Steve Caronna

God's View Of Our Fast, Pt.3

"Is this not the fast that I have chosen?" Isaiah 58:6

In the following three verses, Isaiah outlines what God looks for when we fast.  Not necessarily "how" to fast, but rather what is supposed to happen IN US when we fast.  Verse 6 tells us that the bonds of wickedness should be loosed, and every yoke of bondage should be broken.  Verse 7 talks about overcoming selfishness and being alert to the needs of others.

Today we'll look at verse 8:

"Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you: the Glory Of The Lord shall be your rear guard."

The striking difference with this verse from the other two is the use of the word , "your":   "Your light", "Your healing", "Your righteousness", and "Your rear guard".  There are definite benefits to fasting!

1.   "Your light"-We all know that Jesus is the Light Of The World.  However, Matt 5:14 says that we are the light of the world also.  How does that work?  Jesus is the light source, and we are to reflect that light that comes from Him.  Have you every heard the term, "the 'light' of the moon"?  The moon actually has no light.  The light you see is reflected from the sun.  In the same way, we are to reflect the Light of jesus Christ in our lives, and fasting makes that Light brighter and clearer!

2.  "Your healing"- Although fasting is not a diet, let's face it:  fasting has more health benefits than I could possibly mention here.  After an extended fast like the 21 day fast we're on now,  your body has detoxed from caffeine and sugar , and many of the nutrients your body has been lacking are now being replaced.  I've had people actually tell me that they are thinking more clearly and feeling physically better now than they have in years!

3.  "Your righteousness", and" Your rear guard"- This verse says that "Your righteousness shall go before you, and the Glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard".  When I read this, I am reminded of Psalm 5:12: "For You Oh Lord will bless the righteous; with favor you will surround him as with a shield."  Fasting doesn't increase God's favor over our lives, we already have that.  What fasting does do is sharpen our ability to see God's Favor surrounding us, and doors of opportunity opening all around, that otherwise we might have missed!

Thank you for fasting with Connie and me.  What a powerful opportunity to see God at work in our Church and individual lives.  Four more days!

 

 

 

 

 

 

God's View Of Our Fast, Pt.2

"Is this not the fast that I have chosen?   Isaiah 58:6

Yesterday we looked at Isaiah 58:6- that when we fast, God expects us to see the bonds of wickedness loosed from our lives, that every yoke of bondage should be broken.  Today, verse 7 tells us:

"Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh?"  Isaiah 58:7

As I have referred to several times, fasting helps us overcome our flesh, the "brat" in us, in a big way.  One characteristic of every "brat" is selfishness...life is ALL about him, what HE wants, what HE needs, what HE thinks is important.  In this passage we see that fasting helps us get our eyes off of ourselves and either notice, or take seriously the needs of others.

There are so many needs around us.  Recognizing and meeting needs is a big part of the Church's mission.  Although the US government is now stepping in and meeting the needs of the poor and marginalized like never before (which is really the mission of the Church), there is still a place for the Church in meeting needs.  One great opportunity to do that is our "Fourth Saturday Outreach".  What a great opportunity to meet together on the fourth Saturday, break up into 3 teams, and minister in a nursing home, a housing project, or to the homeless in downtown Raleigh.  Also, many needs of our neighbors and acquaintances should be recognized and helped, not so much by the "Church at large", but by individuals or small groups of Christians BEING the Church in the world.

So, what is it that you're beginning to see or recognize that you didn't recognize before the fast?  What is the Holy Spirit leading you to do about it?  Fasting helps us to say NO to our selfishness so that we can say YES to the "God opportunities" around us!

 

God's View Of Our Fast, Pt.1

"Is this not the fast that I have chosen?"  Is. 58:6a

In Isaiah 58:6-9, God lays out the details of what He is looking for in a fast from those who are fasting.  I find it interesting that this passage doesn't mention the details of "how" to fast (how long, what type, etc) but rather mentions what is supposed to happen IN US when we fast.  Let's look at Verse 6 today:

"...to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?"  Is 58:6b

As I said at Sunday morning services yesterday, we were not created to be afflicted, to carry the heavy pressures of this life.  Jesus took our afflictions, our pressures and oppressions, on the Cross!  We then, should be walking in His Freedom.  Why is it that, after Jesus has taken our burdens on the Cross, we insist on carrying them ourselves anyway?

