Weak Foundations!
This morning the Lord shared something with me to write about. It is something that is troublesome yet at the same time it is a revelation like no other and the solution to everything.
In America we are lazy gluttons! We accept what we hear but only the few read and pray seeking God for them self. I believe people’s hearts long to be right but they are just following their leaders. According to some stats, that my pastor used, the average Christian prays 2-5 minutes a day! The average Pastor prays less than 10 minutes a day! We think everything is fine because we are doing what everyone else is doing! IT’S NOT!
We wonder why ministries are not working, why people are not getting saved, why churches are becoming spiritually dead, why America is falling away from God. It’s because we have the “I” attitude! We believe that it’s us doing the work, it’s us leading worship, it’s us doing outreach, it’s us trying to make a difference, it’s ALL ABOUT US! It’s not intentional, most are just following their leader but when we do not pray and fast we are moving God from the equation.
We go into ministries, outreaches, church services, without laying a foundation of prayer and fasting! The problem is He is the Answer. Fasting+ (Prayer) 2= God’s Foundation. There are no words of man that can change a heart of a man, only Jesus can! What words of man can convict a heart? How can a man allow the Holy Spirit to speak through him when he prays 2-10 minutes a day! How can GOD accomplish ANYTHING without us laying a solid foundation first! Jesus says in Matthew 7:24-27,
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
We are building our Foundations for our lives, ministries, churches, and families on SAND! We wonder WHY IT CRUMBLES every time the wind blows!!! Can we say Satan is attacking us, NO we have to see that it is our LAZINESS and lack of compassion and love for Christ that is keeping us from our knees and crying out to God on behalf of the lost, the brokenhearted, the drug addicts, the prostitutes, the pimps, the depressed, the poor, the oppressed, the battered, the molesters, the homosexuals, the liars, the brothers and sisters who stir trouble between people(Proverbs 6:16-19), and EVERYONE else who is dying and going to HELL!
In Daniel 6, we see Daniel getting down on his knees asking God to help in his time of distress! His life was being threatened because he would not worship Darius, what did he do? HE PRAYED 3 times a day to God!!! Trusting in the Lord through prayer, he was brought out of lion’s den and into prosperity!
In Daniel 9, we see Daniel crying out to God and fasting for the deliverance of Israel! He didn’t just go and start TRYING to deliver them himself!! HE PRAYED AND FASTED AND WAITED ON THE LORD!
In the first several books of Psalms we read David’s prayers to God, his heart cried out to God every time he sinned, in repentance! He cried out to God in Prayer every time his life was in danger, and he praised God when things were good! David, God said was a man after His own heart! 1 Samuel 13:14.
All through the Gospels we see Jesus praying and fasting! This is Christ in which we are to be like! Our actions, our speech, our habits, everything about us should be a mirror to the world reflecting Jesus Christ our Savior! If he prayed and fasted all the time, how much more should we pray!!!
In Acts 1:1-9 we see Saul fasting 3 days for deliverance! He went forth as Paul and became one of the apostles of Christ.
In Acts 10 we see a praying Gentile and seeking God, you see Peter praying and then you see God move!
In Acts 13 we see Paul and Barnabas praying and fasting before being sent to preach the Gospel!
These are just a few of the references and examples we see of the importance of prayer and fasting! There are so many more, and if you believe the Bible to be the Literal Living Word of God, you have to see the importance of Prayer and Fasting! We can only FIGHT through prayer! “We wrestle not against flesh and blood but but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12. How can you expect to break spiritual strongholds alone if you are not seeking God and praying and fasting! We fight through praying in faith!
Where is your heart, do you have anguish for the lost? Do you weep before the Lord? God is so beautifully awesome! His Love and Mercy are new every morning, Lamentations 3:22-24! Search your heart and ask yourself are you really seeking God? Is He really your Best Friend? Then be honest with Him…Francis Chan says (paraphrased), tell Him God I do not love you like I should BUT I long to! I don’t hate the things you hate but I want to, I do not love the things you love but I want to, please Lord change my heart! I alone cannot do it but you can!
Come near to God and He will come near to you! His presence is sweet and His love is overwhelming! He is calling you to Him, to commune with Him. Rise up men and women of God and become a man of prayer and woman of prayer! You want to shake the foundations of Hell, Pray! You want revival, Pray! You have to Pray!!! Seek Jesus!!!
He wants to you use you!! You just have to ask Him to mold your heart and life into something He can use!
2 Chronicles 16:9
“For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him…”
