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People talk about fasting, but what does that mean? Some think of fasting as a weight loss technique. Others consider it a means to better mental health, going on social media 'fasts' to reduce information overload and the anxiety it creates.
For Christians, fasting is a spiritual requirement instituted by God. Jesus said, "when you fast" in Matthew 6:16. This reveals that the issue isn't 'if' a believer should fast. It is only a matter of 'when'.
Jesus Himself fasted for 40 days and nights (Luke 4). Fasts were a regular part of the Jewish culture and faith to which He belonged. He even instructed His disciples (and all who would believe in Him) that certain problems would not be overcome without fasting (Matthew 17:21). The Bible also shows that long after He was gone, believers fasted (Acts 14:23).
Alas, we modern Christians seem to struggle to fast and have little understanding of what a spiritual fast entails. For instance, I only fasted for the first time seven years ago, despite being a Christian my entire life. Fortunately, the Lord used others to teach me and has continued to help me.
The Bible contains key guidance about what the practice requires in Isaiah 58. There, the Lord pointed out how the Israelites of old were fasting incorrectly. In so doing, He reveals His expectations for today's believers and highlights how we can fast in a way that pleases Him.
Many think fasting is a fasttrack to answered prayers. It surely can be. However, the essence of fasting is to quiet the flesh and submit to God completely. It enables individuals and groups to hear better from the Lord because the desires of the flesh are pushed down so God can be glorified.
God sees through people. Therefore, pretending to be humble while fasting will not move Him, as He noted in Isaiah 58:5. He wants believers to live a 'fasting lifestyle' that honors and obeys His word at all times, not just when they need something. It is not about being performative and 'packaging' like one is pious.
Hence, a person's heart posture is important. In Isaiah 58, God reminded us that we are not to complain and grumble. We are to reject pride, lies, deception, and slander. We are to treat others with complete respect and not exploit underlings or the vulnerable. He expects believers to avoid petty behavior, quarrels, physical fights, and all wickedness.
God's children are to be just and rely on scripture (not our understanding) to reject injustice. We cannot support unjust servitude and oppression. He expects believers to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and care for their family members. Even the importance of the Sabbath is not to be ignored. God wants His children to enjoy rest, just as He did on the seventh day of creation.
It might seem like a lot to do, but God helps His children live righteously, so that making godly choices becomes natural to them (Philippians 2:13). And as we study the word with the help of the Holy Spirit, we'll learn how to do things in a way that pleases and obeys God. Every day, we'll become more like our Savior Jesus while on the journey to heaven, and our fasts will have the impact we desire. See you at Noon EST.
To learn more, please read:
FINAL MESSAGE
I thank God for putting this on my heart to share
This is a video I tend to watch and share with others as a great reminder on why we fast and the impact it can have.
God bless you and see you when next we gather, IJMN, Amen.
You are all I need
And I give you all of me
You come first, more of you, less of me
I'm moving like Matthew 6:33 (thirty-three)
Oh yeah
Set apart, covered and blessed
I serve God and say it with my chest
Wake up thankful for his patience, grace and salvation
So nobody bothering me
No weapons formed against me shall prosper
I'm covered in God's Armour
Yeah if you say go, then I'll go, Lord I only answer to you
So Imma keep my eyes on you
Seek you like i'm supposed to do
Your love is easy like its one plus two
No more burdens 'cause I trust in you, you, you
CLOSING PRAYER
Thank You Sovereign Lord for another gathering to Your glory and at Your command. To You be all the glory and praise!
Thank You for all the familiar faces, the unfamiliar, and the lurkers who have come before You today.
I pray that all will submit, choosing to be Your children so they get Your very best and step into Your perfect will. God, I call on You to transform them. I ask You to lift the veil and pour Your Spirit into them.
May we live, by Your grace, to gather next week to learn at Your feet, worship Your name, and petition for others, IJMN Amen.
LAST 10 MINUTES
We need to do things God's way so we can experience the results we see in the Bible and hear others testify to. This is crucial when we fast and pray, and it's the point of today's post.
Matthew 22:29 -Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.
Hosea 4:6 -my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.
