777 - SEVEN DAYS OF PRAYER (JULY 1-7, 2014)

DAY 6 (JULY 6, 2014):

TODAY: WHAT IS BIBLICAL FASTING?
TOMORROW (DAY 7 - RESTORATION)
As all students of Scripture know, Fasting is a biblical discipline, recognized in both Old and Testaments.  The old Bible heroes - from Moses, to Daniel to Ezra the Scribe to the Messiah Jesus Himself - fasted. Daniel fasted from the corrupt food of the pagans to show himself approved of the Lord. Though he ate a diet full of vegetables and water, the Lord allowed him to gain weight (for this purpose only). 

Ezra, the spiritual leader of the Return from the Babylonian Exile, found that things were needed to correct the direction his people were going in and he said in Ezra 8:21 "Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods." We see a specific reason for his corporate fast in this verse and it should serve as the guiding post for us, on this day as we prepare to fast across America and the world for Seven (7) hours on July 7, 2014 or 7/7/14.

Here is why Ezra proclaimed his fast for the returning Hebrews (from Ezra 8:21):
- To seek a safe journey for the people and their possessions
- To seek the protection of God rather than that of man (read verse 22 here)-
- To show his humility.

This is a solid reason to fast. Christians today are under increasing bondage and persecution around the world and here at home in the US. Now is the time to humble ourselves and seek God's Hand of Protection rather than the promises of politicians, and quite frankly - even those of the majority of preachers. Fasting is the best first step in humility before the Lord as by doing so, we are willingly telling Him we love Him more than that meal(s) or thing or distraction which sometimes put Him in second place in our daily lives.

Fasting is for our benefit because it is by fasting, after we have temporarily surrendered that portion of our lives which we love the most, we are then reprogrammed to be tuned into the high frequency transmission from Heaven. In my own life, I know that Fasting has brought revelation of Spiritual things and events, which I do not speak about publicly. Fasting brings healing from past hurts.
Fasting brings restoration of our relationship with God, through Christ, as fasting also brings Repentance to the fore, more prominently that in normal times. The reason for this is Fasting lays our spiritual condition bare, so that the Holy Spirit now has free and unfettered access to minister to us, in correction and revelation, BECAUSE we are now open to the discipline and direction of the Lord.

So how does one fast when you have never done so and how do we answer folks who said "the Bible never told me to fast"..."that was old Testament" etc. Well, Jesus did say “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you (Matthew 6:16-18).

Therefore, the first thing we do in fasting is not to post in on Facebook and Twitter or boast to your friends. 
The second thing is - clean up - physically and if you need to, throw out all questionable books, movies, music etc from your home. 
Third - prepare to meet the Lord in a special way, but anointing your own head with oil, as some of us do and then begin praise and worship and preferably - getting on your face for as long as it takes or as long as you can. Then pray the Scriptures back to Abba Father.

Father in the Strong Name of Jesus I thank You for the discipline of Fasting, which though not commanded in the Law and the Book of the Law, is necessary for Your people to get even closer to you than before! I thank You that You have strengthened us in the inner man to be able to turn aside from the ways and wiles of the world to the Wonder and Wisdom of Jesus Christ 

Lord, when we think of Jesus in the Wilderness being tempted by the evil one and going without for forty days and nights...when we think of Moses on Sinai getting the Law from You for those long periods of time, we realize that You are our Bread, You are our Life, You are our Food. There is no other. This body may need sustenance in the natural, but in the Supernatural, all we need is You!

Father, as we fast together for 7 hours on 7/7/2014, may our prayers of repentance and pleas of Restoration for first,  our fellow Christians worldwide and secondly, our country, rise up to You as an aroma, pleasing to the Lord. Help us to prepare our hearts, minds, bodies and souls for a powerful divine encounter that we may be empowered to then proceed and do the Work of the Kingdom, with urgency and power, in Jesus' Strong and Holy Name, amen.

777 - SEVEN DAYS OF PRAYER (JULY 1-7, 2014)

DAY 5 (JULY 5, 2014):

DELIVER US FROM EVIL

The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen... (2 Timothy 4:18 ESV).

The popular cultural and societal notion is "there really is no evil" in this world. Even those in the liberal mainlines churches  refuse to come to terms that there is a devil - Satan - who is the accuser of the saints seeks to kill, steal and destroy. The atheist and the liberal deny the existence of evil for a simple reason. That reason is, to accept the existence of evil, one has to accept the existence of Good....and Who is Good? God is good!

Those who are under the oppression of evil know it exists. They know it in the Christian towns of the Islamic Middle Eastern Countries, in Pakistan, throughout Africa where hordes are rampaging through Christian countries. The persecuted know that evil is not just those who suffered under Stalin, Hitler, Castro, Mao and Pol Pot. 

