Pursing Jesus:
TO KNOW GOD BETTER
January 9, 2011 Jay Davis Robison Joel 2:12-32
So let me ask you, Have you broken it yet? New Year’s resolution
To go on a diet, or be on time, save $$ or improve a relationship
Talked to a guy to resolved to quit smoking asked how’s it going?
Great except for right after the New Year had a cigarette then
Each year one of the most popular resolutions is to grow spiritually
Said in any number of ways, pray more, read Bible daily
Become more spiritual person, seeing a new start of New Year
To have a deeper connection with God that’s good
We have adopted a theme throughout 2011 Pursuing Jesus
Will refer to in a number of ways
I mean what better can we do than Pursue Jesus?
To grow in relationship with him, to do what he would do
Today pursuing Jesus to knowing him better 1 way to do so Joel 2:15
Announce a time of fasting;
call the people together for a solemn meeting. Vs 15 NLT
Thirsting inside each of us to connect with God
Challenge you to be a part of Awakening 21 Days prayer & fasting
There are over 25 instances of fasting in the Bible
Isaiah 58, Esther, Daniel, Jesus fasted in wilderness,
When people were looking for direction,
When they had sinned, when they needed special anointing
Joel 2 an occasion when called for a fast in full picture
Stovall Weems suggests 3 A’s that are a part of fast
1. AGREEMENT
The first reason to fast is to agree who God is
Might say I know God is God, yes but often our love for God
grows cold we move away from God little by little
1st commandment of 10 have no other gods before me
The reason Joel spoke up was THE PEOPLE HAD LEFT GOD
They were worshipping other gods, lives revolved around them
Boy I’m glad we don’t do anything like that, worship other gods
Oh wait how many people live for their job, or $$ or sex
how many people depend on Dr. Phil or Oprah or preacher for life
Maybe we leave God too, in Joel’s time locust plague came on Judah
ruining all crops economy shattered
And they may not be able to offer sacrifice to God with no crops
Joel saw the hand of god at work in all this spiritually bankrupt
Joel implored the people to pray in light of the impending doom
He called for a holy assembly to implore fervently the grace of God
Is the call of God to come back show you are my people from heart
Fasting one expression of seeking God look at Mt 9:15b
"But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away
from them, and then they will fast." Matthew 9:15b NKJV
Fasting has been a part of religious commitment for centuries
Matter of fact Jesus was asked why his disciples did not fast
While he was with them, when I am gone they will fast
Jesus appears to take for granted his followers will fast for periods
He does not explain it expects it
Fasting is one way of offering our hearts to god
Vs 18 TNIV look at God’s response to those who fast
The LORD was jealous for his land and took pity on his people
Vs 12 Even now God says return to me
that his jealous love as a husband for his wife
I want you to know my wife is a loving person, you may have
some things in common with her, do things with her
she may love you but no one has a place in her heart that only I do
that is the kind of place God expects in our lives who God is
We must agree on THE FACT THAT GOD IS IN CHARGE
Not just acknowledge there is a god
But submit to God, you are not God
Listen to reminders in Joel’s message to the people
Vs 21 Do not be afraid, be glad and rejoice.
Surely the LORD has done great things! Vs 21 TNIV
Vs 27 Then you will know that I am in Israel, that I am the LORD
your God, and that there is no other;
Agreement 1st step in fasting Amos 3:3 NLT
Can 2 people walk together without agreeing on the direction?
Fasting is not for God, its for us, fast to agree with God
To hear from God and move full throttle as God leads
2. ALIGNMENT
1st A dealt with agreeing God is God Need to remember that again
But Mark says even the demons know God is God and fear
Alignment takes it to another level not just acknowledging God
but seeking to unite with him
Yes you are my Lord, I live for you, I want to do your will above all else
The goal of fasting is not to DO WITHOUT
but to DRAW NEAR TO GOD
Remember that most of all, Fasting is not a diet or punishment
but draw to God making clear God you are in charge
As Jeremiah said you are the potter I am the clay
Look at how the character of God is described
Who are we returning to? Someone wicked and cruel
Who delights in knocking us down?
