"A Call For Prayer
& Fasting"
As I write this tonight the Holy Spirit has taken me in a direction totally different from what I thought the message would be. I know Kim and I have been hit from every side � financially, harassing phone calls, vehicle problems� We�ve seen once strong people drop out and take the easy road. We�ve even seen some quit. As I counsel some, I�ve done it while fighting discouragement myself. Kim also trying to encourage me and push me forward, when she was fighting discouragement. Many of the folks I speak with, they read like an old cowboy movie � a bad guy comes to town and harasses the town folk so much they quit and leave. They are packing up, losing all hope, some even splitting up! There is a bad guy in town and he has a lot of followers assisting him. Yep, he�s called enemy, thief, slue foot, dragon, serpent and devil. Oh, but we have One dressed in white who has defeated the bad guy! Our Hero, Leader and King is Jesus! We all know what John 10:10 says! Why should we shake? We all know what Romans 8:31 says! Why are we discouraged? We know who the enemy is and who our Saviour is. Hey, we know who wins! As I�ve lived this and witnessed these things, the Holy Spirit reminded me of Ephesians 6:10-12! Then He took me to a much visited place, James 1:2-3: �My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations [trials]; Knowing [we DO know] this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.� If you fight you�re going to succeed! The end result in that is the ability to endure. I said, �Lord, but this is so strong�� At that point I was directed to Matthew 17:21, �Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.� That was Jesus talking to His disciples when they failed at casting out the devil from a child. �Why can�t we do this, Jesus?�, is pretty much what they asked (read Matthew 17:14-21). Jesus spoke to them about their unbelief! Their lack of faith! When I fail to go to God in prayer concerning a trial, I have the sin of unbelief. God will move! He will complete the work He has started. He is faithful! We must make it a matter of �Prayer & Fasting�.
I�m going to share something with you that will cause some to question me, judge me and discontinue reading the messages. Some will stop sitting under me as leader. Those who are true, who understand that we all have flaws, who know God is working things out, will stay and fast and pray! When a dealership said it would take almost $800 to repair the truck with tow bills of almost $100, I wasn�t happy! When Kim�s boss speaks to her harshly for no reason, I�m not happy! When the copier started eating copies of last month�s newsletter, I wasn�t happy! When Kim told me she was getting harassing phone calls from someone who had hurt her physically and mentally in the past, I was furious! I�m going to be open with you � the old man came beating on the door to my heart. I was ready to quit and deal with the problem. I stomped around growling and found myself knocked flat on my face from a knock-out punch from the devil. Why? Lack of prayer and fasting. Lack of faith! Lack of belief in God! When I got done stomping around like an old pit bull, God spoke to me. Nothing thundering or quaking. No, very quiet and to the deepest part of my heart. God simply started reminding me that I had been discouraged before over such attacks on my family, and how He proved His Word true with Deuteronomy 28:7, Romans 8:37, Isaiah 54:14, Mark 16:18 and Psalms 20:5, 46:1, 105:39. No enemy to this family has ever stood! He reminded me of the dream that brought the message, �The Road To Mt. Carmel�. He reminded me that He was Jehovah Shalom, and that the enemies to this family would be at peace or be destroyed (Proverbs 16:7). He reminded me that I had given the message �Can You Preach When The Money�s Gone?� and that He was Jehovah Jireh. No financial wall has ever stood against this family and ministry, because God is our provider (Psalm 34:10)! No sickness has ever lingered because He is our Healer (Isaiah 53:5, I Peter 2:24). He reminded me that I had very recently preached the �No Compromise� message, and that He is with us (Psalm 16:11). He reminded me that He is our Shepherd (Psalm 23, John 10:11). He reminded me that He is the only righteous thing about me, by the covering of Jesus! God reminded me of some very direct promises from Isaiah 43:1-2, that He called us by name and nothing will harm us. He will guide us and make the impossible possible (Isaiah 58:11). His blessings are real for each of us that obey (Deuteronomy 28:1-14)! He has given us all a great commission (Mark 16:15-18). All true for my family and yours and all who believe, all who obey. Then comes Matthew 17:21 again, by and with �A Call For Prayer & Fasting�.
