Jesus Can Be There When I Ask Why

Posted on May 4, 2012 by

Have you ever questioned God?   If you have, you’re going straight to hell.  No, not really.  If you don’t hear anything else hear this; it’s ok to question God.

Over 500 times the word “why?” is used in the Bible.  We ask “why” a lot.  God doesn’t get angry when we do.

Jesus asks “why” on the cross.  “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”[i]

Hanging on the cross, “Those who passed by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”[ii]

The next three words really hit the heart of their mockery when they said: “He trusted God.”[iii]

They were saying, “Where is your God? You’re trusting him?

Now admittedly, if you were there looking on at Jesus hanging on the cross, you might say something like they did as well. He trusts in God? Where is his God now? Because if you would have seen Him, you would have been deeply disturbed, because Scripture tells us very clearly what they did to Jesus. They beat Him and abused Him so severely, that He didn’t even look like a human being.[iv] There He is, looking more like an animal than a man, hanging naked on the cross, and they were saying, “You still trust in God? Where is He now? Where is He now?”

You see, it’s very easy to trust in God when things are going well, but it’s difficult to trust in God, for many of us, when bad things happen.

That’s where we all live at some time or another and you ask why? I don’t understand. And the reality is, we have to understand that we are not always going to understand. That’s truth, because we only see part of the story. We can’t understand everything from God’s perspective.

But the good news is that God’s Word gives us 4 things that we need to remember when we don’t understand our circumstances and ask “why?”.

1. God is good. [v]  We tend to project our present situation on God. When bad things happen we think God. But, our God transcends circumstances. That’s what we hold onto.  Cancer is bad, but God is good. Abuse is bad, but God is good. War is bad, but God is still good; forever, and it will never change. He is always good.

2.   God is for me.[vi]  Just think about how ridiculous this is. God made everything. He breathed the stars into space, and yet Scripture says He is for you. What circumstance could dare phase you? The all powerful God is your supporter; He believes in you, He has a dream and a purpose that is beyond the confusion of today.

3. God is with me.[vii] There are over 365 promises of God, one for every day of the year. Do you know what the most repeated promise is? I will be with you.  Jesus reminded his disciples of this after his resurrection, “And be sure of this, even until the end, I am with you.” Matthew 28:20

4. God has a purpose.[viii]  In all things God has a purpose. Now back to the cross, the purpose that many failed to see:

When Jesus said, “My God, why have you forsaken me” He was quoting Psalm 22:1. Psalm 22 is messianic prophecy that says the messiah will have his hands and feet pierced, people will mock him and cast lots for his clothes.  By saying, “My God why…” he was showing all who were there (they would have known the Old Testament well) to see that Psalm 22 had been fulfilled before their very eyes!

When everyone around the cross didn’t understand, the cross had purpose: “He was pierced for our transgressions, the punishment that was upon him brought us peace.” [ix] God made him sin, so that we can become the righteousness of God in Christ.[x]

So, no matter what you’re going through; never, ever forget that God is good. He is for you, and He will never, ever leave you.  There is a purpose behind everything. Jesus is there when you ask why.

Darrell

For more about the series, “Jesus Can” go to www.ridgefellowship.com

[i] Matthew 27:46

[ii] Matthew 27:39-42

[iii] Matthew 27:43

[iv] Isaiah 52:14

[v] Mark 10:18

[vi] Romans 8:31

[vii] Hebrews 13:5

[viii] Romans 8:28

[ix] Isaiah 53:5

[x] Isaiah 53:11

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Jesus Can Forgive Me

Posted on May 3, 2012 by

Do you ever feel like really bad person?   Perhaps even too bad for Jesus to love or forgive?  I meet a lot of people who carry around a lot guilt and condemnation; I have felt that way too.  Jesus was crucified between two criminals (Luke 23:33). They were two really bad people. The Bible doesn’t tell us much about the two thieves, we don’t know where they were from, we don’t know how old they were, we don’t know what they did to deserve death. But we do know that both of them interacted with Jesus.

