SBC DAY OF PRAYER & FASTING (2) - JULY 3

 Greetings,
"And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow Him: but if Ball, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word."  I Kings 18:21

A Call to Prayer and Fasting Across SBC Life

A call was once set before the children of Israel. The prophet Elijah, sent by the Lord, summoned them to make a decision:
"How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him!"
God offered His covenant people one more opportunity—one more invitation—to choose rightly. Elijah prayed, and fire fell from heaven, consuming the sacrifice and demonstrating to all who the one true God was. The people had always known this truth, but their divided hearts and lives had failed to reflect it. At that moment, seeing the fire of God fall, they fell before the Lord and cried out: “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!”

What a moment!

Today, God's children—His church—are still called to choose Him each day. He has saved us, called us, and appointed us as His servants. When we confessed Christ, we surrendered all. As the Apostle Paul declared, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” We gave up our rights, our plans, and our lives to live fully for Him. Sadly, many churches today fail to present this full commitment clearly to new believers.

Along life’s journey—in ministry, family, and the daily grind—we fall prey to Satan’s distractions. We lose heart, focus, and our spiritual disciplines. Many believers and pastors drift away from their calling. If you knew a brother or sister in Christ was faltering, wouldn’t you reach out? And if it were you faltering, wouldn’t you long for someone to call you back before it’s too late?

This is that moment.

This is an invitation—a call to choose, to come, and to commit again. We know what is right. We know what is good. But we have failed to act. Let us no longer hesitate between two opinions, but rather “set our minds on things above, not on things of the earth.”
“Seek the Lord and you shall find Him… when you search for Him with all your heart.” Not some. All.

There is a higher calling—a holy plateau—to which God invites us. Rise up and walk the heavenly hilltops with your Lord. Don’t be satisfied with the fellowship, food, and fringes of this world. They do not last. Remember the old hymn:
“I’m pressing on the upward way, new heights I’m gaining every day.”

Let us not be content. Let us not “settle on our lees.” Let us not grow casual with God.
This is a call to grow in grace and knowledge of Christ—a call to renewed passion and obedience.

An Invitation Is Set Before Us
As a convention, as churches, as leaders and pastors—as His servants—we are being asked:
“Will you serve Me with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength?”
Or will you continue with divided interests and diluted purpose?

Why do we halt between two opinions?

Cast off this carnal Christianity, this half-heartedness. Be all in. Abide in Christ. Draw near to God. Has this lukewarmness—this lethargy in worship, service, and hunger for God—not already cost us enough?

"Do not limit the Holy One of Israel."
A lifestyle that wavers between two opinions grieves, quenches, resists, and denies the Holy Spirit. Let it not be named among us!

"Come out from among them and be separate."
Let us renew our vows. For those who have backslidden. For those who have lost their fire. For those who have grown cold in their calling. Let us seek to be daily before Him and alone with Him.

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A Specific Call to Prayer and Fasting

What is being asked?
Join others across SBC life in setting aside the first Thursday of each month for prayer and fasting—specifically for revival in the church and spiritual awakening among the lost.
Fasting from food (and/or drink) allows us to replace the time spent preparing and consuming meals with time in the Word, worship, and intercession. Instead of physical bread, we seek heaven’s Bread of Life.

Who is invited?
Everyone. This is a call to all of SBC life. A reminder will be sent out twice a month via email along with a flyer.

We especially call upon:

• SBC leadership and entities, beginning with the Executive Committee, to promote and model this call.

• State conventions to lead the way in their regions.

• Associations—over 1,100 of them—to set times and places to gather and seek the Lord together.

• Local pastors and churches, the grassroots, to embrace this vision and unite with like-minded believers to see cities, churches, and families stop halting and start choosing Christ completely.

Why the 1st Thursday?
This day has been designated to unify our efforts. While some may fast on other days—and we rejoice in that—we are encouraging the 1st Thursday as a shared, concerted focus.

What’s missing?
The vast majority of believers do not fast at all. Most have never been taught. Though we know what Scripture says, we often fail to practice it.
Let’s change that.

Once or twice a year, we should also call for a solemn assembly—a time of united, intensified fasting and prayer for a deeper work of God among us.
“When you see these things… (the judgments of God), call for a solemn assembly.” (Joel 1–2)

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Let us answer this call together—fully, fervently, and faithfully.

“The Lord, He is God!”
Let us not hesitate. Let us rise up and seek Him.

