21 Days of Fasting & Prayer: Day 6

^{Right Fasting: Getting Right!}

^{Isaiah 58:3-5}

³Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and You don’t pay attention? Why have we afflicted our soul, and You take no knowledge?

  Behold, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exact all your labors. ⁴Behold, you fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: you shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high

             Is this such the fast that I choose,

              a day for a person to humble himself?

            Is it to bow down his head like a reed,

             and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him?

              Will you call this a fast,

              and a day acceptable to the Lord?

             

God did not accept their fast because they were fasting not to discover God’s will but to get God to do what they wanted!  They were using fasting as a weapon against others, and were mad at God because He was not responding as they wanted. 

Right fasting is about change-not change in God, but change in us!  During your fast the Holy Spirit will point out areas that hinder our walk, and impede our right future! 

We do not fast to get our will-we fast to get His will!

              What is the Holy Spirit pointing out-speaking to you about?  The Holy Spirit does not use condemnation-deep sense of dread or guilt.  He convicts-points out specifically the area He wants to help you overcome.

              Write down what the Holy Spirit is dealing with you.  Talk to the Holy Spirit and describe the issue and acknowledge you are ready to face and deal with it. Tell Him you cannot overcome it on your own, you must have His strength!  Commit your way to Him, accepting He has heard and answered!

21 Days of Fasting & Prayer- Day 5

^{Right Fasting:  Battling the Demonic}

                      ^{One day a man brought his son to Jesus’ disciples for them to cast a demon out of the boy. The frantic father told them, “Often the demon throws the boy into the river to drown him or fire to drown him!”  But try as they might, they could not free the boy from the powerful hold the demon had over the boy!}

                      ^{Jesus, seeing the crowd and hearing their anger at His disciples approached them, dealt with the demon and the boy, now free from the demon went home with his father.  Jesus’ disciples came to Him privately and asked, “Why could we not cast him out?”  Jesus’ response, “Because of your unbelief. Howbeit, this kind (of demon) will come out by nothing but by prayer and fasting!”  See it!  There are times when prayer alone doesn’t do the job!  This is when the gift of fasting comes in!}

                      ^{A few months ago, I awoke to a powerful, demonic attack; one of the worse I have ever known. It was a heavy oppression, seeking to suffocate my joy in the Lord.  This went on for days, and days into weeks.  I cried out to God, I examined my life!  I fed on Scriptures and surrounded myself with prayer partners.}

 ^{I am sure it all helped, but the demonic presence remained. The best way to describe it was a heavy oppression.  My mind was under constant attack!  Day after day I stayed before the Lord for His deliverance. I used the Word against the mental attacks and spoke the Word. I prayed the Word!  You cannot give in-you must fight!  You are promised victory, but victory comes after you battle!}

^{Then one day it dawned on me, it had been seven days since last time I had eaten!  The next day some family came in town and asked us out to dinner. Just before the waitress came my wife looked at me and asked, “Are you going to eat or are you going to fast until you get a breakthrough?”  Strangely, we had not discussed that I was fasting.  I heard in her words the Voice of the Holy Spirit asking the same question, “Are you going to fast until you get a breakthrough?”   I responded, “Until I get a breakthrough!”}

                

                     ^{On the tenth day I awoke to the light of the sun through my bedroom windows. “Oh no,’ I thought, ‘it’s 7am. I’ve overslept!”  But then an acute awareness of peace filled the room!  I realized the demonic oppressor was gone!  The demonic presence had been broken!  Isaiah 58 filled my thoughts, “…then shall your light break forth as the noon day!”  I knew, “God had done great things for my soul!”  Right fasting is a powerful gift of God!} 

                      ^{Right Fasting is about breakthrough!  It is about breaking the demonic control of your flesh and mind. It is about breaking through Satan’s deception about faith, finances and God’s future for you “so others may live!”}

                      ^{As you fast, ask the Holy Spirit to help you be honest to yourself and to Him in all the areas in your life that are not totally given to Him. Sometimes we find ourselves either ignoring or making excuses why we are not obedient to Him in every area of life.  These all become weapons the enemy uses against us.  That’s right, he uses us against us!  Make a list of these and pray over them each day asking Him to “open the eyes of your understanding.”} 

                      ^{You cannot overcome Satan’s lies on your own!  You need the Holy Spirit to reveal His truth to you!  God’s Word is Truth!  Read a chapter each day from the Gospel of John and as you do so, ask, “How does this apply to me?  What is the Holy Spirit speaking to me through this chapter?  What do I need to do with what God has shown me?”}  

