What is a true fast?

[lighthousejohn]

Isaiah 58 talks about true fasting:

1 "Shout it aloud, do not hold back.
Raise your voice like a trumpet.
Declare to my people their rebellion
and to the house of Jacob their sins.

2 For day after day they seek me out;
they seem eager to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that does what is right
and has not forsaken the commands of its God.
They ask me for just decisions
and seem eager for God to come near them.

3 'Why have we fasted,' they say,
'and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled ourselves,
and you have not noticed?'
"Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please
and exploit all your workers.

4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
and expect your voice to be heard on high.

5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
only a day for a man to humble himself?
Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed
and for lying on sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
a day acceptable to the LORD ?


6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?

7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?


8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
"If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.

11 The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.

12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

13 "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath
and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight
and the LORD's holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way
and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,

14 then you will find your joy in the LORD,
and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land
and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob."
The mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Emphasis on verse 6 and 7 is mine for the purpose of pointing out God' desire for when we fast.

In Christ,
John

[1still_waters]

Amen bro. Points out that God's primary concern wasn't ceremonies and lip service. It's always been about your heart and how your heart will manifest in compassion for others.

[Jullianna]

Love, love, love this post...

We can fast so many things, but the attitude of our hearts is what God sees.

Reminds me of this song I love so much: YouTube - Lincoln Brewster - The Power Of Your Name (with Darlene Zschech)

It's Lincoln Brewter's Power of Your Name...awesome

thank you for your post!

[Israel]

Originally Posted by lighthousejohn

Isaiah 58 talks about true fasting:

1 "Shout it aloud, do not hold back.
Raise your voice like a trumpet.
Declare to my people their rebellion
and to the house of Jacob their sins.

2 For day after day they seek me out;
they seem eager to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that does what is right
and has not forsaken the commands of its God.
They ask me for just decisions
and seem eager for God to come near them.

3 'Why have we fasted,' they say,
'and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled ourselves,
and you have not noticed?'
"Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please
and exploit all your workers.

4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
and expect your voice to be heard on high.

5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
only a day for a man to humble himself?
Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed
and for lying on sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
a day acceptable to the LORD ?


6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?

7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?


8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
"If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.

11 The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.

12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

13 "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath
and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight
and the LORD's holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way
and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,

14 then you will find your joy in the LORD,
and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land
and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob."
The mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Emphasis on verse 6 and 7 is mine for the purpose of pointing out God' desire for when we fast.

In Christ,
John

Mark 2:18-20

And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?

19And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.


Exodus 16:2-30

And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:

3And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
4Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.
5And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.
6And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that the LORD hath brought you out from the land of Egypt:
7And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the LORD; for that he heareth your murmurings against the LORD: and what are we, that ye murmur against us?
8And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.
9And Moses spake unto Aaron, Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, Come near before the LORD: for he hath heard your murmurings.
10And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.
11And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
12I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God.
13And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host.
14And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground.
15And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.
16This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents.
17And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less.
18And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.
19And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning.
20Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them.
21And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted.
22And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses.
23And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.
24And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein.
25And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day is a sabbath unto the LORD: to day ye shall not find it in the field.
26Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none.
27And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none.
28And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?
29See, for that the LORD hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. 30So the people rested on the seventh day.

This is an example of a symbol of what Jesus meant.

John 6:24-36

When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.

25And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
26Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
27Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
28Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
30They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
31Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
32Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
33For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
34Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
35And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 36But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.

This is of the same grand story told in Exodus. Jesus is the true bread of heaven; our double portion. We are commanded to stay in our place in faith of the Spirit. And just as in Exodus, we still see those searching for this bread in the field and cannot find it. Six days He gave them bread from heaven and said not to leave any left over the next day. Some did because of lack of faith in not trusting that there will be any the next day and it stank and bred worms. We are again in the wilderness and the sun waxes hot. Those of us still trying to get their spiritual bread in the sixth day finds that it melts away. We must take part in the Sabbath of the Lord and rest. To stay in our place as did the Spirit of God as this still remains His spiritual Sabbath day.

This is what Paul meant:

1Corinthians 7:17-24

But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.

18Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
20Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
21Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
22For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.
23Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. 24Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

We are told to stay in our place on the Sabbath day and abide with God. But what we see is those who are looking for this bread in the field through various religions of the world. None of which can give you life as the bread is not there. Our bodies is now the temple of the Spirit and bread which is given to everyman according to his eating. Some more, some less.

Revelation 16:8-9

And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.
9And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.

Why are men scorched from the heat? Because the bread or Spirit of Christ is not in these people. They continue to search for this bread in the field. This bread of the world melts in the sun, but for those with the true Spirit dwelling in them, God truly satisfies our needs in a sun-scorched land. In this world with the bridegroom taken away, the children of the promise indeed are fasting, but in the spirit they are satisfied to the full.

[mpaper345]

Fasting is a way of denying the flesh food to get in to a more spiritual mode.

The disciples asked Jesus why they could not cast out devils from some people,and Jesus said they had no faith do to so,and then said that they can not be cast out except by fasting and prayer.

When it comes to the more serious spiritual issues,it cannot be done except by prayer and fasting.

Fasting breaks the yoke of bondage from us.Jesus fasted for 40 days and so did Moses.

Matt

[Israel]

Originally Posted by mpaper345

Fasting is a way of denying the flesh food to get in to a more spiritual mode.

The disciples asked Jesus why they could not cast out devils from some people,and Jesus said they had no faith do to so,and then said that they can not be cast out except by fasting and prayer.

When it comes to the more serious spiritual issues,it cannot be done except by prayer and fasting.

Fasting breaks the yoke of bondage from us.Jesus fasted for 40 days and so did Moses.

Matt

Exactly. But true fasting has nothing to do with food as we know it. That was a shadow of things to come.

[lighthousejohn]

Good post Isreal!

God looks at the desires of our hearts when we fast. When we fast in a "right" spirit, we allow God to release His blessings on us. I have heard so many people say "I fasted and prayed but God did not answer!" They look confused when I ask them "What was the attitude of your fast?"

God truly wants to provide our every need according to His riches. How much do we restrain His desire when we practice religous rites to selfishly seek God's will for ourselves. If we fast and pray with compassion for those less fortunate than ourselves; we release God's richest blessings.

In Christ,
John

[lighthousejohn]

Juliana and Still waters,

If we fast according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we will be fasting for the needs of others to be met through us. As my father used to tell me; "Attitude, attitude, attitude! We alone can choose our attitude. How you see others is dependent on your attitude towards them.

That is what A true fast is about, our attitude.

In Christ,
John

[pickles]

Originally Posted by lighthousejohn

Isaiah 58 talks about true fasting:

1 "Shout it aloud, do not hold back.
Raise your voice like a trumpet.
Declare to my people their rebellion
and to the house of Jacob their sins.

2 For day after day they seek me out;
they seem eager to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that does what is right
and has not forsaken the commands of its God.
They ask me for just decisions
and seem eager for God to come near them.

3 'Why have we fasted,' they say,
'and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled ourselves,
and you have not noticed?'
"Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please
and exploit all your workers.

4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
and expect your voice to be heard on high.

5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
only a day for a man to humble himself?
Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed
and for lying on sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
a day acceptable to the LORD ?


6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?

7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?


8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
"If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.

11 The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.

12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

13 "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath
and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight
and the LORD's holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way
and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,

14 then you will find your joy in the LORD,
and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land
and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob."
The mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Emphasis on verse 6 and 7 is mine for the purpose of pointing out God' desire for when we fast.

In Christ,
John

Thankyou and Amen!
God bless. pickles

[Lifelike]

Originally Posted by lighthousejohn

Isaiah 58 talks about true fasting:

1 "Shout it aloud, do not hold back.
Raise your voice like a trumpet.
Declare to my people their rebellion
and to the house of Jacob their sins.

2 For day after day they seek me out;
they seem eager to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that does what is right
and has not forsaken the commands of its God.
They ask me for just decisions
and seem eager for God to come near them.

3 'Why have we fasted,' they say,
'and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled ourselves,
and you have not noticed?'
"Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please
and exploit all your workers.

4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
and expect your voice to be heard on high.

5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
only a day for a man to humble himself?
Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed
and for lying on sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
a day acceptable to the LORD ?


6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?

7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?


8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
"If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.

