HELP!!! We pray in Jesus name! KKIM/DDC

July 20, 2012 by radiodewey@aol.com Leave a Comment

Dear Family of Jesus,

Let us pray…………

HELP!!!! I pray in Jesus name.

Aurora Police respond to the Century 16 movie theatre early Friday mor… Photo by Karl Gehring, Associated Press

Police: 14 dead, 50 injured in Colorado theater shooting

A gunman wearing a gas mask set off an unknown gas and fired into a crowded movie theater in suburban Denver theater at a midnight opening of the Batman movie “The Dark Knight Rises,” killing 14 people and injuring at least 50 others, authorities said.

Updated 1 minute ago

Let us pray over this situation, we have Michael, Greg, Natasha, Stephanie and Patrick all close by there.

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;

perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not

abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed…..

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are

wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by

day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving

for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we

fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,

since what is seen is temporary,

but what is unseen is eternal. AMEN! 2 Cor 4:8-9, 16-18

As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience……….

Christ Jesus…..is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Romans 8:34

Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation delivers from death.

The Lord will not allow the uncompromisingly righteous to famish, but He thwarts the desire of the wicked. Proverbs 10 2-3

Billy Graham Rapid Response Team

Please pray for the victims and families affected by the horrific shooting in Aurora this morning. Billy Graham Rapid Response Team chaplains have responded to the area to offer emotional and spiritual support.

Sharon poised this questions this morning: Is it getting to the point here, where God is just going to say enough is enough America!!! I gave you so many opportunities to turn back to me.

This is a time where Leadership needs to step to the front and call America to Repentance, Fasting and Prayer.

I weep over this………My prayer is that people are not becoming so numb to this type of tragedy that they will not pay attention.

I believe we all need to put ourselves in the shoes of the victims families and weep for them and pray for them this day. AMEN!

We have had gun fire in the movie theaters right here in Albuquerque before.

What have we done? Or is it more like what have we failed to do? I think we all know how we have failed.

I now know why the Holy Spirit awoke me three times last night like I had to vomit evil out. I knew someone was hurting and needed prayer.

This past week has been very draining in the Spirit, we have poured and poured out..now a time of refreshing is needed, please pray for us……WOW! We have been Sharing on Fasting and Prayer and Prayer Warrior Cowboy John Taylor came to town from Texas to pray over folks.

I say again this Country need’s to Fast and Pray………I turn it over right now to Pastor Leonard Navarre, a great, great man of God…………

Hi Dewey,

Just wanted to tell you what a tremendous blessing the Dewey’s Daily Cup has been to me this past week. The Cup is always a blessing and I hope and pray those who receive the Cup will encourage others to subscribe. Many in our Men’s Group here at Valley View Christian Church, Edgewood, New Mexico subsribe and love it. In fact, one of our men (you rememer Jerry – Wisconsin cheesehead)forwarded one of this week’s Cup to me and all his email friends because it touched him so much.

But now back to this past week or so. The articles on fasting have been such a tremendous blessing to me. I save all the Cups but this weeks I cut and pasted the articles on fasting to a special folder. As we studied this past week fasting is so important in developing our spiritual lives and overcoming sinful and bad habits. The prophet Daniel went on an extend fast when he gave up certain foods to seek an answer from the Lord God in a specific prayer. As these fabulous articles in the Cup have stated, the enemy, Satan, mightily opposes God’s people in this very vital area of obedience. Dewey, I also learned that Jesus was very clear in the importance of fasting for overcoming bondage and sinful habits (Matthew 17:21). The Lord obviously honors any sincere and committed effort in the area of fasting. I learned through these Cups this week, that through fasting, the oppressed go free, health springs forth, the glory of the Lord protects us and the Lord Jesus Christ guides us continually.

So, my brother Dewey, thank you again for putting out “Dewey’s Daily Cup” and I wanted to tell you how blessed I was especially with the past several days of the teaching on fasting. So keep up the good work. Don’t give in. Don’t give up and NO COMPROMISE!

Blessings. I am praying for you, Sharon, your family and the ministry and outreach ministry of KKIM/KARS.

luv ya

Leonard

Leonard Navarre
Valley View Christian Church
Licensed Church Consultant
P.O. Box 990
Edgewood, NM 87015
Special Reporter: www.mykkim.com
www.valleyviewnow.org
leonard
www.navarreministries.com

505-980-0141

Thanks for sharing Pastor Leonard, My prayer is that folks will be fasting and praying for this Country and World.

My prayer is also that you all keep the Teachings we poured out on Fasting and Prayer and will pray over them…..and My prayer is also that it will help you understand Fasting……and that your personal relationship with Jesus Christ will grow!!!! I pray that you will give a copy of the teachings to your Pastor! AMEN!!!! hallelujah!!!

Yesterday we taped two 2 TV programs for “Dewey and Friends” which is on KAZQ CH 32 Saturday nights at 6pm. You folks out of state can watch live on their website www.kazq32.org just click on live streaming. In the program that airs this week Dominic Lopez my 10 year old buddy who has just has a remarkable story to tell(he went to heaven while in a coma) and John Taylor are with me. The following week John will share more on his experiences in being a Prayer Warrior for the Lord.

By the way John’s website is www.makemylifeabible.com

Last night on NM New and Views John Taylor prayed over Victor Martinez………

Dewey, thank you again for introducing me to John Taylor today at the Radio Ranch! As you shared with us, it was clearly orchestrated by the Holy Spirit, as was his entire visit to ABQ. I had spoken earlier in the day to a brother about needing some inspiration, feeling dry and how great it would be to encounter someone full of God’s power. Little did I know that inspiration was only a couple hours away! What struck me most about John was his humility and tenderness. I observed him tear up several times during our time together, just by listening to you speak about him and also after he spoke about what God is doing through him. He always clarified the power was not his but the Lord’s, but he also stressed it took faith to speak in advance that healing would take place before it did. That’s a great balance of humility and faith. Thank you also for giving me a copy of John’s book, Make My Life a Bible. I look forward to reading it and getting to know John better through it. Above all thank you for allowing me an opportunity to be prayed for by John for healing of my back. While I did not have a “walking and leaping and praising God” experience like the man in Acts 3, I do believe God honored our faith and the manifested healing of my back is coming. My situation is a difficult one to test as it’s more an issue of chronic pain and not always a visible disability. However it’s something I will continue to seek the Lord for complete healing of. Physical healing is ours because of what Jesus accomplished through His suffering and death on the cross. As it says in Matthew 8:17 [quoting and expounding from
Isaiah 53:4], “He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.” By His wounds we are and have been healed. This is as much a part of the gospel as is the forgiveness of sins and should be preached as such. I’m thankful for men like you and John that do that. Lastly, you asked if I had anything to share on fasting and prayer. I haven’t delved much in to that and look forward to reading on the CUP what you and others will say. I did hear a brief teaching on it recently and remember the teacher saying it’s a preparatory activity. When we know something is clearly the will of God, as revealed in scripture, we don’t need to fast or pray about it. We just need to believe it and do it, without hesitation. An example would be healing. It’s already been accomplished by Jesus and we need to do what we’re told to in Mark 16, James 5 and the rest of the NT. But fasting and prayer helps prepare us to do it when the occasion for it arises. And there are lots of occasions, right?!!

Thanks again and Maranatha!

Victor

God Bless you Victor!

What The Lord Is Saying Today

See below for the story of one little girl given a chance at a new life. Pray for her.

July 20, 2012. How long, how long will you feel rejected? Maybe you were born into rejection because you were not wanted as a child. Perhaps your mother became pregnant at the very end of her abilities to conceive a child. You were a surprise child seemingly out of season. Certainly your mother adored you but maybe your father never wanted you, yet loved you. You became a carrier of rejection, straight from your earthly father. But there came a time when you found your Heavenly Father’s love and acceptance to be enough. You began to realize who you are in His Son Jesus and you burst forth, breaking the chains of rejection. How long then will you feel rejected? Not one minute longer. Celebrate your acceptance.

Romans 11:15 (NASB) “For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?” Ras Robinson

Subscribe t o “What the Lord Is Saying Today”

July 20, 2012. Something has happened that has caused you to feel uncomfortable around someone. Something was said in a group that you said in private. The more you think about it the more upset you become. It is growing in your mind, and something needs to be done. First talk to Me thoroughly with all you know. I know you don’t want to but you need to talk to the person who has hurt you. I know it is easier to talk to others about it, but that will spread strife. Instead talk to a mature, trusted person to get some relief and who will give you godly counsel. Then Trust me.

Romans 12:17-19 (NASB) “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord.” Bev Robinson

Scroll down to see “Photo of the Day” from our ministry to children in the Philippines.

July 20, 2012. Forty three years ago today, United States Astronaut Commander Neil Armstrong made one of the biggest achievements in the history of mankind. Before the lunar module landed on the moon, he said, “We came in peace for all mankind.” He later said, “Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.” While stepping on the moon he said, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” The Lord says, “Like Joshua before you, be strong and very courageous! For I am with you always. Fear has no part in your walk with Me. Have faith in Me to accomplish greater things than Neil Armstrong did. You can move mountains!”

Joshua 1:3-5 (NASB) “Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory. No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.” Kevin Robinson

Here’s Doctor Joe and our Medical bag……….

Each year, more than one million Americans experience a heart attack. According to research published in the American Heart Association’s online journal Circulation, nearly half of these heart attacks are fatal. Stroke is the leading cause of disability and the third leading cause of death for women and men. More women have strokes than men, and women are more likely to die as a result of a stroke. Many people believe that heart attacks are a problem for only older men, yet heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the United States. Do you know if you’re at risk?

