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How Do You Fast for God?

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In the Christian life, we all grow to know the importance of Bible study, prayer and worship. But fasting? Fasting is often the sword left on the table. And yet it can be a powerful tool for getting yourself out of the way, for advancing your prayer life and for canceling the calls of the flesh. So, what does Christian fasting look like?

Though the Edenic directive was to “subdue the earth” (Gen 1:28), too often we are subdued by it through patterns that have been sold to us as normal. Yet, Jesus didn’t say to His followers “if you fast” but “when” (Mt 6:16-18). Important: Fasting is not transactional. We don’t fast to move God; we fast to move ourselves out of the way. Like prayer and worship, fasting is one of our weapons of spiritual warfare and intercession. As fasting may be unfamiliar to some, here are a few ways to engage.

What to Add During Your Fast

Fasting isn’t only about removing. During your fast, you are encouraged to increase your personal prayer, Bible study and worship. Take time to be in God’s Presence and bare your heart to Him. Our Father delights in your willingness to carve out time to pursue relationship with Him. Heaven is excited about your pursuit and submission. Yielded hearts will be met well in this space.

5 Ways to Fast

Fast from screens, social media, secular music, world news (beginner)

We consume a lot these days, and much of our media diet can be from a world that’s passing away. You may find taking a hiatus from one or more of these sources challenging yet liberating. Use your new-found free time to commune with your Father.

Fast from vices (beginner to intermediate)

Coffee, tea, soda pop, chocolate, processed sugars, carbs, alcohol, tobacco and other substances can become habitual or addictive. More, the physical dependency they create in us strengthens the call of our flesh, opening us to further bondage or illness. (Rom 8:5+)

Daniel fast (beginner to intermediate)

Including fasting from vices, Daniel’s fast (Dan 1:12,16) removed all meat and is largely considered to have been a diet of vegetables. Though eating vegan is a fast for some but a lifestyle for others, this fast can be a fine first step toward preparing your body for entering a water-only fast.

Intermittent fasting (beginner to intermediate)

Intermittent fasting involves widening the gap between meals. For instance, a daily time-restricted intermittent fast may mean you stop eating all foods at 8PM and don’t eat again until 1PM the next day. Intermittent fasting may also include alternating days (fast one day, eat normally the next, fast one day, etc.)

Water fast (one to three days, intermediate)*

Whereas a Daniel fast is selective (removing some foods while allowing others), a water-only fast may be partial (intentionally skipping meals) or complete (no caloric intake at all.)

9 Tips on How to Water Fast

There are many physical and spiritual health benefits to water fasting, however there are a few things to know before jumping into a short water fast:

  1. Flipping the switch; By the end of your first day of water fasting, your body will begin entering a state called ketosis as it moves from burning glucose to burning fat. This is like switching between an electrical wall outlet (AC) to battery power (DC). You will usually have less stamina during a water fast, especially if you go longer than a few days; plan less activity.
  2. Hunger; The first few days of a water fast tend to be the toughest. This is when habitual hunger is at its strongest. Relax; you’re not starving. On an extended fast, real hunger from starvation takes several weeks to set in.
  3. Detox; As the work of constant digestion subsides, your body’s detoxification processes ramp up. Symptoms may include withdrawal headaches, coldness, nausea, fatigue, brain fog, irritability, body odor and bad breath. Get more rest, take breaks, bathe daily and remember the mints and gum.
  4. Water; Depending on your body weight, consider drinking 1½ to 3 liters (a half to full gallon) of water per day. Try to stay within this range. Not enough water can lead to dehydration and too much water can flush too many electrolytes. And, speaking of electrolytes…
  5. Salt; “Water-only” is a misnomer; without consuming trace minerals and salt, your fasting experience will be rough and shortened. DO NOT limit yourself to PURIFIED water during a water fast; it will drain vital electrolytes from your body, making you nauseous, light-headed or worse. Municipal tap water can be noxious due to chlorine, fluoride and other additives. Spring water with salt is better. The human body needs 2-4 grams (about 2 tsps) of salt each day. Normally, we get enough salt through our food, but during a water fast, you need to supplement. (Recommendation: Add Himalayan pink salt for the additional trace minerals.)
  6. Energy; Expect to have reduced energy during your fast (maybe 60-80% your normal levels.) Days two and three can be the hardest days, as your body is still switching over to battery power and you may be battling habitual hunger. Usually this switch-over process completes by day four and you start feeling better. Take time to lay down when you begin feeling fatigued.
  7. Heartburn; You would think heartburn wouldn’t happen during a fast because you’re not eating anything. Alas, the smells, and sometimes even the thought of food, may trigger stomach acid production and usher in heartburn.
  8. Commit; If you’re in a multi-day water-only fast, don’t consume calories again until you break your fast. Introducing random calories can create a glucose rollercoaster, undermine your ketonic stasis, kickstart hunger and potentially damage organs like the liver and kidneys.
  9. Breaking your water fast (refeeding); If you water fast for more than a couple days, you will want to break your fast gently. A good rule is to break the fast for the same duration as your actual fast. For example, if you water fasted for three days, you take three days to break your fast; if you fasted for 14 days, you take 14 more days to break your fast, etc. For breaking a three-day water-only fast, the danger of damage from poor refeeding isn’t high; you’ll probably survive even if that slice of pepperoni pizza makes you sick. Binging after weeks of not eating is fairly guaranteed to kill you, however. Refeeding after a three-day water fast may look like:
    • Day 1: Soups and juices
    • Day 2: Soft veggies and fruits
    • Day 3: Full vegan plus fish
    • Day 4: Back to normal eating

