This is going to be my last post on this TVVT blog.
I've decided to take all of my fasting off the record and pursue a different mentality of fasting.
Yes i will still be fasting 3 days a week, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday but our fasting team that we had is mostly over and done with and, when it starts up again one day, i feel the adequate cultivation in the Spirit and in the natural (this blog/ people going hard after fasting and righteousness) has been fulfilled.
So with that i just want to say, bless you if you've run onto this site. Feel free to read through posts of this blog, use the material for your own good. If you like something and want to make it your own just take it!
Prayer and Fasting is so important to our walks with Christ. Learn it! Live it! Cultivate a long history in fasting with the Lord. Voluntary weakeners pays off, the Lord is searching even now for humble people who will allow Him to work in/through their life.
God Bless!!
-Drew
e-mail:
mewithoutdrew@gmail.com
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
April 22-24
Connecting the dots...
In this fast group we use on Matt 5:6 as our focus verse:
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."
I want to just throw it out there and say that God is the righteousness this verse is focusing on. How could we as sinful beings ever hope to say that we are righteous? We can have righteousness take hold in our hearts and manifest in our lives but apart from God, Who causes that to happen, we are not righteous.
So what does it mean to hunger and thirst after righteousness? It means to burn to be more like God. Hungering after God is a gift that He gives us to increase Himself in our lives. He tweaks our hearts and causes us to run to Him.
So what should my response be if im burning to know more of God or if i'm wanting and willing to act upon the way i feel towards Him?
Well there are many things you can do, but im going to highlight something out of Matt 9:14-15
14Then the disciples of John came to Him, asking, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?"
15And Jesus said to them, "The attendance of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast."
Mourning after Jesus is longing for God in our lives. We all have a God shaped hole in our heart that only He can fill. Nothing else will satisfy. What happens when we come to grips with ourselves and actually want to do something about the longing for God that we have? Well Jesus invites us to fast.
I believe the best way to increase hungering for Jesus (the word, prayer, dwelling with His Spirit) is to fast. and i also believe it should be the next step in the relationship. Jesus said "But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast." Those days are upon us, its now that fasting and longing for righteousness and Jesus apply to our lives.
So i'd invite anyone who strolls upon this page or who regularly reads and even fasts to 'sign up' again this week and take time to fast and pray and really seek the Lords heart either on this topic or on another area of your walk that He has placed on your heart. I want to hunger and thirst after Jesus, i want to be lovesick for my Bridegroom. Fasting a little or a lot won't change the fact that God wants to satisfy. He'll meet us all where we are and give grace to those who seek Him. Lets just take things in stride this week and press in. Don't be shy.
If you have questions email me (Drew) at:
mewithoutdrew@gmail.com
or
check out the Dec 18-21 2007 post.
God Bless!
In this fast group we use on Matt 5:6 as our focus verse:
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."
I want to just throw it out there and say that God is the righteousness this verse is focusing on. How could we as sinful beings ever hope to say that we are righteous? We can have righteousness take hold in our hearts and manifest in our lives but apart from God, Who causes that to happen, we are not righteous.
So what does it mean to hunger and thirst after righteousness? It means to burn to be more like God. Hungering after God is a gift that He gives us to increase Himself in our lives. He tweaks our hearts and causes us to run to Him.
So what should my response be if im burning to know more of God or if i'm wanting and willing to act upon the way i feel towards Him?
Well there are many things you can do, but im going to highlight something out of Matt 9:14-15
14Then the disciples of John came to Him, asking, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?"
15And Jesus said to them, "The attendance of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast."
Mourning after Jesus is longing for God in our lives. We all have a God shaped hole in our heart that only He can fill. Nothing else will satisfy. What happens when we come to grips with ourselves and actually want to do something about the longing for God that we have? Well Jesus invites us to fast.
I believe the best way to increase hungering for Jesus (the word, prayer, dwelling with His Spirit) is to fast. and i also believe it should be the next step in the relationship. Jesus said "But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast." Those days are upon us, its now that fasting and longing for righteousness and Jesus apply to our lives.
So i'd invite anyone who strolls upon this page or who regularly reads and even fasts to 'sign up' again this week and take time to fast and pray and really seek the Lords heart either on this topic or on another area of your walk that He has placed on your heart. I want to hunger and thirst after Jesus, i want to be lovesick for my Bridegroom. Fasting a little or a lot won't change the fact that God wants to satisfy. He'll meet us all where we are and give grace to those who seek Him. Lets just take things in stride this week and press in. Don't be shy.
If you have questions email me (Drew) at:
mewithoutdrew@gmail.com
or
check out the Dec 18-21 2007 post.
God Bless!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
April 15-17
Matt 6:19-21
19Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal;
21for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
A few things about this:
-Jesus straight up tells us not to store up treasures on earth. As a lover of God i want to take this seriously and do what He says.
-Then He tells us that our hearts will belong to heaven (the kingdom of heaven) if we store our treasures up there.
So how does one store up treasures in heaven?
Well Jesus tells us in the verses just before these how someone can receive treasures in heaven.
3 main ways listed in chapter 6 are, giving to the poor, praying and fasting.
Jesus says that God will reward us if we follow through with these things in our lives.
These rewards are treasures in heaven.
Not only will we store treasures in heaven and be rich when we get there but also our hearts will be at a place where these 3 things are important to our daily lives, and if we would actually go hard after giving to the poor, praying in the closet and fasting we would live a life that is 'other than' and we'd live as those whose hearts are in another world and whose minds are focused on something 'above'. Who "waists" their money just giving it to people who don't deserve it and didn't work for it? Who gives up time to go away and be alone to pray? Who doesn't eat!? WHO DOES THAT?!
