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Gospel of the Kingdom

Gospel of the Kingdom, a ministry of Christian Union, is dedicated to assisting those who would like to learn more and explore the supernatural dimension of the Christian life. Read below for information about past and upcoming events, or visit www.gotk.org to learn more.

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Seven Keys :: Key Six :: Impacting the Three Spheres

The Seven Keys to Kingdom Advancement is a series of 20 lessons explaining the role Christians have in advancing the kingdom of God into all parts of society in order to please God and to bring His blessings to every sector. This is Key 6.

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download the pdf:

Download the Leadership Presentation Here (in PDF form). Once the video is posted, you can use it to follow along with the video. Please note: if you click on this link it should open in a new web browser window. If you'd prefer to download it, Right-Click (PC) or Control-Click (Mac) to bring up a menu that will give you options for downloading and saving this file.

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watch via Vimeo:

https://vimeo.com/878260168

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Seven Keys :: Key Five :: Supernatural Aspects

The Seven Keys to Kingdom Advancement is a series of 20 lessons explaining the role Christians have in advancing the kingdom of God into all parts of society in order to please God and to bring His blessings to every sector. This is Key 5.

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download the pdf:

Download the Leadership Presentation Here (in PDF form). Once the video is posted, you can use it to follow along with the video. Please note: if you click on this link it should open in a new web browser window. If you'd prefer to download it, Right-Click (PC) or Control-Click (Mac) to bring up a menu that will give you options for downloading and saving this file.

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watch via Vimeo:

https://vimeo.com/879535091

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Return to the Seven Keys Table of Contents >

For Drawing Close to God

The following describes in summary form how Christians can please God by drawing close to Him.

Table of Contents

Overview

I. Hungering for God Himself 
II. Seven Principles of the Seeking God Lifestyle

III. Essential Spiritual Practices - A Biblical Pattern for Success

Summary

 

Three Spiritualities

Overview

Daniel Spirituality

Shepherd Spirituality

Pauline Spirituality

Conclusion

...

Overview

The deep desire of many Christians today is to see God glorified in their lives, families and communities like never before. The Giver of Life is beyond description in His glory, supernatural love, holiness, and zeal for His wonderful eternal purposes for the universe and for humanity. For the sake of the honor of His name and for the flourishing of humanity, Christians today yearn to draw close to Him and please Him in every way.  

It’s earnestly believed that if a zealous culture of seeking God wholeheartedly can be stirred and sustained in our hearts, then God will increasingly respond to the collective cry and will pour out His Spirit for salvations, holiness, devotion, blessing, hope, joy, healings, deliverances and miracles, with the realization of course, that opposition and persecutions may also come as well.    

There’s no need for Christians to wait for increasing problems in order to return to Him with all their hearts.  In past times of revival, large numbers of Christians returned to Him even apart from any looming catastrophe. He’s always willing to return to us when we return to Him, but this usually requires a dramatic shift in mindset and lifestyle.  Instead of thinking God exists primarily to meet our own desires, our mindset must shift so that we believe and live the opposite. That is, He’s created humanity to please and honor Him, therefore it’s our responsibility to search Him out, draw close to Him and to discover what honors Him. As the prescribed way of life comes into view, we are to make the needed adjustments in our lives, no matter how big or how small, so that we are pleasing to Him in every way.  

The following sections explain God’s ways, so that it’s clear what it means to love Him and others with our whole minds, souls, hearts and strength.  

• Hungering For God Himself explains God’s desire that we center our hearts on He Himself and not teachings and practices per se, even though they may help us center our hearts.  
  
  
• The Seven Principles of a Seeking God Lifestyle summarize many Biblical passages about what God means by seeking Him wholeheartedly.  Remarkably, an historian of early Christianity, Professor Robert Wilken of the University of Virginia, has identified Psalm 105:3, and 4 as summarizing the heart and mindset of the church for the first four hundred years. The verses state: “Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!”
  
  
• The third section of Essential Spiritual Practices summarizes the spiritual architecture, or pattern of faithfulness needed to fulfill the Seven Principles of the Seeking God Lifestyle. Organizing one’s life around God in this way is a departure from much of so-called normal Christianity in the West, but it’s the “normal” Christianity of today which is insufficient for the hour. By conforming ourselves to His commandments, and drawing close to Him we gain life and supernatural joy. As Jesus states in John 15, verses ten and eleven,  “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

Pledging to a specific spirituality helps  Christians please God by giving them a framework for faithful consistency in their ministry and devotion to Him, and helping strengthen them for a vibrant walk with Him, including fillings of the Holy Spirit on an ongoing basis. 

. . .

I. Hungering for God Himself

These spiritualities are about a life transformation of seeking God wholeheartedly, and while it includes what for many is increased discipline in spiritual practices, the heart is an eagerness to hunger for God Himself, thereby having one’s life totally transformed and led by God.  It’s not less than a lifestyle of strong spiritual practices, but it’s much more.  It’s an attitude of wanting God to be exalted in every way. It means learning to feast on God Himself.  God desires that primarily we live as “Marys” over “Marthas” and that we sit at His feet, getting to know Him and His ways. There’s certainly “Martha” type work to be done in ministry, but Jesus told Mary that she chose the better option because sitting at Jesus’ feet comes first.  

Psalm 42:1 - “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.”

Psalm 81:10 - “I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.”

Luke 10:41, 42 - But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

. . .

II. Seven Principles of the Seeking God Lifestyle

As a Christian, and therefore as one who’s willingly and eagerly submitting to God’s authority, it’s essential to take steps to draw close to Him and to know Him better. To hunger after God and to love Him is to seek Him wholeheartedly with great energy. The following seven principles comprise the seeking God lifestyle. Principles are listed along with exemplary Bible passages.  

Psalm 105:3, 4 - “Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!”

1. Humbling Oneself with the Help of Fasting - Humbling oneself before God brings spiritual strength, which is aided by the practice of fasting. Fasting is going without food for a period of time for spiritual purposes, and is expected of Christians since it’s a tool to deepen humility.  
   • Ezra 8:21 - “Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods.”

2. Prayer - Fervent and frequent prayer is part of what it means to be Christian.  God expects to hear from us and for us to listen to Him as we walk with Him.  
   • Daniel 9:3 - “Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.”

3. Bible - Reading, listening to, memorizing and studying the Bible builds one’s understanding of God and His ways.  It takes time to plumb the depths of the riches of the greatest and most influential book ever written, and this is because it’s the very word of God to humanity. 
   • 2 Chronicles 31:21 - “And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered.”

4. Repentance - Repenting of one’s sins and putting faith in God begins a relationship with Him, but also maintains and develops one’s on-going relationship. Examining oneself daily ensures there’s nothing displeasing to Him. If there is, you can repent, and He will forgive.  
   • Psalm 78:34 - “When he killed them, they sought him; they repented and sought God earnestly.”

5. Obedience - The intention of God’s gospel has always been to bring people into faithful obedience to Him, therefore the Christian’s life is different from others’ lives because the Christian seeks to obey God’s commandments, not finding them burdensome, but a joy to fulfill.  
   • Isaiah 51:1 - “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the Lord: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug.”

6. Community - Seeking God with family, friends, and one’s church adds richness and enjoyment to the Christian life.  Whether participating in spiritual practices as described below, developing Christian friendships for mutual encouragement, or benefiting from the spiritual gifts of others, God provides many of His most consequential blessings through other people.
   • 2 Chronicles 11:16 - “And those who had set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel came after them from all the tribes of Israel to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the Lord, the God of their fathers.”  

7. Perseverance - As you persevere in the six principles listed above, your closeness to God will steadily increase. Even as a Christian, life can have its ups and downs, and God desires that you develop patient diligence in drawing close to Him. 
   • Proverbs 8:17 - “I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.”

. . .

III. Essential Spiritual Practices - A Biblical Pattern for Success

After deciding to hunger after God Himself, and to seek Him wholeheartedly, finding a disciplined way to fulfill these desires is needed. Putting effort into one’s Christian life honors God and ensures growth in Him, so that we increasingly please Him, and become all the more able to fulfill His destiny for our lives. Christians are urged to imitate athletes by training, working hard and struggling:

1 Timothy 4:7-11 - “Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it. This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers. Teach these things and insist that everyone learn them.”

2 Timothy 2:1-7 - You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

Working hard spiritually brings Christians closer to God and brings His many blessings. The apostle Paul acknowledged the benefits of working hard, even while thanking God, knowing that he succeeded only by God’s grace. 

1 Corinthians 15:10 - “But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.”

The following require effort and self-discipline in order to receive increased grace to live a holy and pleasing life to God. Self-discipline is a virtue to be cultivated in the life of the man or woman who loves and fears God. It’s the Christian’s joy to seek God wholeheartedly through the following regular spiritual practices, confessing all sins and living fully surrendered to Him.

It can be seen in the Scriptures, it’s always been God’s intention for believers to follow an established pattern of honoring Him through devotional practices.  

Genesis 1:14 - “And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years.’”

Jewish commentators have seen Genesis 1:14 as God’s way of letting humanity know that there are patterns of drawing close to Him, and that these are even written into the orbits of the planets and stars.

1 Chronicles 23:30-31 - “And they were to stand every morning, thanking and praising the LORD, and likewise at evening, and whenever burnt offerings were offered to the LORD on Sabbaths, new moons, and feast days, according to the number required of them, regularly before the LORD.”

The following may be fulfilled through one's local church, on one’s own, with a group of family or friends, through offerings of Christian Union or other Christian agencies, or a combination of all of these.  

1. 1. Morning and Evening Devotions - Draw close to God for thirty to ninety minutes mornings and evenings through Christian devotions.  Listen to praise music, repent of sins, read and memorize the Bible, learn to listen to God and pray.  Perhaps some days the time would be spent all at once instead of split between morning and evening, but twice daily is the ideal. This can be practiced alone, although is often more rewarding when accompanied by friends, family, or one’s church community. Some families establish a “family altar” which is a fixed time and place to pray as a family mornings and evenings. The goal is to be faithful to this commitment for at least four of the six days per week.
      