(*Warning: Some folks should not water fast without medical supervision, such as those with gout, diabetes (types 1 and 2) or eating disorders. Children and pregnant women should not water fast. Consult your doctor if you have concerns.)

Hopefully, these ideas have gotten you thinking about how you might approach your next (your first?) fast. Yes, of course you can fast longer than three days (or three weeks) but if you’re just starting out with fasting, hopefully these tips have helped you understand what you might experience during your fasting journey.

What Does It Mean to Have a Consecrated Life?

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In Exodus 19:10-11, the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow and let them wash their garments; and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. The Hebrew word for consecrate is qadash and it means to set apart as holy. Yahweh wanted the people to be prepared for the perfect justice of God as represented by His Law by setting themselves apart. This would allow them to draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:22). It means the believer can approach the Lord on His terms.

“Cry loudly, do not hold back; raise your voice like a trumpet, and declare to My people their transgression and to the house of Jacob their sins. “Yet they seek Me day by day and delight to know My ways, as a nation that has done righteousness and has not forsaken the ordinance of their God. They ask Me for just decisions, they delight in the nearness of God. ‘Why have we fasted, and You do not see? Why have we humbled ourselves [anah – denied ourselves] and You do not notice?’ Behold, on the day of your fast you find your desire and drive hard all your workers. “Behold, you fast for contention and strife and to strike with a wicked fist. You do not fast like you do today to make your voice heard on high. “Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble [anah – deny] himself? Is it for bowing one’s head like a reed and for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed? Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the Lord? “Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke [motah – forces that oppress God’s people], and to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke? “Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him; and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? “Then your light will break out like the dawn, and your recovery will speedily spring forth; and your righteousness will go before you; the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. “Then you will call [qara – summon], and the Lord will answer; you will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, And if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will become like midday. “And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail. “Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will raise up the age-old foundations; and you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets in which to dwell. (Isaiah 58:1-12)

The Truth About Fasting

Isaiah 58 addresses the principle of fasting (Hebrew sum, to “cover” the mouth; Greek nesteuo, to “abstain”) and the lamentation of the people that they were faithful in fasting and other religious duties and God was not acknowledging or responding to their cries. It is interesting to note that fasting was not a religious requirement of the Law of Moses but introduced after the return from captivity. The only reference to the principle from Mt. Sinai is found in Leviticus 23:27 in relation to the Day of Atonement when it says you shall humble your souls [anah – deny yourselves] and present an offering by fire to the Lord. This word is repeated in the above passage as the people boast of their religious works and self-denial so that the Lord will answer their petitions. In the process, the Lord was exposing their unrighteousness, as verse 4 highlights, you fast for contention and strife and to strike with a wicked fist. God was revealing to them that their religious activities would be worthless apart from an interest in caring for others. James 1:27 says it this way, Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

This principle was communicated to the people by other prophets, as well. In Micah 6:6-8,

With what shall I come to the Lord and bow myself before the God on high? Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings, with yearling calves? Does the Lord take delight in thousands of rams, in ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice [bring justice to those who have experienced injustice], to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Weightier Provisions

These verses tell us that religious activity is no substitute for the believer’s interest in caring for others’ needs and having a walk before God, with humility. Jesus exposed this same issue to the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23:23 when He said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.” The prophet Isaiah highlighted the matter in Isaiah 29:13 when the Lord said, “Because this people draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service, but they remove their hearts far from Me, and their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote.” The issues that separate the believer from His God are always a matter of the heart.

