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| 70.1 | | CSC32::L_DEGROFF | | Fri Apr 11 1997 21:07 | 308 |
| GOD'S ANOINTED FAST
by George Kirkpatrick
Vital Words to the Body of Christ
Freely We Have Received, Freely We Give
E-mail: harvesteam@aol.com
for a listing of others books and tapes
It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I
might learn thy statutes." *** Psalm 119:71
The word statute appears 166 times in the Old Testament. It
appears twenty-two times in Psalm 119. The word statute generally
refers to that which man must respond to in God's Word to come into
obedience. The Psalmist wrote that it was good that he had been
afflicted so he could learn the statutes in God's Word.
God has revealed Himself through His Word. He sent His Son,
Jesus, as an example of what God expects us to be. God has spoken
much as to what is acceptable and unacceptable in His sight. These
we may call God's "Do's and Don'ts". We have been schooled in
these down through the ages. Some of God's statutes have been
properly interpreted. Others are only man's ideas which he has
used to bring God's people into bondage and under his control.
It is God's desire, and it has always been His desire, to have
a personal, intimate relationship with His creation, man. He does
not need a mediator to speak to His people. There are those today
who do not want to hear from God. They know He would demand change
in their lives and they do not desire change, nor are they willing
to change. They remain content, listening to man's direction, and
following their religious creed, never venturing out to discover
what God has for their life. As Paul wrote to Timothy:
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound
doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to
themselves teachers, having itching ears;" *** II
Timothy 4:3
Paul spoke of those who would refuse to endure sound doctrine.
Sound doctrine is the Word of God. Instead, they heap to
themselves teachers who tickle their itching ears, those who will
tell them God has accepted them as they are, and there is no need
of change in their life. These have no desire to learn God's
statutes, and there is no allowance made for any affliction. They
are taught that all affliction comes from the devil, and only good
comes from God. So they trod along in their wilderness of
ignorance, unwilling to afflict their souls to find God's true
direction for their life.
God has ordained a way that we may seek His face in everything
we do. God has given us the fast. The word fast has one meaning
and that is "to abstain from food". Many people fast for different
reasons. To some it is just a religious act. They fast to
demonstrate how spiritual and godly they are. In many of the
Eastern religions, fasting has become their way of life. Many fast
for health purposes. Some fast, trying to make their point or to
get their way.
To many, even in Christianity, fasting has simply become a
religious observance. The Pharisee who stood in the temple and
prayed, tried to prove how righteous he was before God,
proclaiming, "I fast twice in the week", Luke 18:12. To him
fasting was a religious act observed on certain days or certain
times in the week.
There are many examples of fasting in the Bible. The prophet
Isaiah gave the reasons why some fasts are not acceptable before
God. The Israelite people were very religious, but their ways were
not always pleasing to their God. God anointed Isaiah to pen these
words:
"Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet,
and shew my people their transgression, and the house of
Jacob their sins.
Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as
a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the
ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of
justice; they take delight in approaching to God. ***
Isaiah 58:1-2
The Israelite sought God continually through fasting and
prayer. God disclosed through Isaiah why their fasting was not
acceptable in His sight:
"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 exact all your labours.
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.
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?" *** Isaiah 58:3-5
Israel wondered why God was not honoring their fast. God
spoke five reasons why their fast was not acceptable in His sight:
# 1 They sought pleasure in their fast
# 2 They ceased not from their labors
# 3 They fasted for strife
# 4 They fasted to smite with the fist of wickedness
# 5 They fasted to make their voice to be heard on high
God inquired of Israel: "Is this the reason I have chosen for
men to fast?" "Should a man bow his head as a bulrush and spread
sackcloth and ashes under him?" "Is this acceptable before our
God?" Jesus, speaking to His disciples about fasting, plainly
stated:
"Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a
sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that
they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you,
They have their reward.
But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash
thy face;
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." *** Matthew 6:16-
18
What did Jesus call those who fast bowing their head as a
bulrush, spreading sackcloth and ashes under them, appearing unto
men to fast? Jesus called them "hypocrites", "play actors". They
tried to prove to God their sincerity, but God knew their hearts.
When we fast we are to anoint our head, wash our face, and not
appear to men that we are fasting. Fasting should be in the sight
of God and not in the sight of men. When we fast before God we are
not to be as the Pharisee who had to remind God that he fasted
twice a week. God will know and will reward our fast openly.
God gave Israel five reasons why their fasting was not
acceptable in His sight. The first reason was:
# 1 They sought pleasure in the day of their fast
The word for pleasure means "delight". Webster states that
the word delight means "that which brings joy and satisfaction to
self". Many declare a fast, then proceed to fill their time with
earthly activity to pass the time, or to take their mind off the
fast because they are missing food. This fast is unacceptable
before God. The word pleasure or delight also has application to
the marriage.
"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." *** I Corinthians 7:5
During a time of fasting man and wife should not participate
in marital relationship. The word defraud is the Greek word
APOSTEREO and means "the natural relationship between husband and
wife". When either the husband or wife enters into a fast there
should be consent to abstain from the marital relationship during
the length of the fast. The reason Paul gives for this abstinence
is, "...that satan tempt you not for your incontinency".
The word incontinency means "self-control". Being one flesh,
man and wife must recognize the need of the other before any fast
is entered into, no matter the length. Husband and wife should be
in agreement concerning this restriction. When we fast our mind
needs to be stayed on the things of God, not on the things of this
life.
# 2 They ceased not from their labors
The word labour is the Hebrew word ASEB and has a two-fold
meaning: "ceasing from daily activities; and, "driving others
hard who work for you". When we fast we are not always in the best
mood. We have a tendency to make the lives of those around us
miserable, especially those who work for us. God desires us to
cease from our labors when we fast so our minds can be stayed upon
Him, not on the cares of this life or the daily activities of
making a living. Israel continued in their daily activities, and
because of this their fasts were not acceptable before God.
# 3 They fasted for strife
The word strife is the Hebrew word RIB and means "controversy,
or pleading a cause". Those who fast for strife, fast to force
people to accept their way. When people fast to get their own way
in any situation, their fast may be successful in accomplishing
their purpose. They may get their way. But fasting to get our way
is not acceptable before God. When we fast to accomplish our
purpose, it causes strife and strife causes contention, hurt and
separation. Strife and contention are not the way of our Lord.
Many believe if they fast they can force God to give them what they
want. They fast to change God's mind as to what He has spoken they
should be doing. Fasting will not change God's mind, nor will it
get from God what we want. This is not the purpose of the fast.
# 4 They fasted to smite with the fist of wickedness
Those who enter into a fast to accomplish an evil purpose are
not acceptable in God's sight. Many believe what they do, they are
doing for God. They justify every evil deed, proclaiming, "It is
God who has directed me". When Paul, of whom it was said turned
the world upside down, *** Acts 17:6, was taken before the council,
many of the Jews entered into a fast.
