EVENT: A Call to Fast (3 day fast)

Philip Purdy

Jeremy Hulsey

Ron Halverson

Mike Balog

Jen Gordon

Chanin R.

Nadine Capps

I really feel God could be in this. What is our purpose on this earth? We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for Good works which God has prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Oh! that we might walk in His purpose to make us captives so we can be truly free.God have your way in our lives that we would be his light shining in the darkness.

I will fast on March 2-4. My name is Dave Jones

d

This is great, the fast falls upon my birthday. What a way to start another year of life by fasting. I would like to add this prayer request for the fast, that God will continue to do great things in China.Chen Zhuoyuan

This time of fasting and prayer is for the purpose of separating ourselves unto God and to be obedient to our call to be His witnesses. Amen.I will fast on 3th March. I feel that in the moment I am raedy just for one day. I am asking God to help me in the future to spend more time in fasting and praying.In Christ,Kiril

Tiffanie Holloway

What a AWESOME movement of God!! I will fast for the 3 days. Romans 8:4

I agree...praise God !!

To those who will be participating in the three day fast,Please pray for my family. I am the only one among my immediate family members who trusts in Christ. And pray that God would descend down and meet with us and fill us whith his presence and a holy boldness to be witnesses to the resurection of Jesus Christ.I have my mother and father and three brothers. Thank you for your prayers.In Christ,Jeremy Hulsey

I will fast & pray during this time.Brenda Staples

I will fast and pray during this timeNathan RogersI would also challenge those who are partaking in this fast to give the money that you would have spent on food for those 3 days and give it to charity.Isaiah 58:6-14

I will fast on the three days.Lyndon Waldner

I inadvertantly started a New Thread. sorry.I will also join this fast. The church in Haiti are fasting on the 5Th for peace etc.Please pray that I also find clear guidance for my future ministry here in Ireland and of course pray for ireland that the GOspel be embracedPaul Carley

Please pray for me as I am surrounded by many friends and family members who don't know Christ. Pray that God will speak to these people I care about through my life in Him. Also a friend of mine, his mom has cancer, her name is Chris.

I was doing some reading this morning and I came across the following, I believe it will put us in the right frame of mind for this time of fasting and prayer:"Let us bow before God in humility, and in that humility confess before Him the state of the whole Church. No words can tell the sad state of the Church of Christ on earth. I wish I had words to speak what I sometimes feel about it. Just think of the Christians around you. I do not speak of nominal Christians, or professing Christians, but I speak of hundreds of thousands of honest, earnest Christians who are not living a life in the power of God or to His glory. So little power, so little devotion or consecration to God, so little perception of the truth that a Christian is a man utterly surrendered to God's will. Oh, we want to confess the sins of God's people around us, and to humble ourselves. We are memebrs of that sickly body, The sickliness of the body will hinder us and break us down, unless we come to God. We must, in confession, seperate ourselves from partnership with worldliness, with coldness toward each other. We must give ourselves up to be entirely and wholly for God.How much Christian work is being done in the spirit of the flesh and in the power of self! How much work, day by day, in which human energy-our will and our thought about work-is continually manifested, and in which there is little waiting upon God and the power of the Holy Spirit! Let us make a confession. But as we confess the state of the Church , and the febbleness and sinfulness of work for God among us, let us come back to ourselves. Who is there who truly longs to be delivered from the power of the self-life and the flesh, who truly acknowledges that it is the power of self and the flesh, and who is willing to cast all at the feet of Christ? There is deliverance."-Andrew Murray from Absolute Surrender

I will join you in the three day fast beginning tomorrow through Thursday and am in complete agreement with your prayer: Dear God, set me apart. Show me what you would have me to do. Lord Jesus, show your Glory one more time through my life. Make a difference where I am through me, in Jesus' name. Amen.

I too will fast...Shelly Rollins. Please pray for a revival and renewing to break out in the youth group that I work with as well as in our church. God is already beginning to stir and move in some of our core youth, but I want it to spread, and so much so that the power of the Holy Spirit will draw near those who need to hear.

