We've been studying the fast that God called His Chosen fast in Isaiah 58. This is how the Father said He has chosen for His children to fast. God's Chosen fast has nothing to do with abstaining from food or drink, looking dismal or being religious. The fast that God has Chosen is more about how we react towards others on His behalf.
Even though we acknowledge we are the Body of Christ, we fail to realize we are God's hands, feet and the arms He needs to comfort those in need. The Holy Spirit is the Comforter Who now resides in every believer. The Father uses His the Church (His Body) to minister to those who have needs and need comforted. We (the Church) are His instruments of love and comfort on earth today.
This doesn't mean that God cannot do anything on His Own or move by His Spirit on the behalf of mankind, but His desired way of reaching others, is through His Church. We sometimes forget where we came from, when there was no comfort and help to be found. Most of us had a preconceived and negative opinion of the Church. Although we weren't Christians yet, we had an idea of how Christians should act.
Many times when Christians approached us, before being saved, it was with condemnation rather than with love. We would grasp onto our carnal, unsaved pride even tighter. We felt like they only wished to help us out of "pity for those poor, ragged" persons. This created anger, resentment and more pride and we would answer, "I don't need you or your help!" It wasn't that we didn't need it, but that I wouldn't receive it from those who had a "superior" attitude towards me.
God shows us the way to deal with people in love, without making them feel inferior or worthless, in Isaiah 58. Man's natural love is not always enough to overcome the spirit of pride. We were created in God's Image and Likeness and were created to rule and have dominion over all things, except one another and God Himself. This "residue" of dominion still resides in mankind and whether or not we're saved, we still resist have a problem of submitting to anyone or anything. This has given satan a stronghold on natural man that is difficult to explain in the natural. This "residue" of dominion has caused slavery, wars, poverty and exile in the human race.
It's hard for us to "Submit to God and resist the devil," like James 4:7 says, because we have tried standing by ourselves for so very long. Now that we're saved, we not only begun worshiping THE GOD, but we must learn to stop depending only ourselves and depend entirely on Him. The old saying about being a "self-made man" true. We've been self-made into out own image of what we thought a man should be.
The natural way of doing and being right, depended on where you came from in life. We came from the South and were taught that "Real men don't cry," "They don't ask for help" and "Real men don't require help from anyone." This attitude of pride created a way of life that is deeply ingrained and hard to change. Once I was saved, I never wanted to "bother God with the little things," like He was too busy to be bothered with me. We would only go to God with big problems, and believed we could handle the other things.
Can you see why we need the Holy Spirit so desperately when we walk this way of fasting? Without the Holy Spirit's guidance in this way of fasting, we can actually offend of bless. I believe that's why God said in Isaiah 58:11 (Amplified), "And the Lord shall guide you continually and satisfy you in drought and in dry places and make strong your bones. And you shall be like a watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters fail not." The word "water," along with the phrase, "The washing of water," are used many times in the scriptures in reference to the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:25-26 (Amplified) says, "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her. So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word."
When we allow the Word of God to truly cleanse us, we can become more able to flow in His love and not just in human, carnal needs. To operate properly, the Isaiah 58 fast is a supernatural way of walking that greatly requires the Holy Spirit's anointing of God's Love. We can come across as superior and proud in the eyes of the world, even though that's not what we intended. Unfortunately, this can stop those who need it most, from receiving help and comfort and God's love.
We require the Holy Spirit to be alive in us for give, do and love like God wants to. This is why it's so difficult to operate in the old covenant. The "Cardinal" law of love in the old covenant, had do be done solely by the natural man, because man wasn't born again yet. It was hard for Jesus to convey the plan of God's Kingdom to the people in Matthew 5,6,7. These were natural men, hearing about a supernatural way of living. It was a completely foreign concept for these natural men to, "Love and pray for your enemies."
This is one of the reasons I equate the Isaiah 58 fast with the Gifts of Helps in 1Corinthians 12:28. The Gift of Helps is one of the Gifts of the Spirit. The Amplified Bible calls those who are anointed for this, "Helpers." This is not a lesser Gift (like some would believe), but is a supernatural Gift of the Holy Spirit's Anointing. More of the Church should begin seeking God for this Gift and learn to allow the Holy Spirit to manifest this Gift in their lives.
Those who walk in this Fast and in this Gift, will probably reach more people for God's Kingdom than others who are called into the five-fold ministry. Pastors do not always see and know those who are in need. You cannot always go to the Pastor to find help for everyone you come into contact with, but the Holy Spirit will use you in a supernatural way to meet their needs. We need God to walk in His Chosen Fast. The Church isn't just a charitable organization, but a Gift from the Holy Spirit to reveal God's Love on a level where unsaved people can see Him.
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Lesson 14 The Continual Fast
We've learned previously that there are many different types and reasons for fasting. God has and does honor all of them, with exception of a self-righteous fast that Jesus spoke about in Matthew 6:6 (Amplified), "And whenever you are fasting, do not look gloomy and sour and dreary like the hypocrites, for they put on a dismal countenance, that their fasting may be apparent to and seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full already."
Jesus was preaching from His Father's template of a "Chosen" fast, in Isaiah 58:5. This is God's chosen was of fasting and is done His way, for Him to see, and is not done for the praises of men. Jesus continues to teach about walking in love with God and man. He says that we can, and should, set aside times of prayer and fasting for personal reasons in our lives. Sometimes, we do so simply to seek God for our own private times or things occurring in our lives. Sometimes we fast in order to discipline our flesh and bring it under subjection to the Holy Spirit and the Word.
God might call you to do something and you're fasting to be quiet before Him, seeking both His instruction and direction in the matter. These are all acceptable and honored by God, but Jesus quoted from Isaiah 58 about God's way of living in fellowship and blessing by the Lord.
Jesus was speaking to the people about how the Kingdom was to be judged in Matthew 25:30-46 (Amplified) saying, "All nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate (the people) from one another as a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats. And He will cause the sheep to stand at His tight hand; but the goats at His left." Jesus expounded on this in Verse 45 saying, "And He will reply to them, solemnly I declare to you, in so far as you failed to do it for the least (in the estimation of men) of these, you failed to do for Me."
He had been teaching nearly exactly from Isaiah 58, concerning the treatment of others when He spoke this. Through Jesus, the Father was directing the people how to live and love others. We are God's Ambassadors on this earth, according to 2Corinthians 5:20 (Amplified) which says, "So, we are Christ's Ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We (as Christ's personal representatives) be you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor (now offered you) and be reconciled to God."
As we walk the Isaiah 58 fast, we are "revealing God's love" in a way that even the unsaved can see God's heart towards mankind. As this becomes our lifestyle, the world will not see a religious organization, but will see a Living Love that doesn't discriminate or turn away. In his natural form, man will distinguish between rich or poor, black or white, male or female, but God does not, nor ever will. John 3:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He (even) gave up His Only begotten (Unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him."
When God spoke through His Prophet Isaiah, He was speaking to those who were presently alive and to all who read His Word for all time. This is the very way that God desires for His Body, the Church, to walk. Jesus is the Head of the Church and we are His Body on this earth. The only hands God has to touch, hold and comfort the people with, are the hands on His Body, us. We are the "Light of the world," like Jesus was on earth. Even if many of us seem not to notice, it's getting very dark in the world today. The Only Way to repel the dark, is by bringing the Light against it.
Isaiah 58:8 (Amplified) gives us the results for walking this fast, saying, "Then shall your light break forth like the morning, and your healing (your restoration and the power of a new life) shall spring forth speedily; (your righteousness, your justice, and your right relationship with God) shall go before you (conducting you to peace and prosperity) and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard."
2Corinthians 4:4 (Amplified) tells us the reason why more people haven't accepted our Lord and the Gospel, saying, "For the god of this world has blinded the unbeliever's minds (that they should not discern the truth) preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ (the Messiah) Who is the Image and Likeness of God."
When the god of this world brings in and operates in darkness, then we have God's promise that He shall "cause light to break forth like the morning," in Isaiah 58:8. It doesn't matter how dark the night might have been, the darkness passes when morning breaks and we can see all things clearly. God's promise to bring His very heart and Spirit into our walk with Him and witness of the Lord Jesus, is made to each person and congregation in God's family.
God made personal promises for the one who will walk His lifestyle fast. And, we have the honor of representing our God in His true self of Love, when we walk His chosen fast. Even the unsaved people get hungry. We're not only called to love the brethren, but to "so love the world." We are sharing God's Son through deed and Word and therefore, loving the world.
Jesus was preaching from His Father's template of a "Chosen" fast, in Isaiah 58:5. This is God's chosen was of fasting and is done His way, for Him to see, and is not done for the praises of men. Jesus continues to teach about walking in love with God and man. He says that we can, and should, set aside times of prayer and fasting for personal reasons in our lives. Sometimes, we do so simply to seek God for our own private times or things occurring in our lives. Sometimes we fast in order to discipline our flesh and bring it under subjection to the Holy Spirit and the Word.
God might call you to do something and you're fasting to be quiet before Him, seeking both His instruction and direction in the matter. These are all acceptable and honored by God, but Jesus quoted from Isaiah 58 about God's way of living in fellowship and blessing by the Lord.
Jesus was speaking to the people about how the Kingdom was to be judged in Matthew 25:30-46 (Amplified) saying, "All nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate (the people) from one another as a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats. And He will cause the sheep to stand at His tight hand; but the goats at His left." Jesus expounded on this in Verse 45 saying, "And He will reply to them, solemnly I declare to you, in so far as you failed to do it for the least (in the estimation of men) of these, you failed to do for Me."
He had been teaching nearly exactly from Isaiah 58, concerning the treatment of others when He spoke this. Through Jesus, the Father was directing the people how to live and love others. We are God's Ambassadors on this earth, according to 2Corinthians 5:20 (Amplified) which says, "So, we are Christ's Ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We (as Christ's personal representatives) be you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor (now offered you) and be reconciled to God."
As we walk the Isaiah 58 fast, we are "revealing God's love" in a way that even the unsaved can see God's heart towards mankind. As this becomes our lifestyle, the world will not see a religious organization, but will see a Living Love that doesn't discriminate or turn away. In his natural form, man will distinguish between rich or poor, black or white, male or female, but God does not, nor ever will. John 3:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He (even) gave up His Only begotten (Unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him."
When God spoke through His Prophet Isaiah, He was speaking to those who were presently alive and to all who read His Word for all time. This is the very way that God desires for His Body, the Church, to walk. Jesus is the Head of the Church and we are His Body on this earth. The only hands God has to touch, hold and comfort the people with, are the hands on His Body, us. We are the "Light of the world," like Jesus was on earth. Even if many of us seem not to notice, it's getting very dark in the world today. The Only Way to repel the dark, is by bringing the Light against it.
Isaiah 58:8 (Amplified) gives us the results for walking this fast, saying, "Then shall your light break forth like the morning, and your healing (your restoration and the power of a new life) shall spring forth speedily; (your righteousness, your justice, and your right relationship with God) shall go before you (conducting you to peace and prosperity) and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard."
2Corinthians 4:4 (Amplified) tells us the reason why more people haven't accepted our Lord and the Gospel, saying, "For the god of this world has blinded the unbeliever's minds (that they should not discern the truth) preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ (the Messiah) Who is the Image and Likeness of God."
When the god of this world brings in and operates in darkness, then we have God's promise that He shall "cause light to break forth like the morning," in Isaiah 58:8. It doesn't matter how dark the night might have been, the darkness passes when morning breaks and we can see all things clearly. God's promise to bring His very heart and Spirit into our walk with Him and witness of the Lord Jesus, is made to each person and congregation in God's family.
God made personal promises for the one who will walk His lifestyle fast. And, we have the honor of representing our God in His true self of Love, when we walk His chosen fast. Even the unsaved people get hungry. We're not only called to love the brethren, but to "so love the world." We are sharing God's Son through deed and Word and therefore, loving the world.
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Lesson 13 The Continual Fast
We find that the people had come before the Lord in Isaiah 58:1-14, complaining about doing their part of the covenant, but God's not doing His part of it. This same complaining and delusion still occurs in today's Church. The people were fasting and seeking God, but they chose to do it their way and not His way. Things haven't changed much in today's Church. We're still not getting any, or very little, results from our covenant with God.
Jesus made a statement, that many are still not listening to, in Matthew 6:33 (Amplified), "But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right) and then all these other things, taken together will be given you besides.
Jesus had been teaching about our every day needs being met and our lives being fulfilled by what we "seek" on a daily basis. Jesus instructed us not to be anxious or worried about our every day needs, because God knows we need these things to live. Any father, who is truly a father, does not know his children need food, clothing, and shelter to live in this world. Some of God's children believe that these things are not God's will for them on earth, but only for when they get to heaven. It's true that we will have no shortage of anythings when we get to heaven, but this isn't what Jesus was talking about. Jesus was teaching about how our Heavenly Father already knew that man would need these things, when He brought them into existence.
In Genesis 1:27-31, we see how God placed His new born children on this earth and that had no need for anything. This remains God's will for us today, even after Adam's fall. Although man transgressed and fell, God never changed His intentions for us. He set out at once, to bring everything back to order.
The Apostle Paul writes under the unction of the Holy Spirit in Romans 10:2-3 (Amplified) saying, "I bear them witness that they have a (certain) zeal and enthusiasm for God, but it is not enlightened and according to (correct and vital) knowledge. For being ignorant of the righteousness that God ascribes (which makes one acceptable to Him in word, thought, and deed) and seeking to establish a righteousness (a means of salvation) of their own, they did not obey or submit themselves to God's righteousness."
Paul was speaking to those under the Law (and not altogether the new covenant people), yet we have really done the same thing today. We have many religious way of operating in the Church, that are simply our own way of being righteous, instead of subscribing to His righteousness. We are righteous with His Own righteousness by our faith in Jesus, according to 2Corinthians 5:21 (Amplified) which says, "For our sake He made Christ, (virtually) to be sin Who knew no sin; so that in and through Him we might become (endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of) the righteousness of God (what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness)."
Our religious way of dressing, fasting and doing, do no impress God in the least. It's true that we should dress modestly, fast and act right, but not to become "righteous." We should do these things because He has made us righteous. What's the difference? It's a matter of faith in God's way of doing and being right or His righteousness.
Being kind to one another and showing God's Love, are not the same as telling everyone, "You need to come to church and be like me." It's not the same as telling people to, "Stop drinking and swearing and attend church instead." It's true that they should stop these harmful things and go to church, but not for the reasons we've laid down for them. They don't need to stop these things in order to become a Baptist or Catholic or any other denomination, but in order to hear about what God had done by His Own Son and His grace.
