August-September 2021

Keep our focus on God, Eyes set toward Eternity, to be Kingdom minded through the mind of Christ.

 “When you fast, don’t let it be obvious, but instead, wash your face and groom yourself and realize that your Father in the secret place is the one who is watching all that you do in secret and will continue to reward you openly.” (Matthew 6:17-18)

Dear Partners and Prayer Warriors,

The Lord presented to me this question:  “What comes before sowing and reaping?”  A few minutes went by and then He said:  “the answer is fasting!” A different kind of fasting and something so obvious most of us do automatically!

Whether in the physical world or in the spirit realm, before sowing and reaping there must be a fasting that takes place. Right now you’re thinking “that’s not right!” But it is right and it is scriptural!  Fasting is ground preparation of the human heart in order for good seed to be planted for the reaping of a good harvest, or as Jesus said “reward”.  It’s like the plowing of a field and getting it ready for planting seed in order to reap a crop at harvest time. 

I asked the Lord to show me about the “fasting” before sowing and reaping. He then quickly gave six examples on what it means to fast the human heart, plant good seed in order to reap a good harvest (be rewarded openly):

1.       When we fast returning evil for evil and instead love our enemies, the reward will be a secure and peaceful life.

2.       When we fast repeating or rehearsing an offense and consciously walk in righteousness, the reward is a clear conscious.

3.       When we fast gossip & the passing of unrighteous judgments, asking Him to set guard over our mouths, the reward is God’s protection that we will not be gossiped about or have an unrighteous judgment passed against us!

4.       When we fast selfishness by giving place for others, the reward is it will come back to us pressed down, shaken together and running over.

5.       When we fast a spirit of competition, justice and judgment, the reward is peace, forgiveness and mercy.

6.       When we fast outside sources for the guarding and protection of our heart – our spirit man (Example: being careful about what we allow ourselves to see, hear, taste, and participate in; any idol) the reward is we grow and mature in Him for the things He has for us to do!

One way of looking at this is: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a person sows this he will also reap.”(Gal. 6:7) As we grow and mature in Christ Jesus, this list will become inexhaustible.  Again, another way of looking at this is seeing ourselves seated at the King’s table, trading the mess we are now choosing to fast for the things that will grow, mature and prosper us in Christ. God is very clear that He wants to reward us, to bless us and to give us abundantly above all that we could ask or think! (Eph. 3:20) However, to receive what is being offered at the King’s table we must first fast our fleshy worldly habits. We must allow the Word of God to be sown and walked out in our lives so the goodness of Jesus will be an example for others, in order to reap the harvest of rewards on earth and in heaven.  We must fast the negative, critical, cynical, darkness that seeks to devour us before any “good” sowing or reaping can take place. It is the preparation of our heart to receive what God has for us!

So what does God have for us?

“For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek ME and find Me when you search for ME with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,” declares the LORD, “and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile,” (Jer.29:11-14). (Emphasis mine)

There are so many promises He has declared over us:

1.       He has a plan for us!

2.       Plans for welfare and not calamity

3.       Plans for a future and hope

4.       He will listen when we call and come to Him

5.       We will find Him when we search for Him with all our heart

6.       He will be found by us

7.       He will restore our fortunes and gather us from the places he has driven us.

8.       He will bring us back to the place from where He sent us into exile. (Exile is where all the fasting, learning and growing happens for the harvest).

“He has told you, mortal one, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)

Important side note:

It is worth noting here that as we were looking for scripture for this newsletter we noticed that Bible Gateway has omitted some words. When studying please be careful. Compare the resource you use to the scripture you own in a printed Bible before cutting and pasting from the resource.  The particular scripture I am referring to is Matthew 6:16-18, even though we only used vv. 17 and 18.

As always, we love and appreciate all of you and we love being in partnership with you for the Kingdom. We thank you for your prayers and your financial support.

 You do make a difference. We pray blessing over you as well.

Love and Blessings,

Pastors Doug & Lisa Barber

		Thought Worth Considering: “Don’t speak negatively about yourself, even as a joke. Words are energy. Change the way you speak about yourself and you can change your life. Whatever you’re not changing, you are also choosing!” --Bruce Lee
6203 76TH St.
Lubbock, Texas 79424
Doug 806-790-4757
Lisa 806-790-4756
doug@lpeministries.org
lisaann@lpeministries.org