What Are the Signs and Symptoms?

In most instances, a heart attack is caused by a small blood clot lodged within a blood vessel leading to either the heart or the brain. If blood clots form in the blood vessels serving the heart, they cause a heart attack. Blood clots that develop or travel to the blood vessels in the brain cause a stroke.

Many of us think of a heart attack as a sudden, heart-clutching event. This can happen, but it’s not always the case. Many heart attacks start slowly as mild pain or discomfort, which can last more than a few minutes or go away and come back. For both women and men, the most common sign of a heart attack is pain or discomfort in the center of the chest, which can be mild or strong. Other common signs of a heart attack that are especially common in women include:
– Shortness of breath
– Nausea or vomiting
– Pain in the back, neck, or jaw
– Light-headedness
– Breaking out in a cold sweat

Risk Factors for Women

The traditional risk factors for heart disease – high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and obesity – affect both women and men, but other risk factors may be more important in the development of heart disease in women:

– Metabolic syndrome (a combination of fat around your abdomen, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high triglycerides)
– Mental stress and depression
– Smoking
– Low levels of estrogen after menopause
– Family history of heart disease

Make Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Risk

Marianne J. Legato, MD, FACP, the founder and director of The Partnership for Gender-Specific Medicine at Columbia University, says the No. 1 thing women can do to prevent heart disease is reduce stress in their lives. “Try to be less stressed,” she advises women. “Deal with your life head-on. If you have a nagging problem you can’t solve, it’s very important to talk to somebody. Not everything needs a shrink. Talking to a true friend may be the best therapy there is.”

How can you tell if stress is becoming a factor? “Look at what you are doing in excess,” Legato advises. “Are you overeating or not eating? Shopping? Drinking? Gambling? Any of these are indicators.” She also cautions women to take care of themselves and to know their risk factors. “Women tend to neglect their own health and concentrate on husbands and kids,” she says. “They tend to avoid knowing anything bad because they are apprehensive, but they need to trust themselves and take action when needed.”

Legato notes that exercise is essential to reducing stress, even if it’s just walking. “Walk everywhere, as fast as you can,” she says. “I do.” Increase physical activity, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking or riding your bicycle to do errands, parking your car a good distance from the mall, or doing some sit-ups or push-ups while watching television.

Other lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your risk of heart disease include not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, and eating a heart-healthy diet.

“Keep a detailed food diary for two weeks,” Legato recommends. Write down everything you eat, and then see a skilled nutritionist who can help you include more of the following:
– Fruits and vegetables
– 100% Whole grains
– Fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products
– Lean protein, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts
– Foods that are low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt, sodium, and added sugars

If you have a medical condition that is a contributing factor for heart disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes, make sure to follow your doctor’s advice, take your prescription medicines appropriately, and keep your blood pressure and blood sugar under control. Some women at high risk of heart disease may also benefit from the use of supplements, such as omega-3 fatty acids.

Legato cautions women on taking a daily aspirin as a preventive measure. “There are new guidelines on aspirin,” she says. “It doesn’t prevent heart attacks in women. I no longer allow my women patients to take it due to catastrophic bleeds.”

Monday, I’ll address a bit about heart disease and women.

Have a blessed and safe weekend.

www.DrJoeFawcett.com

Thank you Dr. Joe!

In the Love of Jesus Christ, Dewey Sharon and Family

www.mykkim.com

www.deweysdailycup.com

www.newmexiconewsandviews.com

www.kazq32.org

www.windomnews.com

www,facebook.com

www.twitter.com

If you have friends or family you think would like to share a daily cup of inspirational coffee with Dewey please forward this email and encourage them to join Dewey’s Daily Cup. All they have to do is send an email saying “Sign me up!” to radiodewey.

If you do not wish to be on this email list please kindly inform Dewey by sending him an email titled REMOVE at radiodewey@aol.com – we will take you off this email list asap.

A CUP with Cowboy John Taylor KKIM/DDC

July 19, 2012 by radiodewey@aol.com Leave a Comment

Dear Family of Jesus,

Oh my this has such a strong meaning to me, more than ever after yesterday………

My life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus. Acts 20:24

Good Morning my friends!

I am still soaking in the goodness of yesterday……..A Man named John Taylor has come to the Radio Ranch. He is like a man out of the Bible! Let us remember God used Moses and Paul to remind is He transforms “the least of us” to be light in darkness.

John is a Cowboy from Texas, 73 years old and doing the work the Lord has assigned him.

John traveled almost 1,000 miles to be with us. He is a man who goes wherever God tells him to go and pray. He has 13 journals of miracles that the Lord has done through his praying over folks.

Some are in his book. www.makemylifeabible.com

This is a quote from John’s wife……..

“I have often told him, that if I didn’t live with him and see firsthand so many of these miracles that God has done for His people, I would find it hard to believe.”
Connie Taylor, wife to John Taylor

First thing John did yesterday after I took a call that Martha Montano was in the hospital, John took off for the Hospital and prayed over Martha and her husband Roger. Please keep Martha in your prayers. We are praying for complete healing for Martha. When John prayed there was a tremendous movement of the Holy Spirit, the room heated up!

We also got a call from a family asking John to pray for them and their daughter, as she announced to the family she was going to marry another women.

I will tell you this folks, that being around John, it’s like he is right our of the Bible..he lives the Bible, interesting that his book is titled, Make My Life a Bible. I am like floating off the ground in the Spirit bring around this man, as God just shines through him.

Today I tape 2 TV programs with him for “Dewey and Friends” and he also will be with me on NM News and Views today. My little buddy, Dom, Lord Willing, will also be on one of the TV tapings. I will keep you posted.

My thanks to Dr. Joe Fawcett for introducing me to John Taylor and to Robin White the co-author of Johns book.

John was so funny yesterday after we finished at the Radio Ranch around 5:30 last night…….”You do do this everyday? WOW! I don’t know how you do it, they need two of you.”

We both laughed and said the Lord gives us both the energy to do the work assigned to us!

There was such a strong presence of the Holy Spirit around us yesterday, I have learned not to try to understand everything going on in the Spirit, just go with it and be obedient in the Lord.

Dear Dewey,

I woke up early this Morning with something PoWerFULL on my mind! I got up @ 3:26 am to post this on my FB! It was so powerful in the Spirit! I hope this is a blessing to share it with DDC too:

The Difference Between Accepting Jesus and Accepting Jesus Fully is the difference between Receiving LIFE and LiVing LIFE to the FULL!

W O W so Powerful I had to share!

I Found this following Scripture to backup this Spiritual Revelation:

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10).”

Love in Christ,

Karen

We all have the privilege of gathering here at the CUP and reading the words of Godly people like Karen Rowe. Karen is consistent……a consistent women of God. Too many people are inconsistent in their faith.

I believe today will wrap up for now our teaching on Fasting. First we have a write up from John Lay of Time To Revive, which is heard weekdays on KKIM at 5:30am and 4pm. I pray this weeks teaching has been a blessing to you and yours……John Lay is a tremendous man of God……I pray we hear from him more……….This is an excellent write up! Followed by another one…….Who knows this may not wrap up our study.We just move in the Holy Spirit here at the CUP!

John’s write up cries out, asking us, “What is controlling you?

If you fast, there is a good bet you will find out……It sure does show me……..

Fasting Leads to Ministry

In 2005, God effectively caught my attention through a chapter on fasting. Isaiah 58 reveals God’s displeasure with fasting as an empty human ritual of religious performance. Divorced from a life-changing relationship of obedience that results in intimacy with God and integrity in our individual and community relationships, fasting is just another discipline. So…God told me that I was just going through the motions and not fasting for the right reasons. My fast must bring me closer to God by focusing on Him, but also force me to engage the world. Almost every passage in Scripture about fasting couples fasting with doing ministry.

I think most people who have fasted know that a fast is supposed to bring us closer to God. Wesleyan preacher William Bramwell wrote in 1809 that the reason many do not live in the power of their salvation is because “there is too much sleep, too much meat and drink, too little fasting and self-denial, too much taking part in the world … and too little self-examination and prayer.” Two hundred years later the quote still applies. Fasting sets the sails for God to move in our hearts, change the way we live, and bring power to our lives.

Richard Foster, in his landmark book on the spiritual disciplines Celebration of Discipline, writes: “Fasting reveals the things that control us. We cover up what is inside us with food and other good things, but in fasting these things come to the surface. The first truth that was revealed to me in my early experiences in fasting was my lust for good feelings. It is certainly not a bad thing to feel good, but we must be able to bring that feeling to an easy place where it does not control us. So many attitudes strive to control us: anger, pride, fear, hostility, gluttony, avarice. All of these and more will surface as we fast. It is a blessed release to have these things out in the open so that they can be defeated, and we can live with a single eye toward God.”

Although fasting focuses us on God, most people do not realize that the point of a fast is for us to be better equipped for ministry. For example, Jesus fasted in the wilderness, was tempted, and then received power to do ministry (Luke 4:1-15). Then Jesus reinforces the need for fasting in order to do effective ministry when he tells the disciples that the demon they unsuccessfully encounter only comes out by “prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21). In Acts 13:1-3, the church at Antioch is fasting when the Holy Spirit tells them to send out Paul and Barnabas to do ministry!

Now let’s look at the Old Testament. In Isaiah 58, God tells Israel that their fast should include lifting heavy burdens, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked…all actions of ministry. In Zechariah 7:5-10, God says again that we are to do ministry in conjunction with fasting. Can you see the pattern? Fasting is in preparation for ministry.

