Why (and how) We Fast Together

In 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat and all of Judah were facing a great army that had risen against them. Many other kings would have brashly gone out to war, schemed and made alliances, or fled in fear, but Jehoshaphat does something else entirely. 2 Chronicles 20:3 says, "Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah." He not only sought the LORD's help, he called for all of the people to do the same through a corporate fast. 2 Chronicles 20 continues, "And Judah assembled to seek help from the LORD; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD."

From this OT story we can see that fasting is something God's people do as a means of "seeking help from the LORD". It brings God's people together under this one desire and demonstrates to the Lord our earnest desire for his help. The physical hunger reminds us of our continual dependence on him and of how we have no help apart from him. So fasting is not a way to 'twist God's arm' but to demonstrate our need and sincerity before the God who rules and reigns.

We also see this same pattern in the NT in the local church! In Acts 13 we read the account of how God powerfully used a time of prayer and fasting among the believers in the church to launch the first missionary journey! As Acts 13:2 says, "While they [the church at Antioch] were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." So, out of their earnest worship and fasting, the Lord brought clarity and direction for specific steps they were to take for the future.

Now we (your pastors) know that Lakeside is not facing an army - nor do we believe there is an Apostle among us - but we are at a critical point of decision for our church. As we seek to faithfully steward the growing numbers and navigate future ministry capacity - we feel like Jehoshaphat when he prayed, "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you!" (2 Chron 20:12). We believe our current location will inevitably limit our ministry capacity moving forward, but there are no current options that are available, accessible, or affordable. So, we either need God to provide, or we need clear direction for a different path forward. So, we want to humbly seek the Lord's help in this time, and we believe fasting and prayer is how God has directed His people to join together in earnest prayer for the Lord to work. We are praying that from our time of corporate fasting the Lord would also bring clarity and would show us how we are to bless others far beyond our small church.

To that end, we would love to have all of our able-bodied members join us in prayer and fasting but not out of obligation. Spiritual acts done in obligation, drudgery, or hypocrisy aren't pleasing to God. So, we don't want anyone who is unwilling or can't join us joyfully.

If you are physically unable to go without food for the day, we would encourage you to find another way to join us! Consider fasting for a partial day, or fasting from television, social media, or some other comfort to remind yourself of your dependence on God and focus your heart in earnest prayer to him.

But for those who will be joining together for this corporate time of prayer and fasting. We would recommend fasting from the evening of Nov. 1st (after dinner Saturday night) to the morning of Nov. 3rd (breakfast Monday morning). But the disposition of your heart is far more important than the specific timing and details of the fast. If you are like me, you will feel abnormally hungry at 7 am, you will begin to wonder if a milkshake or smoothy counts as "food", then you will get headaches and feel weak, but that pain is not pointless. It's for a purpose! Let it move you to pray! And plan to join us Sunday at 5pm to pray together!

Think of the hunger as a teacher reminding you that you are completely dependent on God and urging you to desire the Lord's help even more than you desire food for yourself. Take the extra time usually spent on food to pray to the Lord. Here are some specific requests we would urge you to pray together with the rest of the church:

• Lord, would you grant wisdom to your leaders of your church and guide them and direct them in your paths so that Lakeside would thrive and your kingdom would be built.

• Lord, if it is in line with your will, would you provide a space that is visible, affordable, and accessible for our church to gather as one in the near future!

• Lord, would you enable Lakeside to more effectively reach our community and strengthen local churches!

As we walk through this season of uncertainty together, would you join as we say in unity - "Lord, we don't know what to do, but our eyes are on you!"