Meditations

Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast. Matthew 9:15

“Jesus taught His followers that fasting should be done in secret, not accompanied by open signs of mourning or efforts to gain man’s attention. Jesus’ teaching on fasting focused on true humility and service to God. It directly contrasted the Pharisees’ fasting. When confronted by the Pharisees about why His disciples weren’t fasting the way they did, Jesus answered that once He left this earth, His disciples would fast.

The early Church precisely followed Jesus’ example and teaching on fasting. Let me emphasize: They fasted regularly. Early Christians typically fasted twice a week, on Wednesdays and Fridays… Wednesday was to commemorate Jesus’ betrayal by Judas, and Friday was to remember His crucifixion. They abstained from food for part of the day, typically until mid-afternoon or evening, rather than observing strict, full 24-hour fasts.”

Vladimir Savchuk in A Beginner’s Guide to Fasting: Simple, Practical, Biblical (Pasco, WA: 2024) 7-8.

Imagine pausing from eating each Wednesday to consider how our lives might look like Judas and areas we need to repent and change directions. And imagine reflecting on the death of Jesus on the cross for our sins each Friday rather than partaking of a meal.

These pauses feed our body and spirit so that our soul gets reset, renewed, and refreshed for service.

Consider one more thought today.

The fact that Jesus wants us to fast and tells us to do it in secret does not mean that we do not talk about it, teach others to practice it, and include it in our discipleship instruction. It means we do not do it for the wrong reasons.

Ask the Holy Spirit what fasting needs to look like for you. Jesus wants you to do while awaiting His return.

With all the preparations for the Global Gathering coming together and 134 people from 50+ countries convening, I have a lot on my plate this week in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (pictured above).

In the words of Esther, “Fast for me.”

This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work—whether native-born or a foreigner residing among you— 30 because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins. 31 It is a day of sabbath rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance. Leviticus 16:29-31

“In Jewish tradition and culture, fasting also plays a significant role. Historically, fasting was used to express mourning for the dead. It was a way to express submission to God, both individually and corporately. We see through their example that fasting is a way to humble ourselves before God and to seek His help.

For example, Moses fasted before receiving the commandments from God. The celebration of Yom Kippur is the only fast explicitly mandated by God in the Torah, observed in the seventh month (Tishrei) as a day of atonement for the affliction and introspection of one’s soul.”

Vladimir Savchuk in A Beginner’s Guide to Fasting: Simple, Practical, Biblical (Pasco, WA: 2024) 6.

Fasting comes into view as an important day of rest for God’s people.

I find it fascinating how most modern protestants know nothing or next to nothing about fasting. And many of them say they have never practiced it.

Read the Scripture again. Notice that God describes this as an important day of rest.

Work for people in antiquity linked not so much to make a paycheck. Most people worked the land to eat. God says, take the day off. Those who humble themselves find spiritual refreshment.

What if you took a day of rest from food and work to humble yourself before God?

Today I will fast a meal and draw near to God, rest, and surrender the GTP Global Gathering to Him and everything and everyone related to this important week.

I am safely in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In the words of Esther, “Fast for me.”

Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish. Esther 4:16

“Fasting is done for spiritual reasons. Fasting is not a diet to help you lose weight; it’s a way to humble yourself before God and fervently seek Him. While there are some physical benefits to fasting, the Bible emphasizes the spiritual benefits. Fasting is not a hunger strike.

When we fast, we are not trying to manipulate and/or force God to do something. Fasting doesn’t move God; instead, it moves us closer to God. It humbles us, not God. It repositions us, not God. Our main goal is to humble ourselves and to recognize our need for God. When accompanied by prayer and sincere repentance, fasting will yield great spiritual results.

Fasting is similar to prayer; it doesn’t hold any power, but when we pray with fasting, we can access God’s power in greater measure. Fasting increases our spiritual sensitivity and our heart’s awareness of the spirit realm, where we are already seated in Christ Jesus.”

