Eat This Book
Read Proverbs Chapter 26
Isaiah 58
1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.
2 Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.
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.
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.
5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?
6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward.
9 Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day:
11 And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
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 Lordhath spoken it.
The POFW Daily Bible Reading 
HALELUJAH!!! HALELUJAH!!! HALELUJAH!!!
13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
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.
YES LORD!!! HALELUJAH!!! IF WE OBEY WE WILL OBTAIN THE BLESSINGS!!! GOD IS OF ORDER!!! THERE IS NOT A SHORT CUT ESPECIALLY TO GODS COMMANDS!!! EN LA OBEDENCIA ESTA LA BENDICION!!! HALELUJAH!!! THANK YOU JESUS!!! I LOVE YOU DADDY!!! HALELUJAH!!! I PRAISE YOU DADDY !!!
The purpose behind the fast
Is not this the fast that I have chosen ? to loose the bands of wickedness , to undo the heavy burdens , and to let the oppressed go free , and that ye break every yoke ?
NET
No, this is the kind of fast I want. I want you to remove the sinful chains, to tear away the ropes of the burdensome yoke, to set free the oppressed, and to break every burdensome yoke.
Fast with a victory in mind. The fast God wants isn’t a fast to humble us but rather a fast that breaks yokes. Jesus said such comes with prayer and fasting. Fasting is part of the arsenal we have in spiritual warfare. It is the aerial assault of our prayers.
Verse 5 NET
Is this really the kind of fasting I want? Do I want a day when people merely humble themselves, bowing their heads like a reed and stretching out on sackcloth and ashes? Is this really what you call a fast, a day that is pleasing to the LORD?
God is not looking for a fast that humbles us only. He is looking for more. Every fast needs to have a divine objective. Fast for the bondage of the people of Fort Worth. Fast to break the yoke, set the captive free, and loose the move of God within this city.
Amen brother Truck
Verse 2 yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways…
When we actually want to be there in his presence is when we become more like him.
1.Cry aloud spare not , lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people thier transgression and the house of Jacob their sins.
Isaiah 58:6-8 MSG
“This is the kind of fast day I’m after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts.
What I’m interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families.
Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way.
The God of glory will secure your passage. Then when you pray, God will answer. You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, ‘Here I am.’
And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
Fasting is NOT about you, it’s about the Kingdom of God.
Yet they act so pious! They come to the Temple every day and seem delighted to learn all about me. They act like a righteous nation that would never abandon the laws of its God. They ask me to take action on their behalf, pretending they want to be near me. ‘We have fasted before you!’ they say. ‘Why aren’t you impressed? We have been very hard on ourselves, and you don’t even notice it!’ “I will tell you why!” I respond. “It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves. Even while you fast, you keep oppressing your workers. 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 ? “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. “Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind. (Isaiah 58:2-8 NLT)
I’m thankful that we as a church fasts and pray, but we can never do enough. We must continue teaching, reaching, and giving. All for the glory of God!!
This scripture came to mind as I was reading this chapter:
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (John 21:15-17 KJV)
10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day:
in order to have our cry heard, we must fast not as stated here, but in a true fast. When we fast for selfish reasons, like it is saying here, we shine a light, but it is not a light that we want to be shining. We show God and others that we are willing to throw fits to get what we want.
When we fast we need to fast not for our own personal gain, but rather for the oppertunity to help others who are struggeling, or to be able to help the hurting, or to reach the lost, We are to fast for something of greater significance than our next Big Mac…
There is a lost city all around us, needing us to reach for them, to help them, to FAST for them…
Be my Guide Lord
11 And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
If I allow the Lord to be my constant guide all my needs will be satisfied and He will make FAT in my bones. Fat = anointing!!!!! I will never thirst again for a spring of water will be in me, and the water will never fail. Thank you Jesus for being my guide!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“Here I Am”
Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say,
Here I am. Isaiah 58:9
Father, from NY childhood You have never left me to struggle alone. All the years of my life You have been there to help me carry any burden I must bear, whether it is physical, emotional, or spiritual. I call out to You, and You answer, just as my mother always did. She knew my voice and could pick out my cry from a babble of voices; You know my heart. When I cry out to You, You are there, just behind my shoulder, ready to catch me if I fall, ready to support me if I stagger. When my strength fails, Yours is always sufficient. Thank You for Your constant love and care, for picking out my cry and never failing to rescue me.
