Fast Track

As mentioned yesterday, ENERGY (BCC Youth Ministry) had a 48 hour prayer and fast session at the start of this week. Driven by the young people themselves, this was designed to help them focus on Jesus, hear God's Word for their lives and pray/intercede for upcoming events. Included in the areas for prayer were forthcoming evangelistic events like our 'Open House' night next Tuesday as well as our special 'Star Of Wonder' Christmas Evening Service on 20 December (watch out out for Esther and Mike who will be explaining more about this during the main meeting on Sunday 29 November). They also prayed for other Church ministries, their schools and decisions about future career paths.

There are many sorts of fast and we considered some creative alternatives to the usual 'water only' approach. Some decided to miss just one meal, others decided to fast from all forms of secular media and still others did the whole lot! They are a remarkable bunch of motivated, passionate teens who, despite the usual adolescent ups and downs, continually provoke and encourage me all at the same time. God is at work in their lives and I believe that the spiritual environment created by Holy Spirit life in them as well as us makes for a formidable ground pushing them towards growth, maturity and the reality of His Presence in their lives.

Initially, I'd decided not to fast from food as I'm marathon training but I really felt the Lord say I needed to 'make a sacrifice' and He would honour me if I honoured Him. Matthew 6:33 kept coming to mind. In light of this, we began on Sunday night at 9pm. By the time I got to Tuesday morning I was feeling tired, nauseous and fatigued. I kept gagging and at one point nearly packed it all in and headed for the fridge! Despite these challenges, I really wanted to stand with the Young People and persevere. I asked God to help me and battled through. You look after God's business and He looks after yours!

The 48 Hour Fast culminated with our Prayer Zone on Tuesday Night and I was blown away by the commitment from the Youth to get it set up and organised; on Monday evening 10 of them arrived and spent two hours putting it altogether. Wow! In the past it had been me and a couple of Team Members fiddling about with net curtains, pegs and masking tape, trying to get everything together in time for the Young People's arrival but now the roles were reversed. The actual time of prayer was extremely fruitful and I felt God's tangible presence and pleasure over what they were doing. This was not just young people engaging in some sort of 'positive activity' but a truly memorable encounter time between these precious young saints and the One and Only Holy, Living God.

I always find a fresh flow of spiritual life when I fast and this time was no exception. In recent years I have often asked the question, 'Lord, why is this work so small? What we have is so good that I want more and more young people to enjoy it!". As I prayed this through, I realised that the Lord was helping me see this ministry in a whole new light; it was small in size but big in influence. Moreover, these young people would go on to change the lives of millions for Jesus Christ. I wonder if the person who led Heidi Baker to Jesus or the person who invested in the life of Billy Graham or the woman who prayed for Smith Wigglesworth knew the fruit that would come from those small, simple acts of obedience? I wonder if they knew the millions of lives who would be affected by the actions of those people? I doubt it.

As I look at ENERGY, I know we have some 'Heidi Bakers', 'Billy Grahams' and 'Smith Wigglesworths' amongst us. I know that these young saints will grow up to impact the lives of millions through the calling that has been placed upon their lives by God. We may be small in numbers but I believe, through faith, that Christ's influence through these lives will be truly global. Have a great weekend.

Prayer Meeting: 7.30am in the King's Rooms on Saturday.
Main BCC Meeting: 10am in the Bourne Chapel on Sunday.