Vladimir Savchuk in A Beginner’s Guide to Fasting: Simple, Practical, Biblical (Pasco, WA: 2024) 4-5.

Since the start of GTP, we have a pattern of fasting three days together for spiritual reasons. The board fasts on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday this next week.

The Regional Facilitators, Country Coordinators, Course Moderators, Church Ambassadors, and other volunteers or guests fast on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. The staff fast on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.

We do this to draw near to God. The three days pattern for a collective fast matches what Esther did in advance of approaching the king. We do it to approach the King of Kings as a global team.

Three is a number that represents moving from death to life. Why do the staff fast four days. Four represents in Scripture the totality of the world. Think of the four corners of the compass.

Our staff numbers 20 from 20 countries. 19 of 20 will attend: Silvia Alvares (Honduras), Tionge Chile (Malawi), Haily Chow (Hong Kong), Claudiu Ciontos (Costa Rica), Ruthie Cristobal (Philippines), Bea Falcão (Brazil), Prakash Chandra Giri (Nepal), Olena Hetman (Poland), Gary Hoag (USA), Trevor Lui (Canada / Hong Kong), Paula Mendoza (Guatemala), Samuel Mujyanama (Rwanda), Anita Mulwana (Uganda), Romeo Nkongnou (Cameroon), Lea Peguero (Dominican Republic), Emmna Pervaiz (Pakistan), Eliana Ramirez (Colombia), Nevine Rezk (Egypt), and Irene Wat (Taiwan). On maternity leave: Ereny Monir (United Arab Emirates).

Our board numbers 12 but we have 13 coming with an outgoing and incoming member overlapping. 13 of 13 will attend. Michael Cherenkov (Ukraine), Comlan Prosper Deh (Togo), Gina Detera (Philippines), Manju George (India), Kareen Gudiel (Guatemala), Randy Kung (USA), Tim Macready (Australia), Zenet Maramara (Philippines), Kehinde Ojo (Nigeria), Vicky Ong (Hong Kong), Sanjay Patra (India), Andrea Wilson Messam (Jamaica), and Andrew Youssef (Egypt).

We have 12 regional facilitators who live and serve in the twelve regions of the Lausanne Movement. 12 of 12 will attend. Samson Adoungbe (Benin), Christine Soliman (Egypt), Yuri Boldirev (Moldova), Anjji Gabriel (Philippines), Gabriel Hakulin (Czech Republic), Greg Henson (USA), Karen Kwok (Hong Kong), Chris Maphosa (Zimbabwe), Julieta Murillo (Ecuador), Rebecca Nilanjana (India), Josh Reid (Australia), John Roomes (Jamaica).