      1 Timothy 5:5, 6 - “She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.
      
      
   2. Sunday Church Attendance with Increased Devotion - Spend Sundays (or another day as a Sabbath) attending church, resting and participating in other activities to grow in God. Some churches offer more than one service on Sunday, so attending both can be of aid in Christian growth and strengthening. The minimum time commitment entails one to two hours for church and the same amount of time in the evening. The goal is to be faithful to this commitment for at least three of the four or five Sundays per month. For the evening one to two hours, churches may offer evening services, or something more informal online like a zoom prayer meeting. Of course, this commitment could also be met with one’s family, friends, on one’s own or some other way. 
      
      Exodus 20:8-11 - “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
      
      
   3. Fasting Wednesdays and Fridays - As was practiced by the early church for hundreds of years and still practiced by many Christians worldwide, fast by refraining from all food up until at least 3:00pm on Wednesdays and Fridays. Fasting helps Christians humble themselves, draw closer to God and experience more of His presence. The goal is to be faithful to this commitment at least the majority of the seven to ten fasting days per month. There may be circumstances that would require switching a fasting day to another day during the week, and there also may be circumstances necessitating a refraining from fasting because of family, medical or mental health concerns.
      
      Luke 5:35 - “The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.”
      
      
   4. Once-a-Month All-Day Devotion - Once a month devote an entire Saturday or other day to strengthening one’s relationship with God with one’s church family, alone or with friends and family by drawing close to God by praying, building strong relationships, reading the Bible, repenting of sins, listening to Christian messages and worshiping. Eight to twelve hours of the day should be dedicated to this pursuit. The goal is to be faithful to this commitment for at least eight of the twelve months per year. Because some churches do not offer this, it may be fulfilled on one’s own, with spouse and family or by participating in a CU Fire Retreat (www.cufire.org) which are held Friday night and all-day Saturday four times a year. Sample schedules can be provided for those seeking to construct their own.
      
      Ezekiel 46:6 - On the day of the new moon he shall offer a bull from the herd without blemish, and six lambs and a ram, which shall be without blemish.
      
      
   5. Twice-a-Year Christian Conferences - Approximately every six months attend a Christian conference up to a week-long with great teaching, worship, repentance, prayer, fellowship and encouragement. This renews one’s love for God, brings honor to Him, likely facilitates a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit and strengthens Christians for effective service. The goal is to be faithful to this commitment approximately every six months, spending a minimum of eight to twelve hours each day drawing close to Him. This can be fulfilled through a church conference, an extended CU Fire Retreat (www.cufire.org), on one’s own or with friends.
      
      Exodus 23:14-17 - “Three times in the year you shall keep a feast to me. 15 You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. As I commanded you, you shall eat unleavened bread for seven days at the appointed time in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt. None shall appear before me empty-handed. 16 You shall keep the Feast of Harvest, of the firstfruits of your labor, of what you sow in the field. You shall keep the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in from the field the fruit of your labor. 17 Three times in the year shall all your males appear before the Lord GOD.
      
      
   6. Periodic Extraordinary Efforts - Periodically, God calls individuals and groups to more extraordinary efforts in seeking Him.  For example, He may have you fast and pray for three days for an important decision. He may have you pray all night, like Jesus did, to draw closer to Him. God may ask you with others to set in motion a 24-hour prayer chain for a season or indefinitely, like the Moravians for 100 years. He may have you seek Him in prayer, fasting and repentance for 10 days like Jeremiah, 21 days like Daniel or 40 days like Moses. He may have you read the Bible once to four times in a year, or have you memorize chapters or a whole book of the Bible. As part of God’s international, dynamic movement of expanding and deepening the Kingdom of God, He will have you follow His direction for seasons of extraordinary efforts in seeking Him. As you grow in Christ, He will give you the desire and strength to participate in these types of exceptional efforts. The goal is to participate in at least once such effort per year. You may do something God individually calls you to, or you may participate with a larger group of people such as an extended fast sponsored by your church. Christian Union also typically hosts two national fasts every year in August and January.  Zealously participating in these helps Christians draw close to the face of God.
      
      Esther 4:15-17 - Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him. 

Diligently seeking God is an expression of faith facilitating the renewing of one’s mind and a filling of the Holy Spirit. It takes time and effort to rearrange priorities so that God is first and foremost, but is extraordinarily important so that growth is not hindered and one doesn't neglect one’s responsibility to God. It becomes incredibly rewarding to deepen friendship with God and love for Him, especially as when persevering week after week, month after month, year after year.  

When striving to seek God with one’s whole heart as He requires, legalism is to be assiduously avoided. Legalism is the misunderstanding that one’s efforts seeking God through spiritual practices merits or earns God’s favor. This is clearly false because everything from God is a gift, yet it is also false that it’s not needed or not valuable to expend effort in seeking God, because He plainly states that He draws near to us when we draw near to Him (James 4:6). Legalism has to do with earning; seeking God has to do with effort. If you believe you are earning God’s blessing when seeking Him as He requires then you will periodically be frustrated with Him when difficulties arise in your life because you think that He owes you something specific. When you remember that He promises you blessings out of His grace, then your disappointment and frustration are much less when blessings are delayed or not forthcoming, because you remember that you were never owed anything.  

