Hidden Understanding about Fasting
Jesus said, “.. and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
John 8:32
In search of knowledge and understanding after reading several books, lectures, and teachings on Biblical fasting. The Holy Spirit led me to these condensed scriptures after one of my regular Jesus fasts.
There it was in just one Chapter in the Holy Book. Teaches us the foundation of God’s acceptable fast.
I have edited it for easy reading and a useful reference link without changing the words.
You have been drawn into this article in search of truth, which that shows The Holy Spirit is guiding you to learn Fasting with Prayer to open the heavenly assembly to be heard.
The Bible has all the tools of wisdom Christians need for guidance about how they can live their lives in the 20th century. The way God would want them to. There is guidance in the Bible on many areas of life and Christians will turn to this advice when they are faced with a dilemma as I did on many occasions.
The Right and The Wrong ways to fast was written by a person in the 8th century BC. His name is Prophet Isaiah son of Amoz.
When reading the scriptures, approach with reverence and humidity. Ask the Holy Spirit for Guidance and understanding. Knowledge is important to know the whole chapter meaning, but Understanding each verse is very fruitful.
The chapter below is an instructional manual presented through a great Prophet Isaiah from the manufacturer – The GOD who created (manufactured) you.
Like me, we men tend to skip the manufacturer manual and try to figure it out directly like a professional hence the D.I.Y man and master of none.
God’s Approved fast
How.
- [1]“Cry aloud, spare not;
- Lift up your voice like a trumpet;
- Tell My people their transgression,
- And the house of Jacob their sins.
Seeking
- [2]Yet they seek Me daily,
- And delight to know My ways,
- As a nation that did righteousness,
- And did not forsake the ordinance of their God.
- They ask of Me the ordinances of justice; They take delight in approaching God
Misuse
- [3]‘Why have we fasted,’
- they say, ‘and You have not seen?
- Why have we afflicted our souls,
- and You take no notice?’
Repercussion
- “In fact, in the day of your fast, you find pleasure,
- And exploit all your laborers.
- [4]Indeed you fast for strife
- and debate,
- And to strike with the fist of wickedness.
- You will not fast as you do this day,
- To make your voice heard on high.
God’s Chosen fast
- [5]Is it a fast that I have chosen,
- A day for a man to afflict his soul?
- Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush,
- And to spread out sackcloth and ashes?
- Would you call this a fast,
- And an acceptable day to the Lord?
Terms and Conditions
- [6]“Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
- To loose the bonds of wickedness,
- To undo the heavy burdens,
- To let the oppressed go free,
- And that you break every yoke?
- [7]Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
- And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
- When you see the naked, that you cover him,
- And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
21 Amazing Reward in Fasting the Lord’s Way – ” Can you find it?
- [8]Then your ¹light shall break forth like the morning,
- Your ²healing shall spring forth speedily,
- And your ³righteousness shall go before you;
- The glory of the Lord shall be your ⁴rear guard.
- [9]Then you shall call,
- and the ⁵Lord will answer;
- You shall cry, and He will say, ⁶‘Here I am.’
- “If you take away the yoke from your midst,
- The pointing of the finger,
- and speaking wickedness,
- [10]If you extend your soul to the hungry
- And satisfy the afflicted soul,
- Then your ⁷light shall dawn in the darkness,
- And your darkness shall be as the ⁸noonday.
- [11]The Lord will ⁹guide you continually,
- And ¹⁰satisfy your soul in drought,
- And strengthen ¹¹our bones;
- You shall be like a ¹²watered garden,
- And like a ¹³spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
- [12]Those from among you ¹⁴Shall build the old waste places;
- You shall raise up the ¹⁵foundations of many generations;
- And you shall be called the ¹⁶Repairer of the Breach,
- The ¹⁷Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
The way to God’s Grace
- [13]“If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath,
- From doing your pleasure on My holy day,
- And call the Sabbath a delight,
- The holy day of the Lord honorable,
- And shall honor Him,
- not doing your own ways,
- Nor finding your own pleasure,
- Nor speaking your own words,
- [14]Then you shall ¹⁸elight yourself in the Lord;
- And I will cause you to ¹⁹ride on the high hills of the earth,
- And ²⁰feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father.
- The mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (it’s done Amen)
Isaiah 58:1-14
They Erroneous and rejected fast. Jesus adds clarity further in the correct way too fast as an individual
Not to do
- [16]”Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do,
- for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting.
- Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
To do
- [17]But you, when you fast, anoint your head
- and wash your face
- [18]so that your fasting will not be noticed by men,
- but by your Father who is in secret; and
- your Father who sees what is done in secret will REWARD you.
Matthew 6:16-18
So why not consecrate a fast soon?
“Humility is the only virtue that no devil can imitate. If pride made demons out of angels, there is no doubt that humility could make angels out of demons.”
John Climacus
Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus