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?
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