Archives by: Gary Hoag

But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-6

“Do you think that if you cease trying to please God, your good behavior will cease? If you leave all the giving and all the working to God, do you think the result will be less satisfactory than if you do some of it? It is when we seek to do it ourselves that we place ourselves back again under the Law. But the works of the Law, even our best efforts, are “dead works,” hateful to God because ineffectual…

Just you stop “giving,” and you will prove what a Giver God is! Stop “working,” and you will discover what a Worker He is! The younger son was all wrong, but he came home, and he found rest—and that is where Christian life begins “God, being rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us . . . made us to sit with him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus” (Eph.2:4, 6).”

Watchman Nee or Ni Tuosheng (1903-1972) in Sit, Walk, Stand (Carol Stream: Tyndale House, 1977) 17.

The last few days, the header photo features the playing field of the World Series. Today’s photo features a different world gathering. The 2025 World Evangelical Alliance General Assembly. The 14th gathering in history. It happens every six years.

The disorganization of the global church has resulted in a reputation of corruption. Pray that my involvement representing GTP as Founder can help show national alliances how they can turn corruption to credibility and unleash local generosity to God’s work.

To urge people to put order and oversight in God’s house (Titus 1:5), in my speaking I often say, “Stop preaching the Gospel. Put your house in order first.” It gets the attention of listeners. They say, “What?”

Notice that same approach is what Watchman takes today and he is right when he says, “Stop giving.” Watch God do it and discover what a Giver He is and be involved with Him, lest your behavior appear as a return to the Law.

The giving of many people appears as a return to the Law. Such people give 10% of their income and live as if the other 90% is theirs. Watchman would say to these people, God does not need your money as He wants your hearts.

Does God have yours? Is your giving a return to the Law? If so, stop giving. Watch Jesus. Notice the practices of the early church. See people not distributing a percentage but in proportion. As they are blessed, they bless.

Now go and do likewise. The future of the spread of the gospel depends on it.

But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. Luke 15:32

“Of all the parables in the Gospels, that of the prodigal son affords, I think, the supreme illustration of the way to please God. The father says, “It was meet to make merry and be glad” (Luke 15:32), and in these words Jesus reveals what it is that, in the sphere of redemption, supremely rejoices His Father’s heart.

It is not an elder brother who toils incessantly for the father, but a younger brother who lets the father do everything for him. It is not an elder brother who always wants to be the giver, but a younger brother who is always willing to be the receiver. When the prodigal returned home, having wasted his substance in riotous living, the father had not a word of rebuke for the waste nor a word of inquiry regarding the substance. He did not sorrow over all that was spent; he only rejoiced over the opportunity the son’s return afforded him for spending more.

God is so wealthy that His chief delight is to give. His treasure stores are so full that it is painful to Him when we refuse Him an opportunity of lavishing those treasures upon us. It was the father’s joy that he could find in the prodigal an applicant for the robe, the ring, the shoes and the feast; it was his sorrow that in the elder son he found no such applicant.

It is a grief to the heart of God when we try to provide things for Him. He is so very, very rich. It gives Him true joy when we just let Him give and give and give again to us. It is a grief to Him, too, when we try to do things for Him, for He is so very, very able. He longs that we will just let Him do and do and do. He wants to be the Giver eternally, and He wants to be the Doer eternally. If only we saw how rich and how great He is, we would leave all the giving and all the doing to Him.”

Watchman Nee or Ni Tuosheng (1903-1972) in Sit, Walk, Stand (Carol Stream: Tyndale House, 1977) 16-17.

Happy Sunday. I just got to my hotel room in Seoul. When this posts I will have been here only about one hour. I am here with about 8,000 stewards to speak and do a workshop at the World Evangelical Alliance Global Assembly. I thank God for this opportunity to serve.

Often, people ask me how I manage rigorous travel. The answer is simple. I don’t try to do anything for God. I let Him do and do and do. He is both Giver and Doer. He asks me to serve as a conduit of His giving and doing, I pray people see me as just His surrendered servant.

Today’s post reminds me of two things that are central to my life. Surrender and Generosity. When we daily take the posture: “Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything.” He responds with instructions and gives us whatever we need to serve Him.

