From: "Jesus Christ is the Only Way to God" To: Subject: Sanctify a fast -- Part II Date: Friday, April 19, 2002 6:44 PM Dear CHRISTIAN Friends: Greetings in the name of the ONLY wise God and Saviour Jesus Christ. This email is specifically for folks who are considering fasting... I was outside this morning running the tiller, breaking up the clayish ground so that we can establish a new bed out front. I'm no big time horticulturist but I know you have to work the soil first and then plant. The ground we were working with is fallow ground. Webster's 1828 defines fallow as-- 2. UNSOWED; NOT TILLED; LEFT TO REST after a year or more of tillage; as fallow ground; a fallow field. 4. Unplowed; UNCULTIVATED. In the spiritual realm there are many areas in our lives that are fallow. They are hard and inhospitable for any good seed from the word of God. As I ran the tiller, the following scripture came to mind-- Jeremiah 4:3 For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, BREAK UP YOUR FALLOW GROUND, AND SOW NOT AMONG THORNS. For those that will be fasting now or in the future, I pray that you will purpose to make it a spiritual time. In the days leading up to your fast you can pray that the Lord will reveal to you the fallow areas of your life so that you can break them up in the name of Jesus. See "Characteristics of the Self Life" at http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/selflife.htm to get you started. Look at your daily habits and see where you waste time like with Oprah or other hellivision. Look and see what kind of service you are rendering to the Lord--is it anointed or not? Look at your prayer life, your Bible reading and your worship time. Look at your testimony at work and in your home. Apply the word of God to everything you do--the word of God will break up your fallow ground and turning it over just like Jesus overturned tables and drove offenders out of the temple for their unlawful deeds. Also, let us STUDY TO BE QUIET. Christians have TOO MUCH GOING ON. We need to SLOW DOWN so we can hear the Lord and be ready to minister to those who come our way. We are so busy we can't see other people's needs. When we break up the fallow ground, some righteous seed from the word of God will bring new growth in us. When we are in the kingdom system, we will bear much fruit and fruit shall remain. God will be glorified through our ANOINTED works--WORKS THAT HE SENT US TO DO, NOT STUFF WE MADE UP. As we obey the doctrine, we will receive what we ask for because we do that which is well pleasing in the sight of the Lord. ************************* I am looking forward to this fast with great desire and I pray thatit will be a spiritual time. I have requests on the altar and I continue to pray in these preceding days. I can remember fasting in the past where all manner of concupisence (desire) was wrought in me. I wasn't hungry, but my mind kept thinking, "You can't eat." I am not looking to spend 10 straight days thinking like that. I WILL be eating. I am going to eat manna from heaven, the bread of life. Jesus said, John 6:51 I AM THE LIVING BREAD which came down from heaven: if any man EAT of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 6:52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye EAT the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 6:54 Whoso EATETH my flesh, and DRINKETH my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 6:55 For my flesh is meat INDEED, and my blood is drink INDEED. 6:56 He that EATETH my flesh, and DRINKETH my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; THE FLESH PROFITETH NOTHING: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. Jesus will be my meat. I will live by the every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Pancakes and sausage ain't it. I owe the flesh nothing and make no provision for it. My God is not in my belly, He is in heaven and I look up to Him for all mine help. ************PRAY************ Commune with the Lord on an intimate level. If you don't know how, use this time to learn. Start talking to Jesus about everything. If you are still entangled in the world's system, ask Jesus to show you the higher life. A gospel life. Come to know Jesus as the Rock that is higher than I (ref. Psalm 61:2). Ride upon the high places of the earth--meditate on Isaiah 58 and then pray about what you've read. Leave the world's system. Hellivision and other worldly activities war against your soul. Stay away from them and LEARN the way of the kingdom. Ask the Lord to consecrate a room in your house where you can pray. Go there and kneel and pray to the Father and the Son through the Holy Ghost. Let that be your desert place apart and your prayer closet. Go in and close thy door and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. The reward is that His presence, wisdom and knowledge will be on you and in you. When you open up your mouth, it will be with divine wisdom and not the nonsense of this vain world. Read EM Bounds on prayer--see www.oldlandmarks.com . And WHEN you get wisdom, ask the Lord to not give your soul over to vanity--knowledge can puff you up but charity edifieth. Charity is so needful, without it, your works