Fasting for God only

Today’s scripture:

“Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?” (Isaiah 58:6)

The purpose of fasting should always be for the desire of getting closer to God. See, just fasting in of itself does not move God to be closer to us. No, It’s a way for us to die to self, a form of humbling ourselves. If we fast, we are giving something up that we either need or desire. This forces us to deny what we need or desire and in that process, we press all the more into Him, seeking His face. In chapter 4 of Matthew, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit to go and fast for forty days immediately after His baptism and right before the start of His ministry. It was because He wanted to pursue the Father and empty Himself completely so the Father could work through Him.

Fasting isn’t always about food. When I went through Pure Life Ministries in 2006, the councilors were putting people on fasts very often, almost daily! If a person obviously had issues of talking too much because he wanted the attention or He esteemed himself to be heard more than to listen, he would be put on a talk fast where the only people he could talk to is his councilor or if it was at his job. Some would have been put on a music fast if it became apparent they were being consumed with that activity interfering with their studies or prayer. But in all types of fasts, it was heavily encouraged for them to seek God in the process.

Today we are looking into the eleventh topic on the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus is teaching, which is “Fasting to be seen only by God”. Matthew 6:16-18 is much like the past couple of teachings from this sermon. Jesus is warning people to be careful on the purpose of fasting. Be careful that your not fasting for recognition of being very devoted to God and very holy. He says take care of yourself to look healthy and do not draw attention to your fasting. Again, if you do, that is the only reward you will get.

Another passage on fasting that is not in some translations such as the NIV and some others but in the NKJV it is mentioned in Matthew 17:21 with the context starting in v.18… “And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

See, sometimes what needs to happen is something so large like a mountain that needs moved, it is going to take God’s powerful work to intervene. If we want God to work mightily through us (for the only purpose of bringing Him glory and not yourself) is to come under the submission of denying your flesh so much that God is able to work thoroughly through you in ways that only He can do. The mountains can be anything like addictions, massive healings, rising from the dead, revivals, severed limbs to grow back, or the blind being able to see.

Does God desire us to wait for these things to come about before we start to fast? No! See, the point and the purpose of fasting isn’t just for a miracle, its His desire for us to be so closely connected to Him that our will becomes and intertwines with His and we begin to walk completely by faith and not on our own. In other words, we become one with Him just like He was one with the Father when He fasted for forty days and did all those healings. Dear beloved, please understand if you think he did all these miracles because He is God, you are mistaken! Even though He is God, Jesus limited Himself while here on Earth so He can show us how closely we can be with God the Father! But to be that close we need to constantly be submissive, humbling ourselves and deny our flesh daily walking in His will and Spirit and this comes with prayer and fasting.

Reflection:

An attitude of selflessness is very much needed in this teaching. We cannot run after God and expect Him to fully bless us with Himself if we are still hanging on to our flesh. Yes, we are all still sinners and will be until we are with Him in heaven. However, I’m talking about seeking God while you are intentionally being full of self. Say to yourself… “Self – Its time to take you out back and shoot ya!” Sounds harsh, doesn’t it? Well, let me ask you, if “self” or your “old man” is keeping you from God then doesn’t it only make sense to destroy what is keeping you from God? That “old man” MUST DIE! He MUST BE CRUCIFIED!!!

Challenge:

When is the last time you have fasted? Think about your relationship with Jesus. Is it where you desire it to be? Do you want more of Him? Do you know that you need more intimacy with God to the point of being one with Him, sharing each step with His feet? Then, my friend, let me encourage you to take time to pray and ask God what He would like for you to give up for a time so that you can receive more of Him.

-Doug McGowan

Praying to the Father

Today’s scripture:

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10)

You know, I used to be afraid to pray for a few different reasons. I didn’t like to pray because I didn’t think the Lord really had that much interest in me. And for another reason, I didn’t like to pray out loud because I wasn’t sure I could pray smoothly and with such simple sounding words to a very complicated and powerful holy God. And to be honest, I still struggle a lot with a “fear of man” type of pride. And that is the only reason if any of us feel that way about praying aloud. A fear-of-man type of pride says, “What are people going to think?” “Are they going to think I’m not very holy or confident?” Well, we all know that way of thinking isn’t from God.