As the City Discipleship Director for Time to Revive (www.timetorevive.com), my job is to prepare people across the United States to do ministry in strategic cities. For example, Time to Revive is just beginning to do work in Seattle, WA. As we begin to call believers across this nation to serve in that city, we simultaneously ask them to begin fasting in preparation for ministry. Likewise, if God is calling you to minister in any area, I encourage you to first fast, receive power, and be better equipped for the work ahead.

Thank you so much John! God Bless you!

For you music lovers, there is an old song…..Can you Imagine….singing about Heaven…I ask this my friends, Can you Imagine if 50% of Christians really fasted and prayed?????? 75%????……..we are not seeking the face of the Lord as a whole…..We are not seeking all the POWER of the LORD that HE offers us………so many do not understand Fasting and Prayer.

FASTING AND PRAYER: KEY TO BREAKTHROUGH

From the website of: Advocates For Prayer

Precious Testimonies Staff Note: We encourage all believers to explore the website of: Advocates For Prayer … especially if you are going through a discouraging time right now in your relationship with the Lord.

For those who are in need of a healing, this writing may be greatly beneficial: Give Your Insides A Vacation, For Goodness Sakes

From a different ministry, here is an insightful two-part video clip that addresses Fasting (and Prayer): Part 1 Part 2

— Norm Rasmussen, Director, Precious Testimonies

Introduction

OUR STUDY OF PRAYER has emphasized the role of our prayers on earth to invoke the power of our God from heaven. Prayer is powerful because it is human weakness deferring to God�s strength. As James write, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (See James 5:16 KJV.)

When the righteous pray fervently, God�s power is released to accomplish much. But, what about those times when the cares of life distract us from seeing our righteous standing before God through Christ and cause us to pray limp prayers that bounce back at us? In such times, our prayers need help. We need a breakthrough in our prayer lives.

A biblical key to a breakthrough in our prayer lives is to join fasting with prayer. Jesus told His disciples on one occasion that the reason they could not cast out a particular spirit of infirmity from a demonized lad was because of their unbelief (See: Matthew 17:20-21). A few verses later, He added these words: “But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” The point is that prayer and fasting combined can debunk our unbelief and re-empower our prayer lives. When prayer alone doesn�t work, prayer and fasting will bring the breakthrough.

I find that the practical lessons learned from the Bible regarding prayer and fasting can be presented in an orderly fashion by allowing the Bible to address the following question: When should we fast? Scripture answers this question in a variety of ways that are sure to touch each of our lives. Let�s look at them.

When We Feel Estranged From God

We should fast when we feel estranged from God. It is sin that separates us from God and brings upon us the sentence of death. (See Isaiah 59:2 and Romans 6:23). But, Scripture teaches that Jesus took the penalty of our sins in His own death and defeated death for us through His resurrection. (See Romans 5:10.) By believing in and accepting this redeeming work of Jesus Christ for us, we are reconciled to God. (See Romans 5:1.) We are no longer estranged.

I don�t believe Christians ever feel estranged from God because of questioning Jesus� work of redemption for them. I believe it is when they turn the focus upon themselves and question the sincerity of their own humility, repentance, and acceptance of pardon. After all, these three responses on our part are the requirement of Scripture for receiving God saving grace.

When we feel that our hearts are growing cold toward God and that we lack sincerity in our humility, repentance, and acceptance of pardon, fasting and prayer are instrumental in restoring passion in our relationship with God by bringing renewed depth and sincerity to our responses to Him. Let�s see how this plays out in Scripture.

Fasting signifies humility

The children of Israel were required by God�s decree to fast on the annual Day of Atonement. (See Leviticus 16:29). God�s gift of atonement was to be met by their response of humility. Fasting was the means by which they were to demonstrate their humility.

Saul of the New Testament exemplifies fasting as a response of humility before God. When he encountered the resurrected Christ in a vision on the Damascus Road and was brought to the realization that he had been fighting against God by persecuting the Church, he humbled himself with prayer and fasting for three days. (See Acts 9:9.) It was then that he received the gift of salvation, the fullness of the Holy Spirit, and a call to take the gospel to the Gentiles. (See verses 15-18.) He was prepared to receive God�s grace through humility expressed in fasting.

Fasting demonstrates repentance

Joel�s prophesy of judgment upon unfaithful Israel was followed by a divine call to ward off judgment through a fast of repentance. The Lord beckoned, “�Even now,� declares the LORD, �return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.�” (See Joel 2:12-13.) Similarly, James exhorts New Testament believers with these words: “Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (See James 4:8-10.) Fasting demonstrates the brokenness of a heart that is truly repentant for sin.

Fasting appeals to God for forgiveness and pardon

Ahab was a king of Israel described as one who “did more evil in the eyes of the LORD than those before him.” (See 1 Kings 16:30). But when God spoke to him through Elijah with a prophecy of impending judgment, we read that he “he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.” (See 1 Kings 21:27.) God saw Ahab�s humility and fasting as repentance and withheld judgment until the next generation. (See verses 28-29.)

What God did for Ahab He will do for his people corporately. This is assured in the Lord�s response to Solomon�s prayer dedicating the temple: “If my people, who are called by my name, will 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.” (See 2 Chronicles 7:14.) The humble response of fasting and prayer, God said, would assure pardon and restoration.

A tell-tale sign that we are growing cold toward God is that our relationship with Him lacks heart. Humility, repentance, and acceptance of God�s pardon become more words that we say in prayer than genuine heart attitudes toward God. The principle is there but the passion is missing. In such a condition, if we are honest with ourselves we will have to admit that we feel estranged from God. How do we restore passion to our relationship with Him? The biblical answer is to humble ourselves before him with fasting and prayer.

When We Feel Weak and Vulnerable

We should fast when we feel weak and vulnerable. This may seem to be illogical as fasting weakens one physically. Many use food for psychologically gratification when they feel beat up emotionally. They are saying essentially, “I believe I�ll feel better after I eat.” So, why on earth would one prescribe fasting to treat vulnerability?

The logic here is that vulnerability points to our dependence upon God, and prayer and fasting appeals to God to intervene at the point of our need. When we feel vulnerable, we need God to protect us from harm and give us victory over adversity. Scripture confirms that God responds to fasting and prayer by providing protection from harm and victory over the Enemy.

Fasting appeals to God for protection

When Ezra the scribe appealed to the Persian King Artaxerxes to send him and an entourage of devout Jews to Jerusalem to re-establish religious instruction and worship among the newly returned exiles, he called a fast for protection along the way. In his words, “There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.” (See Ezra 8:21) The result? “So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.” (See verse 23.) Likewise Nehemiah, troubled by the report of the sad state of affairs among the returned exiles in Jerusalem, “mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.” (See Nehemiah 1:4.) As a result, God gave him favor with King Artaxerxes to secure the provisions and protection needed to travel to Jerusalem and assist in rebuilding the city.

Fasting appeals to God for victory

Jehoshaphat, a king of Judah, learned the power of prayer and fasting to conquer literal military adversaries. When faced with a military alliance of Ammonites, Moabites, and Meunites, Jehoshaphat called a fast for all the people of Judah. (See 2 Chronicles 20:3.) The result was that God set confusion in the camp of the enemy so that they turned upon themselves and destroyed each other. (See verses 22-23.)

For the prophet Elijah, prayer and fasting brought victory over a powerful demonic principality operating through Queen Jezebel. Elijah was fearless in the face of King Ahab and 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah (see 1 Kings 18:16-40) but ran for his life at the threat of Jezebel because she was empowered by a demonic principality of witchcraft that intimidated him. (See 1 Kings 19:1-3 and 2 Kings 9:22.) At the end of a 40 day period of fasting and prayer while in route to Mount Horeb to meet with God, Elijah received a message from God that assured Him of the Lord�s sovereignty over political and spiritual forces. (See 1 Kings 19:15-18.) He was able to return at God�s command with no fear for his security as God had assured victory over his enemies.

Fasting places us in the position to receive from God�s hand protection from harm and victory over the Enemy of our soul. It is not that God withholds these blessings from us but that we have been blindsided by the Enemy into living below our privilege. Fasting and prayer open our eyes to see things in right perspective so that we cast off our insecurity complex and embrace an expectation of continual blessing and favor. To employ computer terminology, the old insecurity program is removed from memory and replaced with a new blessing program.

When We Feel Tension in Our Relationships

We should fast when we feel tension in our relationships. A sign that God�s grace is doing its work in our lives is that we have harmonious relationships with other believers. Walking in the light of God�s truth means that we “have fellowship with one another.” (See 1 John 1:7.)

Fellowship implies that we relate to each other as equals. Lack of fellowship means that we either feel we are above others or below them. But, when we are able to accept ourselves and accept others equally, a fellowship is established that paves the way for the glory of God to be revealed. The prophet Isaiah writes, “Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” (See Isaiah 40:4-5.)

When done as God prescribes, fasting and prayer proves to be a great leveler. It brings the haughty down to size and lifts the oppressed from their valley of despair. This is evident from the description of God�s chosen fast as related in Isaiah 58.

We should fast when we tend to be oppressive towards others

Sometimes our lives become so self-absorbed that we unintentionally develop attitudes that are oppressive towards others. Even our fasting can be self-absorbed as it focuses on what we want from God as a result of our fast. In answer to such, God encouraged the people of Israel not to fast merely as an outward form of humility before God while continuing to exploit their workers and quarrel among themselves. (See Isaiah 58: 3-5.) Rather, their times of fasting were to be combined with setting the oppressed free and providing food for the hungry, clothing for the naked, and shelter for the homeless. (See verses 6-7.) Fasting as God prescribes turns oppressive attitudes into new attitudes that truly liberate others.

