FASTING
Matthew 6:16-18
“And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get.
But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face.
Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
This was Jesus teaching on fasting. Let us compare it with what the Lord revealed to Isaiah about fasting in "Isaiah 58"
This is includes an extract from our earlier review on the book of Isaiah
Isaiah 58:3
Wherefore have we fasted, [say they], and thou seest not? [wherefore] have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.
We loose it when we think that fasting is a physical exercise, it is not. Fasting is a spiritual exercise. It is denying the body food and pleasure, that you may arouse the spirit.
Matthew 6:16
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward,
The exertion of the people of old and some sects or religion today according to God, is not acceptable to Him.
Isaiah 58:4-5
What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me.
You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the lord?
Fasting is not something you do to show that you are serving the Lord, it is not a penance. I do not fast just to get a reward it is actually for my own good. When I exercise my body I do not do it to please others, NO, I do it to be physically fit, to stay physically healthy that I may carry out my daily scheduled properly. Same way when I fast I desire to be Spiritually fit, I hear clearly from God, the flesh is set aside and the spirit is in full control.
Isaiah 58:6-7
“No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people.
Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.
A spiritual fast will release the character of the spirit:
Galatians 5:22-23
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Not that of the flesh:
Galatians 5:19-21
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,
idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,
envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
See the error those of old and some today still fall for:
Isaiah 58:4
Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as [ye do this] day, to make your voice to be heard on high.
It is fleshy to boast the number of days or times you have fasted. Also going about telling people you are fasting. Selah!
I have lived in an area where a man was arrested almost lynched because he was seen eating when a particular sect was observing fast. This is very anti-God and it is the type of bondage many have entrapped themselves in. We pray they come to the light. Fasting should be between you, or a group and your God only.
We wait on the Lord that we might get direction and also that we may go forth to do good. For we have set aside the flesh that the spirit should be in control.
That was what Jesus did:
Matthew 4:1&2
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
Thus when we read:
Acts 10:38
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
He spent time to fast that the flesh would not take control but the spirit.
Fasting opens us up to hear clearly what God says, to receive direction and to continue in the power of the Spirit by our spirit:
Matthew 4:11
Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
So in ending Isaiah 58 the bible says that the right type of fasting would provoke the blessing of God in our lives:
Isaiah 58:14
Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken [it].
These blessing is that we may also go forth and do good as Jesus did, thus, fulfilling our purpose.
We have a higher purpose than the children of Israel had and also a greater inheritance than what they expected, for Christ promised thrones for us in His Father's house. Glory to God.
Many are trapped in different forms of religions and practices that give you varying exertions that have no eternal profit. It just plays your mind to think that you are pleasing the creator, however it is just a play of self righteousness, it doesn't go beyond here for it is only for man to see.
May we not be drowned in profitless exertions. Amen.
Believers in Christ Jesus are spiritual, we carry the Spirit of the Living God. We are His. We wait on Him. Halleluyah.
He calls us blessed.
Love
@the watcher
“And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get.
But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face.
Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
This was Jesus teaching on fasting. Let us compare it with what the Lord revealed to Isaiah about fasting in "Isaiah 58"
This is includes an extract from our earlier review on the book of Isaiah
Isaiah 58:3
Wherefore have we fasted, [say they], and thou seest not? [wherefore] have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.
We loose it when we think that fasting is a physical exercise, it is not. Fasting is a spiritual exercise. It is denying the body food and pleasure, that you may arouse the spirit.
Matthew 6:16
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward,
The exertion of the people of old and some sects or religion today according to God, is not acceptable to Him.
Isaiah 58:4-5
What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me.
You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the lord?
Fasting is not something you do to show that you are serving the Lord, it is not a penance. I do not fast just to get a reward it is actually for my own good. When I exercise my body I do not do it to please others, NO, I do it to be physically fit, to stay physically healthy that I may carry out my daily scheduled properly. Same way when I fast I desire to be Spiritually fit, I hear clearly from God, the flesh is set aside and the spirit is in full control.
Isaiah 58:6-7
“No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people.
Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.
A spiritual fast will release the character of the spirit:
Galatians 5:22-23
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Not that of the flesh:
Galatians 5:19-21
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,
idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,
envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
See the error those of old and some today still fall for:
Isaiah 58:4
Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as [ye do this] day, to make your voice to be heard on high.
It is fleshy to boast the number of days or times you have fasted. Also going about telling people you are fasting. Selah!
I have lived in an area where a man was arrested almost lynched because he was seen eating when a particular sect was observing fast. This is very anti-God and it is the type of bondage many have entrapped themselves in. We pray they come to the light. Fasting should be between you, or a group and your God only.
We wait on the Lord that we might get direction and also that we may go forth to do good. For we have set aside the flesh that the spirit should be in control.
That was what Jesus did:
Matthew 4:1&2
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
Thus when we read:
Acts 10:38
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
He spent time to fast that the flesh would not take control but the spirit.
Fasting opens us up to hear clearly what God says, to receive direction and to continue in the power of the Spirit by our spirit:
Matthew 4:11
Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
So in ending Isaiah 58 the bible says that the right type of fasting would provoke the blessing of God in our lives:
Isaiah 58:14
Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken [it].
These blessing is that we may also go forth and do good as Jesus did, thus, fulfilling our purpose.
We have a higher purpose than the children of Israel had and also a greater inheritance than what they expected, for Christ promised thrones for us in His Father's house. Glory to God.
Many are trapped in different forms of religions and practices that give you varying exertions that have no eternal profit. It just plays your mind to think that you are pleasing the creator, however it is just a play of self righteousness, it doesn't go beyond here for it is only for man to see.
May we not be drowned in profitless exertions. Amen.
Believers in Christ Jesus are spiritual, we carry the Spirit of the Living God. We are His. We wait on Him. Halleluyah.
He calls us blessed.
Love
@the watcher
Glory be to God, Halleluyah. May His spirit keep guiding us to do the right things all the time
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