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God's Chosen Fast.

When Do You Fast?

  • Once a week?

    Votes: 3 23.1%
  • More than once a week?

    Votes: 2 15.4%
  • Once a month?

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Hardly Ever.

    Votes: 8 61.5%

  • Total voters
    13
Member
Fasting- The Old Testament patriarchs did,


Jesus did.... Matt. 4:2: And when he had fasted forty
days and forty nights, he was afterward and hungred.

Paul did.....
1Co:11:1: Be ye followers of me, even as I also am
of Christ.
___________________________________


Not a popular subject!

We need to 'push' away the quarterpounder and pizza
to hear clearly and to be instructedby God's Spirit
especially atuned to Him in these 'last days'!

Fasting should be a continuous and frequent event.

We knew a woman named Rene, who once fasted 21 days
and nights!!!! She worked as a registered nurse with the
' severely ' retarded children and teenagers in a Texas
state hospital.

She said God finally answered her and she was pleased!

She lost about 25 lbs. and looked great both spiritually and
physically! We asked if she was tired and run down. She
snapped back the first 4-5 days yes, but not anymore! My
God has sustained me brother Joe!

She 'never' told anyone what she was fasting about!

Talk about the 'anointing' on her and the power of God
that 'rested' on her! Man!!! :eek:mg:

____________________________________________________


Ask God when you should 'fast'!

We call prayer meetings without ever mentioning this
'powerful' spiritual tool to stand, become strong in the
spirit of the Lord and 'fight' the'enemy' pulling down
the 'strongholds in people's lives !

2Cor. 10:4: (For the weapons of our warfare are not
carnal,but mighty through God to thepulling down of
strong holds;)

'Fasting' is one weapon to go along with our
spiritual armour. Eph.6:11

Matt. 17:21: Howbeit this kind goeth notout but by
prayer and fasting.

1Cor. 7:5: Defraud ye not one the other,except it be
with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves
to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that
Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

2Cor. 6:5: In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in
labours,in watchings, in fastings;

2Cor. 11:27: In weariness and painfulness, in watchings
often,in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and
nakedness.
___________________________________

Benefits- What is fasting and how is it usedas a spiritual
discipline?

2Chron. 20:3: And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself
to seekthe LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all
Judah.

2Ch:20:4: And Judah gathered themselves together, to
ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah
they came to seek the LORD.
_______________________________________

Fasting is a way of demonstrating our intense need for
God's help.

Ezra. 8:21: Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river
of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselvesbefore our God,
to seek of him a rightway for us,and for our little ones,
and for all our substance.
________________________________________

Fasting should not be done to impress other people.
Jesus said,

Matt. 6:17: But thou, when thou fastest,anoint thine
head,and wash thy face;

Matt. 6:18: That thou appear not unto men to fast, but
unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which
seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
________________________________________

Fasting can involve a simple diet.

Dan. 10:2: In those days I Daniel was mourning three full
weeks.

Dan. 10:3: I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor
wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till
three whole weeks were fulfilled.
_________________________________________

Daniel was now spiritually in tune to receive revelation from
God in a vision of the'latter days'.

Daniel 10:14.
________________________________________

What is God's Chosen Fast?

What is God's purpose in our fasting?

Isa. 58:3: Wherefore have we fasted, say they,and
thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and
thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye
find pleasure, and exac tall your labours.

Hypocritical fasting, motives not right!

God's introspection of our motives!

Isa. 58:4: Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite
with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day,
to make your voice to be heard on high.

Psalms 44:21: Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth
the secrets of the heart.
________________________________________


Correct motives are needed for answered prayer.

James 4:3: Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss,
that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Jer. 17:9: The heart is deceitful above all things, and
desperately wicked: who can know it?

Jer. 17:10: I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even
to give every man according to his
ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

_________________________________________

God instructing the right motive for fasting!

Isa:58:5: Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a
day fora man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down
his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and
ashes under him?wilt thou call this a fast, and an
acceptable day to the LORD?

Isa:58:6: Is not this the fast that I have chosen?
to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the
heavy burdens,and to let the oppressed go free,
and that ye break every yoke?