11 The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.

12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

13 "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath
and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight
and the LORD's holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way
and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,

14 then you will find your joy in the LORD,
and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land
and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob."
The mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Emphasis on verse 6 and 7 is mine for the purpose of pointing out God' desire for when we fast.

In Christ,
John

Haha awesome I was given this chapter when I preached this weekend lol wow. Something God showed me with it was that its not a natural thing for our flesh to do these things in verse 6 & 7, by nature we are selfish and look to satisfy self. So to Fast is to deny ourselves of this natural appetite and do what god desires - which is what the sabbath is also about, in v13. Not doing your own thing or going your own way - the way that seems best to man, its end is death, but Going His way, and doing what seems best to Him.

Thats the season we are entering, the true rest of God, where we cease from our own works and He REALLY lives in us. What and honour and a privelage to display Him to the world!

[lighthousejohn]

Originally Posted by Lifelike

Haha awesome I was given this chapter when I preached this weekend lol wow. Something God showed me with it was that its not a natural thing for our flesh to do these things in verse 6 & 7, by nature we are selfish and look to satisfy self. So to Fast is to deny ourselves of this natural appetite and do what god desires - which is what the sabbath is also about, in v13. Not doing your own thing or going your own way - the way that seems best to man, its end is death, but Going His way, and doing what seems best to Him.

Thats the season we are entering, the true rest of God, where we cease from our own works and He REALLY lives in us. What and honour and a privelage to display Him to the world!

Absolutley! It is so hard for us to set aside our own personal wants, dessires and feelings so that we can look with compassion on others with the hope of meeting their needs. But God tells us in Luke 9:23 "23Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." To deny ourselves is a basic tenet of Christianity. We cannot follow Christ and be self-absorbed at the same time. A second tenet is "that we love our neighbors as ourselves". When you combine the two together, you have the gospel of Christ.

I find it interesting that the first thing Jesus did to start His ministry after being baptized was to pray and fast for forty days. Theologians have debated the reasons for this. I choose to believ that it was to prepare Him for His role as servant.

In Christ,
John

[Consumed]

i love how Jesus says ""when you fast" not "if you fast" or "when you are led to fast" just "when" as it is a sacrificial act on our part to engage, the spirit is willing, its the flesh that resists.

and yes Isa 58 sets out the why we fast, not for self, for others.

Originally Posted by Consumed

i love how Jesus says ""when you fast" not "if you fast" or "when you are led to fast" just "when" as it is a sacrificial act on our part to engage, the spirit is willing, its the flesh that resists.

and yes Isa 58 sets out the why we fast, not for self, for others.

Nice point.

[Mulehide]

So, then fasting is not for your needs, physical or spiritual, but rather more of an interecessory type prayer?

Originally Posted by Mulehide

So, then fasting is not for your needs, physical or spiritual, but rather more of an interecessory type prayer?

And all the fasting you do will not matter if you do not treat others as God would have you, in love.

[Mulehide]

Originally Posted by charisenexcelcis

And all the fasting you do will not matter if you do not treat others as God would have you, in love.

The purpose of fasting as proposed in this thread is the only purpose then? As far as requests are concerned?

Originally Posted by Mulehide

The purpose of fasting as proposed in this thread is the only purpose then? As far as requests are concerned?

No. You can fast for requests. I misunderstood your questions. Sorry.

[lighthousejohn]

Originally Posted by Mulehide

So, then fasting is not for your needs, physical or spiritual, but rather more of an interecessory type prayer?

Isaiah was railing against the Isrealites practice of fasting selfishly always ending in strife (ref. verse 4 and 5). He was saying that we should fast for the needs of others. We can fast for our own purposes but only unselfishly. In other words, how can we be used of God to meet the needs of others. I have often fasted for the purpose of my ministry, for guidance or purpose from God. He has always showed me His way.

[Consumed]

Originally Posted by Mulehide

So, then fasting is not for your needs, physical or spiritual, but rather more of an interecessory type prayer?

Psa 23:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psa 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
Psa 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Psa 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Psa 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Psa 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Thank you so much for posting this , But I really thought the reason to fast is to draw closer to God, and the fast is deny ourselves , it should not be what God can do for me , it should be what I can I do for God .. and spend the time you would be doing what ever you would give in prayer . am I wrong or right?
J/W ? God Bless you and again thank you for posting this ..