THE KIND OF FAST GOD LOVES

SERIES: THE POWER OF PRAYER AND FASTING

TEXT: ISAIAH 58:3-9

 

God desires that we go to Him to seek Him with prayer and fasting. He says in the book of Joel 2:12, “Return to me with prayer and fasting.” Great people of God have always been those who denied themselves food and leisure to seek the face of God. Fasting however, is not just the abstinence from food and leisure only, it is more than that; it has to come from the heart that is contrite, sorry and remorseful of his/her ways of life and display to God willingness to turn away from sin (even the very small sins) and desire to be holy as the Father is.

Fasting is not popular as it causes pain to the body. More about fasting:-

GOD DESIRES THAT WE FAST FROM TIME TO TIME.

• The Holy Spirit led Jesus Christ to fasting for 40 years and 40 nights.
• Moses fasted 40 days as he went up Mt. Sinai to meet God.
• God says “return to me with fasting”-Joel 2:12.
• God says in Isaiah 58, “this is the fasting that I desire/choose.”

PRESCRIPTION FOR PROPER FASTING-Isaiah 58:3-7.

Fasting must be done in the right way for it to be accepted by God:-

• Isaiah 58:3 “In the day of fasting you seek your own pleasure.”
• Other than abstinence from food one should stop all other pleasures. Fasting is mourning-Daniel 9:3 feeling sorry for falling short of God’s ways.
• “You oppress your workers:” proper fasting should be accompanied by justice; being just not to deprive anyone of what they deserve.
• Isaiah 58:4, “You fast only to quarrel and fight. Fasting should be accompanied by seeking peace with everyone, forgiving them in order for God to forgive you. Fasting and holding grudge with others dilutes the power of the fast.
• Isaiah 58:5 “Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? It is to bow down his head like a reed and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him?” fasting should change one’s character to go beyond the day of fasting and after the fasting one goes back to the old godless lifestyle! It must be a change in lifestyle.
• Isaiah 58:7 “Is it not to share bread with the hungry……” fasting must be accompanied by compassion. The church of today has little compassion on the poor, orphans, the disabled and those who are suffering in the society!

QUARANTEED RESULTS OF PROPER FASTING-Isaiah 58:8-11.

• Your light shall break forth like dawn; where there was darkness in your way, where you were at crossroads and did not know which way to go, God will clearly show you the direction to go.
• Your healing will spring up speedily; God will heal that which was ailing in your life.
• Your righteousness shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard; God will cause protection to your life.
• You shall call and the Lord will answer, you shall cry and He will say, “here I am-Vs. 10. God will guide you continually-Vs. 11.
• You will be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
• Your ancient ruins shall be fail.
• God will make you ride on the height of the earth-Vs. 14.

CONCLUSION

• The christian life is continuous battle and there are some powers resisting your journey that will not give way except you engage prayer and fasting-Matt. 17:21.