Well we should! Lets live extravagant lives and build upon these things and make them realities in our minds and hearts. Lets get our hearts up there in heaven and lets be strangers in the earth. Lets not conform to the day in day out nonsense that the world has to offer.
Lets fast and get there together!
Amen!
If you have questions email me (Drew) at:
mewithoutdrew@gmail.com
or
check out the Dec 18-21 2007 post.
God Bless!
19Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal;
21for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
A few things about this:
-Jesus straight up tells us not to store up treasures on earth. As a lover of God i want to take this seriously and do what He says.
-Then He tells us that our hearts will belong to heaven (the kingdom of heaven) if we store our treasures up there.
So how does one store up treasures in heaven?
Well Jesus tells us in the verses just before these how someone can receive treasures in heaven.
3 main ways listed in chapter 6 are, giving to the poor, praying and fasting.
Jesus says that God will reward us if we follow through with these things in our lives.
These rewards are treasures in heaven.
Not only will we store treasures in heaven and be rich when we get there but also our hearts will be at a place where these 3 things are important to our daily lives, and if we would actually go hard after giving to the poor, praying in the closet and fasting we would live a life that is 'other than' and we'd live as those whose hearts are in another world and whose minds are focused on something 'above'. Who "waists" their money just giving it to people who don't deserve it and didn't work for it? Who gives up time to go away and be alone to pray? Who doesn't eat!? WHO DOES THAT?!
Well we should! Lets live extravagant lives and build upon these things and make them realities in our minds and hearts. Lets get our hearts up there in heaven and lets be strangers in the earth. Lets not conform to the day in day out nonsense that the world has to offer.
Lets fast and get there together!
Amen!
If you have questions email me (Drew) at:
mewithoutdrew@gmail.com
or
check out the Dec 18-21 2007 post.
God Bless!
Monday, April 7, 2008
April 7-9
Its the GBF! (Global Bridegroom Fast)
Lets join with saints all over the earth in a 3 day fast to encounter our Bridegroom Jesus Christ in an increased way and touch His heart through prayer and fasting to usher in the coming Kingdom of God.
http://ihop.org/Group/Group.aspx?id=19844
God Bless!
-Drew
Lets join with saints all over the earth in a 3 day fast to encounter our Bridegroom Jesus Christ in an increased way and touch His heart through prayer and fasting to usher in the coming Kingdom of God.
http://ihop.org/Group/Group.aspx?id=19844
God Bless!
-Drew
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
April 1-3
Colossians 3:17
17Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
This is a hard reality to deal with. Doing everything in the name of Jesus and always with a spirit of thankfulness towards God, even when we don't want too or when things around us aren't going our way. Its important to get this understanding in our grid and to really contend to get it in our hearts and minds. It seems so easy to just get mad or frustrated or jealous and to totally forget that Gods perfect leadership is at hand in our lives. Its always important to give thanks to God in every situation. He's always at work for His and our good in our lives. So praise Him! If we put Jesus first in all we do and keep His praise in our hearts through thankfulness we can start on a road to greater understanding of this verse and of our Lord. Things like this don't happen over night but they happen one day at a time. One word, one deed at a time.
Fasting and praying this into our understanding seems like a great idea this week. Feel free to join in, or feel free to pursue the Lord in your own way. Having a focused lifestyle is so important when we run after the Lord. Fasting can totally help us in this pursuit.
If you have questions email me (Drew) at:
mewithoutdrew@gmail.com
or
check out the Dec 18-21 2007 post.
God Bless!
17Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
This is a hard reality to deal with. Doing everything in the name of Jesus and always with a spirit of thankfulness towards God, even when we don't want too or when things around us aren't going our way. Its important to get this understanding in our grid and to really contend to get it in our hearts and minds. It seems so easy to just get mad or frustrated or jealous and to totally forget that Gods perfect leadership is at hand in our lives. Its always important to give thanks to God in every situation. He's always at work for His and our good in our lives. So praise Him! If we put Jesus first in all we do and keep His praise in our hearts through thankfulness we can start on a road to greater understanding of this verse and of our Lord. Things like this don't happen over night but they happen one day at a time. One word, one deed at a time.
Fasting and praying this into our understanding seems like a great idea this week. Feel free to join in, or feel free to pursue the Lord in your own way. Having a focused lifestyle is so important when we run after the Lord. Fasting can totally help us in this pursuit.
If you have questions email me (Drew) at:
mewithoutdrew@gmail.com
or
check out the Dec 18-21 2007 post.
God Bless!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
March 25-27
Philippians 4:6-7
6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7and the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
There is a time and a place in every believers heart when they decide they want to go hard after God. There are also seasons in an already devoted, maturing believers heart when they decide they will increase in focus or consecration for a season to pursue the Lord in a different way when the motives and circumstances seem right in their life.
I personally come before the Lord with my issues and my failures and I continually ask the Holy Spirit for grace to succeed and be perfect the way my heavenly Father is perfect (Matt5:48). Its in these moments that I turn from the ways that would engage in before and I will try to make a conscience effort to be different knowing the Holy Spirit will empower me to walk differently.
This is when the lie of the enemy comes in and he tries to make me think that I'm just pretending and that even though I say and act and think that "everything is all right" the devil keeps reminding me "no, everything is not all right look at all these issues in your life, look at all these areas of complacency and distress and unrest"
But the truth is as I take my thoughts and my prayers before my God, Who is all knowing, all loving and truly good I must give thanks to Him and I must tell myself that I'm not pretending but I am contending!