Once they've received Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they need to be taught that it's not their way of doing and being right (or in right standing with God), but it's His way of doing things. Jesus taught the principles of giving, loving and helping others, but it wasn't a religious thing. Jesus taught a way of life that sprang from God's life that was now available to "love even the unlovely people." Jesus did instruct us to love the brethren, but also to love the outsider into the Kingdom.
We need to return to God's idea of doing and being right, instead of our way (which is without zeal and not correct knowledge. Proverbs 2:1-6 (Amplified) says, "My Son, if you will receive My Words and treasure up My commandments within you, Making your ear attentive to skillful and Godly Wisdom and inclining and directing your heart and mind to understanding (applying all your powers to the quest of it) Yes, if yo cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, If you seek (wisdom) as for silver and search for skillful and God wisdom as for hidden treasures, Then you will understand the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of (our Omniscient) God For the Lord gives skillful and Godly Wisdom; from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding."
You don't need to leave your church or start a new work halfway around the globe. You don't need the entire congregation to walk in this truth with you. Let God instruct others and you be a light that will help guide other into this lifestyle or fast. You can walk this fast on a personal basis with your Heavenly Father, in order to honor Him. This is reality to our Father. This is how we are supposed to be living for Him continuously.
The prosperity message that so many have "put down," is true, but only when we do it God's way. Our Father intends for you to have enough and have enough to spare for others. He never intended to "Sire" children for the world and satan to support. He is still perfectly capable of taking care of His Own (and then some).
We've been taught that a Christian must be poor and pitiful. God didn't bring His family into the earth so that unbelievers could laugh at them and the enemy could mock them. Our own traditions have lavished us with the title of "Poor and Pitiful," through our own way of doing and being right or righteous. Out own righteousness is still as "filthy rags" in God's sight.
Grace doesn't mean that we can do anything we want, at any time. Grace is the empowerment to do things God's way now and then reaping the benefits of His grace by so doing. Grace covers our mistakes while we learn and it empowers us to show His love to the world. When we walk the personal fast before God and do what He instructs in Isaiah 58, we will see His response to our doing it His way and our relationship with the Father will come to life.
Jesus made a statement, that many are still not listening to, in Matthew 6:33 (Amplified), "But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right) and then all these other things, taken together will be given you besides.
Jesus had been teaching about our every day needs being met and our lives being fulfilled by what we "seek" on a daily basis. Jesus instructed us not to be anxious or worried about our every day needs, because God knows we need these things to live. Any father, who is truly a father, does not know his children need food, clothing, and shelter to live in this world. Some of God's children believe that these things are not God's will for them on earth, but only for when they get to heaven. It's true that we will have no shortage of anythings when we get to heaven, but this isn't what Jesus was talking about. Jesus was teaching about how our Heavenly Father already knew that man would need these things, when He brought them into existence.
In Genesis 1:27-31, we see how God placed His new born children on this earth and that had no need for anything. This remains God's will for us today, even after Adam's fall. Although man transgressed and fell, God never changed His intentions for us. He set out at once, to bring everything back to order.
The Apostle Paul writes under the unction of the Holy Spirit in Romans 10:2-3 (Amplified) saying, "I bear them witness that they have a (certain) zeal and enthusiasm for God, but it is not enlightened and according to (correct and vital) knowledge. For being ignorant of the righteousness that God ascribes (which makes one acceptable to Him in word, thought, and deed) and seeking to establish a righteousness (a means of salvation) of their own, they did not obey or submit themselves to God's righteousness."
Paul was speaking to those under the Law (and not altogether the new covenant people), yet we have really done the same thing today. We have many religious way of operating in the Church, that are simply our own way of being righteous, instead of subscribing to His righteousness. We are righteous with His Own righteousness by our faith in Jesus, according to 2Corinthians 5:21 (Amplified) which says, "For our sake He made Christ, (virtually) to be sin Who knew no sin; so that in and through Him we might become (endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of) the righteousness of God (what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness)."
Our religious way of dressing, fasting and doing, do no impress God in the least. It's true that we should dress modestly, fast and act right, but not to become "righteous." We should do these things because He has made us righteous. What's the difference? It's a matter of faith in God's way of doing and being right or His righteousness.
Being kind to one another and showing God's Love, are not the same as telling everyone, "You need to come to church and be like me." It's not the same as telling people to, "Stop drinking and swearing and attend church instead." It's true that they should stop these harmful things and go to church, but not for the reasons we've laid down for them. They don't need to stop these things in order to become a Baptist or Catholic or any other denomination, but in order to hear about what God had done by His Own Son and His grace.
Once they've received Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they need to be taught that it's not their way of doing and being right (or in right standing with God), but it's His way of doing things. Jesus taught the principles of giving, loving and helping others, but it wasn't a religious thing. Jesus taught a way of life that sprang from God's life that was now available to "love even the unlovely people." Jesus did instruct us to love the brethren, but also to love the outsider into the Kingdom.
We need to return to God's idea of doing and being right, instead of our way (which is without zeal and not correct knowledge. Proverbs 2:1-6 (Amplified) says, "My Son, if you will receive My Words and treasure up My commandments within you, Making your ear attentive to skillful and Godly Wisdom and inclining and directing your heart and mind to understanding (applying all your powers to the quest of it) Yes, if yo cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, If you seek (wisdom) as for silver and search for skillful and God wisdom as for hidden treasures, Then you will understand the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of (our Omniscient) God For the Lord gives skillful and Godly Wisdom; from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding."
You don't need to leave your church or start a new work halfway around the globe. You don't need the entire congregation to walk in this truth with you. Let God instruct others and you be a light that will help guide other into this lifestyle or fast. You can walk this fast on a personal basis with your Heavenly Father, in order to honor Him. This is reality to our Father. This is how we are supposed to be living for Him continuously.
The prosperity message that so many have "put down," is true, but only when we do it God's way. Our Father intends for you to have enough and have enough to spare for others. He never intended to "Sire" children for the world and satan to support. He is still perfectly capable of taking care of His Own (and then some).
We've been taught that a Christian must be poor and pitiful. God didn't bring His family into the earth so that unbelievers could laugh at them and the enemy could mock them. Our own traditions have lavished us with the title of "Poor and Pitiful," through our own way of doing and being right or righteous. Out own righteousness is still as "filthy rags" in God's sight.
Grace doesn't mean that we can do anything we want, at any time. Grace is the empowerment to do things God's way now and then reaping the benefits of His grace by so doing. Grace covers our mistakes while we learn and it empowers us to show His love to the world. When we walk the personal fast before God and do what He instructs in Isaiah 58, we will see His response to our doing it His way and our relationship with the Father will come to life.
Monday, January 25, 2016
Lesson 12 The Continual Fast
The Jesus fast or the lifestyle of Jesus, as He walked and lived as a Man on this earth, was what God called His "Chosen" fast in Isaiah 58. This is how God Himself laid out as a fast. It was not some religious way of punishing yourself or an act of repentance. It wasn't even a way men used to gain an audience with God. This was the God had instructed man to live his life. This was a "Chosen" fast.
Like other fasts, there were things that would come from God on behalf of the one who was fasting. The benefits of this kind of fasting and living, were a "continuous blessing from God." The Law of Love would be the motivation for fasting and the blessings coming from it, would be the Father's appreciation for ministering His love on behalf of others.
Jesus was speaking to the people about the way God wished them to lives their lives in Luke 10:38 (Amplified). If you would study Luke 6 (Amplified) in view of Isaiah 58, then you will see they are very much the same. Jesus lived His life in this manner and taught this very lifestyle to those He taught. He concluded His Father's teaching on this subject in Luke 6:38 (Amplified) saying, "Give, and (gifts) will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will they pour into (the pouch formed by) the bosom (of your robe and used as a bag). For with the measure you deal out (with the measure you use when you confer benefits on others) it will be measured back to you."
Many times, the above scripture has been used in receiving the offering. I'm sure it is probably true on that point, but I don't believe that's what Jesus was teaching those around Him. Jesus was showing them a way of living and not teaching them about an offering. Jesus went on to teach about "The good treasure or evil treasure from a man's heart, for out of his heart his mouth speaks." And He concluded the teaching in Verse 49 saying, "But he who merely hears and does not practice doing My Words is like a man who built his house on the ground without a foundation, against which the torrent burst and immediately it collapsed and fell, and the breaking and ruin of that house was great."
We've all been striving to know God's will for our lives. Some were called into the five-fold ministry, according to Ephesians 4:11, but most were called into God's ministry of "Helps," according to 1Corinthians 12:28 (Amplified) which says, "So God has appointed some in the Church (For His Own use) first apostles (special Messengers); second prophets (inspired preachers and expounders) third teachers; then wonder workers; then those with ability to heal the sick; helpers; administrators; (speakers in) different (unknown) tongues."
Many have stopped reading about the Gifts of the Spirit in Verse 10, but God doesn't stop there. God included "Helps, and administrators" in these Gifts, in Verse 28. These two gifts are probably more prominent and seen openly in the world's eyes, than all the other gifts combined.
The Isaiah 58 fast is what I believe is now the supernatural gift of helps and is every bit a Gift of the Spirit as the others mentioned. When Jesus operated in the Gift of Helps, He blessed thousands of people with His giving. As Jesus gave, it was given back unto Him "pressed down, shaken together, and running over." As Jesus fed the multitudes with five loaves of bread and two fish, He was giving to the poor from what God had blessed Him with, for His faithfulness.
Many Christians have never seen themselves as "operating in the Gifts of the Holy Spirit." We have sometimes magnified the Gift more than the "Spirit Who administers the Gift and Who gives it severally as He wills," from 1Corinthians 12:11. There is an anointing on the giver, that is as much a Gift from the Holy Spirit as any other Gift." God has called many into this kind of ministry or fast, and have not realized that it's the supernatural Gift flowing through them.
God many some very outstanding promises to those who would take up His Chosen fast and this challenge in Isaiah 58:8-10, 12,14. These are all supernatural interventions of the Holy Spirit into the one who fasts, for those they ministering to. Both are supernatural.
Jesus flowed in this fast and God's promises when He multiplied the loaves and fishes. His ability to pray and be heard by the Father, came from them too. We are promised the same results for this "Chosen" fast like Jesus was in His walk. God didn't say these promises were only for Jesus, but were for anyone who would take what He had chosen and do it.
The promises that came from God aren't just for your benefits, but for the benefit of those you're ministering to. And, they're for God's benefit. Since we're the Body of Christ, the only way to "give out of His Spirit," is by His Body. Jesus said, "When you have done this to the least of them, you have done it to Me."
The little boy who brought his lunch of loaves and fishes, went home with "twelve baskets full," according to John 6:9 (Amplified) which says, "There is a little boy here, who has (with him) five barley loaves, and two small fish; but what are they among so many people?" John 6:13 (Amplified) says, "So accordingly they gathered them (the fragments left over) up, and they filled twelve (small hand) baskets with the fragments left over by those who had eaten from the five barley loaves."
I believe that each of the twelve disciples carried one those twelve baskets back to that little boy's house that day. When giving bread to the hungry in Isaiah 58:7-8 (Amplified), God supernaturally multiplied it and in Verse 8, God said He would conduct him to "peace and prosperity." I would say that the little boy who gave, prospered...wouldn't you?
Like other fasts, there were things that would come from God on behalf of the one who was fasting. The benefits of this kind of fasting and living, were a "continuous blessing from God." The Law of Love would be the motivation for fasting and the blessings coming from it, would be the Father's appreciation for ministering His love on behalf of others.
Jesus was speaking to the people about the way God wished them to lives their lives in Luke 10:38 (Amplified). If you would study Luke 6 (Amplified) in view of Isaiah 58, then you will see they are very much the same. Jesus lived His life in this manner and taught this very lifestyle to those He taught. He concluded His Father's teaching on this subject in Luke 6:38 (Amplified) saying, "Give, and (gifts) will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will they pour into (the pouch formed by) the bosom (of your robe and used as a bag). For with the measure you deal out (with the measure you use when you confer benefits on others) it will be measured back to you."
Many times, the above scripture has been used in receiving the offering. I'm sure it is probably true on that point, but I don't believe that's what Jesus was teaching those around Him. Jesus was showing them a way of living and not teaching them about an offering. Jesus went on to teach about "The good treasure or evil treasure from a man's heart, for out of his heart his mouth speaks." And He concluded the teaching in Verse 49 saying, "But he who merely hears and does not practice doing My Words is like a man who built his house on the ground without a foundation, against which the torrent burst and immediately it collapsed and fell, and the breaking and ruin of that house was great."
We've all been striving to know God's will for our lives. Some were called into the five-fold ministry, according to Ephesians 4:11, but most were called into God's ministry of "Helps," according to 1Corinthians 12:28 (Amplified) which says, "So God has appointed some in the Church (For His Own use) first apostles (special Messengers); second prophets (inspired preachers and expounders) third teachers; then wonder workers; then those with ability to heal the sick; helpers; administrators; (speakers in) different (unknown) tongues."
Many have stopped reading about the Gifts of the Spirit in Verse 10, but God doesn't stop there. God included "Helps, and administrators" in these Gifts, in Verse 28. These two gifts are probably more prominent and seen openly in the world's eyes, than all the other gifts combined.
The Isaiah 58 fast is what I believe is now the supernatural gift of helps and is every bit a Gift of the Spirit as the others mentioned. When Jesus operated in the Gift of Helps, He blessed thousands of people with His giving. As Jesus gave, it was given back unto Him "pressed down, shaken together, and running over." As Jesus fed the multitudes with five loaves of bread and two fish, He was giving to the poor from what God had blessed Him with, for His faithfulness.
Many Christians have never seen themselves as "operating in the Gifts of the Holy Spirit." We have sometimes magnified the Gift more than the "Spirit Who administers the Gift and Who gives it severally as He wills," from 1Corinthians 12:11. There is an anointing on the giver, that is as much a Gift from the Holy Spirit as any other Gift." God has called many into this kind of ministry or fast, and have not realized that it's the supernatural Gift flowing through them.
God many some very outstanding promises to those who would take up His Chosen fast and this challenge in Isaiah 58:8-10, 12,14. These are all supernatural interventions of the Holy Spirit into the one who fasts, for those they ministering to. Both are supernatural.
Jesus flowed in this fast and God's promises when He multiplied the loaves and fishes. His ability to pray and be heard by the Father, came from them too. We are promised the same results for this "Chosen" fast like Jesus was in His walk. God didn't say these promises were only for Jesus, but were for anyone who would take what He had chosen and do it.