"And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded
together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that
they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed
Paul." *** Acts 23:12
The Jews entered into a fast to smite with the fist of
wickedness. In their zeal to serve God, they were willing to break
God's law to protect their religion. Today we have those who enter
into violent acts, proclaiming they are fulfilling the will and
direction of God. The assault on the abortion clinics is just one
of the many examples where man smites with the fist of wickedness
believing they are pleasing in the sight of God.
Another example is one denomination speaking evil of those who
go to another denomination. Many times the whole church will fast
to get a member back who has left to go to another church. Their
method may be right, but their motive is wrong. When they smite
with the fist of wickedness, trying to be pleasing in the sight of
God, they bring strife and contention into the body of Christ.
# 5 They fast to make their voice to be heard on high
When it is in man's heart to do something, many times he
proclaims a fast to force God to accept his way, his idea or his
word. Many fast to force God to hear their petition and act upon
a matter in their behalf. They try to change God to fit their
will, instead of being transformed into His will.
When facing the Philistines, King Saul proclaimed a fast:
"And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for
Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man
that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged
on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food."
*** I Samuel 14:24
Saul desired to be avenged on his enemy so he caused all the
people to fast in the day of battle. Saul was in rebellion before
God, so he proclaimed a fast, trying to make his voice to be heard
on high. This was not a fast that the Lord had called. Through
Jonathan and his armor-bearer, God put the Philistines to flight.
Israel in their weakened condition pursued the Philistines and
gained the victory. After the victory Jonathan spoke to the
people:
"How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to
day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? For
had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the
Philistines?" *** I Samuel 14:30
The enemies of Israel were not totally defeated because Israel
had been weakened by a fast God had not declared. Israel only
fasted because Saul desired for his voice to be heard on high.
This fast was not acceptable in the sight of God. Yes, Israel got
the victory, but the victory was not complete because of the fast.
Victory came because Jonathan, by the unction of the Spirit, acted
upon God's Word.
God had provided food for Israel. It is recorded that when
Israel passed through the forest while pursuing the Philistines,
God caused a honeycomb to drop. But because Saul had proclaimed
the fast the people passed it by. Jonathan, knowing nothing of the
fast and seeing the honeycomb...
"...put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand,
and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his
mouth; and his eyes were enlightened." *** I Samuel
14:27
The rod in Jonathan's hand represented God's authority in his
life. The honeycomb represents the sweetness and the richness of
the Word of God. When Jonathan used God's authority to partake of
His Word, his eyes were enlightened, and he understood God's
purpose in his life. Jonathan proclaimed:
"My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how
mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a
little of this honey." *** I Samuel 14:29
Jonathan's eyes were enlightened in the Word. Jonathan knew
we cannot force God to hear us or act upon our plan or our ideas
through fasting. Our fast must be before God, not to make our
voice to be heard on high. The fast Saul proclaimed troubled the
people. When we fast, as Saul, to accomplish our own purpose then
our fasting is not acceptable before God.
Isaiah proceeded to inform Israel the purpose God had for His
people in the fast:
"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?
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." *** Isaiah 58:6-7
|
| 70.2 | | CSC32::L_DEGROFF | | Fri Apr 11 1997 21:13 | 316 |
| By the anointing, Isaiah revealed five reasons God has given
us for fasting:
# 1 To loose the bands of wickedness
# 2 To undo heavy burdens
# 3 To let the oppressed go free
# 4 To break every yoke
# 5 To deal our bread to the hungry
When we afflict the flesh to allow the Spirit to have its way
in our life, we are permitting these five avenues of fasting to
bring us again into God's image and likeness.
# 1 To Loose the Bands of Wickedness in our Life
Many will ask, "Weren't the bands of wickedness removed at the
time we were saved? No! When we were saved, we came into a
position to receive what God had planned for our life. Being saved
was not the ultimate. It was only the beginning, the first step.
The purpose of fasting is to bring the changes necessary to bring
us again into God's image and likeness. The fast enables us to
grow in the knowledge and ways of God. It is God's desire to break
every band of wickedness in our life.
The word wickedness denotes the things in our life that are
opposite to God's character. The word bands has the meaning of
"fetters", or "that which keeps us bound". Many of God's children
have not broken the chains that bind them to the old life. They
are captive to the old, carnal, Adamic nature, as if they had never
been to the altar of repentance. They have never been able to
break the bonds of the sins of the flesh: the lust of the eye, the
lust of the flesh and the pride of life. Until these chains are
broken, they can never be free from the bonds of wickedness in
their lives. These bonds of wickedness include: alcohol,
cigarettes, drugs, the opposite sex, the lust of money, fame,
selfishness and self-rule. These are all opposite to God's
character.
Jesus came as our example of an unselfish life. When satan
tempted Jesus with the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and
the pride of life, Jesus overcame because he had dealt with the sin
nature. God has given us the fast to break these chains that hold
us in our prison of flesh. We must break the bonds of wickedness
if God is to bless us with all Spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus,
*** Ephesians 1:3
# 2 To Undo Heavy Burdens
Burdens are those things in our life that weigh us down,
making it impossible to run the race that God has set before us.
We cannot expect to be an overcomer when all the cares of this life
are weighing us down.
In His parable of the sower, Jesus spoke of the seed that fell
among the thorns. In His explanation, Jesus proclaimed the seed
that was sown was the Word of God. Matthew recorded:
"He also that received seed among the thorns is he that
heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the
deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh
unfruitful." *** Matthew 13:22
When the heavy burdens are not lifted in our life, the cares
and burdens of the world choke out the Word. God's Word will no
longer be operating in our life. Jesus spoke that it was not only
the cares of this world that choked out the Word of God, but also
the deceitfullness of riches.
Today man's desire is to be rich. Many of the television
preachers are telling the people how to get rich. The "prosperity
message" teaches God's people to desire and demand from God the
wealth of the world. God's Word is clear. It is the
deceitfullness of riches that chokes out the Word in our life.
Luke also recorded Jesus' words on the parable of the sower:
"And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when
they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and
riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to
perfection." *** Luke 8:14
Luke added it was the pleasures of this life that choked out
God's Word. The pleasures of this life have become very heavy
burdens in many Christians' lives. There are many forms of
pleasure that have choked the Word out of God's peoples lives.
Many are given totally over to pleasures. One of the most time-
consuming pleasures in our day is sports. Sports not only consumes
our time, it also consumes our money. Anything that is played with
a ball consumes God's peoples time and money; whether it be golf,
pool, basketball, baseball, bowling, tennis, football, or soccer.
All these have robbed God's people, not only of their time and
money, but of a closer relationship with Him. Many other pleasures
have choked out the Word of God in His people's lives: travel,
clothes, accumulation of things such as houses and cars. All these
things of the world have choked out the Word of God in many lives.
Matthew declared these have become unfruitful. Luke
proclaimed these bring no fruit to perfection. Luke is referring
to the fruit of the Spirit in our life. Those who have not broken
the burden of the cares of this life have not taken advantage of
the fast God has ordained to set them free.