Sometimes the challenges seem overwhelming. Other times the obstacles appear insurmountable. All the time He proves faithful. We need only trust Him to give, and give, and give again. He wants to be the Giver and Doer eternally.

What challenges do you face today? What obstacles seem greater than your capacity or ability to navigate? Surrender them to Jesus. Stop trying to be the giver and the doer. Serve instead as His conduit of blessing so people can see Him through you.

As I look ahead at my week, I pray for the well-being of my family. I anticipate the privilege of activating seven GTP on demand courses serving 600+ stewards from 30+ countries. And I speak twice to at this huge global assembly, praise God.

Thanks for your prayers. Surrendering and celebrating the generosity of God. With you.

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with h=Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:6-7

“What does it really mean to sit down? When we walk or stand, we bear on our legs all the weight of our own body; but when we sit down, our entire weight rests upon the chair or couch on which we sit. We grow weary when we walk or stand, but we feel rested when we have sat down for awhile. In walking or standing we expend a great deal of energy, but when we are seated we relax at once, because the strain no longer falls upon our muscles and nerves, but upon something outside of ourselves.

So also in the spiritual realm, to sit down is simply to rest our whole weight—our load, ourselves, our future, everything—upon the Lord. We let Him bear the responsibility and cease to carry it ourselves…And the first lesson we must learn is this: that the work is not initially ours at all, but His. It is not that we work for God, but that He works for us.

God gives us our position of rest. He brings His Son’s finished work and presents it to us, and then He says to us, “Please sit” (ch’eng tso). His offer to us cannot, I think, be better expressed than in the words of the invitation to the great banquet: “Come; for all things are now ready” (Luke 14:17). Our Christian life begins with the discovery of what God has provided.”

Watchman Nee or Ni Tuosheng (1903-1972) in Sit, Walk, Stand (Carol Stream: Tyndale House, 1977) 11-12.

I typed this post before going to the World Series game one with my lifelong friend, Chi-Chung Keung. My proverbial check-in word for the day was discovery. Sitting in a seat at the Fall Classic.

The header photo features our view. The best seat I have ever enjoyed for a World Series game. I was on the field level with my good friend. We watched a magical game won by the home team, the Toronto Blue Jays.

We sat and soaked like little kids in what God provided. It filled us with gratitude. We felt like the gift of the seats sent us a message from God. He still has great things in store for our lives, things that will bring us joy and cheer.

We will only discover it if we sit. What if you sat today and soaked, reflecting all Christ has done for you?

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3

“Most Christians make the mistake of trying to walk in order to be able to sit, but that is a reversal of the true order. Our natural reason says, If we do not walk, how can we ever reach the goal? What can we attain without effort? How can we ever get anywhere if we do not move? …

If at the outset we try to do anything, we get nothing; if we seek to attain something, we miss everything. For Christianity begins not with a big do, but with a big done. Thus, Ephesians opens with the statement that God has “blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (1:3), and we are invited at the very outset to sit down and enjoy what God has done for us—not to set out to try and attain it for ourselves.

Walking implies effort, whereas God says that we are saved, not by works, but “by grace . . . through faith” (2:8). We constantly speak of being “saved through faith,” but what do we mean by it? We mean this: that we are saved by reposing in the Lord Jesus. We did nothing whatever to save ourselves; we simply laid upon Him the burden of our sin-sick souls. We began our Christian life by depending not upon our own doing, but upon what He had done. Until a man does this, he is no Christian. For to say, “I can do nothing to save myself; but by His grace God has done everything for me in Christ,” is to take the first step in the life of faith.

The Christian life from start to finish is based upon this principle of utter dependence upon the Lord Jesus. There is no limit to the grace God is willing to bestow upon us. He will give us everything, but we can receive none of it except as we rest in Him. “Sitting” is an attitude of rest. Something has been finished, work stops and we sit. It is paradoxical, but true, that we only advance in the Christian life as we learn first of all to sit down.”

Watchman Nee or Ni Tuosheng (1903-1972) in Sit, Walk, Stand (Carol Stream: Tyndale House, 1977).

Special thanks to Daily Meditations reader, Jud Savelle, who gave me this little book which maps the process of Christian maturity. I chose to read it and share quotes from it on my trip to Canada and South Korea.

Today, we learn the paradoxical way to advance in the Christian life is to learn to sit. I found this interesting to learn as it makes complete sense, but I never thought of things in this way.