The promises that came from God aren't just for your benefits, but for the benefit of those you're ministering to. And, they're for God's benefit. Since we're the Body of Christ, the only way to "give out of His Spirit," is by His Body. Jesus said, "When you have done this to the least of them, you have done it to Me."
The little boy who brought his lunch of loaves and fishes, went home with "twelve baskets full," according to John 6:9 (Amplified) which says, "There is a little boy here, who has (with him) five barley loaves, and two small fish; but what are they among so many people?" John 6:13 (Amplified) says, "So accordingly they gathered them (the fragments left over) up, and they filled twelve (small hand) baskets with the fragments left over by those who had eaten from the five barley loaves."
I believe that each of the twelve disciples carried one those twelve baskets back to that little boy's house that day. When giving bread to the hungry in Isaiah 58:7-8 (Amplified), God supernaturally multiplied it and in Verse 8, God said He would conduct him to "peace and prosperity." I would say that the little boy who gave, prospered...wouldn't you?
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Lesson 11 The Continual Fast
God tells us explicitly in Isaiah 58, what His "Chosen" fast is. It would do us well to understand what He considers "Chosen" and what we consider "chosen." Jesus made an important statement in Matthew 6:33 that we need take heed of and begin operating in, especially in these Last Days. We should have been doing these things all along, but we've allowed the world's way of "doing and being right" to direct our walk with God instead.
Thus, Matthew 6:33 (Amplified) says, "But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right) and then all these things taken together will be given you besides." Jesus didn't say it was wrong to have or want a place to live, food to eat, or clothes to wear. He did say, though, that we must not get caught up in fasting out of necessity and forget how God said to do it.
We all can quote Philippians 4:19 about how "God will supply all our needs, according to His riches in glory, through Christ Jesus." Paul was so confident when directing the Philippians to trust God for supplying all their needs, because they were giving and following the Jesus Fast or God's Chosen fast. God would supply everything that was needed in their lives for not only sustaining them, but sustaining Paul and his work too. They weren't fasting and going without in order to please God, but were doing what Paul had taught them to do.
They were "seeking first" God's way of doing and being right and God was "supplying their needs" in return. We find the story about a starving widow and her son feeding Elijah from her "empty jar of flour and oil," in 1Kings 17:13-16 (Amplified). This widow had only enough to feed her and her son for one more meal and she planned on their dying after eating one last time. She followed God's direction to feed His prophet and Elijah said to her in Verse 13, "Fear not; go and do as you have said, But first make me a little cake of (it) first and bring it to me; and afterwords prepare some for yourself and your son." Verses 14-16 continue, "For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel; the jar of meal shall not waste away or the bottle of oil fail until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth. And she did as Elijah said, and she and he and her household ate for many days the jar of meal was not spent, not did the bottle of oil fail, according to the Word which the Lord spoke through Elijah."
Jesus said this to those around Him, nearly verbatim, in Matthew 6:31-34 (Amplified). The people were worried about having enough, but Jesus said to them, "Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink" or, What are we going to have to wear? For the (Gentiles, heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your Father knows well that you need them all. But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right) and then all these things taken together will be given you besides So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own, Sufficient for each day is its own trouble."
God promised in Isaiah 58, that if we would walk in His "chosen" fast, He would take care of what we needed to give and what we needed to live, as well. God Himself promised to not only take care of us, but would in turn, see to it that we would have enough to take care of others.
The world has made it impossible for everyone to have enough to get by in these Last Days. Greed is one factor contributing to this, brought on by the "god of this world," which 2Corinthians 4:4 (Amplified) which says, "For the god of this world has blinded the unbeliever's minds (that they should not discern the truth), preventing them from seeing the illuminating Light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ (the Messiah) Who is the Image and Likeness of God."
The Church has "been blinded" in many areas of the truth of the Gospel, as well. We've been slowly taught not to expect God to do these things anymore. We've been taught such things as "these things have passed away" or are "only for the early Church," along with other foolish things. The Word teaches in Hebrews 13:8 (Amplified) that, "Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is (always) the same, yesterday, today, (yes) and forever (to the ages)." If God said something and meant it yesterday, then He still means it today.
We've been taught that if you begin believing God in certain areas of your life, then you have become "a fanatic" and should believe that we will go to heaven someday, but beyond that, "We should just live right." This is one of the most stupid things I think I have ever heard among the Church. If God cannot take care of you how, then what makes you think He can take care of you after you're dead? If God is powerless to help you, while you're alive, then why is His power only available after you are no longer alive?
We are called to be Ambassadors from Heaven and to show the world a far better way to live here and in eternity, according to 2Corinthians 5:20 (Amplified) which says, "So we are Christ's Ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were, through us, we (as Christ's personal representatives) are for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor (now offered you) and be reconciled to God." We weren't just born again and going to heaven, but we're to represent heaven (God in His grace) here on earth. And as His representatives, we must live by God's way of doing and being right,demonstrating a new way of living to others.
The Lord made us a promise in Isaiah 58:14 (Amplified), saying, "Then (after doing it His way) will you delight yourself in the Lord, and I will make you to ride upon the high places of the earth [Notice, He said "upon the earth"] and I will feed you with the heritage (promised for you) of Jacob your father, (for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it." This is a way of life that God has called His people to live.
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Lesson 10 The Continual Fast
While reading about God's chosen fast in Isaiah 58, we discover the difference between man's idea of a fast and God's idea of a fast. Man fasted as a way of obtaining God's attention to petition Him for whatever they needed. Walking in and living in God's chosen fast would result in His always hearing our prayers. Man fasted to gain an audience with God.
The Lord has always been involved in taking care of His children, man though, has not. Our helping others is God's way of revealing His heart to people and bring them to Himself. God has always been involved in bringing the lost into covenant with Him.
When God brought us into covenant with Himself, we were to show forth His mercy to the unsaved, in order to reveal His love for them. We were to minister from our abundance of His provision, to those who had need and bring them into covenant with Him. Then, as the people saw God's love through us, it would cause them to believe and receive His covenant. We were never to show partiality between poor or rich, old or young, male or female. We were to show His love to all, just like He did for us. Everyone was to be brought into His love and brought to see Who He is. The only exception in God's impartial fast, was that we were never to receive their gods into our lives.
There are those in today's world system, who don't understand this kind of fasting or loving. The acceptance for others that we're to have in this fast, doesn't not include bring their gods and idols into our lives, but bringing them to our God and His covenant. Many in the world's system believe that we are preaching a Gospel of hate, because we do not accept their gods and their way of living into our covenant.
The world will never cease from persecuting the Church, as long as we remain firm in our "One Way Truth." The love walk found in Isaiah 58 is the showing God's mercy. God's chosen fast though, means loving Him first and foremost. Today, the world is pushing hard for the Church of Christ to accept all other ways and to present all other gods as being equal to our Jesus. This is not what God's love is all about. God says that, "You shall no other gods before Me" and "Jesus is the Only Way to get to heaven." Our walk is for bringing the unsaved to Jesus, through our love for them. And, we're not to compromise our walk with God and make Him just "another god."
The world's idea of love includes the acceptance of all religions. God's love is the only way that can save mankind. God would have brought even the Egyptians out in the Exodus, if they had received Him. This is clearly seen in Exodus 22:20-21 (Amplified) which says, "He who sacrifices to any god but the Lord only shall be utterly destroyed. You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt."
As Christians, we are not to "oppress" the unsaved, because we were once unsaved too. But, we are not to accept the gods of the unsaved or their way of worship, in our walk. The world is trying its best to say that Jesus is "just another way" instead of His being THE WAY. When we walk in the world's idea of love, we lose the truth of what Love really is.
I've heard many sermons taught today, about how we should "accept anything and everything, regardless of who or what is believed." That's the world's idea of what love is and not God's It's true that God will accept any and all who will receive Jesus as the Lamb slain for the forgiveness of sin and to restore us back to the Father. No other god can do this and no other god is true. The "accept everything" message that's being preached and accepted in many of today's churches, is not really the Good News, but is a lie being perpetrated to remove Jesus as being "The Way, the Truth, and the Life" and the Only way to the Father.
We must abide in God's way of love and not be caught up in the world's way of love. Man continues to try becoming his own redeemer without God, like Adam did in the Garden of Eden. This might sound good to man's carnal ears, but it isn't what God has called us to.
We have so misunderstood the love of God and have missed what and why, He has set certain things into motion. Although we are no longer under the Law, but under grace, doesn't mean we overlook and dismiss the things of the old covenant. When God made stipulations concerning His people, He did so for a reason and He did so out of love. God brought us into His life, by separating us from the world's gods, because any other way led to man's death and destruction.
The Isaiah 58 fast meant separating our walk from the world and not compromising with the world. We are to reveal that God is the Only True God, through our love in this lifestyle of fasting. We're not to be like the world, but to who them Who God is, through our walk. Jesus didn't pray to take us out of the world, but to "keep us," while we are in the world.
God made some stipulations for His people in Leviticus 20, that we have seemingly ignored. These stipulations concerned such things as abortion, marriage, familiar spirits and other gods, but many in the Church consider these things as being insignificant or have no bearing for today. We, the Church, are supposed to be the light and salt to the earth and not to refrain from what God said, only to do things our own way.
We wonder how America got to be in the mess she's in today. She got that way because the Church hasn't done what God intended for it to do. A single atheistic woman took prayer out of our schools, while the Church remained silent. We crafted excuses for being impotent in our authority over the darkness. We've even preached from the pulpits, that "Christians don't get involved in political things because they are worldly." It was supposed to be the Christians who made the Laws of the Land that were based on God's Word.
The Church has been so involved with infighting over doctrines and traditions, and hasn't been constructive in revealing Jesus, in His truth, to the world. Jesus said that, "A house divided cannot stand." We've allowed the world to divide His Church by denominations, doctrines, religions. We've been arrogant, ignorant and prideful, to the point where the world makes us a laughing stock.
It's true that we are growing out of some of our baby Christian ways and are waking up. We have a job to do in these last days and are facing things that haven't been seen before, but we're to usher in the return of Jesus, in great power and glory.
The Lord has always been involved in taking care of His children, man though, has not. Our helping others is God's way of revealing His heart to people and bring them to Himself. God has always been involved in bringing the lost into covenant with Him.
When God brought us into covenant with Himself, we were to show forth His mercy to the unsaved, in order to reveal His love for them. We were to minister from our abundance of His provision, to those who had need and bring them into covenant with Him. Then, as the people saw God's love through us, it would cause them to believe and receive His covenant. We were never to show partiality between poor or rich, old or young, male or female. We were to show His love to all, just like He did for us. Everyone was to be brought into His love and brought to see Who He is. The only exception in God's impartial fast, was that we were never to receive their gods into our lives.
There are those in today's world system, who don't understand this kind of fasting or loving. The acceptance for others that we're to have in this fast, doesn't not include bring their gods and idols into our lives, but bringing them to our God and His covenant. Many in the world's system believe that we are preaching a Gospel of hate, because we do not accept their gods and their way of living into our covenant.
The world will never cease from persecuting the Church, as long as we remain firm in our "One Way Truth." The love walk found in Isaiah 58 is the showing God's mercy. God's chosen fast though, means loving Him first and foremost. Today, the world is pushing hard for the Church of Christ to accept all other ways and to present all other gods as being equal to our Jesus. This is not what God's love is all about. God says that, "You shall no other gods before Me" and "Jesus is the Only Way to get to heaven." Our walk is for bringing the unsaved to Jesus, through our love for them. And, we're not to compromise our walk with God and make Him just "another god."
The world's idea of love includes the acceptance of all religions. God's love is the only way that can save mankind. God would have brought even the Egyptians out in the Exodus, if they had received Him. This is clearly seen in Exodus 22:20-21 (Amplified) which says, "He who sacrifices to any god but the Lord only shall be utterly destroyed. You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt."
As Christians, we are not to "oppress" the unsaved, because we were once unsaved too. But, we are not to accept the gods of the unsaved or their way of worship, in our walk. The world is trying its best to say that Jesus is "just another way" instead of His being THE WAY. When we walk in the world's idea of love, we lose the truth of what Love really is.
I've heard many sermons taught today, about how we should "accept anything and everything, regardless of who or what is believed." That's the world's idea of what love is and not God's It's true that God will accept any and all who will receive Jesus as the Lamb slain for the forgiveness of sin and to restore us back to the Father. No other god can do this and no other god is true. The "accept everything" message that's being preached and accepted in many of today's churches, is not really the Good News, but is a lie being perpetrated to remove Jesus as being "The Way, the Truth, and the Life" and the Only way to the Father.
We must abide in God's way of love and not be caught up in the world's way of love. Man continues to try becoming his own redeemer without God, like Adam did in the Garden of Eden. This might sound good to man's carnal ears, but it isn't what God has called us to.
We have so misunderstood the love of God and have missed what and why, He has set certain things into motion. Although we are no longer under the Law, but under grace, doesn't mean we overlook and dismiss the things of the old covenant. When God made stipulations concerning His people, He did so for a reason and He did so out of love. God brought us into His life, by separating us from the world's gods, because any other way led to man's death and destruction.
The Isaiah 58 fast meant separating our walk from the world and not compromising with the world. We are to reveal that God is the Only True God, through our love in this lifestyle of fasting. We're not to be like the world, but to who them Who God is, through our walk. Jesus didn't pray to take us out of the world, but to "keep us," while we are in the world.
God made some stipulations for His people in Leviticus 20, that we have seemingly ignored. These stipulations concerned such things as abortion, marriage, familiar spirits and other gods, but many in the Church consider these things as being insignificant or have no bearing for today. We, the Church, are supposed to be the light and salt to the earth and not to refrain from what God said, only to do things our own way.
We wonder how America got to be in the mess she's in today. She got that way because the Church hasn't done what God intended for it to do. A single atheistic woman took prayer out of our schools, while the Church remained silent. We crafted excuses for being impotent in our authority over the darkness. We've even preached from the pulpits, that "Christians don't get involved in political things because they are worldly." It was supposed to be the Christians who made the Laws of the Land that were based on God's Word.
The Church has been so involved with infighting over doctrines and traditions, and hasn't been constructive in revealing Jesus, in His truth, to the world. Jesus said that, "A house divided cannot stand." We've allowed the world to divide His Church by denominations, doctrines, religions. We've been arrogant, ignorant and prideful, to the point where the world makes us a laughing stock.
It's true that we are growing out of some of our baby Christian ways and are waking up. We have a job to do in these last days and are facing things that haven't been seen before, but we're to usher in the return of Jesus, in great power and glory.
Monday, January 18, 2016
Lesson 9 The Continual Fast
The Isaiah 58 fast is based on the love of God being portrayed through you. It is the very thing Jesus taught us to live by. Feeding the hungry and giving to the poor are things God Himself taught us, in order to fulfill His commandment to "Love the Lord thy God and love your neighbor as yourself."
There have been many things both written and taught about the Love of God, but most have been slanted by religion. The only way to know the Love of God, is to know God Himself, because God is love. 1John 4:8 (Amplified) says, "He who does not love has not become acquainted with God (does not and never did know Him), for God is Love." God doesn't have love, He Is Love.
All of God's power lies in His great heart of love. When God created the very heavens and earth, it was an act of His love. In His heart, love needed someone for God to express Himself (Love) through and to. Without someone to love, love is no good to you. Genesis 2:18 (Amplified) says, "Now the Lord God said, It is not good (sufficient, satisfactory) that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper meet (suitable, adapted, complimentary) for him."
After making man in His Own Image and Likeness, the Father realized man was in the same place He Himself had been in before making man. God now had a man to lavish with His love, but man had no one to lavish with the same great love God put in his heart. So, God made Adam a woman, a "helper and meet" who was suitable for him (man) to share his great love with. The woman would be suitable, adaptable, complimentary and be a companion to and a recipient of man's love.
This love was so great, that when Adam ate from the tree that God commanded not to eat of, Adam knowingly traded everything the Father had given him, for his wife. 1Timothy 2:14 (Amplified) says, "And it was not Adam who was deceived, but (the) woman who was deceived and deluded and fell into transgression."
We sometimes forget that we were made in God's Own Image and Likeness. Adam was so much like His Father, that the great love he had for his wife, put him in a place of trying to be her redeemer, by his own strength. Adam so love her that he gave himself on her behalf. God's love was so strong in him, that he gave everything for her. The first and greatest thing in the life of man, was to "Love the Lord above all things." Adam allowed his love for Eve, to be greater than his love for God. In so doing, Adam delivered all o f mankind into a different god and realm, by the very "dominion" God had given him. If Adam hadn't done what he did and had gone to God with it, then everything would have been different.
We've failed to see how much we're really in God's Image and Likeness. Satan has long since perverted this love into a selfish and corrupt thing in fallen man. We've been trained throughout the years, that self is first and other come second (maybe). There was no other way for God (Who is Love) to have a recipient for His love, but to actually become His Own Sacrifice on man's behalf. This is what Adam tried to do, but it wasn't only wrong to try being God, but it's wrong to not seek God after transgressing. If Adam had tried going to God, then God would have brought things back in life with Himself.
When we walk the Isaiah 58 Fast, which God calls His "chosen" fast,we can again do what Adam should have done. This is how God directs us doing on His behalf. Many times, we do like Adam did and try becoming the redeemer instead of God. We cannot trade what we have for mankind, but we can use what God has already "traded" for us. What God has given is His Chosen fast and that is how He is dealing with things, and not us on our own behalf.
When we do things God's way and walk in His Love, our own carnal (human) love won't get in the way. When we do things God's way, it is actually God Himself Who is getting the job done and there is no failure involved, because God is Love. When we go from "knowing" God and come into being one with our Father, we no longer simply know about God, but actually walk in Love because God is Love.
We spend too much time working out formulas that we think will get God to work on our behalf and forget Love already has. Knowing love, is actually going from simply knowing God, to living in the Father. We much about "God fearing people" and forget that "perfect Love casts out fear," according to 1John 4:18. One kind of fear is having a respect and awe of God's Presence and Being. The other kind of fear, is being afraid of God's Presence. God fearing people respect His great Love and can rest in it. Fearful people stay outside of God's Presence, because they haven't come to know Love or God or Father. We must be "led by the Spirit," according to Romans 8:14 in order to walk in and do God's Chosen fast.
We are to be led in our giving, as well as being led in our living. Too often, we only move in our carnal or soulish love and affection and aren't being led by God at all. We've moved by many things that aren't always "chosen." Social justice isn't true justice at all, but man's acceptance based on carnality. When you know Love, you know God. And, when you know God, Who is Love, you know our Heavenly Father.
There have been many things both written and taught about the Love of God, but most have been slanted by religion. The only way to know the Love of God, is to know God Himself, because God is love. 1John 4:8 (Amplified) says, "He who does not love has not become acquainted with God (does not and never did know Him), for God is Love." God doesn't have love, He Is Love.
All of God's power lies in His great heart of love. When God created the very heavens and earth, it was an act of His love. In His heart, love needed someone for God to express Himself (Love) through and to. Without someone to love, love is no good to you. Genesis 2:18 (Amplified) says, "Now the Lord God said, It is not good (sufficient, satisfactory) that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper meet (suitable, adapted, complimentary) for him."
After making man in His Own Image and Likeness, the Father realized man was in the same place He Himself had been in before making man. God now had a man to lavish with His love, but man had no one to lavish with the same great love God put in his heart. So, God made Adam a woman, a "helper and meet" who was suitable for him (man) to share his great love with. The woman would be suitable, adaptable, complimentary and be a companion to and a recipient of man's love.
This love was so great, that when Adam ate from the tree that God commanded not to eat of, Adam knowingly traded everything the Father had given him, for his wife. 1Timothy 2:14 (Amplified) says, "And it was not Adam who was deceived, but (the) woman who was deceived and deluded and fell into transgression."
We sometimes forget that we were made in God's Own Image and Likeness. Adam was so much like His Father, that the great love he had for his wife, put him in a place of trying to be her redeemer, by his own strength. Adam so love her that he gave himself on her behalf. God's love was so strong in him, that he gave everything for her. The first and greatest thing in the life of man, was to "Love the Lord above all things." Adam allowed his love for Eve, to be greater than his love for God. In so doing, Adam delivered all o f mankind into a different god and realm, by the very "dominion" God had given him. If Adam hadn't done what he did and had gone to God with it, then everything would have been different.
We've failed to see how much we're really in God's Image and Likeness. Satan has long since perverted this love into a selfish and corrupt thing in fallen man. We've been trained throughout the years, that self is first and other come second (maybe). There was no other way for God (Who is Love) to have a recipient for His love, but to actually become His Own Sacrifice on man's behalf. This is what Adam tried to do, but it wasn't only wrong to try being God, but it's wrong to not seek God after transgressing. If Adam had tried going to God, then God would have brought things back in life with Himself.
When we walk the Isaiah 58 Fast, which God calls His "chosen" fast,we can again do what Adam should have done. This is how God directs us doing on His behalf. Many times, we do like Adam did and try becoming the redeemer instead of God. We cannot trade what we have for mankind, but we can use what God has already "traded" for us. What God has given is His Chosen fast and that is how He is dealing with things, and not us on our own behalf.
When we do things God's way and walk in His Love, our own carnal (human) love won't get in the way. When we do things God's way, it is actually God Himself Who is getting the job done and there is no failure involved, because God is Love. When we go from "knowing" God and come into being one with our Father, we no longer simply know about God, but actually walk in Love because God is Love.
We spend too much time working out formulas that we think will get God to work on our behalf and forget Love already has. Knowing love, is actually going from simply knowing God, to living in the Father. We much about "God fearing people" and forget that "perfect Love casts out fear," according to 1John 4:18. One kind of fear is having a respect and awe of God's Presence and Being. The other kind of fear, is being afraid of God's Presence. God fearing people respect His great Love and can rest in it. Fearful people stay outside of God's Presence, because they haven't come to know Love or God or Father. We must be "led by the Spirit," according to Romans 8:14 in order to walk in and do God's Chosen fast.
We are to be led in our giving, as well as being led in our living. Too often, we only move in our carnal or soulish love and affection and aren't being led by God at all. We've moved by many things that aren't always "chosen." Social justice isn't true justice at all, but man's acceptance based on carnality. When you know Love, you know God. And, when you know God, Who is Love, you know our Heavenly Father.
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Lesson 8 The Continual Fast
We've been learning about the continual fast that Jesus walked and God calls His "chosen" fast, from Isaiah 58. This fast God prescribes for His people, is not a fast abstaining from food or drink and isn't the prescribed days of fasting under the old covenant. This chosen fast is based on the cardinal law under the old and new covenant and is based on love.
This fast isn't for the mourning over our sins or a day/week of repenting for our trespasses, but is a continual fast or lifestyle that is based on love for God and our fellow man. Jesus Himself walked and taught this lifestyle to His disciples. He never taught it as a fast, but as the new way of living for His new creation, the Church.
Jesus came to "seek and save that which was lost," according to Luke 19:10. This was of course to bring God's lost family (mankind) back into Himself, born again unto life with the new birth. Jesus also came to restore the intent of man's purpose on and in this earth. Man wasn't the only thing lost in the fall of Adam. We read in Luke 4:5-7 (Amplified), "Then the devil to a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the habitable world in a moment of time (in the twinkling of an eye) And he said to Him, To You I will give all this power and authority and their glory (and their magnificense, excellence, preeminence, dignity, and grace), for it has been turned over to me, and I give it to whomever I will; Therefore if You will do homage to and worship me (just once), it shall all be Yours."
The only way of bringing back, "seek and save that which was lost," was restoring the love that was turned into lust for things and self. This love would restore man's heart back toward God and one another. Jesus was here to restore the God given authority back into the hands of His family He created by the first Adam. Man was to rule, under God his Father, and have dominion over all things, except man himself. We were to walk, guided by the Spirit of God Himself, and tend the Garden of Eden.
Without God, man fell under satan's dominion, which perverted the love of God into selfishness, greed resulting in poverty for millions, as well as sickness and disease that spread throughout the whole earth. By his walking God's chosen fast, man could once again be connected with Him and the provision that the poor and needy would be given to sustain them, because God Himself would provide for those who would walk this fast. God would ensure that the ones would this fast would always have enough to give and enough for them to live on too.
Many people, both saved and unsaved, have tried doing these things throughout the years, but mostly in their own strength. Many charitable organizations have reached out to the poor and needy, but have been unable to end their suffering. Don't misunderstand what I'm saying. All of these things are good, but there is a place for us to deal with and to walk in this chosen fast for ourselves.
Many charitable organization are continuously giving, but I remember a time when we somehow didn't qualify for help. Agencies determined who would receive and who wouldn't receive their donations and somehow we failed to qualify for the things we greatly needed. We often went without food and heat while growing up in southern Illinois, even with these organizations being established. We got lost in the "big picture" of sending food and clothing by the truckloads to other countries. It's good to give to these charities, but please, don't let your fast end there. Do like Jesus did when He "sought that which was lost." Many times your neighbor can fall upon hard times and need your help. Don't allow what we do in large portions of giving, stop our personal giving and helping.
You might know people who need help, but are unknown to large charitable organizations. We always reach out at such times as Christmas, to assure every child has a gift. Like many churches, we have an Angel Tree, which allows others to buy gifts for local children. These things are good things to do, but what about the remainder of the year?
While walking this fast, God will not only supply our needs, but what we need in order to give. God will use our giving as an opportunity to bring those people to Himself. He can meet their needs and cause them to give of what He gives to them. Our giving becomes a way of delivering others out of their poverty and has made them a living fast to others. Now, God is their source and not you. Now, they've become productive to the Kingdom of God.
There was a woman who worshiped Jesus, just before Passover, in Matthew 26:7-13 (Amplified), which say, "A woman came up to Him with a Alabaster flask of very precious perfume, and she poured it on His head as He recline at the table. And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, For what purpose is all this waste? For this perfume might have been sold for a large sum and the money given to the poor." Verses 10-13 go on, "But Jesus, fully aware of this, said to them, Why do you bother the woman? She has done a noble (praiseworthy and beautiful) thing to Me. For you always have the poor among you, but you will not always have Me. In pouring this perfume on My body she has done something to prepare Me for My burial. Truly I tell you, where ever this good new (the Gospel) is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will be told also, in memory of her."
This woman's action was a fulfillment of what God called for in Isaiah 58:10 (Amplified) which says, "And if you poor out that with which you sustain your own life for the hungry, and satisfy the need of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in darkness, and your obscurity and gloom become like noonday."
Her "obscurity" and "gloom" certainly became as "noonday." She isn't mentioned by name in the Gospels, but her fame (which was given her by Jesus), certainly lives on in the Word of God. She recognized in Jesus, that which His Own disciples didn't see, His coming death and burial. The disciples were caught up in the "business" of giving to the poor, while she became caught up in the personal attitude of fasting.
Jesus said that, "You always have the poor with you." In other words, Jesus said, "You will always have the opportunity to give to the poor, for all time." This woman had only one chance to do this work of love. God has exalted her because of this one work and has given her public recognition to all who read the Gospels.
The Word doesn't say she was wealthy, but it does say that the perfume she anointed Jesus with, was very expensive. She could have used the money for her own self, but instead she offered it to the "afflicted." If she had or hadn't done this, with God's chosen fast in mind, God chose to see it that way. You might think that what you do in secret will never be seen in public, but God always honors His Word.
This fast isn't for the mourning over our sins or a day/week of repenting for our trespasses, but is a continual fast or lifestyle that is based on love for God and our fellow man. Jesus Himself walked and taught this lifestyle to His disciples. He never taught it as a fast, but as the new way of living for His new creation, the Church.
Jesus came to "seek and save that which was lost," according to Luke 19:10. This was of course to bring God's lost family (mankind) back into Himself, born again unto life with the new birth. Jesus also came to restore the intent of man's purpose on and in this earth. Man wasn't the only thing lost in the fall of Adam. We read in Luke 4:5-7 (Amplified), "Then the devil to a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the habitable world in a moment of time (in the twinkling of an eye) And he said to Him, To You I will give all this power and authority and their glory (and their magnificense, excellence, preeminence, dignity, and grace), for it has been turned over to me, and I give it to whomever I will; Therefore if You will do homage to and worship me (just once), it shall all be Yours."
The only way of bringing back, "seek and save that which was lost," was restoring the love that was turned into lust for things and self. This love would restore man's heart back toward God and one another. Jesus was here to restore the God given authority back into the hands of His family He created by the first Adam. Man was to rule, under God his Father, and have dominion over all things, except man himself. We were to walk, guided by the Spirit of God Himself, and tend the Garden of Eden.
Without God, man fell under satan's dominion, which perverted the love of God into selfishness, greed resulting in poverty for millions, as well as sickness and disease that spread throughout the whole earth. By his walking God's chosen fast, man could once again be connected with Him and the provision that the poor and needy would be given to sustain them, because God Himself would provide for those who would walk this fast. God would ensure that the ones would this fast would always have enough to give and enough for them to live on too.
