Fasting and Praying (2)

Read: Isaiah 58

The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58: 11

         Today I will explain the Isaiah 58 whole chapter. Sorry for absent yesterday, I was travelling back from Arusha to Morogoro. I was so tired to write one topic. I hope that you will forgive me. I am going to write one devotion daily, I hope that I promise you in God. And I hope that here will not too many accidents, so that I will not excuse at all. Thank you for your patience in Jesus! I am grateful and appreciated and thanks again!

(1) Fasting & Praying day, but you are doing evil

      (verse 3-4)

       "Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. you cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be hears on high."  (V 3-4)In fact, they were fasting and praying, but they were doing evil things to others. They asked God that why they were fasting and praying, God did not answer their requirements.

(2) Fasting & praying are free from any yoke. (V6)

       " Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?" It is a purpose for fasting and praying to God. We shall do this way as God hopes.

(3) God has compassion and mercy. (V 7)

       "Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter - when you see the naked, to clothe him. and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?" God wants to his children who have the right fasting and praying which are showing their compassion and mercy for the poor wanderer with food, shelter... etc. If you can not do in the less brother or sister, you are not doing in me (God), you are a goat, not a sheep.

(4) God's healing and guiding. (V 8, 10a)

       "Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you. and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard." and "The Lord will guide you always." How wonderful our God. He will bring healing and he will guide your as right path, he will walk in front of you, you just need to follow his steps. He is also rear guard, he makes sure, no one will attack you from behind. We thank God for those good protection and quideness.

(5) He answers your prayer.

       " Then you will call and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say; here am I." "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk..." God likes to answer our prayer, even we have not spoken out, but he knew. He wants to bless us with all our needs. But he will say; " Here am I." If we need him. but we have stopped sin against our Lord, Jesus. You can not sin over and over, there are no sacrifice for sin left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. (Hebrews 10: 26-31)

(6) Feed hunger and clothe naked.

     ".... and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday." We are the presenters from God to feed hunger with food, thirsty with water, and the clothes for the naked people. We are doing for the Lord!

(7) God will be feeding well in your body, sould and

       spirit.

       "... he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." We are well feeding, we are not never thirsty and hungry again as verse says. Then Psalm 1: 2-3 said, "But his delight is in the law of the Lord (Word of God), and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of wather, whcih yields it fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. whatever he does prospers."  God has promised us to live in the word of God with meditates day and night. He will feed us well in the body (health), soul (right thought) and spirit (fruit of spirit and gifts of spirit within us).

(8) We are Restorner,  Rebuilder and Repairer for

        the Kingdom of  God.

      "Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorner of Streets with Dwelling."  God has called us as "Repairer of Broken walls, Restorner of streets with Dwelling."

       Are you blessing by God today? I am so blessed by his words which are growing in me daily. I hope that you are also. See you tomorrow!

Fepairer of broken walls and true fasting and praying for the needs of this world, and according His purpose in me!

In the Name of Jesus, we pray! Amen!

Author: Rev. Rebecca Sun

Fasting and Praying (1)

Read: Isaiah 58

Is not this kind of fasting I have chosen; to loose the chain of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?

         Many people have had fasting and praying to the Lord for their own benefit, but not the Kingdom of God. They used fasting and praying with suffering of body to achieve the goal their desires as a Pharisee.

I list the fasting & praying methods:

1. Objective fasting and praying - clarify or   

     specific. It is for leadership, or elder, or home

     church will multiply, or new home leadership for

     home group, or the burden in your heart to God

      for this person, or nation of Guatemala or 

     Tanzania or India for reviving; or help for your

     own needs or others, or financial supply.

2.  Prepare yourself  in the Holy Spirit, repentance

       for your own sin; or restore the land for God's

      help.

3.  Prepare yourself  for what king of food we eat.  

      (Thinking of the Lord) Daniel and his three

       friends did vegetable and water fasting and

       praying. On of my SOFM (School of Frontier

      Mission) classmates used no meat fasting, only

      eating vegetable for one week. God does not care

      which way you eat, he cares your heart firstly.

4. What kinds of  fasting and praying - No food,

     water (total fasting or dry fasting);  just water

     (best fasting); or water, juice and light soup; or

     vegetable fasting as before points. (Seek to the

     Lord).

5. You have limit physical activity - more rest, not

     over excises, or must to learn how to rest.

6.  Asking your doctor before you starting - if you

      are in medication, you are better keep

      medication and do fasting next time. Or you stop

      medication with faith and do the fasting.

7.  You use all time you can to seek the face of the

      Lord. Raising a heart what does God want you

      to pray. (Personal praying lists are between you

      and God.

God looks into your heart, not what kinds of fasting and praying you do!

Author: Rev. Rebecca Sun

Heavenly Father knows BEST

Read: 2 Samuel 16:5-12; 1 Kings 2: 8-9; 36-44, 46

... let him (Shimei) curse, for the Lord has told him too. It may be that the Lord will see my distress and repay me with good for the cursing I am receiving today.

