Give Your Servant Success Today
Recently I went to what's called PCC Pastors Conference. It was such a wonderful time to renew and refresh my soul. This was also a great time to think, discern and plan my next step forward. Soon, I will likely approach certain organizations and groups to establish and start up a ministry to follow the vision God has installed in the hearts of mine and my wife.
Before we proceed, we are going to fast for 40 days and we want to invite others to join in our prayer (not fasting!). We will open up our home every evening from 10-11pm if anyone out there wishes to pray with us and for us.
I am going to use Nehemiah to explain the importance of this practice of fasting. In the first chapter of Nehemiah, we find that Nehemiah inquired Hanani of the status of the city of Jerusalem. What's amazing is his heart and zeal for Jerusalem; Nehemiah is one of the exiles living in the foreign land for a long time and yet it seems his heart is concerned for the well being of Jerusalem.
I have met so many Christians who are genuinely concerned for the well being of the city of London. They want the city to thrive by the grace and power flowing from the lordship of Jesus Christ. They pray fervently for governments, schools, hospitals and many organizations, charities and businesses. They are not just concerned for their home churches but the church in London. I challenge all of us to bring all our attentions to take interest of the well being of the city.
The report from Hanani broke Nehemiah's heart. I remember the times when my heart was broken by the sight of struggling people, families and churches in London and my heart is still breaking by even thought of it.
What's amazing is Nehemiah's response. He prayed and repented of sins of his people. You see, the report he heard was about the physical status of the city, how the walls are broken and gates are burned. But, he knew this is simply the outcome of what happened spiritually in their covenant relationship with God. So, he prayed. Later, he worked hard to build the walls again, but this prayer clearly shows he understands something spiritual must be done before something physical and concrete can happen here on earth.
His prayer isn't just an ordinary intercessory prayer. This prayer was a bold prayer, because he was praying as if he was acting as a mediator of his people. He actually believed his prayer in a closet can have a redemptive power over his entire people and the city far away. I can almost hear his enemy saying "Who do you think you are that you pray in such a manner? Do you think you are a high priest or someone special in Israel?" Yet, the last verse clearly shows God hears and answers his prayer.
My friends in Christ, it's time for us to pray this type of bold prayer. Our Lord Jesus gave us the authority to approach his throne boldly, expecting him to hear and answer our prayers. When we pray together to bind anything here on earth, it will be bound in heaven as well. When we pray together to release here on earth, the heaven says yes! We can pray like Nehemiah, claiming his promise, repenting of our cooperative sins in the city and boldly asking God to rise and act.
His prayer is accompanied by fasting. Fasting certainly has many benefits for those who fast. But I believe the Bible clearly teaches us that fasting is primarily not for ourselves, but to benefit others around us. The most obvious example is found in Isaiah 58, where the Lord is displeased with all who fast and yet do not care for his neighbours, afflicted and weak. Jesus often condemns those who fast only to show off. He advises his disciples that certain evil spirits can only be cast out by fasting. Jesus fasts before he begins his public ministry. Esther fasts with her people to appear before the king, despite her status securing her safety. Fasting is powerful and effective when it serves the benefit of others. When a Christian fasts, gives up and sacrifices for the benefit of another soul, I believe God cannot resist but answers the petition hastily in great joy. Nehemiah's fasting pleased the Lord.
True and earnest fasting invokes God's favour. Fasting takes the posture of sacrifice and humility before God. It's sacrifice because you are denying yourself, your desire to satisfy the physical hunger. Instead, you communicate something in spirit is more at stake than your physical needs. Jesus took physical pain and death in order to give us spiritual renewal. Paul urges us to take the mind of Christ, who emptied himself even to the cross and God raised him. Likewise, our faithful God raises us when we learn and be willing to sacrifice.
Humility is an important virtue in our prayer life. Humility is not feeling sorry or badly about yourself before God. Hebrews urges us to approach him boldly. Rather, humility is our heart and posture that communicate that only God can help us. We deny all other means and solutions to resolve our plight, but ask God to act on our behalf. Consequently our humble prayer is also a bold prayer. Think about an infant baby crying because he's hungry. He cries because that's all he can. In his cry, he's invoking his mother to respond quickly and feed him. Notice how Nehemiah refuses to be content until his prayer is answered to his satisfaction (2:1). This is humility, because this posture demonstrates his belief that the salvation of his people is only possibly by God's intervention. "Not by might, but by His Spirit!"
I believe while he fasts God provides him a plan to rebuild the walls. Nehemiah seems to understand his being a cup-bearer to the king is a part of God's strategy. Indeed, when the king asks him, he already has a plan to present and receive the king's approval. When my wife and I fast, we expect God will reveal us a specific strategy and ways and means to achieve the plan.
I believe there are three different blessings the Lord grants to Nehemiah. First, Nehemiah has a favour from the king Artaxerxes. When the king asks, Nehemiah prays and answers (2:4). To his request, the king granted his permission along with all the resources needed to complete his plan. Second, Nehemiah has a full support from his fellow Israelites in Jerusalem. When Nehemiah shares his plan, the people in Jerusalem says, "Let us start rebuilding" (2:18). The people does not think Nehemiah is crazy or stupid but fully devote themselves to his plan. Lastly, Nehemiah has enemies, but God's protection is over him and his coworkers. Sanballat and Tobiah are angry and against his plan. They even threaten to attack Jerusalem. But, none of their schemes come to be true. Rather, Nehemiah and Israel are able to complete the walls only in 52 days. God gives Nehemiah success, just as he prayed in fasting.
My friends in Christ, I am going to start 40 days fasting (20 days full fasting and 20 days partial fasting) from this Tuesday. The fasting will finish the day before Pentecostal Sunday. I am doing partial for the second half because I will have to visit Honduras for a week just before Pentecost. During these 40 days, I will seek the Lord to give me success today for his Kingdom work here in London. I would like to invite you to join with me in two ways:
1) You can come and visit our house (1021 Frances St.) to pray with us from 10-11 pm every evening and we will leave our place open to anyone who wishes to come and pray with us.
2) I am planning to host a prayer meeting on Sunday, June 9 (Pentecostal Sunday) evening. You can come and join us to pray together. Its location and time will be announced later, but for now, you can leave that evening open.
Here's what you can pray for me:
1) God's favour to give me success to start up a new ministry in terms of legal procedures and finance.
2) God's favour to partner with local churches and pastors in London.
3) God's protection from devil's all schemes and attempts to distract us.
4) God's wisdom and knowledge given to have concrete plans to implement.
Thank you always for your prayer and support.
In Christ,
John
Family JGLE