The Tree Of Life

So why such an emphasis on prayer and fasting?  Because I need to...we all need to.  Sure, we might think we can get along fine on our own, but that is but a deception from the very pit of hell.  We need prayer and fasting to return us to dependence on God; to return us to God's original intent. 

In Eden, Adam and Eve were given a choice.  They could eat from the Tree of Life and live in dependence on God's life in them, or they could eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and become independent.  They based their choice on the deception of desire and wisdom (Genesis 3:6).  James 1:14-16 warns us of this deception saying, "¹⁴ but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.  ¹⁶ Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters."  Neither did they know that, " the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength." (1 Corinthians 1:25)

What tragedy befell the human race.  The very thing that was thought to bring our exaltation was really our undoing.  But praise be to God, who has not left us without a Kinsman Redeemer!  Before we were even created God had a plan.  That plan is His Son, Jesus.  He is the one who came, died and was resurrected that God's original intent might be fulfilled.  In John 15:4-5 Jesus told the disciples, "Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.  I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." 

We again have a choice.  We can continue on our way of independence and foolishness, or we can hand over our old nature to death and accept, by faith, the life of Jesus in us.  "For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body." (2 Corinthians 4:11)  Watchman Nee puts it this way, "Origin determines destination, and what was 'of the flesh' originally will never be made spiritual by any amount of 'improvement'.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and it will never be otherwise.  So anything for which we are sufficient in ourselves is 'nothing' in God's estimate...It is only what comes from above that will abide." 

We can crowd out the life of Jesus in us, with our own independence.  Rather, let us humbly come before our God in repentance, prayer and fasting, depending on Him.  For He who promised is faithful and He rewards those who seek Him.

²³ This is what the Lord says:

“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom
    or the strong boast of their strength
    or the rich boast of their riches,
²⁴ but let the one who boasts boast about this:
    that they have the understanding to know me,
that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness,
    justice and righteousness on earth,
    for in these I delight,”
declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 9:23-24