Ten Days of Awe
(09-13-15 www.LifeChurchSpringfield.org)
We have committed ourselves to Ten Days of Prayer & Fasting beginning at sunset this evening until sunset on September 23rd, the Day of Atonement. Preparation for that Ten Days of Awe was made in last week’s sermon. This morning I want to provide some practical suggestions on how that commitment might be fulfilled.
First, a brief reminder of two occasions in Scripture when Israel gave themselves to prayer and fasting because they were facing some very challenging situations:
One is in the story of Queen Esther. Her Uncle Mordechai learned about a diabolical plot, led by a politician named Haman. The objective of the plot was to kill all the Jews in the Persian Empire. Haman had persuaded King Ahasuerus to issue a decree (an executive order) that authorized the killing of all the Jews on the 13th day of Adar (last month of the Jewish calendar). The effective day was eleven months away. That gave plenty of time to get the word out and for preparations to be made for the slaughter. What would motivate the people in Persia to kill the Jews? This Executive Order authorized the killers to take all the Jews possessions. It’s interesting how Hitler’s Final Solution also contained this element of plundering the Jews possessions. I had never noticed before that this executive order initiated by Haman and signed by the King was in effect calling for riots and civil war in his own domain—kinda crazy.
Both Mordechai and Queen Esther were Jews. So Mordechai told Esther that she needed to go to the king and get this changed or they would all die. However, there was a problem. Even the Queen could not just go before the King without being called. Probably for security reasons, there was a standing order that anybody who approached the King without first being summoned was to be killed immediately. There was only one exception to this. If the King held out his golden scepter it was a signal to allow the person to approach. So going to the King was not all that easy.
Here is Esther’s reply to Mordechai in Esther 4:16 "Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan (That was the epicenter of the conflict) and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!" So Esther’s response to the challenge was to call a fast! Most of you already know that the story ends well. God gave Esther favor with the King. Haman was hung on his own gallows. Mordechai was promoted to second in the Kingdom. The Jews were authorized to defend themselves. Others joined in on the defense because of Mordechai’s influence. And what would have been a horrific disaster turned into a great victory for the people of God.
On another occasion, King Jehoshaphat got the news that a vast army was launching an attack from Syria against Judah. The numbers were overwhelming and Jehoshaphat knew that in the natural he had no chance to win. 2 Chron. 20:3-4 “And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 So Judah gathered together to ask help from the LORD; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.” In answer to those prayers God intervened and caused the enemy’s alliance to fall apart and they destroyed one another. Israel didn’t even have to fight in this battle.
The reason I have rehearsed those two stories is to emphasize the biblical response to trouble. The fundamental answer in both situations was not political although there were certainly political activities involved in Esther’s story. The answer wasn’t to run and hide, although there are occasions in the Bible when godly people did that. The key to victory was found in God’s people humbling themselves and seeking God through prayer and fasting (2Chron. 7:14).
We are facing some alarming challenges in our own nation today. The moral decline is more than disturbing. We have some of our own Supreme Court justices warning the Christians of impending persecution. In his minority report on the court’s same-sex decision, Justice Thomas, explained how the June 26th decision will threaten religious liberty by creating an unavoidable collision “particularly as individuals and churches are confronted with demands to participate in and endorse civil marriages between same-sex couples. Of course, that has already begun to happen in the Kim Davis case in Kentucky. Particularly alarming to me is the rapidly approaching confirmation of the Iranian Nuclear Agreement. That seems to constitute a monumental violation of good faith with Israel.
So we have talked briefly about the value of prayer and fasting in the face of challenges. Now I want to offer some Practical Suggestions of how we might consecrate ourselves to the Lord during these next ten days.
