The fast that pleases God.
Notes
Transcript
The Lord said to king Solomon:
“If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
For the last five weeks, we have been fasting once a week and asking God to heal this land.
When we talk about the topic of fasting, we find out that there varied opinions regarding how fasting should be practiced. How often? On what day? How many days or hours? Should we abstain from solid food or liquids too?
How do you know that your fasting is pleasing God?
The Israelites assumed they were pleasing God, but God was noticing their “sacrifice” of fasting. “Why is not God listening?” was their question.
The Lord sent Isaiah with the answer to their question:
Read Isa 58:1-12
Those verses tell us about the fasting that pleases God. First of all, fasting must be done with the right motive.
Fast must have the right motive.
Fast must have the right motive.
“I will fast so God can give me a good husband/wife…job…health” some people say. But, that’s fasting with the wrong motive and does not please God.
It must be focused on God, not on our desire.
It must be focused on God, not on our desire.
“Behold, on the day of your fast you find your desire, and drive hard all your workers.” 3b
Their interest was to seek their convenience (desire). They wanted to obtain their own desire, they wanted to look good, like the Pharisees in Jesus’ time. That’s why the Lord warned His disciples saying,
“Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
It must be time to heal our relationships.
It must be time to heal our relationships.
“Behold, you fast for contention and strife and to strike with a wicked fist.” 4
How could they fast and mistreat others at the same time? How could they fast and quarrel with those around them? Fasting and raising their voice, “DON’T YOU SEE THAT I AM FASTING?”
They were just following the motions of fasting; their body was fasting, but their heart was not!
Fast must not be ritualistic.
Fast must not be ritualistic.
“Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Is it for bowing one’s head like a reed And for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed? Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the Lord?
What characterizes religion is rituals!
“humble” (Heb. an-not) means “to be wretched or emaciated” (deeply afflicted, being miserable). Do you think that is what expect from you?
Religion teaches you rituals, but rituals do not change the heart.
Illust. Flagellation in the Philippines /Walking on knees in Mexico
Bowing the head...
Lie in in sackcloth and ashes...
Outwardly, they seemed to be eager to want to know God and for God to be near them; but inwardly, they did not care for it.
If you do not understand what you are doing and why you are doing it, fasting may become just another ritual.
“This is not the fast that I chose”, says the Lord.
Fast is not for starving.
Fast is not for starving.
Some think that fasting consists in just not eating. Physical fasting yes, but spiritual fasting no.
The purpose is not to submit your body to that deprivation. The purpose is to set aside anything that takes away your attention from spiritual matters. Yes, for some may be food, but for some others might be TV, FB, phone, sports, sex, even work.
Its purpose is multi-fold:
It is to seek God’s face.
It is to seek God’s face.
“You do not fast like you do today to make your voice heard on high.” 4b
When we fast, we are seeking to have a connection with God without distractions. It is removing any obstacle on the way to the throne of grace.
Fasting helps us to seek God’s will for our life in those areas where the Bible is silent. What should I do Lord…?
It is to do righteousness.
It is to do righteousness.
God does not want to see our empty stomach; He wants to see our heart full of His righteousness. It is our obedience what pleases Him, not our starving.
“Is this not the fast which I choose, To loosen the bonds of wickedness, To undo the bands of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free And break every yoke? “Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry And bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, to cover him; And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
Some of the works of righteousness the Lord expects from us are:
Breaking the bond of wickedness, the yoke of sin in our life.
Ending the oppression of the poor or the captives.
Feeding the hungry...
Being hospitable to those without a home...
Covering those without cloth...
That’s what Jesus did when He came down from Heaven to live among men!
Do you remember that similar words were expressed by our Lord Jesus when He was given the Scriptures to be read in the synagogue? He was quoting Isaiah 61:1-2
And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed, To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”
Let’s practice that kind of fasting! It purifies the soul! Let’s also practice physical fasting! It purifies the body!
The Jews were saying, “We fast and nothing happens. God does not notice our fasting.” 3
They were practicing the wrong fast!
The right fast brings God’s blessings.
The right fast bring God’s blessings.
The right fast bring God’s blessings.
8-11
You will shine in the darkness.
You will shine in the darkness.
“Then your light will break out like the dawn,” 8a
The Lord’s protection.
The Lord’s protection.
“And your recovery will speedily spring forth; and your righteousness will go before you; the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.” 8b
The Lord will answer your cry.
The Lord will answer your cry.
“Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am’” 9a
The Lord’s guidance.
The Lord’s guidance.
“And the Lord will continually guide you,” 11a
The Lord’s provision.
The Lord’s provision.
“And [the Lord will] satisfy your desire (soul) in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.” 11b-c