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."
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