Do you have a problem going to your mom or dad or a loved one for advice or just to have someone to talk to? Then why in the world would we have a problem with the one who is able to love us way more than any of our loved ones? Maybe I’m not the only one who has ever felt this way. Maybe you are thinking you have to know how to pray before actually doing it. Prayer is just communicating with God. That’s all it is! We can do that through worship and praise, reading His Word or simply offering up words to Him. It is even prayer when we just sit quietly before God letting Him speak to us! Well, if you still need instruction on how to communicate with God, thankfully He has given that to us in the book of Mathew.

Today we are looking into the tenth topic on the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus is teaching, which is “The Model Prayer”. In Matthew 6:5-15, Jesus is basically showing how we should come to the Father in prayer. Please open your bible to this passage and lets go through it together.

First, (v.5, 7) Jesus tells us not to get all caught up in sounding all holy and impressive with our speech so that people will think more highly of us. Very backwards with my thoughts of wondering what people are going to think of my simple words, isn’t it? That is not God’s will for coming to Him. He wants you to be genuine and real to Him. He knows you anyway (v.8). He says people that pray for reasons of getting noticed will not get His reward because they have already received what they desired which comes from man.

Second, (v.6) Jesus says to pray in secret. Now, I believe we all need to have a quiet time (preferably in the morning before the ways of this world start to creep in) away from the noise and by ourselves and just sit still before the Lord. Even though that is true, I don’t think that is what is meant in this scripture. I believe Jesus is telling us to go to Him in our hearts where nobody else can know us but Him. Speak to Him with truth about where your heart is and just be real with Him. If you feel sad… tell Him. If you feel joyful… sing to Him, If you are angry… let Him know just how angry you are! But whatever you pray to Him about, remember He is God and you are not (see todays scripture Psalm 46:10)!

Then He gives the example of prayer in verses 9-13. I grew up in a church that recites prayer word for word all the time to where the prayer never changed. It wasn’t long before the prayer didn’t mean anything to me… they were just words. He gave us this example in Matthew so that it would be a guide and not necessarily a word-for-word prayer.

He first starts out the prayer with acknowledgement of who God is. “Our Father”: in other words “Abba” meaning our intimate Father. “Hollowed be Your name” meaning His name and Himself is holy and to come to Him with reverence. Verse 10-11 is praising Him with acknowledgement of His power to have His will be done everywhere, and telling Him that you need Him every day and His Word for you. Then He follows that with asking for forgiveness of our sins and to protect us from falling into further sin and from the devil himself, and finally His wraps it all up with more praise to the Father. AMEN!

Reflection:

Matthew 6:9 “In this manner, therefore, pray…” In other words, in this attitude, you should pray – An attitude of reverence for who God is. Prayer is probably the most powerful thing we can do. Without it, we have no communication with our Father. Think if NASA sent up the shuttle to the moon and on their journey, they loose all communication with Huston and all their commanding officers. How devastating that would be. We need to have that with God! God’s model of prayer starts 1^st with shutting the door behind you (be still), 2^nd to know He is God, 3^rd is praise, 4^th is pleading with God for Him to give us Himself, 5^th is asking for forgiveness, 6^th is asking for protection, 7^th and finally wrapping it up with more praise!

Challenge:

Stop right now and go to your Father who is in heaven, and just sit there for a few moments basking in His presence not saying anything but acknowledgement Him for who He is. Offer up praise and thanksgiving knowing that He is has your life in His hands. Talk to Him as you would with someone who you desire to be so close and intimate with because He desires that with you too.

-Doug McGowan

Pleasing to the Lord

Today’s scripture:

1 - Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:9-10)

2 - Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams…He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:7-8)

To be pleasing to God is a heart issue. When you’re talking in the context of God, it always comes down to the heart. You can give away thousands upon thousands of dollars a year to good charities. You can teach bible school for years. You can lead congregations in worship. You can even be a lead pastor to a mega church, but if your heart is not in the place to be pleasing to God, then its all for nothing! I’ve said it so many times before… “If our relationship is not right with God and having His heart to be our desire, then He could care less about the ministries we are involved in, because He is first after our heart and everything else follows that.”

