There are many debates these days about doctrine and people will dedicate years and even lifetimes in the promotion and defense of their attempts to define God. They will go on for days about their Calvinist, Arminianist, Premilllenialist, Amillennialist, Reformist, Fundamentalist, and a whole multitude of other ists.
Many views are created and
promoted daily about God's Word and what He really meant to say. Books are
written, radio shows are aired, and TV shows are produced to promote these new
and fresh "insights". But have you ever heard of a Fastist? There is
no group out there debating, defending, promoting a fresh and new insight on
fasting.
I can understand that. When I
first read "When you fast," I thought the translators must have not
translated that correctly. Surely it should say, "If you fast." or
"in case you fast" this is how you should act, what you should, or
should not do. But Jesus says when you fast,! He is not saying if you fast or
in case you fast. He is assuming that those who follow Him will fast. These
words were hard for me at the age of 13. As I read them I wondered why do I not
hear much about this by the other Christians around me? Why is fasting not a
main topic in Sunday school or worship services? As an adult I can now answer
my own question with the greatest of ease. Fasting is not a topic we like to
talk about because it is a very difficult topic to teach, receive, or live by.
Fasting means that we truly place God above our self, our own desires, wants,
or needs. Fasting is a far bigger commitment than attending church Sunday
morning, sitting through a sermon, singing a few songs, giving a tithe and
coming back the next Sunday to do it all again. Fasting requires: total
obedience, total trust, a willingness to be purged of even our secret sins, and
a yielding of the flesh to the spirit. Simply put, if you are not truly serious
about following God you will not fast.
If you have gotten to this
sentence and you are in strong disagreement with the direction this discussion has
taken then reading further will most likely do you no good. You will be only
more convinced that fasting is a waste of your time/energy, and will be
of no benefit to you. However, there is also a danger for you who read this
message and want to fast but that desire is born out of a feeling of obligation
or for what you think God will do for you. I encourage you to read, think
about, and consider this verse:
"Why have we
fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no
knowledge of it?" Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own
pleasure, and oppress all your workers. Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to
fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make
your voice to be heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a
person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread
sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable
to the LORD? "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of
wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and
to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring
the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and
not to hide yourself from your own flesh? (Isa 58:3-7)
The purpose of a fast is to draw
close to God, it is to be a time of purification, renewal, and dedication for
the Lord's use. And he says when we fast in this manner:
"Then shall your
light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily;
your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your
rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and
he will say, 'Here I am.' If you take away the yoke from your midst, the
pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for
the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise
in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the LORD will guide you
continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones
strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose
waters do not fail." (Isa 58:8-11)
Have I lost you yet?
I hope and
pray that you will not be like the man who after telling Jesus he had followed
the 10 commandments from His youth turned away after Jesus said, "one
thing you lack, go and give all you have to the poor and then come and follow
me." Are you willing to give up all to follow Jesus? Even the contentment
of a full belly, and a earthly tent full of secret lust and hidden treasures?
If so than I encourage you to get out your Bible, a note pad, and a willingness
to be filled with God as He guides and satisfies you even in scorched places.
Are you ready to begin?
Please
go to:www.newdaycm.org/Whenyoufast.pdf
God Bless,
David Ingram
New Day Christian Ministry
Isa. 43:18-21
www.newdaycm.org
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