PURSUIT - Day 7 - The Advantage

Today, let's consider the privilege and power that is available to all of us through living a Spirit-filled life.  There is a clear and sequential promise that was given to the Church when Peter preached the inaugural sermon on Opening Day (See Acts 2).  Within this simple and powerful verse, we find the starting blocks of the life of a disciple, and the invitation to live with a continual source of power and guidance.

"Peter replied, 'Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Acts 2:38

The gift of the Holy Spirit is both a baptism of power and a continual invitation to walk with the Holy Spirit as our friend and companion in life.  It's not uncommon for people to view the Holy Spirit as something extra OR some non-essential element when in fact it is as much God as the person of Jesus Christ.  The Holy Spirit is simply another manifestation of the one true and living God.  The Holy Spirit has been described as a power, wind, fire, river, feeling, force, presence and many other things but He is in fact the Spirit of Christ released into the world.  As a matter of fact when Jesus was giving his final goodbyes, and commissioning His disciples to go into all the world, these were His words:

"But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, 'Where are You going? But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you."  John 16:5-7 (NASB) 

The advantage that Jesus was referring to is the ability of the Holy Spirit to be with all believers at the same time, releasing "the very same spirit that raised Christ from the dead" (Romans 8:11). He promises to be at work and walking alongside us every day of our lives.  What a promise!

As we walk with the Holy Spirit, we will discover that:

1. He is our closest friend.
2. He is our guide.
3. He is the voice of God in our lives. 

For our time together let's consider the Holy Spirit's ability to guide our lives, leading us into everything that God has planned for us.  This is not an unreachable state of spiritual maturity or a care gift for a select few but it is our inheritance and God's desire for every believer, if we will simply walk closely with the Holy Spirit and prioritize our relationship with Him.

One of the attributes of the Holy Spirit is to give guidance and insight to those who follow Christ.  When we walk with the Holy Spirit, we can be sure that He will guide us into all truth, and if we are being guided into all truth, it means that we are being steered away from deception.  You cannot be led to truth and deceit at the same time.  You can't travel in God's direction and be lost or confused at the same time.  You may not know everything  that's going on, or where you will end up, but you will have a deep peace and confidence that it's going to be good.  Just keep following Him!  The Holy Spirit guides us into God's promises and away from disillusionment and broken promises.  He reveals God's plan for our future, thus giving us continual hope, vision, and passion as we move forward.

In light of these realities, it would be to our advantage to pursue a nearness and meaningful friendship with God through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  The Holy Spirit is our Guide!  "Jesus taking the wheel" is the key to clear and consistent guidance.  Determine in advance to follow where He leads.  Don't try to get God to endorse and bless a path or decision that you've developed apart from His clear leading and confirmation through His Word.  Be completely vulnerable and humble before Him.  This is a place of safety, blessing and ultimate victory, even if it requires the temporary pain of laying down something or someone on the altar.

When God guides our steps, it will eventually and inevitably include a journey up a mountain of sacrifice and moments of letting go of the "valuable things" in our lives, only to discover the greater things that God has for us on the other side of the tests (See Genesis 22).

TAKE A MOMENT  - Consider the areas of your life that need clear direction.  Is there a decision up ahead that you are uncertain about which way to go?  Is there a relationship that you are not quite sure how to navigate?  Whatever you are going through today, the Holy Spirit is available and willing to give you direction.  Simply wait on Him and ask in faith.  I encourage you to write down your top three decisions that you need clarity on .  Lay them before the Lord and ask the Holy Spirit to "lead you into all truth," and ask Him to tell you what your next step should be.

MEMORY VERSE 
¹³  However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.   John 16:13 (NKJV) 

PRAYER DIRECTIVE - As you pray, ask the Holy Spirt to walk with you in a nearness and with a friendship like you have never known.  If you have unknowingly neglected conversation and fellowship with God who wants to live in you by the work of His Holy Spirit, that can change today!  First, repent of anything that might have quenched the Holy Spirit in your life (1 Thessalonians 5:19) and second, invite Him to speak to you today.  Pray for clarity in hearing and clear direction for every future decision.  Know that the Holy Spirit guides you into all truth.  Pray for greater understanding of His Word, a greater awareness of His presence and a greater activation of His gifts in your life.  Today I pray you will be filled with the Spirit!  After all, it is OUR ADVANTAGE!