I want to be like Christ and in order for that to happen I have to be willing to go to his presence and voluntarily change when He commands. Thank you Lord for your oppuritkity to become like you!
THE FRUSTRATION OF UNANSWERED PRAYER
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.
As we have so clearly heard over the past few services, the first step to help is to “be real” and “be honest”. I cannot confront what I keep hidden. Religious activities are not the answer. A true honest relationship with JESUS is the answer. We have the ability to faithfully initiate every religious practice; praying, fasting, giving, worship, bible study, evangelism, etc. However if our motives are selfish and impure JESUS knows and will protect us from the deadly process of deception.
Here is the answer the LORD gives to free ourselves of THE FRUSTRATION OF UNANSWERED PRAYER
MSG 6 – 9
“This is the kind of fast day I’m after:
to break the chains of injustice,
get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
free the oppressed,
cancel debts.
What I’m interested in seeing you do is:
sharing your food with the hungry,
inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
being available to your own families.
Do this and the lights will turn on,
and your lives will turn around at once.
Your righteousness will pave your way.
The God of glory will secure your passage.
Then when you pray, God will answer.
You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, ‘Here I am.’
iPraise
iPray
iWork
iGive
iReap
11 And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
Hallelujah!! He’s not gonna leave us hanging! He brought us to the place we’re at and he will be sure to lead us through it, he is so mighty, so faithful that no matter what situation or place we’re in he is faithful to be there and to provide for us. Thank you Jesus HALLELUJAH
A fast is a day to cleanse the soul and have a willing mind to listen to God’s voice. If we do not express true sorrow for sin and don’t promote putting way sin then it is not a fast. When you (I) am fasting that is between you and God and not anyone else. If you go around complaining that you are fasting but so hungry go ahead and go get the cheeseburger cause you are doing the fast the wrong way. When you fast the bible tells us to anoint our head and wash our face that your fasting may not be seen by others but secretly with God. I have heard in the past when people are fasting tell how much weight they have lost, they are so hungry and then they condemn the other person cause they didn’t fast as long. It’s not how long you fast it is between you and God and God knows what you can and can’t do. So when you (I) fast lets do it with our whole heart and do as God says in secret with him.
Wow….verses 8-9 will make you give “a full-throated shout”
“Do this and the lights will turn on,
and your lives will turn around at once.
Your righteousness will pave your way.
The God of glory will secure your passage.
Then when you pray, God will answer.
You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, ‘Here I am.’”
What an open window of opportunity to be a blessing. We must make ourselves available in order to begin to “glow” for Jesus.
iLove to eat the Word
“The Art of Biting the Tongue”
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.
Throughout the scriptures, we find people continually twisting the true purposes and plans of God. In the New Testament, we find in Acts 23:12, “And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
Acts 23:13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.
Acts 23:14 And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.”
Wow, this truly was a fast that was not of God, but was of strife and wickedness!
***I think we all need to go to the original Hebrew and look at the meaning of the word fast.***
The word “fast” in our text comes from the Hebrew word צוּם
which is a primitive root meaning; to cover over (the mouth), that is, to fast: – X at all, fast.
While fasting does include going without food, I think another fast would please God MORE, and it involves “The Art of Biting the Tongue.”
Lets learn to cover our mouths and not allow wicked plots, plans, and words to escape. Let’s go on “detox” and allow the Lord to WASH that junk out of our souls.
5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?
6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward.
In light of our current services with Dr. Hughes, this passage really stood out to me today. God has called his people to be physically, emotionally and spiritually whole. We will prosper as our soul prospers. God has called us to be minister and we can only minister effectively if we are healed ourselves. We are to help people get free from the wicked ways they have entangled their own selves, helped those oppressed by their past and current circumstances be freed, and teach them how to break the yokes in their lives. Feed those that are hungry, take care of the poor, provide for those without clothing and shelter, but here is what really stuck out to me today “hide not thyself from thine own flesh.”
To be healthy families, as parents we must be good leaders. We must “be there” for our children. I’m not just eluding to watching them playing in the band, etc, we must “be there” spiritually to lead them. We are the only example they have at home for 18 years. If we don’t teach them what a godly family is, how will they know. If we don’t model to them what it is to be involved in church (and love it) how will they know? If we don’t teach them how to worship God, how will they know? If we don’t teach them how to love and respect people, how will they know?
We must make everything we do for God’s kingdom a family thing so that they develop a love for the God things, and at the same model a healthy, whole relationship with God, family, friends, and even those we don’t get along with in front of them. This is life, this is what we must do to fully equip them for life as a christian.
1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.
True worship was more than religious rituals, going to the temple every day, fasting, and listening to Scripture readings. These people missed the point of a living, vital relationship with God. He doesn’t want us acting pious when we have unforgiven sin in our hearts and perform sinful practices with our hands. We should have genuine compassion for the poor, the helpless and the oppressed.
I like this scripture about fasting and making the Sabbath holy. the Lord comes first before anything else that goes on Sunday. thank you pofw for teaching me the things that are important to God. Make Him first and just see what can happen! I love you Jesus…
9 Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
Call on Him!
This chapter illustrates perspective. While there may be different opinions on a matter, one would be wise to approach all things, according to God’s word; “Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward”. What a mighty God we serve! May the good Lord Bless you all in Jesus name, Amen
2 Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.
There is no need to put on an act for others, trying to put on a holy image when really you’re not. God see’s right through that, sometimes we just need to stop and ask ourselves – will, what I am doing, please God or others? If it’s not in whole going to please God, it should be re-evaluated. Search me God and know me, I seek to serve and please You.
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 lordhath spoken it
Is not this the fast that i chosen?to loose the bands of wickness to undo the heavy burdens and to let the oppressed go free and that ye break every youk?
And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul then shall thy light rise in obscuted and thy darkness be as the noon day
12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
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.
8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward.
Fasting maybe one of the most understood things we do as Christians. It is more than going without food.
It is more than becoming spiritual giants and seeing great miracles signs and wonders.
My prayer is that The Lord will give us a greater insight into what really happens in is us when we fast.
When that happens we will fast more and will do it with greater purpose.
6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
When we fast we must keep these verses close to our hearts so that we fast correctly. Why afflict yourself and it not be regarded by God? Buy someone a meal at work that may need a little help on your fast day or leave a sack of groceries on a neighbors door! Be mindful of the needs of our Sunday school children…there are many people in our immediate areas that could use our help! Then we’ll find the blessings of God.
Lord shine your light, and make away when there appears to be no way! Let your glory be our reward! Quickly Lord….Quickly I pray!
8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward.
“Be Blessed”………………………………………….
Humble Fasting
“your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and striking each other with fists.” (vs 4) Twice God repeats himself by asking his people if this is the kind of fasting they think he has chosen in vs 5 & 6. When we focus on our own hunger and emptiness instead of humbling ourselves before God and how he’s gonna loose chains of injustice, and the yokes of the oppressed. In focusing on the negative, negative tends to occur. Doing as we please may not seem negative, but if its taking our focus off of pleasing God. He even gives examples of what humble fasting that pleases him is like: sharing food with the hungry, provide shelter, clothe the naked, and don’t turn away from those who need you the most like your family..our own flesh and blood. Our family, the ones we love the most are typically the ones we also hurt the most. Whenever we make any kind of sacrifice the heart of the giver is so much more important to God than the sacrifice itself be it fasting or finances. Its a heart issue.
