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40 Days of Prayer, Fasting, and Repentance:
Meeting the Threat of the Coronavirus

Wed, Mar 18 -  Sun, Apr 26, 2020

It's not too late to join fellow Christians across America in a 40-day initiative of prayer, fasting and repentance. Participants will follow the example of men and women of Scripture who humbled themselves and sought the Lord through fasting. Our country needs the spiritual renewal that only God can bring. May He hear our cry and answer! The potential health and economic impact of the coronavirus is not fully known yet, but could be devastating. We desire that God has mercy.

In times of crises, God desires that His people examine themselves and repent of everything displeasing to Him. We are to repent on behalf of ourselves and American Christianity which is largely self-indulgent and does not seek the Lord in holiness or wholehearted devotion. First-century Christians prayed and read the Scriptures every morning and evening, and fasted twice a week. Meanwhile, American Christians spend little energy seeking God and the church is therefore largely powerless. Most Christians don’t give at least ten percent of their income even though we are the richest country in the history of the world, and we pollute ourselves through movies and our own engagement with sexual immorality. 

Participants will seek God through the Biblical practice of fasting, prayer and repentance. You may choose to fast from all foods for the entire 40 days—drinking only liquids—or you may choose to fast by eating only one or two meals each day. For some, health limitations will require a different type of fast (see fasting resources). However God leads you, we desire to have you be a part, and God will reward you.

Please sign up below to participate. As a participant, you will receive a special devotional by email each morning of the fast offering encouragement as you devote yourself to the Lord in humility and repentance.

May God draw near and bring healing, comfort, and protection to our nation as we seek Him through prayer, fasting and repentance.

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Day 14, New Testament Reading Plan: Revelation 2-22

Devotional: "Valuing the Very Words of God"

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. – Revelation 22:18-21

This devotion comes on the last day of the 14 day fast which has had a special emphasis on reading the New Testament.  Revelation 22:18-21 are the last verses of the New Testament and the last words of the Bible.  How interesting that the Bible would conclude with a warning to not add to God’s words!  The book of Revelation itself is warning and encouragement for Christians to stay faithful and obedient to Yahweh no matter the intense persecution and apostasy of others.  That entails vigorous attention to God’s word, knowing what He says and what He doesn’t say.  The reader is warned not to add to the prophecies of the book of Revelation, which is similar to the directive in Deuteronomy 4:1, 2: “And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you.”

It’s human nature to be casual or even flippant about God’s commands, but it must always be remembered that He’s the God of God and Lord of Lords, and therefore to be obeyed fully.  Even some Christians today don’t talk about righteous and unrighteous behavior, but “regular” behavior and “ideal” behavior.  It’s only human arrogance that can take the very words of God and make them negotiable or something to be debated instead of how we are to take them:  words to be treasured, prized and followed to the letter.  It’s not legalism to follow God’s commands as diligently as possible.  Legalism is when we think obeying God can merit His favor, which of course is impossible.  

It’s worth remembering too, that these concluding verses don’t mean that God doesn’t continue to speak to His people through supernatural means, whether via angels, dreams and visions, but that such revelations are not at a peer level to Scripture and nothing revealed can contradict Scripture and still be considered from God since God does not contradict Himself.  

Where would humanity be without the wise words of God in the Bible?  One Jewish friend told me that in His view Christianity is the means by which God took moral behavior to the whole world and I agree with that, although it’s more than that of course.  Humanity needs not only instruction in ethical behavior, but forgiveness of sins and power by the Holy Spirit to keep the commands of God all of which comes by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Amen, come Lord Jesus, and may Your kingdom be established fully on the earth!

Lord, we praise, honor and revere You in every way.  Thank You for sustaining us during this 14 day fast and thank You that You are the rewarder of those who draw near to You.  Thank You for the words of the New Testament - beautiful words that bless and strengthen us, communicating Your supernatural love to each one of us.  We love You and praise You!  Amen.

Yours in Christ,
Matt Bennett
Founder and CEO of Christian Union

 

375 People Fasting

Make an enormous spiritual difference in 2021! Sign up to participate and invite friends and family to join you!

God teaches His people to meditate on the Scriptures every morning and evening, but best estimates show that only about one-third of American Christians read the Bible once a day while 27% read it more than once per week (Lifeway Research). The remaining nearly 50% rarely read the Scriptures at all.

This dearth of Bible intake is one of the primary reasons for our country’s Christian decline and moral decay. If we want a return to God, then it’s time for a return to massive intake of the Scriptures among all American Christians.

This two-week fast urges Christians to do two things.

  1. Abstain from food for some or all of 14 days as a way of humbling ourselves before God and repenting of our spiritual laziness and neglect of God’s written word.
  2. Immerse oneself in Scripture by reading the entire New Testament during the 14-day fast. Christian Union America will provide the 14-day reading plan and an email devotional each day of the fast.

Each person who signs up for this 14-day fast will receive an email devotional each day of the fast. Daily devotions will focus on the value of the Bible and the readings from the New Testament. May His name be magnified, as His people return to Him with their whole heart.

How to fast? Each participant will decide how to fast, that is, abstain from food and/or drink during these 14 days. The Bible provides different examples of fasting, from eating only one meal per day to forgoing all foods for multiple days in a row. Only rarely and in very exceptional circumstances does someone abstain from both food and drink. Ask God how you should fast, and please consult your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about fasting. Fasting is primarily a means of humbling our hearts to seek after God. Check out these resources, especially if fasting is new to you: What You’ve Always Wondered about Fasting and Modern Resources on Fasting.

Sign up now to participate and invite friends and family to join you!

How will your life, your loved ones, and our country be different if we all seriously repent and return to God?

Fasting Resources

Check out these resources, especially if fasting is new to you: What You’ve Always Wondered about Fasting and Modern Resources on Fasting.

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God's Next Move in America

America’s Christian heritage is among the greatest of all the nations in the world. God’s Kingdom has thrived here through the 1700s, 1800s, and 1900s, largely due to nationwide moves of God’s Spirit. We need another history-making move of God. By His sovereign grace, God ensures that we play a part in Heaven’s work. He draws near to us when we draw near to Him (James 4:8). We must ask, seek, and knock for an outpouring of His Spirit (Luke 11:5-13).

“Whenever God is about to do something truly great,
He first sets His people praying!” Matthew Henry, 1662-1714

Before you go, would you like to spend more time seeking God?

It’s hard to carve out time to sit in God’s presence and learn what He wants to teach us when we are daily bombarded by distraction. That’s why we’ve equipped thousands of Christians like you to seek God and pray for revival to come to our hearts and nation. This free 5-lesson course has 25 daily readings that will rekindle your prayer life.

You’ve demonstrated such a heart for revival, we thought you’d want to know about this opportunity.

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