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.
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.
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.
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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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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