ENGAGING IN THE FAST OF THE FOURTH MONTH IN THE SEASON OF TAMMUZ Wednesday, 18 Tammuz, 5774 = Wednesday, July 16, 2014 “Thus saith the LORD of hosts; the fast of the fourth month… shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace” (Zechariah 8:19). Fasting involves self-denial for a spiritual purpose. It is usually associated with the voluntary abstention from food for a season. But fasting should not really be exclusively defined in the context of abstaining from food. Fasting could involve self-denial of anything that could interfere with deeper communion with God. This can include abstention from the use of phones, television, human company, sleep, travel and something social that one is passionate about, such as sports. There are seasons of intensive spiritual contention when fasting is absolutely indispensable to overcome the challenges of demonic forces. Such a season can be individually determined, depending on the challenges people are dealing with. Nevertheless, there is a scripturally stipulated fast during four specific months of the Jewish year. These are the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months. “And the word of the LORD of hosts came unto me, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also. Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you” (Zechariah 8:18-23). It is not very clear why God instituted specific fasts in these four months of the Jewish year. However, the proclamation of the fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months do not in any way indicate that fasting cannot be done at any other times. KEY PRAYER FOCUS 1. ACTIVATE THE VIRTUES OF JOY AND GLADNESS UPON YOUR LIFE DURING THE FAST OF THE FOURTH MONTH: “…The fast of the fourth month…shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace” (Zechariah 8:19). 2. ACTIVATE THE STARS IN THE CONSTELLATION OF CANCER TO PROCLAIM THEIR MESSAGE OF PROTECTION OF THE REDEEMER’S SHEEPFOLD: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge” (Psalm 19:1-2).
Posted on: Wed, 16 Jul 2014 06:09:56 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015