fasting-empty-plate-14

DON’T FORGET, HE’S THERE

Don’t forget the purpose of this fast (Remember Day 3). What things are you holding on to in prayer during this 21 days? It is also, important to realize that God is with you through the whole thing. There are those times when you might wonder if God even sees anything you are doing … if he hears anything you are praying … if all of this is even having any effect. That’s where this 6th Redemptive name comes into play:

JEHOVAH SHAMMAH – The Lord is there

This name is found in Ezekiel 48:35

35 “The distance all around will be 18,000 cubits“ And the name of the city from that time on will be: The Lord is There

Ezekiel wrote this when he was in exile. At this time there was no Jerusalem and no temple. Ezekiel was looking forward to a time when God was going to near them all the time. In the Jewish mind, when they heard that will be when “the Lord is there”, their minds would have gone to some examples. Like in Genesis 3 where the Adam and Eve walked with God in the garden in the cool of the day. All beauty, nothing disturbed, no sickness or disease. Or when Israel was lead out of Egypt and to the promised land by a cloud in the day and a fire by night. Or maybe when Solomon’s temple filled up with the glory of God presence.

The Great Shepherd King David wrote in Psalm 139:7-12:

7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

Ezekiel was seeing that Jerusalem would someday be restored and the temple rebuilt. But, he was was also seeing that someday God would not rest in a place, but that he would always be there. He would always be present and with us no matter where we were. This is what Jesus did. He provided a way to this new temple. 1 Corinthians 3:16 says:

16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?

You are the temple. You are now holy and consecrated and set aside … His spirit resides in you. Where you are there He is. As a matter of fact, Ephesians 2:19-21 says:

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.

He does see, He does hear and He is moving even when you can’t tell. The Lord is There. So the question is really this:

Q. IN WHAT AREAS DO YOU ALLOW GOD TO BE THERE?

He wants to be everywhere … involved in every aspect of your life. Let Him in.

Happy Fasting!
P. Sean

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