Fasting for Your Faith
1. God’s call to His people to FAST and pray because of a National crisis! (Joel 1:6)
The nation of Israel was under God’s judgment because of their idolatry. But there was HOPE.
“6For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.”
Our Lord would use the Assyrians to invade the northern kingdom called Israel in 722 BC. But listen to the prophet’s call.
“13Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God.
14Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD” (Joel 1:13-14).
2. God’s call to His people to FAST and pray because of a spiritual crisis! (Joel 2:12,13)
“12Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: “13And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.”
Brokeness leads to BLESSINGS! Our Lord is gracious and merciful. When we repent and return to Jesus with fasting and prayer, He forgives our sin and restores us to fellowship.
Listen to the words of Joel:
“15Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: 16Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. 17Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?” (Joel 2:15-17).
3. God will answer His people as they FAST and pray and return to Him! (Joel 2:18,19)
“Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people. 19Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen.”