One of the criminals, he looked at Jesus and he hurled insults at Him, The other one had a very short and simple conversation that changed his eternity and it just might change yours. He looked at Jesus and said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus looked at the criminal and said the most remarkable, grace-filled words in history when He said, “Today you will be with me in paradise.”

I love how Jesus interacts with this criminal on the cross.  It’s such a great picture of the forgiveness!  Jesus still extends this same forgiveness and hope of eternal life to all who would accept it.

Let me ask some obvious questions:

Did the criminal (who was going to be with Jesus in paradise) have the ability to get off the cross and get baptized?  Did he have the ability to serve or do any good works? Give an offering? Say “Hail Mary’s”?  Nope.  He did just 2 things.   The same 2 things you and I must do to be forgiven.

What did he do?

  1. He admitted his wrongdoing.  He confessed his sins.  Here’s what he says,

“We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”  Luke 23:41

Notice he did not confess each sin individually.  I’ve heard people say, “you committed your sins individually, you should confess them individually.”   Not here!  This guy has what I call a “blanket confession.”   “I messed up.”  “I’ve blown it.”  And that was good enough for Jesus.   It still is.

2.  The second thing that he does is call out to Jesus.  He said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:42-43

Notice he vocalizes his request. I think this is important because it goes beyond just thinking about it.  When I knew I wanted to marry my wife Niki, I moved beyond just thinking about it to asking personally, “Niki, will you marry me?”  Let’s say you are supposed to call someone but only thought about it.  Did you call?   When it comes to Jesus, move beyond just thinking, “He’s a good teacher, he died on the cross, he rose from the dead, I believe in Jesus.”  Make the call.  “Jesus will you save me?”  “Jesus forgive me.”

This passage, perhaps above all others, illustrates one of the most important truths in life and corrects one of the biggest misunderstandings in the world today. One of the most common misunderstandings is that, “good people go to heaven.”  Nobody is sure how good, but, most people today want to believe, “I’m not as bad as others, I hope I’m good enough, if I try really hard and I’m a good person that I will go to heaven.”

This passage illustrates perfectly: Good people do not go to heaven. Forgiven people go to heaven. There is a huge difference! Good people do not go to heaven, because in reality, none of us are good. Scripture says that God alone is good and that all of us fall short of the standard of God.  The good news is, good people do not go to heaven, forgiven people go to heaven.

Have you been forgiven? Just admit your wrong and call out to Jesus.  That’s it.

Darrell

For more about the series, “Jesus Can” go to

www.ridgefellowship.com

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What is the Daniel Fast?

Posted on March 17, 2012 by

Special thanks to Shannon Kaiser and Rowena Speight for their influence and testimony about this type of fast!

What is the Daniel Fast? 

The Daniel Fast is a biblically based partial fast. It is a method of fasting that men, women and young people all over the world use (and have for centuries) as they enter into the spiritual discipline of prayer and fasting.

There are two anchoring scriptures for the Daniel Fast. In Daniel 1 the Prophet ate only vegetables (that would have included fruits) and drank only water. So from these scriptures we get two of the guidelines for the fast:

1. Only fruits and vegetables
2. Only water for a beverage

Then in Daniel 10 we read that the Prophet ate no meat nor any precious breads or foods and he drank no wine for 21 days. So from this scripture, we get a third guideline:

3. No sweeteners and no breads

Another important guideline is drawn from Jewish fasting principles, where no leaven is used during the fast.  So that’s why yeast, baking powder and the like are not allowed on the Daniel Fast.

Finally, with all the above puzzle pieces, we conclude that no artificial or processed foods nor any chemicals are allowed on the Daniel Fast.

What Can I Expect?

The Bible teaches us that we are body, mind and spirit.  The Daniel Fast affects all three parts of us as we enter into a period of time for focused prayer and fasting.


The Body - Certainly our bodies are effected as our diet is changed, for some in very dramatic ways, during the Daniel Fast. Many men and women experience detoxing from caffeine, chemicals and sugar. The symptoms are most often headaches, leg cramps, fatigue and malaise.

