Today's Devotion- A time to fast

Jer 36:9. . .a time of fasting before the Lord was proclaimed for all the people. . .NIV

Dan 9:3So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. NIV

The bible has recorded many fasting moments that can give us idea to proclaim a time of fasting. Again, every zealous christian fast on a regular basis as part of their expression of faithful obedience to the lord. I remember the days when , I was seeking God and asking Him; how can I finished well in this faith walk and scape the snares of the devil who has done havoc in the church specially in the lives of those who serve Him. His answer to me was "Set a day of Fasting". So since the year 1997 when I learn to fast I keep it part of my life and ministry. I personally do a day a week fas,t or 3 days monthly fast and an annual fast with leaders who wants to join. Allowing others to join me started in Laoag Ilocos Norte, when they take notice of the day of fasting. Up to this days our pastors and leaders their are doing it even without us. Till this day, in this place and time we fast for His glory and for our good!!! When do we need to fast then; Here are some of reasons;

1. If you want to submit your will to God. submit to fast
2. If you want to keep overcoming the temptation of the enemy.
3. If you want to hear His voice in a clearer way as to understand His word as He mean it.
4. If you want to minister with signs and wonders
5. If you want to be guided by Him in making decisions,specially on major ones.
6. If you believed you are called to served Him in the ministry, specially in full time.
7. If you just simply want to be closer to Him until He return.
8. If you really want to be dead in your self and let Christ live in you.
9. If you notice that old habit, old carnal behavior is showing up again, time to fast
10. If you want to avoid spiritual emptiness and dryness, fast

Well my friends, fasting is the greatest act to show our commitment and willingness to follow Jesus. Without fasting other things He would require will become difficult. While if we have a life with fasting and prayer, everything willbe in His hand!

God bless and enjoy the privilege to fast! The time has come, lets set the time to fast!

Till next time!!!

Bong

Today's Devotion-Benefits of Fasting

Matt 9:15. . . The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast. NIV

As mentioned the other day, that fasting is innate to the christian practice, it's not for no reason though. Every fast-er knows that there are many benefits in fasting. To name some;

1. Physical benefits of fasting (with water)
a.) Its cleanses the lungs, providing a baby kind of breath to the fast-er.
b.) It dissolves body toxins- cleansing the skin, kidney and the whole body system. (specially in 3 days fast).-Resulting to a baby kind of skin.
c.) Loose of weight for the over weight and gain weight for under weight, (depending on how you break the fast).

2. Spiritual Benefit of Fasting;
a.) Spiritual conciousness on the higher level than the physical.
b.) Bring heart in a genuine repentance
c.) Becoming more sensitive to the presence of God.(can hear God more clearly)
d.) Fruit and gifts of the Spirit becomes more visible and manifesting than normal.
e.) Advancing spiritual maturity. (3 days is equivalent to 3 years advancement)

Well, other person, will say other and more results and benefits as they fast.
The things shared here are more on my personal experience and with reference to an old book titled "Fast and Accelerate". just forgot the writer.

Any way, we, fast not because of its benefits as the primary reason, we fast, because its part of the command of Jesus to be done by His followers!

So, benefits are just an added encouragement to do so!!!

God bless and enjoy your regular fast and its benefits!!!

Till next time!

Bong G

Today's Devotion-Biblical Fast

Joel 2:12'Even now,' declares the Lord,'return to me with all your heart,with fasting and weeping and mourning.' NIV

Fasting is abstence from food to spend quality time in prayer to the Lord. Many biblical characters practiced Fasting while in prayer. The Lord Jesus did it so are His disciples. What are the different kind of biblical fast and its benefits? Basically fasting length depends on the purpose of the fasting;

1. One meal to one day Fast just a preparation
2. Three days Fast - surrender of will and dying to self
3. Daniels Fast -Eating no solid food for 21 days-Waiting upon the Lords Direction
4. Daniels Fast-Eating only vegetable-for self physical healing and health
5. Supernatural Fast-40 days no food with divine guidance and with God's supernatural presence.

Usually, fasting is a declaration of the one who fast except for the 40 days, where it suggest that there should be a divine leading to do it. (Moses, Jesus).

Other kind of fasting that early christian does are;

1. Sleep Fast
2. Marriage fast
3. Water fast

In our generation other adds,like TV fast, Phone and book fast. But whats importance in any fasting is that we were able to connect with God and received the acceptance, deliverance, transformation, revelation and other supernatural, spiritual intent of the fasting.

Again, we should do fasting according to our faith, conviction and purpose. God will honor our fasting only if its purpose is according to His will!

God bless and enjoy your prayer and fasting!
Till next time where I will be sharing the benefits of prayer will fasting!