I have talked a lot lately in this blog and in service messages about the "brat' in us, the flesh nature that acts like a child and wants to run our lives.  He wants to do everything himself, without God's help.  The problem with that is:

1)  The wrong nature is in control.  Our spirit nature, empowered by the Holy Spirit, should be in control of our lives.

2)  The brat in us doesn't know what is best or right for us, even though, just like a spoiled child, he thinks he does.

When we give in to the brat, our lives start heading in the wrong direction.  It could be most of the areas of our lives, or maybe only one or two.  This wrong direction leads to wrong attitudes and wrong decisions.  Now we, because of our flesh nature, have opened the door for our enemy satan to begin to take the wheel from there, and our lives, or at least a part of our lives, begins to spin out of control.

When we fast, we are "taking the wheel" from the brat, perhaps even satan, and giving control back over to the Holy Spirit.  This is why fasting is so freeing!

As we are in our final week starting today, you should be sensing pressure and oppression loosening it's grip on your life.  It's ok to be planning that first meal on Sunday at noon, when the fast ends, but don't get so excited about the end of the fast that you don't treasure what's happening IN YOU right now.  Heavy burdens are being undone, and yokes of oppression are being broken!

 

 

 

 

"When" you give, "When" you pray, "When" you fast

In Matthew 6, Jesus outlines three basic, important activities of every Christian:

1) "WHEN you give..." in verse 2, refers to each of us as we are obedient to God in giving to meet the needs of the saints.  Notice it doesn't say, "if" you give, but rather WHEN you give...indicating that God expects all of us to participate.

2) "WHEN you pray..." in verse 5, also refers to each of us in our prayer life.  Prayer, just like giving, is not just for some, not just for "special" Christians.  Notice again that it doesn't say "if" you pray, but WHEN you pray.

3) "WHEN you fast..." in verse 16 is indicating the same thing about fasting!  I appreciate so much everyone who is fasting together with me, Connie, and our whole staff.  

As we are all participating church-wide, we're seeing God do some amazing things, individually as well as corporately in our Church.  As powerful as this is as a Church, don't let this be the only time of the year for you to fast.   Connie and I will fast individual days during the year, as well as extended fasts.  Last year, in addition to our 21 day fast at the beginning of the year, I also fasted for 40 days later in the year.  I didn't broadcast it or make a big deal out of it, and I'm not telling you that now to impress you.  The reason I mention it is so that you can begin to think with a "WHEN you fast" mentality and fast at other opportunities during the year, as you feel led or need to.

How do you know when you need to fast?

1.  When you feel that your spiritual senses are getting dull, when you're not as "sharp" as usual

2.  When you need an answer from God and you want to be sure that you're really ready to hear Him and say, "Yes" to His Will.

3.  When you feel that your flesh nature, the "brat" in you is taking control of your life and trying to push you around, and his will is becoming stronger in your life than God's Will.  When you fast, it puts you back on top again and you can dictate to the "brat" that you're going to be obedient to The Word and The Spirit of God.

Again, what an honor to be fasting with you these 21 days.  Let's make fasting a part of our normal walk with God. 

Fasting And Worship

"Ok, so I'm fasting (and hungry!), so what else do I do?" During a fast, your life should not be "business as usual". Be sure to spend more time than usual in your Bible, in prayer, and WORSHIP.

"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth"- John 4:23-24

What is worship? One of the most important Hebrew words for "worship" literally means, "to come toward to kiss". Worship is the expression of our love and adoration to God. Worship is mostly associated with singing, but can also include giving, prayer, and even how we live our lives. When we are especially expressing our love and adoration to God, that's worship in it's purest form. However you do it, be sure that you spend time actually WORSHIPPING your God during our 21 day fast. We'll all become closer and more in tune with the Holy Spirit during this fast, and worship should become almost second nature.

Connie and I are praying for each of you!  Regularly I pray for all of the names written on our Sanctuary fasting chart. If you're fasting with us but didn't get your name on the chart, send me your name and the days you're fasting between now and Feb. 3rd, and I'll be sure your name gets up there. Connie and I could be fasting by ourselves, but we love seeking God WITH YOU!

Even More Fasting FAQ's

I have received more questions about fasting, and I want to answer those here:

1. What if you find that the fasting is easy and not much dying to flesh is required. Should you crank it up a notch, or, thank God for grace?