I will be joining this 3 day fast "Some time ago I asked a christian why he beleived in Jesus Christ. He said 'Because He is the Saviour'. I asked, 'It is no proof that Jesus Christ is the Saviour because it is in the book, the proof must be in our heart'. We must realise this truth and know him.There is a great difference between knowing about Christ and kowing Christ. When I used to know about Christ I used to hate Him, but when I knew Him, then I began to love Him. When we Know about Him it does not do us any good, it is no spiritual help, but when we know Him, nobody will ask us If we know our Saviour, there will be somethingin our life which will show it. There may be temptations and difficulties in this world, but we shall never be conquered if we have experienced this knowledge of Christ. " SADHU SUNDAR SINGH

I'm in too! Just wanted to let everyone know that Times Square Church begins the fast tonight (Monday) at midnight and ends the fast Thursday evening after their service. So, around 9pm Thursday have a feast and celebrate the goodness of the Lord!!Monday - midnight through Thursday - 9pm.Please keep my family (grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins) in prayer! Also, we need to pray that the Lord gives us (America) more time!! "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9 I was reading Jeremiah tonight and was struck with the fact that the church is judged first by being led into captivity because of their adultery (we have already seen the beginnings of this!) -- and THEN the world is judged. THEN Babylon is exposed and judged and THEN the remnant is restored!!"In those days and at that time," declares the LORD, "the sons of Israel will come, both they and the sons of Judah as well; they will go along weeping as they go, and it will be the LORD their God they will seek. They will ask for the way to Zion, turning their faces in its direction; they will come that they may join themselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten." Jeremiah 50:4-5 Lord, give us the Grace to seek Your face and pray!! Help us to pray in the Spirit! May we hear Your hearts cry for this hour and pray accordingly.Hidden in Him,Stephanie Staples

Hey there stranger!Good to hear from you!Thanks for the updates on times.Will keep your family in prayer.May we hear Your hearts cry for this hour and pray accordingly.Yes!Mike

Count me in.Pls pray for the salvation of my wife and family.

does anyone know what the time difference is between Dublin and New York? I do not suppose it makes any difference but I would be interested just so I know when you guys are starting and stopping. I suspect I will be doing a short last bit alone so please pray for me.

I will join you in fast and prayer,ann sanborn :-D

Hi Paulus.Looks like you are 5 hours ahead of New York time.The start times for the fast from Times Square Church are: (Thanks Stephanie)Monday - midnight through Thursday - 9pm.Here is where I got my time calculations from:(A great site for this, breakdowns by major cities, etc.)http://www.worldtimeserver.com/

I have a prayer request for you, I just heard that one of my friends father died of a heart attack. I ask that you pray for them to find comfort and help, that they may rest in Christ through this trying time.Lyndon

Lyndon,My heart goes out to you, to him and his family.Can you give us his name?

In this thread Greg wrote the following:"Please post your prayer requests in this thread and pray for each others specific needs during this next three days. Also post your praise reports here and things God is showing you during these next 3 days, share as much as you feel led, I will try to personally check this thread as many times during the day as possible. The Lord bless all who are going to seek God during these next 3 days with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. He will be found with those who diligently seek Him. Seek and ye shall find.Wanted to bring this back up to the forefront.Please do read through this whole thread. There are some thoughts expressed as to the nature of why we are doing this and the heart cry's of our Body, His body.Certainly everyone is different, for myself I find that it can be overwhelming to consider all that needs to be prayed for in this world that is at eniminty with God. I picked up something in reading Rees Howells "Intercessor" that I found helpful:"Now the Spirit told him, "The meaning of prayer is answer - and of all that I give you, see that you lose nothing." He also told him that effectual praying must be guided praying, and that he was no longer to pray for all kinds of things at his own whim or fancy, but only the prayers that the Holy Ghost gave him.""Guided praying" is what has stuck and I would imagine that it will be different for each of us individually with an emphesis as to that which the Holy Spirit is leading as we rely on Him.Foremost in my heart as this is progressing is this prayer from Stephanie and flows right along with all this:May we hear Your hearts cry for this hour and pray accordingly.Oh Lord that You would make it clear to us by Your Spirit what You would have us do.Revival.A true outpouring of Your Spirit on your creatures. We seem to be accomplishing little. In our own flesh, nothing. Lord, how can we go forth if You be not with us? It is futile. Fill us Holy Spirit with Yourself and with Your desire.Rend the Heavens and come down, interupt the masses who have been blinded and draw them to Yourself.But where will they go when You do this?We have failed You, Your Church, by relying on our own reasoning and not on You. Forgive us this sin Lord. Oh God restore Your church!We turn and seek You.There are others out in this world who have been neglected. Our brothers and sisters in countries where they are suffering persecution, torture, rape and murder as well as being displaced by the burning of their villages because of their Faith in Your Son. I have heard the cry's of some of these Pastors in Burma "We have to leave village after village, house after house,..But it increases our faith. We are Christians; we know God will help us. But please remember us in your prayers. Please do not forget."This is but one example of many. Let us open our eye's to the plight of our brethren and join in solidarity with our prayers that the Lord may give them strength to endure and peace that passes understanding be given to them. Let them know that great is their reward in Heaven.Will post a seperate reply with links for these great warriors of the faith, who dwell in obscurity.Personally.That my wife (Lisa) would be drawn back to the Lord by whatever means necessary.An ever increasing desire and hunger for the Lord implanted in my step-son Josh.My mothers cancer to be healed and the surety of her and my fathers salvation.My father in laws salvation (Dave).For Greg, for this site and all of you, that the Lord will guide us into all truth and keep us from the evil one and the evil day.Strength to carry out this fast as we surrender ourselves to You._____________________________Response.This morning. (Tuesday 3/2/04)This came to me:"...though it tarry, wait for it;"I had to look it up.Hab 2:3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

