Fast for the Old Paths Part II

 

Men on the Old Paths walked different than those on the wide and worldly path. They prepared, persevered, showed patience, and prayed.  That type of Christianity is old-fashioned, and old-school, but God says the good way is only found by asking for the old paths.  Today, we like the new path the world travels on.  We watch the programs the world watches, laugh at the jokes the world laughs at, put our needs over anyone else's, get in the same credit card debt as the world, and spend more time standing in line for our coffee than on our knees.  Then we look at the men of old and think, "They must have just had something we lack."  No, it's just that we're not willing to pay the price.

 

See, it's not too late for us to get back on track.  King Rehoboam "did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD."  (2nd Chronicles 12:14.)  Earlier, though God told Solomon how to prepare to seek the Lord.  If only Rehoboam had listened. "If my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land."  (2nd Chronicles 7:14)   In every dispensation, if you will, some men made preparation, and other men made excuses.  Some men prepared their hearts, and others pretended they already had.  Some turned to the Lord in repentance, and others turned away in defiance.   God has a remnant and those who seek with all their might, search with all their heart, and ask with desperation will find out all along that God wants to prove himself real to men on the Old Paths.  Do you yearn to be such a man?

 

Fasting has always been a key ingredient on the old paths in getting right and staying right with God.  "Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein,  In Fasting, we take a STAND against the flesh.  We SEE GOD because we are focused on him.  We are ASKING for the old paths by putting legs to our prayers.  We clearly see WHERE the good way is.  And with victory over the flesh, we can now WALK THEREIN---- in the footsteps of the soldiers of our heritage who have long walked over into glory.

Who can honestly say we don’t wonder, why should we fast?  What is in it for me?  How will this benefit me?  I think deep within the attitudes of these questions lies the problem with our christianity today.  A preacher once stated what our attitude should be instead: “It’s not what you’re going to get out of God.  It’s what God is going to get out of you.”  Any benefits or blessings from fasting are by-products of obedience to God.  We should fast because God is pleased from giving him more of ourselves.  We can’t give ourselves if we don’t deny ourselves.   Works won’t save us, but we are saved for works, and far too often our flesh gets in our way from letting God reign.  We should fast plain and simply because he deserves more from us.  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.  (Philippians 2:13)  Jesus said Follow me and I will make you fishers of men. The son of man came to save and seek that which was lost.  If we are saved, then  Jesus is in us, and we have a call to simply follow Christ.  How can we follow him if our flesh gets it’s way, blocking the way of our Savior?

Jesus said, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  (Mark 8:34).  We don’t deny ourselves much of anything today.  I’m only stating this to say that we need to get a hold of any spiritual weapon we can because of today’s fast-paced, comfortable, life of convenience we live.  Back then they didn’t have full fridges, pizza delivery, $5 café mochas, microwaves, drive-thrus, electric blankets, cruise control, spell check, E-sword, Google search engine, satallite TV, UPS, ATM’s, hot tubs, Jet Blue, credit cards, same as cash financing.  

Lukewarm is comfortable.  That’s our problem, folks.  Some of that is not our fault, but let’s make every attempt to get out of our comfort zone.  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.  (Revelation 3:17).  Today we need to especially make the spiritual choices that get us uncomfortable.  Giving to missions.  Faith Promise.  Preaching on a street corner.   Going soulwinning.  Having a building program.  AND FASTING til God answers US.

How do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time.  How do you fast for 7 days the week before a big revival meeting?  By first doing a three day fast a month before the revival.  How do you fast for 3 days the month before the revival?  By first doing a 1 day fast 5 weeks before the revival.  How can I fast an entire day next week?  By skipping a meal  today.  Start small and remember who it’s for and why we’re doing it.  End Times Vol Fire Co wants you to stand in the ways, and ask for the old paths.  Will you join up?