Why fast and pray? Because of them we set a watch against them day and night.

-->

It is the time of the year when Christians fast. I note that my two earlier fasting blogs have made it to the top ten read currently.
https://kzlam36.wordpress.com/2016/09/03/queen-esthers-fast/
https://kzlam36.wordpress.com/2011/10/17/fasting-god-wants-nt/
In the two articles I shared the famous testimony of Queen Esther whose three days’ fast with no food and no water together with her Jewish countrymen in her city stopped the annihilation of the Jews and Israel as a people. I also shared what it means for New Testament Christians based on the teaching of Jesus and the apostles.
I have posted in the following blog about the alertness required in this last forty days before the New Year, through fasting, praying and reading God’s words:
https://ghostwriterforgod.wordpress.com/2016/11/22/in-forty-days-what-it-means-in-the-last-forty-days-in-2016/
“This watchman will take heed of what the Lord Jesus has urged His followers and the apostles’ similar advice:
Nehemiah 4:9: Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night.
Matthew 26:41: Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Mark 13:33: Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.
Mark 14:38: Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Luke 21:36: Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Ephesians 6:18: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
1 Peter 4:7: [ Serving for God’s Glory ] But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.”

Fasting makes one more watchful and alert. The war is not yet over in the spiritual realm which manifests in physical consequences as readers would have noted in your own political countries and geographical regions. Even in the most powerful countries in the world. There is no certainty of absolute victory in the human terms, just as the Bible has declared. Can Christians stop being spiritually vigilant?  The answer is a big NO. The Lord Jesus and the apostles clearly teach us to be vigilant. Fasting is a way to stay vigilant.

Let us take heed of Nehemiah’s advice and practice as he re-built the Jerusalem walls:
Nehemiah 4:9: Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night.

Nehemiah 4 New Living Translation (NLT)
Enemies Oppose the Rebuilding

4 [a]Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews, 2 saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, “What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices?[b] Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?”

3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was standing beside him, remarked, “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!”

4 Then I prayed, “Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land! 5 Do not ignore their guilt. Do not blot out their sins, for they have provoked you to anger here in front of[c] the builders.”

6 At last the wall was completed to half its height around the entire city, for the people had worked with enthusiasm.

7 [d]But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the work was going ahead and that the gaps in the wall of Jerusalem were being repaired, they were furious. 8 They all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into confusion. 9 But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves.

10 Then the people of Judah began to complain, “The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.”

11 Meanwhile, our enemies were saying, “Before they know what’s happening, we will swoop down on them and kill them and end their work.”

12 The Jews who lived near the enemy came and told us again and again, “They will come from all directions and attack us!”[e] 13 So I placed armed guards behind the lowest parts of the wall in the exposed areas. I stationed the people to stand guard by families, armed with swords, spears, and bows.

14 Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!”

15 When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them, we all returned to our work on the wall. 16 But from then on, only half my men worked while the other half stood guard with spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. The leaders stationed themselves behind the people of Judah 17 who were building the wall. The laborers carried on their work with one hand supporting their load and one hand holding a weapon. 18 All the builders had a sword belted to their side. The trumpeter stayed with me to sound the alarm.

19 Then I explained to the nobles and officials and all the people, “The work is very spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. 20 When you hear the blast of the trumpet, rush to wherever it is sounding. Then our God will fight for us!”

21 We worked early and late, from sunrise to sunset. And half the men were always on guard. 22 I also told everyone living outside the walls to stay in Jerusalem. That way they and their servants could help with guard duty at night and work during the day. 23 During this time, none of us—not I, nor my relatives, nor my servants, nor the guards who were with me—ever took off our clothes. We carried our weapons with us at all times, even when we went for water.[f]

Footnotes:
4:1 Verses 4:1-6 are numbered 3:33-38 in Hebrew text.
4:2 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
4:5 Or for they have thrown insults in the face of.
4:7 Verses 4:7-23 are numbered 4:1-17 in Hebrew text.
4:12 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
4:23 Or Each carried his weapon in his right hand. Hebrew reads Each his weapon the water. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.

IN “FORTY DAYS”: What it means in the last forty days in 2016

In forty days it will be the end of Year 2016. How does a follower of Jesus Christ spend the last forty days of this year? How important is forty days to the Lord God Creator Himself? I shall attempt to look at what God means by day and night and what forty days mean to Him. For those who have never encountered Jesus in a personal way, I pray you meet Him in these last days before you face the New Year 2017.

DEFINITION AND PURPOSE OF DAY/NIGHT (SEASONS, YEARS)
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Here is a narration of what God means: Genesis 1:3-5,14 [Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day. Then God said, “Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years.]

So it appears that God uses physical discernible signs (light. darkness) to separate two sections of time. Such sections are respectively called day and night. Other signs also include the physical variations of nature and living things (including a human growing/aging) presented by seasons and years.

Why “forty” days (And forty nights)? Here are some Bible verses on “forty days”. We can read that “forty” signifies a period in which one begins or ends. it is a term of assignment on earth. It is a period of performance record. It is a length of time just enough to show whether one passes or fails the test. It is a time in which an event takes on a spiritual implication which in turn impacts the physical outcome. What will you do from today until the end of this calendar year 2016?