2 Samuel 16: 11b, 12

          When King David ran away his son Absalom. And than he met Shimei who was from the same clan as Saul's family at Bahurim. (2 Samuel 16: 5)  After he pelted David and all the king's officials with stone. (verse 6) He curses David and said, "Get out, get out, you man of blood, you scoundrel! The Lord has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The Lord has handed the kingdom over to you son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a man of blood." (verses 7-8)

        Then David acted differently, and he said to Abishai and all his officials, "My son, who is of my own flesh, is trying to take my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. It may be that the Lord will see my distress and repay me with good for the cursing I am receiving today." Wow! David was definitely following God the wholeheartedly.

         Many year later, David gave his son Solomon last words. In 1 Kings 2: 8- 9 said, David  mentioned Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me that day I went to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord; I will not put him to death by the sword. But now, do not consider him innocent. (Shimei was a guilty man) You are a man of wisdom; you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood." Ah! David told his son Solomon that you dealt with this guilty man with your wisdom.

          In 1 Kings 2: 36-44 talked Solomon's wisdom to deal with Shimei, the king Solomon sent for him and said to him, "build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there, but do not go anywhere else. The day you leave and cross the Kidron Valley, you can be sure you will die; your blood will be your own head." (verses 36-37) and in verse 38, Shimei answered the king, "What you say is good. Your servant will do as my lord the king has said." And Shimei stayed in Jerusalem for a long time.

         After three years, two of Shimei's slaves ran off to Achish son of Maacah, king of Gath, and he went out and found his slaves. He has forgiven king Solomon's words. Then king Solomon said to Shimei, why did you not keep your oath to the Lord and obey the command I gave you? (verse 43) and the king also said to Shimei, "You know in your heart all the wrong your did to my father David. Now the Lord will repay you for your wrongdoing. (verse 44)  Then verse 46, the king gave the order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck Shimei down and killed him.

         This story is very interesting for me, I have seen one coin in two view: David and Shimei. Later it has come out Solomon and Shimei. The king David did not deal with Shimei that time, he even stopped his followers to stick Shimei down. After David asked his son Solomon to deal to him with wisdom. God did repay what Shimei had done for coursing David. Because our heavenly Father knows BEST.

Focus on Father, not our suffering with coursing words from others. But He knows BEST and He will deal it with His Power and Wisdom.

Author: Rev. Rebecca Sun

Rich in God!

Read: Proverbs 30: 8-9; 1 Corinthians 9: 9; Psalm 112: 9; Malachi 3: 10-12; Philippians 4: 10, 12-13;  Galatians 6: 9-10

Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I amy have too much and disown you and say, "Who is the Lord?" Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

Proverbs 30: 8-9

      Many legalisms say that we can not be rich for the good life, we need to suffer for our poor. I do not believe them. Because we got a good Father who provides my need, according of his rich glory. Not because I am doing, but God himself gives me daily  grace, so that I can neither be very rich, nor very poor. But I want to have enough money to travel or eaten a good food. God does not mind to bless me with all good things.

       Many years ago, I wanted to buy laptop computer. I looked around shops at Ba Der Road. It was so expensive for me, I could not afford. I went to computer show and I was looking around for laptop, I saw it which is named Asus with the white leather, 160 GB HDD and 1.5GB RAM, it was small within 1.30 Kgs. I said to God, "I love it!" God answered me clearly, "why you do not believe that I will give this laptop." I said to the Lord, "It is so expensive, I cannot afford!" God spoke that day, "I will give you best laptop." I was so doubted and said, "Really?" That time, I got many red envelopes from my father and step-mother. I had preached more than 20 Churches and fellowships. Then I discovered that I got some money in my bank account, it added red envelopes' money and speaker's transportation fees. It was more than enough to pay this expensive Asus laptop that God has promised me, "He will give me this one!"

        I have never asked God to give me as a lotus winner. But I have always more than enough. Because I like  to give to God, more than a tenth, and I love to help others with gifts or money. God has paid me back with the supper laptop, the nice speaker's set, HP 3 in one photo smart and ipod with 60 GB...etc. I am a missionary in Africa, but I am a rich single Pastor, not poor. Because I got the good Heavenly Father and a nice earth father. If I pray to Heavenly Father for my needs, my earth father will give me money for my needs. It is great to believe and trust God for all your needs.

       I also believe that I help others, God will reward me back, not all time, but sometimes. I list all scripture verses, please you may read all and proclaim God will provide my need, in according His glory and rich.

I am head, not tail. I am rich, not poor in the Name of Jesus!  Amen!

Author: Rev. Rebecca Sun

God Heals Broken Heart (7)

African children with Hope

Read: Psalm 42: 3, 5, 11; 1 Kings 19:1-10

Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Psalm 42: 5, 11

       Psalm 42 author is the Sons of Korah. If you knew the Biblical history, Korah had rebelled God and God made the earth swallow them and that generation. Their lives were horrible for God's punishment. But the sons of Korah knew that they were doing wrong, they were "as the deer pants for streams of water, so my would pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?" Wow! It is very sad and hopeless.

(13) Where is God? Put your hope in God.

