THE LORD’S FAST

SERMON STARTER

          When I was in my early thirties, I began to take my relationship with Jesus Christ seriously. I read the Biblical nariative from Jesus’ life about the boy who suffered from seizures. The disciples were unable to bring about healing for the boy, but Jesus did it in an instant. His disciples asked Him why and He said this type of healing was accomplished by prayer and fasting.

          I decided to try fasting for myself. I was busy, working to support my family, going to school at night, doing homework and finding marriage and family life. At first, I tried one day fasts, once a week. Later, I tried three-day fasts. Prayer was somewhat easier, but I struggled with fatigue and irritability.

          One day, while on an attempted three day fast, I was talking with a co-worker while setting up an engraving press. I saw a piece of candy and unwrapped it, popping it unthinkingly into my mouth. My fast was broken by my unconscious desire for food. I was destroyed. I berated myself for my lack of self-control. The experience so humiliated me I didn’t try again for a number of years.

          It was probably a good thing I didn’t try it again for some time, because I was fasting with the wrong motive: I was doing it for personal and religious reasons. Not everyone is called by God into a ministry of intercessory prayer and fasting. This sermon explores Isaiah’s understanding of the practice. I hope it challenges you.

 

Pastor Phil  <><<

 

April 25, 2010

Sheepfold Ministries, Pastor Phil Roland

THE LORD’S FAST

GOD’S Promise AND PROVISION

Isaiah 58:1-12

"Fasting can become just another meaningless religious ritual. The Lord’s Fast is truly a spiritual fast. Mankind is concerned about the outward appearance, God is looking at your heart."                              Pastor Phil  <><<

 

"if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.." 2 Chronicles 7:14                                       

 

I.  THE RELIGIOUS FAST - vs. 1-5

            A. Religious Fast Seeks Influence with People – vs. 1-2

               "Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell 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 did not forsake the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me the

                 ordinances of justice; They take delight in approaching God.”

                        1. Emphasizes “Correct” Form and Procedure

                                    a. Seeks G-d Daily

                                    b. Pursues Him thru Rituals

                        2. Insists on External Requirements

                                    a. Rules and Regulations

                                    b. Sabbath Observance

                        3. These things are done to be seen by men – Matt. 6:5

                            “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For

                               they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners

                               of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to

                               you, they have their reward.”

                        4. This kind of fast Jesus called hypocrisy – 2 Timothy 3:1-5

                           “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:

                             For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters,

                             proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

                             unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal,

                             despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of

                             pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness

                             but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”

            B. Religious Fast Seeks Power with G-d – vs. 3-5

                'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and You have not seen? Why have we

                 afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?' "In fact, in the day of your

                 fast you find pleasure, And exploit all your laborers. Indeed you fast for

                 strife and debate, And to strike with the fist of wickedness. You will not

                 fast as you do this day, To make your voice heard on high. Is it a fast

                 that I have chosen, A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down

                 his head like a bulrush, And to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would

THE LORD’S FAST, cont., p.2

                 you call this a fast, And an acceptable day to the LORD?”

                        1. “Let’s make a deal” w/G-d

                        2. Personal Devotion / Moral Goodness makes points w/G-d

                        3. Religious Magazine Article Title,

                            “Writing your own ticket with G-d”

                        4. Religious Magical Words, practices, attitudes, even thots

                        5. Note: the irritability and impulsiveness of the religious

                                    a. Lack of food can cause jumpiness and irritability

                                    b. Pushing workers to exhaustion results in cruelty

                                    c. Results of greed and intemperance

            C. WHY did God not hear them when they fasted?

                        1. They were spiritually ill and wounded. vs. 8a

                            “. . .Your healing shall spring forth speedily. . .”

                        2. They were in spiritual darkness and gloom - v. 10b

                           “Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness

                             shall be as the noonday. “

                        3. They turned away from G-d’s spiritual guidance - vs. 11a

                            “the Lord will guide you continually. . .”

                        4. Their needs were not being satisfied;

                        5. They were spiritually weak

                        6. Their lives and relationships were in ruin

                                    a. No foundation

                                    b. Walls crumbling around them

 

II.  THE LORD’S FAST - vs. 6-12

     "Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To

        undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break

        every yoke?”

            A. Loose the bonds of wickedness in ourselves, not in others

                        1. Strongholds are IN US – 2 Corinthians 10:4,5

                           “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God                               for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every

                             high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God,

                             bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,”

                        2. Before we attack injustice, we must start with ourselves

          B. Unbind/Loose the Chains of Injustice – v. 6b

                “To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you

                  break every yoke?”

                        1. Release victims of injustice

                                    a. Through Intervention with Victims of Injustice

                                    a. Through Prayer and Forgiveness

                                    b. Through Direct Intervention, eg. Unborn Children

                        2. Free those embittered toward life

                        3. Not eating is a natural fast, but abstaining from sin is a                                         spiritual fast

 

 

THE LORD’S FAST, cont., p.3

            C. Break the Yoke of Slavery’s Bondage – Galatians 5:1

                 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free,                           and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”

                        1. People are enslaved to a plethora of Addictions

                        2. All addicts are slaves to their addictive agent

                        3. Our culture is obsessed w/money and what it buys

                        4. Become enslaved to Acquisition: Credit Cards, Life’s Stuff

                        5. The Lord’s Fast frees from placing heavy burdens on one                                    another

            D. Set free those crushed, bruised and broken by Life – Lk. 4:18

                "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To

                  preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the

                  brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight

                  to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;”

                        1. Jesus proclaimed it was His ministry and calling

                        2. Turn it around: Stop oppressing others/Start healing them

                                    a. Oppress others by Indifference

                                    b. Crush them by Ignoring them

                                    c. Bruise them by not healing their grief and sorrow

            E. Tear up / Destroy all records of Injustices done – 1 Cor. 13:5

                “It (God’s Love) is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered,       it keeps no record of wrongs.” NIV

                        1. Tear up your lists of wrongdoing and wrongdoers

                        2. Begin the arduous Process of Forgiveness

            F. Share your food with the hungry – v. 7a; 10a

                 “Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,”

                 “Extend your heart to the hungry”

                        1. It is the ministry of Jesus – Matt. 25: 34-36

                           "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you

                             blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from

                             the foundation of the world: 'for I was hungry and you gave Me

                             food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and

                             you took Me in; 'I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and

                             you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'”

                        2. When you feed others, you feed Jesus – Matt. 25:40

                            “'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these                                brothers of mine, you did for me.'”

            G. Shelter the Oppressed and Homeless

            H. Cover those who are Naked

            I. The Lord’s Fast includes ceasing from Strife and self-Centeredness

               “Indeed you fast for strife and debate, And to strike with the fist of                             wickedness.” – v. 4a

               “The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,” v. 9d

                        1. Deep, Soul-Searching Repentance

                        2. Seeking and Finding God’s Mercy and Love

 

 

THE LORD’S FAST , Text:

Isaiah 58:1-12

"Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression, And the house of Jacob their sins.

2  Yet they seek Me daily, And delight to know My ways, As a nation that did righteousness, And did not forsake the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me the ordinances of justice; They take delight in approaching God.

3  'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?' "In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, And exploit all your laborers.

4  Indeed you fast for strife and debate, And to strike with the fist of wickedness. You will not fast as you do this day, To make your voice heard on high.

5  Is it a fast that I have chosen, A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, And to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, And an acceptable day to the LORD?

6  "Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?

7  Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh?

8  Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

 

THE LORD’S FAST, cont.

9  Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.' "If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

10  If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday.

11  The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

12  Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.