Mark 12: 29Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord.30And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’g31The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’h No other commandment is greater than these.” 32The teacher of religious law replied, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying that there is only one God and no other. 33And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.”
6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward.
Fast is designed to weaken the flesh while strengthening the spirit. It is our chance to become more sensitive to The Lord.
Primarily it is food related. This is because food is pleasurable and feeds us. Yet there are many pleasurable things today that feed us. Entertainment, games, and Facebook can be fun but take away our time. When we choose to abstain from things we must replace it with things of a God.
11 And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
Lord order my steps in your word. I want God to guide me always. Stay in the word and the Lord will lead you to places you did’t even think were possible.
Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a
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man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?
Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose
the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
there is something powerful about fasting… jesus said these kind come not out but by prayer and fasting not only does it give us miracles at certain points in our lives, but it also helps us to be stable spiritually all throughout our Christian walk. fasting will break the yoke of sin and bondage and free you forever. I’m thankful for the spiritual benefits of fasting
11 And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
My God is so faithful and willing to take care of us.
We want God and yet we don’t want him. We want what he can do for us but we are not willing to have a relationship with him and do what it takes to get it. We must follow his commandments if we are to truly get close to God.
If we want God to be pleased with what we are doing then we really need to commit. If we are fasting for him, then he needs to know it. He won’t know it if you are having gossip and strife. Exhault him and let the earth see his majesty.
Love before Works and Obedience before Sacrifice
7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward.
9 Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day:
11 And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
Matthew 7:21-23
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
A kind word or a hand of help means more to someone than how much scripture you can quote.
1 John 4:20-21
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
Our horizontal relationship is a depiction of our vertical relationship. I dont know how close anyone really is to God but I can see how they treat others.
In love it is easy to please God
Mark 12;30-31
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this [is] the first commandment. And the second [is] like, [namely] this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
If you get these 2 right the rest is easy. Obey the word, Love one another
1 Samuel 15:22
And Samuel said, Hath the LORD [as great] delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey [is] better than sacrifice, [and] to hearken than the fat of rams.
BE Church
2 Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.
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.
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.
Matthew 6:9-18
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 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. 17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
James 4:2-3
2 Ye lust, and have not:ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
Jesus calls us to a life of laying down our will, or resting from our works. We should desire to seek Him, His heartbeat, His ways. When our priorities get off and He is not center in our life, “the system” seems to fall apart. “Why wasn’t my prayer answered, why was my faithfulness unrewarded?” God operates on love, and His ways can only be known through love. If we do not live in love with Him, we will find ourselves confounded by “doing church.”
Matthew 11:25-30
25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. 27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
We are called to lay down our yoke and take His upon us. Putting away the works of the flesh gives way for the works of the Spirit. When Jesus lives in and through us, then we can move beyond “doing church” to BEing church.
6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward.
Luke 4:17-21
17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?
6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
The real fast is a fast from me not for me…
When we fast on our own time, for what purpose do we do it? What are the motives behind it? Who will get the benefit and who will get the glory?
In here we see that the acceptable fast is that we get rid off our selfish motives and seek out to do a good for others, from all those around your world to your your own family. How much time have you invested in building up some one by encouraging them? Whe was the last time you went out off your way to bless the hungry and needy? When was the last time we surprised blessed some one out of love? When was the last time we cried out for the lost of the city, interceded for the strangers you’ve just met… When was the last time you volunteered your time to bless others. When was the last time you showed love without expecting anything in return? An acceptable fast is a fast from me and to live a selfless life showing love..
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
The Lord blesses those that follow his commands and respect themselves. The Lord has my back at all times. I honor and respect the Sabbath, I want to serve you Lord, may your Holy spirit rain on me.