You will be rewarded as you seek Him as the New Testament directs:

Hebrews 11:6 - “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”

If you start to experience burnout when seeking the Lord faithfully, it may be that you’re not receiving fresh fillings of the Holy Spirit. This may mean that you need to repent of something or start obeying God in an area where you have not done so. It may also mean that nothing is wrong spiritually, but that God is developing your ability to seek Him faithfully even when it’s difficult. The next time you take a whole day or multiple days with God, focus on ensuring that you receive a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit. Often, burnout comes not from spending a lot of time drawing close to God but from spending too much time in ministry or other activities. Remember to pace yourself and to remember that there is only one Savior.  He has many servants to fulfill His will and we each have only a small part. 

As Christians draw close to God faithfully day after day and month after month, their walk with Him becomes increasingly rewarding, and are given strength to live a devout life that’s pleasing to Him, ascribing to Him the honor He deserves.  

. . .

Summary

When one reflects on the need to draw close to God, the seven principles of what it means to seek God wholeheartedly, and the patterns of devotions demonstrated in the Scriptures, it can be seen that combining these into a regular lifestyle is nothing less than extraordinary.  It’s a lifestyle pleasing to God which allows us to center our lives wholly on Him, and because He’s full of grace, He fills us with joy, and delights of all kinds, and releases  His sovereign power and love into the lives of our family members, community members and nation.  

By God’s grace and His power, the greatest revival in history will come about, but must be preceded by large numbers of Christians crying out to Him with abandon and seeking Him as He expects and deserves. He is faithful and will draw near as His people draw near to Him.  This takes faith and leadership on behalf of all Christians to call others to seek Him diligently.  

...

Three Spiritualities

We are to be people who feast on God, who want Him and His ways more than anything. This means radical, wholehearted devotion to Jesus Christ in every aspect, seeing Him as Lord of all, and doing everything He asks in order to attract His presence.  The nation is in a very precarious place, and nothing less than full surrender to the living God by His people is sufficient for the hour. This means not just the adoption of stronger spiritual disciplines, but for most, a total life transformation of consecration to Jesus Christ. It’s about changing mindsets, adopting new rhythms, stepping out of comfort zones and being used by God in dramatic ways.  

The following is a description of three different spiritualities designed to be pleasing to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. They are based on the Scriptures as well as the revival-oriented international church and times of great gospel progress in America’s history. As reminded in Zechariah 8, it’s the privilege and duty of Christians to seek God faithfully, inviting others to join.  

Zechariah 8:20-23 - “Thus says the LORD of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities. 21 The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the LORD and to seek the LORD of hosts; I myself am going.’ 22 Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the LORD. 23 Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”

. . .

Overview

• Hungering for God Himself - It always starts with a desire to focus on God Himself, including His glory and His ways.  
  
  
• Seeking God Lifestyle -  Hungering for God translates into seek Him wholeheartedly through self-humbling with the help of fasting, frequent and fervent prayer, massive intake of the Scriptures, ongoing repentance, faithful obedience, joining with others and persevering over the long term. The following three levels of Christian devotion depend upon the Christian practicing these seven principles of the seeking God lifestyle. Apart from sincere zeal to seek God, spiritual practices can become empty and disconnected from the heart. All three spiritualities assume a genuine, heart-felt eagerness to love God and seek Him with whole hearts.  
  
  
• Essential Spiritual Practices  
  • Daniel Spirituality - This is arguably a spirituality needed of all Christians as explained below.
  • Shepherd Spirituality - This is a stronger spirituality needed of pastors, elders and others in Christian leadership.  It includes the responsibility of helping lay Christians stay strong in Daniel Spirituality.
  • Pauline Spirituality - This is the strongest spirituality, that of a revivalist which brings power and grace to help pastors and other Christian leaders adopt shepherd spirituality and laymen to adopt Daniel Spirituality. 

. . .

Daniel Spirituality

Overview
Daniel exemplified devout faithfulness to God while serving as a prominent leader and influencer in a spiritually hostile context, having been taken captive from Judah to Babylon in approximately 605 B.C. Serving as the second in command to King Nebuchadnezzar and successive emperors, Daniel was regarded by God as “highly esteemed” because of his character, mindset and lifestyle. He possessed a remarkable spirituality, available to all believers, especially Christians today because of the increased authority and power of the Holy Spirit, made possible by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through the teaching of the Scriptures, and the power of the Holy Spirit, this type of faithfulness to God is available to all who desire it, although it requires focus, diligence and perseverance.  

Christians today, like Daniel, live in the context of a wicked and perverse generation, and likewise do not have to succumb to it. The benefits of living a devout life are truly wonderful, because Christians living devotedly are promised God’s supernatural joy, His friendship, and power to be true overcomers no matter the circumstances. The dedication required is worth the effort, because Christians will be able to live the type of life God had always intended for them. When a growing number of Christians choose to live wholeheartedly for God, He is more responsive to our prayers, and often pours out His Spirit in much greater measure, radically changing not just our own lives, but the destiny of our families, communities and nation.  

