2017.09.27 - Fasting

Daniel 10:1-11:1

10:1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.

2 In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.

3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

4 And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;

5 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:

6 His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.

7 And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.

8 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.

9 Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.

10 And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.

11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.

12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.

13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia .

14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.

15 And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.

16 And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my 

2017.09.24 - Cheese, Rocks and Heroes

·      What attracts us to heroes is not the fact that they are invincible – but the fact that in spite of their weakness and insecurity they overcome anyway!

·      It is not just about starting out strong – it is about finishing strong in Him!

·      We may start out at the bottom but we will end up at the top in Jesus! Kicking and clawing the entire way – God is looking for some heroes who “will not let go until you bless me!”

·      The heart is the difference

1 Samuel 17:1 Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh(fence), which belongeth to Judah(praise, worship, revere)), and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah(fence about), in Ephes-dammim(boundary of blood drop/feet go no further).

2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of, Elah(strong oak, mighty, power) and set the battle in array against the Philistines.

3 And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them. 4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. KJV

1 Samuel 17:12 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul. 13 And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. 14 And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul. 15 But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem. 16 And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days. 17 And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren; 18 And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge. KJV

1 Samuel 17:19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah(strong oak, mighty power), fighting with the Philistines. KJV

·      Don’t just go to the cross – go throughit!!!

1 Samuel 17:23 And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them. KJV

·      A hero was coming alive in the heart of David. . a cause was being born inside him!

1 Samuel 17:34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: 35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. 36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. 37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. KJV

1 Samuel 17:44 And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. 45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

KJV

1 Samuel 17:29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause? KJV

2018.09.18 - Base Things

1 Corinthians 1:25-29 Northpointe IPHC 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God i stronger than men. 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; an God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. KJV Acts 17:6-7 6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto th rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; KJV

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KJV 

2017.09.17 - Frogs And Sin

Exodus 8:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me. 2 And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs : 3 And the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into thine house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneadingtroughs: 4 And the frogs shall come up both on thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants.5 And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt. 6 And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt. 7 And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt. 8 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat the LORD, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the LORD. 9 And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I intreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only? 10 And he said, To morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the LORD our God

KJV

Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. KJV

Acts 24:24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. KJV

2 Corinthians 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation .) KJV

2017.09.13 - Notes On Fasting

Daniel 10:1-11:1

10:1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.

2 In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.

3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

4 And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;

5 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:

6 His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.

7 And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.

8 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.

9 Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.

10 And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.

11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.

12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.

13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia .

14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.

15 And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.

16 And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.

17 For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.

18 Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,

19 And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.

20 Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia : and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.

21 But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.  KJV

     I.         Fasting Brings Revelation 

a.     Daniel 10:1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision. KJV

                                               i.      . . .a thing was revealed unto Daniel While Daniel was fasting God showed him something that He was about to do, before He began to do it.  

                                             ii.      . . .And the thing was true . . .fasting can bring about a greater truth than we were aware of before we fasted

1.     God revealed truth to Daniel 

                                           iii.      . . .and he understood the thing. . .Fasting can bring a greater understanding

    II.         Sometimes Fasting Isn’t Fast

a.     Danial was fasting for three weeks

b.     There is not a mention that Daniel had anything “special” or “spiritual” happning in those three weeks.  

                                               i.     He may have felt that nothing was happening, that his fast was really going nowhere, but we later read that was NOT the case.

 III.         Fasting Causes Us To Seek Jesus Like Never Before

a.     Daniel 10:2 In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. KJV

b.     In place of our food, we can spend that time in prayer and seeking God, that will draw us closer to Him

                                               i.     Job 23:12 I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food  KJV

                                             ii.     James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. KJV

 IV.         Fasting Is A Solitary, Intimate Action 

a.     Daniel 10:7 And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. 8 Therefore I was left alone  KJV

b.     Matthew 6:16 Moreover when ye fast , be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. KJV

    V.         Fatsing Lays Things Bare Before Us . . .And God 

a.      Daniel 10:7  so that they fled to hide themselves.

