​A married couple was driving down the road. The wife turned to the husband and said, "What's happened with us?" "What do you mean?" the husband asked. She said, "We're not like we used to be."  "How did we used to be?" the husband asked. "We were closer. More connected. We held hands all the time. In fact, here's a perfect example right now. Remember when we'd get in the car, and we'd sit right next to each other, with me there in the middle." The husband turned to her and said, "Who moved?"
 
This story illustrates an important Biblical principle that we must always remember. If you are not as close to God as you used to be, you are the one who moved. He did not move. When Jesus calls us to follow Him it involves more than an occasional visit or a part-time activity. If you want to get back to where you used to be, you need to move in His direction. Along the same lines, if you want to be closer to God than you've ever been before, if you want to reach a new level in your relationship with Him, all you need to do is move in His direction. It may be helpful to be reminded that there are no problems that God cannot solve if you will place Jesus at the center of your life.

Clark Tatum

​     There is a story about a tribal chief that told his young grandson a parable about the human condition. "Son, there are two wolves inside each of us. One is good and one is bad. One fights for anger, greed, jealousy and rage. The other fights for kindness, joy, love and happiness. These two wolves fight it out every day, and it is up to you to determine which wolf will win." The young boy asked, "How do I determine this?" The old chief said, "Son, the wolf you feed is the wolf who wins the battle." In a nutshell, that is the key to experiencing ongoing Joy.
     Journey with Jesus and you will know joy. Do not make the mistake of searching for joy, because you will come up short. Seek Jesus and follow Him and real joy can be your reality. The book of Philippians has a lot to say about the subject of joy. There are two interesting details about Philippians. One, it is unquestionably Paul's most upbeat book; two, it was written during one of the most difficult times of his life. He was in prison, facing an uncertain future, possibly facing execution. And yet, Paul is brimming with joy and enthusiasm. Happiness, they say, is based on circumstances, on happenings, but joy is something deeper. The word joy is not based on circumstances, but rather upon a relationship to Jesus Christ. 

Clark Tatum

​The religious leaders of Israel were the VIP’s of the day.  Although they had reached the top of the quote “pecking order,” they often found themselves scorched by Jesus’ words.  Jesus called many of them white-washed tombs. He accused them of robbing widows and being filled with dead men’s bones. Their problem was one of focus. Many of the religious leaders focused on externals like how they appeared to others on the outside. That’s why they loved their impressive rituals of prayer. They had season tickets to the best seats in the synagogue. They loved their Neiman Marcus robes and the way the common people looked at them.
    Therefore, it is no surprise that when Jesus and the religious leaders met, the sparks flew. While the religious leaders of His day relished the separation between themselves and the “common people,” Jesus sought to break down the barriers. Jesus, as God’s only Begotten Son, deserved his title, position, and praise, but His humility in heart was at the core of His teaching. He humbled Himself and became obedient to death even death on a cross. Jesus wants us to demonstrate servant hood and humility. Jesus “humbled Himself” and it was His undergirding philosophy. He chose the path of humility. We too must choose the path of greatness.

Clark Tatum

​We have already said the New Testament does not require disciples of Jesus to fast; however, fasting does have some spiritual benefit. Fasting and prayer is the pattern throughout the New Testament.  It has been observed you can pray without fasting, but you cannot fast biblically without praying. Here is a relevant question: What is the value of fasting today?

1. To show penitence - We may fast to show a penitent spirit as they did in the Old Testament. It seems Saul of            Tarsus did this (Acts 9:9).
2. To control and discipline our lives - It is easy to become almost self-indulgent. Fasting can help us become    masters over our wishes and desires. Fasting and prayer can keep us from being slaves to the wrong things (2 Timothy 1:7).
3. To emphasize spiritual things - Fasting coupled with prayer can teach us the ability to do without things and live contented lives. In this world of materialism, it is easy to put our emphasis in the wrong places. Fasting and prayer can help straighten out our priorities (Luke 4:2-4).
4. To show our hunger for God and our desire for His guidance - When a person fasts it shows they are truly hungering and thirsting for righteousness (Matthew 5:6; Acts 13:2-3; 14:23).

 It is worth saying again, you can pray without fasting, but you cannot fast biblically, without praying.

Clark Tatum

​     We have already said that fasting, according to the New Testament, is an entirely non-compulsory, voluntary act, not a spiritual duty. However, fasting does have some healthy spiritual benefit and is almost always connected with prayer. In Acts 9, Paul spent three days praying and fasting after he had spoken with Jesus on the road to Damascus. It was evidence of his repentance and his humility before God. In Acts 10, Cornelius spent time in prayer and fasting. In fact, he had a vision about Peter during one of his fasts (Acts 10:30). The members of the early church fasted on occasion. The Christians in Antioch fasted (Acts 13:2-3, Acts 14:23). Fasting and prayer was a part of their sincere dedication to know the Lord's will and to follow it.
     The Sermon on the Mount records these words of Jesus. “When you fast…” (Matthew 6:16). Of course, this was under the Old Law, but at this point He expected His followers to fast. The thing which Jesus condemns in Matthew 6 is not the fasting, but the attitude the Pharisees had while they were fasting. Jesus didn’t say that their fasting was wrong, but the way it was being done was wrong. There was no humility involved. It was to be seen of men. God always knows the heart. 

Clark Tatum