Psalm 26

V 1.
Psalmist says he trusted in the Lord and also he walked in integrity, so he shall not slip.

Trusting in the Lord - Walking in integrity. are connected things.

Let us say I don't have a job for 1 months. and now i have to pay the bills.
I trusted in the Lord, but slowly my trust is fading, because I don't see the job coming
Now there came a opportunity, that if you fake your resume for 10 years of experience then you will definitely get the job.
and you decided that since my job is not coming, I dont know whether God will give or not, but let me just put some extra experience.
Since your trust in God has come down and you compromised on integrity , and the result is you slip in your character.
lots things christians do these days, faking medical bills, rental bills,

Shedrach Mesach Abednego -
Forget about jobs , bills and food, people are ready to lose their lives.
Pastor Dinesh - If you put gun on your head and asked if you are christian, then true Christianity will come out
We sit here comfortably and get compromise on lots of things.

This is a challenge today, Do we truly trust in the Lord or like Esau are we saying forget about birthright, first let me have a meal and compromising on integrity.

Luke 18:8
 Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

what this verse means, When Lord Jesus comes back, will he find people who did not compromise with the world and fully trusted in Him.
Not for how many times i came to pulpit and preached, not whether choir has performed well or not.
Did you walk in the righteousness He has given.

V4,5
Its replica of Psalm 1.
In Psalm1 he says blessed is the one who does all these things, and here in psalm 26  he says i did all these things.

V8 - Lord I love the habitation of your hourse and your glory.
Loving Gods presence.
many of us like to be with people are rich.

Exodus 33:15 
Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here
Daniel 6:10
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

For us, God should be like our breath.Can you live without breathing. God should be like that for each one of us.

Lord If you are not there, I don't exist.

Church, let us trust fully in the Lord, and our walk in integrity depends on how much we trust the Lord and Love the presence of the Lord.

Fasting

Fasting is serious business with God.

story of fasting and not worked.
Have you ever fasted and prayed and said but still my life is same.

Many of us might have fasted for a particular reason for healing, for Gods mercy and for Gods favor or for Gods will... but we did not get answer

Have you thought.
Did I not fast?
Did I not prayed?
But why? there is no answer in my prayers.
we might look that we are doing the right thing by fasting, praying and following God.

So whats the problem?
is it the problem of fasting, like you swallowed the saliva.
or you have taken some juice?
or you mistakenly smelled and enjoyed some nice dish your colleague brought to you.

Let us read Isaiah 58: 1- 3 - questions about your fasting
hear what God says
V 3:
you do as you please.

The life of Lord Jesus- He pleased God through out his life.
Matthew 3:17
and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son,[a] with whom I am well pleased.

Yes Lord Jesus is like each of one of us.But he denied His will to do the Fathers will.

Luke 22:42
42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.

So what we do with our own will.
1) Exploit others - means use others for your advantage.
                 When we are really in need and ask others for help. that is absolutely fine.
But taking other believers for granted and taking advantage of them.
I know people who called me for help when they are in need and never to ask about anything anytime.
                   Some people use Church as social gathering and good support of others, but do not have real love for brethren. this is dangerous. they never pray for others.

Also never take people who work for Church for granted.
for example take worship team: they practise a lot in the week days, they come thrusday, and we come on sundays leisurely.
Also some people work at the downstairs, food, sunday school rooms. Never take advantage of others in Church.

2) fasting ends in quarelling and strife

Did our fasting ever ended the fighting attitude in us.

a husband and wife decided to fast one day.
husband said i will take only water.
wife said i will not take even a sip of water.
so the day started, fasting started, started by a prayer.
by afternoon 3, both are tiered and then their 3 old baby started crying.
husband: you go and take care
wife; you go and take care
the husband said go and take care of the baby. i am really tiered all through the week and that today i
not even eating food, just drinking water.
the wife said dont you know that iam tired of taking care of baby all through the week and that too today iam not even drinking water.
so the fast ended with a fight.

we fight because we miss that compassion and kindness elements.
Whether its with other believers, but most of the times this happens within home.
husband and wife.

So what kind of fast does God wants from us
v6
to loose the chains of injustice
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
    and break every yoke

Is it not to share your food with the hungry
    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood

V9 “If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
    with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
    and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,

For God fasting is this.

1) To set the oppressed free, break every yoke.
3 ways  - is freeing people from the burden of the sin.
             - sharing the gospel.
             - if anybody has done harm to you, forgive them and go easy on them.
2) Share with others
It is blessed to give than to receive.

Acts 20: 35

God is giver.
man has this nature of always at receiving end.
But if we truly want the blessing of God, give your time, energy, money.
following Lord Jesus is costly affair. am not talking about money.
Luke 14:28-33
sit and count. what will cost me to truly follow Lord Jesus.

Don't oppress others, or take advantage of others.
Don't be judgmental.
     How often we talk about this judgemental nature.
      Lord Jesus was never judgemental.
     John 12:47 -  I did not come to Judge.

Be responsive to the needs of brethren.

When we do this true fasting - whats Gods blessing.
a) v8. Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
    and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness[a] will go before you,
    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

9 v9. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
    you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

v11)then your light will rise in the darkness,
    and your night will become like the noonday.
11 The Lord will guide you always;
    he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
    and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
    like a spring whose waters never fail.

Church, purse what is in Gods heart.

2 Timothy 2:22
 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart
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