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.
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