Here are a few links to consider for our brethren who are enduring persecution, surely there are many more.To help broaden our view, one of our own, Lars Widerberg (lwpray) runs Intercessors Networkwhich has greatly opened up my awareness to the issues of the body at large. Ask to be added to his email list by dropping a note to:Intercessors.Network@Comhem.se_____________________________Voice of The Martyrshttp://www.persecution.com/Christians Concerned for Burmahttp://prayforburma.orgKaren Human Rights Groupwww.khrg.orgChristian Freedom Internationalwww.christianfreedom.org____________________________Let us also remember the underground church in China and let us not forget about our Jewish friends, that Yesuha be made real to them.We are the branches.

I read somewhere today: A blind man once said, "I do not believe in 'the power of prayer.' I believe there is power in the Presence of God, therefore I pray."Interesting!

(Something the Lord put on my heart during this fast.)The Rocks Will Cry Out"The apostles had avoided all appeal to the senses, trusting in the power of the Word alone. The Church, she said, resorted to pictures only when her power had gone." - Elisabeth Elliot, "A Chance to Die, The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael."Many who have seen Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” declare that their lives have been forever changed. I’m sure this is true in many respects. It isn’t very often that we are visually exposed to the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am supportive of the movie even though I have not yet seen it. I believe that God is Sovereign and that He commissioned Mel Gibson to make this film. I also believe that it will indeed impact many lives, but as always, when God comes on the scene not everyone is changed for the better.I believe only those who “hear what the Spirit is saying to the Churches” will be divinely affected by this film. The Scripture says we have a choice: we will either be, broken and changed by His appearing, or we will be hardened and eventually crushed.But Jesus looked at them and said, "What then is this that is written: ‘THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone'? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust." Luke 20:17-18I’ve heard it said, “The Church today has almost lost her voice.” I would take it a step further. The professing church of Jesus Christ has already lost her voice. It is evident through the making of this film. Because we have refused to hear Him, because we have refused to preach the cross, because we are in love with the gods of this world, He had to send a picture to bring us back to our knees. Not only a picture, but a movie made by a “movie star.” (Not bashing Mel Gibson as I deeply admire what the Lord is doing in His life.)Movies are incredibly powerful. They are captivating and all of them are eventually life changing. Unfortunately, most of them are not clean. They are not at all “true,” “honorable,” “right,” “pure,” “lovely,” “of good repute,” “excellent” or “worthy of praise” (see Philippians 4:8) and those who belong to Christ have no business entertaining themselves with the filth of secular society. Nevertheless, God has chosen to speak to His people through their idol. He says, “You won’t proclaim my suffering’s to the world? I will. You won’t talk about the cross, I’ll find someone who will.”And that’s what He has done.The message of the cross is more than forgiveness; it is sanctification. “For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope {Jesus}, through which we draw near to God.” (Hebrews 7:18-19 NASB) That is, the Law made nothing complete. Jesus Christ is our Redemption, Justification, and our Righteousness. He completes us. He died so that we might know Him and be reconciled to His Father. Because the church has given up her purity and forsaken the way of the cross there is a lack of good teaching. People don’t know the Gospel. Sure, they may know that Jesus died on the cross for their sins, but they don’t know the full story. God says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6 NASB)It is a shame that the professing church has failed to present an accurate picture of Jesus Christ to a rapidly decaying generation. It is a shame that many sit in pews week after week and never have an encounter or revelation of the cross of Christ. It is a shame that professing Christians are numb, even stunned, when they walk out of the theater. Should a Believer be moved? Absolutely. Should a Believer be shaken? Maybe. The fact is that Believers should have already been shaken by the Living and enduring Word of God. They shouldn’t have to see a film to “wake up,” they should already be awake. For Believers the film should only solidify the sufferings of Christ and remind us that we, also, are to humbly take up our cross. My intention is not to downplay this film. As stated earlier, I believe this film has God’s fingerprints all over it. I am merely pointing out it is shameful that it is taking a movie to shake and awaken many in the church. Furthermore, I am convinced that many who were “shaken” will not be changed. Many who have seen this movie simply have had another emotional experience; they won’t be changed because they don’t even realize they need to change! They say, “Oh, I am so blown away that Jesus would suffer for me that I could be forgiven and go to heaven!” That’s only part of the story! Mel Gibson beautifully portrays the rest of it by having Jesus say: “Behold, I make all things new.” If we understand the Gospel our reaction will be this: “Jesus took up His cross in order that I might know God. Father, give me the Grace to take up my cross:And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23)“Live crucified to the world: But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Galatians 6:14)“And forsake its lusts: Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. (Romans 8:12-14 NASB)“May I come out from among them and be separate so that the world might know of Your forgiveness and Your power to free them from sin.”I believe this movie is a cry to all nations to repent. God says, "Here I am. This is what I did. It's time to believe." I also believe this movie is a testimony against a stubborn, backslidden, church. A church whose lips speak His Name, yet whose actions deny His power. (See 2 Timothy 3:1-5)God is calling His Church back to the cross. Will we heed His Voice? May we receive His message and begin to walk as Jesus did.The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. (1 John 2:6 NASB)Hidden in Him,"Maria"www.stephaniestaples.com