# 3 To Let the Oppressed Go Free
The word oppressed means "those who are crushed, bruised and
discouraged". Many of God's people have been crushed and bruised
in the church system. They have become discouraged with God
because of the way those who are called by His name have misused
and abused them. Many have turned from the organized church system
for this reason. They are still seeking God and searching for
fellowship where they can find it, but feel they are all alone in
their search for God. Jeremiah asks the question:
"Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician
there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my
people recovered?" *** Jeremiah 8:22
"Is there no balm in Gilead?" Gilead was on the other side of
Jordan where Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh had their
possession. Today many dwell in Gilead waiting for the time they
will cross the river of death (Jordan) and enter into their promise
land, the Kingdom of God. Jeremiah asked, "Is there no balm in
Gilead?"
This balm was the healing balm that was applied to the
wounded. Every soldier carried it in the event he or one of his
fellow-soldiers were wounded. Today many of God's soldiers are
wounded. They are oppressed, trodden down, and rejected. As
Jeremiah asked, "Is there no balm in our possession? Are there no
physicians in our midst? Is there no voice that can tell us how to
lift the oppression?
Jeremiah asked, "Why then is not the health of the daughter of
my people recovered?" Daughters in the Old Testament represent the
church in the New Testament. God has asked the question, "Why has
the health of my church not recovered?"
God has given us fasting to allow the oppressed go free.
Through fasting we can apply the balm of Gilead in our brothers'
and sisters' lives. We can become God's physicians who bring
Spiritual healing to those who are crushed, bruised, and
discouraged. God is raising up His army. The Apostle Paul wrote
to Timothy:
"Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of
Jesus Christ.
No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs
of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him
to be a soldier." *** II Timothy 2:3-4
Those who are good soldiers for Jesus Christ have not
entangled themselves in the affairs of this life. These are
fasting and praying for the wounded, the downtrodden and the
discouraged. These are doing the work of the ministry with no
recognition, fanfare or thanks. These are applying the balm of
Gilead to those who cannot fight for themselves. What these do in
secret, God is about to reward openly.
# 3 To Break Every Yoke
The word yoke is the Hebrew word MOWTAH and means "a pole or
bar". It has the figurative meaning of "oppression or bondage".
The oppressions and bondages are those desires, relationships, and
lusts that keep us bound to the things and people of the world.
Oppression comes when we are unable to break these yokes. It comes
when we are unable to rise above our earthly situations. Paul
warned:
"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:
for what fellowship hath righteousness with
unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with
darkness?" *** II Corinthians 6:14
Being yoked together with unbelievers affects many areas in
our lives. Paul warns against being unequally yoked in any
situation with unbelievers. Oppression comes when the unbeliever
has been given a position of authority in our lives. When we are
yoked together with an unbeliever in marriage, marriage becomes
very difficult for the believer. The same is true in business.
When we are yoked together with unbelievers, it becomes very
difficult for the godly person to operate the business God's way
because the ungodly demand to operate by worldly values. Paul
asks, "What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness, or
what communion hath light with darkness?
It should be understood that fasting will not get you out of
a bad situation when you have allowed yourself to become unequally
yoked with unbelievers. But you may seek counsel of God through
fasting that will help you work your way through a bad situation.
All who seek God will find Him.
Fasting conditions the soul to hear God's voice. Many are
living below God's standard because they refuse to fast to seek
God's answers which will break the bars of bondages and oppressions
ruling their lives.
The word yoke also has the meaning "to come into submission
to authority". Jesus stated:
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek
and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your
souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." ***
Matthew 11:29-30
We can choose to be yoked together with that which is good or
that which is oppressive. Jesus has promised His yoke is easy and
His burden light. Paul wrote the church at Galatia:
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ
hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the
yoke of bondage." *** Galatians 5:1
Christ Jesus desires that we be free. His desire is that
every yoke which binds us to the unbeliever or keeps us in bondage
or causes oppression in our lives be broken. Fasting for these
reasons will cause us to be free in the liberty we have in Christ
Jesus.
God has given us fasting, that through the fast we may hear
His direction to rise above our earthly existence to sit together
in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, *** Ephesians 2:6. God's
desire is that we rise above and become partakers of His glory.
Isaiah spoke of the day when God will free those who have sought
Him with their whole heart:
"And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden
shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke
from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed
because of the anointing." *** Isaiah 10:27
God speaks of a day when all burdens and the yoke of bondage
will be lifted from off our shoulders. This yoke will be broken
because of the anointing. Those who have learned the value of
fasting and seeking God's direction through the anointing will
stand before God in the liberty wherewith Christ has set them free.
# 5 To Deal Our bread to the Hungry
Many have looked at this portion of Scripture and reasoned
that what we save on meals, we should give to the poor. It could
have this meaning, but let's look beyond the physical to discover
what God wants us to see in the Spiritual. The use of the word
bread in the Bible means "food". Another word used to describe
food is meat. When God speaks of food He speaks of physical and
Spiritual food.
When we fast we are directed to deal our bread to the hungry.
The word deal means "to break in pieces, to distribute". The
hungry are those who are famished for the Word of God. The prophet
Amos spoke of the day in which we live:
"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will
send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a
thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:
And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north
even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the
word of the Lord, and shall not find it." *** Amos 8:11-
12
There is a famine of hearing the Spiritual Word of God in the
earth today. Man is running from coast to coast and from border to
border looking for the true Word of God. God has given us the
fast that we may hear His voice and receive direction, wisdom, and
revelation. When we fast to hear the voice of God, He will speak
His mysteries to us which have been hidden from the foundation of
the earth, *** Romans 16:25.
When God reveals the mysteries to us in the fast, then we are
to distribute the Spiritual meat He has given to those who are
hungry for the deeper things of God. When Jesus expounded what is
commonly referred to as the Lord's Prayer, He prayed:
"Give us this day our daily bread." *** Matthew 6:11
Our daily bread is the knowledge we accumulate from the Father
on a daily basis. Jesus stated:
"I am that bread of life." *** John 6:48
Jesus is the bread and He came to reveal the Father to those
who would receive Him. When we seek our daily bread, we are
seeking to know God in a personal way. When we become partakers of
the bread of life, then we become part of that one bread that God
has in the earth. Paul wrote to the church at Corinth:
"For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we
are all partakers of that one bread." *** I Corinthians
10:17
Those who are part of the one bread have become part of His
one body who will partake of Christ Jesus in all His glory. God
has given us the fast that we may hear from Him and break the bread
of life from house to house as the early church did in the book of
Acts. God is making those who will seek Him in fasting His
ministers to distribute His Words of life, His revelations and His
mysteries which He has hidden from the beginning of time. God has
given the fast that we may receive from Him and break the bread of
life with our brothers and sisters.
God not only revealed the acceptable fast and the unacceptable
fast, He also gave five promises to those who would seek Him
through the fast.
"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
Lord shall be thy rereward.