Look at Vs 13 NLT Return to the LORD he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry & filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent & not punish
God is loving and gracious slow to anger and abundant in mercy
God reaches out in grace and who can say but that God might
restore all they have lost in crops
God desires that we would be united with him
Notice who is called to fast Vs 16-17
Gather the people, bring them together
The elders, the children, those nursing,
Even brides and bridegrooms who were exempt from army
Because newly married but even called them to fast,
Vs 17 the priest too, I will be fasting as well
Everyone is to come and join in all ages, everyone of all standing
Seek God there is a place for all of us
Choose a type of fast: many in Bible
Do not have to all do same type
Everyone is different have different needs
DO NOT COMPROMISE HEALTH TO DO THIS consult Dr.
SPECIFIC FOOD OR ACTIVITY,
Easiest to work in life, give up sweets or red meat
I have fasted before from some activity taking too much time
Point is to say God you matter more to me than this
DANIEL, book of Daniel about a fast, King chose young
Jewish boys to be warriors would be given best food
But it was offered to Idols first so Daniel refused
JUICE, fruit and\or vegetable juice
WATER, is what you consume
TOTAL (we discourage this)
Fasting period 21 days may have different days of fast 2 or 3 week
Or different type of fast at different period
Pray and seek God’s leadership try it and se
Point is you are trying to connect with God in more vital way
Fasting will SHARPEN YOUR WALK AND EMPOWER YOU
Over and over we read of special outpouring of Spirit
When the people fasted and prayed
Begins as we say Lord what you want I will do
We fast so that we might be changed to greater level of faith
Calling on our spiritual power to live
Fasting unites us with spiritual power and reason for life
3. ASSIGNMENT
Who do you admire spiritually? God using them in mighty ways?
Billy Graham, or JD Jakes, Joel Osteen, or Bill Hybels,
Beth Moore, or Mother Theresa, say I want to be like them
But their assignment came after God knew their heart
They could not do what done without God
We want miracle of being used by God without giving to god
Joel 2 tells about results of the people’s fast
Part of why passage captured me
Even as God angry at how things were
Thread in Joel’s message God will rebuild if offer ourselves
To him what an encouragement God does not give up
Afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream
dreams, your young men will see visions. Vs 28 TNIV
As everyone called to fast I will pour my Spirit on all people
God will judge sin but God intervenes in human affairs for his glory
and their good God does not just throw us away
unless we stop coming to him
Gain sense God is up to something
Outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the outworking of salvation
Peter referred to this as part of his message at Pentecost
Physical deliverance and spiritual transformation
Restoration of prophecy as it is offered to all classes of people
Says sons and daughters will prophesy=word for preach
People will dream dreams and see visions
A part of the ever-flowing stream of God’s activity
Which will culminate at the final shore where all gathered to God
God has A CALLING AND ASSIGNMENT for you
Part of why we all fast to find God’s direction
We are not all called to be pastors
But you have gifts to share you can be used of God
But we can have an input in the lives of others
If we are not in tune with God’s voice we will only hear
The voice of the world around us and get weighted down
Voice of worry, or guilt, voice of need or selfishness
Voice of pressures in life, or of failures
But without God’s firm touch on life all is useless
We are called to AN AWAKENING !
Start today or tomorrow, seek god’s leadership
Spend extra time in prayer and study
That you would have been reading or whatever
Take a devotional, jot down notes
As God shares with you insights or ideas
Those are visions
I cannot say what your specific call from god might be
Have glimpses sometimes but God’s ideas much bigger than mine
All starts with Vs 32
Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved Vs 32
What if we believed we were a part of God’s work in world
So every contact opportunity to change someone’s life
I wonder if there would be an overflow of God in us
So much so that God stirs in the lives of others