Pray for us as we welcome 90 GTP Country Coordinators, Course Moderators, Church Ambassadors, PAG Administrators, and other strategic volunteers and special guests: Emmanuel Agyenim-Boateng (Ghana), Nelson Aho (Ghana), Mario Amador (Nicaragua), Javier Angulo (USA), Adel Azmi (Egypt), Linnea Baney (USA), Oluwaseun Bankole (Nigeria), Alexei Belov (Russia), John Caleb (India), Pilar Cancino (Colombia), Aldo Cayuba (Costa Rica), Rocio Lizeth Carcamo Cruz (El Salvador), Gaius Danauta (Nigeria), John Das (Bangladesh), Jim Detera (Philippines), Jonathan Devadas (Malaysia), Chandra Dewanto (Indonesia), Hirokazu Enomoto (Japan), Lynn Gabriel (Philippines), Matthew Gadsden (Australia), Dunstan Albert Gamea (Papua New Guinea), Lucy Giraldo (Colombia), Surakshya Giri (Nepal), Kalyani Gudapati (India), Karel Hennhofer (Czech Republic), Kenneth Isah Igwe (Nigeria), Mariyan Ishtiaq (Pakistan), Bibiano João (Angola), Mercia Justin (India), Edward Yaw Kander (Ghana), Bhadra Bahadur Kanwar (Nepal), Gideon Kajina Kanyanda (Zambia), Patience Kasweka (Ghana), Steve Kerr (Australia), Kate Kerr (Australia), Seemab Khurram (Pakistan), Evangeline Kibirisho (Kenya), Momoko Kotera (Japan), David Kura (Nigeria), Daoud Kuttab (Jordan / Palestine), Gillian Lord (Guyana), Afodia Maaji Katungu (Nigeria), Dennis Madzora (Zimbabwe), Doreen Magboo (Philippines), Andrew Mahfouz (Egypt), Armi Martinez (Philippines), Udonu Maxwell (Nigeria), Lola Moreno (Ecuador), Stephen Mwaniki (Kenya), Donald Mqwathi (South Africa), Rose Musila (Kenya), Zachary Nathan (Malaysia), Handoko Ngadiman (Indonesia), Ruth Njoroge (Kenya), Koffi Nyamadi (Togo), James Odero (Kenya), Dimanche Ouedraogo (Burkina Faso), Pinky Patra (India), Wayne Pederson (USA), Luis Pinto (Guatemala), Rubiela Plaza (Colombia), Isaac Quino (Bolivia), Rolando Rincon (Colombia), Jacqueline Roberts (Jamaica), R’Love Rojas (Philippines), Conrado Roxas (Philippines), Reiko Saikawa (Japan), Sharoz Sajjad (Pakistan), Yu Sato (Japan), Jud Savelle (USA), Bickram Singh (Trinidad & Tobago), Samson Sudhakar (India), Erion Sylari (Albania), Tina Tang (USA), Judith Tavagwisa (Botswana), Godfred Tugbenyo (Ghana), Anteneh Tula (Ethiopia), Luis Turbi (USA), Ebere Ubesie (Nigeria), Anyanime Umoren (Nigeria), Gary Williams (Australia), Gia Valdez (USA), Londin Velasquez (Honduras), Khurram Younis (Pakistan), May Wong (Hong Kong), Norbert Woo (Hong Kong), Wilson **** (China), Chris **** (China), Xuefeng **** (China), Feng **** (China)

We have seen God grant exponential growth to the movement in response to fasting. Join us. Click to download the Global Gathering prayer schedule and run sheets to see when we are fasting.

As Esther said, “Fast for me.”  Facilitating this global movement far exceeds my ability, capacity, and resources. But I surrender everything to God at least 10 times a day with the Surrender Novena, and He continues to prove faithful.

When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:16-18

“There are two ways, one of life and one of death, and there is a great difference between the two ways. The way of life is this. First of all, you shall love the God who made you. Second, love your neighbor as yourself.b And all things you would not want done to you, do not do to another person.

Now the teaching of these words is this. Bless those who curse you, and pray for your enemies, and fast for those who persecute you. For what credit is it to you, if you love those who love you? Do the people of the nations not do the same? But you should love those who hate you, and you will not have an enemy. Abstain from the desires of the flesh and of the body….

Concerning baptism, baptize in this way. Having instructed him in all of these teachings, baptize the catechumen in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in running water. But if you do not have running water, then baptize in other water. And if you cannot in cold water, use warm.

But if you have neither, then pour water on the head three times, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. And before the baptism, let both the baptizer and the catechumen fast, and also any others who are able. And be sure that the catechumen fasts a day or two before.

Do not let not your fasts fall on the same days as the hypocrites, for they fast on Mondays and Thursdays. Keep your fast on Wednesdays and Fridays…”

Didache 1.1-4, 2.7-8

One of my faithful readers said, “Can you give me an example of what a fast day looks like for you?” To assist him and all other readers, I go back to the Didache, the early church discipleship manual, which has helped me. Download it here.

The Scribes and Pharisees in the days of the early church, described by Jesus as hypocrites, fasted on Mondays and Thursdays. To differentiate the Christian movement from them, followers of Jesus were instructed to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays.

I find that fasting for a meal two days a week, generally lunch, provides margin for me to connect more closely to God. I do this when I am home and not when I am traveling. I don’t tell anyone. It is between me and God.

As a side note, the day of worship shifted from the Sabbath in the synagogue on Saturday to meeting in homes on Sunday because that was the day that Christ rose from the dead. That’s why worldwide most people have Christian worship on Sundays.

Now regarding fasting, if you feel led to explore it, pick a day or two a week to abstain from food. During the time you would eat the meal, devote yourself to prayer and the reading of Scripture. In that sense, feast on Jesus.

If you have a big activity ahead, like the example of baptism, consider following the example here of fasting a day or two before. This will help prepare your heart to get the most from God from the experience.

But don’t forget today’s Scripture. Avoid appearing as a hypocrite. Perhaps look at your calendar and choose a day that you can do it without drawing attention to yourself. Fasting is not for show but to help you grow.

Today I travel from Denver to Tokyo, Japan, where I connect to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for the largest Global Gathering in the history of GTP, 134 people from 50+ countries. We include fasting in our schedule. I’ll share more about that tomorrow.

Thanks for your prayers for safe travel for me and all the participants from around the world.

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tested by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over he was famished. Luke 4:1-2

“Just as the Holy Spirit led Jesus to fast, He will lead us. Fasting is not the same as starvation, which people experience during a famine or other circumstances. Fasting is a personal choice; starvation is forced by circumstances. It is important to always be led by the Holy Spirit when we are considering a period of fasting.

Fasting is abstaining specifically from food. When the Bible mentions fasting, it is referring to abstaining from food. In today’s world, eliminating TV time, phone, or chocolate may be sacrifices or acts of self-discipline, but these things are not biblical types of fasting.

Although the Bible doesn’t mention abstaining from other things as forms of fasting, this also can be beneficial. This type of abstinence from other things can be an especially good practice for people who are unable to fast due to medical or other reasons.”

Vladimir Savchuk in A Beginner’s Guide to Fasting: Simple, Practical, Biblical (Pasco, WA: 2024) 3-4.

Ask the Holy Spirit if it is time for you to fast from food for a time.

Should God lead you to do it, it might be a time of testing and purification in advance of some important ministry service.

But like Jesus, you should find yourself “famished” so prepare yourself.

Fasting is not easy. But when the Spirit leads you to do something, it will always be good for you.

And He just might take you to another level for generous living, giving, serving, and loving.

I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over. Daniel 3:10

“Fasting is temporary, not permanent. Fasting is only a temporary practice, not a permanent state. Food is a gift from God that’s meant to provide us with strength, nourishment and satisfaction; it is our fuel. Without regular food intake, our bodies will not survive for very long.

If we sleep eight hours a night, we are spending one third of our life asleep. For a person living 75 years, this amounts to 25 years, or 9,125 days, spent sleeping. During sleep, we are in state of fasting, which is why the morning meal is called breakfast—a meal you eat to break your fast.

God designed our bodies to handle periods of fasting, where we pause food consumption and take a break. Longer periods of fasting, from a few hours to a few days, and even a few weeks, are mentioned in the Bible. When we undertake anything beyond our regular sleep/overnight fast, our flesh will get irritated. But when we remember that it is only a temporary practice, we can press through.”

Vladimir Savchuk in A Beginner’s Guide to Fasting: Simple, Practical, Biblical (Pasco, WA: 2024) 2-3.

Daniel mourned the vision he received. So he fasted for a time. His fast, like all other biblical fasting, was temporary.

And notice that for about one-third of our lives, we fast, and then we break the fast with a morning meal. That notion surprised me. I did not know the origin of the morning meal meant to break the fast at breakfast.

What if you try this temporary practice for a meal, or perhaps for a few days, or a meal each week at the same time?

What might God teach you if instead of taking physical food you feasted on spiritual food for a time. Got something big going on in your life, try adding fasting to your life. See what happens.

But note the warning label from Savchuk. Your flesh will feel irritated through your spirit will be renewed.

When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. Matthew 6:16

“What is fasting? Why did every noteworthy person mentioned in the Bible practice fasting? Moses, David, Elijah, Esther, Daniel, Anna, and Paul are just a few people in the Bible who fasted. And of course, we know that Jesus, our Lord and Savior, fasted. In fact, He didn’t start His ministry until after a 40-day fast. Moreover, when Jesus taught His disciples about fasting, He said, “When you fast,” not “If you fast” (Matthew 6:16). This implies that Jesus assumed that fasting would be a normal and willingly undertaken practice for all His followers and all of us.

Fasting is voluntarily abstaining from all or some types of food and/or drink for a period of time, often as a religious observance or spiritual practice. Fasting may not be enjoyable to our flesh, but it’s gratifying to know that we can exercise control over our stomach and cravings. Fasting may not be something that our flesh wants to do, but our spirit yearns for it. It can be challenging, but as we draw near to God, it brings us joy.”

Vladimir Savchuk in A Beginner’s Guide to Fasting: Simple, Practical, Biblical (Pasco, WA: 2024) 1-2.

After having difficulty locating writings by Malaysian voices, I decided to a go a different direction in my reading.

As I approach the Global Gathering for GTP, I am mindful that we engage three spiritual priorities when we convene: prayer, fasting, and confession. So I am exploring more deeply the practice of fasting for the benefit of readers.

From the start, we must understand what fasting is and why our spirit yearns for it. In short, we say no to good things our flesh desires so we can connect with what is good for our spirit. If you have never tried it, maybe the time is now.

When we say no to things our flesh desires, we often save money that we can reallocate to things God cares about. In this sense, fasting can help us grow our margin for generosity. And it can do so much more, as we will soon discover.

In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Acts 2:17

“Many visions and dreams are going to draw derision and ridicule from other people, even those close to us. We need something to help us get past these negative comments and that is our strong belief in what God speaks to us through those visions and dreams.

Guneratnam shared that God specializes in the minority. “It is tough bearing with negative remarks about a big dream you have when there is nobody around to support you, but when you realize that God and you make the majority, everything else just seems much easier to bear.”

Every vision has two elements: breaking and making, and it is vital that we are not hindered by the breaking. He shared three ways to keep our focus on God and fulfill the vision He has for us.

Firstly, ensure the source of the vision is from God. Many times, dreams are borne out of jealousy—we want to emulate someone with a successful career or a powerful ministry. Not only are we wasting time, we are also not fulfilling the vision God has for us.

Next, if God is indeed the source, depend on Him and make Him your resource. If God put a vision in you, He will fulfill it through you. The key to unlocking His resources is to use the resources you already have. God will pour out on us what we are not afraid to pour out on others. God’s giving is based on our surrendering. Guneratnam shared about the boy in Mark 6 who willingly gave up his five loaves and two fishes, enabling Jesus to produce a miracle that fed more than 5,000 people.

The third point is that we should not let our dreams intimidate us. The dreams that God gives are always bigger than our current ability. When his church was seeking to build a larger worship location in downtown Kuala Lumpur, Guneratnam was faced with a stream of obstacles. He realized that sometimes Christians have to make a decision—to either believe that visions and dreams can come to pass or stumble in their faith. One can choose to believe in a limitless God or to believe in the limit of one’s ability.

Guneratnam’s message stirred up the faith in the hearts of every believer in the room.”

Prince Guneratnam in his sermon “Focusing On God’s Vision” posted on City News 11 June 2010.

As I prepare to head to Malaysia, I continue to research famous Malaysian Christians. The late Dr. Prince Guneratnam ranks among contemporary saints. I located these notes from a sermon he delivered.

I appreciated his emphasis on how God accomplishes his visions through breaking and making.

