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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Longing for Gods kingdom

Setting our eyes on Kingdom of God.

Mark 15:43

Story of
Joseph of Armiathea, is a man who was waiting for the Kingdom of God.


The True Church;
In the Church, you will see a lot of people. but there will be few people who are wholehearted, who are for Kingdom's Cause. Who are on fire for God.

Matthew 13: 44 - parable of  treasure hidden in a field.
Matthew 13: 45 - parable of merchant looking for fine pearls.

Kingdom of God is Righteousness,Peace and Joy.

Field: Kingdom of Heaven.
Forgiveness of sins is free.
Bought the field. -  Pays a price. Give all that He has, give it to God. and get the joy.

Lay every precious thing at the altar
Everyone of has some precious things in our life:
For many of us - our children of God.
For some of us - our home,cars,properties is precious to us.
if something happens to our car or home - you will go wild, you will leave all Christianity and what pastor teaches every week, the you will go crazy and wild at other people.

What you are filled with will come out when there is pressure in your life.
some time back i went to quick check to do westren union transfer. the lady who was serving was so upset. that she was shouting, very irritating.
When you see a begger(lack of money), you will find compassion of mercy.
but when you see a person lacking temper or some emotion, do you have compassion .
I said Lord at this moment, fill me with compassion that for every every word she speaks let me have compassionate return word. She said to me I am sorry.

What is most vauable to us, our pride or Kingdom of God.
Everything that we deal with in our lives should be tested with Kingdom Values.


Abraham's precious is Issac in his life, and God tested whether everything Abraham is Gods.
Genesis 22:12 - God will test us dear Church whatever we hold on - lay it on Altar.

Lay everything at altar. ( money, ).

When we are possessive of any thing in the world , we are saying am rich.
Revelation 3:17
You say I am rich.
when we hold on to something, we say I am rich of children, I am rich of properties, I am rich of my intelligence.

But Lord Jesus says, lay everything at the altar.
Revelation - buy from me gold. For buying we need lay down.

Luke 14:33 - No one can be my disciple, if they hold on to some thing.

Living for Kingdom of God

Luke 15:8-10
8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Doesn't she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”


this story says a woman has ten silver coins. but she lost one.
and then she light the lamp, sweep the house, search carefully until she finds it.
have you ever lost a some thing important, key or anything.
you open the drawers, behind the couch, and every place to find it.
these lost coin represents the lost people of the world. they are as precious as silver to God.

its Gods heart, that each one of us should be like this woman searching for people who are lost.
bring them to Christ.

Sometimes, our busyness /priorities becomes a big obstruction to reach out to people.
our we don't talk with certain kind of people.
Paul says Consider everything as trash in compared to knowing Christ.

See pauls words in 1 corinthian 9: 19-22

19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law(though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

It is like this:

if a person is going to fire, won't we throw water and go and save them.
Proverbs 24:11-12.
Rescue those being led away to death;
    hold back those staggering toward slaughter.
12 If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,”
    does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
    Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?

Church, after a person is dead, can we do anything for them.
No, even prayers also does not work after a person is dead.
A living person prayer does not work for the dead, a dead person prayer does not work for the living.
Anything we can do, we have to do it when person lives.
Pray/Care for the people before they go out of reach.

Sometime back before my marriage i went to India. that time my uncle wanted to meet me. but i was busy looking for marriage plans. and i did not get time to meet him.
then after couple of months i came back and one day i heard he died.
I was heart broken for the fact that i did not meet him to talk gospel.

That is why in Ephesians it says: Make most of every opportunity.

Ephesians 5:15
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.


Be Fellow Workers for the kingdom of God.

Acts 14:21,22,23
They were going through city to city, preaching gospel and people being saved.
We should go through many issues.
Colossians 4: 10-14;
Although Paul is the apostle, he needed so many to work along with him for the kingdom of God.
In old testament there is one prophet who does the work. but in New Testament it is the Church.
everyone of us who comes to Church should not come to Church like you come to some social gathering and go out. No we are called to work for the Church. Honestly if you ask me, i am a very shy person to speak in front of people and even i have no desire to stand and preach. but when pastor asked me to do this, i came forward with only one intention that i should be a fellow worker.

It is not about what I like or what I dont like. ultimately what matters is Are we like the fellow workers for the kingdom of God.
look at Luke, Ephapras,Aristrachus,Mark. so many people working along with Paul.
Paul is there to guide all of them.


There are lot of things that we can talk about;

But i will close by saying this:
we all think what is it for me for doing all this.
what will i gain.

we can earn lot of money - all that you do by the end of life you pass onto next gen.
you can earn lot of fame - may be next gen might speak then you are no more.

But what matters in eternity is:
what you do for the sake of Kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Matthew 10:42
And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward."

Matthew 6:20 - store up treasures in heaven.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Hebrews 6: 10
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.


Matthew 25:21: Well done. Good and Faithful servant, faithful in little.