Many people, both saved and unsaved, have tried doing these things throughout the years, but mostly in their own strength. Many charitable organizations have reached out to the poor and needy, but have been unable to end their suffering. Don't misunderstand what I'm saying. All of these things are good, but there is a place for us to deal with and to walk in this chosen fast for ourselves.
Many charitable organization are continuously giving, but I remember a time when we somehow didn't qualify for help. Agencies determined who would receive and who wouldn't receive their donations and somehow we failed to qualify for the things we greatly needed. We often went without food and heat while growing up in southern Illinois, even with these organizations being established. We got lost in the "big picture" of sending food and clothing by the truckloads to other countries. It's good to give to these charities, but please, don't let your fast end there. Do like Jesus did when He "sought that which was lost." Many times your neighbor can fall upon hard times and need your help. Don't allow what we do in large portions of giving, stop our personal giving and helping.
You might know people who need help, but are unknown to large charitable organizations. We always reach out at such times as Christmas, to assure every child has a gift. Like many churches, we have an Angel Tree, which allows others to buy gifts for local children. These things are good things to do, but what about the remainder of the year?
While walking this fast, God will not only supply our needs, but what we need in order to give. God will use our giving as an opportunity to bring those people to Himself. He can meet their needs and cause them to give of what He gives to them. Our giving becomes a way of delivering others out of their poverty and has made them a living fast to others. Now, God is their source and not you. Now, they've become productive to the Kingdom of God.
There was a woman who worshiped Jesus, just before Passover, in Matthew 26:7-13 (Amplified), which say, "A woman came up to Him with a Alabaster flask of very precious perfume, and she poured it on His head as He recline at the table. And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, For what purpose is all this waste? For this perfume might have been sold for a large sum and the money given to the poor." Verses 10-13 go on, "But Jesus, fully aware of this, said to them, Why do you bother the woman? She has done a noble (praiseworthy and beautiful) thing to Me. For you always have the poor among you, but you will not always have Me. In pouring this perfume on My body she has done something to prepare Me for My burial. Truly I tell you, where ever this good new (the Gospel) is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will be told also, in memory of her."
This woman's action was a fulfillment of what God called for in Isaiah 58:10 (Amplified) which says, "And if you poor out that with which you sustain your own life for the hungry, and satisfy the need of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in darkness, and your obscurity and gloom become like noonday."
Her "obscurity" and "gloom" certainly became as "noonday." She isn't mentioned by name in the Gospels, but her fame (which was given her by Jesus), certainly lives on in the Word of God. She recognized in Jesus, that which His Own disciples didn't see, His coming death and burial. The disciples were caught up in the "business" of giving to the poor, while she became caught up in the personal attitude of fasting.
Jesus said that, "You always have the poor with you." In other words, Jesus said, "You will always have the opportunity to give to the poor, for all time." This woman had only one chance to do this work of love. God has exalted her because of this one work and has given her public recognition to all who read the Gospels.
The Word doesn't say she was wealthy, but it does say that the perfume she anointed Jesus with, was very expensive. She could have used the money for her own self, but instead she offered it to the "afflicted." If she had or hadn't done this, with God's chosen fast in mind, God chose to see it that way. You might think that what you do in secret will never be seen in public, but God always honors His Word.
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Lesson 7 The Continual Fast
Jesus taught the people to pray in Matthew 6:8-13 (Amplified) what we've entitled The Lord's Prayer. He fully intended for this prayer to be answered. Jesus didn't pray simply to hear Himself speak. He didn't teach this type of praying, to His disciples, so they would "sound good." He fully intended for this type of praying to be answered by God.
God stopped in the midst of my praying The Lord's Prayer many years ago, and asked me if I really meant what I was saying. I stopped in amazement and asked God what He meant. His answer was, "Do you really want Me to forgive you the way you forgive others? It didn't take me long to realize that I wasn't thinking or believing that this was a real prayer, but I was mechanically reciting words I had learned.
I began to realize that this was a "real" prayer, with "real" results and it began changing the way I prayed to the Father. I began inquiring the Father about prayer and the Word. This resulted with my learning so much that it changed my entire walk with God. The truth of the scriptures began becoming real to me and such things as fasting, praying and fellowshipping with God began taking on a whole new meaning in my life.
The Lord began teaching me about all He had made available to His people, while they are still on earth and everything changed. I wasn't waiting to get to heaven (where all be alright) anymore. I realized how heaven had come to earth in order to return things to God's will before Adam's fall. I began truly thinking about what I was asking God for in The Lord's Prayer especially. I realized that I didn't place any faith in the prayer, but was reciting something I learned.
I initially thought about the part, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" and realized God would actually do things on earth that He does in heaven. God would really operate here, just like He operates in heaven. I began understanding God's Word and His will and saw the deception we, as Christians, had been walking in.
Jesus taught us to pray that He would "lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." This type of teaching has been a great mystery for many, concerning their Christian walk. We've been taught that God will put things on us to teach us things, so we couldn't discern whether God was testing us or the devil was trying to destroy us. Many of us didn't understand what we've been praying.
If we really could believe that God's will for us here is the same as it is in Heaven, then would we believe sickness, poverty, disease, families torn apart or even children starving to death are how it is in heaven? If Jesus taught us to believe that it's not God Who is "leading us into temptation (or trials and tests), then who is? If God is the One Who will "deliver us from the evil one," then we must know which is which.
We think that things can only be good when we get to heaven. This isn't what Jesus taught and we must understand what Jesus taught about God's chosen fast in Isaiah 58. I believe that this lifestyle of fasting that Jesus walked, will bring about "His will as it is in heaven." Jesus taught how we were supposed to fast and He spoke about the results of this way of fasting in Matthew 6:7-8 (Amplified) saying, "But when you fast, perfume your head, and wash your face, so that your fasting may not be noticed by men but by your Father, Who sees in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open."
We can see the results of Isaiah 58 manifest openly in Jesus' life and the lives of the people He ministered to. We see God's will being "done on earth, as it is done in heaven," as this kind of fasting and lifestyle manifest fully and openly in Jesus' life.
God promised those who would walk His chosen fast in Isaiah 58:8 (Amplified), "Then shall your light break forth like the morning, and your healing (your restoration and the power of a new life) shall spring forth speedily; your righteousness (your rightness, your justice, and your right relationship with God), shall go before you (conducting you to peace and prosperity) and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard."
Jesus said in John 14:27 (Amplified), "Peace I leave with you; My (Own) peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you." This is the "peace" and "prosperity" that the above two scriptures speaks about, came upon Jesus by His walking in what God had "chosen" as a fast before Him.
We've believed that so many of the things that happened in Jesus' life, happened because He was God's Son, Jesus. These things occurred because Jesus only "did what He saw the Father do." This fast still does work for those who will simply walk it. Jesus said in John 14:26 (Amplified), "But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessory, Advocate, Strengthener, Stand-by), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name (in My place, to represent Me, and act on My behalf) He will teach you all things, and He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you."
Jesus taught a way of life that was chosen by God, about how to walk in His way of doing and being right. We must "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His rightness and all these things will be added to you."
God stopped in the midst of my praying The Lord's Prayer many years ago, and asked me if I really meant what I was saying. I stopped in amazement and asked God what He meant. His answer was, "Do you really want Me to forgive you the way you forgive others? It didn't take me long to realize that I wasn't thinking or believing that this was a real prayer, but I was mechanically reciting words I had learned.
I began to realize that this was a "real" prayer, with "real" results and it began changing the way I prayed to the Father. I began inquiring the Father about prayer and the Word. This resulted with my learning so much that it changed my entire walk with God. The truth of the scriptures began becoming real to me and such things as fasting, praying and fellowshipping with God began taking on a whole new meaning in my life.
The Lord began teaching me about all He had made available to His people, while they are still on earth and everything changed. I wasn't waiting to get to heaven (where all be alright) anymore. I realized how heaven had come to earth in order to return things to God's will before Adam's fall. I began truly thinking about what I was asking God for in The Lord's Prayer especially. I realized that I didn't place any faith in the prayer, but was reciting something I learned.
I initially thought about the part, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" and realized God would actually do things on earth that He does in heaven. God would really operate here, just like He operates in heaven. I began understanding God's Word and His will and saw the deception we, as Christians, had been walking in.
Jesus taught us to pray that He would "lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." This type of teaching has been a great mystery for many, concerning their Christian walk. We've been taught that God will put things on us to teach us things, so we couldn't discern whether God was testing us or the devil was trying to destroy us. Many of us didn't understand what we've been praying.
If we really could believe that God's will for us here is the same as it is in Heaven, then would we believe sickness, poverty, disease, families torn apart or even children starving to death are how it is in heaven? If Jesus taught us to believe that it's not God Who is "leading us into temptation (or trials and tests), then who is? If God is the One Who will "deliver us from the evil one," then we must know which is which.
We think that things can only be good when we get to heaven. This isn't what Jesus taught and we must understand what Jesus taught about God's chosen fast in Isaiah 58. I believe that this lifestyle of fasting that Jesus walked, will bring about "His will as it is in heaven." Jesus taught how we were supposed to fast and He spoke about the results of this way of fasting in Matthew 6:7-8 (Amplified) saying, "But when you fast, perfume your head, and wash your face, so that your fasting may not be noticed by men but by your Father, Who sees in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open."
We can see the results of Isaiah 58 manifest openly in Jesus' life and the lives of the people He ministered to. We see God's will being "done on earth, as it is done in heaven," as this kind of fasting and lifestyle manifest fully and openly in Jesus' life.
God promised those who would walk His chosen fast in Isaiah 58:8 (Amplified), "Then shall your light break forth like the morning, and your healing (your restoration and the power of a new life) shall spring forth speedily; your righteousness (your rightness, your justice, and your right relationship with God), shall go before you (conducting you to peace and prosperity) and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard."
Jesus said in John 14:27 (Amplified), "Peace I leave with you; My (Own) peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you." This is the "peace" and "prosperity" that the above two scriptures speaks about, came upon Jesus by His walking in what God had "chosen" as a fast before Him.
We've believed that so many of the things that happened in Jesus' life, happened because He was God's Son, Jesus. These things occurred because Jesus only "did what He saw the Father do." This fast still does work for those who will simply walk it. Jesus said in John 14:26 (Amplified), "But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessory, Advocate, Strengthener, Stand-by), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name (in My place, to represent Me, and act on My behalf) He will teach you all things, and He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you."
Jesus taught a way of life that was chosen by God, about how to walk in His way of doing and being right. We must "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His rightness and all these things will be added to you."
Monday, January 11, 2016
Lesson 6 The Continual Fast
There are many methods, reasons and times designated for fasting (as well as subduing the flesh), found in the Bible. Each fast has its own use and purpose. The fast that we've been looking into, is a lifestyle of fasting. It is a way of fasting in order to please our Heavenly Father and do it His way.
God said in Isaiah 58:6 that this is a fast that "He has chosen." Jesus teaches His disciples (and us) the same principles of Cod's "chosen" fast in Matthew 6:1-34 (Amplified). We begin with Verse 33 which says, ""But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His (God's) Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right) and then all these things taken together will be given you besides." Jesus goes on, in Verse34, "So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own (sufficient for each day is its own trouble)."
When doing God's way of being right and His way of doing, then according to the above verse, you will "have no need to worry about tomorrow and its trouble, because God will take care of each and every day as it comes."
I call this the Jesus Fast, because He walked this fast continually. Being true to His Word, God in turn, blessed Jesus from the promise of Isaiah 58 at every turn. It won't only work for Jesus, but it will work for anyone who will walk it. Jesus taught all the same things that He told others He spoke to. This fast would work in the old covenant, as well as in the new covenant. It is God's way of blessing people and blessing those who would set themselves to bless others.
The Lord showed me how Jesus taught us to pray, in what we call The Lord's Prayer," is based on God's chosen fast. In Matthew 6:11 (Amplified) Jesus prayed for our "daily bread." This duplicates Isaiah 58:8 (Amplified) where God says, "Then shall your light like the morning, and your healing (your restoration and the power of new life) shall spring forth speedily; your righteousness (your rightness, your justice, and your right relationship with God) shall go before you; (conducting you to peace and prosperity) and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard."
As we pray "daily" for our bread, we will always have bread to divide with the hungry. Isaiah 58:7 (Amplified) says, " God will take care of our prosperity and peace" and that our "restoration and the power of a new life" will be given. This is not worrying about tomorrow, but walking in every day. Jesus included all God taught us about His chosen fast in The Lord's Prayer. Jesus says in Matthew 6:12 (Amplified), "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven (left, remitted, and let go of the debts, and have given up resentment against) our debtors." This correlates with Isaiah 58:9 (Amplified), where God says, "Then you shall cry, and He will say, Here I Am. If you take away from your midst yokes of oppression (wherever you find them), the finger pointed in scorn (toward the oppressed or the godly) and every form of false, harsh, unjust, and wicked speaking)."
Jesus prayed in Matthew 6:13 (Amplified), "And lead (bring) us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the Kingdom, and the power and the glory, forever, Amen." Isaiah 58:10-11 (Amplified) says, "And if you pour out that with which you sustain your own life for the hungry and satisfy the need of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in darkness, and your obscurity and gloom become like the noonday. And the Lord shall guide you continually and satisfy you in drought and in dry places and make strong your bones, and you shall be like a watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters fail not."
God tells us in the above verse, that He will "guide you continually." Jesus said in Matthew 6:13 (Amplified), "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."
Jesus explains the principles of the Isaiah 58 fast further, when He talks about how to forgive, how to conduct ourselves when we fast, where to lay up our treasures and where our hearts should be. Jesus continues His teaching the Isaiah 58 fast in Matthew 6:25 where he teaches His followers about "Not being anxious, uneasy, and worried about life, clothing, food, shelter or what we shall drink." Jesus could teach about God's chosen fast, because He continually walked it.
God says in Isaiah 58:14 (Amplified), "Then (when you walk this fast that I have chosen) then will you delight yourself in the Lord, and I will make you to ride on the high places of the earth, and I will feed you with the heritage (promised for you) of Jacob your father; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it."
God said in Isaiah 58:6 that this is a fast that "He has chosen." Jesus teaches His disciples (and us) the same principles of Cod's "chosen" fast in Matthew 6:1-34 (Amplified). We begin with Verse 33 which says, ""But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His (God's) Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right) and then all these things taken together will be given you besides." Jesus goes on, in Verse34, "So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own (sufficient for each day is its own trouble)."
When doing God's way of being right and His way of doing, then according to the above verse, you will "have no need to worry about tomorrow and its trouble, because God will take care of each and every day as it comes."