Because Christians in the West have drifted so far from historical norms of righteous living, it may initially be surprising when patterns of devotion from the Scriptures and church history are first learned. Without realizing it, Christians have succumbed to complacency, thereby becoming lovers of pleasure and lovers of self. Our current ways of  life as Christians often depart radically from Christians in American history, the current international church, and the first century church. As a result, God’s blessings have been steadily withdrawing from the West, with secularism steadily growing in most sectors of society. God is patient and loving, but eventually brings increasing judgment as a means of discipline to highlight the need to return to Him wholeheartedly, but this does not have to happen as Christians return to Him wholeheartedly.  

Specific Practices

From the Scriptures and history, arguably, this is the expectation of Christians generally. It’s more robust than the average modern Western Christian’s devotion, and it’s the privilege of Christians today to return to it.  

1. Hungering after God Himself

2. Practicing the seven principles of the Seeking God Lifestyle

3. Practicing Six Spiritual Practices as Follows:
   1. 1. Morning and evening devotions of 30 - 60 minutes minimum (8 of 12 per week)..  
      2. Weekly morning and evening church attendance lasting one to two hours (3 per month). 
      3. Fasting Wednesdays and Fridays until 3pm minimum (6 per month). Sometimes it may be needed to switch fasting days, for example, to fast on Wednesday and Thursday because of a special situation on a Friday.  
      4. Monthly all-day seeking God (8 of 12 per year).  At least eight hours need to be spent during the day seeking God and preferably as many as 12 hours.  Bible reading and memorization, praying, and worshiping are to fill the day.  
      5. Twice a year conferences of two to seven days each. 
      6. Periodic extraordinary efforts of seeking God
         
         

. . .

Shepherd Spirituality

Overview
This is a spirituality needed for ministers who want grace from God to to help those lay people at a Daniel Spirituality to continue at that level. It means deepening and practicing the skills of calling others to pray, fast, repent of sins and seek God wholeheartedly.  

This takes a consecrated state of mind and a spirit of Zechariah 8:20-23.  

Specific Practices

1. Hungering after God Himself

2. Practicing the seven principles of the Seeking God Lifestyle

3. Practicing Seven Spiritual Practices
   1. 1. Morning and evening devotions of 60-90 minutes (8 of 12 per week). 
      2. Weekly morning and evening church attendance lasting one to two hours (3 per month). 
      3. Fasting Wednesdays and Fridays until 3pm minimum (6 per month). 
      4. Monthly all-day seeking God (8 of 12 per year)
      5. Twice a year conferences of three to seven days each
      6. Periodic extraordinary efforts of seeking God
      7. Leadership - Calling others to seek God wholeheartedly, providing encouragement, correcting and rebuking as needed.  

4. Focused Time-Frame is  January 1 - May 31, 2023 and August 1 - Thanksgiving, 2023, during the other weeks, Daniel Spirituality is to be practiced.  

. . .

Pauline Spirituality

Overview

Pauline Spirituality expresses a level of devotion and lifestyle typical of revivalist ministers in order to seek God to draw His power and presence to rejuvenate other Christians. Incredible grace is needed in order to help Christians make radical lordship decisions in their lives. Seeking God at this level provides the revelation and power to see lives and communities, radically transformed.  Christian ministers at the Pauline Spirituality are to encourage, strengthen and call others to a Daniel Spirituality, Shepherd Spirituality and Pauline Spirituality. This takes a consecrated state of mind and a spirit of Zechariah 8:20-23, including much listening to the Lord and power and grace! The Lord calls Pauline Spirituality practitioners to many deep, self-sacrificial periodic extraordinary efforts of drawing close to God.    

Specific Practices

1. Hungering after God Himself

2. Practicing the seven principles of the Seeking God Lifestyle

3. Practicing Seven Spiritual Practices
   1. Morning and evening devotions of 60-90 minutes plus two or more hours per day seeking God for direction and grace (8 of 12 per week). 
   2. Weekly morning and evening church attendance lasting one to two hours (3 or more per month). 
   3. Fasting Wednesdays and Fridays until 3pm minimum (6 or more per month). 
   4. Monthly all-day seeking God (8 of 12 per year)
   5. Twice a year conferences of five to seven days each
   6. Many periodic extraordinary efforts of seeking God
   7. Leadership - Calling pastors and laypeople to seek God wholeheartedly, providing encouragement, correcting and rebuking as needed. 

4. Focused Time-Frame is January 1 - May 31, 2023 and August 1 - Thanksgiving, 2023, otherwise Daniel Spirituality. 

. . .

Conclusion

As final notes it's helpful to remember the following:

 

• Negative Feedback - Affirmatively stepping into a robust pattern of seeking the Lord will necessarily draw the attention of the enemy to strike back.  Through the mouths of even other Christians, those committing may be accused, labeled and cajoled into giving up such a commitment. You are encouraged, however, to stay strong and to anticipate that negativity may come, and be ready if someone labels them “legalistic” or that they don’t understand the grace of God. Those who follow Christ wholeheartedly are always subject to rejection of some sort.
  
  

• Mutual Strengthening - Stepping into one of the three commitments includes a commitment to help encourage and strengthen others in their own commitments. It’s a community and together the community encourages, inquires, and challenges fellow community members to be faithful to the commitment. Like any well-functioning team, team members look out for each and help each other to succeed.  