Today we are looking into the ninth topic on the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus is teaching, which is “Do good to please God”. In Matthew 6:1-4, Jesus says, “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.”

It is a sobering thought to take a look at ourselves and the good deeds we do and ask ourselves is this pleasing to God? I mean, is my motive behind why I do the things I do for Him or for me? Think about it for a minute because it’s real easy to say it is for the right reason.

Think of this… If God calls me to work behind the scenes as a janitor for 5 years were most of the work goes unnoticed, but I know that it pleases God, am I content in that or do I need to be noticed? Or, If He were to tell me He wants me to have a prayer ministry by myself of praying for people in other countries and never seeing any affects by it, would I still do it?

See, if your heart were to please God, it wouldn’t matter because it wouldn’t be contingent on the outcome or the recognition from men of what pleases God. All you would be concerned about is if you are pleasing your heavenly Father! Like I said, it always comes down to where your heart is at and your attitude is the aroma of your heart. So, if your attitude is sour, that means your heart isn’t really after God’s heart.

Reflection:

I would say this needs an attitude of just being thankful. Thankful of what God has done in you and the pit He has pulled you out of. See, when your grateful of the things He has done, you WANT to please Him. It no longer is a desire to have men give you praise or recognize that you are a good person because you have that satisfaction and assurance that God holds great value on your soul! Do you want to know how much of a value He has for you? How valuable is Jesus, His one and only son? There is your answer… Your value is Jesus!!!

Challenge:

Make a gratitude list of at least 50 things you are thankful for that God has done in your life. I have done this myself and it truly does change your attitude. And also, don’t forget to thank Him everyday multiple times a day of just who He is and Him loving you. Thank Him for dying for you and for God sending His only son to be crushed to death for you!

-Doug McGowan

Be perfect...

Today’s scripture:

1. Therefore, you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)

2. Therefore, be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. (Luke 6:36)

Do you want to be perfect? Well, I got to tell you; I often struggle with trying to make things look perfect. I think to myself at times, if I get this to look perfect, people will be in awe of my work and think I’m amazing. Now, I don’t directly think that in my mind and say those things but when I really meditate on why I try so hard, that is what I come up with, and that my friend, is pride!

Today we are looking into the eighth topic on the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus is teaching, which is “Love your Enemies”. In Matthew 5:43-48, Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

I find today’s two scriptures very interesting. In Matthew, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, “you shall be perfect”. But then in the same sermon in Luke Jesus says, “Be merciful”. And in this context, Jesus is talking about loving your enemies. In the eyes of the world, we see this idea as being a weak spineless type of attitude letting people walk all over you. But that is not weakness. In fact, it is just the opposite! See, to love your enemies takes a huge strong attitude of meekness. Meekness is not a weak thing; rather it is strength under control.

See, to be perfect is to be perfect in love, because perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). Fear of what? Maybe fear of being humiliated hurt physically or emotionally. It could be a fear of you being seen as a weak person, but that is not meekness. Meekness is ignoring that anger welling up inside you and CHOOSING to do the right thing… LOVE! PERFECT LOVE!!! And that kind of strength only comes from God.

What about the second verse of today’s scripture in Luke? Why does Jesus say to be merciful in this passage and to be perfect in Matthew’s passage? I believe the love Jesus is referring to is the agape type of love. The kind of love that surpasses all understanding and goes beyond what the world perceives as being a good person. See, Jesus says even the most evil people love those who love them back, but it takes meekness to love perfectly!

Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. (1 John 4:17–21)

Reflection:

Loving our enemies is not an easy thing to do! It takes a tremendous act on our part to die to self. In other words, we need to put our own desires, wants, wishes and feelings aside ignoring them as we beat that “old man” into submission and obey God’s command to love them anyway. The precious Lord Jesus lays out in this sermon how we need to treat those who hate us. Go the extra mile, turn the other cheek, and offer the shirt off your back if needed.

Challenge:

Are there people in your life that rub you the wrong way? Or maybe, since that argument you had weeks or even months ago needs some healing, you can go to them and ask for their forgiveness even if you feel you were right. Humble yourself, take on the attitude of meekness and die to your way of thinking, offer them your friendship again, and treat them with gentleness and love. After all, isn’t that what God has done for you so many times?

-Doug McGowan