Fast & The Furious Series

NOW LOOK AT AHAB’S RESPONSE….

21:27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He slept in sackcloth and walked around dejected. 21:28 The LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, 21:29 “Have you noticed how Ahab shows remorse before me? Because he shows remorse before me, I will not bring disaster on his dynasty during his lifetime, but during the reign of his son.”

*If Ahab, one of the most evil rulers of Israel history (and that’s saying something) repents and fasts, and God finds remorse on him, God can find remorse and forgiveness for any of us!

FOLLOWING IS A GREAT STORY ABOUT REPENTENCE:

AL JOHNSON: Confessed to a Bank Robbery

“Not too many years ago newspapers carried the story of Al Johnson, a Kansas man who came to faith in Jesus Christ. What made his story remarkable was not his conversion, but the fact that as a result of his newfound faith in Christ, he confessed to a bank robbery he had participated in when he was nineteen years old. Because the statute of limitations on the case had run out, Johnson could not be prosecuted for the offense. Still, he believed his relationship with Christ demanded a confession. And he even voluntarily repaid his share of the stolen money! “

3. WE FAST TO RECEIVE GOD’S DIRECTION

“Tom I Have Decided…” I hear this once in a while when people are making major spiritual decisions, like whether or not to decide to leave the church. To me, that is a big, big decision (after all it is the decision to divorce yourself from your God ordained body of believers, though there are times, seldom is this done right). And after I am told this, I respond in an honest fashion, “Have you prayed and fasted about this?” And then they look at me like a raccoon looking at truck headlights (sort of like saying, how do you dare question my decision). But seriously, how could a decision this important be made without fasting?

Ezra’s Pilgrimmage: The prophet Ezra was making a return with many descendents through a tough place, sort of like traveling through what you and I would call the wrong part of town. Only at this time, Ezra was traveling through it for days, had no defenses, would be completely victimized if an attack were made, and had no police back up (not to mention a car that could just drive to a safe spot). He thought about asking the King for a police force, but then would lose the King’s belief that God would provide them with a safe passage. After how, how can tell the King, “God is going to protect us on our journey, can I have 500 officers to assist?” What to do?

BIBLE VERSE: Ezra 8:21-23

8:21 I called for a fast there by the Ahava Canal, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and seek from him a safe journey for us, our children, and all our property. 8:22 I was embarrassed to request soldiers and horsemen from the king to protect us from the enemy along the way, because we had said to the king, “The good hand of our God is on everyone who is seeking him, but his great anger is against everyone who forsakes him.” 8:23 So we fasted and prayed to our God about this, and he answered us.