I haven't written in a while and I guess that has to do with the fact that I didn't know what to write. I have thought about my blog often and what inspiring powerful message I can type up to encourage the masses. But maybe my goals are too exaggerated. Not impossible but possibly not God's plan for me right now. I listened to a sermon by a man named David Asscherick. He talked about a man in the Bible named Andrew. Andrew is Simon Peter's brother. Throughout the sermon, it was explained that Andrew was mostly known for being Simon Peter's brother, not for any fantastic miracle he performed. But the few occasions Andrew's name comes up, he is seen bringing someone to Jesus. And this is what matters. Not everyone is meant to be famous like Simon Peter or John the Baptist. But even we can make an impact in someone's life by doing as Andrew did and bring people to Jesus.
As I started this post, I had no idea what I was going to write about. The Lord has lead my fingers to type the words you see here. Though this blog may never make it to top news and have a million views, I hope this blog brings you to Jesus. Have a blessed day!
Blessings
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Prayer and Fasting
It has been impressed on me that I need to fast. There are several accounts in the Bible were fasts took place and spiritual blessings came out of this. I am not very familiar with fasting, how it is done, for how long, why and what kind (food fast, fast from certain activities etc). Still ignorant to the answers of these many questions, I'd like to share a bit of what I do know from what I have come across in my research.
Fasting is a way to become closer to God. It is not meant for the body to be punished but for one to deny one's fleshly needs to focus on spiritual life with Christ. And many gifts come out of fasting. One example that I would like to point out spoke volumes to me. In the time period when the book of Acts was written, the Word had not gone out to the Gentiles just yet. The disciples of Christ were preaching to the Jews. After Stephen beautifully gave his life for the Lord, Acts chapter 10 introduces an Italian man by the name of Cornelius. This man is called "devout and one who feared God". Acts 10.30-32 tells us, "So Cornelius said, 'Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God.'" Cornelius had been fasting and his prayer was answered. The angel commanded Cornelius to have his men go get Peter. While this was taking place, Peter received a vision that instructed him to eat unclean meats. When Peter's vision was over, Cornelius' men came to Peter to bring him to the house of Cornelius. It was here that Peter preached to an Italian. Peter understood that the vision instructed him to not only preach to the Jews (symbolized by the clean meats) but to the gentiles as well (the unclean meat) and he said to Cornelius in Acts 10.28 "Then he said to them, 'You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.'"
What an amazing story! Through prayer and fasting, Cornelius and his family received the Word of God from Peter himself, the Holy Spirit and baptism on that day. This is an awesome spiritual blessing that was the result of prayer and fasting. Another example that comes to mind is a time when the disciples of Christ were casting demons out of those who were taunted by them but had difficulty with one such person. Jesus was able to exercise the demons out. When the disciples asked why they could not, he replied in Mark 9.29 "So He said to them, 'This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.'” Incredible! Only by fasting and prayer can one have the power to cast difficult demons out.
Prayer and fasting is definitely important for a Christian and their walk with Christ. The many gifts that come from fasting is so beneficial. Fasting was done in the Bible when an important decision had to be made or done (Esther asking the people to pray for her before she spoke to the King), to pray for a particular thing (David praying that his child would not be killed for his sin) and many other reasons.
I want to and need to fast, as it has been impressed on me to do for so long. But because I don't know much about this process, does anyone have guidance on this subject and how it should be done? I would greatly appreciate it. I hope you all vow to fast for the Lord!
Blessings
Fasting is a way to become closer to God. It is not meant for the body to be punished but for one to deny one's fleshly needs to focus on spiritual life with Christ. And many gifts come out of fasting. One example that I would like to point out spoke volumes to me. In the time period when the book of Acts was written, the Word had not gone out to the Gentiles just yet. The disciples of Christ were preaching to the Jews. After Stephen beautifully gave his life for the Lord, Acts chapter 10 introduces an Italian man by the name of Cornelius. This man is called "devout and one who feared God". Acts 10.30-32 tells us, "So Cornelius said, 'Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God.'" Cornelius had been fasting and his prayer was answered. The angel commanded Cornelius to have his men go get Peter. While this was taking place, Peter received a vision that instructed him to eat unclean meats. When Peter's vision was over, Cornelius' men came to Peter to bring him to the house of Cornelius. It was here that Peter preached to an Italian. Peter understood that the vision instructed him to not only preach to the Jews (symbolized by the clean meats) but to the gentiles as well (the unclean meat) and he said to Cornelius in Acts 10.28 "Then he said to them, 'You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.'"
What an amazing story! Through prayer and fasting, Cornelius and his family received the Word of God from Peter himself, the Holy Spirit and baptism on that day. This is an awesome spiritual blessing that was the result of prayer and fasting. Another example that comes to mind is a time when the disciples of Christ were casting demons out of those who were taunted by them but had difficulty with one such person. Jesus was able to exercise the demons out. When the disciples asked why they could not, he replied in Mark 9.29 "So He said to them, 'This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.'” Incredible! Only by fasting and prayer can one have the power to cast difficult demons out.
Prayer and fasting is definitely important for a Christian and their walk with Christ. The many gifts that come from fasting is so beneficial. Fasting was done in the Bible when an important decision had to be made or done (Esther asking the people to pray for her before she spoke to the King), to pray for a particular thing (David praying that his child would not be killed for his sin) and many other reasons.
I want to and need to fast, as it has been impressed on me to do for so long. But because I don't know much about this process, does anyone have guidance on this subject and how it should be done? I would greatly appreciate it. I hope you all vow to fast for the Lord!
Blessings
Testimony Time
God is so great and He still grants us miraculous blessings. I want to thank God for blessing me with acceptance into George Washington University! This is a challenging school to enter. My GRE scores were not that great and I even applied last minute. I attempted the application fully aware that I wasn't going to make it but just giving it a shot to see what happened. To my utter surprise, God had something in mind for me that I would have never expected. I am still in shock and trying to piece together my current situation. I have some guidance now as to what my future will hold and I am overwhelmingly joyful. I pray too that you will be blessed with a miracle and that you will give the glory to God for it.
Peace and Blessings
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