Isa:58:7: Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry,
and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to
thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou
cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from
thine own flesh?

_________________________________________

Results of a God honoring fast-

Isa:58:8: Then shall thy light break forth as the
morning, and thine health shall spring forth
speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before
thee; the glory of the LORDshall be thy rereward.

Isa:58:9: Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall
answer;thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am.
If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke,
the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;

Isa:58:10: And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry,
and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in
obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:

Isa:58:11: And the LORD shall guide thee continually,
and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones:
and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring
of water, whose waters fail not.

Physical benefits:
Detoxifies, you are allowing your body to 'heal', rest and
rehabilitateitself. Flushes out toxic matter that has built
up over time.

It actually revives and rejuvenates the millions of cells
in your body. It improves circulation, stamina and
strength.

Some people do only liquid fasts, consuming only water,
broth or juices. Others take part in specific fasts, such as
"fruit fasts", where they abstain from fruits or "meat fasts"
where they abstain from meat. The most common fast is
abstinence from all food and liquid except water.

It is important to drink at least one quart of water per day
while fasting.

If you are not accustomed to regularly 'fasting', you should
consult your doctor to discuss your individual body needs
and he can prescribe a safe plan.

But start to trust God and 'fast' often when you have
built up to it!
 
Member
I never fast but then I don't eat a great deal and work demands a lot of energy from me to function safely. Though I do admire those who can and do.

God's blessings
 
Member
This is a great poll . Denying yourself is powerful in building up your Spirit . One word of advice when fasting . Buy some breath mints ! :eek:mg: Mike
 
Member
I agree that fasting is an integral part of spiritual growth.You made some very good points set free. But I don't think we share the same understanding of Isaiah 58.

God is saying in the 58 chapter of Isaiah that the people chose to fast that denies the carnal body food. God says that is not the fast He has chosen. He has chosen the kind of fast that requires us to love those around us and help them in their time of need.

Maybe if you read it in a more modern translation you can see what I'm talking about.
The New Living Translation reads as follows.

Isaiah 58:1-12
1*“Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast. Tell my people Israel* of their sins! 2*Yet they act so pious! They come to the Temple every day and seem delighted to hear my laws. You would almost think this was a righteous nation that would never abandon its God. They love to make a show of coming to me and asking me to take action on their behalf. 3*’We have fasted before you!’ they say. ‘Why aren’t you impressed? We have done much penance, and you don’t even notice it!’
“I will tell you why! It’s because you are living for yourselves even while you are fasting. You keep right on oppressing your workers. 4*What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me. 5*You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like a blade of grass in the wind. You dress in sackcloth and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the Lord?
6*“No, the kind of fasting I want calls you to free those who are wrongly imprisoned and to stop oppressing those who work for you. Treat them fairly and give them what they earn. 7*I want you to share your food with the hungry and to welcome poor wanderers into your homes. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.
8*“If you do these things, your salvation will come like the dawn. Yes, your healing will come quickly. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind. 9*Then when you call, the Lord will answer. ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.
“Stop oppressing the helpless and stop making false accusations and spreading vicious rumors! 10*Feed the hungry and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as day. 11*The Lord will guide you continually, watering your life when you are dry and keeping you healthy, too. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. 12*Your children will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as the people who rebuild their walls and cities.
 
Member
Set Free...I believe in and practice fasting. However I disagree with your exortation on Isaiah 58. God is explaining that they are not "fasting" as He purposed, and goes on to tell them what His true purpose is...
For clarification this is how that passage reads in BBE (Bible in Basic English)...not my preferred translation, but I have no other at my fingertips atm ...;

Isa 58:1 Make a loud cry, do not be quiet, let your voice be sounding like a horn, and make clear to my people their evil doings, and to the family of Jacob their sins.

Isa 58:2 Though they make prayer to me every day, and take pleasure in the knowledge of my ways: like a nation which has done righteousness, and has not given up the rules of their God, they make requests to me for the right orders, it is their delight to come near to God.

