Seek the Kingdom of God during Lent

Lent starts on Wednesday 25, 2009

Fasting plays a very important role in our spiritual growth. In the Bible we read many fasting for various reasons. We see David fasted for three days and three nights when he sought forgiveness from God of his sin.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all you heart. I will be found by you. (Jeremiah 29:13-14)

In order to seek God and His favors, we need to fast. The reward for fasting is great;

The LORD will guide you continually, watering your life when you are dry and keeping you healthy, too. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. (Isaiah 58:11)

Isaiah tells us why sometimes our fasts go unrewarded

`We have fasted before you!' they say. `Why aren't you impressed? We have done much penance, and you don't even notice it!' "I will tell you why! It's because you are living for yourselves even while you are fasting. You keep right on oppressing your workers. (Isaiah 58:3)

Let us take advantage of this reward during the period of Lent and let us fast to seek God. Ash Wednesday starts from Wednesday 25, 2009, and the normal way to fast is from sunrise to sunset. This fast must not be aimed at losing weight but our objective should be to "seek the Kingdom of God" as commanded by our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.

Thank you for reminding about the role of fasting. Every believer should remember the importance of fasting in our lives. In this fast moving world we forget to fast and makes various excuses. I would like to share this miracle here. There is one member of our Church who decided to fast, this member was suffering from cancer and was very afraid to go through operation. She thought that she would not make it alive. So one day as we were all preparing for a meeting, she said, she knows she will not make out alive, so she would like to trust the great physician and would give a last try. She fasted for three days and she went to operation. The doctors were amazed as they opened her stomach, they could not find any cancer. No one told me this story but I witnessed it as most of the members of the Church waited outside as we all thought she would not make it alive.

This article reminds me of C.H. Spurgeon's quote;

C.H. Spurgeon wrote:"Our seasons of fasting and prayer at the Tabernacle have been high days indeed; never has Heaven's gate stood wider; never have our hearts been nearer the central Glory "

God has many blessing in store for His children who come before Him fasting. Through fasting, God works miracles, God sanctifies, inclines His ear to our prayers, withholds judgment, frees the captives, cleanses the body physically, and most importantly, He glorifies Himself.

We read about this example in 2 Chronicles 20 King Jehoshaphat and the Israelites were surrounded by the Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites. When word came to King Jehoshaphat that they were planning to invade, he understood that the Israelites would be doomed. There was no way that the Israelites would be able to defeat all three of these peoples. So what does King Jehoshaphat do? "And Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the Lord; and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah," (v.3).

King Jehoshaphat knew that without God's intervention, they were doomed. In drastic times, he called for drastic measures. He called a nation wide fast and humbly sought the Lord through prayer.

God answered this desperate cry. In v.15, Jahaziel says, "...thus says the Lord to you, 'Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God's."' God was taking over, He had heard their cry for help and was taking charge.

The next day when the Israelites went out to meet the Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites; they didn't have to even raise a sword. All of their enemies were already dead. God had turned them against each other. All Israel had to do was collect the spoil which took them three days.

Through fasting, God had turned certain doom into great blessing.

Seven tips for observing a Daniel Fast or Daniel's Diet

1. Be specific
Daniel was very clear in his objection to the Babylonian diet. He defined his objection immediately. Daniel 1:8

1. The king’s food was likely not kosher, against Jewish dietary laws.
   
2. Daniel and his friends had vowed against wine.
   
3. The king’s food could have been offered up to idols or demons.

Write out and sign a commitment that outlines

1. Why you are fasting.
   
2. How long you are fasting.
   
3. From what you are fasting.

2. Fast as a spiritual commitment
The Daniel Fast involves a spiritual commitment to God. "Daniel proposed in his heart that he would not defile himself." Daniel 1:8

Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance!

3. Reflect inner desire by external discipline
Most people desire better health, but don't discipline themselves to say no to junk food, and other unhealthy foods. Our physical health is more than answered prayer. Our physical health is normally linked to many of these factors:

1. Your food choices.
   
2. The level of your spiritual commitment, as reflected in constant prayer during the diet of Daniel and his friends.
   
3. Your time commitment. If you determine to fast for a certain time, keep it. For example, if you determine to fast ten days, don't stop on day nine.
   
4. Your testimony commitment. Your fast is a statement of faith in God. You want God to heal your body. Faith is foundational to the Daniel Fast.

4. Pray to see the role of sin in your relative health or sickness
Read James 5:13-20 KJV

James 5:13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. 14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Observations:

• Our actions and attitudes are vital. James said, "are there any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms." James 5:13
  
• The sick person must call for the elders. James 5:14
  
• Sin is something related to the cause of sickness. James 5:15
  
• Lack of health or healing may be the result of spiritual rebellion. James 5:15
  
• Lack of health or healing may be due to sin of wrong consumption, i.e. poor diet, drugs, pornography. James 5:15
  
• Repentance is linked to health. James 5:16
  
• Prayer alone may not gain healing, faith in God is the major factor. James 5:15, 17-20

John Piper says in A Hunger for God, "Fasting is God’s testing ground-and healing ground."

5. Daniel Fasted as a statement of faith to others
Daniel made a statement of faith when he asked to eat only vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then Daniel asked the overseer to compare the appearance of the 4 sons of Israel with the other people who ate the king’s food.

6. Learn the effects of the food you eat
What makes some food good for us? What makes other food bad for our bodies? What are the negative effects of foods do to our bodies? If we answer these questions, there would certainly be some foods we would never want to eat again.

7. Yield all results to God
Daniel said, “as you see fit, deal with your servants.” Daniel 1:13 We don't know if Daniel or his friends ever again ate the king’s food.

As Elmer Towns says,

"Fasting for an answer is similar to prayer. Sometimes you can pray once in an act of faith, and God hears and answers. On other occasions you must continuously ask in faith before an answer will come. We need to pray often and fast continually to build up our faith and our spiritual character."

Credits: http://www.christ-web.com/missions/farho/daniel-fast