Read Isaiah 58:1-11
As you read through the Scriptures it appears that fasting soon became a sign of one’s piety through which boasting and bolstering one’s image was possible. One could even fast religiously and continue living a wickedly sinful night. With such things, the Lord is greatly grieved.
To see how this grieves God, imagine that Jordan comes to your church’s weekly Sonday morning prayer meeting. As he sits he prays a few short prayers that sound elegant, nice and, well, insightful and godly. But even though he prays such fine sounding prayers, Jordan spent the previous night boozing with his friends, viewing pornography and trying to pick up a couple of girls. Is God pleased with such prayers? Of course not!
Israel found herself in such a predicament. She would cry out to God because God seemed silent through her fasts. God was not answering her prayers. The self-humbling had proved in vain. But all the while, Israel was sinning in the back ground, extortion was rife. Stand over tactics were engaged in. Wages were withheld. Fights were common. Sin was abundantly flowing out of their lives but they would religiously put on sackcloth and go through the motions of fasting.
Genuine fasting that God finds acceptable includes the head, the heart and the hands. In our head we have to think rightly. We have to call sin ‘sin’ and avoid it at all costs. We have to consider the welfare of others and we have to think through what God likes and dislikes. In our heart we love God. We have to love our neighbour as we love ourselves. We have to banish feelings of anger, hatred and desires for revenge. With our hands we have to help the poor and needy, care for the ill stricken, seek justice for the oppressed and release those that are falsely imprisoned.
If our head, heart and hands are not included in our fasting then we cannot and should not expect the Lord to pay any attention. Nor should we expect Him to hear and answer our prayers. But if we do engage our head, heart and hands, if we fast as God intended …
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.
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, 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.
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.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray for the many people who came to our Easter Service who do not regularly attend church. Pray that these people who have hear the gospel clearly presented would be convicted by the Holy Spirit to bow the knee and to confess Jesus as Lord. Pray that the believers would be encouraged and spurred on to greater heights of love and service.
¥ Pray for the work of Straight Talk as Jim and Faye continue share the message of waiting until marriage before engaging in sex. Pray that many students would hear and accept the message. Pray that many would come to Christ in faith. Ask the Lord to strengthen Jim and Faye in this vital ministry.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Why is God concerned with our heart while we fast?
2. How can we make sure our heart is in the right place before we fast?
3. What do you think fasting would achieve for you and your church?
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