Isa 58:3 They say, Why have we kept ourselves from food, and you do not see it? why have we kept ourselves from pleasure, and you take no note of it? If, in the days when you keep from food, you take the chance to do your business, and get in your debts;

Isa 58:4 If keeping from food makes you quickly angry, ready for fighting and giving blows with evil hands; your holy days are not such as to make your voice come to my ears on high.

Isa 58:5 Have I given orders for such a day as this? a day for keeping yourselves from pleasure? is it only a question of the bent head, of putting on haircloth, and being seated in the dust? is this what seems to you a holy day, well-pleasing to the Lord?

Isa 58:6 Is not this the holy day [fast]for which I have given orders: to let loose those who have wrongly been made prisoners, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the crushed go free, and every yoke be broken?

Isa 58:7 Is it not to give your bread to those in need, and to let the poor who have no resting-place come into your house? to put a robe on the unclothed one when you see him, and not to keep your eyes shut for fear of seeing his flesh?

Isa 58:8 Then will light be shining on you like the morning, and your wounds will quickly be well: and your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will come after you.

Isa 58:9 Then at the sound of your voice, the Lord will give an answer; at your cry he will say, Here am I. If you take away from among you the yoke, the putting out of the finger of shame, and the evil word;

Isa 58:10 And if you give your bread to those in need of it, so that the troubled one may have his desire; then you will have light in the dark, and your night will be as the full light of the sun:

Isa 58:11 And the Lord will be your guide at all times; in dry places he will give you water in full measure, and will make strong your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like an ever-flowing spring.

Isa 58:12 And your sons will be building again the old waste places: you will make strong the bases of old generations: and you will be named, He who puts up the broken walls, and, He who makes ready the ways for use.
 
Member
Oops...sorry jiggy ...we must have been posting at the same time...he copy-catted me folks...honest...LOL
 
Member
I Disagree in Love!

Hi Brethren,

I agree with what you are saying,
all of you! Israel's motives in their
fast were corrupt!

The principles of God in scripture
sometimes can be two-fold or
more in application.

No offense 'jiggyfly' but that
translation really 'changes' to
what the King James states! :eek:mg:

2Cor. 1:20: For all the promises of
God in him are yea, and in him
Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

If God said it, 'it' will happen!

2Tim. 3:16: All scripture is given
by inspirationof God,and is profitable
for doctrine,for reproof,for correction,
for instruction in righteousness:

This seems to be a case of a *deixis!

*def.b. aspects of a communication
whose interpretation depends on
knowledge of the context in which
the communication occurs.

To me Jesus, sets the standard on
this practice of 'fasting'! Passed
down to the church.

Matt. 17:15: Lord, have mercy on
my son: for he is lunatick, and sore
vexed: for oft times he falleth into
the fire, and oft into the water.

Matt. 17:16: And I brought him to
thy disciples, and *they could not
cure[ heal] him.

Matt. 17:21: Howbeit this kind goeth
not out but by prayer and fasting.

If I had 'not' been obedient
ingesting this fresh 'mana' that
God had revealed to me I would
of been in very serious trouble
as you will see.

I had been 'fasting' for three days
by the request of the Holy Spirit
while I was in prayer days prior.

I was a printer then and after
about 18 years before my
disability.

The Lord had me read Isa. 58
again the night before!


I was taking three Hispanic teenage
boys home from a Sunday night
church service.

First we stopped at our home to drink
some coffee and talk a bit. When we
were done, I said, " Ok. guys let's go."

I was going to the front door and my
wife shouted " Joe, look! "

The guys were on the couch and they
weren't budging!

I asked them what was wrong?

They told me that their mother was
having an affair with a 'monster' of
a man!

He said he would 'kill' them and
their mother if they went to
the police or told anyone.

They were scared to death about
going home!



We prayed for God to intervene!
By nowthe effects of my 3 days
and 3 nightsof fasting was really
kicking in.


I had been in the God's Spirit, could
hardly speak without 'praying' in the
spirit and full of God's power and joy!

I told my wife to stay at home
while I took these young men to
their apartment!

When I drove into the apartment
parking lot, that's when it got
strange!

