So, as we are nearing the end of this journey of self-denial, and I wanted to encourage all of you for stepping up to the plate in your spiritual life. Few believers today even consider self-denial, let alone practice any. I’m reading 2 Corinthians this morning and Paul talks about how much he and other believers have struggle with suffering in their Christian life. Some suffering by others and some purely because they live in broken world. He says –

2 Cor 1:3-5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
[5] For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. 

I trust you all are looking to the Lord to impart “Something New” into your soul and you’re holding onto the promise that “He” is able to impart to you more than you can think or imagine.

I had a few Scriptures written down that I wanted to use as encouragement during our fasting time, and I went to bed last night with my right eye starting to water and hurt. When I got up this morning, my lower eyelid was swollen and hurt like I was getting a sty. I used to get these when I was young because of eye lid operations when I was 6-7 years old, but haven’t had them in over 50 years.

The reason I’m sharing this is because of the scripture God put on my heart to share about today. Psalms 139 & Luke 24. Hopefully it will make sense by the time I finish this post.

As we continue down our path of fasting you may be asking yourself, where are we trying to go with this fast and how come I’m not there yet?

First, in the Bible, numbers mean a lot. Seven is the number often associated with God. It reflects “completeness” and “perfection”.

Secondly, in the Bible, the number Eight is related to the concept of “New Beginning”. Jewish writings say it is “One Step Above the Natural Order” where the supernatural is entered into.

I want to declare to you all that you are entering into the beginning phase of the supernatural where the Holy Spirit will start to pull back the covers to the spiritual realm and give you access to understanding and inheritance. Here is a beautiful verse in the book of Psalms that should capture our hearts.

I wanted to share a little glimpse into my personal experience this morning in a church Sue and I have been investigating that so moved both of us.

When we fast, the Holy Spirit will and should be tenderizing our hearts and soul to be more perceptive. Sometimes it takes longer to come into the place and at other times we seem to easily and quickly move into a deeper spiritual perspective.

Well, If you have hung in there in your fast since Monday, you have now reached the half-way mark to completing this awesome journey with your fellow fasters. We are going fast!

Many times we fail to observe healthy disciplines because we try to develop them alone, and then the enemy tries to discourage any spiritual growth. If we find other believers to link up with in our proposed spiritual disciplines, whether of reading the word, praying, tithing or any other pursuit, we gain the courage and the passion to push through to our goal and not let the pain hold us back. All because others are cheering us on.

My heart is warm today as I have read your many stories of your own personal fast. How you felt you couldn’t or wouldn’t fast, and yet you watched your brothers and sisters doing it and gave into the voice of God to fast yourself. Never underestimate what God can do if we are just willing to trust the Lord and not our fleshly appetites. 

By last night, I so…wanted to eat something, anything! Watching TV they were showing mac & cheese, and I so wanted that. Going to bed I told Sue I wanted a bagel & egg sandwich when I got up in the morning! I didn’t do it, but I wanted it!

Once you have passed three days of fasting, the hunger pains can become minimized, but the “Mindset” of needing food can intensify. If you are experiencing these craving understand they are normal and won’t kill you.

I would like to focus on a passage of scripture in 2 Chronicles where Solomon has just completed the temple, and has been praying and offering vast numbers of sacrifices to the Lord for its dedication. The Lord comes down with fire to consume the sacrifice. That had to be scary! The “Glory” of God was so intense the priest could not enter the temple. I pray the glory of God defends on our ministry!

I have been so encouraged by the honesty many are posting about their fasting. Your all are being transparent about your struggles to get a handle on your own personal fasting. This reveals that the Holy Spirit is truly helping us go deeper than our normal routines, and this can only mean greater growth and maturity for us all.

Today, I would like to look at Paul conversion in the book of Acts because it reveals his own personal struggle to understand what God was doing in his life, and the discovery that he was going the wrong way.

Acts 9:3-9 Paul’s Defining Moment

As he was nearing Damascus on this mission, a brilliant light from heaven suddenly beamed down upon him! He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”

Jesus taught his disciples the method of fasting in which they would gain the most from their sacrifice.

Mt 6:16 Fasting for Success
“Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
“But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

If you have not read my first post from yesterday (1/18) please do so as this post will make more sense.

Jesus was asked by John the Baptist’s disciples why Jesus’ disciples didn’t fast like John’s or the Pharisees. Here is Jesus’ reply – remember John’s disciples were the good guys –