We should fast when we feel oppressed by others

The blessings of God promised to those who adhere to his chosen fast apply both to the repentant oppressor and the oppressed one who needs to be lifted from his valley of despair. Those blessings are listed as healing, vindication, revelation, enlightenment, satisfaction, strength, prosperity, productivity, joy, and victory. (See Isaiah 58: 8-14.) These are results of allowing fasting to be practiced in such a way that is becomes a great leveler to our relationships.

When fasting, we should combine the denial of self with the affirmation of others. We humble ourselves before God and commit to offer ourselves as servants to others to lift them from the humiliation of oppression. As we make this two-way commitment, we will find that God�s chosen fast replaces tension in our relationships with harmony among fellow believers.

When We Desire to Draw Closer to God

We should fast when we desire to draw closer to God. Fasting is not just a discipline for bringing problems to God to be fixed. It is also an expression of the heart�s longing for a greater intimacy in our walk with Him. It is to set aside our physical appetites and the time required to prepare meals in order to focus more of our time and attention upon the Lord.

Fasting assures a devotion that lasts

When we have trouble maintaining consistency in our devotion to the Lord, it is usually because it does not come natural to deny ourselves and put God and his interests ahead of our own. A regular practice of fasting and prayer helps assure more consistency in our devotion to God because it develops a lifestyle of self-denial. This is part of the cost of true discipleship. Jesus said, “”If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (See Luke 9:23.)

The prophetess Anna serves as an example of one whose lifestyle of fasting enabled a lasting devotion to God. She became a widow after only seven years of marriage. Thereafter, she was wholly devoted to the Lord into her late eighties. We read, “She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying.” (See Luke 2:37.) And the intimacy she had with God was such that she immediately recognized the baby Jesus as the anointed Redeemer when His parents brought Him into the temple. (See verse 38.) Her devotion to the Lord made it easy for her to receive revelation from Him.

Fasting intensifies the worship of God

Another example of fasting being practiced as an aspect of worship is seen among the prophets and teachers of the church in Antioch. (See Acts 13:1-3.) They are described as “worshipping the Lord and fasting.” (See verse 2.) Like Anna, their devotion to the Lord made it easy for them to hear from Him, and He spoke to them during their worship to set apart Barnabas and Saul for a missionary work to which they were divinely called. Upon receiving this word, they spent a season of time in fasting in prayer after which they laid hands upon Barnabas and Saul and sent them off on their first missionary journey. (See verse 3.)

Fasting is an exciting venture because it focuses us upon a deeper relationship with God. God is a jealous God who gives Himself most fully to those who give themselves to Him most completely. The discipline of fasting helps us to give ourselves more fully to the Lord by putting the ax to any tendencies we have that would distract our focus from Him. In develops in us a consistency of devotion that draws us into God�s confidence in which He is pleased to walk with us and talk with us.

When We Desire Spiritual Blessing and Insight

We should fast when we desire to experience greater spiritual blessing and understanding. Fasting not only helps us to draw closer to God, develop a consistency in our devotion to Him, and occasionally hear his voice when He speaks to us. It also helps us grow into mature disciples of Jesus Christ whose lives are enriched with an increase of blessing and wisdom. It aids us in getting to know Jesus better “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (See Colossians 2:3.)

Fasting brings divine rewards

In Jesus� teaching on fasting, He warned that those who fast openly to draw attention to their piety will get that attention, but it will be the full extent of their reward for fasting. (See Matthew 6:16.) On the other hand, those who fast secretly desiring a deeper communion with God will be rewarded openly. (See verse 17-18.)

Jesus did not say just what kind of rewards God would openly bestow upon those who fast in secret. It is easy to surmise, though, that those who desire God�s favor over the applause of men will be blessed by God in every area of their lives. And, that will be hard to hide. When we prosper in our relationships, our labors, our finances, our ministries, and find favor with God and man, we have been rewarded openly. And, those who humbly fast for God�s kingdom alone can handle such blessings because they will desire only to lead others to the same.

Fasting brings divine revelation

We�ve seen that the prophetess Anna and the prophets and teachers in Antioch discovered that a lifestyle of worship and fasting enabled them to hear from God. In both of those cases, though, it was more of a word of knowledge they received rather than any extensive revelation. Two other biblical examples, though, demonstrate how fasting was the precursor to extensive revelations of God�s purposes for the nation of Israel and for the world.

Moses was fasting in the presence of God for forty days and nights at the time that God entrusted him with the Ten Commandments. Furthermore, God dictated them to him, and Moses himself wrote the commandments onto tablets of stone. (See Exodus 34:28.) This was a supernatural fast in which Moses was sustained with neither food nor water, and the presence of God was so great upon him that his face was radiant with God�s glory when he descended the mountain to return to the camp of Israel. (See verse 29.)

Daniel was concluding a twenty-one day fast (see Daniel 9:3; 10:10-13) when the angel Gabriel came to him in “swift flight” and gave him an extensive revelation of what would happen to the people of Israel from that time all the way through to the end of human history. (See Daniel 9-12.) It is significant that Daniel was deeply troubled by the sins of his people and combined his prolong fast with a heartfelt prayer of repentance on behalf of the Jewish exiles with him in Babylon when the angelic visit and extensive revelation occurred. The point is that Daniel�s heart was so one with God�s that God could trust him with a revelation of such great impact.

No doubt every follower of Jesus would say that they desire to be so one with God�s heart that God can trust them with revelation of things to come as He did Daniel. And, this is the promise of Jesus to those who would follow Him. He said to His disciples of the Holy Spirit, “he will tell you what is yet to come.” (See John 16:13.) But if we, like Daniel, are to experience that ministry of the Holy Spirit that shows us things to come, we must have a reason to know. For Daniel, the reason was informed intercession. For us, perhaps it is to be both informed intercession and guided evangelism. The point is, though, our heart must be committed to God�s program if He is to share the program with us. Fasting and prayer is a key to deepening our commitment to God and His program and receiving revelation of the same.

When We Want to Be Equipped and to Equip Others

We should fast when we desire to be fully equipped for the ministry God has called us to and to be instrumental in equipping others to fulfill their calling. For effective ministry, we need not only to be able to hear from God in words or knowledge or extensive revelations of things to come. We need to be empowered to advance God�s kingdom and destroy the works of the devil in people�s lives.

Fasting empowers us for spiritual warfare

One Scriptural statement of the purpose of Jesus� ministry reads as follows: “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” (See 1 John 3:8.) Our ministry as followers of Jesus is not only to advance the kingdom of God but to enforce the destruction of Satan�s kingdom from people�s lives. This requires not only spiritual revelation but spiritual power.

It was after Jesus empowered His disciples to heal the sick and drive out demons (see Matthew 10:1) that they had difficulties delivering a demonized boy from a spirit of infirmity causing seizures that would throw him into fire or water to destroy him. (See 17:15-16.) Jesus Himself delivered the boy from the demon of infirmity. He explained to His disciples, as we saw earlier, that they could not cast this spirit out because of unbelief but would indeed be able to expel such spirits through prayer and fasting combined. (See verse 21 in the NIV footnote.) As we�ve seen, fasting debunks that unbelief that hinders our prayer lives and thus re-empowers our prayers. In doing so, fasting is instrumental in empowering our ministries.

Fasting enables us in the ministry of impartation

It would be quite self-centered to desire a powerful ministry ourselves but have no interest in helping other believers experience the same. Our desire should be like that of the Apostle Paul who wrote to the Christians in Rome, “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong — that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.” (See Romans 1:11-12.) Paul wanted to impart spiritual gifts to other believers so that they could all the more powerfully advance God�s kingdom and destroy the works of the devil.

Paul understood the ministry of impartation and the role that fasting played in that ministry. After he and Barnabas had preached in the cities of Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch on their first missionary journey, they returned to those cities to appoint anointed leadership over the churches. We read: “Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.” (See Acts 14:23.) In a sense, one could say that the fasting, prayer, and anointing of the apostles gave these newly appointed leaders a “jump start” for their ministries. To continue in the same, these leaders would have to prove themselves in fasting, prayer, and servant leadership.

To say that fasting and prayer both empower us for ministry and enables us to empower others for ministry through impartation shows yet again how fasting serves as a great leveler. We are not to build our own ministries but to serve the Body of Christ and evangelize the lost. Whatever fruitfulness we experience in ministry we should desire to help others experience. The goal is for the Body of Christ to work together to see God�s kingdom advanced and the powers of darkness dispelled. The discipline of fasting and prayer helps position us to labor with God toward making that happen.

Conclusion

Fasting and prayer does not change God. It changes us. It is not twisting God�s arm to get him to do our bidding but rather positioning ourselves to receive the grace He freely gives and to do His bidding.

Fasting and prayer combined removes the hindrances to our peace. It ensures the sincerity of our humility, repentance, and acceptance of pardon so that we no longer feel estranged from God. It effectively appeals for God�s protection from harm and victory over the enemy of our souls so that we overcome feelings of weakness and vulnerability. It helps us humble ourselves and lift up others who are oppressed so that we vanquish tensions from our relationships.

Fasting and prayer combined also aids us in progressing in our walk with God. It helps us draw closer to him in consistency of devotion and worship. It brings an increase in spiritual blessing and understanding. It empowers us for ministry and enables us to effectively impart spiritual gifts and empowerment to others for fruitful ministry in their lives.