I wanted to write this in here to encourage anyone who comes to this page and anyone who will encounter the Lord this week in fasting and prayers and say: we have to get our heads up on things above. We gotta set our minds on a higher place (Eph 4:20-24) and we have to continually give thanks to God who seriously has made a way for us through the grace given by Christs blood which covers our lives(Eph 5:20). Don't let the enemy drag ya down with his lies. Settle in your heart where you want to be with the Lord and how deep you want your love to go for the Son and then push on by making it a reality in the ways you think, talk and act. Don't just pretend to live this life but truly contend to make it a reality. We all have to start somewhere. One step at a time is all the Lord is asking!(SOS 1:4)
Amen.
If you have questions email me (Drew) at:
mewithoutdrew@gmail.com
or
check out the Dec 18-21 2007 post.
God Bless!
6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7and the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
There is a time and a place in every believers heart when they decide they want to go hard after God. There are also seasons in an already devoted, maturing believers heart when they decide they will increase in focus or consecration for a season to pursue the Lord in a different way when the motives and circumstances seem right in their life.
I personally come before the Lord with my issues and my failures and I continually ask the Holy Spirit for grace to succeed and be perfect the way my heavenly Father is perfect (Matt5:48). Its in these moments that I turn from the ways that would engage in before and I will try to make a conscience effort to be different knowing the Holy Spirit will empower me to walk differently.
This is when the lie of the enemy comes in and he tries to make me think that I'm just pretending and that even though I say and act and think that "everything is all right" the devil keeps reminding me "no, everything is not all right look at all these issues in your life, look at all these areas of complacency and distress and unrest"
But the truth is as I take my thoughts and my prayers before my God, Who is all knowing, all loving and truly good I must give thanks to Him and I must tell myself that I'm not pretending but I am contending!
I wanted to write this in here to encourage anyone who comes to this page and anyone who will encounter the Lord this week in fasting and prayers and say: we have to get our heads up on things above. We gotta set our minds on a higher place (Eph 4:20-24) and we have to continually give thanks to God who seriously has made a way for us through the grace given by Christs blood which covers our lives(Eph 5:20). Don't let the enemy drag ya down with his lies. Settle in your heart where you want to be with the Lord and how deep you want your love to go for the Son and then push on by making it a reality in the ways you think, talk and act. Don't just pretend to live this life but truly contend to make it a reality. We all have to start somewhere. One step at a time is all the Lord is asking!(SOS 1:4)
Amen.
If you have questions email me (Drew) at:
mewithoutdrew@gmail.com
or
check out the Dec 18-21 2007 post.
God Bless!
Monday, March 17, 2008
March 18-20
James 1: 2-4
2Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
3knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
My sister gave these verses as the Word of the Lord over my life in this season. So i said "I'm going to use this as my next TVVT focus!" and so here we are.
I want this verse to pass from just words on a page to the Lord's sovereign touch on my heart.
This week lets fast and pray and really find the meaning of these verses asking the Holy Spirit to reveal all truth and to press the reality of what these verses say in our daily lives and to reveal more of the Father through them. Thank you Jesus that you've made a way for us to come close to You and that You've given us clarity in times of hardship through your Word, Your Spirit and Your undying love for us!
-Amen
If you have questions email me (Drew) at:
mewithoutdrew@gmail.com
or
check out the Dec 18-21 2007 post.God Bless!
2Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
3knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
My sister gave these verses as the Word of the Lord over my life in this season. So i said "I'm going to use this as my next TVVT focus!" and so here we are.
I want this verse to pass from just words on a page to the Lord's sovereign touch on my heart.
This week lets fast and pray and really find the meaning of these verses asking the Holy Spirit to reveal all truth and to press the reality of what these verses say in our daily lives and to reveal more of the Father through them. Thank you Jesus that you've made a way for us to come close to You and that You've given us clarity in times of hardship through your Word, Your Spirit and Your undying love for us!
-Amen
If you have questions email me (Drew) at:
mewithoutdrew@gmail.com
or
check out the Dec 18-21 2007 post.God Bless!
Monday, March 10, 2008
March 11-13
Every week when i fast i like to have a special focus where i'll take a scripture to the Lord and really focus to pray it and meditate on it and let it drive deep in my mind and heart to let the Holy Spirit renew and change me. (Jn 17:17)
Fasting helps bring on a stronger burn for the Lord creating a heightened sense of spiritual awareness that can spur us on in deeper ways in our meditation, consecration, focus... etc.
This week i'll be looking at Proverbs 3:3,4
3Do not let kindness and truth leave you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4So you will find favor and good repute
In the sight of God and man.
These verses have great focuses for our love towards God and our love towards our neighbors. It covers both aspects of the two most important commandments that the Lord gives us. (Mk 12:29-31)
I want this to be alive in me on the inside and i want to have favor with God and man the way Jesus did or the way that Daniel did. I beleive the Lord is inviting us to dive deep in the ways of fasting and prayer to let Him accomplish this in our lives this week. So i invite you to join with me and fast these three days and pray that the Lord brings wisdom and revelation of His love and power in our lives to make this a reality within us by His Spirit. Amen
If you have questions email me (Drew) at:
mewithoutdrew@gmail.com
or check out the Dec 18-21 2007 post.
God Bless!
Fasting helps bring on a stronger burn for the Lord creating a heightened sense of spiritual awareness that can spur us on in deeper ways in our meditation, consecration, focus... etc.
This week i'll be looking at Proverbs 3:3,4
3Do not let kindness and truth leave you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4So you will find favor and good repute
In the sight of God and man.