Adapted from PURSUIT, by Dave Patterson, 2019, The Father's House.

PURSUIT - Day 6 - A Hearing Ear

"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."  Romans 10:17 NKJV

When we are diligent about reading God's Word, we are interacting with a living document, an extension of the the very God that we serve.  In essence God's Word is alive and it speaks to us for the situation that we are in when we are diligent to read it and apply it to our lives.  So, for our prayer application today, it's not merely what has been said or written, but what God is saying right now that produces faith, resulting in powerful prayers.  Jesus told us that his sheep would hear and recognize His voice (John 10:27).  We can come into His presence with confidcence knowing that He desires to speak to our hearts and when we hear His voice powerful  faith ignites! 

If you've served God for very long, you realize how priceless and unique it is when the Lord speaks with clarity and certainty.  When we are diligent to desire God's voice in our lives; when we genuinely know God's desire for our future, and His remedy for our particular problem or situation, we can then pray with faith and certainty.

God speaks to everyone in different ways, times and seasons, but two common denominators can be found for those who are in consistent two-way communication:

• THEY HEAR FROM GOD IN THE CONTEXT OF HIS WORD - The impressions, whispers, God-thoughts, or inner voice conversations will always be in alignment with and flow from what God has already said.  One sure way of having increased, consistent communication with the Holy Spirit is to stay in the Word.  This is the Lord's primary mode of communication with us.
• THEY HAVE DEVELOPED A HEARING EAR - There is a promise in Isaiah that we all need to receive today, "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'"  (Isaiah 30:21)  What a promise!  No matter what we are facing, no matter how complicated the situation or high the risk, if we will hear the voice of God the we have the guarantee of clear direction.  In light of this scriptural truth, it would make perfect sense that the enemy's greatest and most effective weapons against us are distractions, confusion, a multiplicity of voices, and the inability to be still and listen.

Today consider the value of being still before God in light of the promise of hearing His voice when you wait in His presence.  If hearing from God clearly and unmistakeably is new territory for you, let's together learn from a young man named Samuel who had his first conversation with God.  You can read the full story in 1 Samuel chapter 3.

"One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place.  The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the LORD, where the ark of God was. Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.  1 Samuel 3:2-5 (NIV2011) 

 This was Samuel's first encounter with hearing the voice of God and the starting point for two-way communication with God.  Hearing the voice of God was so foreign to Samuel that he mistook God's voice as that of his mentor, Eli the priest.  After a couple of failed attempts to connect with God, Eli instructed Samuel to lay day and when he heard the voice a third time to respond by saying, "Speak Lord, your servant is listening."

TAKE A MOMENT

Like Samuel, pray this out loud, "Speak Lord, your servant is listening."  Quiet your heart and focus on His goodness and His desire to reveal himself to you.  Let God know that he has your full attention.  Have a tablet of paper or a journal readily available to write down what the Lord may be saying to you.

Never underestimate the power of one clear sentence straight from the heart of God.  Remember hearing clearly is a matter of closeness to Him.

Once Samuel understood who was speaking to him, and how to respond, he received a message that would not only change his life but the life of the entire nation.  Live can be forever changed with just a few clear words of guidance from the Lord.

There is a lot we can learn from Samuel's story, increasing our ability to hear the voice of God more clearly and consistently:

• STAY NEAR THE PRESENCE OF GOD - Verse 3 tells us that Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark Of God.  What a beautiful picture to be resting right where the prsence of God dwelt.  This speaks to us of the need to have a heart of worship and to find a place of intimate, uninterrupted conversation with God.

Once you experience the presence of God, don't be in a hurry to move on.  Make sure your PURSUIT time involves plenty of worship and adoration with no agenda other than to draw close (James 4:8).