Fasting is naturally going to be easier for those who don't have as many eating challenges. If one already doesn't eat much meat or drink coffee, or has a regular routine of fasting, it won't be "as much" of a challenge. Remember, the purpose of fasting is primarily to learn to say no to the "brat" in you so that you can say "yes" to the God in you! If the brat is already used to discipline, he will submit to authority much more easily. Once that has been accomplished, continued fasting keeps him in his place throughout your life, and it's a whole lot easier to keep him in his place once you get him there.

Once the flesh nature, the "brat", is in it's place, continual suffering isn't going to make us more holy. Don't feel guilty if fasting isn't tough for you any more, and then look for ways to make it worse. We want to be sure that we don't get into what the Catholic Church calls, "mortification of the flesh". This is a practice that can range anywhere from flaggelation (whipping oneself or being whipped or struck by someone else), to literally starving yourself, because the more we suffer the closer we can get to God. The Bible doesn't teach this.

There is an actual benefit to getting in the "groove" of fasting. When one is first beginning a fast, it can be hard to pray more because we're concentrating on food, what we can't have, and how lousy we feel at first. Once you break through that, and begin to feel good and more alert, that's the time to double up on prayer! Now you can focus on God and His Word during your fast. In short, don't feel guilty if you're not suffering as much as you think you should.

Of course there are those reading this that can't relate, because fasting is still a real challenge. Take heart! Fasting has been, and still can be, a challenge for all of us! Just stay the course, it does get easier. It's supposed to.

I apologize for not blogging for a couple of days. I have been spending extra time in prayer, as well as the daily affairs of the Church. Thank you for fasting with me!

More Fasting Q&A

1. "I did not see eggs on the list at church, should we abstain from this also?"

Technically, yes. Eggs are a type of "flesh food", or meat, and are to be treated on a fast the same way you would treat chicken.

2. "My husband doesn't come to church and doesn't want to fast. He wants me to fix him separate meals each day. What should I do?"

You should fix him what he likes, if that's what you usually do, and you continue to fast. Trying to force your husband to go without food will not draw him closer to God...or to you!

3. "I see other people at Church eating things that are forbidden to eat on fast days, but they still say that they're fasting. Should I say something to them about it?"

No. What a person eats is between them and God. If a person has decided that they are going to follow the Daniel Fast guidelines, but they have decided that they are going to keep one thing in their diet that is normally not eaten, that's their decision...and frankly I would much rather see that than to scrap the whole fast because of one or two items. Keep in mind that we have a lot of new Christians at Living Word who have never done this before. Let's cut them some slack and be glad they are participating!

4. "Can we watch movies when we fast?"

That's up to you. We are not fasting entertainment, we're fasting food. At the same time, be sure that you are spending more time in your Bible and prayer than you normally do.

5.  "I fasted last year in January during our 2012 fast, but God didn't answer my prayer.  Did God hear me?"

"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.   And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." 1 John 5:14-15

Remember that fasting doesn't change God, it changes us.  The above Scripture in 1 John says that if we pray according to His Word (His Will) He hears us.  Fasting doesn't make sure God hears us, praying His Word does!  So fast with confidence again this year knowing that you are changing more and more into the image of Christ.  Praying His Word assures that you HAVE what you have asked for in His Will.  Now it's time to "wait patiently on the Lord"!

 

Fasting FAQ's

 Several questions have already come in about fasting in general as well as our particular 21 day fast. Let me answer some of those questions here:

1. "Can I have coffee on a Daniel's fast?" Technically...no. Caffeine is an addictive stimulant, and is to be avoided. Black tea also. Even decaf coffee and tea have some caffeine in them. I understand that if you stop drinking caffeine, you're going to feel bad for about 3 days, but hey...it's a fast! After you get over the initial shock, you'll feel much better. I stopped drinking caffeinated coffee during our last fast, and haven't had it since. I feel so good now, I would never go back. For me, naturally decaf herb teas are a good substitute.

2. "What if I mess up and eat something I shouldn't on a day I'm supposed to be fasting?" First of all, please take the commitment you have made TO GOD seriously. We should be serious any time we make a vow or commitment to God, and keep it. That being said, if you do mess up, thank God for 1 John 1:9! "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and cleanse us from unrighteousness." Confess it, ask forgiveness, and then pick up where you left off without condemnation!

3. "Can my spouse and I have sex during a fast? Doesn't 1 Corinthians 7:5 say that we're supposed to abstain during a fast?" The key words in that verse are "with consent". A husband and wife may agree together that for a specified number of days they will abstain from sex to pray and seek God. That doesn't necessarily have to be for the whole 21 days, but the main ingredient is that they both agree that it's a good thing to do. If one or the other of you doesn't want to do that, then don't. A strong healthy sex life is important in a marriage! You might be surprised, however, that during a fast you might become more interested in seeking God for a few days than you are sex. I know...I know...some of you think that would be impossible! But I'm just sayin'...