These verses have great focuses for our love towards God and our love towards our neighbors. It covers both aspects of the two most important commandments that the Lord gives us. (Mk 12:29-31)
I want this to be alive in me on the inside and i want to have favor with God and man the way Jesus did or the way that Daniel did. I beleive the Lord is inviting us to dive deep in the ways of fasting and prayer to let Him accomplish this in our lives this week. So i invite you to join with me and fast these three days and pray that the Lord brings wisdom and revelation of His love and power in our lives to make this a reality within us by His Spirit. Amen
If you have questions email me (Drew) at:
mewithoutdrew@gmail.com
or check out the Dec 18-21 2007 post.
God Bless!
Monday, March 3, 2008
March 3-5
Its the GBF!!!! (Global Bridegroom Fast)
Lets join with saints all over the earth in a 3 day fast to encounter our Bridegroom Jesus Christ in an increased way and touch His heart through prayer to usher in the coming Kingdom of God.
http://ihop.org/Group/Group.aspx?id=19844
God Bless!
-Drew
Lets join with saints all over the earth in a 3 day fast to encounter our Bridegroom Jesus Christ in an increased way and touch His heart through prayer to usher in the coming Kingdom of God.
http://ihop.org/Group/Group.aspx?id=19844
God Bless!
-Drew
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Feb 26-28
Hello everyone,
Sorry about missing last week. I was gone for a week long family vacation and we had no Internet access where we were staying.
So we're right back into the groove pursuing the Lord with fasting and prayer and strengthened commitment to keeping His commandments!
This week I want to highlight Matt 7:12
In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
So if God the father the invisible, unknown, other - than, completely holy and transcendent being came down to give us a heads up on how to live and be more like Him and how to please His heart what would He say? He'd probably quote a lot of Matt 5-7.
The Sermon on the Mt. is Jesus exhorting His followers in Christianity 101. He basically says everything very plain and simple and just lays it all right out for us.
In my walk with the Lord I know the importance of falling in Love with Jesus and keeping His commandments. But i've also learned the importance of having that love manifest outwardly as love to the people who are around me.
I love in Matt 7:12 how Jesus just says it so simply how we should be towards those around us and how our inward Holy Spirit fueled relationship should spill over into our daily personal relationships and interactions with people.
The Law and the Prophets were Gods interaction with His people (the Jews) throughout history exhorting them on how they should be towards Him and each other. Jesus shows up and takes it all to the next level by gives us a huge advantage with increasing revelation and sending His Spirit and laying His life down to boost our success in following His commandments.
This week i've set it into my heart to try and pursue this verse and enlightening way to act towards those around me. Its so simple but if you really sit and think about it its so profound. This is such a huge step in humility, treating others the way i want to be treated. Laying my life down for those around me (John 3:30, John 15:13).
Fasting is such a helpful tool in reaching out and going deeper during these times of pursuit of God. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied! (Matt 5:6) I want to be satisfied after this week of going hard after the reality of Matt 7:12 in my life! God will increase in my life and i will reach deeper into the realities of who He is and how His love effects my life. Lets do this together and seek the Lord this week. If we draw near to Him He will draw near to us!(James 4:8)
Amen.
(if you have any questions on this blog or on fasting please read the profile or the December 18-20 post of 2007 or e-mail me (Drew) at mewithoutdrew@gmail.com)
Monday, February 11, 2008
Feb 12-14
Here is something that’s been on my heart lately.
Matthew 6:14,15
14For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15but if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
In these verses in The Sermon on the Mount Jesus lays it right out for us and tells us the significance of forgiving others when they trespass against us.
So what does it look like when someone trespasses against me? How far should I take this verse?
One answer and a clear boundary is found in Colossians 3:12,13
12So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;
13bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you so also should you.
Its so very important that we as believers invite the Holy Spirit to search our hearts and to bring truth and direction and conviction of sin into our relationships. Our goal is to be free of sin and to be perfect and holy before our Father God. Let us not be found with a complaint against our brothers. Let us forgive those who trespass against us.
This week during the fast I’ll be looking into these verses along with the armor of God in Eph 6. I'd invite you to join along with me and go deep in the word to learn the strength given by God to achieve holiness and confidence while we press on with love for the Son. Let us conform our minds to that of Christ Jesus and by the power of the Spirit move forward day by day fasting and praying and meditation on the beauty of God to become more like Him, to be sons and daughters of our Lord.
Amen.
*For information on this page and this fast please read the profile or look at the Dec 18-20 2007 post. Also you can e-mail me at mewithoutdrew@gmail.com
Matthew 6:14,15
14For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15but if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
In these verses in The Sermon on the Mount Jesus lays it right out for us and tells us the significance of forgiving others when they trespass against us.
So what does it look like when someone trespasses against me? How far should I take this verse?
One answer and a clear boundary is found in Colossians 3:12,13
12So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;
13bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you so also should you.
Its so very important that we as believers invite the Holy Spirit to search our hearts and to bring truth and direction and conviction of sin into our relationships. Our goal is to be free of sin and to be perfect and holy before our Father God. Let us not be found with a complaint against our brothers. Let us forgive those who trespass against us.
This week during the fast I’ll be looking into these verses along with the armor of God in Eph 6. I'd invite you to join along with me and go deep in the word to learn the strength given by God to achieve holiness and confidence while we press on with love for the Son. Let us conform our minds to that of Christ Jesus and by the power of the Spirit move forward day by day fasting and praying and meditation on the beauty of God to become more like Him, to be sons and daughters of our Lord.
Amen.
*For information on this page and this fast please read the profile or look at the Dec 18-20 2007 post. Also you can e-mail me at mewithoutdrew@gmail.com
Monday, February 4, 2008
Feb 4-6
The GBF.
Join with saints around the world fasting and praying for revival and a move of God throughout the earth to usher in the return of Jesus.
http://ihop.org/Group/Group.aspx?id=19844
-Drew
Join with saints around the world fasting and praying for revival and a move of God throughout the earth to usher in the return of Jesus.
http://ihop.org/Group/Group.aspx?id=19844
-Drew
Monday, January 28, 2008
Jan 29-31
All right,
Here we are basically at the one year mark!!!
Praise Jesus!!!!
LETS DO 3o MORE!
Hey, Johnny B (John the Baptist) fasted all the time living out there in the desert forerunning the way for Jesus and well, why can't we?! This is the forerunner generation, so lets get into it. Lets settle in for the long run.
Anyways. This week in the prayer room (http://sanctuaryhop.com/) our director Brian encouraged everyone to take a look at the book of Ephesians and give it a once over this week. That really resonated in my spirit and i feel the Lord has a divine appointment with all who take on the challenge of getting into that specific book of the Bible this week. I personally studied Eph 4-6 for a good 6-8 months and thoroughly enjoyed the revelation the Lord blessed me with.
Lets fast that into our hungry hearts and lets encounter God through the book of Ephesians this week! Let this weeks study enter your prayer language and let it provoke us to hunger and thirst for righteousness. (Matt 5:6)
Here we are basically at the one year mark!!!
Praise Jesus!!!!
LETS DO 3o MORE!
Hey, Johnny B (John the Baptist) fasted all the time living out there in the desert forerunning the way for Jesus and well, why can't we?! This is the forerunner generation, so lets get into it. Lets settle in for the long run.
Anyways. This week in the prayer room (http://sanctuaryhop.com/) our director Brian encouraged everyone to take a look at the book of Ephesians and give it a once over this week. That really resonated in my spirit and i feel the Lord has a divine appointment with all who take on the challenge of getting into that specific book of the Bible this week. I personally studied Eph 4-6 for a good 6-8 months and thoroughly enjoyed the revelation the Lord blessed me with.
Lets fast that into our hungry hearts and lets encounter God through the book of Ephesians this week! Let this weeks study enter your prayer language and let it provoke us to hunger and thirst for righteousness. (Matt 5:6)
Monday, January 21, 2008
The Unity of God - Jan 22-24
Hello everyone!
OK its update time:
This fast has been running for almost a year. We're coming up to our one year anniversary which will take place at the end of this month!!!
It excites me to think of how much God has impacted my heart during these weeks of voluntary weakness that i personally have put before Him as i have fasted every week for the last year.
The TVVT fast team hasn't always been via blog and personal "solo" commitment. We first started at the International House of Prayer and at one point we were 15+ members who met every week to fast and pray and hold eachother to accountibility and confession of sin and a higher level of seeking the Lord together.
My dream is that this fast team will one day transition into the prayer room here in Winnipeg MB. SHOP (http://sanctuaryhop.com/)
That day will come, and this one year mark is just one step closer. The fast has continued even when the initial group dispersed. The fast will continue into a new season because of the spiritual/natural ground that has been cultivated through this blog. Bring it on Jesus!!!!! Amen.
This week i am speaking about The Unity of God at SHOP. Here are my notes for my talk. Its from my own understanding and it is to be taken directed completely about God and about His Unity.
Fasting and prayer can help heighten a fascination of God! He wants to surprise us and fascinate us by His transcendent beauty!! Enjoy Him, love Him, praise Him, worship Him. Say 'Yes' to His divine purpose for your life that is rooted and grounded in His love.
If you have any questions or concerns about this blog please e-mail me at mewithoutdrew@gmail.com or look at the profile or check the Dec 18-20 post of 2007.
-Drew
The Unity of God: A glimpse into the oneness of God with man.
By Drew Gusztak
I. MY OWN PERSONAL CALLING AND GROWTH IN UNITY WITH GOD
A. My dream concerning John 17:21 at IHOP Nov. 3/07
II. GODS UNITY WITH HIMSEFL AND MAN
A. It is clear through scripture that God is a singular being. Genesis 1:1 clearly states that in the beginning there was one being, who before creation, stood alone. This is God the Father as we know Him, meaning He is the Father of all creation and the absolute ruler of heaven and earth. The next character who we are introduced to is the Spirit of God whom appears to be like God and who is God but is a person all His own whom must have been there before/during/after creation as well. The next character who we are introduced to is the Word of God. (Jn 1:1,2) He is the first manifestation of God within His created realm who, according to the rest of the Bible, Is God and was apart of everything that God could have been, meaning He also was there before/during/after creation. (Jn 4:24, 8: 42)
“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (Jn 4:24)
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God… (Jn 42: 46)
B. Throughout the rest of scripture, starting from Gen 1:1, we follow an in-depth story of how God interacts as these three persons with His creation. A very climactic portion of scripture is when God the Father thunders His voice over His Son Jesus, a man, and sends His Spirit to rest on Him. (Matt 3: 16-17, Mk 1: 11-12, Luke 3: 21-22) Here we see all three persons of God interacting with each other in the same place at the same time.
C. Jesus, the living breathing Word of God full of the Holy Spirit, the one sent from God who is God came for one very specific reason and He even chose to look the part for which He came. He came for Humans. The One from the Father, who had the Spirit, who spoke the Words of life who is a man, Jesus. He is the prophetic picture of oneness with God.