I call this the Jesus Fast, because He walked this fast continually. Being true to His Word, God in turn, blessed Jesus from the promise of Isaiah 58 at every turn. It won't only work for Jesus, but it will work for anyone who will walk it. Jesus taught all the same things that He told others He spoke to. This fast would work in the old covenant, as well as in the new covenant. It is God's way of blessing people and blessing those who would set themselves to bless others.
The Lord showed me how Jesus taught us to pray, in what we call The Lord's Prayer," is based on God's chosen fast. In Matthew 6:11 (Amplified) Jesus prayed for our "daily bread." This duplicates Isaiah 58:8 (Amplified) where God says, "Then shall your light like the morning, and your healing (your restoration and the power of new life) shall spring forth speedily; your righteousness (your rightness, your justice, and your right relationship with God) shall go before you; (conducting you to peace and prosperity) and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard."
As we pray "daily" for our bread, we will always have bread to divide with the hungry. Isaiah 58:7 (Amplified) says, " God will take care of our prosperity and peace" and that our "restoration and the power of a new life" will be given. This is not worrying about tomorrow, but walking in every day. Jesus included all God taught us about His chosen fast in The Lord's Prayer. Jesus says in Matthew 6:12 (Amplified), "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven (left, remitted, and let go of the debts, and have given up resentment against) our debtors." This correlates with Isaiah 58:9 (Amplified), where God says, "Then you shall cry, and He will say, Here I Am. If you take away from your midst yokes of oppression (wherever you find them), the finger pointed in scorn (toward the oppressed or the godly) and every form of false, harsh, unjust, and wicked speaking)."
Jesus prayed in Matthew 6:13 (Amplified), "And lead (bring) us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the Kingdom, and the power and the glory, forever, Amen." Isaiah 58:10-11 (Amplified) says, "And if you pour out that with which you sustain your own life for the hungry and satisfy the need of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in darkness, and your obscurity and gloom become like the noonday. And the Lord shall guide you continually and satisfy you in drought and in dry places and make strong your bones, and you shall be like a watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters fail not."
God tells us in the above verse, that He will "guide you continually." Jesus said in Matthew 6:13 (Amplified), "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."
Jesus explains the principles of the Isaiah 58 fast further, when He talks about how to forgive, how to conduct ourselves when we fast, where to lay up our treasures and where our hearts should be. Jesus continues His teaching the Isaiah 58 fast in Matthew 6:25 where he teaches His followers about "Not being anxious, uneasy, and worried about life, clothing, food, shelter or what we shall drink." Jesus could teach about God's chosen fast, because He continually walked it.
God says in Isaiah 58:14 (Amplified), "Then (when you walk this fast that I have chosen) then will you delight yourself in the Lord, and I will make you to ride on the high places of the earth, and I will feed you with the heritage (promised for you) of Jacob your father; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it."
Saturday, January 9, 2016
Lesson 5 The Continual Fast
God said in Isaiah 58:6-7 (Amplified), "(Rather) is not this the fast hat I have chosen; to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bonds of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every (enslaving) yoke?" Verse 7 goes on, "Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house-when you see the naked, that you cover him, and that you hide not yourself from (the needs of) your own flesh and blood."
When you read the above passage, you understand what Jesus preached in Luke 4:18-19 (Amplified) when He said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me (the Anointed One, the Messiah) to preach the goodness (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to sent forth as delivered those who are oppressed (who are down trodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity). To proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord (the day when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound)."
When Jesus said that He "only does what the Father says to do," He was quoting directly from what God told Him to say. Jesus taught the "chosen fast" from Isaiah 61:1 that came with the promise that once He had spoken the Word, then God would bring them to pass. These passages are still alive and true today in the life and spirit and mouth of God's children.
Jesus said that, "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified Me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and the afflicted. He has sent Me to bind up and heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the (physical and spiritual) captives and the opening of the prison and the eyes of those who are bound. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord (the year of His favor)," in Isaiah 61:1-2 (Amplified).
Jesus didn't complete the reading of Isiah 61 because He didn't hear the Father speak it to Him as the time to bring it forth. This scripture still remains in the future and is yet to be fulfilled. Many have tried preaching this portion of Isaiah 61:1-2 to this generation, but God is not obligated to fulfill it until we hear Him say so. We only say what the Father tells us to say.
So often, we says what the Word says, without hearing the Father speak it to us. It is His Word and it is truth, but only when He tells us to speak it. God spoke Isaiah 58, Isaiah 61 through the mouth of Jesus and they are now living Words that remain living, for all who will believe. The "chosen fast" God speaks about in Isaiah 58 is true for all believers, because Jesus taught us to live this way. Throughout His teachings, Jesus disclosed the way for God's blessing and God's instructions for the new born child of God to walk and live.
As we walk out this truth and carry it out in our lives, God will carry out His part in it with His blessing He spoke on our behalf. This isn't something we have to work at, but only walk with the expectance of His fulfilled promise. Once Jesus taught this way of life (fasting), it became true for everyone who will live in it. Walking in God's chosen fast brings His blessing along with it. If God one part, He said both parts.
Please, don't misunderstand what I'm saying about this fast. If you do what God said, then the blessing will come upon you. This however, should not be the reason you walk this fast, you should do so because you have a new spirit and a God given love for man and God.
God asks in Isaiah 58:5 (Amplified), "Is such a fast as yours what I have chosen, a day for a man to humble himself with sorrow in his soul? (Is true fasting merely mechanical)? Is it only to bow down his head like a bulrush and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him (to indicate a condition of heart that he does not have)?"
This is why Jesus said in Matthew 6:16-18 (Amplified), "And whenever you are fasting, do not look gloomy and sour and dreary like the hypocrites, for they put on a dismal countenance, that their fasting may be apparent to and seen by men, truly I say to you, they have their reward in full already. but when you fast, perfume your head and wash your face So that your fasting may not be noticed by men but by your Father, Who sees in secret; and your Father Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open." This fast is the love for God and man and the attitude of the heart.
When you read the above passage, you understand what Jesus preached in Luke 4:18-19 (Amplified) when He said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me (the Anointed One, the Messiah) to preach the goodness (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to sent forth as delivered those who are oppressed (who are down trodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity). To proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord (the day when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound)."
When Jesus said that He "only does what the Father says to do," He was quoting directly from what God told Him to say. Jesus taught the "chosen fast" from Isaiah 61:1 that came with the promise that once He had spoken the Word, then God would bring them to pass. These passages are still alive and true today in the life and spirit and mouth of God's children.
Jesus said that, "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified Me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and the afflicted. He has sent Me to bind up and heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the (physical and spiritual) captives and the opening of the prison and the eyes of those who are bound. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord (the year of His favor)," in Isaiah 61:1-2 (Amplified).
Jesus didn't complete the reading of Isiah 61 because He didn't hear the Father speak it to Him as the time to bring it forth. This scripture still remains in the future and is yet to be fulfilled. Many have tried preaching this portion of Isaiah 61:1-2 to this generation, but God is not obligated to fulfill it until we hear Him say so. We only say what the Father tells us to say.
So often, we says what the Word says, without hearing the Father speak it to us. It is His Word and it is truth, but only when He tells us to speak it. God spoke Isaiah 58, Isaiah 61 through the mouth of Jesus and they are now living Words that remain living, for all who will believe. The "chosen fast" God speaks about in Isaiah 58 is true for all believers, because Jesus taught us to live this way. Throughout His teachings, Jesus disclosed the way for God's blessing and God's instructions for the new born child of God to walk and live.
As we walk out this truth and carry it out in our lives, God will carry out His part in it with His blessing He spoke on our behalf. This isn't something we have to work at, but only walk with the expectance of His fulfilled promise. Once Jesus taught this way of life (fasting), it became true for everyone who will live in it. Walking in God's chosen fast brings His blessing along with it. If God one part, He said both parts.
Please, don't misunderstand what I'm saying about this fast. If you do what God said, then the blessing will come upon you. This however, should not be the reason you walk this fast, you should do so because you have a new spirit and a God given love for man and God.
God asks in Isaiah 58:5 (Amplified), "Is such a fast as yours what I have chosen, a day for a man to humble himself with sorrow in his soul? (Is true fasting merely mechanical)? Is it only to bow down his head like a bulrush and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him (to indicate a condition of heart that he does not have)?"
This is why Jesus said in Matthew 6:16-18 (Amplified), "And whenever you are fasting, do not look gloomy and sour and dreary like the hypocrites, for they put on a dismal countenance, that their fasting may be apparent to and seen by men, truly I say to you, they have their reward in full already. but when you fast, perfume your head and wash your face So that your fasting may not be noticed by men but by your Father, Who sees in secret; and your Father Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open." This fast is the love for God and man and the attitude of the heart.
Lesson 4 The Continual Fast
There are many fast found in the Bible and all have a reason and purpose. Daniel fasted all of the "King's pleasant food and drink" and maintained his diet in line with his covenant. Paul and others in the Bible fasted food and various other things for different reasons. Each had a purpose and a reason and a reward of one kind or another. Some fasts were taken up simply to put the flesh under subjection to the spirit and for self discipline.
Jesus fasted forty days in the wilderness to prove the power of God over the enemy and to begin His walk in the mission God called Him to. Many saved and unsaved people fast for health benefits. There is a fast in Isaiah 58 that Jesus walked on a daily basis, that was a lifestyle of fasting. This is what God called a "chosen" fast that He recognized and was pleased with.
This fast had nothing to do with abstaining from food or other things, but on the contrary, this fast was about giving to others. It wasn't just based on food or drink, but on our attitude of love and having a heart for others. Jesus taught His disciples and those He ministered to about this fast. The Golden Ruled or the Beatitudes are based on this fast. This is the way God intended His people to conduct their lives.
Many people fast to "be heard on High" or to get God's attention. When you call out in the Name of Jesus, you already have God's attention. When God calls you to a fast, then you have a different agenda for a fast. Many times we fast for nothing as we set our own agenda to reach God in our walk.
The things I'm teaching and revealing in these lessons are about God's chosen fast. I have set myself to try doing what God has "chosen," so that I know I'm doing it right. I'm sure you have done so, too. God has made a covenant or agreement with the ones who will walk this fast and that will assure His part of the fast.
So often, we become "religious" in our walk with God in false humility. We do certain things without expecting anything in return. This sounds good and it sounds humble, but God doesn't do things for naught. When He sets boundaries on this chosen fast, He also included benefits for the one who was fasting. These benefits were intended to keep the one who was fasting in a position to be able to continue in his fast on a sustained fast.
If you give away everything you have to the needy, then you will in turn become the one in need and your fast is over. If God supplies your need, then you can walk this fast long term. Jesus gave to the poor on a continuous basis. When He ran out of anything to feed the multitudes, God in His covenant, supplied Jesus with the multiplying of the loaves and fishes. Jesus never ran out.
The health of Jesus never faltered, even when He went for forty days and miles to meet the people's needs. God met His end of the fast, even in Jesus' natural body. When you enter into the Isaiah 58 fast, you need to set your faith and expectation to allow god to do what He promised He would do. Without God's provision, you will only exhaust and frustrate yourself and this has led to many Christians "burning out."
Burn out results from trying to do it in your own strength and will overwhelm you. God said in Isaiah 58:8 (Amplified) that during and after this fast, "Then shall your light break forth like the morning, and your healing (you restoration and the power of a new life) shall spring forth speedily; your righteousness (your rightness, your justice, and your right relationship with God) shall go before you (conducting you to peace and prosperity) and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard."
This promise along would be more than anything you could ask for, if you were to begin your own fast and purpose. God promised that this fast would "conduct you to peace and prosperity." the peace that it would bring comes from doing God's will and purpose, the prosperity comes as a gift to continue in your giving and blessing of others. This prosperity is the Bible and its idea of prosperity, not the worlds idea of prosperity. This prosperity is to bless you, in order to be a blessing to others.
Your healing (your restoration and the power of a new life) shall spring forth speedily. This new life and the power of it, is the very life of God issuing through you to others. This new life is God's Own life and is what Jesus spoke of in John 10:10 (Amplified) saying, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that [you] may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."
This "overflow" is the very life God promised in Isaiah 58:8 (Amplified), when He said, "Then shall your light break forth like the morning (which comes everyday) and your healing (your restoration and the power of a new life) shall spring forth speedily."
This "morning, restoration or new life," will be constant as sunrise and your renewal of the spirit will "renew and restore your health speedily." This isn't a new teaching or a fanatical way of Christianity, but is God's way of blessing you and all that are around you. this doesn't mean that you cannot give to charitably organizations or to such places as Salvation Army, but that your giving should be led by God's Own Spirit to those He has chosen for you to bless. Let it be from the heart of love for God and man in your fasting.
Jesus fasted forty days in the wilderness to prove the power of God over the enemy and to begin His walk in the mission God called Him to. Many saved and unsaved people fast for health benefits. There is a fast in Isaiah 58 that Jesus walked on a daily basis, that was a lifestyle of fasting. This is what God called a "chosen" fast that He recognized and was pleased with.
This fast had nothing to do with abstaining from food or other things, but on the contrary, this fast was about giving to others. It wasn't just based on food or drink, but on our attitude of love and having a heart for others. Jesus taught His disciples and those He ministered to about this fast. The Golden Ruled or the Beatitudes are based on this fast. This is the way God intended His people to conduct their lives.
Many people fast to "be heard on High" or to get God's attention. When you call out in the Name of Jesus, you already have God's attention. When God calls you to a fast, then you have a different agenda for a fast. Many times we fast for nothing as we set our own agenda to reach God in our walk.
The things I'm teaching and revealing in these lessons are about God's chosen fast. I have set myself to try doing what God has "chosen," so that I know I'm doing it right. I'm sure you have done so, too. God has made a covenant or agreement with the ones who will walk this fast and that will assure His part of the fast.
So often, we become "religious" in our walk with God in false humility. We do certain things without expecting anything in return. This sounds good and it sounds humble, but God doesn't do things for naught. When He sets boundaries on this chosen fast, He also included benefits for the one who was fasting. These benefits were intended to keep the one who was fasting in a position to be able to continue in his fast on a sustained fast.
If you give away everything you have to the needy, then you will in turn become the one in need and your fast is over. If God supplies your need, then you can walk this fast long term. Jesus gave to the poor on a continuous basis. When He ran out of anything to feed the multitudes, God in His covenant, supplied Jesus with the multiplying of the loaves and fishes. Jesus never ran out.
