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.
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