I'm talking "new year" before Christmas because we need to start thinking about a strategy now (not on New Year's Eve) for how to begin 2016. My church is one of many who is doing a corporate fast. Last year, I did a January fast with my Texas friends and read Jentezen Franklin's book on fasting the last two weeks in December to prepare myself for the fast. My favorite is still Mahesh Chavdah's, The Hidden Power of Prayer and Fasting.
It's also good to read a book during the fast that either encourages your fast or deals with the issues of the heart. If you have never yet read my book, Preparing to Stand in Treacherous Times, you might use it. It deals with the issues of deceit, offense, betrayal, hatred, persecution, and love grown cold (from Matthew 24:9-13). If you order now, I can get it to you by the first of January. But this is not just about selling a book!
OFFENSE RISING
About a week ago, I received an email from a friend that warned about one of the issues in my book--offense. It was an article written by Jennifer LeClaire, the senior editor of Charisma magazine. She writes that she is noticing more offense rising in the church, so she asked the Lord about it and this is what He said:
"A spirit of offense is rising and running rampant through the church. Those who are easily offended are candidates for the Great Falling Away. Those who cultivate and maintain an unoffendable heart will escape many of the assignments the enemy will launch in the days to come.
"For my people must band together in this hour and refuse to allow petty arguments and soulish imaginations separate them. This is the time to press into community and relationship and reject the demonic notions and wisdom the enemy is pouring out.
"The love of many is waxing cold. Brother is turning against brother and sister against sister—in My body. You must come to the unity of the faith in order to accomplish what I've called you to do in this hour. The time is upon you. The opportunity is before you. Lay aside the resentment, bitterness and unforgiveness and, as far as it depends upon you, seek peace with all men.
"Humble yourselves even among those who you feel are your enemies and I will work to bring reconciliation that sets the scene for unity from which the anointing flows. You need My anointing to combat the antichrist spirits rising in this hour.
"Many of My people are wrestling in their flesh, engaging in works of the flesh, and otherwise letting the flesh lead in battle—and they are battling flesh instead of the spirits influencing the flesh. This is the result of offense. Forgive, let go, embrace your brothers and sisters despite their flaws and sins. I have."
We need to get healed by hurts of offense or we will fall into this trap. Just this week, I was offended. Even though the offense was minor, my heart felt the pain. I had to choose to forgive, to not dwell on it, and to let it go.
This is just one issue of the heart the Lord wants to strengthen in 2016. Let's determine that this will be our New Year's strategy: To "strengthen the hands which hang down and the feeble knees and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated but rather be healed." Heb. 12"12-13
It's also good to read a book during the fast that either encourages your fast or deals with the issues of the heart. If you have never yet read my book, Preparing to Stand in Treacherous Times, you might use it. It deals with the issues of deceit, offense, betrayal, hatred, persecution, and love grown cold (from Matthew 24:9-13). If you order now, I can get it to you by the first of January. But this is not just about selling a book!
OFFENSE RISING
About a week ago, I received an email from a friend that warned about one of the issues in my book--offense. It was an article written by Jennifer LeClaire, the senior editor of Charisma magazine. She writes that she is noticing more offense rising in the church, so she asked the Lord about it and this is what He said:
"A spirit of offense is rising and running rampant through the church. Those who are easily offended are candidates for the Great Falling Away. Those who cultivate and maintain an unoffendable heart will escape many of the assignments the enemy will launch in the days to come.
"For my people must band together in this hour and refuse to allow petty arguments and soulish imaginations separate them. This is the time to press into community and relationship and reject the demonic notions and wisdom the enemy is pouring out.
"The love of many is waxing cold. Brother is turning against brother and sister against sister—in My body. You must come to the unity of the faith in order to accomplish what I've called you to do in this hour. The time is upon you. The opportunity is before you. Lay aside the resentment, bitterness and unforgiveness and, as far as it depends upon you, seek peace with all men.
"Humble yourselves even among those who you feel are your enemies and I will work to bring reconciliation that sets the scene for unity from which the anointing flows. You need My anointing to combat the antichrist spirits rising in this hour.
"Many of My people are wrestling in their flesh, engaging in works of the flesh, and otherwise letting the flesh lead in battle—and they are battling flesh instead of the spirits influencing the flesh. This is the result of offense. Forgive, let go, embrace your brothers and sisters despite their flaws and sins. I have."
We need to get healed by hurts of offense or we will fall into this trap. Just this week, I was offended. Even though the offense was minor, my heart felt the pain. I had to choose to forgive, to not dwell on it, and to let it go.
This is just one issue of the heart the Lord wants to strengthen in 2016. Let's determine that this will be our New Year's strategy: To "strengthen the hands which hang down and the feeble knees and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated but rather be healed." Heb. 12"12-13