Sunday, 1st october 2017 – What next?

Philippians 3:12-14  Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I could not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing [I do], forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, 14 I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Congratulations, you finished the fast!  But did God finish what he started in your life?  Probably not.  But I hope the work that has begun has dug a solid foundation in your life and won’t let you ever return to the kind of person you were before you started this fast.

For the past three weeks we have looked at the text in Philippians chapter three from just about every way imaginable.  But I want to leave you with one last thought from this text.

Paul stresses the fact that we have to push on to the higher call in Christ Jesus.  And he finishes this text in verse 15: Let us, then, who are “perfectly mature” adopt this attitude. And if you have a different attitude, this too God will reveal to you.  In other words, the idea of pushing forward to the higher calling is not the same as going to a prayer meeting, or having a powerful experience in God’s presence.  Rather it is really about maintaining an attitude or a lifestyle.

Though there are more and more people around the world who eat a very strict vegan or vegetarian diet (essentially what we do in the Daniel Fast), I don’t think God expects us to live 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in a state of fasting.  Having said that, if you were to look at your « normal » lifestyle would it be radically different than these three weeks of fasting?  If so, then you need to change your attitudes about the kingdom of heaven and the lifestyle changes it generates on earth.

Someone said once that if the government decided to put in prison all the Christians would they find enough evidence in your daily life to convict you?  Do people in the world see Jesus when they look at me or when they look at you. Maybe they will see more, now that you’ve followed the Holy Spirit during this time of fasting.  But I encourage you to go further.

Here are some things I want you to consider to insure that your lifestyle changes:

1. Fix a daily time to be with God and keep the appointment.  Even if it is just 30 minutes a day.  But set the time and then keep the time.
2. Get committed and stay committed to your local church: the mission, the leadership and the people.
3. Sign up for the many training schools/seminars that we will have during the year.
4. Write down the names of just five friends or family members who aren’t born again and pray for their salvation this year.

These things may seem small and insignificant.  But if you will be faithful in these small things then the gains that you have achieved during this fast will become permanent fixtures in your spiritual life.