Fasting is a key to a revitalized prayer life and an empowered ministry. I pray that God motivates us to make it a regular discipline in our lives and to appeal to Him during times of prayer and fasting to grant each of these benefits that we find ourselves in need of so that we can experience a more fruitful ministry in His service.

The Lord put Fasting and praying on my heart so much…..It is needed right now in our Country and World.

I am praying and fasting for the strong holds of Satan to be destroyed in my family and in the United States of America and the World.

What The Lord Is Saying Today

Partner with us to help young people escape the cycle and bondage of poverty through ministry to body (food), soul (education) and spirit (the Gospel). See below for the story of one young man on his way up.

July 19, 2012. Being able to remember is My gift to you. When young, you dwell on dreams of the future. As you age, you have more visions of what I am revealing while recalling much of your past. Wise is the one who recalls the good in thankfulness and celebration, while learning from the bad as well. Practice the good lessons and principles gained that lead to life and success. Nothing, time nor circumstance, is wasted in the Lord’s continuum of His plan for you. All things are working together for your good and His pleasure. Today, I am asking you to spend time remembering while harvesting My dreams and visions for you in this season of your life and the next very rich season.

Revelation 3:3 (MSG) “Think of the gift you once had in your hands, the Message you heard with your ears-grasp it again and turn back to God…” Ras Robinson

Subscribe t o “What the Lord Is Saying Today”

July 19, 2012. An encounter will happen with someone which will seem like chance, but you will know it isn’t chance. It is a direct answer to something you have been wondering about. This encounter will be a reminder and even a seal on something that you need to continue. You were walking a path that I wanted you on. I was directing your walking on that path more than you know. You walked the path. In fact you and others danced on the path. The results the first time were amazing. A lot of time has passed since you first began. You haven’t done anything wrong. Just get back on the path.

Psalms 16:11 (NASB) “You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” Bev Robinson

Scroll down to see “Photo of the Day” from our ministry to children in the Philippines.

July 19, 2012. You are not alone with your expressions of frustration. Step back and take note of how everyone around you experiences different levels of defeat. I’ve taken note of how we all give verbal expression through sighs and grunts because we feel we’ve been unjustly wronged. Though I see it as a bit comical, it might give you some relief in knowing that others experience similar forms of setbacks. The Lord says, “Listen carefully to the complaints of those around you, though you may feel you are the only one facing difficulty. Trouble can unjustly appear at the most inappropriate times more often than not. Life just isn’t fair at times.”

Isaiah 59:10-12 (NLT) “We grope like the blind along a wall, feeling our way like people without eyes. Even at brightest noontime, we stumble as though it were dark. Among the living, we are like the dead. We growl like hungry bears; we moan like mournful doves. We look for justice, but it never comes. We look for rescue, but it is far away from us. For our sins are piled up before God and testify against us. Yes, we know what sinners we are.” Kevin Robinson

Here’s today’s Medical bag with Dr. Joe…

You know the classic Hollywood image of a heart attack: A man clutches his chest and falls to the ground. But a heart attack typically looks far subtler in a woman, with a constellation of symptoms – including fatigue, heartburn, indigestion, sudden dizziness, and troubled sleep – that develop over hours, days, or even weeks. It’s tempting to write off these signs as “nothing, really,” but the more of them you have, the more likely you’re suffering a heart attack. If you suspect you’re having a heart attack, call 911 immediately.

Fatigue is a common complaint, and one that may indicate you’re missing out on sleep, fighting a virus, overextending yourself, or experiencing a side effect due to medication. Unusual or extreme fatigue, however, may also be an early heart attack symptom or a warning sign of heart disease. In one study, more than 70% of the women surveyed experienced marked fatigue in the days or weeks prior to their heart attacks.

It’s not unusual to feel tired due to lack of sleep or a demanding week or month, but take notice of any unusual or prolonged disturbance in yoursleep patterns. A recent study revealed that almost half of the women who had recently suffered a heart attack also experienced sleep disturbances in the days or weeks leading up to their attacks.

Having trouble taking a deep breath but don’t think you have asthma? Unexplained, severe shortness of breath during normal daily activities is one of the most common early heart attack symptoms in women, as is coughing.

When it comes to heartburn, a rich meal isn’t always to blame. Nearly 40% of women who have had a heart attack say they experienced heartburn or indigestion shortly before the attack. Heart attack symptoms in women may also include unexplained nausea or vomiting. Women are twice as likely as men to experience gastrointestinal problems when having a heart attack.

More than one-third of women experience unexplained anxiety as an early heart attack symptom. Yep, a heart attack can mimic a panic attack. Unfortunately, this can delay lifesaving treatment. Feeling anxious for no reason at all? Call for help, pronto.

Although sudden chest pain is considered a classic heart attack symptom, only about 30% of women report having chest pain. Women also report pain or discomfort in other areas of the body before or during a heart attack (wide spread pain). Pressure, tightness, aching, or burning in your upper back, neck, shoulders, and arms – or even in your jaw or throat – can indicate a heart attack. Women have also described their chest pain as sharpness, fullness, or tingling.

Nearly 40% of women suffering a heart attack say they feel dizzy or light-headed. Another 40% also break out in a cold sweat. It’s easy to write off both as symptoms of menopause, but sudden dizziness can also be a symptom of stroke, so check with your doctor to be safe.

How do you know if your symptoms signal a heart attack? Get into the habit of noting your typical aches and pains and your normal reactions to foods and activities so you can recognize when something is truly amiss. If you have heart disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, a smoking habit, or a sedentary lifestyle, be especially careful about monitoring how you feel. Alert your doctor if you experience unusual fatigue, changes in your sleep habits, or other subtle heart attack symptoms.

www.DrJoeFawcett.com

Thanks so much Dr. Joe! God Bless you!

In the Love of Jesus Christ, Dewey Sharon and Family

www.mykkim.com

www.deweysdailycup.com

www.newmexiconewsandviews.com

If you do not wish to be on this email list please kindly inform Dewey by sending him an email titled REMOVE at radiodewey@aol.com – we will take you off this email list asap.

For God’s Glory Alone we go forth! KKIM/DDC

July 18, 2012 by radiodewey@aol.com Leave a Comment

Dear Family of Jesus,

2 Timothy 2:23-26 (MSG) “Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. God’s servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil’s trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands.” Ras Robinson

POWERFUL message from Ras Robinson of Fullnessonline.

This touched my heart and soul greatly……..Pastor Barry Dickens taught me years ago that it is alright to Boast in the Lord.For God’s Glory Alone! Do not Boast yourself! AMEN! I want to share this with you for God’s Glory Alone…….This past week I have had two people say this to me……..

“When I hear your voice on the radio…….I know everything is going to be okay.”

Hearing those words made me weep tears of joy in the Lord…..as the Words I speak and write are from the Lord or at least 95%, sometimes the flesh leaks out yet!!!!!!!!!!!!

Part of my testimony to you today is that are words are very impactful……we must speak with care.

I also had a man tell me yesterday that he follows me all the time on Facebook and everything I write. I had no idea. I told KKIM’s Justin Johnson this is another reminder that many are listening and reading, that we never hear from. People come to Jesus Christ through things we do and we never know until we get to heaven. The flip side of that is, we may be the only open Bible people see, so we must operate in the Holy Spirit at all times, and not be responsible for someone not receiving Jesus Christ by our behavior.

I thank the Lord for what HE is doing in my life, taking a wrecth like me and shaping me up for HIS GLORY!

For years we had a FUNNY BONE in about every CUP, don’t know why we stopped! But after talking about the softball game yesterday Lew sent in this Kicker!!!! Great way to start out your day!!!!!!!!!!!

Two 90-year-old women, Rose and Barb, had been friends all of their lives. When it was clear that Rose was dying, Barb visited her every day. One day Barb said, “Rose, we both loved playing women’s softball all our lives, and we played all through High School. Please do me one favor: when you get to Heaven, somehow you must let me know if there’s women’s soft-ball there.”

Rose looked up at Barb from her deathbed and said, “Barb, you’ve been my best friend for many years. If it’s at all possible, I’ll do this favor for you.” Shortly after that, Rose passed on.

At midnight a few nights later, Barb was awakened from a sound sleep by a blinding flash of white light and a voice calling out to her, “Barb, Barb.”

“Who is it?” asked Barb, sitting up suddenly. “Who is it?”

“Barb, it’s me, Rose.”

“You’re not Rose. Rose just died.”

“I’m telling you, it’s me, Rose,” insisted the voice.

“Rose! Where are you?”

“In Heaven,” replied Rose. “I have some really good news and a little bad news.”

“Tell me the good news first,” said Barb.

“The good news,” Rose said, “is that there’s Softball in Heaven. Better yet all of our old buddies who died before us are here, too. Better than that, we’re all young again. Better still, it’s always springtime, and it never rains or snows. And best of all, we can play softball all we want, and we never get tired.”

“That’s fantastic,” said Barb. “It’s beyond my wildest dreams! So what’s the bad news?”

“You’re pitching Tuesday.”

Good one Lew!! made me laugh and laugh!!!!

On July 29th at 10:30am I will be Preaching in Grants, NM at Victory Church of God and on August 5th at 10am the Lighthouse Church in Chimayo, NM First time at Victory Love PRAISE GOD and our second time at the Lighthouse! Thank YOU LORD just love getting out and meeting your people and sharing the Words that YOU give me for that day! Thank YOU LORD for what you are doing in the Ministry YOU have given us! I also will be preaching at a Revival in Rio Rancho, NM at Haynes Park on August 4th at 3pm, For God’s Glory Alone!!!!

