Three Days of Prayer and Fasting

Shaken YET Unshaken
Prayer and Fasting Points September 2021

“At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”” (Hebrews 12:26–29, NIV84)

Fires and floods. Delta. Afghanistan. It seems like one crisis hasn’t concluded until another commences. We are left to wonder if the shaking will ever stop. Jesus never promised us a stress free, shaken free life on this earth. What He did promise, along with the inspired writers of Scripture, was how to live with Him and with one another safely and successfully. The temporal shaking serves to keep our focus on an eternal, unshakeable Kingdom and keeps us anchored and secure there rather than in the world.

DAY 1 - No Fear

The devil has a number of unique dialects. The very first is lies because he is the “father of lies”. There is a second. It is called fear. Fear is one of the anti-christ spirits and the subsequent human response to fear is the antithesis of all that God is and all that Christ taught. 1John 4:18 declares that “there is no fear in love”. Paul in Romans 8 reminds us “if God be for us, who can be against us?” Jesus told his disciples to “be not troubled” and again to “let not your hearts be troubled”. “Fear not, for I am with you”. Whose voice is louder around you right now? Say no to the noise that leads you into dark places of fear and listen for the good Shepherd who “will never leave you nor forsake you” (Matthew 28:20)

DAY 2 - Getting Low

Bishop Robert Stearns recently wrote, “humility has become a lost art in our society, and I think it is probably a significant reason as to why our churches have in many cases been too weak to ward off the onslaught of cultural forces that have come against our faith in this hour. In this age of self-sufficient human omniscience masquerading as technological advancement, we have lost our sense of dependence on God.”

We live in a day when celebrity is confused for strength. Success, as measured in metrics whether clicks or dollars, seems to imply some measure of Divine approval or even blessing. These are never biblical indicators of God’s approval nor places to which to aspire. When the shaking starts, and as the shaking continues, the safest place is always to go lower rather than higher. Whether it be stooped in prayer or bowed in worship, it is from this vantage point that we can most readily find God.

“But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (James 4:6–10, NIV84)

DAY 3 - In Spite Of

“Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.” (Ecclesiastes 11:4–6, NIV84)

A farmer is always looking for ideal conditions in which to sow his seed. A fisherman considers the weather before heading to sea. A builder doesn’t choose unstable ground on which to build. Yet, we are called to all three — sow, fish and build — regardless of current conditions be they cultural, governmental or on the basis of current epidemiology. Nehemiah, in returning to Jerusalem to rebuild the broken walls and encourage the broken hearted in that place, found far from ideal conditions to undertake such a project. Yet, he learned to work and war simultaneously in the light of ongoing hostility (Nehemiah 2 - 6). We are never promised ideal conditions. We are only told to sow, to fish and to build in faith and in obedience, wholly trusting God with the outcome.