So much of church activity today is preoccupied with religious activities (i.e., fasting) and other programs that are intended to bring the believer closer to God, but Scripture says it will not produce the expected results apart from a full heart commitment, a consecrated life. Isaiah 58:6, above, addresses the principle of yokes that bind the people into wickedness, forces that oppress God’s people. The solution is found in Verse 7, dividing your bread with the hungry and inviting the homeless into the house, etc. The promise is that your righteousness will go before you; the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard (Verse 8). As a result, the Lord will say, Here I am.

Belonging to the Lord

The consecrated life recognizes that he is no longer his own, he was bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) and that his life now belongs to the Lord. It means that he is available to be used by God for any purpose, especially when others’ needs become apparent. Isaiah characterizes this life in relation to the Jew’s attitude toward the Sabbath in Isaiah 58:13-14,

“If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot from doing your own pleasure on My holy day, and call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable, and honor it,  desisting from your own ways, from seeking your own pleasure and speaking your own word, Then you will take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; and I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

When we treat each day as the Jews recognize the Sabbath, as holy unto the Lord, we embrace the consecrated life. The governing attitude is the turning of the foot (i.e., walk) from doing one’s own pleasures, desisting from your own ways, from seeking your own pleasure. According to Exodus 31:13, when the Jew honors the Lord by observing the Sabbath, the Lord is sanctifying him, making him ride on the heights of the earth. This means that when he gives himself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will become like midday (Isaiah 58:10). It reminds me of a quote by a famous Jewish Rabbi:

Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, the first Chief Rabbi of Israel and one of the most influential rabbis of the 20th century. Rabbi Kook wrote, “Every person is required to know that there is a candle burning inside of him, and his light isn’t like anyone else’s light, and there is no one who doesn’t possess a light. Every single person is required to understand that it is his obligation to work on revealing his light, and to make it into a great torch, shedding light on the whole world.”

A Watered Garden

The Lord also promised that a consecrated life is one that receives His guidance and is satisfied in scorched places; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail (Isaiah 58:12). Jeremiah 17:7-8 tells us that the one who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord, “For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.” The consecrated life is an acknowledgment of the Lord’s commitment to the believer and is evidenced by fruitfulness and a life filled with His riches.

34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38 And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39 When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ (Matthew 25:34-40)

Silent Retreats: Be Still and Know I AM

Maybe you know the feeling. The days are too short and the demand for your time is overwhelming. You rush from one thing to the next and often fall into bed at the end of your waking hours, exhausted.

Even when you spend time with God, the next thing on your list is hovering in the background. We struggle to switch off and connect with the One who created us.

Enter the silent retreat: A quiet place to shut away the world, for an hour or a day, and spend time in the presence of God.

What is a silent retreat?

It may seem obvious you’re required to be silent during a silent retreat, but a few more details might be helpful.

Your silent retreat may be many things. While some silent retreats are really only about not speaking, others may include guided meditation. As retreats go, there are short retreats and long retreats. Virtual retreats can be done online, from the comfort of your own home, or you can go away to a camp or retreat center. Some retreats are strict, and others, less so. Some retreats might provide worship, teaching, small group discussion, prayer support and godly counsel.

More than just being silent, a silent retreat is an opportunity to reflect, find rest in God and process what you are thinking calmly and productively. It takes you away from the stresses and the busyness of everyday living.

The idea behind a silent retreat is to channel your attention toward inner and upper contemplation. A silent retreat pushes back the world and creates intentional time with you and your Father. You will emerge physically and spiritually refreshed.

Should I take a silent retreat?

Yes, definitely. You may want to consider a silent retreat if you have been spiritually weary. Perhaps you’re feeling empty-hearted and there is a yearning in you for something more. We have an infinite Father; there is always more.

It may be the Lord prompting you, inviting you to come closer and to rest in His presence. Even Jesus often went away to pray in solitude. When was the last time you took time for just the two of you?

A typical silent retreat day

A whole day in silence may seem like a long time if you are not used to being still before God. It’s recommended you create plan to give rhythm to your time of solitude. This retreat by Levaire may be done across seven hours, one hour per lesson. You may choose to do those seven hours in a single day or you may opt to do one hour per day for a week.