And the idea of learning to sit in a seat God has provided comes vividly into my view today. I have a seat at World Series game one in Toronto. I will go with lifelong friend Chi-Chung Keung and Curtis Towns from CCCC, the peer accountability group serving churches and ministries in Canada, part of the GTP global fellowship of PAGs.

God supplied it. It’s like a priceless gift and serves as a word picture of all the blessings we have in Christ. We have everything we have ever needed in Him. Notice how this positions us for generosity.

It means we have everything that other people need as well. We need only sit and realize all we have from a posture of complete dependence and obey the command of the Lord to enjoy and share everything. When we realize this, generosity makes sense as not giving what is mine or that I earned, but from all God has lavished on me.

I thank God for my ticket to the game. I thank Him for my seat at the ballpark. But also I praise Him for the privilege of sitting and soaking in the reality of all I have in Christ Jesus.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3

“Jesus said that when we are fasting, we should wash our face. He was referring to the cultural practice where fasting was a part of mourning for the dead along with a public display of sorrow and grief. Ripping clothes, putting ashes on one’s head and not washing were a part of that ritual. However, when you’re fasting, it’s important to shower and brush your teeth often. Metabolism starts to convert fat cells to fatty acid, so your fat starts melting and the broken-down fat is expelled through exhaling. Yes, it is interesting that fat does not go out through urine, poop, or sweat; it exits the body through breathing.”

Vladimir Savchuk in A Beginner’s Guide to Fasting: Simple, Practical, Biblical (Pasco, WA: 2024) 33-34.

This post gives new meaning to the spiritual practice of breathing to me.

Think about what’s happening in our bodies. When we fast from food. We use up the weight we carry. We lighten our load for the journey. We travel light in our service with God. It’s a cool word picture.

And it happens when we couple fasting with breathing. I have never thought of this or done this.

I want to add intentional breathing to the times when I fast, reading Scripture, and attune to God. I want to see what happens. I want to discern how it helps me shed the weight and sins which beset me.

I board a plane for Toronto today then flying to Seoul on Saturday. Thanks for your prayers for safe and uneventful travel.

My knees are weak through fasting, And my flesh is feeble from lack of fatness. Psalms 109:24

“When you fast, your body eliminates toxins from your system. This is called detoxification. When it happens, it can cause mild discomfort such as headaches and irritability during withdrawal from caffeine, sugars and carbs. And naturally, you will have hunger pangs. Avoiding water can make you feel even hungrier, since water helps increase satiety. If you don’t eat food or drink water, your body begins to crave fuel. You’ll likely feel fatigued, dizzy, and weak. David said of his fasting: “My knees are weak through fasting, and my flesh is feeble from lack of fatness” (Psalms 109:24). You may also feel more irritable when you fast. As the hunger builds up, you’re bound to feel cranky. Therefore, mood swings are pretty common. And, when you’re tired and hungry, it can be difficult to concentrate at school or work.”

Vladimir Savchuk in A Beginner’s Guide to Fasting: Simple, Practical, Biblical (Pasco, WA: 2024) 32-33.

There’s a lot going on spiritually and physically with fasting.

I would liken it to weaning yourself off relying on the things of the world to sustain you and connecting to God who supplies limitless strengthen and supply for your generous living. I am serious about this. I want everyone to fast.

You detox spiritually and physically.

It may seem difficult physically but the gain is unfathomable. Fast for me and with me as I change out my suitcase and pivot to Seoul, South Korea from 25-31 October 2025 to speak at the World Evangelical Alliance Global Assembly.

I am thankful to have shifted from President & CEO to Founder so I can give this service my complete focus and not have the responsibilities of managing a staff of 20 people in 20 countries at the same time.

Letting go of good things opens our hands to receive the best things.

But there are real implications to our bodies when we do this. It’s not for the weak and faint of heart. But it does represent one of the secrets to David’s deep relationship with God. What about yours?

And then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Luke 2:37

“We often only think of physical hunger when we think of fasting, but fasting renews our spiritual hunger and connection to God. It’s interesting how this works: Physical hunger done with the goal of seeking Jesus makes our spiritual hunger for Him even stronger. Fasting brings a fresh fire of zeal and passion for Him. Jesus indicated that His disciples would fast when He was gone (Mark 2:20). Fasting is that longing of the Bride (the Church) for the Bridegroom. It’s physical pain that stirs spiritual craving for the Lord. Fasting not only rekindles our hunger for God, but it also serves as a way to minister to the Lord. In Luke 2:37, Anna, an 84-year-old widow, didn’t depart from the temple but “served God with fastings and prayers night and day.”

Fasting accompanied by prayer is one way we can serve the Lord. As a pastor and minister of the Lord, Anna’s example is a vital reminder that I must not only minister to people, but also minister to the Lord through fasting and prayer. Every minister of the Lord must learn to minister to the Lord like she did. That’s where the secret lies. Similarly, Acts 13:2 tells us that Saul and Barnabas “…ministered to the Lord and fasted…” Serving or ministering to the Lord is done best through worship and prayer accompanied with fasting. Just as Paul’s missionary calling was birthed during a season of ministering to the Lord, our own ministries are strengthened and directed when we engage in prayer and fasting.”

Vladimir Savchuk in A Beginner’s Guide to Fasting: Simple, Practical, Biblical (Pasco, WA: 2024) 19-21.

I am looking for role models as I move to Founder of GTP. Anna provides a good example for me of perseverance (ministering daily in the temple at 84 years old) and ministering to the Lord.

Remember that our Lord Jesus Himself said that when we minister to the least among the people we minister to Him. That means the ministry of every person of every age, regardless of how local or global, can minister to the Lord.

I hope this exploration of fasting ignites renewal in you and a deeper connection with God. Or at least that it has raised awareness for the need to disconnect from the world so you can connect more closely with God.

When this posts I will not be home yet but on my way. Thanks for your prayers for safe and uneventful travel.

Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 2 Chronicles 20:3

“The most common fast in the Bible was to seek God’s salvation from enemies. Ezra fasted when faced with danger on the way to Jerusalem, asking God for divine protection (Ezra 8:21-28). Esther fasted when she faced evil Haman and realized there was no other way or hope for the Jews (Esther 4:16). Jehoshaphat fasted when the Canaanite and Syrian armies were invading (2 Chronicles 20:3). According to psychology, the two basic human responses to danger are fight or flight. But God offers us a third response:
fasting. That’s what Jehoshaphat did as king—he sought the Lord through fasting, rather than immediately fighting or fleeing.

Fasting gets us back in touch with the almighty God, who is able to deliver us. Sometimes we face problems bigger than ourselves, but they are not bigger than God. History is full of godly people who learned to face life’s calamities on their knees with fasting. What the enemy meant for evil, God turned for their good. This same God is our God today. Whatever the enemy means for evil in our lives, God will turn for our good if we seek to follow and be faithful to Him.

In many instances, fasting turns into feasting. God turns mourning into joy, sickness into healing, defeat into victory. It’s not that fasting has its own power, but fasting exposes our powerlessness. Then, in our weakness, we find God to be our strength and source of refuge. When you hit rock bottom, get on your knees, humble yourself before God, and fast. You will discover God to be not only God of the mountains but also God of the valleys. If life has broken you down, break your pride and fast. You will find God bringing your breakthrough on the other side. Trust Him!”

Vladimir Savchuk in A Beginner’s Guide to Fasting: Simple, Practical, Biblical (Pasco, WA: 2024) 18-19.

The Global Gathering has finished well. Stay tuned for a trip report from the staff.

Meanwhile I fasted a meal as I needed help from God over the past day. I had to work on my talks for preaching in multiple churches in Seoul, South Korea, this weekend and for speaking at the World Evangelical Alliance Global Assembly.

Hear me say that I called to God saying “Help!” and I report that He gave me words and guided my thoughts.

Do you have a lot on your plate? Is your life full? Do you feel overwhelmed? Don’t fight or flight. Fast. It will position you to be filled by God and empowered for your most generous and fruitful service.

In about 12 hours, I travel all day and cross the date line and arrive about the time I depart. Thanks for your prayers for a safe arrival and 36 good hours at home before reverting to Seoul.

Why not go straight there? I have three checked bags full of GTP supplies. I need to change all that out and have one checked suitcase full of suits and ties for Korea.