Also, we need to pray that the Lord gives us (America) more time!!I had a strong burden for this very thing in prayer this morning. Judgment is at the door for a nation that has killed millions of innocent babies, a nation that now laregely denies the One who has blessed it so bountifully, and a church that is fat and lazy. I believe this judgment may be forstalled but not avoided. But thank God, His judgments are always redemptive! He is preparing a people now to be His light in the darkness, to the Jew and the Gentile.In Christ,Ron

My prayer for everyone during this fast - is for guidance and direction. I think we all know the signs of the times and the state of the church. Let us listen to the One who orders the stars and all things. He already knows how these things are going to be played out. What part are we going to play in it? Only He knows and we must seek Him out for His will for each of us.We all know what's wrong with everything- let us ask Him to fill us like an empty vessel- to be used by Him in whatever way He sees fit. I am praying to get rid of pre-conceived ideas. I want His will to be done and I don't want my own ideas, my own agenda, my own pre-conceived thoughts on things to limit what He wants to do - and in what way He wants to do it.I pray that our focus is on Him and Him alone. Fill us with MORE OF YOU so we will be less of ourselves. WE only get in the way.Drench us in humility, Lord!It's all about You and not us!In His perfect love, Chanin

I am continuing in this fast. Our nation needs a touch from God. God's people need to humble themselves and cry out to God for healing. This has been my prayer throughout the day. In Christ,Dave Jones

Just checking in from Ireland.I listened to Yarib:deliverer of the people by Pastor Neil. Hallelujah for Christ Victories.I have been praying over the past year about a church plant and the Lord has shown me today that it was a fear of failure that was holding me back altough I had covered it by saying I was being "careful and prayerful". Also I read in Esther last night " if you wont someone else will"what an awful prospect if I stand before Jesus and He asks what have I done with my "talent".The Lord has also shown me that the fear of failure was also a fear of being exposed, because in my flesh I was seeking my own glory and not His.Anyway must go and do some secular work, have cancelled all my business meetings so I can stay at my desk and work and pray.Just felt led that we should really pray for your next President, that he will be truly the one that God has chosen.Paul

Hello,It has been a blessing and encouragement to read all the posts in this thread. I am from Time Square Church and I would just like to share what happened in last night's service. Due to an almost hour-long traffic, my dad and I got to church right as service was about to beginning. My brother, Mark, already reserved seats for us and my mom and my youngest brother, Herrard, in the main sanctuary. The service began with Pastor Carter Conlon calling out for people to come forward. Because we were a bit late, I was unable to hear the altar call. Then there was a time of worship. The Lord's presence was just so apparent. Then Pastor Carter came up again to pray for those who came forward. And we worshipped some more. There was no clear format to the service but our pastors did as they were led by the Spirit. After worship, we had communion. THen Pastor Carter called on Pastor Gary Wilkerson, our founding pastor's son, to bring us to the Word. Pastor Gary stepped out to pray while we sang a worship song. Pastor Gary prayed before he began to share the word. In his sermon, he first addressed something the Lord impressed on him - that there were people, guests, who came to church that evening because of seeing the movie, "The Passion of the Christ". He related that a pastor friend of his told him that there was a record number of people who went to churches this past Sunday, maybe as much as those who came after 9/11, and the reason being that they watched this film. Pastor Gary wanted to clarify something to these people who came because of the film. He told them that what they saw in the film was like Act 2 of a 3-act play and that it was important that they know of the 1st and the 3rd Acts. The 1st Act goes all the way back to Creation, when God made us(humans) because He so desired to fellowship with us. But then sin entered the world and because of it we could not be in right relationship with God. So came Act 2, where Jesus, the Son of God, became human to die to pay the price for our sins. Pastor Gary related how the film shows us a glimpse of the end of Act 2. But the story does not end with our Savior dying. In Act 3, we know that He rose again and is alive and seated at the right hand of the Father. And because of His victory over death on the cross, we can have the victory over sin and anything that we may encounter and struggle with.Pastor Gary related how he truly accepted Christ in his life when he was 19. He shared how even if he grew up in a Christian home and his father and grandfather were pastors, he was confused and was not right with God. At one point in his life, he was considering believing the Baha'i teachings, whose doctrine states that all roads lead to God - Jesus, Buddha, Allah, and Confucius. He even told this to Pastor David and he was sure that his father prayed so hard that God would open his eyes. And He did. The Lord gave him a choice, it's either Jesus alone on the mountain(of his heart) or he can have Buddha, Allah and Confucius on the mountain. There was only one choice. "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through Me." Jesus is the only way. And it was made real to Pastor Gary. After sharing this, he made an altar call asking anyone who wanted to have Jesus in his life and have Jesus reveal himself to him. He led people in a prayer for salvation. Pastor Gary shared that his own prayer, when he was 19, was simpler. It was just "Jesus help me". Then, Pastor Neil Rhodes spoke and asked people who accepted the Lord for the first time to raise their hands. Praise God, there were 3 people, among the many who came forward, who raised their hands. THey were asked to go to an exit, on the leftside of the stage, so that an elder could give them a bible and explain more to them about what they had just prayed. Normally, this taking people aside does not happen but Pastors Neil and Carter were moved to do so last night.After this, elders and Sister Teresa Conlon came up to lead the congregation in prayer. We were all just encouraged to pray out loud about people and situations the Lord was putting in our hearts to pray for. We prayed for people's salvations and that we be used in the lives of those around us at work, in the community and in the home. Some of the things prayed for on the pulpit were: students(middle schoolers, high school and college students) and women who have influence on children or young people(for them to cast out the fear, and to go beyond legalism and to speak words of life to them). We were also asked to pray in groups of 3 or 4 to pray for one another and specific needs. During this time, my family came together to pray. I was so blessed that all five of us were there. My mom had just come from work in UNICEF, my brothers from school(Herrard from NYU and Mark from Rutgers in Newark,NJ), and my dad from work, who dropped by to pick me up from the house. We called out by name each of our relatives as well as friends(both here in the US and in the Philippines) who needed to know Jesus as their personal savior. We all took turns to pray and when it was my turn the Lord really impressed on me that He wants to use us but that if we want to be we need to be set apart and be right with Him. Because with defilements in our hearts, there will be no authority. We all were just moved to give thanks to the Lord, that all 5 of us were saved and that He has been just so gracious to us. I have never really fasted before so this liquid fast is a first for me. On the way to church, I felt sick. I text messaged brother Mark to ask him to pray for me because I was not feeling well. And I prayed as well and the Lord was just so good. After praying, I really felt better. I prayed that the Lord sustain me and help me fulfill my commitment to fast these 3 days. And going to church last night was indeed well worth the effort. I am going to church tonight and tomorrow. And if I am able to, I will share again tomorrow how things went tonight.The Lord will surely reveal His heart to us as we seek Him. I pray that He will deal with each one us and show us the areas of hearts that He wants deal with. And I pray for His grace and strength to respond to what He is calling us to do.God bless you all. Have a great day! :)Victoria