None of us should want to give a blemished offering to the Lord. He could choose to show us mercy and compassion and still give us His ear, but why risk it? Why not learn what God's requirements are and apply them? Then, you'll be able to approach His throne of grace boldly, knowing you've observed protocol.
And yes, Jesus came so we are New Testament believers, but can we honestly say that the instructions in Isaiah 58 are no longer necessary for the modern Christian? For those who feel this way, have you found your fasts trigger God to move on a consistent basis? What about your prayers? Are you regularly testifying to what God is doing? If not, then is there possibly room for change that could increase the effectiveness you experience in your Christian journey?
When we follow God's mysterious word, He can't help but be triggered because He sees our obedience as applied faith, and that is currency that never loses its value.
Ask the Lord to help you. Ask Him to lead you through the Bible so you learn how to fast and pray effectively and in a way that pleases Him. If you believe in Jesus and know God to be His Father, then this is your right. It is your inheritance as God's child, and you should be leveraging it. Your Father paid a ransom so you can have what you want when you apply the name of Jesus and do things His way.
Father, I thank You for Your word states that even the lawful captive shall be set free because of Your power, Your might, Your word and Your Spirit.
And so, Lord, I stand on Your word and declare that the strongmen holding souls captive on LSA are shredded for Your glory. I speak the name Jesus into every place they are gathered. I bind them in the name of the Savior Jesus and decree that their chains are broken and their captives are set free.
Every strongman of fear, lack, spiritual deafness and blindness, antichrist, lies, deception, gossip, slander, libel, rape, death, sexual perversion and immorality, suicide, intrusive thoughts, distractions, witchcraft, New Age practices, occult, demonism, devil worship, anxiety, self cursing, blasphemy, coarse language, thieving, and all others are broken. They fall and brash because the presence of my God is here. Like Dagon, they stand no more.
And God, as these souls experience liberty, I pray that they encounter Christ, believe and receive the Holy Spirit. That they be filled thoroughly so that those they were set free from cannot return with seven more evil spirits.
IJMN, I thank You for Your victory, Amen.
From JIR - Lord, please look over all widows and orphans. Please turn their mourning and sorrow into joy and gladness. Please bless them with the strength and courage to keep pushing through and bless them with the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Please touch their hearts Lord to turn to You and rely on You for strength and guidance. IJMN. Amen.
Father, I pray for sis Jesus is Real's Aunt B and anyone else You will allow this petition to reach. I thank You for the opportunity to do so.
Lord Your word states in James 5:15 - And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.
Father, satan wants people deprived of good health and healing when they need it. But You came to bring fullness of life and Christ came to destroy the works of satan. Hallelujah!
It is with such assurance plus James 5:15, that I pray for Your mercy and healing grace to reach my prayer subjects and bring them miraculous healing. I pray that You will raise them up from their sick bed and that their sins will be forgiven by You the God of restoration and mercy, IJMN, Amen.
From JIR - Lord, I pray for those being persecuted for spreading the Gospel. I pray that You comfort and protect them. I pray that You give them the strength, zeal and fire to continue spreading the Gospel no matter what. I pray that You take them under Your wings and shield them, cover them and protect them from this harmful evil world and those who mean malice or ill will towards them. Lord, I pray that You protect them supernaturally and send Your angels from heaven’s armies down to surround them as they endure and persevere in spreading the Word of God. IJMN. Amen.
Lord God, You are our great and Mighty King. You have told us to cast all our cares to You and so in obedience, I lift this petition. Thank You for being the God who hears and answers us.
Zechariah 9:8 - But I will encamp at my temple to guard it against marauding forces. Never again will an oppressor overrun my people, for now I am keeping watch.
Lord, Your temple is the physical bodies of Your people. With that in mind, I call on You to stand and contend with those who contend with Your own. The devil and its minions seeking to steal, kill, and destroy the mental peace of Your people are hereby destroyed by the blood and name of Jesus.
Every altar and iniquity that created a legal right is hereby broken and the fire of the Lord sets it aflame, IJN, Amen.
I decree that Christ died to set the captives free and he who the Son sets free is free indeed.