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. Acts 13:2-3

“Fasting should not be reserved for crisis and problems, but also to seek our calling. Jesus’ fasting in the wilderness occurred before the start of His ministry. It was after a season of fasting and testing that Jesus returned “in the power of the Holy Spirit” to fulfill His assignment (Luke 4:14).

As I mentioned, Paul and Barnabas fasted and ministered to the Lord before they were launched into missionary work. Later in their missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for churches by committing them to the Lord with prayer and fasting (Acts 13:2-3). That was how God launched them into their ministry, and then they followed this same pattern to launch other elders into their assignment, establishing a pattern for ministry that included fasting and prayer.

Reflecting on their example, I wonder how much our service to God would change if we brought fasting with prayer back into the core practices of our ministry. When Jesus’ disciples tried to drive a demon out of a boy, Jesus attributed their failure to unbelief. Although Jesus ordained them to cast out demons, the solution to this failed attempt was fasting mixed with prayer.

He said, “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21). This doesn’t mean that every time we minister deliverance, we have to fast, but we must make prayer and fasting a regular spiritual practice in our life if we want to be effective in our ministry to God. The lack of prayer and fasting will result in the lack of power in ministry. No prayer with fasting will bring about no power in ministry.”

Vladimir Savchuk in A Beginner’s Guide to Fasting: Simple, Practical, Biblical (Pasco, WA: 2024) 21-23.

What an amazing week we have had! Unspeakably good. And we followed the biblical pattern to launch the staff and volunteers by fasting a meal our third day together.

We believe the Holy Spirit gave Jesus what He needed for His assignment and gave us what we needed. A stronger connection to Him and disconnection from the world that has made us ready to multiply faithful and generous stewards.

Stay tuned for a trip report, but for now keep praying for us. The staff will be together on Monday and Tuesday to collaborate on pursuing GTP 2.0.

And may fasting prepare and propel you for more fruitful service. Don’t just do it once or this week. Make it a regular spiritual practice in your life if you want to disconnect from the world and grow in generosity.

“Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son.” 1 Kings 21:29

“When the wicked king Ahab heard the rebuke of Elijah, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and fasted. God’s response to Elijah was, “See how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity in his days. In the days of his son I will bring the calamity on his house” (1 Kings 21:29). God called Ahab’s fasting humility. Indeed, we can fast but not actually humble ourselves.

Fasting itself, is not humility; Ahab also tore his clothes and mourned. Fasting is your personal expression of your heart of humility before the Lord. David similarly mentioned fasting as a way to humility: “I humbled myself with fasting” (Psalm 35:13)… The Bible gives us a command to humble ourselves before God. We shouldn’t pray for God to humble us, nor should we wait for life to humble us. We choose to humble ourselves by giving serious attention to Almighty God, taking ourselves off the throne through fasting.

When fasting is used to humble ourselves before God, it can’t escape God’s attention. The choice is ours. The Bible emphasizes the importance of humility: God teaches the humble (Psalm 25:9), lifts up the humble (Psalm 147:6), gives grace to the humble (Proverbs 3:34), and gives wisdom to the humble (Proverbs 11:2). Honor and life and riches come by humility (Proverbs 22:4), God dwells with humble people (Isaiah 57:15), and the humble are great in God’s kingdom (Matthew 18:4).

This doesn’t mean that if we just fast, all these promises automatically become ours. Fasting must be a personal expression of humility. It’s humility that God is looking for, and fasting is a good friend of prayer and humility.”

Vladimir Savchuk in A Beginner’s Guide to Fasting: Simple, Practical, Biblical (Pasco, WA: 2024) 15-16.

In our reading we have already learned that fasting disconnects us from the world and prayer connects to God. Now we notice that fasting serves as a doorway for the humility that God desires, even for seemingly undeserving Ahab.

The Global Gathering wraps up this weekend. It has gone beyond imagination. I am so thankful we fasted Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. God showed up for us in powerful ways. Though we are all undeserving Ahab, his generosity abounds.

When fasting leads to humility, God teaches us, gives grace to us, honors us, and dwells with us. I suggest that everyone augment their generosity with fasting. It humbles and positions you for greater service.

It helps you disconnect from the world and connect to a generous God who wants to convert you from a container of His blessings to a conduit. It’s not over here. Keep fasting and praying for me. I can’t do this alone.