Things that often moved God to Action were Fasting, Prayer (Mark 9:25-29; Nehemiah 9:1-5; Psalm 35:13 Esther 4:3-12), Tithing And Selflessness (Leviticus 27:30-32; Deuteronomy 14:22-28; Matthew 23:23; Hebrews 7:4; Malachi 3:8-12). This article will explain why these sacrifices are spiritual assets for Christians. Many Christians Are Disobedient Regarding God's Sabbath. This Article Uses God's Holy Bible To Specifically Explain God's Sabbath.
Let's begin with Isaiah Chapter 58 and learn the importance of these Self Sacrifices ("afflictions" of one's soul) in our Christian service.
Isaiah 58:1 Cry Aloud, Spare Not, Lift Up Thy Voice Like A Trumpet, And Shew My People Their Transgression, And The House Of Jacob Their Sins. Yet They Seek Me Daily, And Delight To Know My Ways, As A Nation That Did Righteousness, And Forsook Not The Ordinance Of Their God: They Ask Of Me The Ordinances Of Justice; They Take Delight In Approaching To God. Wherefore Have We Fasted, [say They], And Thou Seest Not? [wherefore] Have We Afflicted Our Soul, And Thou Takest No Knowledge?
Behold, In The Day Of Your Fast Ye Find Pleasure, And Exact All Your Labours.
Behold, Ye Fast For Strife And Debate, And To Smite With The Fist Of Wickedness: Ye Shall Not Fast As [ye Do This] Day, To Make Your Voice To Be Heard On High.
Is It Such A Fast That I Have Chosen? A Day For A Man To Afflict His Soul? [is It] To Bow Down His Head As A Bulrush, And To Spread Sackcloth And Ashes [under Him]? Wilt Thou Call This A Fast, And An Acceptable Day To The Lord?
Below is a list of many of the reasons why God's followers "Fasted". To "Fast" usually implies to deny one's self of things. The Bible calls this "Afflicting One's Soul (Ezra 8:21-27; Leviticus 16:29-33; Isaiah 58:5; Leviticus 16:31; Leviticus 23:27-32)":
[Is] Not This The Fast That I Have Chosen?
1) To Loose The Bands Of Wickedness- Fasting Would Lead To Break Throughs And Unbinding Those "Bound".
2) To Undo The Heavy Burdens-Fasting Would Remove Stress And Burdens.
3) And To Let The Oppressed Go Free-Fasting Would End Oppression.
4) And That Ye Break Every Yoke-Fasting Would Break Things That Were Tying The Fasting Servant Down.
5) [Is It] Not To Deal Thy Bread To The Hungry-A Fasting Person Was Commanded To Feed And/Or Help Others.
6) And That Thou Bring The Poor That Are Cast Out (OF The Prison/Deep/Pit) To Thy House (HOUSE Of God)-Fasting Was A Time To Bring The "Less Fortunate" To The Literal Or Spiritual House Of Jesus Christ.
7) When Thou Seest The Naked, That Thou Cover Him; And That Thou Hide Not Thyself From Thine Own Flesh-Fasting Was A Time To Greatly Help Those In Need.
When God's Servants "Afflicted Themselves" And Obeyed God He Would Greatly Bless Them.
The Book Of Malachi Tells God's Servants To Tithe (GIVE God 10% Of Their Finances), Give Offerings, And Also Give God The Firstfruits Of Everything They Own (THIS Usually Was Done In Financial Offerings). These Things Would Also Have To Be Done In Order To Fully Please God. To View The Supporting Scriptures About Tithing And First Fruits Please Read The Above Information.
Who God Focused On In This Promise Of "Fast" Rewarding
1) Those Oppressed By Unfair Or Extreme "WICKEDNESS"
2) Those Who Were Burdened
3) Those Who Were Oppressed
4) Those "LOCKED" By Ungodly Yokes
5) Those Who Were In Need Of Food
6) Those Who Were Unable To House, Feed, Or Clothe Themselves
7) Those Who Were Naked And Needed Clothing
What God Will Do For Us When We Fast Acceptably
1) Then Shall Thy Light Break Forth As The Morning-The Light Of God's Love Will Begin To Shine On Us.
2) And Thine Health Shall Spring Forth Speedily-We Will See Improvement In Any Area That Was "Lagging".
3) And Thy Righteousness Shall Go Before Thee-God's Holy Spirit Will Help Us To Be Righteous Like Jesus Christ.
4) The Glory Of The Lord Shall Be Thy Rereward-God's Presence (His Glory) Will Dwell With Us.
5) Then Shalt Thou Call, And The Lord Shall Answer-God Will Answer Prayers At That Time.
6) Thou Shalt Cry, And He Shall Say, Here I [Am]-God Will
Finally Hear Your Concerns And Allow Himself To Help You.
Continue Reading Isaiah 58:9 To Further See The Benefits Of Fasting:
If Thou Take Away From The Midst Of Thee The Yoke, The Putting Forth Of The Finger, And Speaking Vanity; And [if] Thou Draw Out Thy Soul To The Hungry, And Satisfy The Afflicted Soul; Then Shall Thy Light Rise In Obscurity, And Thy Darkness [be] As The Noonday:
And The Lord Shall Guide Thee Continually, And Satisfy Thy Soul In Drought, And Make Fat Thy Bones: And Thou Shalt Be Like A Watered Garden, And Like A Spring Of Water, Whose Waters Fail Not. God Will Abundantly Bless You When You Fast The Way He Tells You To Fast And When You Fast For The Right Reasons And With The Right Frame Of Mind.