Therefore, the devil has no legal ground to pester, harass, disturb, deceive, and bother those who Your own.
I pray that Your people will stand in the knowledge that they are free and not fall for the lies of the enemy to the contrary. I pray that they will resist satan with Your word, and witness their triumph over the accuser of their souls. For it is written in Revelation 12:11 - They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. The blood, their testimony of what You have done and are doing, and the knowledge that their lives are secured in Christ brings great victory and always will.
IJN, Amen!!!
Dear Father, I pray for Christians everywhere.
Jesus taught us that new wine is not poured into old wineskins (Mark 2:22). Please help Your people to become new wineskins, new creatures in Christ who can receive the new wine You desire to fill them up with, IJMN, Amen.
From JIR - I pray for the P&P community. Lord, I pray that You watch over us and protect us all from those who mean us harm. Please bless this community to flourish and for many hearts to be stirred by these messages and lessons conveyed to us through the Holy Spirit. Lord, I have become a new creature as You led me in here a bit over a year ago all by Your grace. I pray that many others are transformed and that You remove the scales and veils from those who have yet to experience Your presence and embrace them with Your love. As Your word says “I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.”John 12:46 NLT. I pray that many are drawn to You and fully give their lives to You and live their lives for You. IJMN. Amen.
From JIR - Lord I pray for those who have yet to come to know You. I pray that You have Your way with them Lord and that they come to know You. Lord, I pray that You stir and soften their hearts to hearken to Your voice and they seek You and turn to You with all of their hearts. I pray that You wrap them in Your love and they feel Your presence so strongly that they never go back to the ways of the world again and they fully yield to You. IJMN. Amen.
PRAYER TIME
You have entered his gates and courts with thanksgiving and praise and so now it is time to pray for people.
The hungry, the oppressed, the suffering need people to pray for them. You cannot expect God's blessings if you don't genuinely intercede for others.
Now is your opportunity to pray for them. Please take it seriously.
1 Corinthians 1:4 - I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.
Thank You, Lord, for the grace You grant to my fellow P&P participants. I appreciate Your kindness. It is this grace that enables them to show up twice a week so we can all honor You in fellowship.
Glory be to Your Holy Name!
From JIR - Thank You Lord for hearing my prayers, answering my prayers and the miracles that You have done in my life and my family’s lives. IJMN. Amen.
From JIR - “I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever. I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever. Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness.”
Psalms 145:1-3 NLT
God, I worship You for being the pinprick of light in the darkness that grows as we train our gaze on You.
Thank You for being all that we need yesterday, today, and forever.
Praise the Lord!
From JIR - Thank You Lord for being everything I need. Only You can satisfy me. IJMN. Amen.
From JIR - Lord thank You for drawing me to You and revealing Yourself to me at the perfect time. You are more valuable than every dollar and every precious jewel combined on Your green earth. You are always with me and I can always count on You. I fear nothing but You. There was a time when I feared the enemy and couldn’t sleep at night but You have taken that fear all away and for months I have been sleeping more pleasant and peaceful nights. You are the only Way. Thank You for being my Lord and Savior. I would be doomed without You. You make all things beautiful! Thank You Lord. IJMN. Amen.
Lord I want to thank You for a restful weekend. Thank You for all that is to come this week.
To You be all the glory. Hallelujah!
From JIR - Thank You Lord for the way You love me. Thank You Lord for the way You protect me. Thank You Lord for the way You watch over me. My Rock, my Fortress, my Refuge. You are good. Thank You for always being by my side and comforting me in good and bad times. It is an extraordinary feeling to know that You are always with me and unlike man kind, You will never leave me or forsake me. Thank You Lord. IJMN. Amen.
Thank You for never forgetting us, dear Lord. Indeed, the Bible notes in Psalm 8:4 - what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?
Also, we are told in Isaiah 49:15 - “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!
Great and Mighty King, despite the fact that we are mere dust, we are front and center of Your mind. And, You stretch out Your hand over us for our protection. Hallelujah be unto You, Redeemer!
PRAISE TIME
Let us worship God and lift His name up. Let us appreciate Him for all He's done for us as well as others. Let us be grateful for what He's about to do for us.
