Coffee With The Lord

I don’t often share something that is not mine… something that flows out of my own devotional life… Today is an exception. My dear friend Chad Germany​, effective missionary and the impetus of the Bihar project which “Coffee with the Lord” partners with (the mugs we sell and the “Coffee with the Lord” coffee we sell help fund a ministry training school in Bihar India) wrote the following excellent reflection on the power of fasting… I could not help but share it… GOOD STUFF… give it a read and then give it a try!

The idea of fasting is so ridiculous to the secular mind that many Christians never try, much less embrace, this critical Christian discipline. This is unfortunate because fasting and prayer is such an incredible combination.

I have unquestionable evidence that fasting works. Just one testimony- several years ago we were struggling to pay off the loan on a property we purchased for the church in Bihar. The Holy Spirit lead me to fast and pray for 3 days without food to ask God to meet this need. We had struggled for 3 years to pay off a $70,000 debt and made virtually no progress. We barely managed to pay the interest, much less pay down the principal.
Only my wife knew I was fasting and almost no one knew about the debt. On the second day of my fast I received a phone call about a donor giving $45,000 towards the loan. Within a month or so the entire loan was paid off. To this day it is mind blowing to me.

But God heard my prayer, and without asking anyone, people began approaching me and asking to give towards the project. That is the power of fasting.

Fasting should not be approached to make us Holy- only Jesus can do that, and he does that in response to our faith not our deeds.

Then what is the purpose of fasting. This is what I have discovered:

1. To humble us: the physical weakness that results from the absence of food is a stark reminder of how weak and frail we are, and how much we need God’s help.

2. To clarify out appetite: when we become so desperate to see God move in a situation that we desire His help more than physical food, God does not ignore that. He promises to reward those who hunger and thirst (pun intended) for righteousness. He promises not to ignore those who call on Him for help. Fasting does both of these things.

3. To express our trust in God: when we cease striving and begin waiting on God, it is the ultimate expression of faith. Someone said “When men work, God waits. When men pray, God works!” I have absolutely witnessed this first hand. In fact, when I fast it seems like God starts working in hyper-speed.

Frankly, I don’t enjoy the discomfort of fasting. But I find that God meets me in my weakness in such a rich and gracious way, that I enjoy the season of fasting even while disliking the hunger and the weakness.
On a short fast the hunger is the greatest challenge. On a longer fast it is the fatigue and weakness. But both are small prices to pay for the richness of God’s presence and the promise of His help.

Of course He always hears a sincere prayer. But fasting seems to fast-track the answer.

I think the great key ultimately is to fast with humility and dependence on God- not in an effort to prove yourself holy or righteous.
I deeply hope that the Church of Jesus Christ will discover again the incredible power of fasting and prayer.

I invite you to fast if you have not. There is certainly plenty in our world to pray about. And if you cannot think of anything else, Pray4Nations! Or better yet, start there and watch God take care of everything else as you seek His Kingdom first.

Teacher teaching student in classroom

Debbie, along with a friend who had invited her, attended an evangelical-Pentecostal church where I was pastor for the very first time in her life. She sensed God’s powerful presence among us, and early the next week when my wife, Sharon, and I visited her home, she put her trust in Christ as her Savior, and committed her life to following Him. A few weeks later her husband Roger decided to do the same thing! Then an incredible, but Biblical pattern, emerged… They would share the story of what had happened in their lives with family members, friends and colleagues (and frankly anyone else who would listen) and, as a result, others would trust Christ as their Savior and Lord as well… In fact, I lost count of how many came to Christ directly (or indirectly) as a result of the testimony and witness of those two people (hundreds really!) It points up the power of sharing your story – your testimony – your witness, with other! It’s a Biblical pattern…

One day Jesus struck up a conversation with a despised (and sinful) Samaritan woman by Jacob’s well, at Sychar in Samaria. He shared with her about “the living water” that she could have, and if she drank deeply of it, she “would never thirst again!” … In fact, it would become a source of refreshment and life “that would flow from within her” out to others! Jesus dealt with the issues in her life, she put her trust in Him, and her life was transformed! Was she excited!

So the Bible says, “She left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, ‘come and see a man who told me all that I ever did! Can this be the Christ?’”

Then the Bible says, “Many went out of the town and were coming to him… Many Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony.”

Then the passage says, “Many more believed because of His (Jesus’s) word! And they said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world!’” (from John 4:1-42 – the entire account)

It’s the power of a personal testimony… the power of simply telling someone else what the Lord has done for you! I’m going to look for opportunities to do that today… aren’t you? Believe me, the Lord will use it to draw others to Himself!

God calls out offering His wisdom to all who will heed His voice… There are abundant blessing for those who heed His voice… sad consequences for those don’t! Proverbs 1:20-33 tells the story.

I could focus on the negative consequences this morning – they are very real! But I’ve chosen to highlight the blessings and benefits… here’s what it says…

“Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: ‘How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? … If you turn at my reproof, behold I will pour out my Spirit on you; I will make my words known to you! … Whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster!’” (from Proverbs 1:20-23 ESV)

Sometimes we get the idea that God’s voice can only be heard in times of solitude and contemplation, or in a church or cathedral. That is a mistake! God voice can also be heard in the marketplace – at the intersection of a busy street… honking horns, loud voices, the sounds of weekly work and commerce! It may seem incredible, but in all that noise His messengers and message are everywhere! He cries out! He’s looking for someone – anyone who will heed His voice! Oh the blessings of those who do! (And oh, the sad consequences and suffering of those who don’t and choose to go their own way!)