You could feel the 'evil' in the air,
so thick, you could cut it with a
knife'!

We started up the stairs to their
apartment when I turned to them
and asked,"Your mother is
practicing 'witchcraft'!

They looked at me puzzled. I said
do you know what the 'Tarot' is?

" No!" they responded. A 'card'
was tacked to the outside of the
door. It was the 'Magician' card.

Jose said that " She's was always
playing with them and 'talking' to
them! But since we got 'saved' we
don't like it! "

I said " I believe the Lord gave
me a'word' just now 'bruja'!
And a relative is 'cursing' this
family! This is a woman who is
very evil!" I asked " What does
'bruja' mean?"

Jose said, " 'bruja' means 'witch'.

He asked how do you know that
Spanish name for witch?

I told him about the gifts of the
spirit and one of them that I
minister in is the
'gift of knowledge.' 1Cor.12: 8b.

As we came up to their apartment
door you could hear a man's loud
voice!

Jose said, " Please brother Joe,
we don't want to go in there !

The Spirit of God fell on me
Isa. 61:1 and I told them to
"Open the door! "

The door was locked! I knocked
on the door and ' Mr. Wonderful'
inside said something, Jose said,
" He's saying to go away now!"

Jose opened the door with his
key.

It was dark!I turned on the light
switch on the wall.

He spoke in broken English,
"Who are you?

" Before I could answer him he
grabbed their mother and
'smacked' her in the face 'hard'
saying " Is this your boyfriend?!"

I said " Now deal with Jesus!" I
went inside, and I was 'praying'
in the spirit! As I drew near to him,
he started to growl!! Voices and
weird sounds came out from his
body!

As I got closer to this maniac 'they'
were screaming out of him, if you
get my 'drift'!

My guys were terrified! I told them
to come near me and pray in the
spirit!

He suddenly was 'floating' about
3-4 inches off the carpet !!! The
boy's mother yelled 'Diablo!' and
made a 'cross' sign on her chest
with her hand.

I yelled " Satan' in the Name of the
Lord Jesus Christ you and your
foul spirits come out of him now
and leave you are not welcomed
here any longer!

The man shot backwards into the
back wall! He laid there motionless
for about 15 minutes! I'm thinking
Oh GREAT GOD YOU KILLED HIM
AND I'M GOING TO BE CHARGED
WITH THIS GUY'S DEATH! :eek:mg:

We tended and comforted mom.

I went to get her a cup of water. I
saw a a bunch of 'Tarot' cards
strewn out on the kitchen table!

The man was stirring finally, thank
God! Jose and his mother got his
clothes together in a plastic bag
and told him to get out or they
were calling the police.

He was in bad shape. I got him up
and he looked 'vacant' inside of his
eyes!

He lingered outside near his car for
a while and finally drove off.

She thanked me as she hugged me
and was crying!

The boys were comforting their mom!
She had 'marks' like a belt was used
to 'beat' her at times!

I told Jose for him to call the police.

He was 'still' afraid of what this jerk
told him he would do to them if they
did that!

Later on through Jose, I explained
to their mom that I didn't do it,the
Power of Jesus Christ did!

A few days later Jose told me she
was 'angry' with me! I asked why,
He said because this man was
'pimping' her out and she was
making 'good money'and I
interfered!! She did it when
they were in school!

Jose rebuked his mother and said
she had the 'devil' in her!

The change she saw in the boys
and especially Jose, who was a
member of a violent street gang.
Made her want to meet this 'Jesus'
that did this for her sons!

She agreed to go with them to a
local Spanish Pentecostal church
and was gloriously 'saved' and
filled with the Holy Spirit!
Praise God!!

The man came back, but mom told
him she was now a Christian and
he needed 'Jesus' also! He left
very mad and 'never' returned!

Jose, his brothers and mom came
over to visit us one Saturday. Jose's
mom told me that her sister was a
'bruja' and that she belonged to a
coven in Matagorda Mexico! They
didn't get along! I told her what
God had showed me about her. We
prayed for her sister's salvation.

The Salvation of God came to Jose's
household that night! Luke 19:9.

Isa:58:6: Is not this the fast that I
have chosen? to loose the bands of
wickedness, to undo the heavy
burdens, and to let the oppressed go
free, and that ye break every yoke?

A few days later a teacher of God's
Word came on television. He taught
on these principles from Isaiah 58th.
chapter 'along'with 'physically' fasting.
Praise God for his confirmation!!

He explained the benefits from Isaiah
the 58th. chapter would come to pass
when a believer 'fasted' to God with a
clean heart!

Exactly what the Lord showed me also!

Psalms 51:10: Create in me a clean
heart, O God; and renew a right spirit
within me.

If you read Isa. 58th. chapter you can
'hear' the echo from Matthew 25:34-36.

Matt. 26:41: Watch and pray, that ye
enter not into temptation: the spirit
indeed is willing, but the flesh
is weak.

I met a dear brother in Christ a
missionary from Nigeria a while
ago.

In our conversation the subject
of 'fasting' came up. I asked him
if he was 'familiar' with 'God's
Chosen 'Fast of Isaiah 58.?
He said, "Yes!"

He was shown the same thing!!!
___________________________

Addendum:

My son was talking on the phone
with'Mike' a Christian friend of
ours today Sunday April 2\2006.

Mike brought up the subject of
'fasting' to get closer to God,
'detoxify'his body and lose weight!
My son told him about my post
concerning it!

Isa. 58. and 'fasting'. He said he
was reading it the other day!

My wife told me she was watching
a black preacher Bishop Evans.
on Channel 14 today at work.

She said, " Guess what he was
teaching on?

Isaiah 58th. chapter 'God's
Chosen Fast'.

He was talking on how Christians
are supposed to make 'fasting'
'part' of their walk with God.

" He also was talking about
Isaiah 58 th. chapter and how the
priciples, motives and'benefits' of
fasting can be achievedin
this chapter!

Wow!

When I heard this today, I started
praising God and thanking Him for
what 'He' showed me years ago,

Matt. 18:16: that in the mouth of
two or three witnesses every word
may be established.

Thank you Jesus for constantly
'confirming' your Word to me!

1Cor. 2:5: That your faith should
not stand in the wisdom of men,
but in the power of God.

So are we all wrong?! :eek:mg:

God Bless!

Brother Joe
 
Member
No offense 'jiggyfly' but that
translation really 'changes' to
what the King James states!

Thats fine, you don't have to use that tranlation, but the context of Isaiah 58 in any translation, including KJV does not support or even lean towards what you are posting. Bottom line brother , your taking scripture out of context. I don't disagree with fasting but I do disagree with twisting scripture to prove a point.
 
Member
Reply-' Fast.'

Brother,

I am not 'twisting' scripture! No hidden or ulterior
motives to 'twist' people into 'my' way of thinking,
that's just wrong and 'stupid'!

I don't know how else to put it!

If we have our hearts in the right place when we
pray and fast, when it’s focused on changing
ourselves and bending our will to His, and to living
the life He has called us to, then that is when prayer
and fasting becomes effective, bringing healing,
righteousness, and the Lord’s help in time of need.


The focus of our fasting should be on God, not on
ourselves, and it should not be merely a superficial,
exterior thing that we do (i.e. just bowing our heads
or lying on sackcloth and ashes, or humbling ourselves
for only one day).

Instead, what the Lord wants is a fasting that affects
our life how we interact with everybody and how
we live our lives, not just some superficial ceremony.

Instead, you are trying to look at things through God’s
perspective – in doing so, you’ll give God the freedom
He wants to do His work.


But I'll stick to the King James version!

God Bless,

Your brother in Christ,

Joe
 
Member
Brother Joe, I always referred to Isaiah 58 when speaking about fasting from food, right up until someone was kind enough to show me I also was using it out of context. It is very easy to use scripture verses for the wrong application, if we dont read and keep it in context, without any intent to twist at all. This is why its so important for those who see these kind of errors to point them out, even if it does feel like a less than helpful interuption to what you are trying to say. Do you want those reading your message to learn from your teaching, or are you only intent on telling what you know, without concern if its correct? You should ask yourself why you are getting 'testy' about being corrected if truth is what is most important.
 
