What Kind of Fasting does God Require?

Throughout the years, I have heard of Christians who have fasted for one reason or another. While I do not criticize those who choose to do such, I have always questioned what God thought about fasting for the day in which we live. As I read Isaiah 58 today, I think I saw a little of God's thoughts on fasting. The people of Israel were fasting but God was not taking notice of them. "Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?" (v.3)

Q. Why was their fasting not acknowledged by God?

"Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure and oppress all your workers." (v.3)

The Israelites were simply "going through the motions" of religion. Their fasting was just one more religious ritual that they did, but at the same time they were fighting with each other.
God then asks a question which reveals what kind of fasting He really requires:

"Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord?" (v.5)

The answer is no. God then goes on to answer what kind of fasting He really requires.

"Is not this the fast that I choose?" (v.6-7)

• "to loose the bonds of wickedness"
• "to undo the straps of the yoke"
• "to let the oppressed go free"
• to break every yoke?"
• "to share bread with the hungry"
• "to bring the homeless poor in your house"
• "when you see the naked, to cover him"
• "not to hide yourself from your own flesh"

Q. If they fasted this way, what would be the result? (v.8-9)

• "light breaking forth"
• "healing springing up speedily"
• "righteousness going before them"
• "glory of God be their rear guard"
• When they called, God would answer, "Here I am"

God explains again the proper way of fasting: (v.9-10)

• "take away the yoke from your midst"
• "take away the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness"
• "pour yourself out for the hungry"
• "satisfy the desires of the afflicted"

Again God shares the results of such fasting: (v.10-12)

• "your light would rise in darkness"
• "your gloom be as the noonday"
• "the Lord will guide you continually, satisfy your desires, and make your bones strong"
• "you shall be like a watered garden, springs of water whose waters do not fail"

So, what kind of fasting does God require? The kind that reaches out to people in love and helps them be freed from the bonds of wickedness and share what we have with those who do not have it. I still believe there may be a place of fasting that involves private communion with God in prayer and the Word, but if this kind of fasting does not "pour itself out for the hungry", then God will not acknowledge it as worthy.

JT

Conversion vs. Discipleship

In preparation for a sermon on discipleship, I was convicted by its true meaning. Discipleship has become a bit of a glamorous word right at the top with Conversion. But there seems to be a disconnect between these words. It sounds like this: "Now that he has been converted, we need to disciple him". This has been my understanding of these ideas for years. One follows the other one, but never had I stopped to think that there is a strong connect between the two.

Luke 9:23-26

23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.

Conversion begins at the moment that we understand the basis for discipleship - self denial, as we see in this text. I was listening to a message by John MacArthur in which he addresses the "starting principle of discipleship" - Self Denial. Jesus says you want to come after me - you come on my terms and that means the opposite of what you think. MacArthur says: "Discipleship is not about self-fulfillment, it is about self-denial. It's not about exalting me, it is about slaying me". This is what must take place at conversion, and this is what must follow conversion. Sharon found an ad on Craigslist that depicts many in our churches today who are seeking self-fulfillment. Read it here. Lord help me to die to self today in the same way Christ took up His cross for me.

This saint of old had it right:

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,

Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision,

where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights;

hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox that

the way down is the way up,

that to be low is to be high,

that the broken heart is the healed heart,

that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,

that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,

that to have nothing is to possess all,

that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,

that to give is to receive,

that the valley is the place of vision.

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,

and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine;

let me find

Thy light in my darkness,

Thy life in my death,

Thy joy in my sorrow,

Thy grace in my sin,

Thy riches in my poverty,

Thy glory in my valley.

The Great Compassion and Mercy of Jesus

These last few weeks, I have been amazed at the huge compassion of Jesus toward others and the huge lack of compassion in my life. I have been teaching through the gospel of Mark to the teens and noticed the multitude of people who came to Jesus for healing but wanted nothing else to do with Jesus. They simply wanted to use Him for what they could get out of Him and then were out of His life, probably even involving themselves in a life of sin. Where I notice the compassion of Jesus is that, although He knew these people's heart and future, He still proceeded to heal them any way. Love with no strings attached. How many of us love unconditionally? That is, without expecting any love in return. How many of us would love a certain individual if we knew he was only using us, taking advantage of us in some way? I do not think I would show this man compassion and mercy.

It seems that God is working in my heart to make me a more merciful and compassionate person toward others. This last Thursday prayer meeting, I taught a devotional from James 2 on the importance of showing mercy to others without partiality. If you remember the passage, James mentions a scenario where a rich man and a poor man walk into the church. The rich man is shown great mercy by giving him the place of honor. The poor man is treated with dishonor and lack of mercy and compassion. James goes on to say that we should show mercy to all without separating whom we should love or how we should love. Right before I got up to share this teaching, guess what God decided to do to me and for me?

He gave me a hands-on application of that very teaching. Right before I got up (literally seconds), one of our regular drunkards of the neighborhood walked in the door and sat in the back row. He has a deep, loud voice which he obviously cannot control. As soon as I saw him enter, I thought, "God, get rid of this idiot. He's just going to ruin this whole Bible study." And God worked in my heart by reminding me exactly what I was teaching on at that moment. He was the poor man whom I was dishonoring in my mind. So I was challenged by God that I needed to show the great compassion and mercy of Jesus at that time, not just outwardly but inwardly. After all, "has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love Him?" (James 2:5)