D. Not only did Jesus display unity with God He also spoke it into existence and allowed all men to be in unity with the Father. At the end of His ministry Jesus prays to His Father in heaven and seals everything He did by declaring with the Words of life that we would be one just as He and the Father are one. (Jn 17:21, 23)
21that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also maybe be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. (Jn 17:21)
23I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfect in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.(Jn 17:23)
III. GOD IS ONE. HE DESIRES HIS CREATION TO BE JUST LIKE HIM.
A. An aspect of the unity of God comes from the understanding that God is a perfect and holy being who can not have any involvement with sin but that He does have involvement with His creation who is wrapped in sin. The Lord knew sin would enter His creation. He wouldn’t just give up on His creation, its not in His character to do that. So it is Who He Is that He would interact with His creation and with Himself in different ways to deliver His beloved creation and His most beloved creatures in love. Not only does God deal with His creation as a most Holy God seated in heaven completely separated from sin He also interacts with His creation as a loving Spirit dwelling around and within sin/sinful beings and He also interacts as His loving Son who conquered sin, He does this all with perfect unity with Himself.
B. God created man in His own image and likeness. (Gen 1:26) So it wasn’t a surprise to God that Adam was not satisfied being alone in the garden. So God created woman and He proclaimed that man and woman would become one flesh.(Gen 2:24) The same way God was one Spirit with Himself. Once again God revealed Himself through creation allowing man and woman to become a part of what God Himself was.
26Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness… (Gen 1:26)
24...and they shall become one flesh. (Gen 2:24)
C. God desires relationship. He desires partnership and He desires it with Himself and His creation. He desires it for Himself and He desires it/allows it for us His most beloved creation. He desires for us perfect unity in our relationships. He knows that it can only come through Him when we are one with Him and He knows it comes only through love.
VI. GODS LOVE = PERFECT UNITY.
A. God is in love with Himself. (Jn 17:23) All three persons of God are wrapped in a love affair with each other that far surpasses our knowledge or understanding. Gods unity is Gods love. All of Gods motives and actions are based on love. Fist and foremost the ways in which God interacts with Himself within all three persons being rooted in love, but also the way in which He deals with His creation which is also completely established in love.(Jn 3:16) In Ephesians 3 Paul establishes the ultimate relationship between man and God and its basis is in love. All the fullness of God is based in love.(Eph 3:19) Therefore Gods unity is also based in love.
For God so loved… (Jn 3:16)
And to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge that you may be filled with all the fullness of God (Eph 3:16-19)
B. Jesus exhorts Israel and the Church in Mark 12:29-31 establishing oneness of God on the basis of love and the Godheads heart towards their beloved creation.
29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one.
30 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.
31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (NKJV)
C. The Lord is one. All three persons of the Godhead agree on every level of transcendent comprehension. They have also made a way for humans to share in their oneness and it is through the love that God shares with Himself and His creation. God loving Himself is the ultimate solution to any “worldly” problem and it is also the very joy of the holy Godhead. God has 100 percent interaction with all facets of life through the love He shares with Himself. His love effects heaven as He sits on the throne. His love effects earth as His Spirit moves over its surface and His love effects His most precious creation as His Son drives Himself deep into our hearts through His word and His Spirit. Gods will allows Him to have complete control over all heaven and earth, and His love is the means by which His will is accomplished. The unity that He shares within Himself brings together the ultimate gratification of a transcendent holy God who is working in and through His creation to ultimately share Himself in a profound way which causes all heaven and earth to worship and love Him because He is worthy of all honour glory power and praise. (Rev 4:11)
D. Paul’s words to the Colossians sums up our unity with each other though love plainly and simply…
Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. (Col. 3:14)
E. The Lord has invited the body of Christ to join together in love like He has with Himself. His love comes through Christ, who is our way to God. Without Christ we would not know how to love the way God loves. Jesus and the love He gives will guide us to unity, and His love helps us comprehend the unity of God within Himself.
And to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge that you may be filled with all the fullness of God (Eph 3:16-19)
OK its update time:
This fast has been running for almost a year. We're coming up to our one year anniversary which will take place at the end of this month!!!
It excites me to think of how much God has impacted my heart during these weeks of voluntary weakness that i personally have put before Him as i have fasted every week for the last year.
The TVVT fast team hasn't always been via blog and personal "solo" commitment. We first started at the International House of Prayer and at one point we were 15+ members who met every week to fast and pray and hold eachother to accountibility and confession of sin and a higher level of seeking the Lord together.
My dream is that this fast team will one day transition into the prayer room here in Winnipeg MB. SHOP (http://sanctuaryhop.com/)
That day will come, and this one year mark is just one step closer. The fast has continued even when the initial group dispersed. The fast will continue into a new season because of the spiritual/natural ground that has been cultivated through this blog. Bring it on Jesus!!!!! Amen.
This week i am speaking about The Unity of God at SHOP. Here are my notes for my talk. Its from my own understanding and it is to be taken directed completely about God and about His Unity.
Fasting and prayer can help heighten a fascination of God! He wants to surprise us and fascinate us by His transcendent beauty!! Enjoy Him, love Him, praise Him, worship Him. Say 'Yes' to His divine purpose for your life that is rooted and grounded in His love.
If you have any questions or concerns about this blog please e-mail me at mewithoutdrew@gmail.com or look at the profile or check the Dec 18-20 post of 2007.
-Drew
The Unity of God: A glimpse into the oneness of God with man.