An extended silent retreat can entail typical ordinary things such as sleeping, bathing or eating. These mundane activities can be enjoyed anew when you’re walking in God’s presence. You can experience the familiar in new ways.

However, don’t be afraid to let God lead you into new experiences. Perhaps you’ve never just sat and looked at a flower. Maybe you’ve never prayed aloud. If you have never walked with God through a forest, why not add that to your day? You may get up at dawn or stay awake long into the night. Be creative in planning your silent retreat, but also be open to go where God wants to take you. Let your focus be simply to be with Him.

Here are some additional elements you could add to your silent retreat:

  • Exercise
  • Reading the Bible
  • Private prayer
  • Private worship
  • Take communion
  • Taking a nap (no, really)
  • Fasting
  • Journaling
  • Write gratitude notes
  • Spend time in nature and soak in God’s creation
  • Just sit still and lift your heart to Him

Cancelling Public Enemy #1: “I don’t have time”

When you feel there is no time to get close to God, it is probably the time you most need to connect with Him. Practicing silence and solitude helps you slow down and connect with the One who is your only source.

A silent retreat is not about being alone. It is about getting alone with Him. We get away from the world to draw nearer to God. A silent retreat is a planned, but loosely guided time for you to recover from your busy season, reconnect with joy, forgive, let go or grow deeper in your relationship with God.

Whether you want to plan your own silent retreat or go to an organized one, tell a trusted friend about it. Such a person can pray for you during your time of solitude, which can be a blessing in itself.

So, why not get clear of the world for a few hours with a silent retreat? God has treasures in store for you.

Take this free silent retreat…

20 Bible Study Tips: How to Read the Bible

In church, we’re taught to read the Bible but not how to read the Bible. It seems daunting, but reading and understanding the Bible is an essential part of Christianity. New believers and lifelong learners alike can struggle when it comes to being consistent and understanding God’s word.

I was introduced to the Bible as a child, but never read or studied it until attending a Christian high school. Even then, I remember struggling with the terms and style of writing that’s used. Some stories stuck, many didn’t.

For years I was intimidated by the Bible, even overwhelmed. It just didn’t make sense to me! If you’re there, keep reading. Even if faith has been a part of your life for a long time, there’s always room to improve your Bible study habits.

1. Get the right translation

Very few people will actually prefer the King James version over others. It’s the most difficult to read and doesn’t make as much sense to today’s modern English speakers. Many churches use the NIV, which is a well-respected translation. The ESV is often referred to as one of the most accurate translations.

Check out Bible.com where there’s many different translations of the same verses and get a feel for which you prefer. There are dozens of translations, so find the one that helps you learn the best.

2. Write in your Bible

Are you sure? Yes, you heard me. Don’t be afraid to highlight or take notes in your Bible. Mark the passages that are important to you, and it will be easier to find what you need when you come back to it later on.

3. Start small

Some people like to start from the start and begin by reading the Bible right from Genesis. If that works for you, great. But for many, that’s a daunting task. Start with reading one chapter a day and once that becomes a habit, you can up your game.

4. Schedule Bible study

Consistency is key here. When it’s planned, you do it. When it’s a wish, it doesn’t happen. Schedule time on a consistent basis to read and study the Bible. Make it the same time each day so you develop a routine, and pair it with events that trigger your brain into remembering. For example, open your Bible with breakfast each day.

5. Pray first

Ask God for focus and understanding while you read your Bible. Use this time to build your relationship with the Lord. Open your heart to the Lord and ask to see and hear his message. It makes a difference.

6. Forgive yourself

The Bible doesn’t say “Thou shalt read one chapter each day.” Some days you may only read a verse, and others you may miss altogether. Don’t fret, be easy on yourself. It’s a difficult journey, and to succeed in the long haul you’ll need to be forgiving of yourself.

7. Write scripture

Everyone’s heard that writing things down helps you remember. Make it a habit to find one verse each day that you like and to write it down, whether on a notebook, journal, or whiteboard. Keep a log for this purpose because someday you’ll be able to look back at what you were thinking about during those times. It’s a record of your walk with God.

8. Choose a book

Certain books, like Philippians and the Gospels are easier to read, especially for beginners. Many of these verses are powerful and meaningful. Some also say the New Testament is easier to read than the Old Testament. Try it out for yourself and see what works for you.

