First Fruits Fast begins
Today is the start of the 21 day First Fruit Fast for our church. This morning was an incredible service to launch the new year as well as the fast. God was in the room!
Our congregation is reading through the book of John for the next 21 days. A chapter each day; today is John 1.
This lept out to me when I read it…
John 1:10-12
10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
His own people rejected Him. wow!
Have things really changed that much over the years? I mean if Jesus were to walk into one of our services today, how would he be received? Would he be welcomed in our churches? Would he be invited into our circle of friends? Would we be concerned about how He is dressed or what he looks like or even the color of His skin?
I am blessed to be leading a fellowship of believers that is open and acceptive of whosoever walks in our doors. Sure we have our struggles and God is working on us. However, every week I am encouraged and thankful when I look across our congregation. There is a representation of all races and all walks of life. When we last surveyed, there were 33 nationalities represented in our congregation. One person recently commented, “this looks like heaven.”
We’ve still got a lot of work to do. God is molding us and continually making us into what He has planned and purposed for us. We’re not there yet…but we’re on our way.
My prayer is that we become so filled with the love of Christ, that when people walk in the front door, they sense the love of God. Before the songs are sung; before the message is shared; may people know that God is in the house simply by the love that we show towards others.
John 13:35 (New Living Translation)+++
Further reading on fasting.
Matthew 6:1-18 (New Living Translation)
“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. 2 When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3 But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
Teaching about Prayer and Fasting
5 “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
7 “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! 9 Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
may your name be kept holy.
10 May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today the food we need,[a]
12 and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
13 And don’t let us yield to temptation,[b]
but rescue us from the evil one.[c]
14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
16 “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. 17 But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. 18 Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
//PK
kevin.harris@lcog.cc http://kevinvharris.wordpress.com
PK,
I just clicked on your blog link via Plaxo and I wanted to say thanks! It is a really neat blog site. I’ll keep a check on you from time to time. I am listening to your sermon from Sunday as I try to dig out of the back log. Be blessed my brother!!
Earl