By Drew Gusztak
I. MY OWN PERSONAL CALLING AND GROWTH IN UNITY WITH GOD
A. My dream concerning John 17:21 at IHOP Nov. 3/07
II. GODS UNITY WITH HIMSEFL AND MAN
A. It is clear through scripture that God is a singular being. Genesis 1:1 clearly states that in the beginning there was one being, who before creation, stood alone. This is God the Father as we know Him, meaning He is the Father of all creation and the absolute ruler of heaven and earth. The next character who we are introduced to is the Spirit of God whom appears to be like God and who is God but is a person all His own whom must have been there before/during/after creation as well. The next character who we are introduced to is the Word of God. (Jn 1:1,2) He is the first manifestation of God within His created realm who, according to the rest of the Bible, Is God and was apart of everything that God could have been, meaning He also was there before/during/after creation. (Jn 4:24, 8: 42)
“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (Jn 4:24)
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God… (Jn 42: 46)
B. Throughout the rest of scripture, starting from Gen 1:1, we follow an in-depth story of how God interacts as these three persons with His creation. A very climactic portion of scripture is when God the Father thunders His voice over His Son Jesus, a man, and sends His Spirit to rest on Him. (Matt 3: 16-17, Mk 1: 11-12, Luke 3: 21-22) Here we see all three persons of God interacting with each other in the same place at the same time.
C. Jesus, the living breathing Word of God full of the Holy Spirit, the one sent from God who is God came for one very specific reason and He even chose to look the part for which He came. He came for Humans. The One from the Father, who had the Spirit, who spoke the Words of life who is a man, Jesus. He is the prophetic picture of oneness with God.
D. Not only did Jesus display unity with God He also spoke it into existence and allowed all men to be in unity with the Father. At the end of His ministry Jesus prays to His Father in heaven and seals everything He did by declaring with the Words of life that we would be one just as He and the Father are one. (Jn 17:21, 23)
21that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also maybe be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. (Jn 17:21)
23I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfect in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.(Jn 17:23)
III. GOD IS ONE. HE DESIRES HIS CREATION TO BE JUST LIKE HIM.
A. An aspect of the unity of God comes from the understanding that God is a perfect and holy being who can not have any involvement with sin but that He does have involvement with His creation who is wrapped in sin. The Lord knew sin would enter His creation. He wouldn’t just give up on His creation, its not in His character to do that. So it is Who He Is that He would interact with His creation and with Himself in different ways to deliver His beloved creation and His most beloved creatures in love. Not only does God deal with His creation as a most Holy God seated in heaven completely separated from sin He also interacts with His creation as a loving Spirit dwelling around and within sin/sinful beings and He also interacts as His loving Son who conquered sin, He does this all with perfect unity with Himself.
B. God created man in His own image and likeness. (Gen 1:26) So it wasn’t a surprise to God that Adam was not satisfied being alone in the garden. So God created woman and He proclaimed that man and woman would become one flesh.(Gen 2:24) The same way God was one Spirit with Himself. Once again God revealed Himself through creation allowing man and woman to become a part of what God Himself was.
26Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness… (Gen 1:26)
24...and they shall become one flesh. (Gen 2:24)
C. God desires relationship. He desires partnership and He desires it with Himself and His creation. He desires it for Himself and He desires it/allows it for us His most beloved creation. He desires for us perfect unity in our relationships. He knows that it can only come through Him when we are one with Him and He knows it comes only through love.
VI. GODS LOVE = PERFECT UNITY.
A. God is in love with Himself. (Jn 17:23) All three persons of God are wrapped in a love affair with each other that far surpasses our knowledge or understanding. Gods unity is Gods love. All of Gods motives and actions are based on love. Fist and foremost the ways in which God interacts with Himself within all three persons being rooted in love, but also the way in which He deals with His creation which is also completely established in love.(Jn 3:16) In Ephesians 3 Paul establishes the ultimate relationship between man and God and its basis is in love. All the fullness of God is based in love.(Eph 3:19) Therefore Gods unity is also based in love.
For God so loved… (Jn 3:16)
And to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge that you may be filled with all the fullness of God (Eph 3:16-19)
B. Jesus exhorts Israel and the Church in Mark 12:29-31 establishing oneness of God on the basis of love and the Godheads heart towards their beloved creation.
29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one.
30 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.
31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (NKJV)
C. The Lord is one. All three persons of the Godhead agree on every level of transcendent comprehension. They have also made a way for humans to share in their oneness and it is through the love that God shares with Himself and His creation. God loving Himself is the ultimate solution to any “worldly” problem and it is also the very joy of the holy Godhead. God has 100 percent interaction with all facets of life through the love He shares with Himself. His love effects heaven as He sits on the throne. His love effects earth as His Spirit moves over its surface and His love effects His most precious creation as His Son drives Himself deep into our hearts through His word and His Spirit. Gods will allows Him to have complete control over all heaven and earth, and His love is the means by which His will is accomplished. The unity that He shares within Himself brings together the ultimate gratification of a transcendent holy God who is working in and through His creation to ultimately share Himself in a profound way which causes all heaven and earth to worship and love Him because He is worthy of all honour glory power and praise. (Rev 4:11)
D. Paul’s words to the Colossians sums up our unity with each other though love plainly and simply…
Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. (Col. 3:14)
E. The Lord has invited the body of Christ to join together in love like He has with Himself. His love comes through Christ, who is our way to God. Without Christ we would not know how to love the way God loves. Jesus and the love He gives will guide us to unity, and His love helps us comprehend the unity of God within Himself.
And to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge that you may be filled with all the fullness of God (Eph 3:16-19)
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Jan 15-17
Helpful hints...
The Bible is one of our main tools which we can use to dive deeper into the revelation of who God is.
One of the ways in which we can do that, is by taking portions of our favorite scripture and making them part of our every day lives by meditating on them and by speaking them as our prayer language to Him.
