Friday, February 3, 2012

Fasting Provokes Greater Obedience (fasting series)

You can't be in the presence of Jesus without being changed. You cannot spend two hours in prayer without being changed. You cannot fast in the Spirit and not be changed. Simple fact, God changes us. He doesn't just change our thinking but our heart as well. As he changes our thinking, perspective and heart we in turn change our actions. There is no possible way that we can be in a relationship with Jesus, obedient to the Spirit and then not allow the Word of God to affect us. If we do not allow it to affect us we are lying when we say that we love Jesus.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. (James 1:22-25) 

Do you want to know what is so great about fasting? It strips us of all the lies and leaves us in a place where we are honest before our LORD God Almighty. We see how bloated we were and as we are emptied of all the baggage that had us puffed up we realize the simple truth of it: if we really love Jesus we will be obedient to what he has told us. Simple. It's about obedience.

If you love me, keep my commands. (John 14:15)

It's about hearing his voice and responding. It's about hearing his voice from the Word of God and doing what we are told. It's about being open and desiring the conviction and direction of the Holy Spirit, never considering yourself and just doing it. Just do it. That's what it is about.

You say you love Jesus. How much? Enough to obey?

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