                                               i.     Sometimes we choose to hide from ourselves the things in our lives that need to be changed.  

                                             ii.     Fasting can bring to the forefront hidden stuff

1.     Attitudes

2.     Hidden sin

3.     Hidden motives

4.     Pride

5.     Selfishness

                                           iii.     Man has seeks to hide his sin, God sees hidden sin and deals with it.

1.     Genesis 3:9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. KJV

2.     Genesis 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. KJV

a.     Death had to cover sin – in this case the death of the animals who gave of their skins.

b.     Fasting is “dying” to self, becoming humble before God that His will prevails over ours.

 VI.         Opens Our Eyes To The Things Of God

a.     Daniel 10:8 and saw this great vision

                                               i.     Daniel was seeing things while he as fasting that he likely would not have seen had he not been fasting 

b.     Daniel 10:8 and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. KJV

                                               i.     Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags ; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. 7 And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. KJV

1.     OT:1935 howd (hode); from an unused root; grandeur (i.e. an imposing form and appearance): KJV - beauty, comeliness, excellency, glorious, glory, goodly, honour, majesty.

a.     Daniel realized, perhaps because of his fasting, that he was not grand, or excellent, or glorious but that his best was not good enough and that God alone was all of those things.  His best was corruption, fasting brought about a humility inside of Daniel that caused him to realize his humanity and Gods Amazing Divinity.

                                             ii.     15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. 16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. 17 And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statues and my judgments; 18 Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel. 19 But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; KJV

1.     NOW – indicating that there was a time that God did not let His eyes be open and his ears attent to the prayers that were being prayed!  

2.     NOW – what before was NOT chosen and sanctified was NOW chosen and sanctified!

3.     NOW – His eyes and His heart were there perpetually!

4.     What was the change?  Most wont recognize where these verses are from, though they follow some very know passages.  We read these and understand that there was a significant change in what was going on in the relationship with God and His people – what brought about this change, this revival? Check this out . . .

a.     2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 

b.     15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. 16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. 17 And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statues and my judgments; 18 Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel. 19 But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; KJV

                                                                                                     i.     My People – these were written to the people of God, not those who did not know Him, this was speaking of a backslidden state, a luke-warm heart, people who had “fallen out of love” with their King

                                                                                                   ii.     Shall humble themselves . . .wow, that is fasting in a nut shell.  Want to humble yourself before God? Want to get closer to Him? Want to revive the passion of your relationship with The King? THEN FAST!!

c.     Daniel 10:8 and I retained no strength. KJV

                                               i.     The fasting, vision from God, and awareness of his human state brought about a complete sense of being overcome with The Presence of God.  When we realize that God is The Almighty, we fall before Him in awe and worship, not fear of Him, but of Holy Reverence.  This Great God, The Almighty, Sovereign, Creator of Heaven and Earth, is still our Heavenly Father and He not only welcomes but BECKONS us into His Presence!

1.     John had the same sense of being overcome with The Presence of Jesus

a.     Revelation 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. KJV

b.     Acts 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: 28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. KJV

                                                                                                     i.     In our weakness, in our humanity, He is our Strength!

VII.         A Messenger Sent From God!

a.     Daniel 10:11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. KJV

                                               i.     Can you imagine being Daniel and having prayed and fasted for three full weeks with not really anything tangible to show for it – then all of a sudden God sends a heavenly messenger who says “FOR UNTO THEE AM I NOW SENT!” 

1.     If you don’t “feel” anything while you fast – DON’T GIVE UP

a.     Fasting is linked with faith – link them together and know that while you may or may not SEE something happening, something IS HAPPENING!

b.     Daniel 10:11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. KJV

                                               i.     UNDERSTAND THE WORDS THAT I SPEAK . . .

1.     Pray! Fast! Gain understanding that there is a realm of existence where things are happening when we fast and pray!

c.     Daniel 10:12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. KJV

                                               i.     From the first day!!!!

1.     The very first day God was on the move because of Daniels prayers and fasting, his humility caused Heaven to take notice!

VIII.         An Issue Of The Heart

a.     Daniel 10:12 for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God KJV

                                               i.