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Below are instructions on how to make a gift through the mail, by phone, online, or by wire transfer.

Mail

Please make checks payable to Christian Union.
If you are designating the gift, indicate it on the memo line. Examples include one of the campuses where Christian Union operates (e.g. ministry at Brown, Dartmouth, Harvard) or a special campaign.

Mail your check to:
19 Vandeventer Avenue
Princeton, New Jersey 08542

Phone

Charge by phone: (609) 688-1700, Option 2

Web

Use our convenient online donation form.

Wire Transfer

Step 1: Initiate Transfer

ABA Routing number: 026009593 [International Banks use SWIFT-BIC: BOFAUS3N]

Bank:
Bank of America, N.A.
100 West 33rd Street
New York, NY 10001

a/c: 6550113516

Name: Merrill Lynch
For final credit to Christian Union account: 2X7-02131


Step 2: Notify Christian Union

Note: To ensure accurate handling, please send a confirming email to giving@ChristianUnion.org with the following information:

• Date that Christian Union should expect the wire transfer
• Dollar amount
• Sending organization
• Gift designation, if any (e.g. ministry at Brown, Dartmouth, Harvard)

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For Assistance

If you need assistance with any of these giving opportunities, call a donor representative at: 1-609-688-1700 Option 2 or email at: giving@christianunion.org. 

If you wish to send a check please send it to the following address:  

19 Vandeventer Avenue
Princeton, NJ 08542

Annual Reports, Financial Statements, Policies

Christian Union is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation and a member of Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA). 

The mission of the ECFA is helping Christ-centered organizations earn the public's trust through developing and maintaining accountability standards and God-honoring ethical practices. Christian Union complies with ECFA's Seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship™ in keeping with the Apostle Paul's commendation for all effort in 2 Corinthians 8:21, "For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men."

We have achieved the Guide Star Platinum participation level again -- we're committed to the highest level of transparency. Read more here.

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Annual Reports 

See past Annual Reports. You will have the option to download the report. 

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Audited Financial Statements

Opens in browser as pdf.

2020-21

990

2021

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Policies

Conflict of Interest
Document Retention Policy
Whistleblower Policy
Donation Disclosure
Donor Privacy Policy

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For Assistance

Call 1-609-688-1700 Option 2

Contact Christian Union by email Giving@ChristianUnion.org or write to: 

Christian Union
19 Vandeventer Avenue
Princeton, NJ 08542

Reflections on Cultivating Humility

Christian Union invites you to take part in supporting this ministry through both fasting and prayer.

As we invite the Lord to change the nation, we first give attention to our own hearts. Fasting has fallen out of fashion among many in the Western church, which is a tragedy given its ability to help humble the one who fasts, attracting the presence of God through the filling of the Holy Spirit.

The following is a brief overview of scriptural fasting, and the strong rationale for seeking to develop deeper humility through this until-recent-times typical Christian practice.

God alone rules the universe, and strongly opposes all who seek to usurp His role. It was because of pride, the desire to be like the Most High, that Satan was thrown out of heaven (Isaiah 14:12-20).

Peter makes plain God's opposition to the arrogant: "God opposes the proud, but shows favor to the humble" (1 Peter 5:5).

Arrogance is repellent to God and He doesn't want anything to do with it. Pride repulses God and, just as powerfully, humility delights Him and attracts His presence.

Fasting is not the only thing in the Christian life that contributes toward the development of humility, but it is vital to the Christian life and should be practiced regularly by those who seek after God.

There are countless examples in the Scriptures of devout men and women humbling themselves before God with fasting:

• Moses fasted for 40 days and then another 40 days
• Elijah fasted for 40 days
• Nehemiah fasted for 120 days
• Mordecai, Esther and thousands of Jews in the Persian Empire fasted for 70 days, and some went without both food and water for 3 days of that fast
• Ezra fasted
• John the Baptist fasted
• Anna the prophetess fasted
• the Apostles and first elders fasted
• All Christians in the first-century church

Fasting is not the only thing in the Christian life that contributes toward the development of humility, but it is vital to the Christian life!

Fasting, simply put, is going without food and perhaps liquids, for a definitive period of time to humble oneself before God. It is sometimes accompanied by mourning and grieving. 

When fasting is mentioned in the Bible, it usually meant going without food during the day and then eating only in the evening, unless the Scriptures specifically say otherwise. For instance, Moses' fast was without food or water— a supernatural fast that should only be undertaken if a person has received a direct revelation from God.

Many Christians around the world fast regularly, and so did many in church history. We know from a first century document called the Didache that it was the regular practice of Christians in the first century to fast every Wednesday and Friday until 3 p.m. This was the universal practice of first-century Christians. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism in the 18th century, believed in the necessity of fasting so powerfully that he would not ordain anyone to the ministry who did not fast every Wednesday and Friday.

The first-century Christians fasted because Jesus expected them to fast. When Jesus was directly asked about fasting, He explained there was no need for His disciples to fast when He was still with them, but there would be need to fast when He left (Matthew 9:14-15). Jesus even gives instructions about how to fast: Christians should do it in a way that does not bring attention to themselves (Matthew 6:16-18).