In times of trouble
God You've been my shelter
When the world's shaking
From all of the pressure
Come rain or shine
I'm covered
Through whatever weather
You are my refuge from now to forever
You've been so good to me
Yeah You've been
You've been so good to me
Yeah You've been
With You I can do anything
Cause You're my safety
There's a peace I can't deny
And I know I'll be alright
Cause You're my safety
And my life can testify
That You've been here by my side
Jehovah eh
If no be for You, where I for dey
Jehovah ah
This Your love e dey carry me go carry me go
Jehovah eh
I’ll follow You for the rest of my life
Jehovah ah
Until the end of time, it’s You and I
Mo fe korin ( I want to sing)
Mo fe jo (I want to dance)
You’re the lover of my soul (soul)
I’m never ever letting go
I never want to be solo, solo
Mo fe korin ( I want to sing)
Mo fe jo (I want to dance)
You’re the lover of my soul (soul)
I’m never ever letting go
I never want to be solo, solo
Adonai, Adonai
You come through when I call on You
(You come through when I call on You, I call on You I)
Elohim, El Shaddai
See how your love e dey over me
Goodness and mercy dey follow me oh
(Follow me oh)
From M22 - Thank you Abba Father for a new fellowship day. We give you all the Glory Lord! We pray that you continue to renew, transform, prune and refresh us as we walk everyday with you. We pray that we will continue to decrease so that you can increase within us. IJMN Amen.
Thank you for today's word sis @FFJ , may God continue to increase your anointing. I definitely need to study Isaiah 58 in depth and I pray God helps us to truly understand what he's teaching us in this scripture in this season of our lives. IJMN Amen
From JIR - Thank You Lord for breathing life into us this morning. We are so thankful that Your mercies are new every morning. Thank You for Your grace Lord because by Your grace You have guided us in here to fellowship today and receive today’s word. We thank You, we honor You and we praise Your holy name. IJMN. Amen.
Thanks for today’s message sis @FFJ. This is good. I love how you emphasized that it is required for all believers to fast. It is a time to humble ourselves and focus on the Lord. The flesh is against us but God gave us the remedy to kill it. The Bible also mentions how we must fast in private and keep it between us and God, (Matthew 6:16-18) otherwise, we are just starving yourselves.
I am not the most consistent when it comes to fasting and haven’t done so in a while but I learned from today’s message that I don’t have to wait for the Lord to nudge me to fast or wait until I need to pray for someone or myself. I can fast whenever I want. This message has helped me break that misconception.
I do notice that my senses are heightened to the spiritual realm when I fast. I need to fast on a more consistent and persistent basis and have been thinking about it for a couple weeks now. This message has convicted me so thank you for sharing sis. You also got me thinking about the main objective of fasting which is to humble ourselves, kill our flesh and get closer with God, which is a win in my book. The prayers that may be answered during the fast, is just the icing on top.
Every believer in the Bible, OT and NT fasted, which shows its importance. I learned from Derek Prince that the flesh includes unruly passions, moods and desires that are not of God. So, it makes sense that we must crucify these things and the best way would be by fasting and seeking God wholeheartedly. The more we can crucify hindrances (in this case, our flesh) in our walk with God the better. It can be difficult, especially during our fasts as the enemy doesn’t want us getting closer with God, but it is something that we must do and when I would fast more frequently, I found it did get easier the more I fasted. May the Lord help us. IJMN. Amen.
From EC - Amen and good morning ladies!
ALTAR CALL
Did you know a price was paid to set you free from everything that keeps you bound?
Many people have nice cars and money in the bank, but are miserable. Some have less money in the bank, but intruding thoughts keep them up at night. Could it be healing you need? What about the resolution of some other problem that's beyond you? What is stealing your peace?
Jesus is the answer to every problem.
Learn more about the uneven exchange and how to take advantage of it below -
If you watched the video to the end and said that prayer, welcome to being a child of God! I pray you receive the Holy Spirit and are led in the ways of the Lord. Send me a quick message and let me know you said the prayer. I'll send you more materials so you can grow as a new creature! Congrats and God bless you!