are not accepted (see I Cor 13). Pray for charity. If you don't know your spiritual gifts, use this time to seek them out. Pray and ask the Lord to purge you and make you fit for His use. Ask Him to show you how to serve Him as an anointed servant. Many people are Sunday School teachers and they are not even saved. Teaching is one of my gifts and I ask the Lord to make me an ANOINTED teacher--not just taking up some time. I want to come into the room with the Holy Ghost power to project the cause of Jesus Christ. If you know your gifts, ask the Lord to help you improve upon what you know. If you are a teacher, look to become a better teacher. If you are a preacher, preach the word in the old way and see men, women, boys and girls saved from sin and shame. Their nakedness covered with the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Many preachers are preaching but they don't care if individual members of their congregation are saved--they are too busy "giving speeches". Increase your Bible reading and prayer during this time. Hear a word from the Lord. Something HE told you to do or say or read. As we pray, let us be reflective of the wonderful things that the Lord has done in our lives and give Him praise. Be THANKFUL unto Him. If you don't know how to praise the Lord, start by reading a praise Psalm or singing a hymn. We have some good ones at www.oldlandmarks.com/hymns.htm . *************MEDITATE ON THE WORD************** As you fast, look to the word. Fellowship with the Lord IN HIS WORD everyday. Let Him talk to you. This is your mealtime. I don't know where the Lord will lead you in His word, but here are some ideas for those that don't know where to start-- ***Read Proverbs for wonderful, everyday wisdom on how to live. Wisdom is the principle thing, therefore get wisdom and with thy getting, get understanding. ***Consider the "I am" statements of John's gospel mean to you and for you. Read these entire chapters. John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM. [Jesus the I AM that spoke to Moses at the bush. His pre-incarnate deity] John 10:9 I AM THE DOOR: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. [a door lets in and keeps out] John 10:11 I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I AM THE RESURRECTION, AND THE LIFE: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 15:1 I AM THE TRUE VINE, and my Father is the husbandman. ***Read and consider John 17 ***Are you a gospel worker? Consider what I call the gospel worker's manifesto: II Corinthians chapters 3, 4, 5, 6. Overlay this with I Corinthians 4:1, Colossians 2:19, I Thessalonians 2:4, Titus 1:3. Consider the mystery that we are to hold and defend in a pure conscience in Ephesians and Colossians. Understand what the dynamic of the church is SUPPOSED to be--see I & II Timothy for the charge of the church. What do you see? ***Psalm 65, Joel 2, Psalm 66:13-16 These are just some ideas, be ready to have the Lord lead you where you need to go. ****************MORTIFY********************** Repent of your sins and ask the Lord to unmask the vain thoughts and dispositions that lodge within thee. Ask Him to help you bear up under the ugly discoveries about yourself. Read John Owens "Mortification of sin in the believer" or Charles Finney's "Governing the tongue" and put these precepts into practice. These and other articles can be found at www.oldlandmarks.com ****************ASK FOR A BLESSING*********** It is God's nature to bless. As you present yourself to Him in fasting, ask Him to leave behind a blessing (see Joel 2:12-19, 25-29). Not gold and silver, not houses or lands--but knowledge of Himself and His ways. You want TO LIVE the way of understanding and the way of peace. Ask the Lord to fill you with His righteous, Holy Spirit that you may be an effectual and powerful witness of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. You need POWER to witness and you can only get it through the Holy Ghost. The way you know you are filled is you want to testify of Jesus and you live a righteous life which proves that knowing Jesus Christ is more excellent. The HOLY Ghost will make you HOLY. I John says there are three classes of believers: little children (milk), young men (meat, the word abideth) and fathers (they know the Ancient of days Himself. They understand more about His ways and Him.). Understand where you are and ask the Lord to take you up another notch. I plan on ending my fast with communion. I'll go buy my own crackers and grape juice and read from I Corinthians 11:23-32 and perhaps from the gospels. *******************What if I get hungry?************* Great! That's what you are looking for! You've already purposed overcome it in the name of Jesus. My mentality is "I can do it all in the name of Jesus!" Eat your manna, the word of God. Talk to the Lord about what is going on with you and ask Him to remember you and your brothers and sisters. Jesus IS the bread of life. Your manna is the word of God. Find something righteous to take the place of eating food--read, serve, obey, forgive, pray, ask, seek, find, knock. **************** Pray up, Pray through**************** Pray in the days preceding your fast, pray through your fast, pray after your fast. EM Bounds says prayer is a disinfectant that purifies the air. This is truth. If something is bogging me down, I push it up to Jesus in prayer and when I get up off my knees I know what to do. Got something going on? Don't call everybody in town and tell them. Stop and pray. Talk to the One who can do something about it. Even if the outside circumstance does not change, He will change YOU. Walk in truth, sobriety and righteousness. ******************What if I get weak?