Note how the verses say "when you fast" not "if you fast." It was never suggested that Christians should not fast; rather, their fasting should be in stark contrast to the way the Pharisees fasted.

Fasting helps develop humility and a longing after God because the lack of food causes you to recognize your humanity and need for God for everything in life. Because of this, fasting helps increase fervency in prayer, which has a powerful impact on God.

It's important to keep in mind, of course, that God cannot be controlled by any human being and fasting does not assure an automatic response from God.

God answers prayer according to His sovereign will, which is sometimes beyond our immediate comprehension. God gives what He knows is best for you. He is not obligated to answer your prayer, in the specific terms you request, just because you fast.

However, the Scriptures make plain that fasting and humility sway God and incline Him to draw near when otherwise He might not have. He has made clear to humanity what delights Him and under what circumstances He is likely to draw near.

Of course, fasting is not a panacea for pride, because a person can be very proud even though he fasts. This was the problem of the Pharisees. They fasted regularly, as they should have, but were still proud and self righteous.

If a person is determined to be arrogant, fasting will not help him, but for the man or woman truly seeking to humble himself before the Lord, fasting is an important and necessary part of the Christian life.

With these reflections in mind, consider incorporating regular set days for fasting, as well as special times in response to great prayer concerns. The Lord knows we often come to Him with mixed motives, but don't let it hinder you from growing in this area. Confess any tendancy toward pride as you learn to fast, and invite Him to cultivate the humility He desires.

Thank you for joining Christian Union in seeking God. May the Lord bless you richly as you willingly humble yourself before Him.

Learn more about biblical fasting.

Whitepaper

Three Spiritualities
In this Christian Union whitepaper, you will discover biblical patterns of godliness that also attract God's increased presence and power.

Books

by John Piper
A Hunger for God 
(PDF: Free; Paperback: $15)
In this book, John Piper argues that fasting expresses "homesickness" for God. It is like an exclamation point at the end of our prayers saying, "This much, O God, I want you!"

Table of Contents:
Introduction: A Homesickness For God
1. Is Fasting Christian? New Fasting For The New Wine
2. Man Shall Not Live By Bread Alone The Desert Feast Of Fasting
3. Fasting For The Reward Of The Father Jesus' Radical God-Orientation In Fasting
4. Fasting For The King's Coming How Much Do We Miss Him?
5. Fasting And The Course Of History A Call For Discernment And Desire
6. Finding God In The Garden Of Pain A Different Fast For The Sake Of The Poor
7. Fasting For The Little Ones Abortion And The Sovereignty Of God Over False Worldviews
Conclusion: Why Does God Reward Fasting?

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Bill Bright 
The Coming Revival: America's Call to Fast, Pray, and Seek God's Face 
This book provides a moving account of how God led Bill Bright, his wife, and many of the staff and friends of Campus Crusade for Christ to fast, pray, and seek God's face for forty days in 1994. After that fast, Bright and others invited many of America's Christian leaders to gather in Orlando, Florida, in December of that year for three days of fasting and prayer for America's leaders and a great revival in America and the world through the call to fasting, prayer, and seeking God's face. Over six hundred attended, and many cited those days as among the most significant of their lives. 

This book, in part, is that call. In the middle of the book, Dr. Bright draws attention to the moral decline of our incredibly privileged and influential nation and the great degree of spiritual impotence of the church in America. Through biblical and historical examples of God's people seeking his face through prayer, fasting, humbling themselves, and repenting – coupled with God's repeated and dramatic responses to that prayer and fasting – Bright argues that nothing less than faithful fasting and prayer and seeking God's face will be the answer to our problems today. He writes, "We need not wait for a sovereign act of God to bring revival...Our task is to surrender to the Lordship of Christ and the control of the Holy Spirit, fast and pray, and obey God's Word. Meeting these conditions, we can expect the Holy Spirit to transform our lives" (page 89). 

To that end, in the last part of the book, Bright thoroughly answers a barrage of questions about fasting, such as, "Why do we need to fast?" and "How does fasting help?" In successive chapters, he responds to all kinds of excuses for not fasting and offers pages of practical and spiritual advice that will be helpful before, during, and after fasting. Dr. Bright brings over 50 years of experience of walking with the Lord in this book that will increase your faith and help you humble yourself, pray, seek God's face, and turn from sin through fasting.

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Jentezen Franklin (1962- )
Jentezen Franklin is the senior pastor of Free Chapel in Gainesville, Georgia (since 1989) and Free Chapel OC (Orange County) in Irvine, California (since 2007). His church begins each year with a 21-day fast together. While preparing for a career as a saxophone player, Jentezen felt led by God to become an evangelist. When his brother graduated college, Jentezen dropped out and they began traveling as an evangelistic team. Having visited Free Chapel annually as an evangelist for some years, Franklin became the congregation's pastor when Roy Wellborn, the church's senior pastor, died. Currently, over 10,000 attend Free Chapel each week. Jentezen is the author of New York Times best sellers, Right People, Right Place, Right Plan and Fasting.