Until,
Dan Biser
rdbiser@live.com

A call is set before the children of Israel. The prophet Elijah has been sent by the Lord to call them to make a choice. "Quit halting between two positions; between two choices. If the Lord be God, then serve and follow Him." God was given His covenant people one more opportunity, one more invitation to choose. The Lord answered the prayer of Elijah and fire fell from heaven to consume the sacrifice and the set before the people Who the true God was. The people knew, but they had not professed it rightly, with their divided hearts and lives. If the Lord be God, then worship Him was the choice to the people. When the people saw the fire of God fall and consume the sacrifice, they fell before the Lord and worshipped Him, declaring, "the Lord He is God; the Lord He is God." What a moment!

God's chosen children are called each day to make Him their choice. He has saved us and chosen us and called us to be His church, His servants. And in our profession and confession of faith, we yielded to Him our all. Like the Apostle Paul, "I no longer live, yet Christ Who lives in me." We forfeited our rights, our choices, our lives to be all for Him. There are those in churches today that do not detail, explain or set in front of new converts today this truth. 

Along the way of life, of ministry, of family and other things, we fall prey to Satan's devices and distractions. We lose heart, we lose focus, we lose our priorities. Many a Christian and many a pastor loses their disciplines. If you knew your fellow brother or sister in Christ was faltering in their walk and they were headed the wrong way, wouldn't you do all to reach them? If you are faltering and desiring for someone to reach you before its too late, wouldn't you want a Divine moment? Here it is!! An invite to choose, to come and to commit to Him. We know it to be right, we know what is the good and right way, we just have failed to rise up and do it. Let us quit halting between these two opinions and "set our affections on things above and not the things of this world." "Seek the Lord and you shall find Him", when what/ When you search for Him with some of your heart? No! "with all your heart". Quit halting between two opinions!

There is a higher calling, a higher plateau that He calls us to. Rise up and walk the heavenly hill tops with your Lord. Don't be satisfied with the fellowship, food and fringes of this world. They have no eternal lasting. Remember the old hymn, "I'm pressing on to higher ground"? A call to not be content, to not "settle upon our lees"; "to not grow casual with God". A call to continue to grow in grace and knowledge of Him. A choice is offered, an invitation is set before us, as a convention, churches, leaders & pastors and as His servants: "will you serve Me with all your heart, mind, body and soul?" Or will you serve Me with a divided interest, priorities and purposes?" Why halt ye between two opinions? Serve the Lord with all that you are. Cast off this humanism among us, cast off their carnal Christianity, cast off this half-heartedness. Be all for Him, abide in Him, draw nigh unto Him. Has not this lukewarm estate and this lethargy of worship, service and knowledge of Him, costs us enough? 

"Limit not the Holy One", and an opinion and lifestyle that halts between two limits, grieves, quenches, resist and denies the Holy Ghost. Let it not be named among us! "Come out from among them and be ye separate. Let us renew our vows for those that have backslidden, to those that have lost the fire the unction from on high. Let us seek each day to be much before Him and alone with Him. 

Set in front of you is a call to prayer and fasting. 
What is being asked of you? To join others that are setting aside this day for specific prayer for revival to come to the church; and for a spiritual awakening to come to the lost souls. Fasting from food and/or water for this day we use that time to be before Him. Instead of planning, preparing and implementing time for meals, we use that time and energy to come before Him, for the heavenly bread of intercession. 

Who is invited? This is a call to all of SBC life. Contact through this email (twice a month) and the promotional flyer is attached for a reminder. SBC entities and SBC leadership, especially the SBC executive committee is the ones who are to be implementing, planning and promoting prayer among SBC life. SBC state executives and leadership is to set before their brothers and sisters this invite and set their call before their state. SBC associations are to more local and connected and the over 1,100 associations should set a time and place to come together and seek the Lord. SBC pastors and churches are the grass roots who should embrace this call and seek the Lord together or with other like minded brothers and sisters who long to see a nation, cities, churches and family halting between two opinions to choose the Lord God for all the days of their life. 

When? As we have set the 1st Thursday of each month we realize that some are doing this on other days. It is a joy to read and hear about that. But we will stay with this 1st Thursday as our primary designated day. 

What's missing?  The vast majority do not fast at all. Yea, they never have had any one teach them or set in front of them this discipline. Although we know the Scriptures, we do not employ the Scriptures. Let's change this. Once or twice a year, the fasting and prayer should be concerted to call for a solemn assembly and a deeper work of God to be done in us and through us for His glory. "When you see these things happening; (the judgements of God) call for a solemn assembly" Joel 1 & 2

Until,

Dan Biser
rdbiser@live.com