This morning Karen Rowe emailed this DYNAMITE message to us…………It’s a great wake up call!

Is God misunderstood? Who is this God who simply loves beyond our human comprehension and intelligence?

Psalm 22: A lament unusual in structure and in intensity of feeling … YET, this is an invitation to praise God!

This psalm reaches deep into that place of personal pain and also words that occur on the lips of the crucified Jesus …

Then, in Acts we hear some more hard words that go deeper than human comprehension and intelligence …

MY God is Wisdom & LOVE from Heaven and HIS Wisdom and LOVE are Infinite …

Please seek HIM in your lack of understanding to KNOW God knows what HE is doing…

GOD WILL NEVER LEAVE OR FORSAKE US … HE has been good at HIS job for a very long time EVEN when it is tuff … God never said HIS job was easy … just that all things are possible with HIM …

We can KNOW that God will work all things out for the good to them who love God …

^{4 “}In YOU our ancestors Put their Trust; they Trusted and YOU delivered them. ⁵To you they cried out and were saved; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.”

I hope this is a blessing … So many are on my heart.

Blessed Because of Jesus BBOJ

Walking Blessed Because Of Obedience WBBOO

Love & Prayers in Christ, Karen

WOW WEE!!!! Thank you Karen!!!

William Booth (10 April 1829 – 20 August 1912) was a British Methodist preacher who founded The Salvation Army and became its first General (1878–1912).

“The chief danger of the 20th century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, and Heaven without Hell.”

William Booth (1829-1912)

Below, a picture of the crowds gathered on the day of William Booth’s funeral. You can see many others on my website www.robertsliardon.com

WOW impactive words and picture from the life of William Booth.

Let us this morning continue our sharing on Prayer and Fasting. Last night on NM News and Views we had a great talk with Kyle Lance Martin of Time To Revive heard weekdays on KKIM at 5:30am and 4pm. The Lord has put Prayer and Fasting on my heart and soul. I love what Bill Bright says about Fasting and prayer, that it is the Spiritual Atomic Bomb!

Bill Bright

I believe the power of fasting as it relates to prayer is the spiritual atomic bomb that our Lord has given us to destroy the strongholds of evil and usher in a great revival and spiritual harvest around the world.

Increasingly I have been gripped with a growing sense of urgency to call upon God to send revival to our beloved country. In the spring and summer of 1994, I had a growing conviction that God wanted me to fast and pray for forty days for revival in America and for the fulfillment of the Great Commission in obedience to our Lord’s command.

At first I questioned, “Is this truly God’s call for me?” Forty days was a long time to go without solid food. But with each passing day, His call grew stronger and more clear. Finally, I was convinced. God was calling me to fast, and He would not make such a call without a specific reason or purpose. With this conviction, I entered my fast with excitement and expectancy mounting in my heart, praying, “Lord, what do you want me to do?”

I believe such a long fast was a sovereign call of God because of the magnitude of the sins of America and of the Church. The Lord impressed that upon my heart, as well as the urgent need to help accelerate the fulfillment of the Great Commission in this generation.

As I began my fast, I was not sure I could continue for forty days. But my confidence was in the Lord to help me. Each day His presence encouraged me to continue. The longer I fasted, the more I sensed the presence of the Lord. The Holy Spirit refreshed my soul and spirit, and I experienced the joy of the Lord as seldom before. Biblical truths leaped at me from the pages of God’s Word. My faith soared as I humbled myself and cried out to God and rejoiced in His presence.

This proved to be the most important forty days of my life. As I waited upon the Lord, the Holy Spirit gave me the assurance that America and much of the world will, before the end of the year 2000, experience a great spiritual awakening. This divine visit from heaven will kindle the greatest spiritual harvest in the history of the Church. But before God comes in revival power, the Holy Spirit will call millions of God’s people to repent, fast, and pray in the spirit of 2 Chronicles 7:14:

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

The scope of this revival depends on how believers in America and the rest of the world respond to this call. I have spent fifty years studying God’s Word and listening to His voice, and His message could not have been more clear.

This handy reference guide, Seven Basic Steps to Successful Fasting and Prayer, will help make your time with the Lord more spiritually rewarding. I encourage you to keep it with you during your fast and refer to it often because it gives easy-to-follow suggestions on how to begin your fast, what to do while you fast, and how to end your fast properly.

During my forty-day fast, God impressed me to pray that two million Christians in North America will fast for forty days by the end of the year 2000, and pray for national and worldwide revival and for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. I urge you to prayerfully consider this challenge.

Before you fast, I encourage you to read my book, The Coming Revival: America’s Call to Fast, Pray, and “Seek God’s Face.” It will help equip you for the coming spiritual awakening.

I encourage you to get those books…………

Now a word from Marilyn…………

By Marilyn Hickey
Guest Columnist

CBN.com – “Fasting and prayer? Didn’t those go out of style decades ago?” The woman who said this to me was a godly woman, a woman who had been in the church all her life, and a woman intent on obeying the Lord. She knew her Bible. She was very serious in her questions.

Yet for some reason, she had concluded — at least subconsciously — that fasting and prayer were no longer intended for believers in today’s world.

The truth is, fasting and prayer are for today! In fact, now more than ever!

The combination of fasting and praying is not a fad or a novelty approach to spiritual discipline. Fasting and praying are not part of a human-engineered method or plan. They are not the means to manipulate a situation or to create a circumstance. Fasting and praying are Bible-based disciplines that are appropriate for all believers of all ages throughout all centuries in all parts of the world.

Through the years, I have learned that many people in the church have never been taught about fasting and prayer, and many have therefore never fasted and prayed. As a result, they don’t know why fasting and praying are important, what the Bible teaches about fasting, or how to fast. To many, fasting sounds like drudgery — or a form of religious works. To others, fasting sounds extremely difficult. People tend to stand in awe at reports of those who have fasted for several weeks. When I hear about such fasts, I no doubt think what they think: If I fasted that long, I’d die! I couldn’t possibly do that!

Let me assure you at the outset of this book that I am not advocating prolonged periods of fasting for every believer. A fast can be as short as one meal. Neither do I advocate fasting and praying for the mere sake of saying with self-righteousness, “I have fasted and prayed about this.” I do not advocate fasting so that the hungry in a foreign nation might have the food you would have eaten that day — which is highly unlikely. I do not advocate fasting apart from prayer.

KEY REASONS TO FAST AND PRAY

I do, however, encourage every believer to fast and pray for two very important reasons:

1. The Scriptures Teach Us to Fast and Pray

The Bible has a great deal to say about both fasting and praying, including commands to fast and pray. The Bible also gives us examples of people who fasted and prayed, using different types of fasts for different reasons, all of which are very positive results. Jesus fasted and prayed. Jesus’ disciples fasted and prayed after the Resurrection. Many of the Old Testament heroes and heroines of the faith fasted and prayed. The followers of John the Baptist fasted and prayed.Many people in the early church fasted and prayed. What the Scriptures have taught us directly and by the examples of the saints is surely something we are to do.

2. Fasting and Prayer Put You into the Best Possible Position for a Breakthrough

That breakthrough might be in the realm of the spirit. It may be in the realm of your emotions or personal habits. It may be in the realm of a very practical area of life, such as a relationship or finances. What I have seen repeatedly through the years-not only in the Scriptures but in countless personal stories that others have told me — is that periods of fasting and prayer produce great spiritual results, many of which fall into the realm of a breakthrough. What wasn’t a reality . . . suddenly was. What hadn’t worked . . . suddenly did. The unwanted situation or object that was there . . . suddenly wasn’t there. The relationship that was unloving . . . suddenly was loving. The job that hadn’t materialized . . . suddenly did.

The very simple and direct conclusions I draw are these: First, if the Bible teaches us to do something, I want to do it. I want to obey the Lord in every way that He commands me to obey Him. And second, if fasting and praying are means to a breakthrough that God has for me, I want to undertake those disciplines so I might experience that breakthrough!

Every person I know needs a breakthrough in some area of his or her life. I am no exception. I need breakthroughs all the time — it may be a breakthrough in understanding a situation, a breakthrough answer to a problem, a breakthrough idea, a breakthrough insight, a breakthrough in financial or material provision, a breakthrough in health. If you have any need in your life, you need a breakthrough from God to meet that need! Fasting and prayer break the yoke of bondage and bring about a release of God’s presence, power, and provision.

I certainly have seen this borne out in the course of my ministry.

When I was forty-two years old, I went to an Assemblies of God camp in Alexandria,Minnesota, to speak for a women’s retreat. The first two days of the retreat went very well, and then I had one day in between the first retreat and the second — so many women had registered, the camp could not host all of the women at the same time. I took that day in this lovely place in Minnesota to enjoy the lakes and trees — it was a gorgeous environment — and to fast and pray about God’s will for my life. I felt as if I was doing a lot of good things, but I also thought I might miss God’s best for me. I longed to hear from God and to receive a revelation from Him about my life.

In that day of fasting and prayer, God spoke to me words from Isaiah 11:9: “I have called you to cover the earth with the Word.” Through the years, the Lord has confirmed that word to me a number of times, but this was my initial call to take the message of God’s Word to the whole earth, and it came as the result of one day of prayer and fasting.

The breakthrough that you may need in your life is a sense of God’s direction — not only for today and tomorrow, but for the broad scope of your life. If you long to know God’s purpose for you on this earth, I strongly encourage you to seek God in prayer and fasting.

