Mar 9, 2025 "Fasting" (Isaiah 58:1-7)

Fasting

Isaiah 58:1-7

 

We are now in the time of Lent. In the past, fasting meant giving up food and water. These days people might give up something special to you. Many young people will give up games or TV.

 

True fasting according to Isaiah 58 is when we truly seek God. 

 

Fasting is not about bragging but emptying yourself. Fasting is not a form of suffering. Enduring pain or suffering for its own sake is not glorifying God. Seeking out temptations or inventing trials

 

Sacrifice should not be the first act of duty but the natural reaction to God's grace. 

 

Why do we fast?  We are seeking God and become closer to God. We fast to examine our hearts. 

 

When we fast, we should be emptying ourselves in surrendering to God and repenting. We should Also be encouraging others to fast. It should not be just an outward exercise. 

 

Isaiah 58:5 ESV

[5]  Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord?

 

Fasting allows us to see how sinful we are. Without true repentance, we cannot receive grace. 

 

Improper fasting will lead to conflict and arrogance.

 

Isaiah 58:4 ESV

[4] Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high.

 

God cannot fill you unless you empty yourself. Your pride and logic will not allow God to fill you. What we prioritize in our hearts will fill our hearts. True fasting allows us to empty ourselves for God.

 

We need to ask why we fast. Is it to get closer to God or brag to others how much you can endure.

 

Fasting is not just self-denial. However, God's calling to fasting to set us free. Not just ourselves but those who are oppressed. It is to love others. This is love in action.

 

Isaiah 58:6-7 ESV

[6] “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? [7] Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

Fasting was never about suffering but surrender. Fasting should lead us to humility and not pride. Is it moving you closer to God or puffing you up with yourself. We should be filled with God

• King of Kings

• This I Believe (The Creed)
• Because He Lives

Feb 18, 2024 "True Fasting" (Isaiah 58:1-12)

 

True Fasting

Isaiah 58:1-12

 

There are many types of fasting, but it is the way we fast whether it is truly for God or for ourselves that matters.

Isaiah 58 talks about what kind of fasting is pleasing to God and what is not pleasing to God.  

 

Sometimes we feel that if we suffer or experience pain that somehow this is true fasting. We might feel that because Jesus suffered we too should suffer. Is this to repay Jesus or because we feel guilty for what Jesus did? We should suffer because we love Jesus.

 

It is the same as early morning prayer services. We should go to those prayer sessions because we love God. We should not do this to show off or brag.

 

We need to empty ourselves and lay down our desires including religious desires. By fasting, we show that we are doing something religious but might ignore the other day to day actions.

 

Isaiah 58:3 ESV

[3] ‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’ Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers.

 

Our fasting is no good if we do not sacrifice all our desires.

 

Isaiah 58:4 ESV

[4] Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high.

 

We quarrel when our desires are not met.

 

The true fasting is defined like this.

Isaiah 58:6 ESV

[6] “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke

 

True fasting is living for justice and helping our neighbors.

 

Isaiah 58:7 ESV

[7] Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

 

By helping those in need, we are doing true fasting. It is not going without food for set times. Biblical fasting is filling ourselves with Jesus and act like Jesus.

 

We often do fast when we want something. Yes, this fine to do, but we should fast for others.   

 

We do need to prepare ourselves for God by being more like Jesus.

 

• Every Giant Will Fall
• Nothing But The Blood (Plainfield)
• Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)
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"Genuine Fasting" (Isaiah 58:1-12)

Genuine Fasting 

Isaiah 58:1-12

During Lent, many people fast for 40 days. These days there are many kinds of fasting. However, many people misunderstand what the true fasting means.
There is real fasting and misplaced fasting.

Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the judgment of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near to God. ‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’ Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers.

Isaiah 58:2-3 ESV

True fasting is about emptying yourself. Some Christians believe that more suffering is more glorifying to God. Fasting is not about suffering or experiencing pain. 

True fasting is about emptying ourselves and our desires. Coming before God in fasting is good when we lay down our desires and greed before God. 

To fast to satisfy our religious desires or obligations is not true fasting. It is misplaced fasting.

The same is true when people fast to gain blessings or satisfy their desires.  

We might have to sacrifice our own comfort or desires. This is something Christians need to do, but to suffer needlessly is not what God wants us to do.

 Once we empty ourselves of our desires and fill up with Jesus, we can experience God more. 

“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?

Isaiah 58:6 ESV

Verse 6 tells us what God wants a fast to be. Living our life as best as we can live is what genuine fasting is about. Our daily life should be like this. 

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

Isaiah 58:7 ESV

Verse 7 tells us that we should love our neighbor as well. We need to share either those who are in need. We have to share what we have. We cannot turn away from our own family. We need to take care of our family and not sacrifice them. Loving our family is as important as loving the church.  

Fasting should not be used to fulfill religious duties. Use fasting to practice emptying ourselves by laying down our thoughts, desires, logic before God and fill ourselves with love of God and practice it then God will listen to you. This is what will happen after true fasting.

Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 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,

Isaiah 58:8-9 ESV

2023-02-26 Worship Songs

Hosanna 호산나

Amazing Grace -My Chains Are Gone 나 같은 죄인 살리신

Lord I Lift Your Name On High 주의 이름 높이며