Fasting 
Franklin defines fasting as "refraining from food for a spiritual purpose," and points out that fasting is included among the three normal Christian duties Jesus speaks about in Matthew 6: "When you give...," "When you pray...," and "When you fast." Jesus not only taught us to fast, but he exemplified fasting (Matt 4:2). If he could have accomplished all he came to do without fasting, why would he fast? Franklin's answer is, "The Son of God fasted because he knew there were supernatural things that could only be released that way" (page 14). And if he needed to fast, how much greater is our need to fast? 

After discussing some of the differences between types and lengths of fasts, Franklin says there's no formula to determine which is right for you. He encourages his readers to begin obeying Jesus's instruction through less intense fasts, working their way up to more intense fasts. The minimum measure and starting point of fasting is whether the degree to which you give up food is meaningful to you: "If it means something to you, it will mean something to God" (35). The goal is humble dependence and love for God. Recalling when he and his wife were first dating and were so caught up in each other that when they went out for a meal they rarely ate all their food, Jentezen writes, "When we are...lovesick for our first love, fasting is easy" (171). For years Franklin's church has fasted together for the first 21 days of the year. 

The challenge he leaves his reader with is this: Compare notes at the end of a year in which you ate normally for the first 21 days and one in which you fasted for the first 21 days. Did 21 days of normal eating at the beginning of the year accomplish as much as 21 days of fasting at the beginning of the year – and periodic fasting throughout the year – accomplished?

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Dallas Willard
Dallas Willard was a professor at the University of Southern California's School of Philosophy and a Southern Baptist minister.

The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives
Willard believes that the heart of the New Testament message is that we can become like Christ in character and power by doing one thing: by following him in the overall style of life he chose for himself. We can, through faith and grace, become like Christ by practicing the types of activities he engaged in – by arranging our lives around the activities he himself practiced to remain constantly at home in the fellowship of his Father. What activities did Jesus practice? Such as solitude and silence, prayer, simple and sacrificial living, intense study and meditation on God's word and God's ways, and service to others. 

What he practiced in his love for God will prove rich soil for our love for the Father and the Son, by the Holy Spirit, to flourish. And our love for Jesus ought to manifest itself, at least in part, through a resolute will to be like him whom we love. The Spirit of the Disciplines is written to aid you in understanding the disciplines that Jesus practiced and the revolutionary results that can come from them.

Table of Contents:
Foreword and Preface
1. The Secret of the Easy Yoke
2. Making Theology of the Disciplines Practical
3. Salvation is a Life
4. "Little Less Than a God"
5. The Nature of Life
6. Spiritual Life: The Body's Fulfillment
7. St. Paul's Psychology of Redemption – The Example
8. History and the Meaning of the Disciplines
9. Some Main Disciplines for the Spiritual Life
10. Is Poverty Spiritual?
11. The Disciplines and the Power Structures of This World
Epilogue
Appendix I. Jeremy Taylor's Counsel on the Application of Rules for Holy Living
Appendix II. Discipleship: For Super-Christians Only? 

 

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Audio & Video

John Piper
Prayer, Meditation, and Fasting: The Pursuit of Communion with God

Over the course of this six-hour seminar, John Piper discusses:
• Biblical passages on communion with God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
• Communing with God through his word, and reasons for doing so,
• Communing with God through prayer, and praying in sync with the way God works,
• Biblical foundations for and aims of fasting.

You can also read the notes that go with the seminar here.

A Hunger for God
Sermon series (January 1 – February 19, 1995)
• Prayer, Fasting, and the Course of History

• When the Bridegroom Is Taken Away, They Will Fast—With New Wineskins

• Man Shall Not Live on Bread Alone

• Fasting for the Safety of the Little Ones

• Fasting for the King's Coming

• Fasting for the Father's Reward

• A Fast for Waters That Do Not Fail, Part 1

• A Fast for Waters That Do Not Fail, Part 2

A Christian Union Video Teaching Series

Are you satisfied with your own Christian growth, or the current impact of the Church in America? 

The Seven Keys to Kingdom Advancement is a series of lessons explaining Christians' role in advancing the kingdom of God into all parts of society to please God and bring His blessings to every sector. 

The Seven Keys to Kingdom Advancement series is rooted in the Scriptures, drawing on years of study, experience, and insight. They are directly applicable to every Christian, church, and Christian agency. Understanding the seven keys and radically putting them into action will positively revolutionize churches, communities, and nations to the glory of God.

Brief bios of the presenters in this video series are listed below the table of contents.

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Table of Contents

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Key 1: Aspiration and Desperation

What is the vision and end goal of the Seven Keys? Why are the Seven Keys so urgently needed today?

 

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Key 2: Theological Foundations 

Theological Foundation teachings address common issues and questions holding many Christians back from full engagement in kingdom advancement.

 

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The primary presenter is Matt Bennett, founder and president of Christian Union. Other presenters include Dan Knapke, an executive leader and 20-year veteran of Christian Union, Dr. Chuck Hetzler, Ph.D. in New Testament and former senior pastor, and Bishop Wolfgang Watkins, a founding senior pastor and Christian leader.  Each has participated in—and helped lead—a revival. Each has also studied extensively the history of revivals in America. Additionally, to learn about how God works, each has visited other nations where revivals are currently commonplace.