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." *** Isaiah 58:8-9
|
| 70.3 | | CSC32::L_DEGROFF | | Fri Apr 11 1997 21:22 | 474 |
| God made five promises to those who seek Him in the fast which
He has ordained for His people:
# 1 Thy light shall break forth as the morning
# 2 Thy health shall spring forth speedily
# 3 Thy righteousness shall go before thee
# 4 The glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward
# 5 Then shalt thou call and the Lord shall answer
God has made wonderful promises to those who's fast is
acceptable in His sight.
#1 Thy light shall break forth as the morning
The word light means "to shine". It also has the meaning of
"life and happiness". Morning always means "a new day". A new day
will break forth in our life when we fast the way God has set forth
in His Word. Fasting illumines the soul so we can come into a
proper relationship with the Spirit. Jesus was our example of the
light. He revealed:
"As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the
world." *** John 9:5
Jesus was the Light of the world as long as He was in the
world. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus informed the people:
"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an
hill cannot be hid." *** Matthew 5:14
The city set on the hill is the Mount Zion, the New Jerusalem
that is coming down from God out of heaven prepared as a bride
adorned for her husband, *** Revelation 21:2. Those who have
sought God with their whole heart through fasting and prayer will
make up that Holy City. Paul described these:
"That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God,
without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse
nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world." ***
Philippians 2:15
God will recognize those who are blameless (without blemish)
and harmless (sincere) as sons. These will shine forth as His
lights in the world in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation.
As the world gets darker and the nations of the world become more
crooked and perverse, the more the light of God's true church is
going to shine forth.
Many will proclaim, "Jesus is still the light of the world".
But God is raising up His lights in the earth today to shine forth
as the sun. In his second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul
revealed:
"Whereunto He called you by our gospel, to the obtaining
of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God has called us to obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus
Christ. As Paul wrote to the church at Corinth:
"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the
glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from
glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." ***
II Corinthians 3:18
We are to be changed from glory to glory until we come into
the image of the Creator. This we can only do by and through the
Spirit of the living God. God sent His Spirit on the Day of
Pentecost to cleanse His creation from all unrighteousness. Only
by and through the Spirit can we stand clean and white before the
Father of lights. We will be recreated into the same image and
likeness of the Creating God as man was in the Garden before sin
entered into man's existence.
Isaiah foretold this time when, man through the anointing
would again be adorned with the glory of God:
"Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of
the Lord is risen upon thee." *** Isaiah 60:1
How can we be assured that the glorious light of God will
break forth in our life? It will be when we overcome the old man
through fasting, prayer and applying God's Word to our lives. When
this process is complete, God's "new creation man" will spring
forth in His image and likeness.
# 2 Thy health shall spring forth speedily
Fasting is healthy. Many fast only for health reasons.
Fasting cleanses the body of toxins and gives the body a chance to
rest and be revitalized. God has promised when we fast our health
will spring forth speedily, not only our physical health but also
our Spiritual health.
Most do not realize our physical health has much to do with
our Spiritual health. It becomes very difficult to worship and
praise the Lord when we are sick. Even though we believe that God
heals our physical illness, how can we ask Him to heal if we are
violating His directions (His written Word)?
Many suffer illness because they have violated God's Word,
refusing to act on His promises. Just as it is very difficult to
worship and praise the Lord when we are sick, it becomes much more
difficult to seek the Lord when physical illness hinders us. God
has given us fasting that we may seek the Lord with our whole
heart, our total thinking process. God promised Israel:
"If from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou
shalt find Him, if thou seek Him with all thy heart and
with all thy soul." *** Deuteronomy 4:29
Those who seek God with all their heart and soul shall find
Him. It is not that God is lost, but in our seeking Him our
Spiritual health will spring forth speedily. When we are healthy,
both physically and Spiritually, we will know the will of God in
our life and do it. God has promised fasting will improve our
relationship with Him.
When speaking to His disciples, Jesus disclosed:
"And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you;
seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened
unto you.
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh
findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."
*** Luke 11:9-10
We may ask the question, "How do we ask? How do we seek? How
do we knock?" Many times Scriptures simply become platitudes. We
mouth the Word and never seek the meaning. The word ask means "to
present your petition". The word seek means "to inquire, to covet
earnestly, striving to obtain". The word knock means "to get one's
attention". When we fast we come into a position to present our
petitions because we earnestly covet to get God's attention. We
have God's promise that if we ask, seek, and knock we will receive
our petition from Him.
Many who's relationship with God is spiritually sick need to
begin to act on the promises of God. When we do, His Spiritual
healing will truly spring forth speedily.
# 3 Thy Righteousness shall go before thee
"But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made
unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification,
and redemption:" *** I Corinthians 1:30
In ourselves we have no righteousness. Christ Jesus is our
righteousness. As Isaiah the prophet wrote:
"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our
righteousnesses are as filthy rags: and we all do fade
as a leaf; and our iniquities like the wind, have taken
us away." *** Isaiah 64:6
Many believe they are righteous because they act righteous.
But our own righteousness is as filthy rags before God. The
Apostle Paul revealed to the church at Rome:
"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much
more they which receive abundance of grace and of the
gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus
Christ." *** Romans 5:17
Righteousness is a Spiritual gift. Only those who dwell,
walk, and live in the Spirit can obtain the gift of righteousness.
James wrote:
"And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them
that make peace." *** James 3:18
Righteousness is a fruit of the Spirit. Paul also wrote to
the church at Corinth:
"Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not
the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame." ***
I Corinthians 15:34
Paul advised us to awake to righteousness and sin not. Many
are still dwelling in their Adam sleep. Their Spiritual eyes are
closed to the ways and the will of God. They have become part of
a religious system that says you are all right with God as long as
you attend here and do as we say. Paul addresses those who are
being held in bondage to their spirit of religion:
"For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and
going about to establish their own righteousness, have
not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God."
*** Romans 10:3
The righteousness of God does not go before those who are
ignorant of His righteousness. Those ignorant of God's
righteousness are still trying to obtain and establish their own
righteousness. They create their own moral code to live by based
on their errant, religious doctrine. God has given us the way to
obtain true righteousness by and through fasting. In his second
letter to the Corinthians, Paul wrote:
"For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin;
that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."
*** II Corinthians 5:21
Jesus came to be made sin for us that we may once again be
made the righteousness of God. This does not come automatically
when we come into His saving grace. It must be sought with our
whole heart, soul and spirit. God must be our whole desire if we
are to have His righteousness go before us. Paul spoke of the new
man we will become if we seek God with our whole heart:
"And that ye put on the new man, which after God is
created in righteousness and true holiness." ***
Ephesians 4:24
Our new man is created in God's righteousness and His true
holiness. Until we are recreated in righteousness and true
holiness, we will never dwell in the presence of God. Jesus gave
us directions how we may stand again in His presence:
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His
righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto
you." *** Matthew 6:33
We must first seek the Kingdom of God. Along with this we
must seek the righteousness of God. Then all that God has for us
will be added unto us. The question is, "How do we seek God's
Kingdom and His righteousness? The answer is through fasting. God
has promised that if we fast, His righteousness will go before us.