Most people lose weight during the Daniel Fast. And many report healings from diabetes, allergies, arthritis and cancer. 

The Heart and Mind – Our emotions will also be greatly impacted during the Daniel Fast.  We will we experience cravings, frustration, anger as well as happiness, peace and joy.

During the Daniel Fast, your mind and body may very well rebel against the dramatic change in your diet. Experiencing and winning this battle over the flesh is often one of the most powerful lessons of the Daniel Fast.

The Spirit - Our spirit is that born-again part of us that surrenders to God and then abides with the Father and the Son. Our spirit is filled with the Holy Spirit when we yield to Him. During the Daniel Fast, we want to put our spirit in charge of the other two parts of us. When our flesh is acting out with a craving, we take control of it with our spirit (just as a parent takes control of a rebellious child).

Fasting is always coupled with a spiritual goal. So during this time of fasting, you will want to focus on prayer, study and meditation.

 An important question to ask myself . . . 

During your Daniel Fast you will have many times when you might want to “stretch the rules” a little bit. For example, even though the guidelines say we are to drink only water, you conclude that coffee or tea is a vegetable with water and therefore you will go ahead and drink tea or coffee during the Daniel Fast.

Learn a powerful spiritual lesson by asking yourself (examining your heart) the question, “Why do I want these?”

The answer will most likely be, “Well I just want them. I can’t drink only water. I have to have something else.”

The Daniel Fast teaches us to deny our “selves” and instead put our spirit in control over our bodies. As you plan your meals and eat your food, keep in mind that the definition of a fast is to deny food for a spiritual purpose.

What if I have health issues?

Fasting should never bring harm to the body. And if you have concerns, be sure to consult your health professional before going on the Daniel Fast or making any major dietary change.

The Daniel Fast is a very healthy way to eat.  It is a “vegan diet with even more restrictions.” So health professionals will support this eating plan, but might suggest a few modifications if you have health issues that need special attention.

Need Recipes?

Check out:  http://daniel-fast.com/recipes.html

Have more questions?  Go to http://daniel-fast.com/faq.html

If you would like to join us in fasting (in any form) prior to Easter,  just write “fast” on your Connection Card on Sunday.  You can also write a comment below.  You will be added to our growing list and I will be praying for you!  Darrell

www.ridgefellowship.com

Source:

http://daniel-fast.com/about.html

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Fasting Checklist

Posted on March 16, 2012 by

Would you like to fast?  Have you tried it?  If you would like to begin or continue this spiritual discipline, here’s a checklist to follow that will make your time with the Lord more meaningful and spiritually rewarding.

1.       Why am I Fasting?

Is it for spiritual renewal, for guidance, for healing, for the resolution of problems, for special grace to handle a difficult situation? Ask the Holy Spirit to clarify His leading and objectives for your prayer fast. This will enable you to pray more specifically and strategically.

2. What type of Fast?

Pray about the kind of fast you should undertake. Jesus implied that all of His followers should fast (Matthew 6:16-18; 9:14,15) For Him it was a matter of when believers would fast, not if they would do it. Before you fast, decide the following up front:

  • How long you will fast – one meal, one day, a week, several weeks, forty days (Beginners should start slowly, building up to longer fasts.)
  • What is the type of fast God wants you to undertake:
  • Absolute fast:  no food or water for a period of time
  • Normal fast:  only water, but no food or other drink
  • Partial or Liquid fast:  liquids, juices, etc
  • Easter fast:  like Lent, fasting or giving up something in the weeks leading up to Easter
  • Media/Technology:  TV, radio, Facebook, telephone, etc.
  • How much time will you devote to prayer and time with God?

Making these commitments ahead of time will help you sustain your fast when physical temptations and life’s pressures tempt you to abandon it.

3.       Am I Ready Physically?

Fasting requires reasonable precautions. Consult your physician first, especially if you take prescription medication or have a chronic ailment. Some persons should never fast without professional supervision.

Physical preparation makes the drastic change in your eating routine a little easier so that you can turn your full attention to the Lord in prayer.

  • Do not rush into your fast.
  • Prepare your body. Eat healthier meals before starting a fast.

4.  Am I Prepared Spiritually?

The very foundation of fasting and prayer is to seek God. Here are several things you can do to prepare your heart:

  •  Begin your time of fasting and prayer with an expectant heart (Hebrews 11:6).
  • Plan to listen.  When you run out of things to pray for, listen to God’s voice.
  • Confess every sin that the Holy Spirit calls to your remembrance and accept God’s forgiveness (1 John 1:9).
  • Surrender your life fully to Jesus Christ; refuse to obey your worldly nature (Romans 12:1,2).
  • Do not underestimate spiritual opposition. Satan sometimes intensifies the natural battle between body and spirit (Galatians 5:16,17).

5.      While Fasting

Your time of fasting and prayer has come. You are abstaining from all solid foods and have begun to seek the Lord. Here are some helpful suggestions to consider:

  • Prepare yourself for temporary mental discomforts, such as impatience, crankiness, and anxiety.
  • Limit your activity.
  • Rest as much as your schedule will permit.
  • Expect some physical discomforts.. You may have fleeting hunger pains, dizziness, or the “blahs.” Withdrawal from caffeine and sugar may cause headaches. Physical annoyances may also include weakness, tiredness, or sleeplessness.

 Tips on Liquid/Juice Fasting:

  • Drinking fruit juice will decrease your hunger pains and give you some natural sugar energy. The taste and lift will motivate and strengthen you to continue.
  • Mix acidic juices (orange and tomato) with water for your stomach’s sake.
  • Avoid caffeinated drinks. And avoid chewing gum or mints, even if your breath is bad. They stimulate digestive action in your stomach.

 6.      Make a Schedule

For maximum spiritual benefit, set aside ample time to be alone with the Lord.  The more time you spend with Him, the more meaningful your fast will be.

Morning

  • Read and meditate on God’s Word
  • Invite God to use you. Ask Him to show you how to influence your world, your family, your church, your community, your country, and beyond.
  • Pray for His vision for your life and empowerment to do His will.

 Noon

  •  Return to prayer and God’s Word.
  • Take a short prayer walk.

 Evening

  •  Avoid television or any other distraction that may dampen your spiritual focus.
  • Repeat any of the above.

 7.      End  My Fast Gradually

Begin eating gradually.  If you end your fast gradually, the beneficial physical and spiritual effects will result in continued good health.

Here are some suggestions to help you end your fast properly:

  • Break an extended water fast with fruit such as watermelon.
  • Liquid fasts are not as hard on the body, but avoid overly spicy, fatty or sugary foods right after a liquid fast.

8.      Expect Results

If you sincerely humble yourself before the Lord, repent, pray, and seek God’s face; if you consistently meditate on His Word, you will experience a heightened awareness of His presence (John 14:21). The Lord will give you fresh, new spiritual insights. Your confidence and faith in God will be strengthened. You will feel mentally, spiritually, and physically refreshed. You will see answers to your prayers.

A single fast, however, is not a spiritual cure-all.  Just as we need to seek God daily and live under the Power of the Holy Spirit daily, we also need new times of fasting before God. A 24-hour fast each week has been greatly rewarding to many Christ followers.

It takes time to build your spiritual fasting muscles. If you fail to make it through your first fast, do not be discouraged. You may have tried to fast too long the first time out, or your may need to strengthen your understanding and resolve. As soon as possible, undertake another fast until you do succeed. God will honor you for your faithfulness.

I encourage you to join me in fasting and prayer again and again until we truly experience revival in our homes, our church, our nation, and throughout the world.

Darrell

www.ridgefellowship.com

Sources and for further reading:

http://www.creatingfutures.net/fasting.htm

http://www.ccci.org/training-and-growth/devotional-life/7-steps-to-fasting/index.htm

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