"When you pray, pray first for the Holy Spirit because when you have the Holy Spirit, you have everything."        - Medjugorje April 4, 1985

"You have forgotten that through prayer and fasting you can avert wars and suspend the laws of nature."       - Medjugorje Dec. 2, 1982

We hope you enjoyed a wonderful Labor Day weekend, and the special reminder we sent on Friday with the detailed study of what really transpired at the first public Sign & Wonder, the wedding feast of Cana. As we continue to think about incredible signs and wonders that surrounded Jesus and continue to surround Jesus through today, we wanted to reflect on the signs and wonders around John the Baptist.

As John baptized Jesus, the heavens opened and the multitudes heard the voice of the Father, declaring that Jesus is the son of God and instructing us to listen to Him. The multitudes present qualify this is a factual event in history – an incredible sign for the ages.

It is interesting that Mary’s words at Jesus’ first miracle in Cana, her last recorded words in scripture, are a prelude to the Father’s at Jesus’ baptism. At Cana Mary said, “Do whateverhe tells you.” As her voice then disappears from scripture, the Father’s picks up saying “listen to Him”. And just as Mary was the believer through whom the first public miracle flowed at Cana, the believer through whom the revelation of the Father was manifest was of course the Baptist.

Last week the church paid tribute to the martyrdom of the Baptist. St John, who was the consummate faster, denied himself every bodily comfort including delicious food, in order to pave the way out in the desert for the Messiah. John was blessed with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit while still in his mother Elizabeth’s womb, and his birth preceded Jesus’ birth by about three months. Likewise, his ministry preceded Jesus’ ministry, and his death preceded Jesus’ death. 

John got in trouble when he said directly to the king, not couching his words, that King Herod was living in adultery. The king knew it, his wife knew it, and everyone knew it, but only John had the courage to say what everyone knew to be True. Mark 6 says that the king was perplexed. We might presume that since John had hit the target, the king did not know how to respond. Admitting guilt would make him lose prestige and perhaps power, so he did nothing. He actually kinda liked John. His queen Herodius however, viciously wanted the message to be erased, cancelled, and shut down, much like the truth of so many things today. We can only imagine the conversations between the king and queen in which she demanded John be killed. So, to appease his queen, Herod had John put in prison. 

Christians, so many people have been cancelled, imprisoned, and murdered in this c*vid/trans era. The earlier that men or women were fired or cancelled, the earlier that they realized the fraud that is being perpetrated on humanity. What is so interesting is that now, like John, many have chosen to speak out because of their trials.

The practice of self denial of food (and other comforts) trains us as spiritual athletes. We are used to going without, so we will be better prepared for the days ahead. 

A parting prayer for all of you for your fast day:

God Almighty, look upon the sacrifice of your children who fast and pray today. Like your servant John, may we put You first in every area of life, so as to want to please you above all and speak Your truth. Help us to trust You and not to worry about what we will wear, how we will make a living, how we will pay for children’s college, or any other worry that is fleeting. We entrust ourselves only to Your providence. In Jesus’ powerful name, Amen!

Why We Fast – Our Core Fasting Intentions

1) We add the new fasting intention of taking back the church from evil. We submit the three-step process to achieve this victory is 1-Repent, 2-Prayer & Fasting and, 3-Imitate our Savior by throwing the evil leadership from the church. We will seek to emulate the Savior in our effort to End The USCCB, an organization that has been devastating to the church.  (“You shall know the spirit by the fruits” - Matt. 7:16)

2) For the Holy Spirit to reign down upon America, renewing our land as the Christian, capitalist meritocracy we were founded to be.

3) For the protection of our police, firefighters, military and their families from harm and that the Lord bless their courageous generosity on our behalf.

4) For the protection of the families who fast with us, and for God’s blessings of abundance upon them and that true to His word, we will be able to witness that He prospered us in famine.

Would you like to learn more about fasting?

We maintain a repository of ideas and information we have learned over the last decade while fasting weekly for America. From scientific studies on the benefits of fasting, to the differences between intermittent dieting vs intermittent fasting, to scriptural references regarding the power of fasting to the history of first century Christians who stated believers are obligated to fast weekly, we hope you will find numerous insights with our free resource located here.

Together let us also implore Heaven while fasting for intentions you have highlighted:

4) For all patriots who put themselves on the front lines in combatting evil and for all of the warriors who are stepping up around the nation to fight for the gospel – May The Father cover them in the blood of our savior,  protect them and their families from evil and bring victory to their endeavors.

5) For priests, ministers and all who aspire to lead others to the Lord, that the Holy Spirit will reign down upon them as at Pentecost filling them to overflowing. 

6) For the Americans jailed after January 6th who were admitted to the Capitol building by the police, and who were not found to have destroyed any property at the capitol yet who have been held captive ever since on our own soil - That God's Spirit will move quickly to bring justice back to this land and free them.

Who We Are
St. Joseph Partners is a for-profit business that has funded Fast for America for over ten years. To the extent you support our work to renew America and if you understand why gold and silver protect believers' wealth in this world, please consider us or recommend us when you or someone you know buys or sells gold and silver. From our website www.StJosephPartners.com you can buy and sell dozens of types of precious metals. We close on Sundays to honor the Sabbath. Click here for a link where you can view a brief video about our firm and a brief video about why all investors and families should have some gold and silver in their portfolios.