# 4 The glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward
The word rereward means "to gather, to collect, to assemble or
to take in". When we fast God has promised to release His glory in
our lives. The word rereward was used to denote the harvest time
in Israel, the time of ingathering. This feast took place at the
end of their agricultural year. This feast was called the Feast of
Ingathering.
The Feast of Ingathering was also called the Feast of
Tabernacles. This was when all Israel came together to dwell in
temporary dwelling places. All Israel's feasts have been fulfilled
in prophecy except the Feast of Tabernacles. God is about to
institute His Feast of Ingathering. When He brings in His harvest,
those who are mature, complete and whole will be part of this
ingathering process. The prophet Isaiah spoke of this time of
ingathering:
"For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight:
for the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel
will be your rereward." *** Isaiah 52:12
We will not go out with haste, nor by flight. Some believe
they are simply going to fly away. In this misconception, there is
no overcoming, no change and no seeking of God needed. God is
warning His people to prepare themselves because the Kingdom of God
is at hand. Through fasting we can hear God's direction for these
last days.
The time of harvest is upon the earth. God's righteousness
will go before us and His glory will be our rereward. He will
gather His people unto Himself. Jesus stated:
"But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel".
*** Matthew 10:6
Jesus' first coming was to the lost sheep of the house of
Israel. When He was about to enter Jerusalem, knowing He would be
crucified, Jesus wept before Jerusalem. He did not weep for
Himself, not for what He would suffer, but for the people. He
stated:
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets,
and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often
would I have gathered thy children together, even as a
hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would
not!" *** Matthew 23:37
Jesus wanted to gather His people unto Himself at that time,
but they would not. God is desiring to gather His people unto
Himself today, but the same is true. They will not seek Him in
fasting and prayer. Because of this, God's glory has been withheld
and those who are not prepared will not be part of His Feast of
Tabernacles, the time of ingathering. They will not be part of
what Paul revealed to the church at Thessalonica:
"When He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to
be admired in all them that believe because our testimony
among you was believed in that day." *** II
Thessalonians 1:10
God is coming to be glorified in His saints, those who have
entered in through the fast that God has ordained. Those who have
sought God with their whole heart shall be gathered together in the
glory of God.
# 5 Thou shall call and the Lord shall answer
God informed the people they were not to fast to make their
voices to be heard on high, or to try to force Him to hear their
petitions. God has promised if our fast is acceptable in His sight,
when we call upon Him He will answer. When we fast to come into
God's will, it is then we can claim all His promises. Peter
revealed:
"The Lord is not slack concerning His promises as some
men count slackness". *** II Peter 3:9
We can depend on God's wonderful promises. The prophet Isaiah
penned God's words.
"And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will
answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear."
*** Isaiah 65:24
When we enter into a fast it should be for the primary purpose
of hearing from the Lord and seeking His will. Isaiah spoke that
before we call God would answer, and when we speak He would hear.
The beloved John wrote:
"This is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we
ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us:" ***
I John 5:14
When we fast and seek God's will, then He hears us and answers
our prayers. Fasting enhances our prayer life. Fasting gets the
old man, the carnal nature out of the way so God's voice can be
heard. Isaiah related:
"And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying,
This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right
hand, and when ye turn to the left." *** Isaiah 30:21
When we cease from our labors and come totally away to hear
the voice of God through fasting, then His still, small voice can
be heard. Many will say, "God doesn't speak to me". He may be
speaking, but perhaps you are not in the place where you can hear.
Perhaps the noise of the life you are living is drowning out His
still, small voice in your life. It is God's desire that we hear
Him. In Jesus' words:
"And when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before
them, and the sheep follow Him: for they know His
voice." *** John 10:4
Through fasting, God's sheep will come to the place where they
will hear His voice and follow Him. They will come to the place in
their walk that when they call to God, they will hear Him say,
"Here I am", Isaiah 58:9.
The prophet Zechariah spoke of those who would enter into
God's glory. He wrote:
"For thus saith the Lord of hosts; After the glory hath
He sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he
that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye." ***
Zechariah 2:8
He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of God's eye; or,
those who have come into the center of God's attention. God has
made all these wonderful promises to those who fast in His will.
That is not the end of God's promise, He proclaimed:
"...If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke,
the putting forth of the finger and speaking vanity."
*** Isaiah 58:9b
God lists three things that must be removed from our life if
we are to receive His promises.
# 1 We must put off the yoke
If we are holding anyone in bondage it must cease. If anyone
is holding us in bondage, it must be broken.
# 2 We must stop pointing the finger
This is an accusing act. We must cease from accusing our
brothers and sisters in Christ.
# 3 We must cease from speaking vanity
The word vanity means "nothingness, worthlessness, of no
value". Jesus referred to these as "idle words":
"But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall
speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of
judgment." *** Matthew 12:36
Those who speak vanity will give an account before God on the
Day of Judgment. Isaiah continued:
"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:" ***
Isaiah 58:10
God's people are more in need of Spiritual food then they are
physical food. When we draw out our soul to meet their Spiritual
needs and satisfy their afflicted souls our light will arise, and
that which was hid in darkness in our lives will be as the noonday.
"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.
And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste
places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many
generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of
the breach, The Restorer of paths to dwell in." ***
Isaiah 58:11-12
God has promised to be our continual guide and satisfy our
parched, dry soul and make our life prosperous in the things of
God. Our life will be as a watered garden and our water (the
active Word of God in our life) will never fail. As Jesus spoke to
the woman at the well:
"But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give
Him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give
Him shall be in Him a well of water springing up into
everlasting life." *** John 4:14
When we drink from the wells of living water, the water that
will never fail, then that water will spring up in us and produce
everlasting life. Through the pen of Isaiah God promised that
those whose fast is acceptable in His sight will be the Repairers
of the Breach. We will repair the breach that came between God and
His creation because of sin. Those who keep God's acceptable fast
will restore the paths that God has intended for His creation to
walk in.
To the church at Corinth, Paul reveals the depth of God's
promises:
"For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him
Amen, unto the glory of God by us." *** II Corinthians
1:20
God never draws back from His promise. Failure only comes
when man falls short of meeting the conditions to receive them.
God has given us fasting for a particular purpose and that is to
seek His will and His way. Fasting brings us into a place where
God can communicate with us. We must be willing to afflict the
flesh so that the Spirit may be released to do the will of God.
Fasting should always be entered into prayerfully.
One of the most asked questions concerning fasting is: "How
long should the fast be?" In God's Word, fasting lasted for one
meal, or up to forty days. The length of the fast should be
determined before God. We should fast until we receive the answer
we seek. When we set a time we are going to fast, these fasts are
generally in the flesh and this fast becomes a product of our own
determined will.
There are many many types of fasts recorded in God's Word.