I had to first repent of the feelings I had entertained in my heart! God doesn�t hear our prayer if we refuse to turn from the sin in our heart (Psalm 66:18). He is never far away (Psalm 145:18), but we must first deal with where sin begins, in the heart! I then began to pray a hedge of protection around my family. We must not ever cease in praying for our families and others in need (I Thessalonians 1:2-3, Romans 12:12, Colossians 1:9, Philippians 4:6, James 5:16). Then I had to pray for my wife�s boss, for those who take advantage, for the man who is harassing. I couldn�t function, I couldn�t begin to put a message on paper or teach until I did those things. Every bit of discouragement lifted off of me! Just that short time of being separated from God was more than I could stand. Don�t get me wrong � I didn�t go back and indulge in sin, or curse or blame God. I was mad at myself for a decision made over a year ago that brought trouble to our door now. While it�s my place to love and protect my family (the very reason God places a man with women and children), I had become more reliant on my own abilities in protection, and made my family an idol. Friends, that doesn�t make God happy and we disobey Him in doing that. We fail to trust Him. You see, anything we can do in the flesh, God can do better without getting into trouble! He warns that no one is to touch His anointed or do His prophets harm! God doesn�t play and He always gives space for repentance. Then He will deal harshly and swiftly with anyone who wants to take advantage and do harm to one of His children. Whether it by phone to scare and intimidate, or an attempt to physically harm, or to defraud � God is very much the Protector of His children. There is a requirement for me, just as there is for you: �A Call For Prayer & Fasting�.
Each of us has a responsibility to fast and pray. If we want results for ourselves and others, if we want all of God�s promises to come into full effect, we must do these things. God does not take earnest fervent prayer lightly. Have you prayed earnestly lately (eagerly, pursuing something, zealous, serious, warmly)? Have you prayed fervently lately (burning, vehemently)? Have you pushed your plate away crucifying the flesh to draw closer to God about a matter? Do you ask God without ANY doubt (James 1:6)? Have you sinned by ceasing to pray for others (I Samuel 12:23)? Have you failed to intercede and give thanks (I Timothy 2:1-2)? It�s time to repent and be about the Father�s business. Too many things have captivated our attention. Have we become enslaved to the troubles of the world, which brings discouragement? Jesus set the captive free! He broke our bonds! He commanded us to GO into ALL the world and preach the Gospel to every creature, not just those we like! Jesus said these signs shall follow them that believe �in My name, Jesus�. They shall cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents (doesn�t mean to tempt God) and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them (you and me); they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. That �shall� means �will�! Not maybe, but will! There are a lot of sick people still dying � there are a lot of possessed people and people hurting. Why? A lack of belief in God, a lack of prayer, a lack of fasting! What is it that stops you from the �signs that WILL follow�? Don�t forget what James said in 5:15-16! I�ve discerned the problem and desire ALL God has. That�s why God has sent me with �A Call For Prayer & Fasting�!
Can I let you in on a little something? There is power in numbers, when people come together in agreement. There isn�t one thing you can�t achieve! First, don�t forsake the assembling of ourselves together (Hebrews 10:23-24). Second, we must remember what Jesus said in Matthew 18:18-20, �Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in Heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.� That makes me want to shout JESUS! If one of us puts 1000 devils/ demons to flight, and two 10,000 � what can a whole congregation do that truly prays believing? What SHALL happen? We must accept �A Call For Prayer & Fasting�.
Kim tells me my space is limited, so I must rein in, and I was just getting wound up! I enjoy my time with you all. Please keep our family in prayer, as well as the ministry, our country and this election. While no man can change the fulfilling of the Bible, we can certainly receive God�s grace for four more years with a Christian in office. You decide which one is Christian � does George W. Bush�s tree bear good fruit, or John Kerry�s? Which one stands firm in the face of adversity? This is certainly a matter for prayer and fasting � please join us in this.
In Christ, Bro. Don George
* We apologize for the delay in getting the September message out � we were hindered but pressed on none the less. We will continue to spread God�s Word as long as we are able.
* Just a reminder that you can view most of
our prior messages on the website (www. geocities.com/hiways_biways), and also, our church�s site address has changed to www. geocities.com/houseuponarock - come join us! May the Lord bless you always�
