What is your response?
I’ve read every comment (well I have to approve them before they go live) and I have been moved by your testimonies. We thank God, but we have to keep the fire burning.
Our scripture reading for today comes from the book of John Chapter 8 verses 1-11
John 8:1-11 (NKJV)
1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
2 Now [a]early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. 3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, [b]this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now [c]Moses, in the law, commanded us [d]that such should be stoned. But what do You [e]say?” 6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, [f]as though He did not hear.
7 So when they continued asking Him, He [g]raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 Then those who heard it, being[h] convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had raised Himself up [i]and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers [j]of yours? Has no one condemned you?”
11 She said, “No one, Lord.”
And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go [k]and sin no more.”
As leader, my thoughts are always about what God’s vision for this group is;
In Europe (where we have four seasons) we normally have a spring clean. When you spring clean, you clean the places in your house that don’t get that day to day attention, you de clutter, you get rid of old clothes, you clean with the intention of getting rid of the old, to make way for the new.
Now normally, a year later we find that we have collected the same clutter and we still haven’t given attention to those parts of the house again.
In the scripture , John 8, Jesus springs cleans a woman’s life instantly. Here is an adulterer, who was about to be stoned to death. The part I want us to focus on, are the last three words Jesus said to her, “SIN NO MORE!”
When we are fasting, we are spring cleaning our spiritual lives. However, unlike spring cleaning our homes, we do not wish to be in the same position again, with the same mess and clutter. We must follow the words of Christ. He was telling the woman, who had been committing adultery that she is now free, and no one should condemn her. That freedom does not give her the allowance to continue sinning.
In the time we have fasted , we have spring cleaned our lives, let us not fall back into our old lives because we are not fasting anymore. The freedom we have gained this past week needs to be worked on in order for it bear fruit.
Some of you have not received breakthrough for what you are fasting for so you have to continue seeking God, and plugging into the source!
It is going to be hard because the enemy will look for the opportune time to tempt you back to your old ways. Nonetheless, we have a God in heaven who has conquered temptation and scripture says;
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
So pray and he will give you a way out of trouble.
I’ve created some steps to help you walk in the life of purpose. Brenda and I are here to support you or point you in the right direction. However, as we learnt this week God is our source and he speaks to all of us.
- Repent of all past sins knowing and unknowing. You cannot walk in right standing with Jesus if you have repetitive sin your life. Good and evil cannot coexist together.
- Walk with likeminded Christians. Jesus had 12 disciples who he was around constantly. You have to be in the body of Christ to support your walk. If most of the people you talk to or hang out with are not in the body of Christ, then you’re more likely to conform to their patterns than to God’s. Who’s going to straighten you when your walk is crooked? Who’s going to pray with you when you need a breakthrough? Who’s going to praise and worship with you when you share a testimony? Be in fellowship with believers constantly.
- Start or support (I’m not talking financially) a ministry. As much as you are helping other people build their faith, you are also making yourself accountable to the people you serve and it also helps to build your own faith too.
- Pray, pray, pray. Jesus often removed himself from his natural surroundings and went off to pray. God is our source and like a mobile phone if you are not charged often you will run out of battery. What good is a mobile phone if the battery is dead? Therefore, plug into the sources as often as you can. My sister in law’s phone is forever plugged into the socket, because she uses her phone so much, that’s how we should be with God. Plugged in all the time.
- Read the bible. Hosea 4:6 says “my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge”. You have to know Gods words like you know the lyrics to your favourite song. You have to tell your kids who God is, you have to have the knowledge of God written in your heart. You cannot be ignorant, the enemy preys on your lack of knowledge. The enemy hopes that you do not read the bible, because then you’ll know that he has no power and his eternity is in the pits of hell!
Some food for thought, answer these questions in your own time.
- What have you learnt in this fasting season?
- What has God revealed to you?
- What is your response to what you have received?
This is the perfect devotion to culminate the fast. I love the spring cleaning analogy you have shared, it makes absolute sense. In as much as this was not my first time to fast, but I must say, I was a much more committed and connected this time round.
As you know I’m doing 21 days so got my journey continues, but it’s been amazing fasting and praying alongside all of you here.
May God continue to use you mightily for His glory. God bless.
I thank God that He has sustained us for the last 7 days. Like Doris said this is not my first time fasting however it has been the most effective. Mainly because I am connected to this group and the daily devotions helped me focus. The video and information shared prior got my mind ready for this fast.
I was able to have my body, mind and soul aligned during this last 7 days.
During this fast I was reminded that the battle is continuous because we do not fight against flesh and blood. (Ephesians 6:12)
I pray everyone will stay connected to our source especially during this pandemic.
I look forward to more days of fasting together. We need it now more than ever.
Blessing to Mike and Brenda for leading us, I pray for God’s favor and protection over your life.