What to look forward to

On the way to lunch after Church yesterday, I ended up having a conversation with Lyndon while in the car - which i would like to share with anyone that wants to know. So without further ado... "What to look forward to"

Fasting and praying... is a partnership. How did we start talking about this? Prayer aint even what i'm good at - but i've picked up a fire. it's hot! can i pass it to you! this is hotter than hot potato! The reason I am praying like I do is because God sees that I want Him. If i can say that, who is a machine in doing things and will not stop that's got to count for something. I'm doing what I absolutely love doing and that's all I'm doing! When you fast, don't do it for a purpose. Do it because you want Jesus. In Mark 2:18

"Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?"

Firstly, they thought that fasting was a lifestyle, and prayer was a thing that you did. If you think prayer is a "doing" thing then you'll be thinking all the time. "When should I stop praying?" Likewise, if you think fasting is a lifestyle, then you'll start saying to others "Why don't you fast?" you'll look on them in judgment. But fasting is not a lifestyle. Fasting is a doing. When asked this question Jesus replies with saying

19 And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. 20 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.

That is, the reason you fast, is because you want Jesus (the bridegroom) as long as you do this, you're achieving what God has in store.

Praying is a lifestyle rather than what you do. This has alot of good things attached to it, least of all, that if you really struggle praying, then you're achieving what God has in store.

God saw the attitude of the Pharisees in their fasting, and prayer and says "Your fasting is detestable to me for you do not do anything, and your prayers are just vain repititions"

God sees that you want Him. And that you are weak and that you struggle. And even looks at your times of struggle and sees what you don't see and tells you "You did exactly what I wanted you to!" There is a scripture in Matthew which says this:

Matthew 12: 20

20 A bruised reed He will not break,
And smoking flax He will not quench,
Till He sends forth justice to victory;

The last word is victory. Not withstanding, there's 3 words that are important here. break, quench, victory. If i was to take them at face value i'd say - breaking? that means to snap in half, loose the strength. Quench means to douse out the flame, Victory, will that's obvious.

A bruised reed is a picture of being swayed by the wind, is about to fall over. Does not have much strength in itself - swayed by public opinion, can't say no, is quiet, etc...

smoking flax - that is easy enough. When you're starting a fire a smoking flax is something that has only barely caught fire and even the smallest gust of wind will put it out.

"till he sends forth" - reminds me of when he sends his angels forth. So end of the age. It's not talking about meakness, will not say a word. I think the previous verse is just saying he will be silent, he will have his focus completely set on doing this task. And how could you marry this verse up with another in Matthew 11, which says "the kingdom of God is forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it?" that is, if it were talking about being a gentle, nice Jesus that will bend over backwards for people. Did he ever do that?

No Jesus will place his hands over this little fire and see to it that it becomes an Inferno of passion for Him. THat's what i'm talking about!

The littlest motion will be richly rewarded by Jesus when he comes again. Lets turn to Matthew 25

21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

The question is, do you do it for Jesus, or not? Cause God is going to expect more from you:

24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’

Frightening picture - When he comes back, he'll be expecting more of you than when he Left. that is to say - those times that you didn't hear from him, or see him, or think of him. You have to keep things in context. The parables in Matthew 25 are talking about end times - he's talking about the pace set for the ending of the age. When people will still be alive when Jesus comes again - this is talking about our generation.

If you're not doing it for Him, you won't keep up - the pace will be too quick - you'll try and not be able to. You'll pull a muscle and be sidelined. Only those that have a love for Him will keep up and get to the finish line.

What amazes me is, they didn't even know that they were doing it. It says later in the chapter:

37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

So like i said at the beginning, the littlest thing that you did, that will be REWARDED 1000x fold. Then he'll talk to them saying "This is what you did" and you'll reply saying "when did we do that?" which means, it was so inconsequential to what you were doing that you forgot about it. You know how you forget small things? same thing. And you'll also say to people that say "why are you approved and i'm not?" I've only been doing what I see my Father doing - I've done nothing that i've done what i want to do.

I don't want to sound like I have all the answers. I know that in doing a study like this - especially since I am opinionated - i can take scriptures out of context. However I don't think I have. If you want to discuss it - I know there is alot to be careful of when doing studies like this. I just want you to make your mind up about things. Be careful what you say. Don't skip a word. Know what you say. Find all of it.