The health of Jesus never faltered, even when He went for forty days and miles to meet the people's needs. God met His end of the fast, even in Jesus' natural body. When you enter into the Isaiah 58 fast, you need to set your faith and expectation to allow god to do what He promised He would do. Without God's provision, you will only exhaust and frustrate yourself and this has led to many Christians "burning out."
Burn out results from trying to do it in your own strength and will overwhelm you. God said in Isaiah 58:8 (Amplified) that during and after this fast, "Then shall your light break forth like the morning, and your healing (you restoration and the power of a new life) shall spring forth speedily; your righteousness (your rightness, your justice, and your right relationship with God) shall go before you (conducting you to peace and prosperity) and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard."
This promise along would be more than anything you could ask for, if you were to begin your own fast and purpose. God promised that this fast would "conduct you to peace and prosperity." the peace that it would bring comes from doing God's will and purpose, the prosperity comes as a gift to continue in your giving and blessing of others. This prosperity is the Bible and its idea of prosperity, not the worlds idea of prosperity. This prosperity is to bless you, in order to be a blessing to others.
Your healing (your restoration and the power of a new life) shall spring forth speedily. This new life and the power of it, is the very life of God issuing through you to others. This new life is God's Own life and is what Jesus spoke of in John 10:10 (Amplified) saying, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that [you] may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."
This "overflow" is the very life God promised in Isaiah 58:8 (Amplified), when He said, "Then shall your light break forth like the morning (which comes everyday) and your healing (your restoration and the power of a new life) shall spring forth speedily."
This "morning, restoration or new life," will be constant as sunrise and your renewal of the spirit will "renew and restore your health speedily." This isn't a new teaching or a fanatical way of Christianity, but is God's way of blessing you and all that are around you. this doesn't mean that you cannot give to charitably organizations or to such places as Salvation Army, but that your giving should be led by God's Own Spirit to those He has chosen for you to bless. Let it be from the heart of love for God and man in your fasting.
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Lesson 3 The Continual Fast
When we examine the life and teachings of Jesus, we begin seeing that His life was what God called His "chosen" fast. Jesus' fast had nothing to do with abstaining from food or drink, but how to treat and deal with others. There are many kinds of fasting spoke found in the Bible and says that all, except the religious fasts, were good. God Himself spoke about the "religious" or self-righteous fasting in Isaiah 58 saying, "Is such a fast as yours what I have chosen; a day for a man to humble himself with sorrow in his soul? (is true fasting merely mechanical)? Is it only to bow down his head like a bulrush and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him (to indicate a condition of heart that he does not have)? Will you call this a fast and an acceptable day to the Lord?"
In Verses 6-7 of that same chapter, God describes what is an acceptable fast to Him as voice of the a lifestyle of dealing with and treating others. This was the exact life that Jesus walked and talked. This kind of fast or lifestyle had promises from God that went along with it. These promises were an automatic thing God Himself implanted into this sort of fast, because it was the very purpose of His heart. When anyone would live this fast (or live in this manner), God Himself would be present in it.
We've always felt that the things Jesus accomplished, stemmed simply from His being God, but the truth is that Jesus walked the Word and was blessed because of it. When Jesus said, "I only do what the Father ways," He wasn't only speaking about hearing the Spirit at that time, but also what the Father had said previously.
Hebrews 1:1 (Amplified) says, "In many separate revelations (each of which set forth a portion of the truth) and in different ways God spoke to (our) forefathers in and by the prophets." Since God had "spoken to us by the prophets," Jesus was hearing God speak by hearing the Word of the prophets as well as hearing the voice of the Spirit, in His earthly walk. The Holy Spirit would mostly speak to Jesus from the written Word that God spoke. He simply remind Jesus what God had already said in His Word.
As Jesus listened to the voice of God's Spirit and read the written Word of God by the prophets, Jesus only "did what the Father told Him." Jesus walked the Isaiah 58 fast, God spoke to Him from His written Word. And, as Jesus walked and taught this God chosen lifestyle of faith, God in turn, fulfilled His promise in that walk.
This is God's part of that promise from Isaiah 58:11-12 (Amplified) which says,"And the Lord shall guide you continually and satisfy you in drought and in dry places and make strong your bones. And you shall be like a watered garden and like a spring of water who's waters fail not. And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; You shall raise up the foundations of (building, that have laid waste for) many generations; and you shall be called repairer of the Breach, Restorer of Streets to Dwell in."
God guided Jesus and supplied every need when Jesus needed it and wherever Jesus was. God supplied money in the mouth of a fish and supplied loaves and fishes to feed the multitude. Jesus was never anything but a watered garden or a spring of water to the thirsty. The crowd asked Jesus about fasting in Matthew 9: 14-17 (Amplified) which says, "Then the disciples of John came to Jesus, inquiring, Why is it that we and the Pharisees' fast often (that is, abstain from food and drink as a religious exercise) but your disciples do not fast? And Jesus replied to them, Can the wedding guests mourn while the bridegroom is still with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. And no one puts a piece of cloth that has been shrunk on and old garment, for such a patch tears away from the garment and a worse rent (tear) is made. Neither is new wine put in an old wine skin; for if it is, the skins burst and are torn in pieces, and the wine is spilled and the skins are ruined, But new wine is put into fresh wine skins and so both are preserved."
Notice, that Jesus didn't say that the "new covenant" people wouldn't fast, but that theirs would be a different way of fasting. Jesus said that the old way or religious exercise that they had been observing, would be replaced with a new way and a new lifestyle. If we would simply observe the religious exercise of fasting, then it would destroy the whole new life and power of God's chosen way of fasting.
We've been so trained to not expect anything from God, lest we seem self righteous or haughty, that we don't allow God to fulfill His promises in our new walk with Him. In Isaiah 58:8 (Amplified) God says, "Then shall your light break forth like the morning, and your healing (your restoration and the power of your new life) shall spring forth speedily, your righteousness (your rightness, your justice, and your right relationship with God) shall go before you (conducting you to peace and prosperity), and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard."
Jesus said in John 17:22 (Amplified), "I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one (even) as We are One." Jesus taught us the principle of this lifestyle of fasting, so that it would produce in us the same as it produced in Him. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 (Amplified), "But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right) and then all these things taken together will be given you besides."
God gives us this lifestyle of fasting, so that we could distribute His goodness and covenant to the world. This is done on an individual basis, if we will just walk in it. We give to charitable organizations to help others and sometimes we do so for our own benefits of tax breaks and deductions. What God speaks of is having each person accepting this commission unto themselves and making this a way of life. God Himself will see to it that you are taken care of in this fasted way of living.
In Verses 6-7 of that same chapter, God describes what is an acceptable fast to Him as voice of the a lifestyle of dealing with and treating others. This was the exact life that Jesus walked and talked. This kind of fast or lifestyle had promises from God that went along with it. These promises were an automatic thing God Himself implanted into this sort of fast, because it was the very purpose of His heart. When anyone would live this fast (or live in this manner), God Himself would be present in it.
We've always felt that the things Jesus accomplished, stemmed simply from His being God, but the truth is that Jesus walked the Word and was blessed because of it. When Jesus said, "I only do what the Father ways," He wasn't only speaking about hearing the Spirit at that time, but also what the Father had said previously.
Hebrews 1:1 (Amplified) says, "In many separate revelations (each of which set forth a portion of the truth) and in different ways God spoke to (our) forefathers in and by the prophets." Since God had "spoken to us by the prophets," Jesus was hearing God speak by hearing the Word of the prophets as well as hearing the voice of the Spirit, in His earthly walk. The Holy Spirit would mostly speak to Jesus from the written Word that God spoke. He simply remind Jesus what God had already said in His Word.
As Jesus listened to the voice of God's Spirit and read the written Word of God by the prophets, Jesus only "did what the Father told Him." Jesus walked the Isaiah 58 fast, God spoke to Him from His written Word. And, as Jesus walked and taught this God chosen lifestyle of faith, God in turn, fulfilled His promise in that walk.
This is God's part of that promise from Isaiah 58:11-12 (Amplified) which says,"And the Lord shall guide you continually and satisfy you in drought and in dry places and make strong your bones. And you shall be like a watered garden and like a spring of water who's waters fail not. And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; You shall raise up the foundations of (building, that have laid waste for) many generations; and you shall be called repairer of the Breach, Restorer of Streets to Dwell in."
God guided Jesus and supplied every need when Jesus needed it and wherever Jesus was. God supplied money in the mouth of a fish and supplied loaves and fishes to feed the multitude. Jesus was never anything but a watered garden or a spring of water to the thirsty. The crowd asked Jesus about fasting in Matthew 9: 14-17 (Amplified) which says, "Then the disciples of John came to Jesus, inquiring, Why is it that we and the Pharisees' fast often (that is, abstain from food and drink as a religious exercise) but your disciples do not fast? And Jesus replied to them, Can the wedding guests mourn while the bridegroom is still with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. And no one puts a piece of cloth that has been shrunk on and old garment, for such a patch tears away from the garment and a worse rent (tear) is made. Neither is new wine put in an old wine skin; for if it is, the skins burst and are torn in pieces, and the wine is spilled and the skins are ruined, But new wine is put into fresh wine skins and so both are preserved."
Notice, that Jesus didn't say that the "new covenant" people wouldn't fast, but that theirs would be a different way of fasting. Jesus said that the old way or religious exercise that they had been observing, would be replaced with a new way and a new lifestyle. If we would simply observe the religious exercise of fasting, then it would destroy the whole new life and power of God's chosen way of fasting.
We've been so trained to not expect anything from God, lest we seem self righteous or haughty, that we don't allow God to fulfill His promises in our new walk with Him. In Isaiah 58:8 (Amplified) God says, "Then shall your light break forth like the morning, and your healing (your restoration and the power of your new life) shall spring forth speedily, your righteousness (your rightness, your justice, and your right relationship with God) shall go before you (conducting you to peace and prosperity), and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard."
Jesus said in John 17:22 (Amplified), "I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one (even) as We are One." Jesus taught us the principle of this lifestyle of fasting, so that it would produce in us the same as it produced in Him. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 (Amplified), "But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right) and then all these things taken together will be given you besides."
God gives us this lifestyle of fasting, so that we could distribute His goodness and covenant to the world. This is done on an individual basis, if we will just walk in it. We give to charitable organizations to help others and sometimes we do so for our own benefits of tax breaks and deductions. What God speaks of is having each person accepting this commission unto themselves and making this a way of life. God Himself will see to it that you are taken care of in this fasted way of living.
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Lesson 2 The Continual Fast
God tells us the fast He chooses, is a lifestyle of fasting and prayer that Jesus exhibited. Jesus taught about the lifestyle He followed in Matthew 6:1-34. This was simply what God's Word had already proclaimed as the fast He approved and declared as His chosen fast.
Jesus understood that the "mechanical" fasting wasn't approved by God. Isaiah 58:6-7 (Amplified) says, "(Rather) is not this the fast that I have chosen; to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every (enslaving) yoke. Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house-when you see the naked, that you cover him, and that you hide not yourself from (the needs of) your own flesh and blood."
Jesus understood our Father spoke about a venue for God to bless and meet the needs of people through the believer, along with meeting the believer's needs by His blessing and promising to those who will walk this fasting life.
God talks about those who would fast according to His chosen fast in Isaiah 58:8-9 (Amplified) saying, "Then shall your light break forth like the morning, and your healing (your restoration and the power of a new life) shall spring forth speedily; your righteousness (your rightness, your justice, and your right relationship with God) shall go before you (conducting you to peace and prosperity) and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard."
The above promise from God, in Verse 7, isn't what only comes upon the preachers and those from the five-fold ministries, but for all who will live in faith in God's Word. This promise is the result of walking in the Word. There isn't anything extra you must do or work for to receive it, but it's entering into God's rest. Hebrews 4:11 (Amplified) says, "Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest (of God, to know and experience it for ourselves)."
Isaiah 58:9 (Amplified) tells us, "Then you shall call and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, Here I Am."
Jesus relied on God's promises to be capable of accomplishing what God required of Him in this world. Jesus had to walk, speak and trust what God said, in order to do what God wanted done. Jesus taught us to walk and do the same things He did, so we could receive the same results in Matthew 16:17-18 (Amplified) saying, "But when you fast, perfume your head and wash your face, So that your fasting may not be noticed by men but by your Father, Who sees in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open."
Isn't that what the Father said would happen for those who would walk this lifestyle of fasting? Jesus said that, "I only do what the Father says to do." Jesus' lifestyle (or fast) was the one that God said He has chosen. After all, didn't Jesus say that He only did what the Father says? Is this fast then, not what the Father says to do?
God said that He would do the same for us, if we walked in His chosen fast in Isaiah 58:9 (Amplified), saying, "Then you will call, and the Lord will answer, You shall cry, and He will say, Here I Am." In John 11:40-41 (Amplified), Jesus told Lazarus' sister, "Jesus said to her, Did I not tell you and promise you that if you would believe and rely on Me, you would see the glory of God? So they took away the stone, and Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, Father, I thank You that You have heard Me." Jesus went on in Verse 42 saying with full confidence, "Yes, I know You always hear and listen to Me."
How could Jesus be so sure that the Father would hear Him? Because He knew Isaiah 58:9 (Amplified) which says, "Then you shall call and the Lord will answer, you shall cry and He will say, Here I Am." Jesus simply believed that what God promised, He would bring to pass and honor His Word. Verse 9b Jesus goes on about our conduct towards gossip and self-righteousness, as the Scribes were rebuked for saying, "If you remove yokes of oppression (wherever you find them) the finger pointed in scorn (toward the oppressed or the godly) and every form of false, harsh, unjust, and wicked speaking."
John 3:34 (Amplified) says, "For since He Whom God has sent speaks the Words of God (proclaims God's Own message) God does not give Him His Spirit sparingly or by measure, but boundless is the gift God makes of His Spirit."
Jesus understood that the "mechanical" fasting wasn't approved by God. Isaiah 58:6-7 (Amplified) says, "(Rather) is not this the fast that I have chosen; to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every (enslaving) yoke. Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house-when you see the naked, that you cover him, and that you hide not yourself from (the needs of) your own flesh and blood."
Jesus understood our Father spoke about a venue for God to bless and meet the needs of people through the believer, along with meeting the believer's needs by His blessing and promising to those who will walk this fasting life.
God talks about those who would fast according to His chosen fast in Isaiah 58:8-9 (Amplified) saying, "Then shall your light break forth like the morning, and your healing (your restoration and the power of a new life) shall spring forth speedily; your righteousness (your rightness, your justice, and your right relationship with God) shall go before you (conducting you to peace and prosperity) and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard."