Yes, Victoria thank you for sharing this with us all. For all it's limit's it is a wonderful thing to be able to communicate through this medium, to have this kind of instant feedback literally across the world. It is something I have to stop and ponder sometimes...Toronto, The UK, New York, Sweden, Australia the 'left coast'... Truly thankful and in awe of how the Lord brings His servants together. I came to be much more familiar with TSC through this site and it is wonderful that we here are able to come along side you all in this time of fasting and seeking the Lord. Praise God, do keep us posted!Mike

Psalm 40:3And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.That is my heart's cry. I have felt the Lord calling me to a closer walk for the past few years and, to my shame, I have not remained heeded to the call. I would feel stirred, but then, within a few weeks, I would be lulled back to sleep. Not really willing to die to myself, to carry my cross, to let the world be crucified to me. But the Lord wouldn't give up. Praise His Blessed Name! He has led me to this website. Since the beginning of the year I have been more in prayer, more in the Word, more committed to the cause of Christ than since I was first saved. I have such a burden for my church and the lost, but I feel powerless. I feel like all I can do, all that He is commanding me to do is to "wait" until I am "endued with power from on high." I felt the Lord prompting me to participate in this fast since I first heard the message from Times Square Church. I long for REVIVAL. In my own heart and in my church. I want desperately to know what His will is for my life. What would He have me to do? I am here, a willing vessel, waiting, hoping, calling on Him.Please pray for me. Truly pray that God would manifest His desires for my life directly to my heart. I can't go back to sleep. I have unfolded my hands. I am awake. Waiting for His leading, His direction, HIS POWER! Then pray for my obedience to His Will. Pray! Pray! Pray! I do not want to be loosed from this burden. "I will not let thee go except thou bless me."Nadine

Day 3 and still rejoicing. I listened last night to Dr Martin Llyod Jones on Isaiah 63 " Who is this that comes out of Edon" where he he exhorts to "Look to Jesus" " Look at Him". This morning I have just read Psalm 24 " Who is this King of Glory". I just felt that as we enter the final hours of our fast that we should really look at Jesus and what He has done for us. Especially for anyone who is today feeling, I have not heard form heaven, just "Look at Him" see His glory see His victory, and praise Him that He allows us to be part of it.Please continue to pray for me.Love in Jesus who is above all thingsPaul

Day 3 and still rejoicing. Still rejoicing here also, I have a hunger but it is for His love to be shed abroad in and through my heart.I was convicted today by the following words of Jesus:A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.(John 13:34-35)Do I love my brothers and sisters in Christ as Jesus loves me? Is God's love truly being shed abroad in my heart to others? Does the world know I am His disciple? Do I seek the filling of the Holy Spirit only so that I can be succesful in my work with Him or do I seek the filling so that Christ's love may be manifest in and through me?I am convicted that I have fallen woefully short in this matter, but I am also convinced that Jesus does not command me without also providing all that is needed to obey. Oh God, grant us the fullness of Christ's love.In Christ,Ron

I continue to thank the Lord for allowing me to find this site. God has used it in ways that are beyond description. Praise the Lord.I wanted to comment on a couple things after having read through the thread now. In regards to 'The passion of the Christ". I have been preaching in Grape Day Park for a month and a half now on Saturday mornings at 7:30 am, bringing the light of the glorious gospel to those who sit in darkness and to some from our own fellowship. Words will not describe it. But we brought about 30 homeless with us after hanging out with them (most of them come regularly to the church in the park) to see the movie. Knowing I was going to see it that day, I woke up that morning with the Lord saying, "Weep not for Me, but for yourselves." And at the end of the movie I almost stood up and said it, but instead waited until people slowly rose from their seats and made their exit. I did that day and continue to share it with any and all who say they have seen the movie, explaining it this way, "What Jesus is saying is 'Don't weep because of what they did to me, instead, you should be weeping over the condition of your own heart." And 'BOOM', the door is wide open to share... One other thing, I don't remember where I got it from, but something that was written in here reminded me of this quote that I shared with our church as I taught last night that comes from Charles Finney (who is definitely someone qualified to speak on the subject of revival). "A revival is a new beginning of obedience to God." That's all that it is. May we humble ourselves under His mighty hand that He may exalt us in due time.Please be in prayer for the Church in the Park on Saturday mornings.Please be in prayer for the opportunity He has given me to shine the Light in the darkness at a male Youth correctional home in Escondido, Ca every thursday night.Your Brother-In-Arms,Joshp.s. i have been fasting with all of you my brothers and sisters. What a continued blessing.