************** I've had this happen during a short fast of a day or two. I could not even seem to lift my arm. I was like that for a while when I finally said, "I'm going to talk to my Father about this." I did. I got down on my knees and told the Lord what I wanted to do. I got up still feeling a little tired but my mind was, "Now I am going to walk in what I just asked for." By the end of the day I had accomplished so much. Just like you get strength from physical food, you are to get strength from the Lord. Weak? Talk to Jesus. He is the Lifter up of mine head. After you pray start doing what you need to do, the Lord will give you strength. You are not looking for food to strengthen you, you are looking for Jesus to strengthen you. *****************WASHED, CLEAN AND SMELLING GOOD********** The Bridegroom is coming for His bride. We are preparing to meet our groom. People who are serious will approach Him with clean hands and a clean heart. We adorn ourselves with righteousness. No one expecting their bride to stink on their wedding day. They expect her to be fine and clean and smelling good in the time of love. King Jesus is already fairer than anybody in this earth. He is fairest. What about us? He says to us, "WASH YOU, MAKE YOU CLEAN, PUT AWAY THE EVIL OF YOUR DOINGS FROM BEFORE MINE EYES; CEASE TO DO EVIL, LEARN TO DO WELL; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow..." Let's do all this in this fast. Make ready for the Bridegroom. Take your bath, trim your nails, gather your ornaments, put on your gown, put on a sweet smell and get ready for the consumation. Call wisdom thy sister and understanding thy kinswoman. ***********GET AIRBORNE*************** Most Christians are earthbound, they don't ride upon the high places--they don't even know they exist. When you look at an airplane it looks so big and clunky like it could never get off the ground. It starts taxing down the runway gaining speed and lift off the ground into the air. It runs and then it gets airborne. So it is with us in the spiritual realm. Keep obeying the word and seeking the Lord, run in it, and when you lift off YOU WILL KNOW IT. You will operate in another dimension of the kingdom. Your churches creed won't be the only thing you know. You will airborne in the Spirit and even the scriptures will take on a new dimension to you. You won't speak with enticing words of man's wisdom but with the ENABLING OF THE SPIRIT. It only comes to those who will yield to everything that God says. NOT those that say "I know the Bible says, BUT..." When you get to the point you agree with the word--even when it speaks against your practice--you are not far. When you get to the point you purpose of a truth to obey the word--you are not far. Somebody wrote here MAD that I mentioned fasting in the last email. Fasting is in the Bible. That is an example of somebody not agreeing with the word--there will be no lift off as long as a person has that type of attitude. You have to tarry in this thing. Don't hope in being a 90-day boy wonder. It only comes by a consistent walk and a STRIVING for the mastery. Many are saved but they are not airborne. Dear friends, look around. Seek to know more about the dynamics of the kingdom. Let this fast be a spiritual time for you. Look for the Lord to leave behind a blessing. Draw nigh to the Lord--the source of infinite POWER and MIGHT and WISDOM and STRENGTH and LOVE. Go FORWARD in Christ. Never retreat. If you can do nothing but stand, do that, but don't retreat. Don't go back to the rudiments of the world. If you come to a point you don't know what to do, do right. **************CONCLUSION******************* Give God the glory due His holy name. He will leave behind a blessing, let the blessings overtake you. Tarry for the early and latter rains. Be established in the word and you won't be shaky. You'll be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season. His leaf also shall not wither and WHATSOEVER he doeth shall prosper. Year in and year out you will be found blossoming and thriving in the things of the Lord. The word keep your ground tilled and ready for more plantings. God bless all the beautiful people. for Jesus' sake, tracy -- http://www.jesus-is-lord.com ...I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD. And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words,nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. Ezekiel 2:4, 6 ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: tracy@jesus-is-lord.com EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84whs.a9jehS Or send an email to: jesus-is-lord-unsubscribe@topica.com T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================