40 Days from Journey Of Faith Church on Vimeo.
I am just as shocked as you are. 40 days????
Yes, I will be going on a journey for 40 days without my family, without my laptop, and even without my iPhone.
For last three weeks, God’s been putting “40 days” in my mind. I didn’t know what to make of it, so thought that I needed to prepare a sermon series on 40 days–yes, that’s a typical preachers’ way of interpreting God’s signs.
So I began studying Noah’s Ark, Moses in the Mount Sinai, and Elijah in the wilderness, and Jesus fasting in the desert.
As I began studying them and how God used forty days to shape them and also to shape their ministry, I began to understand that God is most interested in the intimacy.
I received a confirmation when I met with John Kim, AKA, Christina Kim’s little brother. God has been doing incredible things in his life: he has recently been transformed completely for God and God is working on him to truly set him apart to use him as a “prophet” of God for this generation. I heard the voice of God through John that the sign of 40 days wasn’t for other people, but for me.
God wants me. He is inviting me to come away with him on this 40 days of journey. I don’t know where I will be going yet, but will be leaving on Monday, July 13th. I don’t have any agenda, but only to spend time in prayer and reading the Word of God.
Here are few things that I think God will spend time training me:
1. Learn to cut things of the world:
I have been spending much time on Media, Internet, Current News, Sports, etc. Just thought of leaving these behind scares me. How am I going to survive without internet? How will I deal with not knowing the latest winners of PGA tour and scores of the rangers game? More than anything, how am I going to handle being away from my family for forty days? I can’t stand the thought of not seeing my lovely wife and precious two sons. I am so grateful for such an understanding and supportive wife who has agreed to send me away for forty days despite the difficulties she has taking care of two sons all by herself. I know that she wishes there was a different route, but she also knows that she cannot go against God’s will. What about the church? I am grateful for my wonderful associate pastors who comforted me by telling me to go without any worries.
2. Repent and Receive Instructions
When God called Moses up to the Mt. Sinai, God planned to give Moses the Ten Commandments. I believe God will remind me of all the sins in my life that I will be able to completely cut away all my habits that God is not pleased with.
As a leader of Journey of Faith Church, I thought I was leading the church with God’s vision and God’s instructions, but I definitely need to receive the confirmation and confidence from God. I am a people-pleaser in nature, so I tend to listen to people rather than listening to God. I believe that God will teach me to listen to His voice.
3. Learn to solely depend on God
As Elijah spent his forty days in the desert, he was dealing with loneliness, depression, fear and anxiety. God comforted him by sending bread and water through the raven. I am neither dealing with loneliness or depression, but perhaps I am dealing with loneliness unknowingly. Perhaps I am running on an empty tank. I hope to experience God’s raven through these forty days.
4. Learn to overcome my temptations
At the end of Jesus’ forty days fast, he was tempted by Satan. Jesus’ temptations were as follow: 1) temptation of hunger, 2) temptation of fame and power, and 3) temptation of instant acclaim. I am a mere man who struggle with lust and worldly desires. I do have desire to be famous and desire to be successful in my own way. I also am prideful and boastful. I know these temptations will continue until the day I am with the Lord in heaven, but I am praying that the Holy Spirit will burn away all my fleshly desires.
I am sincerely asking you, brothers and sisters, to pray for me, my family, and JOF as I take this journey for forty days. I hope that God will bring me back as a changed, more humbled, and God-fearing person.
Since I won’t be able to check my emails or receive phone calls, please contact me through prayer.