This watchman will take heed of what the Lord Jesus has urged His followers and the apostles’ similar advice:
Nehemiah 4:9: Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night.
Matthew 26:41: Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Mark 13:33: Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.
Mark 14:38: Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Luke 21:36: Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Ephesians 6:18: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
1 Peter 4:7: [ Serving for God’s Glory ] But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF “FORTY DAYS” IN THE BIBLE:
IN THE BEGINNING OF EARTH TIME
Genesis 7:4 For after seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and I will destroy from the face of the earth all living things that I have made.” Genesis 7:12 And the rain was on the earth forty days and forty nights. Genesis 7:17 Now the flood was on the earth forty days. The waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. Genesis 8:6 So it came to pass, at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made.

THE BEGINNING OF MOSES’ MINISTRY JOURNEY AS A SERVANT OF GOD; “DOUBLE FORTY”
Exodus 24:18 So Moses went into the midst of the cloud and went up into the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
34:28 So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.
Deuteronomy 9:9,11,18 9:25 “Thus I prostrated myself before the Lord; forty days and forty nights I kept prostrating myself, because the Lord had said He would destroy you.10:10 “As at the first time, I stayed in the mountain forty days and forty nights; the Lord also heard me at that time, and the Lord chose not to destroy you.

THE FIRST SPYING ASSIGNMENT AND ITS FAILURE AND CONSEQUENCE; “DOUBLE FORTY; “EXPONENTIAL IMPACT” FROM “DAY” TO “YEAR”!
Numbers 13:25 And they returned from spying out the land after forty days.
14:34 According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for each day you shall bear your guilt one year, namely forty years, and you shall know My rejection.

A SNAPSHOT OF THE TORMENTOR(ENEMY)’S TACTICS
1 Samuel 17:16 And the Philistine (GOLIATH) drew near and presented (STRUTTED) himself forty days, morning and evening.

ELIJAH’S PREPARATION TO COMPLETE HIS LAST RACE AS A PROPHET OF GOD
1 Kings 19:8 So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.

EZEKIEL’S PROPHETIC ACT AS A TRUE MESSENGER OF GOD
Ezekiel 4:6 And when you have completed them, lie again on your right side; then you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days. I have laid on you a day for each year.

JONAH’S MISSION AS A TRUE MESSENGER OF GOD
Jonah 3:4 And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”

THE BEGINNING OF JESUS’ MISSION ON EARTH
Matthew 4:2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.
Mark 1:13 And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.
Luke 4:2 being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.

THE END OF JESUS’ MISSION ON EARTH BEFORE ASCENDING TO HEAVEN
Acts 1:3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

FOR FURTHER READING, I LIST BELOW THE SIGNIFICANCE OF “FORTY” IN THE BIBLE.
Mentioning 146 times in Scripture, the number 40 generally symbolizes a period of testing, trial or probation, as a time of consecration and as a period of trial. The number forty can also represent a generation of man. Because of their sins after leaving Egypt, The children of Israel were punished by wandering the wilderness for 40 years before a new generation was allowed to possess the promised land. Jesus, just days before his crucifixion, prophesied the total destruction of Jerusalem (Matthew 24:1-2, Mark 13:1-2). Forty years after his crucifixion in 30 A.D., the Roman Empire destroyed the city and burned its beloved temple to the ground.

Forty day epic periods of great flood [Gen.7:4,12,17, 8:6].
Forty years was the age of Isaac when he married Rebekah [Gen.25:20].
Forty years of Moses in Egypt [Ex.7:7; Deut.34:7; Acts 7:30].
Forty years of Moses in Midian before return to Egypt [Acts 7:30].
Forty years from the Exodus until Moses’ death [Deut.1:3;34:7].
Forty years Israel ate manna [Ex.16:4,15,35; Deut.29:5; 1Cor.10:3] which means “what is it?” , “spiritual food”.
Forty days Moses was on the Mountain to receive from God the Law of the Sinai Covenant [Ex.24:18].
Forty days the children of Israel were tested while Moses was on the mountain [Ex.32:1].
Forty days Moses was on the Mountain after the children of Israel committed the golden calf idolatry [Ex.34:28]. He received from God and wrote down the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments again.
Forty days the Israelite 12 spies surveyed the land of Canaan [Num.13:25].
Forty years was Caleb’s age when Moses sent him as one of the spies to check out the promised land [Josh.14:7].
Forty years that Israel spent in the wilderness [Num.14:33; Deut.1:1-3; 8:2].
Forty years from the giving of the Law at Sinai to the conquest of the Promised land [Josh.5:6].
Forty year intervals of peace in the age of the Judges (Judg.3:11; 5:31; 8:28)
Forty years Eli the High Priest judged Israel [1 Sam.4:18].
Forty years David ruled as King of Israel [2 Sam.5:5; 1 Chr.29:26-27].
Forty years Solomon ruled Israel [2 Chr.9:30].
Forty years Josiah ruled Judah [2 Kin.12:1-2].
Forty days and nights Elijah traveled to Mt. Horeb/Sinai [1 Kin.19:8].
Forty days reluctant missionary/prophet Jonah was assigned to station in the Assyrian city of Nineveh [Jon.3:4] preaching repentance message.
Forty days Ezekiel was instructed to lay on his right side to symbolize the 40 years of Judah’s transgressions [Ezek.4:6].
Forty years of judgment that Ezekiel prophesied on Egypt’s desolation [Ezek.29:11-13].
Forty days Jesus fasted in the wilderness and was tempted by Satan [Matt.4:2; Mark 1:13; Luke 4:2].
Forty days Jesus taught His disciples PERTAINING TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND APPEARED TO OVER FIVE HUNDRED FOLLOWERS after the Resurrection. On the fortieth day He ascended to the Father in Heaven [Acts 1:3; 1 COR.15:3-7].