"Sanctify a Fast..."
That was the cry from the lips of God's ordained prophet, Joel, to the people of God. The previous chapter revealed that the bountifulness & blessings of God had 'vanished' from His people and that they were living in a fruitless wasteland due to their disobedience to God. And God's answer was... ? Fast,... humble yourselves with fasting and I shall lift you up.
Joel 2:12,13 declares," Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning. And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil(which He had allowed)."
Verse 15,16 goes on, "Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly. Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet." That means EVERYBODY come!
God has recorded time & time again throughout His word that if a person or a nation would humble himself with fasting & prayers & cry unto Him... regardless of how bad the situation may look... God would hear from heaven and turn the whole impossible situation around!
This entire week I received phone calls from various people... children of God even... that requested our prayers... many of whom were sick with diseases that western medicine cannot touch.Some very near death! Others called expressing matters where they would soon lose their lands & homes if God didn't intervene and if finances did not miraculously appear. God's answer...? To turn to Him with fasting...to cry out to Him... and watch Him work!
Look at this in verse17: "Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say (cry), 'Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage (God's people) to reproach (shame), that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they (the heathen) say among the people, Where is their God'?"
Now watch how God will respond to this type of cry...
verse 18, "Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.
:19 Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:
:20 But I will remove far off from you the northern army (enemy), and will drive him into a land barren and desolate..."
:21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.
:23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain (for harvest-- to make you fruitful), the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
:24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.
:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent (allowed) among you.
:26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed."
Are you in need of a breakthru in your life? Do you need the type of response that God has promised us in Joel chapter 2? Then it is high time to fast & cry out to God, my friend. Just look at His awesome response to someone who would stop eating his tasty foods for a season and turn & cry unto Him for help. Wow! God promises that our enemies, seen or unseen, would be driven off, & that fruitfulness & satisfaction would come again... that the years of losses would be restored... and our shame would be wiped away!
If you are ready for this kind of supernatural breakthru that only God alone can do, then it is time to "sanctify a fast". God will answer you speedily!
God bless you.
*Special News*:
The Dani Team is "Sanctifying a Fast" for at least 3 days, starting Monday the 5th of February: for both needs in the ministry as well as your needs! We would consider it a privilege to pray for you and to insist that God move mightily on your behalf... and that your impossible situation disappear under His mighty hand of deliverance!
(Submit Your Prayer Requests Here)
*For more info & inspiration on Fasting, what it is biblically & how to do it safely, check for these books at your local christian bookstore:
Your Appointment with God-- Gwen Shaw
How to Fast Successfully-- Derek Prince
Fasting: Atomic power with God-- Framklin Hall (free online download)
Fasting: The Master Key to The Impossible-- Gordon Lindsay
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