Lesson 2: The Battle
Sunday, January 14
"The greatest thing you can do in the midst of a battle is magnify the Lord."
Fasting, Jentezen Franklin
Begin today by briefly recapping Lesson 1 – The Commission. Using some of the closing points from Lesson 1 may be helpful.
“Stated simply, biblical fasting is refraining from food for a spiritual purpose. Fasting has always been a normal part of a relationship with God. … When you eliminate food from your diet for several days, your spirit becomes uncluttered by the things of this world and amazingly sensitive to the things of God.” Fasting, Jentezen Franklin
Today we will look at how fasting serves as a weapon to wage war on our flesh and the Enemy. Like a battle, fasting is not easy, and it’s not meant to be.
The Cost (1 Chronicles 21:24)
In 1 Chronicles 21:24, Araunah generously offered land to David as a gift. However, David refused, saying, 'I will not take for the Lord what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.' David desired the land but insisted on paying its full price as a sacrifice to God. The word 'sacrifice' implies something that costs the giver in terms of self, time, or money.
- Has there been a time in your life where you felt that God was asking to you to give something up – either permanently or for a season?
Giving to God what costs you nothing does not demonstrate commitment.
Fasting requires something of us. It’s a chance to sacrifice the time we would be eating as time devoted to prayer and fasting. Taking additional strides toward intentional communion with God involves stepping away from other distractions. This is a battle but one that’s worth fighting. When faced with difficulty, remember the purpose behind your fast.
Fight Fire with Praise (2 Chronicles 20)
Fasting remains relevant today when seeking God's guidance in special circumstances or during specific periods.
Let’s turn our focus on an Old Testament king of Judah, Jehoshaphat known for his exceptional care for his people amidst numerous battles. One of the notable instances is recorded in 2 Chronicles 20, where they encountered a significant threat from a coalition of enemies. Let's explore an instance when Jehoshaphat was directed to engage in battle using a different strategy.
2 Chronicles 20:3-4 NIV
Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.
In earlier battles (chapters 13 and 14), Judah and his men physically fought their enemies. In this battle against a coalition of enemy nations, their means of fighting was to pray and fast.
Taking a break from their daily meals allowed the nation of Judah to get serious with God. Feeling hunger would reinforce their penitence and remind them of their reliance on God. In Jehoshaphat's prayer (20:6-12), he included crucial elements: entrusting the situation to God's hands, seeking His favor for his people, recognizing God's sovereignty, praising Him, and emphasizing dependence solely on God for deliverance.
In verse twelve, he ends his prayer with, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
- The people confronted the enemy not as combatants, but as prayerful spectators. How does this challenge your perspective?
- Have you ever prayed a similar prayer as Jehoshaphat's prayer in verse twelve, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you”?
Sometimes our part is not to take up arms but to exercise faith and to offer prayer and praise (see Eph. 6:10–18).
Send in the Singers! (2 Chronicles 20:21-22)
Sometimes, like the people of Judah, we war through worship. Jehoshaphat sent singers into the battle. The people had fasted, prayed and received their instructions on how to battle - with singing praises and a heart of thanks to God! God honored their obedience by giving them the victory.
2 Chronicles 20:21-22
After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:
“Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever.”
As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.
The victory for the nation had been won! “There is power in corporate fasting and power in corporate praise! It creates a river of healing, a river of deliverance and victory, a river of cleansing in the house of God. It is time to exchange ashes for beauty, mourning for joy, and a garment of heaviness for a garment of praise.” (Fasting, Jentezen Franklin)
- The singers’ song of praise invoked God to move against their enemies. How does their actions of literally praising God in the battle encourage you?
My Soul Thirsts for God (Psalm 42:1-3)
Before we close, let’s view an impassioned plea written to the Lord by the sons of Korah – Psalm 42. Let this passage remind you that fasting leads to a deeper and more intimate relationship with God.
Psalm 42:1-3
"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, 'Where is your God?'"
The song begins with a poignant expression of longing for God himself, using the image of thirst. As stated earlier, when you abstain from food for an extended period, there's a potential for your spiritual awareness to heighten, allowing a clearer focus on the divine rather than worldly distractions.
- Can you recall a time when you felt especially close to God in your life? What were the circumstances that contributed to that experience?
- How does the idea that fasting is a secret source of power change your perspective on this spiritual discipline?
Fasting brings you to a place where you hunger and thirst for God, and allows a deeper, more intimate, and powerful relationship with Him. Continue to pray that your reliance on God's greatness outweighs the enormity of any challenges. Exercise faith this week; offer up prayer and praise!
Summary:
Fasting remains relevant today when seeking God's guidance in special circumstances or during specific periods.
David's refusal of a free offering illustrates that true sacrifice involves personal cost. Likewise, fasting demands sacrificing time dedicated to prayer, demonstrating commitment beyond convenience.
Jehoshaphat's approach to battle, involving fasting and prayer, showcases an alternative strategy to physical combat. Fasting deepens reliance on God, as seen in his prayer of complete dependence on God's guidance.
Jehoshaphat's use of singers in battle, praising God, resulted in victory. Their worship invoked God's intervention against their enemies, demonstrating the effectiveness of praising God amidst trials.
Psalm forty-two illustrates the soul's thirst for God, akin to fasting's ability to strip away worldly distractions, intensifying the longing for and closeness to God.
Resources:
Further Discussion (Optional):
- Discuss the contrasts between conventional approaches and unconventional strategies in facing life's challenges. How does Jehoshaphat's example of fasting and prayer in battle challenge modern notions of problem-solving and conflict resolution?
- Delve into the significance of worship, particularly in times of difficulty or adversity. How does praise and worship contribute to victory in life's battles?