Showing posts with label Purim. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Purim. Show all posts

March 21, 2012

End Times Survival Weapons: Fast and Pray training class

The watchman was led to fast the Esther fast, no food and no water, for three days towards the end of March. He gathered all those who regularly go to the Prayer House and two families who come to his Bible reading house class weekly, urging them to start preparing for the fast. He knew it would be a major task for all concerned as they had never done this before. Some young people may not have the spiritual stamina to last it.

He was however encouraged when the respective heads of the two families purposed in their hearts to obey the Lord’s calling. One man started immediately on the eve after the Saturday Bible reading  house meeting together with the watchman. Another couple started on the following Tuesday evening (on which day they had a Bible reading meeting in the couples’ house).

The fasting training for the first group was Yom Kippur style, no food and no water, from sundown to sundown (24 hours). The two have had some experience in fasting before so they did not feel much discomfort. The only problem with the watchman was that he had to fast coffee and water at the same time. He could live comfortably without food but the dryness of his throat was uncomfortable. On the following Sunday morning he was required to share the words of God for about one and half hours, during which he talked naturally and without any hindrance. Toward the later part of the following afternoon he could feel the heaviness on the side of his head. He regretted and repented his taste for coffee. (sigh)

The other brother reported that he was alright. This was his first time of complete fasting without food and water. He held well as he was not a coffee lover. He merely had to overcome not drinking water.

On a lighter side, the day the watchman announced to his own household (and guests) the fasting training, he was surprised to find that a family of three generations (a grandma, daughter and a grand-daughter) who are currently staying in his house decided to fast one meal (lunch). The 70 years old grandma stayed in her room and had her own quiet time and rest through out the day. The daughter (who is the aunt to the little nine-years old girl) and the 9 years old girl (60kg in weight) stayed in the lounge and argued with each other. The little girl was grumbling and said she was dying of hunger. The aunt said the trouble was that the little one did not believe that drinking water and feeding on God’s word would keep her well fed.The aunt said, “she is all flesh/carnal. It is time she toughens up and be spiritual and prepares for end times!” (Of course, the overweight child soon forgot all about food and happily ran into the garden to play with the watchman’s newly acquired yellow Labrador puppy, Grace, after the watchman gave her permission!)

The watchman promised his class that he would give them more information on how to prepare for the Esther fast. For a start, he advised them to progressively practice as follows in various combinations and stages, as led by the Holy Spirit, each according to his or her level of faith:

1. fast one meal a day, progressing to fasting two meals a day.
2. fast all meat: take vegetables and fruits and water.
3. fast all solid food. Take only liquid drinks and soups.
3. fast all food except drinking water.
4. fast all food and water.

5. fasting hours:
6am to 12pm same day ; 6am to 6pm same day; 6am to 12am same day; 6am to following day’s 6am; 6pm from sundown to the following day’s 6pm.

6. Activities: light physical activities. read Bible, meditate on God and His word, pray (in the Spirit and in understanding as led by the Spirit). Conserve water if one is fasting water as well.
7. Food before and after: light meals with little salt; avoid processed food or drinks; stop coffee.

8. On the actual Esther Fast three days (29th March-1st April 2012 from 6pm to 6pm):
a. Take leave from work.
b. Gather together in small groups (can include family as a unit) to worship, fast and pray together.

c. Stop unnecessary world ‘connection’/communication (e.g. mobile phone calls and messaging, internet, games, entertainment and social activities). Stop looking at the ‘windows’/screens (TV, hand phone, computer, gaming device).
d. Focus on building God connection: led by the Holy Spirit. Let the Holy Spirit anointing break your strongholds in the mind and emotion, your soul ties, your ‘connections’ to the second heaven (through the above mentioned windows that link your souls with the evil spirits/forces).
e. Focus on the goal of fasting: For your nation (just as Esther and the Jews in Sushan).
f. Assemble and hold a solemn meeting together before and after the fasting.

___________________________Bible verses:

Esther 4:15-17 (NKJV)

15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”
17 So Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther commanded him.[a]
Footnotes:
  1. Esther 4:17 Septuagint adds a prayer of Mordecai here.

March 16, 2012

End Times Church Count-down: Fast and Pray, Church!

Esther 3 (KJV)

 1After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.
 2And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.
 3Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?
 4Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.
 5And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
 6And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
 7In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.
(Nisan is April. Note the date: 13th April, 2012.)
 8And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them.
 9If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.
 10And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.
 11And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.
 12Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.
 13And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.
(Adar is March).
 14The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day.
 15The posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.
______________________________________Jewish Calendar

HebrewEnglishNumberLengthCivil Equivalent
Nissan (in Hebrew) Nissan130 daysMarch-April
Iyar (in Hebrew) Iyar229 daysApril-May
Sivan (in Hebrew) Sivan330 daysMay-June
Tammuz (in Hebrew) Tammuz429 daysJune-July
Av (in Hebrew) Av530 daysJuly-August
Elul (in Hebrew) Elul629 daysAugust-September
Tishri (in Hebrew) Tishri730 daysSeptember-October
Cheshvan (in Hebrew) Cheshvan829 or 30 daysOctober-November
Kislev (in Hebrew) Kislev930 or 29 daysNovember-December
Tevet (in Hebrew) Tevet1029 daysDecember-January
Shevat (in Hebrew) Shevat1130 daysJanuary-February
Adar I (in Hebrew)Adar I (leap years only)1230 daysFebruary-March
Adar (in Hebrew)
Adar II (in Hebrew)
Adar
(called Adar Beit in leap years)
12
(13 in leap years)
29 daysFebruary-March

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