There are many reasons to fast recorded in the Word. When God
calls us to fast, we should come before Him, not before man. We
should seek God in the fast. If we want to fast for any other
reason, then we cannot expect God to bless our fast. God's
blessing is on the fast He ordains. All other fastings are for
fleshly reasons. As Paul admonished the church at Philipi:
"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as
in my presence only, but now much more in my absence,
work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."
*** Philippians 2:12
As we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling
through fasting, our prayer should be:
"...Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I
shall keep it unto the end." *** Psalm 119:33
|
| 70.4 | | AROLED::PARKER | | Fri Apr 11 1997 22:13 | 6 |
| Can this be? Was Jesus dead, buried and resurrected so that we might
through fasting be made righteous? Does it remain for us to afflict
our flesh? Can we be sure that "annointed" fasting is all we need to
do?
Perhaps I misunderstand.
|
| 70.5 | | PHXSS1::HEISER | Maranatha! | Sat Apr 12 1997 15:36 | 1 |
| smacks of misguided legalism to me
|
| 70.6 | | ALFSS1::BENSONA | Eternal Weltanschauung | Mon Apr 14 1997 14:50 | 6 |
|
Perfectionism (in the flesh) is a theme which is the basis for several
modern sects. Seventh Day Adventists and Nazarenes come to mind
immediately. Are there others you're aware of?
jeff
|
| 70.7 | | YUKON::GLENN | | Mon Apr 14 1997 15:59 | 39 |
|
I guess I'm a bit perplexed by the response here. I have not done
a thorough study on fasting, but what was entered in here was
thought provoking.
RE: .4 Wayne, Maybe I just looked at the first 3 posts differently.
I didn't see these entries as being made righteouse through
fasting. I saw this as focusing attention on the Lord wholely.
The postings were to take oneself aside from the distractions
of the world, just to be with the Lord. The not working makes
sense, if you don't want to be distracted when talking to someone,
do you not try to find a quiet place to just be with that person
without phones, a lot of people, a lot of noise level.
And what about physical food ? The point is not to suffer but
to take that time that would be spent stuffing our face with food,
and to stuff our minds with the word, fellowship with God, and
ignoring the physical for a time to seek the spiritual as in
Jesus Christ.
Annointed fasting is not all we need to do. I didn't get that from
this either. It is a part of what we should do on occasion. Just
like those of us who are married, we should take a weekend just with
our spouse and spend time just with them. Should our Lord be any
different ? And if there is medical evidence that fasting on
occasion is beneficial to us physically, then do we not only get
the added benefit of benefitting our health as well as working on
our spiritual growth and changes that the Lord will want to work
when we are seeking him in this way?
Maybe I misunderstood the other way :-).
-JimGle-
|
| 70.8 | | YUKON::GLENN | | Mon Apr 14 1997 16:03 | 16 |
|
RE: .5
>smacks of misguided legalism to me
How so Mike. If you read through these postings carefully there
is a lot that suggests the very opposite. As a matter of fact
it was saying to me that if your not coming with the right heart
and intent; that being seeking the Lord; then in fact is is just
that, legalistic and ritualistic as well.
Like I mentioned to Wayne in .7, maybe I just misunderstood
from the opposite side of things.
-JimGle-
|
| 70.9 | | PAULKM::WEISS | To speak the Truth, you must first live it | Mon Apr 14 1997 16:06 | 10 |
| Well spoken, Jim. Fasting DOES have a place, which we have largely lost.
I'm in complete agreement with the idea that an over-legalism can be a
strangling thing, or any assertion that fasting in any way justifies us or
takes the place of the Blood of Jesus.
But fasting was observed by both Jesus and the disciples. Scripture references
are too numerous to list.
Paul
|
| 70.10 | | YUKON::GLENN | | Mon Apr 14 1997 16:17 | 16 |
|
IMO I agree fasting is an aspect that has been lost. There are
more things that are lost as well. Why?
Because it takes us out of our nice little comfort zone, and
secondly deep down it is more than likely going to case a change
in us. Change is something that we all (myself included) are
reluctant to face; it involves work on our part; humbleness; and
submission to what the word and the Lord's will for us is. All things
which are in direct opposition to the "What about my rights" that is
so pervasive in the world today.
So basically it should be not about ME but about JESUS.
-JimGle-
|
| 70.11 | RE: .7 through .10 | AROLED::PARKER | | Mon Apr 14 1997 17:35 | 15 |
| Hi, JimGle and Paul.
I, too, agree that there is a time and place for fasting. In the next
three replies, I will share some of the notions that gave me pause.
I will stand against any system that would point us toward trusting in
something we can do versus trusting in Jesus alone to accomplish that
which we cannot.
For the record, I have fasted according to the Lord's will,
voluntarily, not of necessity.
May it be unto us according to our faith.
/Wayne
|
| 70.12 | | PAULKM::WEISS | To speak the Truth, you must first live it | Mon Apr 14 1997 17:40 | 11 |
| Before I even see the things you picked out of there, Wayne, I must apologize.
The truth is, I haven't read through the 1100 lines in replies 1-3. I read a
bit at the beginning of each reply, but I didn't even skim all of the rest of
them. I was responding more out of a general attitude toward fasting than to
the specifics of the piece posted here about fasting. So your response,
clearly garnered from a more complete reading, may very well be perfectly
accurate, and I apologize for voicing an opinion on the subject before really
reading and understanding all that was going on.
Paul
|
| 70.13 | 1 of 3 | AROLED::PARKER | | Mon Apr 14 1997 17:45 | 37 |
| RE: .1
| It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I
| might learn thy statutes." *** Psalm 119:71
** Who did the afflicting here? The wording makes clear that the psalmist had
not afflicted himself.
| Paul spoke of those who would refuse to endure sound doctrine.
| Sound doctrine is the Word of God. Instead, they heap to
| themselves teachers who tickle their itching ears, those who will
| tell them God has accepted them as they are, and there is no need
| of change in their life. These have no desire to learn God's
| statutes, and there is no allowance made for any affliction. They
| are taught that all affliction comes from the devil, and only good
| comes from God. So they trod along in their wilderness of
| ignorance, unwilling to afflict their souls to find God's true
| direction for their life.
** Unwilling to afflict their souls to find God's true direction? What does
that mean? Now, an unwillingness to be afflicted is another matter
altogether!
| God has ordained a way that we may seek His face in everything
| we do. God has given us the fast.
** Certainly the fast is a way to seek God's face. I would in no way deny
that!
| # 2 They ceased not from their labors
** Why would sabbath-keeping not be mentioned here? The fast in not the only
context for ceasing from our labors? And what labors are we to cease?
I submit that we're in trouble if we can't stay our minds on Him in
whatever we do. If we're doing things that cannot be done to His glory,
then we should cease doing them.
|
| 70.14 | 2 of 3 | AROLED::PARKER | | Mon Apr 14 1997 17:45 | 84 |
| RE: .2
| When we afflict the flesh to allow the Spirit to have its way
| in our life, we are permitting these five avenues of fasting to
| bring us again into God's image and likeness.