• LAY DOWN AND WAIT - You may not need to lay down, but you need to find a place that is free of distraction so that you can quiet your mind and heart.  Prayer is designed to be a dialogue, not a monologue.  If we only present our praise, rattle off requests, and then head out the door, we are missing the mos most important moment of our PURSUIT time, hearing God's response.  Hearing from God requires that we silence other voices, quiet our souls, and cease from striving (i.e. emails, calls, text messages, and social media).  God almost always speaks in a whisper, not a shout.                                                                                                                      
• GIVE GOD YOUR "YES" IN ADVANCE - The key to hearing from God consistently and repeatedly is simply doing the last thing he told you to do.  The Lord entrusts those who can be trusted with more and withholds from those who squandor the treasure of opportunities and instructions.  Be ready to say "Yes Lord, speak, your servant is listening" and "Here am I, send me" before the conversation ever takes place.                                                                                      
• PLACE A HIGH VALUE ON HEARING THE VOICE OF GOD - The things we value we will invest in and make sacrfices for.  Samuel was willing to direct his life and future based on the Word of the Lord.  King David said "How precious to me are your thoughts, God.  How vast is the sum of them!  Were I to count them, the would outnumber the grains of sand - when I awake, I am still with you." Psalm 139:17-18

Today God is thinking about you!  He has plans and desires for your future that He is waiting to reveal as you seek His face and wait to hear His voice.  My prayer is that we would develop a passion to hear His voice at a level that every thought God thinks about us is a precious and priceless treasure.  

MEMORY VERSE - "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'"  Isaiah 30:21

PRAYER DIRECTIVE - Ask clearly and boldly for God to speak to you!  Pray for all other competing voices to be silenced.  Pray that you would have a strong desire to live near the presence of God and never leave!  Grab your journal and your Bible, fully expecting to hear clearly as you wait on the Lord!


Adapted from PURSUIT, By Dave Patterson, 2019, The Father's House.

PURSUIT - Day 5 - Resilience Required

"Most people quit too soon!"

A few weeks ago, I preached a message entitled "I Know How This Story Ends," in which I talked about King David, the Giant-Slayer David, the "he has killed his ten thousands" David, the Psalmist David, the great, great, great, . . . grandfather of Jesus David.  David has a lot of accolades, but the stories we know of David never occur if he doesn't do the ordinary.  We don't know anything about David if he doesn't show up.  If, when asked to carry a bag of groceries to his brothers, he chose to have a bad attitude, or respond negatively, or just go at his own pace, show up late, then the story ends a whole lot differently.  I heard it said one time that 90% of success is just showing up.  When I walk in to any room I know that I'm not going to be the smartest, the most gifted, the most educated, the best-looking. . . but if you were looking for a term to describe me, I promise that I will always show-up.  And I endeavor to keep showing up.  So that's my secret to life - Show up!

Come to find out; this is one of the most powerful principles you can embrace and live out.  It will change the way you view prayer, ministry, and many aspects of your life.  Don't quit in the middle, don't lay down during the battle, and don't walk away from your field while the seed is still in the ground.  Keep showing up!  Ask God for a long-term perspective and a Holy resilience to stand and pray until. . .

One of the main reasons our church engages in 21 days of fasting and prayer is beacause of the exampe set by a young man named Daniel in Babylon around 600 BC.  Daniel was determined to stay loyal to Jehovah, not defiling himself with all the perks of being hand-picked by King Nebuchadnezzar to serve in the royal courts.  This resolve to stand for God, and thus against the culture and king of a wicked nation, quickly put him into a test of faith that and three of his Hebrew buddies would have to live out daily.  His three friends were bound with ropes and thrown into a fire.  Yet God was with them in the fire, and they came through the fire with more authority and confidence than when they started.  This seems to be true of all fiery tests.  Daniel was tossed into a pit of lions to be dinner for the night, but God had other plans.  Fast forward, the years in captivity are rolling along and Daniel realizes that the seventy years of captivity of the Children of Israel are coming to a close.  This meant that the prophecy  of their deliverance was about to come to pass, thus releasing and returning God's people.  But God's people had not kept their part of the covenant, potentially forfeiting the promise of God for deliverance.  They sinned, rebelled against God, scorned His commands and regulations, and refused to listen to His servants (See Daniel 9:5-6).

So Daniel decided to seek God through prayer and fasting. . .

He determined that he would undertake a customized fast for 21 days and pray three times a day for God's mercy on the nation and the deliverance of His people.

