Fasting To Understand God's Will – Jason Hirsch

The purpose of fasting and prayer is to bring our world in line with God’s will — to introduce and interpose His rule over our will, flesh and any influence of evil.

I taught on this topic last Sunday as we continued “The Awakening” series at EpicChurchlv.org.  I am not an expert on the topic, but I wanted to do an upfront recap of what I shared.  I will share some of the other things tomorrow.

Fasting and prayer is not about trying to manipulate God to do our will.  It is about bringing our world in line with His will.

We should never exalt our will above God’s will.

There are certain things we know about God’s will that give us confidence when we pray.

The two I really targeted that God has worked on with me is:  1.  Fellowship (Community) with Christ followers. I shared how I believe we have bought into cultural clicks and can often sit next to people we know nothing about.  If the church is to prevail, it must start walking across rooms to care about others and get to know them (believers and non).  Christ followers must rearrange their lives to place true biblical fellowship at a higher level than it now sits at.  2.  Giving. Yes I shared my heart about how so many that claim to be a Christ follower do not give a dime to the local church.  Very sad!  Some do not care.   Others do, but there in such financial bondage that they have no margin to give first fruits, let alone help the poor and needy.  If this trend continues on with our church, as well as other church’s, it will render the church – dead in the water.  I will not belabor this, because I realize that people will not truly worship a God they do not know.  They will not give to a God they do not trust.  They will not serve a Father they do not love.  I can preach tell I am blue in the face, but until the Holy Spirit changes the hearts of people, all I can do is till the soil.  I am tilling, but God will cause the growth.  I am optimistic and passionate like no other time in my life.  To those of you that are honoring God with you resources –  way to know, show, and go the way of being obedient to your Father’s will.  Spur on your younger brothers and sisters in the Lord!!

Those are two areas that God has spoken to me about.  They are not just Jason’s will.  God wills that people Fellowship and that people surrender their Resources into His care.  That is obedience!  That is part of His will!!

I have come to the conclusion that the greatest earmark of true Christ followers is:  Their ability to bring their first fruits to their local church.  And their willingness to leave margin for causes like Haiti.  Think I am wrong?  Jesus spoke more about our money than any other topic.  You can no longer call yourself a Christ follower and live in blatant disobedience in this area that is very dear to the Father.  I do not need your money, but your Heavenly Father lovingly wants your heart and  from that flows everything else in your life.

How will all the above change?  The Church (Christ Followers), must return to reading the Bible.  The primary resource to know your heavenly Fathers will is – THE BIBLE (God’s Word and Will to you).  You can never apply what you do not know.  And you can never stay focused on you Fathers will without continually having it put in your face.  Why?  Vision leaks!  With a culture on information overload, the greatest thing the church can do now is:  return to God’s Word.  God loves you, and the world needs you to express it.  Eternity is in the balance for so many.  Come on!