DCLM Higher Everyday 7 March 2024 — Fasting In Trying Times
Topic: Fasting In Trying Times
Text: Esther 4:10-17
10Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;
12And they told to Mordecai Esther’s words.
13Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews.
14For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
15Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,
16Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
17So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.
Key Verse: “Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).
Message
It was Wesley L. Duewel who said, “Fasting in the biblical sense is choosing not to partake of food because your spiritual hunger is so deep, your determination in intercession so intense, or your spiritual warfare so demanding that you have temporarily set aside even fleshly needs to give yourself to prayer and meditation.” In the days of Mordecai, a death decree was signed by the king, Esther`s husband, against the exiled Jews in his kingdom. It was Haman’s scheme. Added to this, was a protocol attracting a capital punishment on anyone that approached unto the king except he was invited. The only means to break the protocol was to cry to the living God who holds the hearts of all men in His hands.
Esther, her maidens and the Jews fasted and prayed and God was moved and delivered the Jews from mass slaughter (Esther 5:2, 3; 8:7-11). Acceptable fasting and prayer is for the saints (Psalm 66:18). Youths who have challenges that defy ordinary prayer should examine themselves and pray with fasting. However, do not indulge in a long fasting unadvisedly.
Quote: Pray with fasting
Challenge: Challenge your challenges with prayer and fasting.
Prayer for today: Lord, teach me to fast aright in Jesus’ name.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
