Acts 4:13 NLT

The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.

Mach 7 with my hair on fire…

According to most, that’s a phrase that describes me well.

I’m either ‘on’ or ‘off’, at rest, or full tilt…
Yet by this time in the yearly fast @tfhny, i’ve gotten over the fact that my body can’t keep up with my mind.

Sharper, clearer, less noise and distraction. My mind is clean of clutter and insecurity, enabled to discern what the Holy Spirit is speaking to my spirit, almost as if the air is clear of all smog, much like when you ascend a mountain while hiking… Perspective & peace.

Reminds me of when Jesus took a couple friends on a hike from Luke, chapter 9.

28 Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray.29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white.30 And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah,31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure,t which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.

Imagine for a moment, you’re Peter… You’ve been called out of your normal life to pursue someone that is mysterious and powerful. Every day is a new adventure as you discover more and more of His character, and you begin to believe His claims of divinity. Then He takes you and a couple other friends on a hike. At the summit, a portion of Jesus’ glory is displayed in tremendous fashion. These friends must have been blown away.

So blown away in fact, that Peter, true to his character blurts out:
“Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.

He wants to camp on the mountaintop, to stay where Jesus’ true nature was the clearest.
No needy people, no persecution.
No wondering where his next meal was coming from.

But what Peter was missing was that it was all about Jesus, and less about the experience.

34 As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One;t listen to him!”36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.

So God helped him see that it was less about a spiritual high, and more about the obedience to Christ’s call on Peters life.
The mountaintop cannot sustain us, only inspire us.

Shortly after, Luke records this:
When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. Luke 9:51 Jesus knew the time had come to fulfill His purpose in coming. For in Jerusalem, He would hang on a cross for the sins of the world.

So… Slow down, enjoy this moment of clarity, but get ready to set your face to the dream that God has given you. It’s almost Mach 7 time!

In reading the book “My weakness for His strength” this morning, I came across this…“in Him alone we find our rest, and no emphasis, doctrine or experience we previously looked to for producing abundant life can tempt us back to trust it.”  As I was reading I heard God speaking to me… “don’t
trust in the act of fasting, trust in Me.”

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It reminded me of a story I once heard…

There was a rich king who was pleased with all his people and he wanted to show them all how much he appreciated them and loved them. So this king put all his treasures out on
display in his courtyard and called all the people of the land in with this invitation: “You may come to my courtyard, and any treasure that you see that pleases you, put your arms around it, and it is yours…” So people from all over the kingdom would come into the kings courts, a man would put their arms around a gold statue, and the king would nod, and at that moment it belonged to him. a woman would put her hands on precious jewelry, the
king would nod, and it was hers. he took great delight in giving his treasures to his people. then a young boy approached the king with a question. he said to the king “is it true? is what i hear true?” and the king said, “Yes, anything you put your arms around that makes your heart happy, it belongs to you!” The boy said “please forgive me….” and the boy
walked up to the king and put his arms around the king’s legs. The king said to the boy, “You are the wisest in all the land, because when you have
me, you posses everything that is mine.”
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fasting is an incredible journey with absolutely life altering results…I
am not saying fasting or any other experience, emphasis, doctrine or
experience is bad in any way. I’m just saying a lesser truth always gives
way to a greater truth…

the truth that in every experience or emphasis -

• in everything Jesus is the center.
• We don’t trust fasting to get to Jesus.

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We trust Jesus and He takes us on the journey through the vehicle of
fasting, and on that journey with Him, everything that is His is now ours. 

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The first time I attempted an extended “fast” was 10 years ago as a Bible School Freshman. I felt that God had been distant for a while and fasting was just one of many disciplines on my list of ways to regain His attention. I think I lasted all of 48 hours….