Allowing the passages that we read in the Bible to enter our prayer language can be such a helpful tool in our walk with Christ. Ephesians 6 tells us to take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. A believer has to put their mind to the task of taking up the word every day. As we learn more of the Bible by reading it, and as we learn to add it to our prayer language it helps us to take advantage of what we have learned by praying it and speaking it to God and applying it to our every day lives.
Any portion of scripture can be used this way so feel free to go wild with God engaging your heart with whatever area of scripture you are reading. There are many, many benefits to doing this throughout our lives. This is one of the ways in which the Word becomes alive within us and its also one of the ways that it helps to change us. (Jn 17:17)
When we fast we should be vigilant to pray and connect with the Lord. Lets drive hard to solidify portions of the Bible in our daily prayer language to connect with God in a profound way and to learn His heart for our lives.
-Drew
If you have questions or concerns e-mail me at mewithoutdrew@gmail.com
If you are new to this site and wish to have further info on fasting or what this is all about check the profile or the Dec 18-20 2007 post.
The Bible is one of our main tools which we can use to dive deeper into the revelation of who God is.
One of the ways in which we can do that, is by taking portions of our favorite scripture and making them part of our every day lives by meditating on them and by speaking them as our prayer language to Him.
Allowing the passages that we read in the Bible to enter our prayer language can be such a helpful tool in our walk with Christ. Ephesians 6 tells us to take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. A believer has to put their mind to the task of taking up the word every day. As we learn more of the Bible by reading it, and as we learn to add it to our prayer language it helps us to take advantage of what we have learned by praying it and speaking it to God and applying it to our every day lives.
Any portion of scripture can be used this way so feel free to go wild with God engaging your heart with whatever area of scripture you are reading. There are many, many benefits to doing this throughout our lives. This is one of the ways in which the Word becomes alive within us and its also one of the ways that it helps to change us. (Jn 17:17)
When we fast we should be vigilant to pray and connect with the Lord. Lets drive hard to solidify portions of the Bible in our daily prayer language to connect with God in a profound way and to learn His heart for our lives.
-Drew
If you have questions or concerns e-mail me at mewithoutdrew@gmail.com
If you are new to this site and wish to have further info on fasting or what this is all about check the profile or the Dec 18-20 2007 post.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Jan 7-9
Its the GBF!!!! (Global Bridegroom Fast)
Bring it on!
Lets join with saints all over the earth in a 3 day fast to encounter our Bridegroom Jesus Christ in an increased way and touch His heart through prayer to usher in the coming Kingdom of God.
http://ihop.org/Group/Group.aspx?id=19844
God Bless!
-Drew
Bring it on!
Lets join with saints all over the earth in a 3 day fast to encounter our Bridegroom Jesus Christ in an increased way and touch His heart through prayer to usher in the coming Kingdom of God.
http://ihop.org/Group/Group.aspx?id=19844
God Bless!
-Drew
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Jan 1-3
Happy new year everyone!!
What a better way to bring in the new year then with a 3 day fast...
Matt 5:48
48Therefore you (put your name here ___) are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
This is a pretty heavy verse... how can I be prefect? I sin all the time!
Yes we are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked without Jesus.
But He looks at our heart and when we say "Yes!" to Him He sees only the indwelling Holy Spirit within us and the Father sees us covered by the blood of the Lamb and He sees us as perfect. The more we say "Yes!!!" the more He works in us to make us perfect.
So if we are perfect then why don't we act like it?!
This is faith and works in a nutshell.
Lets bring in the new year fasting and praying, believing that Jesus has saved us from all sin and that He is working in us while we have this "Yes!" in our hearts. Let us agree that He says we are prefect and lets act like it. The more I act on the beliefs I have the more the Lord will confirm them in my heart and in my life manifesting Himself through me making me perfect as my heavenly Father is perfect.
Fasting can help strengthen the YES and the faith we need to reach deep into Gods heart. The Holy Spirit will direct us there through this next year of fasting and prayer! The grace we need to achieve this is there!(2Cor 12:9) Lets take hold of what the Lord has for us!(Matt 11:12)
-Drew
If you have any questions or concerns please e-mail me at mewithoutdrew@gmail.com
Also if you are new to this site or wish to have more info on fasting please read the post from Dec 18-20.
What a better way to bring in the new year then with a 3 day fast...
Matt 5:48
48Therefore you (put your name here ___) are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
This is a pretty heavy verse... how can I be prefect? I sin all the time!
Yes we are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked without Jesus.
But He looks at our heart and when we say "Yes!" to Him He sees only the indwelling Holy Spirit within us and the Father sees us covered by the blood of the Lamb and He sees us as perfect. The more we say "Yes!!!" the more He works in us to make us perfect.
So if we are perfect then why don't we act like it?!
This is faith and works in a nutshell.
Lets bring in the new year fasting and praying, believing that Jesus has saved us from all sin and that He is working in us while we have this "Yes!" in our hearts. Let us agree that He says we are prefect and lets act like it. The more I act on the beliefs I have the more the Lord will confirm them in my heart and in my life manifesting Himself through me making me perfect as my heavenly Father is perfect.
Fasting can help strengthen the YES and the faith we need to reach deep into Gods heart. The Holy Spirit will direct us there through this next year of fasting and prayer! The grace we need to achieve this is there!(2Cor 12:9) Lets take hold of what the Lord has for us!(Matt 11:12)
-Drew
If you have any questions or concerns please e-mail me at mewithoutdrew@gmail.com
Also if you are new to this site or wish to have more info on fasting please read the post from Dec 18-20.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