A big mistake that beginners often make is opening the Bible and just starting to read. While this is great, having a solid plan of action will help you to be consistent and succeed with your Bible study in the long term. Bible study is rewarding, so create your plan today and get started on your journey of becoming closer to God.

9. Read the full context

It seems pretty simple to find a verse that sounds good to you, but in order to truly understand the Bible, read the surrounding chapters and verses to find out the whole story. Invest time into finding the author, who it was written to, and why it was written. Only then can you obtain the full understanding of what’s being talked about.

It’s common to see verses online and on social media taken out of context. The Bible is much more than reading a singular verse, and the full picture must be grasped in order to truly have the real meaning of a passage.

10. Have a teachable spirit

One thing I know for sure is just how much I don’t know. There are many things in the Bible we wrestle with. Concepts, truths, theology- it’s hard. Sometimes we just want to understand a basic truth! Dig and ask questions, but remember that we can’t and won’t understand it all. Keep asking the hard questions and don’t quit!

11. Allow God to speak

The Bible is not about, “what’s in it for me?” Read to understand, not to check off a list. The Word truly comes alive once you begin to soak in what you read. As you spend time in the Word daily, God begins to reveal more and more to you.

12. Choose a character to get to know

Find someone in the Bible and get to understand everything about them. This is a fun way to read the Bible while diving into someone’s life. It’s almost like watching a movie about that character. Ask questions like, how do they know Jesus? What’s their relationship like? What do I have in common with them? And, what can be learned from their life?

13. When you learn, write it down

We forget 80% of the things we read and hear, so use a notebook or journal to write down important insights you gain throughout your readings. When we show respect toward the things we learn, God is willing to share more. Keeping a journal of your learnings also makes it easy to go back weeks, months, or years down the road and remember key points that were important to you.

14. Listen to it

Who says we have to read the Bible? Listening to it can be a good change of pace and can offer up a different perspective. Plus, it’s easy to listen while you drive, cook, or tidy up around your home. Some podcasts and websites will even break down passages for you and explain it to you in terms easier to understand.

15. Share it with someone else

Those around us can enhance our study. Read an interesting story? Share it with a friend or family member. When you share what you read out loud, you’re more likely to remember it and it opens up discussion to deepen your connection with Christ.

16. If you don’t understand it, look it up

Let’s face it; you’re not going to understand everything you read. There will be terms that don’t make sense to you and terms that are tough to fully understand. Don’t hesitate to hop on Google and search a word or phrase. Thousands of others have probably asked the same question and there’s an abundance of resources out there to help you gain understanding of the Word of God.

17. Pause and listen

It’s great that you’re seeking out the word of God, but just as important is to slow down and listen. When we quiet our minds and meditate after reading the Bible, God can better work to enlighten us through the Holy Spirit.

Like how you prayed before reading the Bible, pray after as well. Ask God for understanding and the ability to remember what you read. Ask Him to clear up anything that’s still confusing to you and to provide you with the strength to continue on your journey of becoming closer to God.

18. Study with others

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” — Proverbs 27:17

For some, sticking to a new habit may be difficult without help. However, if we dedicate times to study with someone else or with a study group, we now have accountability. The major benefit of studying with others is the addition of new perspectives. Stuck on a verse or not understanding a story? It might make perfect sense to someone else, and they’d be happy to share their thoughts on the subject.

19. Seek guidance

While some questions can be Googled, sometimes it’s best to reach out to your Pastor, priest, or Bible study teacher. These individuals have wisdom from years of Biblical study and have a much more mature understanding of what you’re reading.

20. Stay positive

Learning the Bible is a lifelong journey. God is pleased with effort to learn His words, regardless of how clear your understanding is. With time and consistency, you will begin to understand deeper and God will show us more of His kingdom.


Bryson Bernarde is the author for Keep God in Life, a blog focused on providing helpful life tools to Christians to give them the strength, hope, and motivation to stick with Christ. As a lifelong entrepreneur who’s made it all and lost it all, Bryson pulls from his experience in struggles and hardship, understanding what it’s like to go from the very top to the bottom, quickly. This ignited his newfound focus on helping others to not lose faith as they climb to get to where they want to be in life.