THE PRINCIPLES OF BIBLICAL FASTING

There are two main overriding principles related to prayer and fasting in the Bible.

First, biblical fasting is going without food. The noun translated “fast” or “a fasting” is tsom in the Hebrew and nesteia in the Greek language. It means the voluntary abstinence from food. The literal Hebrew translation would be “not to eat.” The literal Greek means “no food.”

I know people who say they go without television or movies, and they call these “fasting” times. I’m not opposed to that definition of fasting-fasting does imply that we are giving up one thing in order to replace it with something else, and in the Bible sense, specifically to replace it with prayer. But in the main, I believe fasting has to do with our abstaining from food. Second, biblical fasting is linked with serious seasons of prayer. The more seriously we approach prayer and fasting, the more serious the results we will experience.

I sometimes hear people say, “I’m giving up chocolate” and they regard this as a type of fasting. I think this is a rather frivolous approach. The first and foremost purpose of a biblical or spiritual fast is to get a breakthrough on a particular matter that one lifts up to the Lord in prayer. A spiritual fast involves our hearts and the way in which we relate to and trust God. It relates to discerning and receiving strength to follow through on what God might reveal to us about circumstances in our lives or a direction we are to take.

I am not against people fasting in order to lose weight. Many people fast to lose weight or maintain their weight.What I am opposed to is making the losing of weight your primary goal in a season of spiritual fasting and prayer. To have weight loss as a goal makes your fasting a diet plan, not a time of genuine fasting and prayer. If losing weight is your purpose in fasting, you will be missing out on the full reason for fasting, and you likely will be concerned only with what you don’t eat rather than with what you are led to pray.

Now there’s certainly an issue of food that is associated with many seasons of prayer and fasting, and let me quickly add this: control of eating is a valid reason to fast. The purpose is not the number of pounds you might lose during a fast, but rather, trusting God to help you regain mastery over food during a fast. Jesus said, “The spirit is . . . willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt. 26:41). Fasting is a means of bringing the flesh into submission to the Lord so He can strengthen us in our mastery over our own selves. Fasting in the flesh makes us stronger to stand against the temptations of the flesh. Those temptations very often deal with food.

Abstaining from food is often God’s way of showing that His desire for us is that we regain mastery over all things associated with our flesh in order to subdue our flesh and elevate our emphasis on spiritual matters. God’s promise is to help us as we overcome the flesh and put all carnal temptations into subjection.

ABSTAINING FROM FOOD TO REGAIN MASTERY OF THE FLESH

We are wise to recognize that food was the enticement the devil used to cause Eve and Adam to sin in the Garden of Eden. In Genesis 2 the Lord God told Adam and Eve that they could eat freely of every tree in the garden of Eden, “but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Gen. 2:17). God did not tell Adam and Eve to refrain from touching a particular animal or smelling a particular flower or swimming in a certain stream. He told them to refrain from taking a particular fruit into their bodies-one type of fruit out of all the many types He had made available to them.

God had given Adam and Eve authority over all things that He had created-every bird, fish, beast of the field, and over “every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat” (Gen. 1:29). God did not prohibit Adam and Eve from interacting with any part of God’s creation when He commanded them to be fruitful, multiply, replenish the earth, and subdue it-except for this one tree and its fruit. They were not to eat of a particular tree,what God described to them as the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”

Why did God set apart this one tree and its fruit? God was giving Adam and Eve free will and the ability to make choices and decisions. Free will isn’t really free if a person has no choice.

Adam and Eve had a choice to make about this one tree. God told them to abstain from eating from its fruit because He did not want His beloved creation to have a knowledge of evil. He had already given them a full knowledge of everything He called “good.”He wanted to spare them the heartache of knowing evil. That’s true for us today as Christians. God calls us to pursue only what is good. Paul wrote to the Philippians: “Whatsoever things are true . . . honest . . . just . . . pure . . . lovely . . . of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Phil. 4:8). God desires only good for His children. He tells us in His Word, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21).

Even as God calls us away from evil and toward good,He gives us a choice. So many of the problems we have in our world today are the result of men and women making the wrong choices. They have knowingly and unknowingly chosen what is evil.And the end result is the same for us as it was for Adam and Eve: death and all forms of sin that lead to death (see Rom. 6:23).

Let me point out to you two results from the disastrous choice that Adam and Eve made about the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

1. Diverted Attention

First, Eve listened to what the devil had to say to her about the fruit itself. The devil diverted her attention from whatever it was that Eve was doing. He called her attention to the tree and its fruit. The Bible tells us the devil came to her in the guise of a beautiful and subtle serpent and said to her, “Hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” (Gen. 3:1). There’s no indication that Eve had given much thought to the tree before the devil asked her this question. There’s no record that she longed for it or had any curiosity about it. She certainly didn’t crave it, because she had never tasted it!

In many ways, the devil uses this same tactic today. He calls our attention to how beautiful and refreshing certain foods and beverages appear. It’s difficult to go through a day without seeing enticing food and beverage commercials on billboards, on television, and in magazines. Foods are presented in the most tempting ways in stores, restaurants, and on menus. The devil says the same thing to us he said to Eve:”Has God really said you can’t have a bite of this?”

A woman once said to me, “If there’s a piece of pie in my house, it calls out to me. It says to me, even in the middle of night, ‘Eat me. Come eat me.’ I can’t resist.”

Now I’m certainly not linking the devil to a piece of pie, but I am saying this: the devil will always call your attention repeatedly to the thing that is harmful for you, but he will do it in a way that makes you feel deprived if you don’t indulge in eating, drinking, or partaking of what is harmful. The implication of the devil is always: “This is so good. Has God really said you can’t have any of this good thing?”

Never forget that the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was the knowledge of good and evil. There was an element of good in that fruit, not just evil. The devil told Eve specifically that the fruit of the tree was “good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes” (Gen. 3:6). All Eve had to do was look to see that the fruit was pleasant. She made a bad assumption, however, that what was visually pleasant would also be “good for food.” In that, the devil was very wrong!

What about us? There’s an element of good in foods and substances that are ultimately bad for us, even if it’s just the good appearance, smell, or taste. Have you ever noticed how beautiful all the colored and distinctly shaped bottles look in a bar? Those bottles always seem lighted in just the right way to make them look very special, very festive, very appealing. Many foods are pleasant to the eyes. Many drinks are presented in ways that make them appear pleasing. We buy into the lie that what is pleasing is also nutritious and beneficial.

Fasting calls us to turn away from food. Fasting calls us to redivert our attention back to the things of God and His commandments. Fasting calls us to face and overcome the devil’s call: “Has God really said you can’t have this?” Fasting calls us to abstain from all things harmful for us, and in most cases, from all food for a period of time. The devil’s insistent question is likely to become very loud in our minds as we begin a fast: “Has God really said you can’t eat? Not anything? Not the things you love the most? Has God really called you to fast- to abstain totally from this thing that you have labeled as ‘good’?”

Our answer must be a firm “Yes! God has called me to fast. He has called me to give my full attention to Him and to His commandments. He has called me to obey Him fully in all things. And God has called me to say no to you, devil!”

2. Temptations Toward False Benefits

Eve listened to what the devil had to say to her about the benefits of eating what God had prohibited. The devil always points out the would-be and usually short-term benefits of sin. Many substances that are ultimately harmful for us taste good or feel good or bring pleasure. In some cases, the partaking of the substance makes us feel like adults, feel accepted by others, or feel more powerful and in greater control. Some people say about certain foods and substances that they “give me quick energy,” “make me more alert,” or “help me relax.”

The devil told Eve that the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil would make her wise-she would be as a “god,” knowing good and evil.

In the short term, the devil was right. Eve suddenly had a knowledge of evil. She really knew in her own experience as a human being that evil existed. This was the first time in her life she had ever known the contrast-up to that point, all things had been good.

What the devil failed to mention to Eve was the ultimate consequence that God had associated with eating of this fruit: “You shall surely die.” The devil failed to mention any downside to her disobedience. In fact, he dismissed God’s consequences with a sarcastic question.

The devil comes at us the same way. The devil never tells us that drinking alcohol can make a person an alcoholic. He never tells a person that smoking cigarettes can cause him or her to have lung cancer. He never tells a person that eating too much of the wrong foods can lead to chronic illness and premature death. The devil points out only short-term benefits, never long-term disasters.

When we fast, we are suddenly aware once again of what is good and evil. We have a heightened awareness not only of God’s goodness and of God’s commandments, but of the evil that abounds in the world around us.

A man once said to me about fasting, “It seems that when I fast the world seems much more black and white, at least for a period of time. I see right and wrong much more clearly. I see good and bad, blessings and cursings, benefits and negative consequences, what is godly and what is ungodly. I am much more discerning about what lines up with God’s commandments and what falls into the category of ‘man’s commands.'”

I asked him what happened after he stopped fasting. He laughed and said, “I am still very clear on these things, but there’s also a time after I end fasting that the whole world seems more vivid and more colorful than ever before. I can distinguish tastes again. The sky seems bluer than before. The air seems crisper in the mountains. All of my senses seem to be heightened toward what is God’s creation-which is always good- and what is man’s invention-which very often has an element of evil to it.”

Those who fast often experience greater discernment of good and evil. In fact, it seems to be a major by-product of fasting. God seems to give us an opportunity as we fast to take a look again at our lives and the world around us and to discern what is good and what is evil.

What The Lord Is Saying Today

Ever wondered if sponsoring a child really makes a difference? We have stories from many young people telling its value. Read about one of them below and ask if God would have you invest in a young life.