Godly tongue

James 3:3-6

story of  tongue. best and worst meat.

It has been said that the “tongue” is one of the most exercised muscles of our body. 
The statistics say,in a typical week, the average person will speak enough words to fill a 500 page book! 

if you ask, what is today's life and death- they will if i don't pass this interview  i don't how life will be, this is life and death issue, if i don't get this marriage fixed, then its life and death issue.
people will list lot of issues as life and death issues.
But have you ever seen one person telling controlling my tongue is life and death issue.
Proverbs 18:21
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.


James 1:26 says “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless” 
we say Jesus is the Lord of my life, good , Jesus should be the Lord of your tongue also.
for many believers, Jesus is not the Lord of their tongue. they speak whatever they heart wishes.

According to an old folk saying, a good word melts the cold of February while a bad word can freeze the month of June

Proverbs 21:23- Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

Many of the problems in life can be solved if we can handle the tongue.

There are somethings that you are accountable to God in your life:

Matthew 12:36 -accountability

But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.

---------------------Whoelsome vs Unwholesome words---------------------

Ephesians 4:19

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen

I was asking pastor few days back, what is unwholesome word.
Pastor was telling me, any word that does not build other person to be a better Christian.
For example: Samaritan woman.
John 4

9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.[a])

10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

Woman started on a confronting note and question? we both are different how can you ask me.? 
If I am in that place, my response would be- 

oh that is fine, but now i am thirsty.
God will bless you if you give me. 
Jesus is really tired there and he is really thirsty. 
Why are you so hesitant to give water to some who is thirsty.

But Lord Jesus raised the conversation to a higher level. to a Spiritual level.

gift of God: He talks about what God has in store for us.
'living' water - to a person who is literally experiencing deadness in her life.
The way to get the living water is - ask God to give to her and you would receive it.

In one sentence, 
He broke down the barrier of race( Samaritan, Jews).
Jesus talked about salvation and also how to receive salvation. and this is wholesomeness.


Spokesman -  Jeremiah 15:19
If you want to be a Spokesman:  Jeremiah 15:19

if you utter worthy, not worthless, words,
    you will be my spokesman.

-----------Overused tongue:----------------------


Ecclesiastes 5:2,3 says, "Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few."
a fool's voice is known by multitude of words

When we talk, we talk a lot of words but they have less content in it. but Lord Jesus words are not like that. He speaks few words, but that words carry the weight of eternity in them.

In Churches, we see lot of people who speaks lot of words. you may be a believer but if you are man/woman of lot of words, bible says you are acting like a fool.

proverbs says even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent.
Generally people who speak a lot, their actions are less.
1 John 3:18
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.


Proverbs 17:28
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.


Many of us speak a lot as if we are the best speakers in the world. 
We should not be like someone, people will be thinking when this guy will stop talking.
or people should be looking for you to speak.
like peter says whom can i go to Lord, you have the words of eternal life.

Even when we give testimonies, some people in the testimonies they tell a lot. 
Even if pastor says let your testimony be short and quick it will go on for minutes not realizing that people are hungry.
they tell all the story:
then i told my wife, my wife told me back this and then i got up from my chair.
finally i thank God for all of this.
but some people when they say the testimonies that will be short and simple.
remember when Vidya told testimony, she said: I prayed for someone and God healed her.

when i went to walmart last month, like MLMarketing person speaks.

---------------------Proverbs 18:13 Quick to hear , slow to speak.-----------------------------------

He who gives an answer before he hears,
It is folly and shame to him.
James 1:19

But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger

Sometimes we might talk so quickly, without hearing what the other person says.

one day someone was talking to me, that person was saying i have this problem, that problem. because i am quick in my words, i said we will pray. these words might sound very godly, but that person said that problem is solved now. I was ashamed for my quick talk.

---Proversb 26:19 just joking
Some people throws arrows and deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!”


------------------------------------------Gossip & Backbiting:------------------------------------------
how do we know if we have hypocrisy in our lives:
James 3:9 says
with the same mouth on Sunday morning- we will bless the Name of the Lord. by afternoon when we go home we will start backbiting about everyone in Church.
Rather than talking to the person, they go back and talk about the person.
Be on alert, don't go and talk on the back. this is very dangerous. speak straight.

Luke 12:3 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.

I am telling you what iam learning in life. my wife and myself have decided that we will not talk bad on the back about anyone in Church. and God is helping us.
Let us not even have the heart of listening to gossips and backbitings.
Many times these backbiting words comes from the judgemental nature:
 Once a lecturer showed a white handkerchief and put a ink dot on the hand kerchief.


  Proverbs 6:16-19

-------------------------------------------Word of health--------------------------------------------------
Some people may not speak at back , but they speak directly, but when they speak it will pierce oyur heart.
Proverbs 12:18
There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise brings healing.


2Kings 5:13
My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” 

Some times people are in ignorance, but it is our responsibility to give health to them by our words.


a story of a son who speaks harsh words.