To deny the existence of evil, and blame "society, or capitalism or democracy", is easier than recognizing that our own sin opens us up to be brought down and put in spiritual bondage by evil.  This sort of thinking prevents many from coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and it remains an obstacle to most professing Christians, who accept the defeat of the devil. Both sets of people are outside of the Victory which God, through Christ, provides in the following:

Romans 8:31-39:

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

LET US PRAY:

Most Holy and Righteous Father in Heaven, our Help in ages past and our Hope in years to come, be Thou our guide while life shall last and our Eternal protector from the wiles of the evil one. Father, You, through the Mighty Son - Jesus Christ - rescued us from the dominion of darkness, set our feet upon a rock - the Rock of Christ - and put a new song in our heart, and saved us out of the pit. Father, we know that we are victorious because of the Cross and are under the protection of Heaven.

Holy Father, we also know we are under the attack and accusations of the evil one who desires not just to fall, but failing that, to keep us distracted from you. Father, entire generations have been lost to the kingdom in the recent past because we have confused works for worship and self-praise with prayer.

Your church, which Your Son gave His life for, has gone silent, ineffective and even corrupt. Because we have failed You as a Body and a unit, we have failed in our mission to keep our families together, our towns and cities together, our country together and as a result, both the culture and the country now stand in Judgment of You. 

By doing almost nothing, saying nothing and even conforming to this latter day evil, those who call themselves by Your Name are a defeated  and ineffective bunch themselves. For that, I repent, oh God. I see Your forgiveness and ask that You not just keep us from Temptation but deliver us from the wiles and cunning of the Accuser. I pray that You, from Your High and Lofty Throne in Heaven, look down upon us, send Your angels to watch over us to keep us from getting blinded-side. I pray that You not just build strong fortresses around our families and homes, but that You build a wall of fire around our hearts that our love for You will growing stronger and stronger and never grow old or cold.

Lord, we thank You that You are our standard-bearer and is always there for us when we call on You. We love You, praise You and worship and adore You and ask Your Mighty Hand upon us as we rest in the very shadow of Your Mighty Wings, in Jesus Strong and Mighty Name, amen.

777 - SEVEN DAYS OF PRAYER STARTS TODAY (JULY 1-7, 2014)

DAY ONE (JULY 1, 2014):
When Anne Graham Lotz (daughter of the great Evangelist Billy Graham) introduced 777 - "An Urgent Call to Prayer",  it marked the first national call to Prayer and Repentance from any national recognized ministry or church leader in a long time. For troubled times like these, this Call could not be any more timely.

While prayer is beneficial to a people and for the personal growth of those called by God, it remains the only line of Communication from the created to our Creator God in Heaven. Prayer still remains the only way we build our love and relationship with Abba Father above. Prayer has been given to us as the modus operandi to enhance our fellowship with "oh, what a Friend we have in Jesus". Prayer still remains the only way to seek forgiveness for our sins -personal and corporate - and to be forgiven by the Father and Judge of the Universe.

Anne Graham Lotz laid out these three purposes as we proceed as individuals to deepen our prayer life and strengthen our walk with Jesus Christ, over these next seven days:

·     For God the Father to restrain, protect, and deliver His people from the evil that has come into our world.

·     For God the Son to be exalted, magnified, and glorified in His church, in our nation, and in our lives.

·     For God the Holy Spirit to fall on us in a fresh way, compelling the church to repent of sin and our nation to return to faith in the living God, resulting in a great national spiritual awakening.

These are worthwhile objectives to keep in mind, but as we begin any prolong period of focused prayer, as we have done several times in recent years on this blog - THE WRITE STUFF - we MUST begin by acknowledging His Sovereignty, His Majesty and His Power.

So as we begin this brief journey together, let us worship His Majesty:
Father God, in Jesus Strong and Mighty Name, I say like Job (Chapter 42) did “I know that You can do everything, that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted." You are all Powerful, all Magnificent, all Glorious, all Knowing, all Sovereign and all Righteous.

Lord, Your Power and Glory has been seen for all generations for all times. You are the Creator and Commander of the Universe. You are the Foundation of Time and the Diviner of All Truth. Nothing came into being or was or is or will be unless YOU, My Father, said so. Nothing lives or dies or flourishes, unless YOU, My Father, grant grace, breath and life according to Your Perfect Will and Wonder.

There is no one greater than You.

There is no one stronger than You.

There is none more righteous than You.

There is none more Holy than You.

There is none like You. 

Therefore Most Holy and Righteous  Father, and as Job said in verse 6 (Chapter 42), I detest myself and my sin and repent in dust and ashes. I am not worthy to be in Thy Holy Presence. I am like filthy rags and have become undone, as Isaiah was when he saw the King. I am a man of unclean lips. We are people of unclean lips and unwashed hearts and yet, You still listen and love and grant us life and liberty.

Lord, I acknowledge You, adore You, glorify and thank You. I worship and bow down before You and praise You Holy Name, on this blessed day You have given. Father in addition to our daily conversations with You, may these next seven days be an extra offering from us, Your people, as we cry out to You for a special dispensation, for such a time as this, in Jesus Holy and Most Powerful Name, amen.