperately wanted an outward sign to reflect their new inner relationship.  In 1 Cor. 12 the great Apostle expounds on the gifts for 30 verses, an then in verse 31 he says something often overlooked..." But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way” The answer to what this "more excellent way" refers to what is found in the next chapter (remember, when the Bible was originally written, there were not chapter and verse breaks. This was added later for better understanding and application). 

In 1 Cor. 13 the Apostle Paul outlines the supremacy of Love to the gifts as "a more excellent way".  But if that weren't enough Jesus HIMSELF states unequivocally in John's Gospel, "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."  The key to this passage is the "By this...all men with know...” "This" refers to loving people the way Jesus has loved you and me!  WOW!  Can it be so simple? In fact, it is. 

To know Him, is to love HIM, and to love HIM is to pursue the same love HE has for you (Phil. 2:5).  In fact, to really get down to the brass tacks of "proof" of Christ in you, is found in your ability to bear fruit.  The Apostle Paul writing to the Church in Galatia says "...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance...” The "evidence" of being a good fruit is to bear other seed-bearing fruit of the same kind.  The greatest "proof" in your life that you are in Jesus and He in you, is your ability to bear like fruit!  Think about this...Jesus could have instructed us to "do" anything as evidence of being in HIM.  Yet, He chose love! 

Do you love people?  I don't mean the ones who love you?  That's is simple and is so easy to do, the Bible says even the non-believers do that (Matt. 46-47).  Love the unlovable...better yet, love the ones who cannot love you back!  That is real proof of Jesus living in you.

Therefore, the greatest "proof", "sign", "wonder", etc., is to "love others, even as I (Jesus) has loved you".  The evidence of such is found in fruit bearing...birthing, if you will, others into a personal, loving relationship with Jesus Christ!  Have you led someone else to Jesus this week?  Last month?  Last year?  Ever!?  Share Jesus today and love the way He loves you!

Here's Your Sign,

Marc