Seventy-seven times
Genesis 4:23,24
If Cain is avenged seven times,
    then Lamech seventy-seven times.”

words of curse and death.
See the reverse of it.

Matthew 18:22
22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times


but when the wise speak it gives health
Comapssionate words : Luke 22:51

51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

Some people when they speak it brings some discontent in the Church or peoples lives.
2 Samuel 2:30
14 Then Abner said to Joab, “Let’s have some of the young men get up and fight hand to hand in front of us.”
 31 But David’s men had killed three hundred and sixty Benjamites who were with Abner.
--------------------------------Right Words in Right Occasion------------------------------------------

we might go through some instances where we dont know what to speak.
When we dont know what to speak in some occasion, ask Lord for a quick word.
Matthew 22:15-22
Lord Jesus when was asked by pharisess about tax. The words He spoke are amazing and wonder.
when put in a tricky situation, it is the Spirit of God that helps us to speak. that is why we need to be in constant prayer. Nehemiah 2:2,3 - Nehemiah offered a quick prayer before he spoke what is in his heart. you are commiting to God about what he speaks.


Learning from how Lord Jesus spoke

Encouragement:  Luke 7:9  
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel."

Revelation: Lord Jesus appreciated church before correction.

Uplift others : Luke 22:31,32
32 But I have prayed for you,Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”



-- When we are going through good times, our words will be good. But at the hour of crisis, our words are truly revealed. When pressed hard, when you are handling too much pressure, then what is in your heart will truly come out. Lord Jesus was going through critical/pressure moments in his life, and when someone struck the soldier, Lord Jesus says No more of this. Even in this time, he was filled with compassion for people and that is what has been expressed from His mouth.
----------------------------------------------
filter before our mouth
taste your words for yourself and then let them out.
doctors tongue test
Genesis 16:5 - Abraham did not respond back to Sarai that it is your fault.
1 kings 22:- jehoshaphat says lets inquire the Lord.

Psalm 18 ( v 25 - 50)

Show yourself means Revealing yourself.

Genesis 18:17

The cry of Sodom went up to God. and God decided to destroy sodom and gomorah.
Before going to destroy, God thought should I hide what i am about to do.I will reveal what I am going to do to Abraham.

Why did God wanted to reveal to Abraham what He is about to do?

When we are doing something important thing, to whom do we reveal?
to people who are close to us, who knows our very heart, who follows us.
When God looked at whole world there 2 righteous people.  Abraham. and Lot.
God did not reveal His plan to Lot. But only to Abraham.

Genesis CH 18: V 19 says because that Abraham will direct coming generation to follow the Way of the Lord.

It is one thing to experience the miracles of God. It is another thing to know the heart of God and follow the heart of God and direct your people in that path. and God reveals these things to those people.

Lot couldn't direct his generations to  follow his path.
Many Christians are like Lot, who just receive the righteousness of God and keeps the righteousness with themselves but does not guide the families, generations to follow the ways of God.
that is why in Psalm 103:7 it says, God revealed his acts to Israel, but to Moses His ways.

Faithfulness
Integrity
Purity
Humbleness

Do we want to God to reveal Himself to us, the righteousness that we received be reflected in our lives and may our lives be a light and guide to our families and generations.


V 29-45:
These verses are about God giving victory.

There are lot of things written in these verses,

V32: Davids strength 
V33: David was quick in attacking enemies, he is a mighty warrior.
V34, he can even bend the bronze bow.

In all these strengths of David, he gives glory to God. He says this is all from God.
knowing this is key for Christian lives,
if you are able to sing well, direct the praise to God.
if you are an expert in your work place, give glory to God.
if you are an excellent cook , give glory to God.

Don't say Yes it is my strength, my talent. say it is Gods grace. let us learn from David in turning every strength we have to the glory of God.

In all these things, one striking thing is 

With the help of God, David says he can go against an army
with help of God, He can scale a wall.

Can one man go against an army? is it possible.
or
in those days, the fortress of the kingdoms used to so thick and so tall. no man can just go up that fortress.

These things, that  a man against an army, going up a fortress walls represents impossible things.
David says, the things which looks impossible in man's sight are possible with the help of God.

because verse 30,31 says God promises are true.

David did not say these things just to write in psalm, but these are his true experiences,
Today what is looking impossible in your life?

are you not able to overcome some sin in your life?
is your finance not getting better over the years.
Waiting for the fruit of the womb
are you waiting for healing in your life?

Church, the God Almighty who helped David in his times of problems is the same God today,
look to His face,


V 46-50
In response to the victory God has given, Psalmist turns it to praise God.
When God does miracle, my God lives.
for many people God is someone who is in heaven,
but 1 John 4: 12 says God lives in us, if we love one another.

but know that God is living God, He lives and and He is actively involved in every moment of our lives.

Church, let us desire for the knowing the ways of this living God, and God will reveal Himself to us.