TAKE A MOMENT

Consider how our country has turned away from its heritage as a Christian nation and how many cultures have embraced the broken values of a fallen culture.  Use Daniel's prayer to pray for the Church and for our nation.  Pray for revival, fresh conviction, a new move to of the Holy Spirit, for life-giving churches to rise up, and that God would lean down and smile once again on our nation.

This was Daniel's prayer over that nation that "bears God's name."

Daniel 9:17-19 (NIV2011)
“Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary.  Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.  Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”

Daniel set himself to seek God, to repent and "stand in the gap" for his nation.  While he is praying, he has a vistation and a word from God that I want you to embrace as your own:  "The moment you began praying, a command was given" (Daniel 9:23).

This message was given to Daniel before he started his fast.  He was headed into a time of pursuit, and God was letting him know that as soon as he set his heart to seek the Lord that something was set in motion, and so it is with You!  When we get serious about pursuing God for a spiritual breakthrough, renewal, revival, the restoration of our nation, and the salvation of others, something is set in motion. 

Daniel fasted for 21 days and prayed three times a day during his fast.  At the end of the fast he has another visitation from God.  God meets with him and tells him something you and I need to hear: 

Daniel 10:12-13 (NIV2011)
"Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.  But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia."

Although Daniel's prayer was heard on Day 1, and a response was set in motion, there was 21 days of resistance.  While Daniel fasted and prayed, there was warfare happening in the heavens that he could not see and knew nothing about.  And so it is with our time of pursuit.  There is a very real and ever-present spiritual battle that is bring waged that requires resilience and persistence on our part if  we are going to see the breakthrough and the move of God that we are crying out for.  Now if you are praying for a better parking spot at the mall or to find your lost sock, I doubt that there will be any demonic resistance involved.  But when we set our hearts to see a move of God in our city, to see the lost come home and the bound set free, be prepared for resistence.  Yet we wait in faith, we fast in faith, and we understand that we win if we don't quit!  Just keep showing up!

MEMORY VERSE:  "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up."  Luke 18:1 (NIV2011) 

PRAYER DIRECTIVE:  Ask God to put resilience in your spirit that will enable you to stand in faith like Daniel and believe like Abraham!  Let's ask God for insight into the spiritual realm that we might understand the scope of what we are battling for and the need for faith and patience in the middle of the fight. 

Ask God to give you a passion in prayer that will enable you to "always pray and never give up".  You will be amazed at what God will do in your life if you'll determine to just keep showing up!

Adapted from Pursuit, By Dave Patterson, 2019, The Father's House.

PURSUIT - Day 4 - God Is Looking

One of the important areas we will be focusing on during our 21 days of PURSUIT is our prayer and intercession for others.  My mom used to have a ceramic plaque above our wall-mounted telephone in kitchen that simply read, "PRAYER CHANGES THINGS."  It is powerful, inspiring, overwhelming and border-line unbelievable that we, through our prayers, can change the course of someone's life.  And yet, it's true!  Your prayers have the capacity to release great power and can be a game changer for those who cannot or will not pray for themselves.

What is intercession exactly?  Intercession means "to stand between" or "to go in behalf of".  This is what Jesus has done and continues to do for us!  Hebrews 7:25 says that Jesus is able to save completely because he lives to intercede for us.  In other words His purpose is to intercede or act on behalf of us. As He intecedes for us, He is standing between the brokenness of humanity and the needed grace and mercy of the Father.  He has released the church, you and I, to be involved in the same ministry.  1 Timothy 2:1 says "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people" .  

The Greek word for intecession, pagha, means "to make a petetion or conversation on behalf of another," or "to go to God representing another."  According to Ezekiel 22:30, that is called standing in the gap.

The "GAP" is the space between the mess of humanity and the much-needed grace and intervention of God.  God is looking for people to boldly approach the throne of God, making petitions on behalf of those on the wrong side of the gap.  The purpose and need of intercessors is to justify divine intervention.  Remember God operates with perfect justice.  He has set into motion the laws of sowing an reaping.  It is a rare spiritual exception for God ot override people's free-will or overturn the set law of reaping the appropriate harvest that has been determined by the seeds that people have sown.

In order to release the best over those who deserve the worst, God has set into motion a spiritual law or principle that interrupts the set process of sowing and reaping.  This is the law of intercession.  We see this is 2 Chronicles 7:14, "If my people, who are called by my name will. . ."  Let's stop right there; the operative words in this famous passage are "if" and "will".  The promise God is making is contingent upon intercession being made for a nation that is deserving of God's judgment, yet God is saying, "I'm providing another way, a path of rescue and redemption."

God has set into motion a law that is higher than the law of sowing and reaping; the law of intercession!

Ezekiel 22:30 (NIV2011)
³⁰  “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one. 

GOD IS LOOKING FOR YOU

One powerful line that jumps out from the above verse is "I looked for someone. . ."  God is looking for intercessors.  He is searching for those who are willing to pray selflessly for others until breakthrough comes.  How many have been pulled from the brink, saved from utter destruction because of the prayer of a mom, a dad, a pastor, an old saint, a caring friend.

If you have been searching for God, let me encourage you to position your life where you are sure to meet him consistently.  You do this be becoming the person, the prayer warrior, the intercessor that He is already searching for.  Everyone can do this!  Anyone can volunteer, step up, and the rold of the intercessor.  Some people have referred to themselves or others as having "the gift of intercession", but nowhere in the Bible is intercession seen as a spiritual gift, exclusive calling, or a special burden for a select few.  Yes, some people are more given to intercession, and maybe they do operate in a special anointing to pray for others, but I believe that develops through proximity, availablility, and intimacy; yet we are all invited to stand in the gap praying powerful prayer for others!

TAKE A MOMENT

Who was it that was praying for you when you could not or would not pray for yourself!  I would bet that you can trace your road to Christ back to the prayer of someone who prayed selflessly for you during your darkest days.  So who are you standing int he gap for now?  Who is on your heart right now as you read these words?  Do you feel the compassion of Jesus for them?  Can you see their face and imagine them standing in the presence of God again, wholly changed by His grace?  Consider this your official invitation to stand in the gap for them.

MEMORY VERSE

James 5:16 (NIV2011)
¹⁶  . . . The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 


PRAYER DIRECTIVE

During this 21 Days of PURSUIT, ask God to take you to a place of passionate, heartfelt prayer.  Go beyone mere words and human understanding of the need.  God to where you are feeling His heart and release passion into the situation!

Take a few minutes and write down the names of the top 3-5 people in your world who cannot or will not pray for themselves.  Make a determination to stand in the gap for them until they encounter the grace of God and the life-change they so desperately need.  As you pray, ask the Lord to give you His heart and compassion for them, and ask Him to enable you to stay in this place of prayer until significant work has been done.

Adapted from PURSUIT, by Dave Patterson, 2019, The Father's House.

PURSUIT - Day 3 - Preparing For Power

Jesus talked about giving, praying, and fasting as if they were non-negotiable practices in the life of a believer.  Yet, wrong motivations for these spiritual disciplines can derail the results, turning them into meaningless religious routines.

"So, when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do. . . And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. . . And when you fast, don't make it obvious, as the hypocrites do."  Matthew 6:2, 5, & 16

The religious leaders of Jesus' day, those he kept referring to as "hypocrites," prayed publicly, gave more money at the synagogue than the average person, and fasted two days a week!  Sounds like a pretty serious commitment that you would think God would be impressed with and respond to.  However Jesus said the only reward they would receive was the admiration of people.  Truthfully, I want a little bit more from my spiritual pursuits than impressing people.  The keys to fasting effectively and praying prayers that move heaven are to:

• SPEND SIGNIFICANT TIME IN THE SECRET PLACE

The secret place is simply that undistracted, designated place of prayer and worship that you intentionally reserve for just you and the Lord.  This is where we go and "shut the door"  to meet with God in secret.  Jesus made us a promise when we do this:   "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:6 (NIV2011)

• BE LED BY THE SPIRIT

If we are not careful, the term "Spirit-led" can get spooky or a little weird, leading many down a road of subjective and questionable behavior, yet the Word is clear that this is how we are to navigate our spiritual lives.  Romans 8:14 tells us that "The mature children of God are those who are moved (led)  by the impulses of the Holy Spirit."  Let's consider Jesus' preparation for ministry as he fasted for forty days and forty nights in the wilderness.

"Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry." Luke 4:1-2 (NIV2011) 

There are a couple of questions worth considering from this passage.  First, does the Spirit actually lead you into times of testing and a wilderness experience in order to release you into a new season of power and realized potential?  Second, what kind of fast is the Spirit leading you into?  Third, what should expect during these days of Pursuit?  There are no Biblical mandates or verse-by-verse instructions detailing how long we should fast, how often or what type of fast we should undertake.  To truly be effective in your time of fasting we must be willing to listen to the voice of God, the leading of the Spirit.  It also helps to get counsel from your pastor or other spiritual leaders.  For this 21-day period, our Pastor, our spiritual leader, has called as a community to particpate in this time together.  But at other times in your life, don't avoid the idea of fasting because we do not "feel led" or "Pastor hasn't directed us to do so."  Fasting is a discipline and an act of faith that we initiate whenever we choose.

THIS WAS NOT ON THE BROCHURE

The next step is to prepare your mind and Spirit for what might happen as the Spirit leads you in these days.  Many have a romantic concept of fasting and anticipate dreams, vision, angelic visitations, and an immediate sense of being closer to God than they ever have before.  Many times this is just not the case.  Don't get me wrong, fasting does create a nearness to Jesus and a sensitivity to the Spirit that nothing else will produce, but oftentimes during a fast, we will deal with some heart issues that begin to surface.  We will be confronted with our baggage and bondage that God is trying to free us from or we will face some real external spiritual opposition as we pursue God.

Let's consider Jesus again:  He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.

This is the part that is not in the brochure!  Who signs up for a wilderness trip to be tempted and have a one-on-one confrontation with the Prince of Darkness?  This doesn't sound like my idea of a spiritual retreat!  But let's look at the end game.

There were four distinct dynamics that happened to Jesus during his time of fasting that I believe we can use as a template during any season of an extended fast.  This will help us to have realistic expectations and to not be derailed as we encounter resistance and warfare in the process.

1. WE WILL DEVLOP A DEEP AND COMPLETE DEPENDENCE ON THE SUSTAINING STRENGTH OF GOD.  "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Matthew 4:4                     
2. WE WILL LEARN HOW TO FIGHT WITH THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT.  "It is written. . . It is written. . . It is written. . ."  Matthew 4:1-11
3. WE WILL LEARN TO RESIST AND DEFEAT THE DEVIL.  "Get out of here Satan," Jesus told him, "For the Scriptures say 'You must worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him.'" Then the devil went away. Matthew 4:10
4. WE WILL CONCLUDE OUR FAST IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT.  There is something in this portion of scripture that I want you to see and never forget.  Jesus headed into the wilderness full of the Spirit, but He returned in the power of the Spirit! (Luke 4:1 & 14)   There is a direct and obvious connection between fasting and the empowerment, the wilderness battle and the start of the miraculous, public ministry where demons cried out as he approached, and healing flowing freely to all who were near Him.  

I believe these days of  Pursuit are preparing you for a new release of power and authority in your life!  If Jesus need to fast to see a release of power, then so do we.  We have the biblical example of the "non-fasting" disciples who lacked power as the negative illustration of this truth (Matthew 21:19-21).  

Before you pray today, please remember the words of the Apostle Paul who lived a life of fasting, while being used consistently by the power of God.  This verse will also serve as our memory verse of the day.

MEMORY VERSE:  "My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power."  1 Corinthians 2:4

PRAYER DIRECTIVE:  As you spend some time with the Lord today, ask the Holy Spirit to lead you into and through every day of your PURSUIT.  That when you face the powers of hell you won't be discouraged or surprised but will be prepared to wield the Sword of the Word!  Let the Word of God be your sword as you resist and defeat your personal enemies.  Ask for a fresh baptism of fire and power so that you can be fully prepared for the ministry that awaits you as you "return in the power" of the Holy Spirit.

Adapted from Pursuit, by Dave Patterson, 2019, The Father's House.

