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.
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