4. "Doesn't Matthew 6:16-18 say that fasting is supposed to be a secret? How much should I say to my co-workers? What if they find out?" If you work closely with people at your company, they're going to notice, so you might as well tell them if they ask about your not eating...or at least not eating what you usually do. You become like a pharisee when you put yourself in situations ON PURPOSE to get an opportunity to let everyone know how spiritual you are because you are fasting! Instead, you can respectfully decline if invited to go to lunch but you're only drinking water. On the other hand, if you're on a Daniel's Fast that day, order a salad and steamed veggies, and don't make a big fasting announcement at the table!

If you have other questions you would like answered, please submit those in the comments section on this blog page. Please don't submit them on facebook.

Why Fast Together?

“Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!” -Esther 4:16

When the Jews in Persia are in danger, Esther calls a fast of all the Jews in Persia. Esther could have fasted herself, even asked her maids to join her. Instead, she calls all of them to fast. A corporate fast is a more powerful and effective fast than fasting individually, and benefits you as a individual as well. Why?

1. There is power in agreement. "...if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by my father in heaven." (Matt. 18:19)

2. Much bigger problems can be attacked and overcome when we fast together.

3. Fasting with others is a great source of encouragement. Depending on when a person fasts, what type of fast a person does, and how long a person fasts, fasting can be challenging, and most of us need all of the encouragement we can get!

4. The issues that we fast about corporately affect each of us individually. When we are fasting for the Church's vision, that will ultimately affect our individual vision for our lives. When we fast for the Church's finances, that will also affect your finances. When we fast for marriages in the Church, that will also affect each one of our marriages.

5. Fasting together draws us together. As we go through these 21 days together, we will see our relationships strengthened as the Holy Spirit shows us our own hearts and how we can better love and serve one another.

6. Fasting focuses all of us in the same direction...on God, His Word, His Spirit, His Will, and His Purposes.

Why Fasting Works

Early in my ministry career I served in several Churches as a Student Ministry, or "Youth" pastor.  I loved all of the young men and women in those ministries, and most of them were wonderful to work with.  However, there was a striking difference with some of them.  As much as I cared for them and wanted to help them, there were those that were totally uncontrollable.  They made life miserable for the rest of the students...and for ME!  Even though we didn't have a lot of rules to be in our youth ministry, these students were determined NOT to follow any guidelines at all, no matter how simple.  Going on a trip or having a "lock in" with them was a nightmare.

So why didn't you just kick them out?  Believe me, that was my first...no...second response.  My first response was to try to reason with them and help them.  However, they had never been held accountable to follow any rules their whole lives, and they sure as heck weren't going to listen to me.  So when that didn't work, my next inclination was to kick them out so they wouldn't negatively effect the other teenagers.  "Great idea!"  you say.  "So why not do that?"  One word: PARENTS!  

Parents of undisciplined teenagers can be some of the most difficult people to work with in ministry because they want to be "buddies" with their teenagers rather than parents, and they want you to also be their teenager's "buddy" rather than their pastor.

Soooo...what does this have to do with fasting?  

The Bible teaches that each of us has a flesh, or carnal nature that must be put in it's place in order for us to fulfill God's plan and purpose for our lives.  Most of us already know what God wants us to do and/or the direction He wants us to take.  Maybe not the WHOLE picture, but at least the next step.  Our flesh nature, which I will refer to as the "brat" in us, wants HIS way, not God's way.  The Bible says that the brat in us is the enemy of God's Will and purpose.  And who is the "parent", justifying the whining of our flesh?  satan himself!

Fasting says. "NO" to the brat in us, so that we can say YES to the God in us...the Will, Plan, and Purpose of God. We spend entirely too much time trying to reason with the brat in us, rather than putting it in it's place and telling him who's boss...the Spirit Of God in you!  Remember:  If you can say "no" to food, then you can say "no" to almost any temptation, particularly the temptation to not follow God's Will for your life.

Don't allow the brat in you to convince you that you'll die without caffiene, sugar, or a hamburger.  Just like a teenager out of control, you have to put that brat in you in it's place.  This is the path to true freedom in God, because NOW YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU KNOW YOU SHOULD DO without being ruled by a monster within!