                      ^{Remember what Jesus told us, “I am come that you might have life…”  He came-He gave up His life in Heaven and on earth “so others may live!”  So you may live!  Will you give up your life, as He did, so others may live?  You will never regret it!}

                      ^{Pray this prayer with me.  “Father, I want to walk with You and to give my life for You to use as You will.  It is so hard for me to let go and trust You. I know it is the right thing to do.  Holy Spirit, fill me with Your Spirit and with all might in my inner man that I might know with all God’s people the hope and assurance of walking and being led by your Holy Spirit each moment of every day. In Jesus Name, Amen!”}

21 Days of Fasting & Prayer- Day 2

^{Week one:  Day two}

  ^{Read Isaiah 58 silently and then aloud} 

  ^{Our study is focused on the effective power of right fasting, right faith, right finances and experiencing God’s right future for you-and for God’s right future for our Cornerstone family. Remember, God’s way is total transformation!.  Are you open to becoming “like Christ” in every area of life? Is your faith growing?  Are you ready for your faith to be challenged? Are you open for a total life and living transformation?  I pray so!  It will be a struggle, but it is a struggle worth facing so that God can use you “so others may live!”}

  ^{Before you begin, ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart to Him, to help you be receptive, and your understanding fruitful.  Read Isaiah 58 several times today. As you do so, He, the Holy Spirit will speak to you and reveal God’s will for you and in you. He will bring to light the hidden things of your heart that are holding you back from the life He has planned for you. Remember, right fasting is about discovering God’s desire, and by His help, giving all of us to Him till we become like Him!}

  ^{As you read Isaiah 58, tell the Holy Spirit that you want Him to show you the things you have knowingly, or unknowingly,  locked away and not dealt with. Get real with Him!  His goal is always your good!  Trust Him!}

  ^{Let’s pray this prayer together:  “Father, thank you for the tender, loving mercy that you have shown to me. I want to know You more, and for all of my life-every area of my life, totally surrendered to You.  Holy Spirit, I need Your help to fast the right way. I need You to teach me how to walk in right faith. Open the eyes of my spirit to a right understanding about money and what the “true treasures are!” According to Jeremiah 29,  I believe You have the right plan and future prepared for me “so others may live!” In Jesus Name, Amen”}

21 Days of Fasting & Prayer- Day 1

^{Week One:  Day one}

^{“What is Fasting? Why do it? How do you do it ‘right?’ How long should I fast? What do I fast?”}

                      ^{To fast is to do without food for a period of time for the purposes of seeking a deeper more intimate relationship with God, or bringing your flesh in submission to your spirit. Others fasted when they were facing overwhelming enemy attacks and others during drought.  Still, other fast occurred when individuals, and or nations, needed Divine Guidance and protection.  There have even been fast recorded in the Scripture for breaking the spiritual bondage of poverty.}

   ^{Our fast is focused on the life-transforming power of right fasting, right faith, right finances and walking in God’s right future for you-and for our Cornerstone family may use us to reach others, “So others may live!”  “So others may live!” is the message God has given Cornerstone to focus upon!}

                     ^{It is very important to have a purpose for your fast.  Your flesh will battle your obedience to fasting.  Your mind will give you reason after reason ‘why’ you cannot fast. The great lie is, “If God wanted me to fast He would make it easy or easier for me to do so!”  Do not give in to the lie!  Satan knows when you discover and experience the powerful weapon of right fasting that he has lost the first of many battles.}

                     ^{Right fasting is not only the separating yourself from food but also the “pleasures” of life that feed your earthly life but devour your spiritual life, hinder your faith devour your finances and impede what God wants to do through you!  For example, during this fast, turn off any television programs that do not feed your spirit.  Except for work- related issues, deny your cravings to search the web, Facebook, unnecessary phone calls or texting. Right fasting denies your flesh the right to rule!}

                     ^{Make the most of every opportunity to feed your spirit on God’s word!  I suggest the Gospel of John as a good beginning place. Listen to uplifting Christian music and ‘sing along!”  The Holy Spirit uses Christ adoring music to prepare our hearts and minds.}

                      ^{How long should you fast?  That depends on several things. If you have never fasted before, I suggest you begin by setting aside one meal a day for three days.  Then go to two meals a day for three days. Then go a full day from sun down to sundown.  Others may vary their fast by alternating days of eating. Others may set aside a total three-day fast or even for a longer period of time. Drink plenty of fluids!}

  ^{If you have physical issues, such as diabetes, consult your physician for guidance. If a physical condition does not allow you to fast food then fast the other things in your life that consume your time, finances and God’s intended future for you!.}                                                                              