What Is The Right Frame Of Mind When Fasting To God
1) Humility Under God's Sovereignty
2) A Sorrow Concerning Your Sins But Don't Be Overly Sorrowful To Impress Others (Matthew 6:16-18).
3) Seeking God's Tender Mercies Concerning Your Sins Or Others (Psalm 51:1-19).
4) Suffering As Jesus Suffered For You-You Must Have Personal "Affliction". A Fast Is Your Solemn Assembly Before God To:
A) Repent Of Your Sins
B) Praise God
C) Worship God
D) Sing To God
E) Pray To God
F) Bring All Your Concerns And Pleas To God (Psalm 55:22; Matthew 11:28-30; Philippians 4:6-8)
5) Being Solemn, Sober, And Yet Joyous Before God. The "Fasting" Scriptures Also Mention Not Doing Any "Work" During That Time. If It Is At All Possible You Should Not Do Any Type Of Work (Servile) During Your "Fast" Before The Lord (2 Chronicles 7:9; Nehemiah 8:18; Leviticus 23:36; Numbers 29:35).
6) Seeking God's Presence And Love In Your Daily Life (1 John 4:8; John 15:10-13; John 3:16).
7) Petitioning God For His Removal, Addressing And/Or Delivering Your From Undesirable Things Occurring In Your Life (Psalm 69:1-4, 14; Mark 9:22-30; Matthew 6:13).
Let's Continue With Isaiah 58:12
And [they that shall be] of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
What God Will Repair (Restore) Your Undesirables To "God Approved (Joyus)" Status When You Fast Acceptably To Him
1) The Repairer Of The Breach,
2) The Restorer Of Paths To Dwell In.
Let's Continue Reading Isaiah 58:13
The Sabbath (Holy Day Unto God)
Jesus Christ Showed That The Jewish (Israeli) Sabbath Was Not As Important As The "Salvation Calling" That He Was Conducting (Matthew 4:17; Romans 10:10-13; Matthew 12:1-12). Jesus Was The Lord (GOD And Master) Of The 7th Day Sabbath (SATURDAY). Jesus Resurrected On Sunday (Malachi 4:1-2;(DAY Of The Sun/Son); Matthew 2:2(Eastern Star-Sun); Mark 16:2 (Sun Rising (Son Rising); 1 Peter 2:4 (Day Star Sun); Revelation 19:6-10, 11-17(Sun-Son Comes), 18-21; Matthew 12:1-12).
Obedient Christians Honor Jesus/God On Sunday. Disobedient Christians Attempt To Obey The Laws (Works) Of Moses (Sabbath) Which Disrespects The Grace (Faith) Of God (Through Jesus Christ). When a person relies on "Works" and not God's "Grace" They Are Practicing Disobedience.
The Bible says that such Disobedience Is Witchcraft/Divination (Galatians 3:1-29; Matthew 7:13-29; 1 Samuel 15:22-23; Romans 10:4; Deuteronomy 18:9-22). This Is Why God Commnanded No Work To Be Done On The Sabbath And During A "Sabbath Fast (Affliction Of One's Soul)" (Leviticus 23:26; Deuteronomy 16:15; Numbers 10:10; Exodus 20:10; Exodus 31:14; Luke 13:14-22).
Christians Are To Rest From Their Own Works, Vanities And Concerns On God's Sabbath Sunday. This Is Spiritual Respect For God's Grace. There Is Nothing A Human Can Do To Enter Heaven. Jesus Is The Only Way Into Heaven (John 14:4-7; John 10:1-10).
This Is What Obedient Christians Are Commanded To Do On God's (Jesus') Sunday Sabbath:
A) Honor, Praise, Worship, Thank And Devote Themselves To God
B) Keep That Day Solemn (HOLY) Reflecting On God
If Thou Turn Away Thy Foot From The Sabbath, [from] Doing Thy Pleasure On My Holy Day; And
Let's Continue With Isaiah 58:13-14
1) Call The Sabbath A Delight- Christians Should Not Take God's
(Jesus') Sabbath Day (Sunday) Lightly. Christians Should Be Prepared To Praise, Worship, Love Others And Reflect On God (Jesus) Especially On Sunday But On All Other Days As Well.
2) The Holy Of The Lord, Honourable; And Shalt Honour Him, Not Doing Thine Own Ways, Nor Finding Thine Own Pleasure, Nor Speaking [thine Own] Words: Then Shalt Thou Delight Thyself In The Lord; And
3) I Will Cause Thee To Ride Upon The High Places Of The Earth-Those Who Honor God Will Be Honored By Him.
4) Feed Thee With The Heritage Of Jacob Thy Father: For The Mouth Of The Lord Hath Spoken [it]. God Is True (John 4:24; John 17:17).
We now know how to better please God with our Fasting(s), Honorings (of Him) and Selflessness.
This article can be freely edited and utilized as long as credit is given to its author (Gary Colin).
Read more articles by Gary Colin or search for articles on the same topic or others.