July 18, 2012. I see your heart and it is good. You have heard My call to feed and educate children living under bridges, on city streets and garbage dumps. This was strange to you to be asked by Me to rescue, love and propagate to and through them the Gospel of freedom and prosperity. You reached in and touched their faces while holding them tight. How did you feel while sloshing through city dumpsites with Me? I have seen you not turn away from the needy. Now look around you. Just like I said would happen, hundreds of others like you have joined the cause. And it is now time to release the strategies necessary to change a nation. I am holding your hand and heart as you go forward. I love everything about you.

2 Timothy 2:23-26 (MSG) “Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. God’s servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil’s trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands.” Ras Robinson

Subscribe t o “What the Lord Is Saying Today”

July 18, 2012. The lowest measurement in time and space is 10^-33seconds and 10^-43centimeters. At that level, which of course cannot be seen, is substance much like tiny minute bubbles. Within each bubble is a possibility or potentiality. Physicists call these individual bubbles “quiffs.” Scripture calls these possibilities “faith.” What is the possibility or desire I have put within you? What are you believing Me for? Remember Abraham! What I told him he could have … he thought was too good to be true. But after a flash of flesh he decided to believe Me. Trust Me to pare away all flesh until there remains the pure nugget of faith.

Romans 4:19-20 (NLT) “And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead-and so was Sarah’s womb. Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.” Bev Robinson

Scroll down to see “Photo of the Day” from our ministry to children in the Philippines.

July 18, 2012. I took a college algebra class where the professor overworked the solution to a certain equation. I spoke up and said there was a much easier way to solve the problem. He allowed me to give an alternate solution. The class as a whole was greatly relieved and the professor didn’t feel threatened by my input. The Lord says, “Recognize that we are all in this together. You are trying to over complicate matters which are very simple at their core. Simplify the ways you handle situations which affect people at large. Be willing to receive input from those you know, realizing that people are not out to get you.”

Proverbs 21:11 (MSG) “Simpletons only learn the hard way, but the wise learn by listening.” Kevin Robinson

Here’s Dr. Joe…………..

I want to thank Dewey for presenting the highly informative “fast” articles to all his readers over the past few days. I also want to thank Dewey for asking me to contribute a short article that briefly addresses more of the “physical aspects” of a fast.

In my experience there are three key aspects to consider before any one takes on a fast – be it spiritual or physical.

But first, I’ll briefly address the “physical fast” which usually means to abstain from food, but can also mean to abstain from anything in the physical realm such as from too much time on Facebook, socializing with negative people, driving too fast, too much time in front of the television, and just basically anything that keeps you from quality time with the Lord in His Word.

On the one hand, I strongly suggest that one does NOT do a “food fast”, even if for spiritual reasons, especially if they have a diet that mostly consists of fast food, junk food and other processed “foods” that are high in sugar and grains. If one does attempt to do this fast, I highly recommend they do so with supervision – especially if it’s for more than three days. If this is the case, then short periods of “fasting” from a bad diet would be very beneficial and will lead to a cleansing and healing of the body. But, again, this person needs supervision. Some folks will fast to lose weight. This is NOT the healthy way to do it. It took years to gain the fat weight. It will take time to lose the unhealthy weight and keep it off when done with the correct “baby steps” that does require supervision and encouragement.

On the other hand, if someone is eating healthy foods, then they’ll probably NOT experience too many of the fast’s benefits, but rather might even have some problems, such as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). If a person’s normal diet has a lot of protein in it, they probably won’t do well on a food fast. If their diet consist mainly of complex carbs (fruits and vegetables), then they’ll probably do well on a food fast. Personally, I require a lot of protein in my diet. I usually don’t do well on a food fast. That used to bother me as I felt I wasn’t as “spiritual” as other believers. It made me feel guilty. But as I learned more about nutrition and how the body is so very different from person to person, I realized that these internal “food fasts” were not where I needed to be because of my metabolism no matter what the church or a so called “spiritual leader” had in store for its congregation. Rather, nowadays my “fasts” are external.

I will tell you this from personal experience and from personal observations that whenever you deny the flesh of its natural desires you will be faced with demonic attacks. It doesn’t require a “40 day fast” to have the devil personally come and visit you as was the situation with our Lord (Luke 4: 1-2). It could happen during the first few minutes or maybe the last few minutes of whatever fast you’ve chosen. The attacks may not be demonic, but rather simply via the world (other folks) or because of your own rebellious flesh.

Bottom line: To do a “food fast” requires careful preparation. And of course, from a spiritual aspect, it requires first the prompting and then the leading of the Holy Spirit. My experience is to never undertake a “fast” because someone “suggests” you do it. Rather, do it because the Lord has prompted and prepared you to do so.

Fasting technically begins within the first 12 to 24 hours of the fast. A fast does not really begin until the carbohydrate stores in the body begin to be used as an energy source. The fast will continue as long as fat and carbohydrate stores are used for energy, as opposed to protein stores. Once protein stores begin to be depleted for energy (resulting in loss of muscle mass) a person is technically starving.

When the body is deprived of food it must turn to its own resources, a function called autolysis. Autolysis is the breaking down of fat stores in the body in order to produce energy. The less one eats, the more the body turns to these stored fats and creates these ketone bodies, the accumulation of which is referred to as ketosis.

Detoxification is a normal body process of eliminating or neutralizing toxins through the colon, liver, kidneys, lungs, lymph glands, and skin and is precipitated by fasting when food is no longer entering the body, the body turns to fat reserves for energy.

A healing process may begin in the body during a fast. During a fast energy is diverted away from the digestive system due to its lack of use and towards the metabolism and immune system. The healing process during a fast is precipitated by the body’s search for energy sources. Abnormal growths within the body, tumors and the like, do not have the full support of the body’s supplies and therefore are more susceptible to autolysis. When one is fasting, the person is diverting energy from the digestive system to the immune system.

Some folks report that fasting brings about the feeling of rejuvenation and extended life expectancy. Part of this phenomenon is caused by a number of the benefits mentioned above. A slower metabolic rate, more efficient protein production, an improved immune system, and the increased production of hormones contributes to this long-term benefit of fasting. In addition to the Human Growth Hormone that is released more frequently during a fast, an anti-aging hormone is also produced more efficiently. The only reliable way to extend the lifespan of a mammal is under-nutrition without malnutrition.

From a bodily aspect, fasting can be a benefit to one’s health. The body rids itself of the toxins that have built up in our fat stores throughout the years. The body heals itself, repairs all the damaged organs during a fast. There is some evidence to show that regulated fasting contributes to longer life. Regardless, a lot of doctors warn against fasting for extended periods of time without supervision. And there are many doctors today who claim that fasting is detrimental to one’s health and have evidence to back their statements.

Regardless, if you decide to do a “food fast for physical reasons” or a “spiritual fast for soulish reasons” here are THE three key things, in my opinion, that must fall into place:

1. ATTITUDE. What is your attitude going into the “fast”? Why are you doing this fast? You truly have to know your “WHY” in order to have the right attitude. If you don’t have the right “why” your attitude will be amiss and the “fast” will basically be for naught. List in your journal the reasons why you are doing this physical or spiritual fast. Make sure that the bottom line is all about the Lord. Make sure that it’s out of obedience to Him and not because of some legalistic or personal pining. Fasting that is done to glorify the Lord is truly of the right attitude and therefore pleasing to Him. It’s the attitude of the heart that sincerely seeks Him that is of supreme importance. Once the person’s attitude is ready, then they must now be ready to examine themselves.

2. ASSESSMENT. Once the attitude is aligned with glorifying the Lord, then the person must examine themselves. They’ll need to take a careful inventory of “what’s going on inside and outside” of them. They’ll want to “examine” themselves under a microscope of authenticity. They’ll want to enlist their spouse and/or a close friend to help them do this. As they go through the fast, they’ll want to document what’s going on with them. They’ll want to make a careful assessment of everything the Holy Spirit brings to their mind. This is valuable information not only for the here and now, but also for the future when they return to read it and thank God for His revelation to them.

3. ACCOUNTABILITY. Whatever the chosen fast may be, the person, in humility, is accountable to themself, the Lord, their spouse, and their chosen mentor(s). There was NO accountability when It was done with the arrogance of what our Lord called “the hypocrites” (Matthew 6: 16 – 18) who did it only as a display for all to see how “pious” or “religious” they were. Rather, I believe, it’s critically important to let your spouse know that you are going to do a certain kind of fast so that they can be an encourager to you as well as an accountability partner, too.

I use attitude, assessment and accountability as THE critical components in order to tap into God’s power to be well.

www.DrJoeFawcett.com

God Bless you Dr. Joe

In the Love of Jesus Christ, Dewey Sharon and Family

www.mykkim.com

www.deweysdailycup.com

www.newmexiconewsandviews.com

If you do not wish to be on this email list please kindly inform Dewey by sending him an email titled REMOVE at radiodewey@aol.com – we will take you off this email list asap.

Police: 14 dead, 50 injured in Colorado theater shooting

Billy Graham Rapid Response Team

Please pray for the victims and families affected by the horrific shooting in Aurora this morning. Billy Graham Rapid Response Team chaplains have responded to the area to offer emotional and spiritual support.

Share this:

When We Feel Estranged From God

When We Feel Weak and Vulnerable

When We Feel Tension in Our Relationships

When We Desire to Draw Closer to God

When We Desire Spiritual Blessing and Insight

When We Want to Be Equipped and to Equip Others

Share this:

By Marilyn Hickey Guest Columnist

Share this:

By Marilyn Hickey
Guest Columnist