** Say what? When WE afflict the flesh to ALLOW the Spirit to have His way--
why call the Spirit "it," by the way?--WE ARE PERMITTING...
| # 1 To Loose the Bands of Wickedness in our Life
| The word wickedness denotes the things in our life that are
| opposite to God's character. The word bands has the meaning of
| "fetters", or "that which keeps us bound". Many of God's children
| have not broken the chains that bind them to the old life. They
| are captive to the old, carnal, Adamic nature, as if they had never
| been to the altar of repentance. They have never been able to
| break the bonds of the sins of the flesh: the lust of the eye, the
| lust of the flesh and the pride of life. Until these chains are
| broken, they can never be free from the bonds of wickedness in
| their lives. These bonds of wickedness include: alcohol,
| cigarettes, drugs, the opposite sex, the lust of money, fame,
| selfishness and self-rule. These are all opposite to God's
| character.
** So, breaking the chains that bind us is our responsibility/ability?
| God has given us the fast to break these chains that hold
| us in our prison of flesh. We must break the bonds of wickedness
| if God is to bless us with all Spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus.
** WE must break the bonds of wickedness?
| # 2 To Undo Heavy Burdens
| Matthew declared these have become unfruitful. Luke
| proclaimed these bring no fruit to perfection. Luke is referring
| to the fruit of the Spirit in our life. Those who have not broken
| the burden of the cares of this life have not taken advantage of
| the fast God has ordained to set them free.
** So, not fasting is the reason some are burdened by the cares of this life,
yea, even afflicted?
| # 3 To Let the Oppressed Go Free
| God has given us fasting to allow the oppressed go free.
** Our fasting "allows" the oppressed to be free?
| # 3 To Break Every Yoke
| Christ Jesus desires that we be free. His desire is that
| every yoke which binds us to the unbeliever or keeps us in bondage
| or causes oppression in our lives be broken. Fasting for these
| reasons will cause us to be free in the liberty we have in Christ
| Jesus.
** Fasting "will cause us to be free?"
| God has given us fasting, that through the fast we may hear
| His direction to rise above our earthly existence to sit together
| in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
** "Through the fast we may hear His direction to rise above our earthly
existence?" What then of faith, the Word and the Spirit given to lead
us into all truth?
| # 5 To Deal Our bread to the Hungry
| There is a famine of hearing the Spiritual Word of God in the
| earth today. Man is running from coast to coast and from border to
| border looking for the true Word of God. God has given us the
| fast that we may hear His voice and receive direction, wisdom, and
| revelation. When we fast to hear the voice of God, He will speak
| His mysteries to us which have been hidden from the foundation of
| the earth.
** So, we fast so that God will reveal His mysteries?
"But God hath revealed unto to us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth
all things, yea, the deep things of God." (1Co.2:10)
What of hearing the Word with faith? Is fasting the focus of the Word?
|
| 70.15 | 3 of 3 | AROLED::PARKER | | Mon Apr 14 1997 17:46 | 145 |
| RE: .3
| #1 Thy light shall break forth as the morning
| How can we be assured that the glorious light of God will
| break forth in our life? It will be when we overcome the old man
| through fasting, prayer and applying God's Word to our lives. When
| this process is complete, God's "new creation man" will spring
| forth in His image and likeness.
** We are assured when WE overcome through doing? Prayer and obedience to
God's Word are insufficient apart from fasting?
| # 2 Thy health shall spring forth speedily
| Those who seek God with all their heart and soul shall find
| Him. It is not that God is lost, but in our seeking Him our
| Spiritual health will spring forth speedily. When we are healthy,
| both physically and Spiritually, we will know the will of God in
| our life and do it. God has promised fasting will improve our
| relationship with Him.
** So, fasting is given that we may be healthy, yet we should not fast in
order to be healthy? We will know the will of God only when we are
both physically AND spiritually healthy? What about those who are
afflicted in the flesh? What are they to discern?
| Many who's relationship with God is spiritually sick need to
| begin to act on the promises of God. When we do, His Spiritual
| healing will truly spring forth speedily.
** With this I agree wholeheartedly!
| # 3 Thy Righteousness shall go before thee
| In ourselves we have no righteousness. Christ Jesus is our
| righteousness.
** Amen and Amen!
| Many believe they are righteous because they act righteous.
| But our own righteousness is as filthy rags before God.
** Amen and Amen!
| Righteousness is a Spiritual gift. Only those who dwell,
| walk, and live in the Spirit can obtain the gift of righteousness.
** Amen and Amen!
| Righteousness is a fruit of the Spirit.
** Amen!
| The righteousness of God does not go before those who are
| ignorant of His righteousness. Those ignorant of God's
| righteousness are still trying to obtain and establish their own
| righteousness. They create their own moral code to live by based
| on their errant, religious doctrine.
** Amen and Amen!
| God has given us the way to
| obtain true righteousness by and through fasting.
** So, fasting is "the way to obtain true righteousness?" Righteousness is
something we can obtain?
| Jesus came to be made sin for us that we may once again be
| made the righteousness of God. This does not come automatically
| when we come into His saving grace. It must be sought with our
| whole heart, soul and spirit. God must be our whole desire if we
| are to have His righteousness go before us.
** Ah, this is better: Jesus was made sin for us that we might be MADE the
righteousness of God.
I'm going to say something strong here: Those who neither desire to be
made righteous nor seek His righteousness are not (being) sealed by the
Holy Spirit!
| Our new man is created in God's righteousness and His true
| holiness. Until we are recreated in righteousness and true
| holiness, we will never dwell in the presence of God.
** Amen and Amen!
| We must first seek the Kingdom of God. Along with this we
| must seek the righteousness of God. Then all that God has for us
| will be added unto us. The question is, "How do we seek God's
| Kingdom and His righteousness? The answer is through fasting. God
| has promised that if we fast, His righteousness will go before us.
** "The answer" is fasting?
| # 4 The glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward
| God is coming to be glorified in His saints, those who have
| entered in through the fast that God has ordained. Those who have
| sought God with their whole heart shall be gathered together in the
| glory of God.
** So, we enter in through the fast?
| # 5 Thou shall call and the Lord shall answer
| When we fast and seek God's will, then He hears us and answers
| our prayers. Fasting enhances our prayer life. Fasting gets the
| old man, the carnal nature out of the way so God's voice can be
| heard.
** Fasting "gets the old man, the carnal nature, out of the way? For how
long? Why would we not be commanded to fast incessantly? Rather, we are
to pray without ceasing.
| God never draws back from His promise. Failure only comes
| when man falls short of meeting the conditions to receive them.
| God has given us fasting for a particular purpose and that is to
| seek His will and His way. Fasting brings us into a place where
| God can communicate with us. We must be willing to afflict the
| flesh so that the Spirit may be released to do the will of God.
| Fasting should always be entered into prayerfully.
** WE must afflict our flesh so that the Spirit may be released? So, God's
work does depend on fasting?
| As we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling
| through fasting, our prayer should be:
| "...Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I
| shall keep it unto the end." *** Psalm 119:33
** I submit that this should be our prayer in every situation or condition,
not just fasting.
