Topic: Fasting That Pleases God [Saturday June 16, 2018]
Text: Isaiah 58:1-14 (KJV)
Key Verse: “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 58:9).
MESSAGE:
During the time of Prophet Isaiah, people were in the habit of denying themselves food and assuming postures of mourning and disguised humility as an offering to the Almighty. They would pray to God for His recognition and blessings but would continue living in unrighteousness. They would set apart a time to make themselves generally uncomfortable, go without meals, spread sackcloth and ashes over themselves and even call upon God for His favour. Yet, their lives were full of injustice and selfishness. They thought a mere abstinence from food without accompanying contrition and charitable spirit, was enough to receive blessings from God.
God wanted a fasting of repentance and holy living. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981), the pastor of Westminster Chapel in London said, “Fasting, if we conceive of it truly, must not… be confined to the question of food and drink; fasting should really be made to include abstinence from anything which is legitimate in and of itself for the sake of some special spiritual purpose. There are many bodily functions which are right, normal and perfectly legitimate, but which for special peculiar reasons in certain circumstances should be controlled. That is fasting.”
Fasting is very common in many circles today. And most have little or nothing to do with repentance from sin. True fasting involves repentance and total break from sin. This is the fast, which God chooses. Such fasting and self-denying life will attract the favour and blessings of God.
Thought For The Day: True fast means starve your vices and feed your virtues.
Bible Reading In One Year: 1 Kings 9; 2 Chronicles 8
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
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