Oh my,This is just powerful. There is something about the truth of pure honesty coming up out of brokeness, strength in 'weakness', all these seemingly paradoxical statements we find in scripture...that is just so endearing, so heroic.To the world it would likely elicit sympathy or pity, to a believer...grasping for words here...What kind of uncommon courage does it take to be this vunerable? Before a spouse, before a congregation. Have yet to listen to any of Pastor Rhodes messages and I already have a tremendous amount of respect.What an example of a real man.Been trying to wrestle with and gain some understanding of what happened in the 3 hours of darkness that our Lord endured on the cross.I am stuck here, knowing the before and after and it seems to me that this may be a big part of the problem we have in our day with this easy-believe-ism, this sales tactic type gospel presentation.Skimming past the cost and denying the sword that cuts to the heart. Making repentence a knee-jerk emotional reaction and trying to apply the balm to a nonexistent injury.Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? If I had my way I would have made "The Passion" end right here and then produced the 'sequel' next year. At least there would be some time to contemplate what the cost was to our God and our Savior.But there is a glimspe of it I believe in this:He was five years old and he noticed the other kids, when their parents came to pick them up they would run into their arms. Getting affection, stuff he didn't know! He decided he'd like to try, so he went home that day with something in mind. When he was home with his family, at one point he ran up to his mom and lifted up his arms to come and embrace her - and she pushed him away. His brothers started to laugh, then his mom - making fun of him. It totally destroyed him, when they were all laughing at himInterestingly this scripture has been lodged in my thoughts of late:"Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion." Psa 22:12-13 And this striking corelation:"lifted up his arms to come and embrace her - and she pushed him away" with:"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted." Isa 53:3,4 Sorry if I went off on a tangent here, still trying to work this out.Much thanks for this Greg and to Jacques for sharing this, it drove me to my knees.Mike

Greg, Mike, Nadine, and everyone else who has fasted,Hello! I am sorry I was unable to update on days 2 and 3. It's great that Jacques shared with you in detail what happened in day 2. Pastor Neil's testimony about his own personal was not only moved me but made me marvel at how our God just meets us at our point of need. He is so good. As Pastor Neil was sharing his story, God impressed on me my brother Mark, who has been in the past few years of his life dealing with this pattern of rejection that Pastor Neil was describing. I knew that this word was for my brother. I was not able to share it to him until Friday morning, after the fast. I didn't know what to do or say but God led me to tell him Pastor Neil's story and point out the areas of bitterness(including people he felt bitterness towards) that he was holding on to. I told him what Pastor Neil said that "God wants to free you", that He knows what you've been through, and whatever pain you've felt He has buried all that when He went to the cross.We cried and prayed together that morning. It was a blessed time. Glory be to God. I know this will start my brother on the road to healing.As for me, it was not until the third day that the Lord really showed me what it was that He was speaking to me about during the fast. I recall how songs like "All I want is more of you, nothing I desire more but more of you" were songs I could not sing wholeheartedly because there were things that were competing for the top spot in my life. In the past, as we would sing such songs, I would keep praying "Lord, I want to reach that point where I could sing this to you with all my heart." What a miracle! THe Lord birthed in me just more love and desire for Him. I came out of those three days realizing that "Lord, yes now you are my heart's chief(I actually made up my own word 'chiefest') love. I could truly sing "nothing I desire more but more of you".The third night's service was the key. THe entire service was worship alternating with prayer. And the heart of the prayers was yielding everything to the Lord. And I did. I told the Lord that I was opening all the doors of my heart. THere was no room I was going to keep. I also yielded my desires, my hopes, my dreams - becoming a doctor, finding the one for me and having a family and more. I put them all under his Lordship. My relationship with the Lord is deeper than it has ever been. ANd I want more. It was so great to just be able to sing a song like "SHout to the Lord" during worship and mean it with all my heart. Our God is so awesome! :)As I am able to, I will keep you all posted about things going on at TSC. The congregation was just praising the Lord for the powerful works He's done during the fast and for participation, like yours, of our brothers and sisters the world over. It is really such a blessing to all of us when Pastor Carter reads emails of testimonies from all over the world. God bless everyone! Have a great week.much love in Christ,Victoria