The fasting that is pleasing to the LORD Most High

*Additional notes on 10th April 2012.



Isaiah chapter 58 is a good example of the true meaning of fasting which has nothing to do with abstinence from food or drinks. 

It is more towards self control; abstain from riotous living and strife, relieving or alleviate poverty and injustice.  To set our lives to repair that broken bridge between our Creator and mankind, rebuilding godliness that was originally in man and removing bestiality that had consumed mankind. 

Many times, what the LORD Most High desires for His Children and what we thought the LORD wants from us, are completely different.

Oxford dictionary states "FAST"  as :-

- abstain from food or drink, especially as a religious observance. 

- an act or period of fasting.

Abstinence from food is not what the LORD originally intended for man to be closer to Him.  The Lord planted a garden with ample fruits for food and the LORD encouraged mankind to eat.  Even after mankind was expelled from the Garden of Eden, the LORD continued to encourage us to eat fruits, vegetables and meat.  

Abstinence from Food and Drinks are what pagans normally practice in their ecstatic practices and was somehow absorbed into Judaeo-Christian culture.  

While some fasted with true intent to help oneself to be more focused in our prayers and meditation, it is basically an act for "SELF" and not for the LORD. 

The first time, I encountered someone at close observation that fasted or abstain from food - was my sister when she spoke in "tongues" one of the trinity - "father" / "son" / "holy spirit" asked her to fast and she abstained from food for many days that spread into weeks. 

Spiritual ties or link to God seemed to get stronger when she fasted!!!  or is it because the body and mind are weakened, it is easier for the "spirit" to take control of you???  

My sister's body became weak and slowly she did not have a mind of her own but her mind was more and more under the control of the "trinity spirits".  She was able to prophesy and tell things that have not yet happened, etc.....  Looked like demon possession to me, no different from soothsayers or fortune tellers. 
*That was more than 30 years ago after she went to a Pentecostal/Charismatic Church (The Assembly of God - in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia) where several Pastors and elders layed their hands on her to receive the "holy spirit". Now she no longer speak-in-tongues.  

Many religions fast during their ecstatic practices in order to achieve visible results, for example, Buddhist monks are able to have out of body experiences or levitation.  Yes, they can actually levitate and Jesus walked on water - Very fascinating indeed; But that is not point of the message here and we have to be very careful of what we practice or get ourselves into when it comes to the spiritual world.

Best not to step into dangerous grounds without the LORD or go places where the LORD did not tell you to go. 

Let the Bible be your guide for now until FATHER returns. 

If you give yourselves to demonic spiritual practices you may slowly grow into preferring their side of things and will in turn hate the truth when truth of CHRIST is presented to you.

Seek to grow into a son of God and not seeking to grow into a son of Satan. 

Jesus of Nazareth went into the desert and fasted for 40 days and 40 nights.  When HIS body was weakened by fasting, HE made it easier for the Devil to stick around to tempt HIM.   The purpose of the LORD allowing Satan to tempt HIM was so that HE can overcome Satan and in the process, help HIS Children to overcome Satan as well.  

KJV
Revelation 3:21

"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."

Earliest Patriarchs Adam, Seth,......... Enoch,.......... Noah,........... Abraham........ did not practice fasting. 

They walked with the LORD Most High and called upon the name of the LORD.  

KJV
Genesis 4:26 

"And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD." 

  

John the Baptist lived a simple life of prayer and he did not emphasize his life on worldly and outward things such as eating and drinking; but that did not mean that he did not eat or drink !!!

KJV
Matthew 11:18

"For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil."



Matthew 11:19

"The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children."







Isaiah 58

New King James Version (NKJV)



1 “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.



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.





13 “If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath,

From doing your pleasure on My holy day,

And call the Sabbath a delight,

The holy day of the Lord honorable,

And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways,

Nor finding your own pleasure,

Nor speaking your own words,



14 Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord;

And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth,

And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father.

The mouth of the Lord has spoken.”