1)Fasting:
The only mandatory fast during the Ten Days of Penitence is Yom Kippur (Lev. 23:27, 32). However, fasting is a way of humbling ourselves before God (Ps 35:13). It is a declaration of dependence upon God. Esther expressed her dependence upon the Lord as she fasted in preparation for going before King Ahasuerus. King Jehoshaphat was facing a horrific battle. The natural thing to do would be to feed the army well so they have maximum strength for the fight. But calling the fast was an acknowledgement that “the battle belongs to the Lord.” The victory will not come through natural resource alone, but through divine intervention on our behalf. As a practical matter most of us will not be able to do a full fast during the Ten Days of Awe. Some may fast one meal each day. Some may fast certain foods. Daniel sought God with partial fasts at time. Instead of pursuing pleasure we are making a concerted effort to pursue God. So there may be things like TV or other media God would lead you to set aside. In 2 Samuel 24 a plague hit Israel killing 70,000 men; it was a judgement on David’s sin of numbering the people. God told David to make an offering at the Threshing Floor of Araunah the Jebusite. When King David arrived he asked Araunah to sell him the Threshing Floor so he could build an altar there, make an offering to the Lord, and end the plague. Araunah told the King he would give him the Threshing Floor, everything he needed for building the altar, and the oxen for the sacrifice. How many remember David’s response? (Verse 24) “…No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God with that which costs me nothing." David was a man after God’s own heart. His response to Araunah tells us something about his mindset: “nor will I offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God with that which costs me nothing." One reason American Christianity is so weak is that many want to offer the Lord that which costs them nothing. They want a cheap version of discipleship. When I was growing up, if you bought something that said, “Made in Japan” you knew it was a worthless imitation of the real thing. I don’t want a cheap imitation of Christianity. I want the real thing. And the real thing is costly. If you have ten days that cost you nothing, nothing is pretty much what you will get out of it. “…any of you who does not give up everything he has,” Jesus said, “cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33 NIV). I simply want to approach these next few days with David’s mindset: I will not offer to the Lord that which costs me nothing.
2) Prayer:
I encourage you to be intentional about this. When will you pray during this next ten days? Decide what time of the day will be devoted to waiting on God in prayer. Each of us should devote some time beyond our normal devotional life. Maybe it’s an additional 15 minutes in the morning. Set a minimum amount of time; if you go beyond that fine. But I won’t offer the Lord less than this. You set the alarm a little bit early and you make it a priority. Maybe evenings or noon work better for you. What I’m saying is that you should make the plan now; and then follow it for the next ten days. If you don’t plan it concretely and commit yourself to it, it probably won’t happen. Look with me a King Jehoshaphat’s prayer in 2 Chron. 20:5-12
“Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, 6 and said: > He begins with Expression of Confidence in God. "O LORD God of our fathers (we have relationship with you—remember how Jesus taught us to pray: Our Father which art in heaven), are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, (You are sovereign over all—it is all up under Your domain and rulership) and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? (Of course, God already knows all that; but it strengthens our faith to agree with it and declare it verbally) 7 Are You not our God (notice the personal pronoun; we are in covenant with You; You already have a personal stake in this!) , who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? 8 And they dwell in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying, 9'If disaster comes upon us -- sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine – (He is a very present help in time of trouble; He has said in Ps 50:15 “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” Jehoshaphat and all of Judah were in trouble. Esther and all her people were in trouble. But God delivered them out of all those troubles and brought glory to His name in the process. Think about this. Neither Jehoshaphat nor Esther was a fatalist. They didn’t look at the overwhelming circumstances and give up. Confidence in God rose up in their hearts and they looked to Him for the answer to an impossible situation. we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.' (You will hear and save: You will not ignore our prayers because we are Your people; because we are humbling ourselves and looking to you for help. Ps 121 “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.” Ps 20:7 “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.”
> Now Jehoshaphat makes his petition
10 And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir -- whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them -- 11 here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit. 12 O our God, will You not judge them? There are evil forces in America trying to throw us out of our possession; trying to shut off our testimony of Christ; trying to marginalize the influence of God’s people; trying to take over our rights. > Then Jehoshaphat ends with an Acknowledgement of Dependence upon God. For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You." The problem is bigger than we are; but not bigger than You. It is a significant problem; we’re not denying that. What we are confessing is our own inability to solve this. We must have God. Step 1 in our 12 Step Recovery Program: We admitted we were powerless over alcohol-that our lives had become unmanageable. Step 2 Come to believe that a Power (Christ) greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. Step 3 Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.” Look closely at 2 Chron. 20:12 “For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” Let me ask this question about whatever problem you may be facing right now: Are you at the point where you know you can’t fix it or are you still trying to stay in control of it all? Are your eyes firmly fixed on the Lord looking to Him for the answer? There is nothing too hard for God. He can fix it for you.
So here in 2 Chron. 20 we have a model prayer for times of trouble. Now follow with me as we see how God answers that prayer in verses 13-30.
“13 Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the LORD.
14 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Ben-ai-ah, the son of Jei-el, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. 15 And he said, "Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you."
18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the LORD, worshiping the LORD. 19 Then the Levites of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with voices loud and high.
20 So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper." 21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: "Praise the LORD, For His mercy endures forever."
22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. 23 For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
24 So when Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude; and there were their dead bodies, fallen on the earth. No one had escaped. 25 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away their spoil, they found among them an abundance of valuables on the dead bodies, and precious jewelry, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away; and they were three days gathering the spoil because there was so much. 26 And on the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berachah, for there they blessed the LORD; therefore the name of that place was called The Valley of Berachah until this day. 27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat in front of them, to go back to Jerusalem with joy, for the LORD had made them rejoice over their enemies. 28 So they came to Jerusalem, with stringed instruments and harps and trumpets, to the house of the LORD. 29 And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 Then the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around. “
At the end of the matter they were better off than before the crisis ever occurred. They did not just survive the crisis. They came through it blessed and enriched. Jehoshaphat and Judah plundered the enemy. God answers prayer. In your prayers for the next ten days make sure you Declare Confidence in God, Acknowledge your Dependence on Him, and Keep your eyes turned to Him for the Answer.
(How do we consecrate ourselves to the Lord during these next ten days?)
3) Mediate on the Word of God.
Of course that begins with reading it; but chew on it some while you read it. Let me give some Suggested Passages for this period. Sept. 13 – 2 Chron. 20 & Lev. 23:23-44 Sept. 14 – Lev. 26 & Ps 121 Sept. 15 – Psalm 24 & 25 Sept. 16 – Ezekiel 16 & Ps 37 Sept. 17 – 2 Chron. 6 & Isa. 60 Sept. 18 – Jerm. 6 & Ps 91 Sept. 19 – Isaiah 58 & 59 Sept. 20 – Psalm 51 & Hosea 14 Sept. 21 – Jerm. 23 & Daniel 9 Sept. 22 – Lev. 16 & Isaiah 53 Sept. 23 – Mark 15 & 16 Let your meditations in the word inspire and direct more prayer.
4)Reconcile with others.
The Ten Days of Penitence is a time of humbling. That includes our relations with one another. If there is someone you have offense against, forgive that person. If you need to ask forgiveness of anyone, do it sooner rather than later. This is a time of cleansing—ridding ourselves of excess baggage—lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily besets us. Lay aside your judgements of others and bless them instead. Use some of your prayer time to pronounce blessings on family and others, even on enemies.
5) Be Generous during this time.
Give something away that you’ve been hoarding. Perhaps God will show you a need that someone has that you’re empowered to meet. Ten Days of Awe is about our relationship with God, our relationship with things, and our relationship with other people.
What are we doing in all this?
We’re positioning ourselves for blessing.
We’re offering ourselves to God for ministry.
We’re expressing our dependence on the Lord.
We’re expressing our confidence in His all-sufficiency.
We’re declaring our expectancy of great things ahead in Him.
Pray
Endnotes:
1 Esther 3:12-13.
2 Esther 3:9, 13. “Jewish Property Seizures,” Alpha History, http://alphahistory.com/holocaust/jewish-property-seizures/ accessed 9/12/15.
3 All Scripture quotes are in New King James Version unless indicated otherwise.
4 1Kings 18:4; 2Cor. 11:32-33.
5 OBERGEFELL ET AL. v. HODGES, DIRECTOR, OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, ET AL. , http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/14pdf/14-556_3204.pdf
accessed 9/12/15.
6 “Kentucky clerk Kim Davis released from Jail,” CBS News, http://www.cbsnews.com/news/kentucky-clerk-kim-davis-released-from-jail/ accessed 9/12/15.
7 Daniel 10:2-3.
8 Bob and Pauline Bartosch, Guidebook for Overcomers Outreach 12 Step Support Groups (Whittier, CA: Overcomers Outreach Inc., 1985) p. 9.
9 Hebrews 12:1