        Then verse 3 said, "My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, 'where is your God?' " They have no way to be out, but they turn to God for help. Their situation is very bad, but they cried out to their living God no matter what the men laughed at them.

        Verses 5 and 11 same writing for twice and said, "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me. Put your hope in God for I will yet praise him, my savior and my God. My soul is downcast within me, therefore I will remember you from the land of Jordan, the heights of Hermon - from Mount Mizar." The sons of Korah told themselves that cheer up their souls, and told to themselves over and over that I will put my hope in God and I will yet praise him, because you are my savior and my God. They need to find their hope in God by remember what God has done from the past, now and towards future. Count your blessing! Not your trouble!

(14) Feeling of despair in God, there is hope for you.

          When you read 1 Kings 19: 1-10 God brought Elijah out of his depression. God strengthened Elijah with  food and sleep, listened to his complaint, gently corrected him by reassuring him in a still Small voice (he gentle whispered) and gave him the new works to do. (verses 11-18)

          Remember God in all the situation and count your blessing one by one, you will discover that God has blessed you so much. Why do you complain with God?

Look up and there are my help come from!

(Psalm 121: 1)

Author: Rev. Rebecca Sun



God Heals Broken Heart (6)

Read: Isaiah 53:10; Hebrews 12: 5-7, 10-11; Psalm 147: 3, 34:18; Proverbs 17:22; Psalm 77: 4, 6:6-7; Matthew 11:28-29

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147: 3

       God disciplines us through our suffering or trouble in that situation, we can learn something. We can grow our live in the Word of God. We face all the problem, we seem to find people for help, instead find God for help. It is thinking wrong. You may be thinking that God is so big, it is too small for God. God loves us to pray for our need for the small things, because He closes the brokenhearted people and then He heals them. It is our God for a small or big things, he answers all our prayer.

(10)  God's will for suffering of Jesus and for us

          In book of Isaiah 53: 10 said, "Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him (Jesus) and cause him to suffer." If  the Son Jesus has suffered to learn obedience (Hebrews 5: 7b), we should have learned from Him too.

         Although the Heavenly Father never allows his children to suffer needlessly. Jesus suffer for the will of Father, he has understood your sorrow, problem and brokenhearted.

        If you want to see discipline of Heavenly Father, please you read Hebrews 12: 5-7, 10-11; Proverbs 3: 11-12; Revelation 3:19). There are very good Scripture verses.

(11) God is close to the brokenhearted

         In Psalm 34: 18 said, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." He is not only close to the brokenhearted, but also he heals the brokenhearted. (Psalm 147: 3) And then Proverbs 17:22, "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." so Joy is good medicine for heart broken.

       David said; "You kept my eyes from closing (sleepless); I was too troubled to speak. (Psalm 77:4) and 6: 6-7 talk about grief-stricken. But He knew that God will save him in time, may be not on time.

(12) Rest in God

        "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give your rest." (Matthew 11: 28) and verse 29 and 30 said, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your soul. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." You don't need to be struggling for your life, you can find rest for your soul in Jesus. Amen!

Trust and Rest in Jesus!

It will continue tomorrow!



Author: Rev. Rebecca Sun

God Heals Broken Heart (5)

Read: Psalm 31:12; 1 Peter 5: 7; Nahum 1: 7; Psalm 107: 6,13, 32: 7, 31: 16, 27: 6

Cast all your anxiety on him (Jesus) because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

      Today, we will look into to areas: first God cares for you and God's deliverance makes you to sing a song for what Jesus has done for you.

(8) God cares for you.

       In Psalm 31: 12 David said, " I have become like broken Pottery." David knew that he is broken pieces in his life, even no one cares for him. The question, I want to ask you, "Are you broken pieces in your life, even no one cares of you?" The answer is "Jesus cares for you!"  And then 1 Peter 5: 7 said, "Cast all your anxiety on him (Jesus) because he (Jesus) cares for you. 

       In book of Nahum 1: 7 said, "The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him." The easy solution is "Do you trust in Jesus?" You can't cry out for your friends, you can cry out to your best friend who is named Jesus. He definitely care for you.

(9) God delivers from you troubles with

       surrounding with songs of deliverance.

       In Psalm 107: 6 and 13 said, "Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble and he (God) delivered  them from their distress." And then 32: 7 spoke, " You (God) are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." King David knew that God is his hiding place where is very safe, no enemies' surrounding. God will protect him from all trouble, then He surround me with songs of deliverance. God is like to deliver as the songs to David over and over. It talks about God has done with songs of deliverance which are God's love with his protection. How beautiful songs!

       Psalm 31: 16 said, "Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love." God's love is shinning in David face which was overjoyed as a sun. And 27: 6 told us, "Then my head will be exalted (victory) above the enemies who surround me,  at  his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy, I will sing and make music to the Lord." David got victory, gave sacrifice with shouts of joy, because God has done for him. David will sing and make music to the lord for his testimony. How about us?

Shout to the Lord for victory to whom He has done!

It will continue tomorrow!

Author: Rev. Rebecca Sun