Member
That's Wrong!

Hi!

I just want to say my Dad 'is' not trying to
'twist' scripture or become 'testy'!

He totally understands the 'context' of the
Isa. 58 th. chapter in regards to it is 'not'
saying ,that it is 'specifically' stating of a
'physical' abstaining of 'food'!

He is a very learned and compassionate 'true'
man of God that 'hates' the kind of thing people
do to 'wrestle' with scripture.

That's why we don't like 'denominations'!

The point I think my Dad was trying to make
from talking to him, is that you can 'incorporate'
a 'physical' 'food' fast that would empower you
for God to 'fulfill' these promises of Isa. 58 chapter.

Let's move on and pray for him! He is constant
pain and is alone every day most of the time!

He needs your love and support! Posting he is
" twisting' scripture" by 'jiggyfly' instead of pming
him would of been in the love of Christ and shown
great maturity!

Rom. 12:10: Be kindly affectioned one to another
with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

He feels a little hurt, I can tell! He would never have
posted such a remark for all to see!

Proverb:18:19: A brother offended is harder to be
won than a strong city:

All he was trying to do was share a beautiful truth
that God revealed to Him! Are all of the men of God
that he spoke about 'twisting' scriptures??!!

After he was shown about 'fasting' as a baby Christian,
The Lord led him to the book " God's Chosen Fast' in a
Christian book store. So is the author 'twisting' the Word
of God also?!

My Dad has a teachable spirit and is praying to God for Him
to reveal if he has been 'deceived'! If he has, he 'will' repent
and let you know!! He's done so in the past as 'all' of us
are supposed to, right?!

The poll shows that Christians who don't or hardly fast are
not willing to deny themselves to 'draw' closer to Christ!

Thta's really sad! If there ever was atime to fast this is it!


Stay Mellow,

Mellow_J
 
Member
Mellow-J, I promise that will post a response @ a more appropriate time. Thank you for your input, God bless.
 
Member
Set Free is correct in his analysis.

What God said in Isaiah 58:5: Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a
day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down
his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and
ashes under him?wilt thou call this a fast, and an
acceptable day to the LORD?

Isa:58:6: Is not this the fast that I have chosen?
to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the
heavy burdens,and to let the oppressed go free,
and that ye break every yoke?

Isa:58:7: Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry,
and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to
thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou
cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from
thine own flesh?

Was echoed by Jesus in Matthew 6:16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Our fasting is of no use to God if we insist on showing off. It needs to be personal, for God. To draw us closer to God.

God knows what we're doing in private and will use it for His own purposes.

The Glory belongs to God. We shouldn't draw attention to ourselves, but rather to what God has done and is doing and will do.
 
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"Mordecai told the messenger to reply to Esther, "Don't think that you will escape the fate of all the Jews because you are in the king's palace. If you keep silent at this time, liberation and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place, but you and your father's house will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this."

Esther sent this reply to Mordecai; 'Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa and fast for me. Don't eat or drink for three days, night and day.

I and my female servants will also fast in the same way. After that, I will go to the king even if it is against the law. If I perish, I perish." So Mordecai went and did everything Esther had ordered him." Esther 4:13-17
 
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I haven't fasted in several years, and it's out of laziness that I've made this choice. Fasting with a mindset to draw nearer to God always works! Because as we deny ourselves food, we let go of our flesh and depend upon the Lord. His spirit surrounds us while we fast---if our mind and spirit are bent upon Him. If we are doing it just to appear godly before other men, it is useless, as the scripture in Isaiah 58 tells.

Is God leading me to fast? Yes, I think so. When I first read Set Free's post, my heart was pricked; I felt convicted because I don't fast anymore as I did years ago. But, lol, when I do fast I will not come to tJ and declare it for everybody to know! It will be between God and myself. I need God desperately, and fasting is one method that helps. Bible study and meditation upon the Word, Prayer, Worship, Fellowship are all essential ingredients. Fasting is an ingredient that we frequently leave out because it is highly inconvenient and uncomfortable.
 