PURSUIT - Day 2 - Choose Your Weapon

It's very clear in scripture that we are all involved in a spiritual battle.  It's not an elective where you choose to be involved or not.  The nature of this broken planet is such that spiritual forces are at work to limit our effectiveness, taking us out if possible.  This presents the ever-present options of victory or defeat, flight or flee, breakthrough or breakdown.  The difference between sustained victory or a defeated Christian life really comes down to our knowledge of and willingness to use the weapons of our warfare.  New Testament writers often refert to our journey of faith as a battle or fight and they give us a right perspective of promised victory as we fact these spiritual battles.

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12 (NIV2011)

"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses." 1 Timothy 6:12 (NIV2011) 

"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings." 1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV2011) 

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds."
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (NIV2011) 

The problem for many believers is that they do not access or pick up the weapons that God has furnished for the battle.  They've heard about the weapons, read books about the weapons, and could probably even tell you quite a bit about the arsenal, yet those very same weapons lie in the dirt or neatly packed in the closet of their spiritual life.

Fasting is one of the most unused weapons in the arsenal of the believer.  Many Christians know about fasting but somehow relagate it to first century Christians or some form of ancient ritual of self-imposed suffering to gain God's approval.

RIDICULOUS WEAPONS

If you were to examine many of the battle plans in scripture, you would find the strategies used, and the weapons employed, seemed a bit ridiculous.  For example, when King Jehoshaphat and the people of Israel were about to be attacked by a vast army, they picked up a few weapons that seemed a bit "ridiculous" yet yielded a miraculous victory.  Their weapons of choice were to fast and to sing (2 Chronicles 20).  Now what kind of army would weaken their soldiers with fasting and then send in an unarmed choir to the frontlines of the battle?  Yet, that's what King Jehoshaphat did. 

Singing "Give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever" the choir and army marched into battle.  This God-given lyric, a simple yet powerful weapon, led the way to Israel's triumph.  Scripture tells us that because of King Jehoshaphat's simple and even ridiculous strategy, the location of the battle was permanently changed to "The Valley of Blessing."  God turned a valley of imminent destruction into a valley of blessing through the simplicity of praise!  And so it is with you and your journey of faith.  During these 21 days of fasting - of PURSUIT - I encourage you to pick up the unused weapons of your arsenal, and then watch as the Lord fights for you.

WEAPONS OF WARFARE

We could define a spiritual weapon as "anything found in scripture that drives back the power of darkness, defeats our spiritual enemies, and establishes the Kingdom of Heaven here on Earth."  Based on the description here are several weapons found in God's Word:

• Prayer
• Intercession (focused prayer for others)
• Thanksgiving
• Singing
• Giving
• Tithing
• Time in the Secret Place
• Unity
• Praise
• Communion (observing the Lord's Supper)
• Memorizing Scripture
• Forgiving Others
• Resolving Offense
• Declaring the Word
• Binding and Loosing
• FASTING

Take a moment and consider the list of spiritual weapons above.  Which ones are you using consistenlty and which ones are laying on the ground, gathering dust or perhaps have never even found their way into your arsenal.  Then consider how you might begin taking up some new weapons furing this time of PURSUIT.  For those who are new to fasting, let me encourage you to go after God with a Biblical time of fasting and see what He will do on your behalf.

BIG PROMISES

2 Corinthians 10:4 says that "these weapons have divine power to demolish strongholds."  This is a huge promise and reality:  When we fight God's way with His weapons, demonic forces, strongholds, and barriers are not just pushed back, delayed or discouraged, they are destroyed!  Imagine a building being imploded, completely turned to dust.  This is what "demolish" means.  This is the power available when we utilize the weapons we've been given.  Those fortresses of despair or barricades of unworthiness that have limited your future in God are on the brink of being blown to bits as you step into the season of fasting and prayer!

MEMORY VERSE:  2 Corinthians 10:4 (NIV2011)  "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds."

PRAYER DIRECTIVE:  As we spend time with the Lord, let's ask Him to reveal to us the weapons that we have neglected or perhaps have yet to discover.  Ask Him to show you what the battle plan is for this time of fasting and prayer, this time of PURSUIT.  Strategy is as important as our willingness to fight.  God is the one who releases diving strategy as we wait on Him.  Ask the Lord if there is a specific weapon that you need to use today.  It might be even look like a "ridiculous" weapon, but who knows, you could be a simple song away from a breakthrough!

Adapted from "Pursuit", by Dave Patterson, 2019, The Father's House.

PURSUIT - Day 1

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."  Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV2011) 

Over the next 21 days, our goal is to Pursue - to pursue Jesus through fasting and prayer.  Each day we will provide a devotional guide centered on a promise that seems too good to be true.  "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."  This is God's promise for those who set their hearts and lives in His direction, not looking back!  When we seek God with all our hearts, we not only encounter Him but we are changed by Him in the process.  What a promise, especially considering that the Lord has never broken or failed to fulfill His Word!

Today we begin our days of prayer and fasting by standing on the firm foundation that we will never be disappointed in or PURSUIT of God (Isaiah 49:23).  During these valuable days of pursuing God, I believe you are going to discover things you've never known; you are going to receive new revelations, you will grow in your intimacy with Jesus, and you are going to encounter the power of God like never before.

GOD INITIATES DESIRE

I believe you have chosen to set aside this time of fasting and prayer because the Spirit of God has drawn you.  Let me be clear that it is the Lord who initiates our PURSUIT by drawing us first to Him and then giving us the desire to respond.  Jesus said, "No one can come to me unless the Father draws them" (John 6:44).  First He draws, then He initiates desire, and by His grace, we respond.

Today - take a moment - and thank God for drawing you to this place, this season of pursuing Him.  Ask that He would increase His "draw" of you over the next 21 days; that there would be a deep longing to please and accomplish His will in your life.  Just as Elisha asked for a double portion, be so bold as to ask for twice the hunger and thirst for His presence.  According to Philipians 2:13, ask and believe that the Lord will create in you a deep and sustained longing to know and do His will.

"[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight." Philippians 2:13 (AMP) 

SEEK & FIND

Jeremiah tells us that we will seek & find HIM when we seek HIM with all of our heart.  Two key words:  SEEK and FIND.  

To SEEK is to search for and not stop, to continue a quest until the object of our seeking has been obtained, and to create a well-worn path to the person or object  we are in search of."  We are embarking on a "with all your heart" journey.  My prayer during these 21 days is that you would develop a spirit of seeking.  That it would become such a part of who you are, that you will never again be satisfied with a lackluster approach to God or a casual prayer life.

To FIND is to be encountered, lighted upon, discovered.  To run right into, gain possession of and find sufficient.  God promises that when we create a well-worn path to His presence, asking and seeking, we will, inevitably and most certainly find Him.

Is there anything greater than finding God?  When we encounter Him, we discover new insights; receive answers, healing, and direction; are filled with passion and joy.  THIS is the very essence and fullness of who God is!  There is nothing we need more in this life than to find and know God.  This is the quest you have embarked upon and the PURSUIT you have started today.

The nature of faith is persistence and the language of faith is asking and continuing to ask "until."

STAY THE COURSE

There are going to be moments, hours, even entire days during this time that you will question whether you are making headway, when you haven't received the download from heaven that you were expecting, and truthfully you won't feel emotionally pumped up about what you've committed yourself to.  At times like this remember you are a man or woman of faith - who does not walk by feeling but by faith - we are not moved by what we feel but by what we believe (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Prepare your mind and heart to ask and keep asking, seek, and keep seeking, knock, and keep knocking.  The moment you position yourself with this kind of resolve, you qualify to be one who will receive answers, discovering the deeper things of God, and moving through open doors!

MEMORY VERSE for DAY 1:  "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you."  Jeremiah 29:13

PRAYER DIRECTIVE for DAY 1:  Start out your prayer time by asking God to give you a new resilience and determination to "seek Him until."  Pray Matthew 7:7 and Jeremiah 29:13 out loud.  Declare that you are stepping into a new season of whole-hearted PURSUIT and you don't plan to back up or back off!  Pray for a fuller revelation of His amazing promises and that a greater faith for this time of PURSUIT would fill your heart and mind like never before.

Adapted from "Pursuit" by Dave Patterson, 2019, The Father's House.