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If i perish i perish11/13/2023 ![]() ![]() Faith-based ministry must always begin with God. The act of fasting slows everything down to human speed. So many times, Christians do ministry on the basis of planning and performing instead of praying. Unfortunately, many Christians are guilty of plunging into action fast. We pray for the right attitude, the right motive, the right audience, the right words, and the right manner to act. We pray for God to prepare the hearts of people, both others and ourselves. It is more important to fast, pray, and wait upon God before embarking upon anything. Esther clearly stated: “When this is done” before she goes to the king. Fasting helps express, deepen, confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, even ourselves to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God.“ “ Prayer is reaching out after the unseen fasting is letting go of all that is seen and temporal. The great prayer writer, Andrew Murray says: Thus, fasting is accelerated prayer used in urgent and pressing times. Instead, we are given an opportunity to channel these hunger pangs and thoughts of food back to God. The moment we go on a fast, we lose this focus on food. Commonly used throughout society is the idea of meal times as the central opportunities to gather and to fellowship. Such daily rituals center our lives on the stomach and the need to eat. As we prepare to go home after work, we think of dinner. When the clock strikes twelve noon, we think of lunch. In the morning, we wake up and thoughts of breakfast turn on automatically. ![]() This is obvious because most of us eat 3-4 meals a day. The human body tends to be very easily distracted by hunger pangs. In fasting, the focus is more important than the lack of food. It is an urgent call to go beyond food to maintain the present but for mercy to sustain the future. Though the passage does not specifically mention prayer, the implication is implicit.įasting is often called upon the accelerate the process of prayer. There is no deeper prayer without fasting. Prayer and fasting are two intertwined rituals that Jews have been practicing through the ages. They could also do what they had been trained to do from young: Pray. They could come together to reflect on their plight. In the Bible, the practice of fasting is closely associated with praying. In a book that does not have the names of God mentioned at all, this is one of the clearest evidence that the book is about God. What would they do when they fast? They could remember Esther and how to encourage her. In contrast, Esther was calling for a fast that brings people together! The urgency of the request could be felt. Incredibly, she asked for a mass fasting event! In our day and age, food often bring people together. This is faith demonstrated on one’s knees. In turn, she too would fast together with her assistants. There are three amazing demonstrations of faith in this one verse alone.įirst, she called on her people to fast. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. In doing so, she was putting her own life on the line. As it is written in Esther 4:16, Esther decided to act on the knowledge that her people would be annihilated if nothing was done. Such an attitude reflects the words of the biblical heroine, Esther. ![]() Miraculously, she was released but her witness continued. She pledged to pursue God’s will whatever the cost may be. Kim lived like she was ready to be a martyr for Christ anytime. Her faith was so vibrant and vivid that it touched not only fellow prisoners but the prison guards. It was a testimony of faith in God as she persistently held on to the promise in the Bible and constantly made reference to the Word of God in everything she said or did. ![]() Esther Ahn Kim (Korean name: E-Sook Ahn) wrote this book, detailing her six years of hardship and torture. Years ago, I remember a book by the title of “If I Perish” written by a Korean Christian imprisoned in Japan during the brutal WWII era. ![]()
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