The above promise from God, in Verse 7, isn't what only comes upon the preachers and those from the five-fold ministries, but for all who will live in faith in God's Word. This promise is the result of walking in the Word. There isn't anything extra you must do or work for to receive it, but it's entering into God's rest. Hebrews 4:11 (Amplified) says, "Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest (of God, to know and experience it for ourselves)."
Isaiah 58:9 (Amplified) tells us, "Then you shall call and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, Here I Am."
Jesus relied on God's promises to be capable of accomplishing what God required of Him in this world. Jesus had to walk, speak and trust what God said, in order to do what God wanted done. Jesus taught us to walk and do the same things He did, so we could receive the same results in Matthew 16:17-18 (Amplified) saying, "But when you fast, perfume your head and wash your face, So that your fasting may not be noticed by men but by your Father, Who sees in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open."
Isn't that what the Father said would happen for those who would walk this lifestyle of fasting? Jesus said that, "I only do what the Father says to do." Jesus' lifestyle (or fast) was the one that God said He has chosen. After all, didn't Jesus say that He only did what the Father says? Is this fast then, not what the Father says to do?
God said that He would do the same for us, if we walked in His chosen fast in Isaiah 58:9 (Amplified), saying, "Then you will call, and the Lord will answer, You shall cry, and He will say, Here I Am." In John 11:40-41 (Amplified), Jesus told Lazarus' sister, "Jesus said to her, Did I not tell you and promise you that if you would believe and rely on Me, you would see the glory of God? So they took away the stone, and Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, Father, I thank You that You have heard Me." Jesus went on in Verse 42 saying with full confidence, "Yes, I know You always hear and listen to Me."
How could Jesus be so sure that the Father would hear Him? Because He knew Isaiah 58:9 (Amplified) which says, "Then you shall call and the Lord will answer, you shall cry and He will say, Here I Am." Jesus simply believed that what God promised, He would bring to pass and honor His Word. Verse 9b Jesus goes on about our conduct towards gossip and self-righteousness, as the Scribes were rebuked for saying, "If you remove yokes of oppression (wherever you find them) the finger pointed in scorn (toward the oppressed or the godly) and every form of false, harsh, unjust, and wicked speaking."
John 3:34 (Amplified) says, "For since He Whom God has sent speaks the Words of God (proclaims God's Own message) God does not give Him His Spirit sparingly or by measure, but boundless is the gift God makes of His Spirit."
Monday, January 4, 2016
The Continual Fast
Fasting and praying are two of the most powerful things in the Christian walk, but many haven't fasted for varying reasons. The "Jesus kind of fast" is the most powerful and best kind of fast from the Bible. This is a lifestyle of prayer and fasting that will keep our relationship strong with God and man.
There was a young boy who had what Jesus described as a "dumb and deaf spirit" that was trying to kill him in Mark 9:22-23,25,28-29 (Amplified) which says, "And it (this unclean spirit) has often thrown him both into fire and water, intending to kill him. But if you can do anything, do have pity on us and help us. And Jesus said, (you says to Me) If you can do anything? (Why) all things are possible to him who believes."
The man had asked the disciples to cast out the deaf and dumb spirit, but they were unable to do so. The disciples weren't without faith and believed in casting out evil spirits, but when they tried doing so, they were unsuccessful. Verse 25 goes on with Jesus' rebuking this unclean spirit, and it came out of the boy and he was freed. This disciples asked Jesus why they couldn't cast it out in Verses 28-29 ans He answered them saying, "And He replied to them, This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting."
Remarkably, Jesus didn't go off to fast or pray, but He drove the spirit out of the boy. His disciples had at least enough faith to attempt casting it out, but they could not. As I studied this kind of spirit requiring fasting and praying to dislodge it, I asked the Lord about it. This sort of prayer and fasting wasn't something only done when you are concerned about running into one of these spirit, but it is something you do all the time.
I found the answer to my question for the Lord in Isaiah 58 and knew this fasting and praying was a lifestyle for Jesus. We often fast for various reasons and many times these fasts are rewarded by God. I wanted a way to fast that would have the reward I desired, which was to set others free. I also wanted a way to determine the results of my fast afterwards. I don't want to just go without eating and then hope God reward me for doing so, but because it was effective. God doesn't simply reward us because we didn't eat for a few days and we should not believe we can gain favor with God because we fast. We've already been granted favor and grace with Him through Jesus. What was the right approach to fasting and praying?
God says in Isaiah 58:3-5 (Amplified), "Is such a fast as yours what I have chosen? A day for a man to humble himself with sorrow in his soul? (Is true fasting merely mechanical?) Is is only to bow down his head like a bulrush and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him (to indicate a condition of heart that he does not have?) Will you call this a fast and an acceptable day to the Lord?"
There is a way and a day that God sees as acceptable to Him, but it might not be the way we do it. What I wanted was to do it His way. I wanted to cast a devil our of someone who needed to be set free, without having to leave that person in that state while I went off to pray and fast. Now, I was to discover what God really wanted and how to do it. I was about to receive the power from Him to do what He wanted me to do.
God goes on in Isaiah 58:6 (Amplified) saying, "Is not this the fast that I have chosen; To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every (enslaving) yoke?"
God said that this would be the fast that He has chosen, to do what Jesus' disciples couldn't do. He goes on in Verse 7 explaining this fast, saying, "Is it not to divided your bread with the hungry and to bring the homeless poor into your house-when you see the naked, that you cover him, and that you hide not yourself from (the needs of) your own flesh and blood?"
That's the fast that God requires and that Jesus walked in at all times. This was the fast that had the power to set the boy with the dumb and deaf spirit free. This is the lifestyle of fasting and praying that Jesus walked in and taught. This is why Christians are to serve God in His way and not our own way of fasting.
There was a young boy who had what Jesus described as a "dumb and deaf spirit" that was trying to kill him in Mark 9:22-23,25,28-29 (Amplified) which says, "And it (this unclean spirit) has often thrown him both into fire and water, intending to kill him. But if you can do anything, do have pity on us and help us. And Jesus said, (you says to Me) If you can do anything? (Why) all things are possible to him who believes."
The man had asked the disciples to cast out the deaf and dumb spirit, but they were unable to do so. The disciples weren't without faith and believed in casting out evil spirits, but when they tried doing so, they were unsuccessful. Verse 25 goes on with Jesus' rebuking this unclean spirit, and it came out of the boy and he was freed. This disciples asked Jesus why they couldn't cast it out in Verses 28-29 ans He answered them saying, "And He replied to them, This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting."
Remarkably, Jesus didn't go off to fast or pray, but He drove the spirit out of the boy. His disciples had at least enough faith to attempt casting it out, but they could not. As I studied this kind of spirit requiring fasting and praying to dislodge it, I asked the Lord about it. This sort of prayer and fasting wasn't something only done when you are concerned about running into one of these spirit, but it is something you do all the time.
I found the answer to my question for the Lord in Isaiah 58 and knew this fasting and praying was a lifestyle for Jesus. We often fast for various reasons and many times these fasts are rewarded by God. I wanted a way to fast that would have the reward I desired, which was to set others free. I also wanted a way to determine the results of my fast afterwards. I don't want to just go without eating and then hope God reward me for doing so, but because it was effective. God doesn't simply reward us because we didn't eat for a few days and we should not believe we can gain favor with God because we fast. We've already been granted favor and grace with Him through Jesus. What was the right approach to fasting and praying?
God says in Isaiah 58:3-5 (Amplified), "Is such a fast as yours what I have chosen? A day for a man to humble himself with sorrow in his soul? (Is true fasting merely mechanical?) Is is only to bow down his head like a bulrush and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him (to indicate a condition of heart that he does not have?) Will you call this a fast and an acceptable day to the Lord?"
There is a way and a day that God sees as acceptable to Him, but it might not be the way we do it. What I wanted was to do it His way. I wanted to cast a devil our of someone who needed to be set free, without having to leave that person in that state while I went off to pray and fast. Now, I was to discover what God really wanted and how to do it. I was about to receive the power from Him to do what He wanted me to do.
God goes on in Isaiah 58:6 (Amplified) saying, "Is not this the fast that I have chosen; To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every (enslaving) yoke?"
God said that this would be the fast that He has chosen, to do what Jesus' disciples couldn't do. He goes on in Verse 7 explaining this fast, saying, "Is it not to divided your bread with the hungry and to bring the homeless poor into your house-when you see the naked, that you cover him, and that you hide not yourself from (the needs of) your own flesh and blood?"
That's the fast that God requires and that Jesus walked in at all times. This was the fast that had the power to set the boy with the dumb and deaf spirit free. This is the lifestyle of fasting and praying that Jesus walked in and taught. This is why Christians are to serve God in His way and not our own way of fasting.
Friday, January 1, 2016
The Power of the Spoken Word
We've been learning about the power of words coming from God's children. As we speak His Word, He will perform it. Jesus was anointed by God to speak only certain things and because He only spoke God's Word, everything Jesus said came to pass. Jesus said in John 3:34 (Amplified), "For since He Whom God has sent speaks the Words of God (proclaims God's Own message) God does not give Him Him Spirit sparingly or by measure, but boundless is the gift God makes of His Spirit."
Most of us think that the things Jesus did, He did because He was God's Son. According to God's Own Word, things happened because Jesus spoke God's Word. God does nothing without His Word in this earth, according to John 1:1-4 (Amplified) which says, "In the beginning (before all time) was the Word (Christ) and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself." Verse 2 says, "He was present originally with God." Verses 3-4 go on, "All things were made and came into existence through Him, and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men."
Hebrews 1:1-3 (Amplified) tells us, "In many separate revelations (each of which set forth a portion of the truth) and in different ways God spoke of old to (our) forefathers in and by the prophets. (But) in the last of these days He has spoken to us in (the Person of a ) Son, Whom He appointed Heir and Lawful Owner of all things, also by and through Whom He created the worlds and the reaches of space and the ages of time. (He made, produced, built, operated, and arranged them in order). He is the Sole Expression of the glory of God (the Light-Being, the out-raying or radiance of the Divine), and He is the perfect imprint and very Image of (God's) nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty Word of power. When He had by offering Himself accomplished our cleansing of sins and riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the Divine Majesty on High."
God used the prophets of old to speak His Word into the earth. Once the Word was spoken, God could then move and bring that Word to pass in the earth. Genesis 18:17 (Amplified) says, "And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham (My friend and servant) what I am going to do? Since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed through him, and shall bless themselves by him?"
God's prophets spoke His Word into the earth and He could then perform what He had declared or create what His Word had declared. It didn't matter whether Abraham or Jesus spoke God's Word, once His Word is in the land, God could create and bring His Word to pass in the land, like in the beginning. When God spoke forth the heavens and earth, there was no one else to speak His Word into the earth. Once He gave the power and dominion over into the lives of Adam and Eve, God needed someone else to speak it into being.
Genesis 1:17-18 (Amplified) says, "So God created man in His Own Image, in the Image and Likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them. And God blessed them and said to them, be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it (using all its vast resources in the service of God and man) and have dominion over the fish of the sea; the birds of the air; and over every living creature that moves on the earth everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the message by the attesting signs and miracles that closely accompanied (it) Amen (so be it)."
Did you notice how God only confirmed the Word they preached? God confirmed "the message and Word by the attesting signs and miracles" Could it really be that we don't see many "signs and miracles" following us because we don't speak or preach His message and Words? God only confirmed what His Word said and then signs and miracles were the result of their salvation.
What are we saying in our own Christian lives? Are we speaking His Word over and into our lives or are we speaking other things? If we would simply watch over our conversation to establish what God said and speak only according to His Word, would things begin changing in our lives? I believe so!
God used to speak to us by His prophets, but now, in these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son Jesus, Who is His Word. God uses His Word to create all things His people need, including miracles, healing, peace, deliverance and power. His promise has covered all these things if we speak in line with His Word.
Most of us think that the things Jesus did, He did because He was God's Son. According to God's Own Word, things happened because Jesus spoke God's Word. God does nothing without His Word in this earth, according to John 1:1-4 (Amplified) which says, "In the beginning (before all time) was the Word (Christ) and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself." Verse 2 says, "He was present originally with God." Verses 3-4 go on, "All things were made and came into existence through Him, and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men."
Hebrews 1:1-3 (Amplified) tells us, "In many separate revelations (each of which set forth a portion of the truth) and in different ways God spoke of old to (our) forefathers in and by the prophets. (But) in the last of these days He has spoken to us in (the Person of a ) Son, Whom He appointed Heir and Lawful Owner of all things, also by and through Whom He created the worlds and the reaches of space and the ages of time. (He made, produced, built, operated, and arranged them in order). He is the Sole Expression of the glory of God (the Light-Being, the out-raying or radiance of the Divine), and He is the perfect imprint and very Image of (God's) nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty Word of power. When He had by offering Himself accomplished our cleansing of sins and riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the Divine Majesty on High."
God used the prophets of old to speak His Word into the earth. Once the Word was spoken, God could then move and bring that Word to pass in the earth. Genesis 18:17 (Amplified) says, "And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham (My friend and servant) what I am going to do? Since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed through him, and shall bless themselves by him?"
God's prophets spoke His Word into the earth and He could then perform what He had declared or create what His Word had declared. It didn't matter whether Abraham or Jesus spoke God's Word, once His Word is in the land, God could create and bring His Word to pass in the land, like in the beginning. When God spoke forth the heavens and earth, there was no one else to speak His Word into the earth. Once He gave the power and dominion over into the lives of Adam and Eve, God needed someone else to speak it into being.
Genesis 1:17-18 (Amplified) says, "So God created man in His Own Image, in the Image and Likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them. And God blessed them and said to them, be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it (using all its vast resources in the service of God and man) and have dominion over the fish of the sea; the birds of the air; and over every living creature that moves on the earth everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the message by the attesting signs and miracles that closely accompanied (it) Amen (so be it)."
Did you notice how God only confirmed the Word they preached? God confirmed "the message and Word by the attesting signs and miracles" Could it really be that we don't see many "signs and miracles" following us because we don't speak or preach His message and Words? God only confirmed what His Word said and then signs and miracles were the result of their salvation.
What are we saying in our own Christian lives? Are we speaking His Word over and into our lives or are we speaking other things? If we would simply watch over our conversation to establish what God said and speak only according to His Word, would things begin changing in our lives? I believe so!
God used to speak to us by His prophets, but now, in these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son Jesus, Who is His Word. God uses His Word to create all things His people need, including miracles, healing, peace, deliverance and power. His promise has covered all these things if we speak in line with His Word.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)