Love Does | Session 7 of a Self-Guided Christian Meditation | Deeper Still

This is the final session of a seven-part self-guided Christian mediation used for personal retreats. We recommend this devotional series be performed over the length of seven hours (for a one-day retreat) or one devotional per hour over seven days as a week-long practice. The complete devotional series, with supporting scriptures, can be found at https://levaire.com/retreat.


God’s love is supernatural. His love through us changes even the most challenging relationships in our lives.

If only life was simple. Unfortunately, it’s often not, and we may find ourselves confronted with difficult or even painful situations.

The saying “What would Jesus do?” originated in the late 19th century when Charles M. Sheldon wrote the novel In His Steps. The book’s popularity surged in the late 1990s as part of a Christian youth movement. Sheldon’s story revolves around a town where people begin asking themselves, “What would Jesus do?” before making decisions, and the practice leads them into kingdom transformation. This slogan has since become a moral and ethical guide, encouraging believers to consider Jesus’ example and teachings when faced with hard situations.

Now, even though we ask this question, it doesn’t mean the answers come easily. However, there is one common response that may help. In answer to “What would Jesus do?” consider the answer, “He will love first.” Jesus rewrote the definition of love.

Our Lord did not idly stand by and let the world suffer. In the words of John 1, verse 12, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…”

Isn’t this the essence of Christianity? Jesus leads us into our Father’s love.

Allow Jesus to love through you.

In many of life’s situations, it seems impossible to love. Often, we don’t even want to love, and even if we did, we may not know how. We could easily say, “I am not Jesus! God cannot expect me to love like He did!”

Or can He?

He can, and He does. In fact, Jesus commanded us to love one another. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34)

In Luke 6:27, Jesus also said we must love even our enemies and do good to those who hate us. Does this sound impossible? It is. This kind of love does not come naturally. It is not of this world. This kind of love only comes through God.

The only hope we have of demonstrating this love is through faith. We can only love this way if we have surrendered our lives to Jesus—the One who is love. He loves through us.

How to love others through faith.

  • Remember what Jesus did for you. He first loved you, even when you did not deserve that love. (1 John 4:19)
  • Know you aren’t enough. Apart from Him, our love will always fail. This is why God gave us the Holy Spirit, and it is the Holy Spirit that loves through us. (Romans 5:5)
  • Yield troubled relationships to Him. Ask Jesus to heal the hurt and any emotional scarring you carry. He offers you total freedom through forgiveness.
  • Trust He will show you the way. He will give you the words and actions to demonstrate His love. And finally,
  • Choose love. Depend on the Holy Spirit to help you bless others when pain and frustrations arise from difficult relationships in your life.

Grow in love.

As you intentionally lean into loving others through faith, your heart will change. Our Father’s love does this. God is always faithful. He will teach you how to let Jesus love through you, even when it’s uncomfortable.

This kind of love is only possible because Jesus loved us first, and through our belief in Him, He gives us “the right to become children of God.”

“The love of God was made manifest among us,
that God sent His only Son into the world,
so that we might live through Him.” (1 John 4:9)

Who is the Man of Lawlessness, that Son of Perdition?

Who is the man of lawlessness of 2 Thessalonians 2? And who is his restrainer? The man of sin, that son of perdition, often finds himself in an Antichrist mashup, used to color a shadowy world leader who is said to rise and take over the world in the last days.

In this lesson, we’ll take a closer look at the man of sin and identify a few candidates.

TAKE-AWAYS FROM THIS LESSON

  • Establish the timing for the fulfillment of this prophecy
  • Review the four different views on the son of perdition
  • Become familiar with Josephus’ picture of life during the Great Revolt of Judea
  • Answer the question, “Who is the man of lawlessness?”

Touted as one of the toughest passages in the New Testament, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 has defied theologians ever since the early days of the Church. In his City of God, completed by 426 AD, early Church father Augustine of Hippo writes of the general confusion surrounding this passage and its harrowing imagery of the Antichrist.

Who is the Man of Lawlessness (Son of Perdition)?

The only place we see the “man of lawlessness” title in Scripture is in 2 Thessalonians 2. Writing in the early 50’s AD, Paul shifts from discussing Christ’s return on the last day (sometimes called Judgment Day, 2 Thessalonians 1:5-12) and now addresses a more immediate concern for the young church in Thessalonica. Time is running out: 20 years have passed since Jesus sat upon the Mount of Olives and predicted a time of terrible tribulation.

For the full lesson transcript, go to https://prophecycourse.org/session/more/man-of-sin/

Prophecy Course Bible study