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I think everyone is correct on Isa.58, as I read the scriptures, I read them for myself and allow God to instruct me. That same scripture might mean something totally different to each person that reads it. I think that's why we have so many different denominations. We tend to intrepret it for ourselves. We should allow everyone to receive their own intrepretation. When you ask God speak to you though scripture, he does. I think the Bible is a "Living Bible" it gets you have "YOU" need when "You" need it.

Personally when I fast, I give up things that I really like. If we're only fasting food, a person that doesn't eat alot, maybe has no problem vs someone that eats more. I thinki that's why it has to be between you and God how you should fast.
 
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Fasting Scripturally.

*a.We tend to intrepret it for ourselves.
We should allow everyone to receive their
own intrepretation.

*b.Personally when I fast, I give up things
that I really like.


______________________________________

Hello Evelyn,

*a. 2Peter 1:20: Knowing this first,
that no prophecy of the scripture is
of any private interpretation.

The bible states there in only 'ONE' right
interpretation of God's Word!

2Peter 1:21: For the prophecy came not
in old time by the will of man: but holy
men of God spake as they were moved
by the Holy Ghost.

1John 2:27: But the anointing which ye
have received of him abideth in you, and
ye need not that any man teach you: but
as the same anointing teacheth you of all
things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even
as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

The Holy Ghost is the author and interpreter
of God's Word. not what man thinks or has
an opinion on.

1Cor. 2:13: Which things also we speak, not
in the words which man's wisdom teacheth,
but which the Holy Ghost teacheth;
comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

'Dreamer' you stated the 'cause' for 'fasting'
very eloquently and much 'better' than I!

Whenever the bible mentions a person
'fasting' as Our Lord Jesus did it was
'always' the *b. abstaining of food.

Anything that is 'abstained' from in a
'fast' to the Lord is a practice called 'Lent'
from Catholocism!! That is'not' scriptural!

Luke 4:1: And Jesus being full of the Holy
Ghost returned from Jordan, and was
led by the Spirit into the wilderness,


Even 'after' the Lord Jesus was 'full' God's
Spirit, He was led into 'spiritual' warfare!
How did He keep Himself 'strong' and able
to defeat Satan?[1] God's Word [2] Fasting!

Luke 4:2: Being forty days tempted of the
devil. And in those days he did eat nothing:
and when they were ended, he afterward
hungered.

M't:4:11: Then the devil leaveth him, and,
behold, angels came and ministered unto
him.

This word 'ministered' comes from a 'root'
from the Greek word:
diakonos {dee-ak'-on-os}
def. a waiter, one who serves food and
drink.

This word is taken from the root word :
Greek,diakoneo {dee-ak-on-eh'-o} def.to
ministeri.e. supply food and necessities
of life

After Jesus 'fasted' He hungered
for 'FOOD'!

2Cor. 11:27: In weariness and painfulness,
in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in
fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

The Apostle Paul 'fasted' 'regularly.

Jesus is our example! We are supposed
to be an 'imitation' of Him, following His
pattern in 'everything we do!'

Matt 9:14: Then came to him the disciples
of John, saying, Why do we and the
Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples
fast not?

Jesus said in response to their
'biting' inquiry about 'fasting'.

Matt 9:15: And Jesus said unto them, Can
the children of the bridechamber mourn,
as long as the bridegroomis with them?
but the days will come, when the
bridegroom shall be taken from them,
and then shall they fast.

nesteuo {nace-tyoo'-o} Greek: def. to
abstain as a religious exercise from food
and drink: either entirely, if the fast lasted
but a single day, or from customary and
choice nourishment, if it continued
several days


Look at this conversation between Jesus
and His disciples.


M't:17:19: Then came the disciples to Jesus
apart, and said, Why could not we cast
him out?




Matt:17:21: Howbeit this kind goeth not
out but by prayer and fasting.

They don't want to 'push' away the Big Mac.
or the 'Whopper' and draw close to the
Almighty! Amen!!

God Bless!
Joe
 
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