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.
Balance in the Christian thinking is difficult. We believing that God will provide, and also understand it’s not always when we want or think it should be provided. Believing God can and does desire to heal and understanding healing doesn’t often work like we want or think it should. Frustrating isn’t it?
We spend a lifetime “Learning” what it means to walk with God and trust him. Because our theology doesn’t always line up with reality or the spiritual forces against us, it humbles us to cry out to God for “More” understanding and patience, or at least it should.
Fasting is all about learning to look to the Lord for a breakthrough and asking Him for help to wait patiently. David, in the Psalms said –
Ps 132:2-3
O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty;
Nor do I involve myself in great matters,
Or in things too difficult for me.
Surely I have composed and quieted my soul;
Like a weaned child rests against his mother,
My soul is like a weaned child within me.
Like a “Weaned” child – this is David using the word picture of a child that is moving through a stage of life where they are no longer a baby who just cries every time it wants food. Can I ask the question? How are we doing with the two truths in our walk with Christ that of seeking God with passion, and yet trusting Him for the timing and method of delivery. If we stop pursuing God the answer won’t come, but just because we pursue doesn’t obligate God to act as we would prefer.
Lastly, let me close with todays scripture in John 15 –
John 15:1-5
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.
“You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.
[5] “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
So the goal of a successful fast is “Abiding” in our Savior. Yes, all the other things that are important to us are important to Him, but abiding is the #1 goal for God in us. If we fail to recognize this ultimate goal in life, we will fall very short for the very reason Christ died to set us free from sin and shame.
Jesus said in John 17:3 that “This is Eternal Life – to know the Father & the Son. This knowing is personal, intimate engagement. May we all be fully engaged today and for the rest of our lives.
Love the journey we took together!
Pastor Dale
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