Sorrow or Joy?
Matthew 9:14 Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?”
John the Baptists disciples ask this great question. Basically, those of us who have bought on to this God stuff starve our flesh often. We seek to be more in tune to God and suppress out carnal appetites. That sounds right to me! Defiantly not wrong to fast. But its how & why you fast that matters. Fasting is a time to clear the worldly distractions, something they did do well, but also fill your life & mind with Gods directions, something they didn't do well. The purpose of denial of flesh isn't negative but to be positive. I have found, the greatest moments of my experiences with God came through my fasts. I actually am more sensitive to His Spirit, I hear Him clearly, and all that brings great Joy to my life. I cant be depressed and sour faced when this is achieved! This only happens when I am now in Gods presence! Thus Jesus' answer, with a question:
15 And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. 17 Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”
If Jesus seems distant to me, if God is silent on issues, I must fast. I need to get to that place the LORD & I are close. When the LORD has cleared up my confusion, and I am experiencing Him, when He is so close to me, I don't need to fast any longer. I simply need to bask in His presence and obey His word. In Jesus, Joy, away from Jesus, well, fast & get back there.
John the Baptists disciples ask this great question. Basically, those of us who have bought on to this God stuff starve our flesh often. We seek to be more in tune to God and suppress out carnal appetites. That sounds right to me! Defiantly not wrong to fast. But its how & why you fast that matters. Fasting is a time to clear the worldly distractions, something they did do well, but also fill your life & mind with Gods directions, something they didn't do well. The purpose of denial of flesh isn't negative but to be positive. I have found, the greatest moments of my experiences with God came through my fasts. I actually am more sensitive to His Spirit, I hear Him clearly, and all that brings great Joy to my life. I cant be depressed and sour faced when this is achieved! This only happens when I am now in Gods presence! Thus Jesus' answer, with a question:
15 And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. 17 Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”
If Jesus seems distant to me, if God is silent on issues, I must fast. I need to get to that place the LORD & I are close. When the LORD has cleared up my confusion, and I am experiencing Him, when He is so close to me, I don't need to fast any longer. I simply need to bask in His presence and obey His word. In Jesus, Joy, away from Jesus, well, fast & get back there.
Recent
Archive
2025
January
New StartWalking Worthy of the CallingWhy Leave the Grace of God?Abasing or Abounding in ChristGod Delights in His Children Coming HomeHow Can I Be Like Jesus?Godly Desire Leads us to Glorify GodJust So You Know, God Loves YouTurn From & Turn ToBeing Led By ScriptureA Call to ReasonOur Actions MatterWhy Did Jesus Need to be Baptized?Father, Son, & Holy Spirit
2024
January
Long winded PreachingDifficult Callings are still CallingsA whole Bible makes a Whole ChristianPurchased by His Blood.Am I a Giver or TakerDirection or Information by the Holy SpiritIm Set to Join My LORDLook, focus on these thingsSame Steps as Jesus' trialThe Power of a Personal TestimonyChosen to Know, See, & Hear GodKeep it Simple, PRAYDon't trust this worlds systemsWisdom among EnemiesLORD stood by meKill Paul or die tryingDon't Put Jesus OffThe Resurrection is Mind blowingCrazy or SoundHow Powerful is Gods WordFight Conventional wisdomGod, why go through this storm?My Pain is Your Gain
February
What Shall I Do In Rome?Our Roots as GentilesStay at Home JobExperiencing Gods WordHow do I become Wise?Simplicity isnt always goodTrust in your LORDGods CommandGenuine FaithTeaching Sound DoctrineEmpowered by the SpiritChrist' MissionFight the Good Fight of FaithAvoiding a Titanic DisasterMen's Spiritual DutyJesus Is GodJesus is LightThe Great Shama
March
God Directs my ordersJesus Came According to the ScripturesFaith the World hearsGiving to God is personalHow to PrayTo Whom do you pray to?Holy is His name.Gods will be done nowReveal Your Word to us todayYou forgive us & we forgive othersDeliver Us From evilForgive because you've been forgivenHow do I Fast?What does your heart treasure?Does Your Eye lead You in Light?You Cant Serve Two MastersTriumphal EntryMonday Passion WeekTuesday Passion WeekWednesday Passion WeekThursday Passion WeekFriday Passion WeekSaturday Passion WeekResurrection Sunday
April
Seek the Kingdom of GodLive dont worry about tomorrowAre We To Judge Or Not?Ask, Seek, KnockThe Golden RuleEnter the narrow gateBe a Fruit InspectorBut Does the LORD Know Me?Is Jesus Your Foundation?Teaching Like I've never HeardIs Jesus willing?A Gentiles Great FaithMom will be just fine with JesusHave you counted the cost of following Jesus?Faith over FearGoTrue Faith Can Be Seen"Follow Me" JesusJesus eats with sinners?Sorrow or Joy?Worshiping the LORD
Categories
no categories
No Comments