No Accusation, Condemnation, Guilt

Today Wellspring’s Instagram account was flagged and restricted because of last weeks post, a graphic that said, “21-Day Fast”. Apparently this is dangerously offensive to some people. Honestly, any fast is offensive to flesh. My body literally cries out against any form of fasting. With the graphic, I included a link to our fasting guidelines. Just to clarify, I recommend that each of us seek Holy Spirit in our personal guidelines, and I totally discourage operating in accusation or condemnation. Do not fast in any way because of guilt. Fast in faith as the Spirit leads you.

Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.
– Romans 14:3 ESV

The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.
– Romans 14:6 ESV

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
– Romans 14:17 ESV

The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.
– Romans 14:22-23 ESV

Whether you eat or don’t eat, do it in faith as directed by His Spirit. In our spiritual family, I know people are participating in the fast in various ways. There is excessive mercy and grace under the covering of Jesus. Do not judge others for how they feel led to participate, and do not allow self-condemnation to creep into your participation. The most important thing about the fast is intentional dedication of our lives and lifestyles to the Spirit and the Word.

I’ve participated in many fasts in my life, and in recent years I’ve participated in more 21-day fasts because of the many calls to prayer and intercession. This fast has been much more difficult for me then previous fasts. I set out to do a water fast. I cut out all food from my life except a small piece of bread during my daily communion. By the third day I was really fuzzy in my thoughts and couldn’t communicate clearly in my meetings. By the fourth day I was light-headed and my body hurt. Last night I felt a release in my spirit to add a daily meal, so I had dinner with my wife. I do not feel any guilt in the shift in my fast. Instead I feel tremendous grace because my faith is attached to the shift.

I’m sharing this so that anyone who reads this will know that I personally am not judging or grading anyone’s participation in fasting food. Far greater in importance is fasting from the noise of the world and receiving the invitation by Holy Spirit to prioritize intimacy with Jesus Christ. Listen through studying the Bible and praying and worshiping, and then respond in faith.

Again, a fast is always going to offend your flesh. This is one of the reasons for fasting, to bring your body, mind, will, and emotions into alignment under the Spirit. But there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. Yes, there is conviction which causes you to press into Him. Condemnation is death, and conviction leads to repentance which is life. Make sure you’re allowing Holy Spirit to give you discernment between these two different driving powers in your life. And operate according to your faith.

Seeking His presence!
Matt