                       ^{You may choose what has been called the “Daniel Fast.”  (see Daniel 11)  In this fast a person eats only vegetables and water for a period of time.  Some who have experience in fasting may choose a ‘total’ fast of nothing but liquids for the period of time.  Please remember, it is about feeding your spirit the Word of God, introspection, revelation, worship and prayer, as well as, denying your flesh the right to rule!  You will probably find fasting technology even more difficult than fasting food!}

                     ^{Read Isaiah 58 several times today. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you grace and help to prepare you to say “No” to your flesh and mind and “Yes” to fasting for a higher purpose.  As you enter this fast, ask the Holy Spirit to work in and with you “so others may live!”  A life well lived is one that “lays it down” so “others may live!”} 

                     ^{Let’s pray. “Father, my flesh fights Your will, even though I know it is always the right course.  Help me, by Your Holy Spirit and the Word of God, to bring my flesh into submission that my today and future may be lived in such a way as to glorify You and so “others may live!”   In Jesus Name, Amen!”}

Fear Not!- Part 4

Fear Not: Your Promise Will Be Fulfilled! 

 
Gen 35:6-20
6 And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. 17 And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also. 18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. 19 And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. 20 And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.

How does a husband react in such a time? Do you grieve? Get angry? Blame God? Do you joyfully pass out cigars? Jacob has just watched the woman he worked 21 years for die giving birth to his son. For a moment it appeared to be in question if either would survive. Without knowing it, she was speaking prophetically, and true to her prophecy, the son was born-at the cost of his mother’s life!

Fair? Who can say, at least, who on this side of heaven? Rachael gave up her life to see what she desired come to pass. As cruel as this may seem, it is the way dreams become reality! Ever heard the old saying about waiting for my ship to come in?” The fulfillment of her dream meant the physical death of her earthly life. It changed everything for her, and for those about her. The birth of Benjamin changed the entire dynamic of the Jacob’s household. But fulfilled dreams do that! They change how we spend our time and here we spend our money. If our dreams do not modify our lives then we need to ask and believe God for something bigger-something life changing! Fear not, God is faithful. The end of one thing is the birth of a promise fulfilled!

Rev. John Watford

Lead Pastor

nbcornerstone.com

Fear Not!- Part 3

Fear Not Pt 3 Bullies Cannot Hinder Your Blessing!

The shepherd workers of Isaac, the son of promise to Abram, were being bullied by the locals. Each time they dug a well for water for Isaac’s sheep the locals would come and claimed them as their own. Time after time this occurred. It must have been frustrating. He had done them no wrong. I wonder if he was tempted to take matters in his own hands and “get even!” But he did not! He simply moved to another place and dug new wells. This must be an example of our Lord’s words, “Render not evil for evil but overcome evil with good!” Isaac committed himself to God’s care, and because he did, God took care of him. It was time to reward Isaac’s faithfulness and trust in God!

Gen. 26:23 From there he went up to Beersheba. 24 That very night God appeared to him and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father; don’t fear a thing because I’m with you. I’ll bless you and make your children flourish because of Abraham my servant.”

Compare what God gave to what Isaac gave up. He could have fought, argued and took vengeance but he didn’t. He kept a right spirit and in so doing God blessed him promising that He would take on His large shoulders the task of watching over Isaac and children yet to be born! Don’t give in to the temptation of fearing the actions of others. They cannot hinder the blessings of the Lord. They are test to pass, they are the means of advancement! Be blessed and “Fear Not!”

Rev. John Watford

Lead Pastor

nbcornerstone.com

Fear Not!- Part 2

Fear Not! God hears you from where you are!

Gen. 21:7And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, “What ails you, Hagar? Fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.”

The story of Hagar is a sad saga of mistreatment, abuse, and abandonment. She was a young Egyptian slave girl, forced by Sara, her owner, to have sex with her husband, Abraham. It is the first recorded surrogate pregnancy. It worked, but afterward things went downhill fast! Envy and the green eye of jealousy filled her heart. She began to abuse Hagar to the point Hagar and her young child fled into the desert.

The desert showed no mercy on Hagar or even on the little boy who cried out in thirst! What she did not realize that the same God Who watched over Abraham also watched over her and her son. “God has heard the voice of the lad where he is.” God hears us right where we are! He does not wait for us to come out of the desert before He hears us and provides for us! He hears the voice of the abused, the abandoned and the alone! Right where you are and right how you are God is listening for you to cry out to Him! Do not wait! Do not hesitate. Your Father hears your voice right where you are! Call out, He is listening and eager to help!

Rev. John Watford

Lead Pastor

nbcornerstone.com