On the breaking side he emphasized surrender. He adds that “God’s giving is based on our surrendering.” He rightly links that the Mark 6 and the feeding of the 5,000. The text pivots on a boy giving Jesus what He has.

This matches what we at GTP teach around the world. To all people to use what they have with God.

I also appreciated that in the making of the vision, his notion that “if God is indeed the source, depend on Him and make Him your resource.” We can be tempted to make things happen ourselves.

How does today’s post speak to you regarding the generous impact God wants you to have?

Has God given you a vision that is far beyond your ability to accomplish? Is it time to surrender through the breaking? Or give Jesus what you have in the making?

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33

“When I was a teenager, I told my mom that I wanted to be a pastor. And that call is still on my heart. I want to give back to the kingdom of God as a full-time minister,” he explained. “I don’t know though, when that will happen. I foresee myself doing what I’m doing now in the next few years. There is still a lot to be done where I am right now. The work is not finished. But however long this stint lasts, when God finally calls me, I will obey.”

Currently, Brandon is active in pastoral work. He serves in his church, preaches occasionally in his church and at conferences, and actively counsels and disciples others. But he still senses that calling to go into ministry full-time someday.

Though he’s not sure when that would happen, the one thing he’s sure about is that whatever he does, it would be to glorify God. His life verse is Matthew 6:33, which says, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” The second principle he lives by is this: Honour God and He will honour you.

“God never shortchanges us. That has been true 1,001 times in my life, it continues to be true today, and I have no doubt that it will continue to be true for the rest of my life,” he said.

Ultimately, it’s about going “back to the basics”, Brandon shared. “A lot of times, we’re caught up in many things—with fancy worship, the lights and sounds, serving in many ministries. But never forget the basics. Those hours you spend behind closed doors, between you and your Maker, reading the Bible and praying, will go a very long way. You don’t have to change the world or hold evangelistic crusades like Billy Graham—and I speak to myself as well when I say this. Set aside that time with the Lord every single day. It’s as basic as that, and it would make Him very happy. That’s one thing I know.”

Brandon Ho in “Let’s Get Real with Brandon Ho” article from 16 April 2021 by Charmain Sim.

As I hear the testimony of this emerging Christian worker in Malaysia, this idea stood out to me.

I really like the idea that “God never shortchanges us.” When we go “back to the basics and seek Him and His righteousness or right ways, first, we always benefit. We always win. He’s always generous toward us.

It’s not for our good but for His glory. His blessings empower us to fulfill our calling. Trust Him to do it for you.

Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God. Proverbs 30:7-9

“The burden was heavy, and Brandon witnessed his parents occasionally break down under it. The second-generation Christian spent many nights crying out to God, asking why his family had to suffer so much. “I told God that I didn’t want to be super rich, or else I would forget Him. But I didn’t want to be so poor too. I didn’t even have money for food.” Brandon recounts how he used to drink only the soup from the pan mee (a Chinese noodle dish) stall at his university’s campus because it was free.”

Brandon Ho in “Let’s Get Real with Brandon Ho” article from 16 April 2021 by Charmain Sim.

I am doing research before heading to Kuala Lumpur in a week.

Brandon Ho represents a leading voice for Jesus of the next generation. As I read his story, he reminds me of a Malaysian version of Charlie Kirk, sharing about Jesus with the next generation.

I appreciated this excerpt from his story.

Our posture toward Jesus should match the wisdom of Proverbs. We do well to ask for neither poverty nor riches, but only our daily bread. Notice how this matches the Lord prayer.

This marks the wise path because we maintain dependence on God.

If you want to grow in generosity, choose this path. But do so by reading this warning label first: you will often have more than enough and get to give generously.

But you might also suffer. And it’s only in the suffering you learn a vital lesson.

Brandon learned it. Until Christ is all you have, you don’t really realize that He’s all you have ever needed all along. Christ plus riches is not even close. It’s like living with training wheels on.

Take off the training wheels. It just might unleash your greatest impact.