Bong G

Today's Devotion-Pray and Fast

Isa 58:6Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:to loose the chains of injusticeand untie the cords of the yoke,to set the oppressed freeand break every yoke?NIV

Prayer and fasting is a normal practice of every zealous follower of God particularly those of Jesus Christ! It's part of their routine to keep their life in line with God's spirit moving and leading. We must then include this practice in our weekly if not daily schedule, so that we can always submit our will to God's will, hear His voice and follow His command. It will also give us more sensitivity to the working of the Holy Spirit and thn be used by Him to minister to others with love and power. During the early Christian era, Christian fast on Thursday to be distinct from the Jew who fast on friday in preparation for the sabbath. Today, we can fast on the best day of the week we can, but the gain of fasting is not by skipping the meal, but by what the word of God says, some of them are;

1. To loose th chain-deliverance and healing
2.To hear from God-meditation
3.To ask forgiveness-repentance

There are different kind of biblical fast. I will share that tommorrow!

God bless and till next time!

Bong

Today's Devotion- Sin Against The Holy Spirit

Matt 12:31-3231 And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. NIV

Its interesting to note that the Lord Jesus gave this statement about the unforgiven offense to the Holy spirit. I think this is what exactly what it means. There are many offense that we can commit against the Holy Spirit, but blasphemy to Him is the greatest, actually the unforgivable sin.

So, let us make all effort not to commit this sin against Him. What are the sin we can commit against the Holy Spirit? Some I could list are:

1. Grieving the Holy sirit
2. Quenching the Holy spirit
3. Suppressing the Holy Spirit
4. Resisting the Holy Spirit

But how can we commit blasphemy? In the context of the statement of Jesus, it seems that blasphemy can commit when we identify the Holy Spirit as a wicked spirit. The works of God as the works of satan. Or simply by judging the operation of the Holy spirit as of the devil. How can we know then that its of the Holy Spirit? Well, first it must be honoring Jesus Christ, it must be according to the word of God, the work must be done to lead man to honor God and not the vessel He used. And lastly, it must bring the peace, repentance, healing, deliverance,joy and salvaton as well as transformation to a person. So. lets allow the Holy Spirit to work through us or even to others. And if we are in doubt, beware that we judge it before we are sure of it, for we might find ourselves fighting against God the Spirit!

God bless and may the Holy Spirit manifest in us!!!

Till next time!

Bong G

Today's Devotion-Children of God by the Spirit

Rom 8:155 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."NIV

God revealed Himself as a Father not because He needs more children, but rather it is us; humanity that needs a Father. The word of God implies that there is only one begotten Son of God; Christ Jesus, who became man so that man can become the sons of God! In this truth, let us come in humility to Him as he open His arm to all of us, not to make us slaves or to forced us to do some laws to our dismay. But as children to whom the Father is giving all that He has even the privilege to have an eternal fellowship with Him as we follow His precepts!

The Holy Spirit testifies that we are the children of God as He dwells in us. Teaching and guiding us to please our Father, who did and does everything for our good! We have an open access to our Heavenly Fathers throne because of the redemptive work of Christ on the cross. No matter what we have done and will do, His grace is always sufficient for all of us. We can always call and approached Him calling Him "Abba" which means Father in our present language. It's gives us the assurance of acceptance, provision and protection.

For our ever present God is a Father heart God! Lets always come to His loving arm and enjoy rest in His loving presence. He have accepted us by His Son and sealed that acceptance by giving us the Holy Spirit making us children of God in whom we would share all the blessings of Chrsit the begotten Son of God! Some might say you're not a child anymore because of your sin, but it's not true for no matter what you have done His Father heart will not reject you! It won't change anything, but a true child always come humbly to the Father to find refuge, forgiveness and even acceptance avery time we fall! No one can separate us from the love of God in Christ! Rom 8:35-39. That's why His Spirit dwells in us!

Enjoy your day and rest assured your Father in Heaven watches over you!!!

Till next time!

Bong G.

Today's Devotion-Born of the Spirit

John 3:5-7 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. NIV

One of the great mystery of Christian faith is the born again experience. Misunderstood by many as a new religion, but the truth is, it is an experience, a birth of a new person to anyone who receives Christ as their Lord and Savior. (John 1:12). All men were born sinners and are all spiritually dead. No matter how we try to understand and seek God,without the born again experience we are searching infutility, but as His Holy Spirit gives birth to a new spirit in us, born of God not of the flesh but of the Spirit, we will again restore our lost communion and fellowship with Him. Its the start of seeing God's Kingdom exist, then we shall enter His Kingdom, His presence as we allow the maturity in spirit in us with the goal of the likeness of Christ.or in the day we go to Him by either death or rapture we shall be welcome to come in to His Kingdom. That's why, a born again Christian is a person who receives Christ as Lord and Savior, confessing his/her sin and living according to His word, guided by His spirit and enjoys the fellowship of the beloved!

As recipient of this grace, let us lived as really Kingdom citizen on tour to this temporary world, where we are in training to live for eternity as born of His Spirit! Let's lived according to His standard and according to His word not forgetting it's all by grace we are saved and not by our good works. Though good works are a life style of those who are born in Spirit as the fruit and gifts of the Spirit come to fruition in us!!!

God bless and enjoy being "Born of the Spirit"!

Till then!

Bong G.