40 Day fast

Well, we are at it again. Here comes another 40 day fast!

The scriptures this fast are based out of are Ezekiel 33:17; 1 Kings 19; Revelation 2:17 and Revelation 3:12. This is the time to "wrap our face in the mantle of God's name."

I am also very aware that this fast is about a breakthrough into Asia. Confuscianism has a massive grip on areas of China, Japan, and Korea with influences in the rest of Asia such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, and other areas. In Confuscian philosophy, societal worth is deeply connected with position of authority or age. Many Asian cultures are deeply rooted in shame/honor dynamics. "Saving face" is really important because the whole concept of internal personal honor is so critical.

It is clear that God has some major plans for Asia in terms of finishing the great commission. It is clear that it will take young, apostolic missionaries to go on the front lines who are willing to risk everything. (Generally, the older people get, the harder it is for them to go into situations where they are willing to risk everything.) However, to unleash the youth of Asia into the harvest field, it will mean the shifting and changing of many in positions of honor within the Church.

Without a heavenly identity, many in Asia will deeply resist such changes if it means a demotion of personal honor. This whole fast is about going deep into knowing who we are to God and wrapping our identity around how valued we are to Him. (Jesus didn't consider coming from heaven to earth to the cross for us to be too high of a price.)