FROM THE PREACHER'S LENSES

Sam AwedaTuesday, September 27, 2011
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USA

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THE MYSTERY IN FASTING ----(12)
DEFINITION & CLASSIFICATION OF FASTING (6)

Short Fast 11-Records of its achievement

n the part 10, reference was made to the book of Daniel chapter 6, where king Darius was trapped to sign a judgment, which cast Daniel in to the Den of lion.


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This sentence made king Darius sad in no small way.

So, "The King returned to the palace and went to bed without dinner" (LB). In the KJV it reads "�.and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him.." or in the LB "He refused his usual entertainment�.".

I have called this type "short fast 1" where just a meal was missed.

Though it was only one meal that Darius missed, yet it achieved its purpose, for:

"The God of Daniel hath sent His angel and hath shut the lion's mouths, that they have not hurt him" (Dan 6:22).

In part 11, I have classified the act of "missing two meals in a row, described in the Scripture as "fasting till even" as "Short fast II"

Usually morning and lunch (afternoon) meals are avoided. But dinner is eaten. This kind of fast appears to be the most popular and widely practiced of all the types of fasts among Christians.

"Short fast II" i.e. fasting until even, becomes a bit easier, if one has been in the constant habit of "Short Fast 1" (missing one meal a day).

During the fast, water may or may not be drunk. It is individual's choice. It can last one day or as many days as purposed. i.e breaking every evening and continuing the following day or for many days that follows.

With or without water, no fast is easy. By the time the 'short fast II' enters the fourth week, it becomes monotonous. Effort, courage, determination and faith are required to continue till the time one has purposed to end it. Those who practice it understand what I am saying.

We note that the only fast, which God Himself ordained, was on "the Day of Atonement" which was on 25 Sept (Lev 16:29) and it was "from even to even" (Lev. 23:23).

Let us now see some records, which Short fast II has achieved.

Revelation of Secrete things

The Israelites by the mighty Hands of God had conquered Jericho (Joshua 6).

A small, insignificant, powerless city of Ai was next to be fought.

The Israelites had thought that Ai would be a walk over. They were wrong.

The soldiers of Ai chased them away and they lost 36 of their soldiers (Joshua 7:5).

"Joshua, then rent his clothes and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord Until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads" (Joshua 7:6).

Joshua inquired from God why they were humiliated (vs7-9). Then God spoke "Israel had sinned�." (Joshua 7:11). Achan, the son of Carmi, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing�." (7:1).

The corporate fast brought the revelation (secret) that was behind the loss of the battle.

Achan was let out. What He did in the secret was brought into the open.

We too can do the same in order that secret things be revealed to us.

God had strictly warned them that Jericho was cursed including everything therein except the household of Rahab, the harlot and they were to burn it completely. Nothing was to be kept by them or else they too became cursed.

The silver, gold, vessels of brass and iron, however were to be brought to the treasury of the Lord. They shall be consecrated unto the Lord (Joshua 6:17-19).

There was also a curse on whoever attempts to rebuild the city (Josh.6:26).

Judgement was passed on Achan. He and his household were stoned to death and burned with fire (7:24-26). Ai was afterwards conquered (Joshua 8) after the sin was dealt with.

A fast, missing two meals, moved God to reveal the secret thing to Joshua and brought them victory over Ai.

To be continued

SEE MORE ARTICLES IN THE SERIES

Sam Aweda is President & Snr. Pastor, Jesus for the World Revival Mission (Peoples' Church)

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