Countdown to Sunday

The weekend is here. My prayer is that you have a restful and wonderful few days. I'm excited about our Sunday services. I plan to minister in Genesis 35 Sunday morning on God's command to be "fruitful and multiply." I encourage you to come hungry and ready for worhip and the preaching of God's Word.

As most of you know, our fast will be ending next Wednesday concluding 21 days of prayer and fasting. It's apparent to me that Satan hates it when the church prays and fasts. We have had all kinds of attacks upon people in the church since the fast began. 1 Peter 4:12 reads "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:" In other words, we can expect the enemy to come against us as believers especially when the church is on the offense.

What do I mean by "on the offense?" Read for yourself what the Bible says about the power of fasting and prayer.

Isaiah 58:6 “No, this is the kind of fasting I want:
Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;
lighten the burden of those who work for you.
Let the oppressed go free,
and remove the chains that bind people.
7 Share your food with the hungry,
and give shelter to the homeless.
Give clothes to those who need them,
and do not hide from relatives who need your help."

Also,Isaiah 58:9 “...Remove the heavy yoke of oppression.
Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!
10 Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble."

And, “Keep the Sabbath day holy. Don’t pursue your own interests on that day,
but enjoy the Sabbath and speak of it with delight as the Lord’s holy day.
Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day,and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly." Isaiah 58:13

When the church unites together and does these things during a fast, look what God promises us will happen.

Isaiah 58:8 “Then your salvation will come like the dawn,
and your wounds will quickly heal.
Your godliness will lead you forward,
and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.
9 Then when you call, the Lord will answer.
‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply."

Isaiah 58: 10 "..Then your light will shine out from the darkness,
and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
11 The Lord will guide you continually,
giving you water when you are dry
and restoring your strength.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like an ever-flowing spring.
12 Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities.
Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls
and a restorer of homes."

Satan doesn't want God's people to be so blessed. He doesn't want God to be glorified. Thats why we shouldn't think it strange or unusual when these things happen to us when we fast. These are clearly attacks from an enemy that isn't going to roll over and play dead. However, remember, his head has been crushed at Calvary and he is a defeated foe. You and I have won the victory in Christ Jesus!

Keep up the battle!

-Pastor