"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; perplexed, but not in
despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always
bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also
of Jesus might be made manifest in our body...For which cause we faint not;
but though our outward man perish, yet the inward is renewed day by day.
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far
more exceeding eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things
which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which
are seen are temooral; but the things which are not seen are eternal."
(see 2Co.4:8-18)
|
| 70.16 | Not The Basis | YIELD::BARBIERI | | Mon Apr 14 1997 17:59 | 12 |
| Hi Jeff,
I don't think perfectionism is the *basis* for Adventism and
if Mark Metcalfe were here, I think he'd probably say the
same for the Nazarene 'sect.'
However, as it is a revelation of the constraining love of God
as demonstrated on the cross that transforms our hearts, I
wouldn't want to place limits on HOW constraining that revelation
can be.
Tony
|
| 70.17 | RE: .12 | AROLED::PARKER | | Mon Apr 14 1997 18:09 | 24 |
| Hi, Paul.
My first reaction was to NOT read through the 1100 lines, too. But, I
felt compelled to do so as soon as I got the sense that we were being
called to afflict ourselves for the sake of righteousness. And what I
found in the actual wording disturbed me.
This is a hot button for me of late. I'm REALLY sensitive to anything
that would turn our eyes from Jesus, no matter how noble or holy that
call might seem.
I speak not as a master, but rather as a sinner who is becoming
increasingly more appreciative of God's grace through faith in Jesus
Christ. Depending on what people seek, many will see me as a very
imperfect man, so I don't expect others to accept my words without
commendation of the Word and the Spirit in their own hearts.
God desires that we hear His Word. And if He were to use even my
misunderstanding to motivate others to carefully examine His Word, then
I would be pleased. My heart's desire is that we know Jesus!
If I have offended, then I beg your forgiveness.
/Wayne
|
| 70.18 | RE: .16 | AROLED::PARKER | | Mon Apr 14 1997 18:22 | 17 |
| I would join Tony in not wanting to limit the work of God in us who
believe.
Moreover, I think Tony and I agree that the revelation of God in His
Word by His Spirit (grace through faith) is what sets us free unto
righteousness.
Jesus prayed to our Father, "They are not of the world, even as I am
not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into
the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might
be truly sanctified. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also
which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one;
as thou, Father, in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us:
that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." (Jn.17:16-21)
/Wayne
|
| 70.19 | Sir, we should see Jesus! | PHXSS1::HEISER | Maranatha! | Mon Apr 14 1997 18:25 | 5 |
| Wayne pretty much covered it for me. Unfortunately, I read through it
too and that's why the phrase "misguided legalism" came to mind. I
came out of a denomination that thought like that. Why in God's name
would I want to go back? Why anyone is attracted to that type of
thinking is beyond me!
|
| 70.20 | Thanks | YIELD::BARBIERI | | Mon Apr 14 1997 19:34 | 5 |
| Thanks Wayne! Its nice to both have and to convey where
we have common ground - especially when its beautiful
common ground!
Tony
|
| 70.21 | | PAULKM::WEISS | To speak the Truth, you must first live it | Mon Apr 14 1997 19:42 | 6 |
| I tried to read it all, with the intent of responding, but I just can't absorb
it right now. So I'll bow out of this discussion.
Apologies for sticking my nose in without first boning up on what was going on.
Paul
|
| 70.22 | | HPCGRP::DIEWALD | | Mon Apr 14 1997 20:09 | 10 |
| I agree with Wayne. Although most of the advice about fasting is
accurate, the purpose isn't right. Jesus said: Come unto me, all ye
that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke
upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall
find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
(Matthew 11:28-30)
Jill
|
| 70.23 | Is It Possible? | YIELD::BARBIERI | | Mon Apr 14 1997 22:12 | 6 |
| Hi Larry,
Any chance you could break up your replies into something like
60 line lengths? Those are long replies!
Tony
|
| 70.13 | 1 of 3 | AROLED::PARKER | | Tue Apr 15 1997 12:08 | 38 |
| RE: .1
| It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I
| might learn thy statutes." *** Psalm 119:71
** Who did the afflicting here? The wording makes clear that the psalmist had
not afflicted himself.
| Paul spoke of those who would refuse to endure sound doctrine.
| Sound doctrine is the Word of God. Instead, they heap to
| themselves teachers who tickle their itching ears, those who will
| tell them God has accepted them as they are, and there is no need
| of change in their life. These have no desire to learn God's
| statutes, and there is no allowance made for any affliction. They
| are taught that all affliction comes from the devil, and only good
| comes from God. So they trod along in their wilderness of
| ignorance, unwilling to afflict their souls to find God's true
| direction for their life.
** Unwilling to afflict their souls to find God's true direction? What does
that mean? Now, an unwillingness to be afflicted is another matter
altogether!
| God has ordained a way that we may seek His face in everything
| we do. God has given us the fast.
** Certainly the fast is a way to seek God's face. I would in no way deny
that!
| # 2 They ceased not from their labors
** Why would sabbath-keeping not be mentioned here? Is the fast the only
context for ceasing from our labors? And from what labors are we to
cease?
I submit that trouble starts if we can't stay our minds on Him in whatever
we do. If we're doing things that cannot be done to His glory, then we
should question what we're doing.
|
| 70.24 | | CSC32::L_DEGROFF | | Tue Apr 15 1997 15:11 | 6 |
| Tony,
Do not know how this could be done without changing the entire
flow of the note (i.e. the basenote would follow the replies.)
Larry
|
| 70.25 | What If? | YIELD::BARBIERI | | Tue Apr 15 1997 15:15 | 11 |
| Hi Larry,
What if you did something like inform us that the following
10 replies must be considered a single unit and ultimately
ought be read in their entirety?
Thats what I do a lot of the time. I'll write something and
just break it up and my topic title will contain within it
(1 of 10), etc.
Tony
|
| 70.26 | | PAULKM::WEISS | To speak the Truth, you must first live it | Tue Apr 15 1997 15:24 | 14 |
| Actually, I don't think big notes are all that much of a problem any more. It
*USED* to be a problem because old versions of DecWindows notes would not let
you do anything until it had read in the entire note, and for people on slow
links this could be a real problem. DecWindows notes now gives control back to
the user as soon as it has read in one screen's worth, so this is no longer an
issue.
It can sometimes help to break up a note, if it really logically needs to be
broken up into different segments. But just arbitrarily breaking up a note
that really is one coherent note doesn't really buy anything any more, and
actually a single note is easier to NEXT UNSEEN past for someone who doesn't
want to read it.
Paul
|
| 70.27 | I didn't know that | ALFSS1::BENSONA | Eternal Weltanschauung | Tue Apr 15 1997 15:47 | 4 |
|
Paul, Do you have Scripture to support you assertion? ;-))
jeff
|
| 70.28 | | PAULKM::WEISS | To speak the Truth, you must first live it | Tue Apr 15 1997 15:56 | 1 |
| :-) :-) :-)
|