Stay Calm

John 14:1-3 ¹ “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. ² My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (NIV)

The backdrop of John 14 is a unique conversation Jesus is having with the eleven disciples at the Passover meal.  Prior to Jesus’ chat with the eleven disciples, he first had a conversation with all twelve of his disciples before Judas Iscariot bolts out the door in John 13.  The conversation had to be a tough one to hear if you were one of the twelve, especially if you were Judas and Peter.  Jesus did not sugarcoat his indictments toward Judas Iscariot whom Jesus said would betray him and Peter whom Jesus said would deny him three times. 

Judas’s response to Jesus’ indictment was in a form of a question in Matthew 26:25, “surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus said, “Yes, it is you.”  The deceit of Judas Iscariot could not be hidden from Jesus.  Prior to the Passover meal, Judas had already made a deal with the chief priest to hand Jesus over to them for approximately a few hundred dollars in our money today. 

Peter was argumentative with Jesus, saying:  “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”  Jesus’ responded by saying, “This very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown my three times.”  But Peter was adamant about sticking with Jesus through the thick and thin of the entire crisis.  Peter said, “Even if I have to die, I’m in it with you all the way.”

Peter’s strong and demanding rhetoric of “I will die for you” was short lived and Judas’ creed got the best of him.  It appears that the disciples failed to remember that Jesus had the capability of knowing events that are about to happen. 

The conversation now shifts to Jesus’ departure.  Judas Iscariot is now out of the room and getting his plans all in place to hand Jesus over.  Peter is more relaxed now that he has declared his allegiance to Jesus. 

It is one thing for Jesus to indict a couple of his disciples, it is another to have to say goodbye.  I can imagine the room was filled with emotions as Jesus tells them that he is about to leave.  In John 14:1 it appears that Jesus became the nurturer and calms them down.  I can imagine the conversation went something like this: “Hey guys, don’t let this get you down.  Guys, look at me.  Trust.  Trust our Father, but trust me, too.  Look, I’m going away for a bit, but I will be back to get you.  When you see what I will put together you will be amazed.  It is going to be a blast.  Lots of rooms and we will be together again.  This time, it will be forever.”

As reassuring as it was for the eleven disciples to hear about being with Jesus forever, we will get our living spaces in that house, too.  1^st Corinthians 15 paints a beautiful picture of what will happens to believers in preparation for our entrance into heaven.  “But let me tell you something wonderful, a mystery I’ll probably never fully understand. We’re not all going to die—but we are all going to be changed. You hear a blast to end all blasts from a trumpet, and in the time that you look up and blink your eyes—it’s over. On signal from that trumpet from heaven, the dead will be up and out of their graves, beyond the reach of death, never to die again. At the same moment and in the same way, we’ll all be changed. In the resurrection scheme of things, this has to happen: everything perishable taken off the shelves and replaced by the imperishable, this mortal replaced by the immortal.” (The Message)

There are a lot of wonderful views to see on this earth.  Mountains.  Seas.  Deserts. Forests.  Galaxies. Coral Reefs.  And, a plethora of other God amazing sites.  However, Jesus’ house is going to be even more spectacular than the Amazons and the snowcapped Swiss Alps and the sand dunes of the deserts and the Florida everglades.  Heaven will be a place of such wonderment and awe that it is truly indescribable. 

Don’t be troubled.  Trust.  Stay calm.  You’re not alone.  Jesus is aware of you.  Our next house will be so much better than this one.  Hold on.  It is coming.  Trust and keep trusting. 
Remember, Be God Controlled!
Brian

Fasting for Spiritual Purposes

Richard Foster, an author said, "Fasting can bring breakthroughs in the spiritual realm that could never be had in any other way."

Thomas Jefferson, 3rd U.S. President said, "Fasting and prayer are religious exercises; the enjoining them, an act of discipline."

Quintus Tertullianus, an early Christian author said, "Fasting possesses great power. If practiced with the right intention, it makes one a friend of God. The demons are aware of that."

History of Fasting

On the day of Atonement in Leviticus 23:27, the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies to make atonement for all the sins of the Israelites.  During this time, all the people had to deny themselves of any food and present an offering to the Lord.  Fasting was a part of the spiritual culture and lives of those throughout the Old and New Testaments.

 Purpose and Motive of Fasting

The purpose of fasting is to take our focus off of self and things of this world and place it upon God.  According to Isaiah 58:6-8, the motive of fasting was totally centered on themselves rather than on God and those who needed spiritual restoration or those who needed a meal to eat, clothes to wear, or a place to call home. 

Jesus dealt with hypocrites who fasted to only be seen of others in Matthew 6:16-18.  The fasting was about connecting with God in order to become spiritual renewed.    The motive of fasting is about humility.  Sacrifice.  Focus.  Cleansing.  Mourning.  Being spiritual.  Spirit-led.  Right motive.  Reliance on God.  Empty-self. 

Reasons to Fast

Because of sin - 2 Samuel 12:13-23 David sin with Bathsheba. 

Hearing bad news - Nehemiah 1:4  Nehemiah fasted over the bad news he heard about Jerusalem.

For friends and family who are sick -

Psalm 35:13 David's love for his friends were strong enough for him to give up food in order to plead to God for a healing. 

Before a new ministry - Acts 13:1-3 The early church valued the mission ministry so much so that before a mission team was sent out, they spent time in worship and fasting.  

Committing elders to the church - Acts 14:23 The selection of elders for the church was extremely important.  Trust was a key factor in the selection.  Fasting was a way to give up so the God could come in.

To prepare us for temptations -Matthew 4:1-11 Prior to Jesus' temptations, He spent forty days and nights in preparation.  Although Jesus was physically hungry, he was more hungry to live our godly values and allow the Scriptures to feed Him in the series of temptations he faced.

Benefits of Fasting

There is a spiritual significance when one turns their life over to God and uses fasting as a tool to empty themselves to do it.  Jonah 3 is a perfect example of what God does when people are willing to humble themselves, turn from their sins, and give up food and water so that they can totally rely on God and feast upon His Word.   

How to Fast

Fasting is for a specific spiritual reason.  Because of medical reasons, some cannot fast.  If you have never fasted, start slow and work your way to an entire 24 hour period.  Maybe it's fasting for 6 hours and then 12 hours and then 24 hours.  In those fasting times, give your entire self to God and listen intently.  Read Scripture.  Pray deeply.  Be open and honest with God.  Don't hold back. 

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian