The fast GOD has CHOSEN

 

Isaiah 58:3

King James Version

3 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, 

and thou seest not? 

wherefore have we afflicted our soul, 

and thou takest no knowledge? 

Behold, 

in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, 

and exact all your labours.

We all err.

Thinking our fast is right.

And yet the LORD hastens to correct us.

As His words show:

Isaiah 58:4

King James Version

4 Behold, 

ye fast for strife and debate, 

and to smite with the fist of wickedness: 

ye shall not fast as ye do this day, 

to make your voice to be heard on high.

Isaiah 58:5

King James Version

5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? 

a day for a man to afflict his soul? 

is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, 

and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? 

wilt thou call this a fast, 

and an acceptable day to the Lord?

Isaiah 58:6-7

King James Version

6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? 

to loose the bands of wickedness, 

to undo the heavy burdens, 

and to let the oppressed go free, 

and that ye break every yoke?

7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, 

and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? 

when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; 

and that thou hide not thyself 

from thine own flesh?

Isaiah 58:8

King James Version

8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, 

and thine health shall spring forth speedily: 

and thy righteousness shall go before thee; 

the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward.

Isaiah 58:9

King James Version

9 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 58:10-11

King James Version

10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, 

and satisfy the afflicted soul; 

then shall thy light rise in obscurity, 

and thy darkness be as the noon day:

11 And the Lord shall guide thee continually, 

and satisfy thy soul in drought, 

and make fat thy bones: 

and thou shalt be like a watered garden, 

and like a spring of water, 

whose waters fail not.

Isaiah 58:12

King James Version

12 And they that shall be of thee 

shall build the old waste places: 

thou shalt raise up the foundations 

of many generations; 

and thou shalt be called, 

The repairer of the breach, 

The restorer of paths to dwell in.

Isaiah 58:13-14

King James Version

13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, 

from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; 

and call the sabbath a delight, 

the holy of the Lord, honourable; 

and shalt honour him, 

not doing thine own ways, 

nor finding thine own pleasure, 

nor speaking thine own words:

14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; 

and I will cause thee to ride 

upon the high places of the earth, 

and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: 

for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

In SUMMARY, the fast GOD has chosen are these:

loose the bands of wickedness, 

undo the heavy burdens, 

let the oppressed go free, 

break every yoke

deal thy bread to the hungry, 

bring the poor that are cast out to thy house

when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him

take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity

draw out thy soul to the hungry, 

satisfy the afflicted soul

Related material:

BORN AGAIN fast

REPAIRING the BREACH

HOLINESS

BORN AGAIN articles

Image: Clipart Library

7-day FAST

 

1 Corinthians 10:31

King James Version

31 Whether therefore ye eat, 

or drink, or whatsoever ye do, 

do all to the glory of God.

Ever tried fasting?

How did you feel as you went through it?

What kind of fast did you have?

Did something unusual occur?

How long did you fast?

Well, here's my experience so far.

Not realizing it was even a fast I took on.

I started this detox program, from a doc found on a YouTube channel.

Curious thing.

He said not to have breakfast.

Only lunch and dinner.

Two meals a day.

That means I don't get to eat at least 15-16 hours from last night's dinner, to next day's lunch.

And at least a seven-hour gap from that lunch, to dinner.

I gave it a try, and I'm on it for the 7th day today.

That gives your body time to "repair" itself.

For the cells to right themselves.

To get better digestion.

To stabilize blood sugar.

To eat healthier.

To cleanse.

To detox.

The effects?

After 7 days, I feel so much better,

Clearer, lighter, tummy fat dissipating.

Of course, on the first day, I got a mild headache.

That's because no more coffee, no usual junk, nothing.

Eating more leafy vegetables now.

Salads, and such.

Just two normal meals a day.

Water in between.

The doc even says you can eat a hamburger.

Oh, that I like!

So, we had one for dinner last night.

Another effect from the fast, so far?

GOD gifted me with five dreams this morning.

Very telling, prophetic dreams.

Perhaps, an expansion of the work I do.

I have a simple writing ministry.

Wherein I pray to JESUS for whatever message He wants to give.

And the HOLY SPIRIT leads me to Scripture, to find the appropriate verses.

From which, we "weave" an article.

Thus, the many blogs, and posts.

I had no idea I had the discipline for this type of fast.

But the moment I got on that doc's channel, it was the sensible thing to do.

Less obsession with food.

More time for GOD, and you.

It also coincided with the death and resurrection of CHRIST this week.

How fitting to focus less on self, and more on JESUS.

Knowing GOD, it was by His "design".

That I may serve Him better.

That I may serve you better, through clearer thinking.

That I may care for the temple of the HOLY SPIRIT better.

Will do this for life.

It won't just be a 7-day fast.

It's become a spiritual exercise now.

That GOD may teach me how to eat.

What to eat.

Even sparingly.

And teach others how.

Starting with self first.

That I may know how it works.

I'm so excited at the knowledge GOD gives me.

So thrilled at all we can do!

ALL for His GLORY!

Colossians 3:17

King James Version

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, 

do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, 

giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

But all that's only because GOD made me born again first.

It's really wonderful walking with SPIRIT.

We focus on GOD more, and less on self.

We'd been prepped to have breakfast.

It's healthier for me not having one.

I don't feel faint.

I don't feel faint-hearted.

JESUS gave me the focus.

More articles here.

Image: Clipart Library

BORN AGAIN fast

 Matthew 4:1-4

King James Version

4 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness 

to be tempted of the devil.

2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, 

he was afterward an hungred.

3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, 

If thou be the Son of God, 

command that these stones be made bread.

4 But he answered and said, 

It is written, 

Man shall not live by bread alone, 

but by every word 

that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

What is a born again fast?

First, we'll tell you what we live on:

We live, by the WORD of GOD.

We live, by the Bible.

We live, to glorify GOD.

We are not crazed with food.

We eat simple, nourishing food.

We eat to live.

We don't live to eat.

We don't cook to impress.

You won't find us going crazy over recipes.

Or celebrations, feasts, and events.

Neither with any excuse to party.

The fast we have?

We aspire for the "freedom fast":

Isaiah 58:6

King James Version

6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? 

to loose the bands of wickedness, 

to undo the heavy burdens, 

and to let the oppressed go free, 

and that ye break every yoke?

We also fast from misleading world news.

Or from the boast of the proud, and the elite.

Or from the lies we are being fed.

The only thing we trust is the WORD of GOD.

JESUS told us not to live "by bread alone".

This is the verse, from Moses, the LORD was referring to:

Deuteronomy 8:2-3

King James Version

2 And thou shalt remember all the way 

which the Lord thy God led thee 

these forty years in the wilderness, 

to humble thee, 

and to prove thee, 

to know what was in thine heart, 

whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, 

or no.

3 And he humbled thee, 

and suffered thee to hunger, 

and fed thee with manna, 

which thou knewest not, 

neither did thy fathers know; 

that he might make thee know 

that man doth not live by bread only, 

but by every word that proceedeth 

out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.

We are grateful for every blessing.

We are grateful for food on the plate.

No matter how spare, or simple, it would be.

We think of others in the world, who have no food.

That's why we don't waste food.

We thirst for the WORD of GOD.

We drink from the LORD's fountain.

We thirst for eternal life.

We thirst for the promises of CHRIST.

We have no affinity for the ways of the world.

 Luke 16:15

King James Version

15 And he said unto them, 

Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; 

but God knoweth your hearts: 

for that which is highly esteemed among men 

is abomination in the sight of God.

We live for JESUS.

We abide by His law.

Luke 12:29-31

King James Version

29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, 

or what ye shall drink, 

neither be ye of doubtful mind.

30 For all these things 

do the nations of the world seek after: 

and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; 

and all these things shall be added unto you.

We wait to meet the LORD up in the air.

The very reason we share the WORD with you.

We call your attention to the imminence of the Rapture:

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

King James Version

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven 

with a shout, 

with the voice of the archangel, 

and with the trump of God: 

and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain 

shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, 

to meet the Lord in the air: 

and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

We are not stuck on steak.

We are not filled by filet mignon.

We teach everyone to be grateful, for every blessing.

James 1:17

King James Version

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, 

and cometh down from the Father of lights, 

with whom is no variableness, 

neither shadow of turning.

We aspire to eat, and live sparingly, by choice. 

That our minds, hearts, and bodies would be clear.

We have so much to learn.

But we'll get there.

Every day is a step towards CHRIST.

We live by faith.

We know GOD knows what we need.

And we trust in that.

Matthew 6:32

King James Version

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) 

for your heavenly Father knoweth 

that ye have need of all these things.

Our peace is in CHRIST.

More articles here.

Related material:

The fast GOD has CHOSEN

MANNA from GOD

GOD's PLAN of SALVATION

The RAPTURE

BORN AGAIN articles

DRIVING out demons

 Luke 9:1

King James Version

9 Then he called his twelve disciples together, 

and gave them power and authority over all devils, 

and to cure diseases.

JESUS gave His disciples power to drive out demons, to cure diseases, and to preach the gospel.

But why is it that, at one specified time, they failed to drive out a demon?

Let's hear the Bible's account:

Mark 9:14-27

King James Version

14 And when he came to his disciples, 

he saw a great multitude about them, 

and the scribes questioning with them.

15 And straightway all the people, 

when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, 

and running to him saluted him.

16 And he asked the scribes, 

What question ye with them?

17 And one of the multitude answered and said, 

Master, 

I have brought unto thee my son, 

which hath a dumb spirit;

18 And wheresoever he taketh him, 

he teareth him: 

and he foameth, 

and gnasheth with his teeth, 

and pineth away: 

and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; 

and they could not.

19 He answereth him, and saith, 

O faithless generation, 

how long shall I be with you? 

how long shall I suffer you? 

bring him unto me.

20 And they brought him unto him: 

and when he saw him, 

straightway the spirit tare him; 

and he fell on the ground, 

and wallowed foaming.

21 And he asked his father, 

How long is it ago since this came unto him? 

And he said, Of a child.

22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, 

and into the waters, to destroy him: 

but if thou canst do any thing, 

have compassion on us, and help us.

23 Jesus said unto him, 

If thou canst believe, 

all things are possible to him that believeth.

24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, 

and said with tears, 

Lord, I believe; 

help thou mine unbelief.

25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, 

he rebuked the foul spirit, 

saying unto him, 

Thou dumb and deaf spirit, 

I charge thee, come out of him, 

and enter no more into him.

26 And the spirit cried, 

and rent him sore, 

and came out of him: 

and he was as one dead; 

insomuch that many said, 

He is dead.

27 But Jesus took him by the hand, 

and lifted him up; and he arose.

Humbled, and shamefaced, the apostles asked JESUS:

Mark 9:28

King James Version

28 And when he was come into the house, 

his disciples asked him privately, 

Why could not we cast him out?

The LORD answered simply:

Mark 9:29

King James Version

29 And he said unto them, 

This kind can come forth by nothing, 

but by prayer and fasting.

Matthew's account of the LORD's answer goes this way:

Matthew 17:20-21

King James Version

20 And Jesus said unto them, 

Because of your unbelief: 

for verily I say unto you, 

If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, 

ye shall say unto this mountain, 

Remove hence to yonder place; 

and it shall remove; 

and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out 

but by prayer and fasting.

More articles here.

Before ELIJAH's 40-day fast

 1 Kings 19:8

King James Version

8 And he arose, 

and did eat and drink, 

and went in the strength of that meat 

forty days and forty nights 

unto Horeb the mount of God.

Prophet Elijah's case was slightly different.

In that an angel of GOD fed him first.

Enough to sustain his 40-day trek into Mount Horeb.

Prior to that, Elijah felt so threatened by the wicked Jezebel, so he fled.

1 Kings 19:1-7

King James Version

19 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, 

and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.

2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, 

saying, 

So let the gods do to me, 

and more also, 

if I make not thy life as the life of one of them 

by to morrow about this time.

3 And when he saw that, 

he arose, and went for his life, 

and came to Beersheba, 

which belongeth to Judah, 

and left his servant there.

4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, 

and came and sat down under a juniper tree: 

and he requested for himself that he might die; 

and said, 

It is enough; now, 

O Lord, take away my life; 

for I am not better than my fathers.

5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, 

behold, 

then an angel touched him, 

and said unto him, 

Arise and eat.

6 And he looked, 

and, behold, 

there was a cake baken on the coals,

and a cruse of water at his head. 

And he did eat and drink, 

and laid him down again.

7 And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, 

and touched him, 

and said, 

Arise and eat; 

because the journey is too great for thee.

Through the angel's care, Elijah had enough strength for the 40-day journey, that he may commune with the LORD.

1 Kings 19:9-18

King James Version

9 And he came thither unto a cave, 

and lodged there; 

and, behold, 

the word of the Lord came to him, 

and he said unto him, 

What doest thou here, Elijah?

10 And he said, 

I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: 

for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, 

thrown down thine altars, 

and slain thy prophets with the sword; 

and I, even I only, am left; 

and they seek my life, to take it away.

11 And he said, 

Go forth, 

and stand upon the mount before the Lord. 

And, behold, 

the Lord passed by, 

and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, 

and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; 

but the Lord was not in the wind: 

and after the wind an earthquake; 

but the Lord was not in the earthquake:

12 And after the earthquake a fire; 

but the Lord was not in the fire: 

and after the fire a still small voice.

13 And it was so, 

when Elijah heard it, 

that he wrapped his face in his mantle, 

and went out, 

and stood in the entering in of the cave. 

And, behold, 

there came a voice unto him, 

and said, 

What doest thou here, Elijah?

14 And he said, 

I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: 

because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, 

thrown down thine altars, 

and slain thy prophets with the sword; 

and I, even I only, am left; 

and they seek my life, to take it away.

15 And the Lord said unto him, 

Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: 

and when thou comest, 

anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:

16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi 

shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: 

and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah 

shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.

17 And it shall come to pass, 

that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael 

shall Jehu slay: 

and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu 

shall Elisha slay.

18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, 

all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, 

and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

Such is the LORD's way.

To love, to feed, to strengthen, to instruct, and to save.

In one conversation with the LORD, prophet Elijah was told he will be anointing the king of Syria, the king of Israel, and a prophet to take his place.

GOD is that precise, He even told Elijah their names.

He also told him, what they would be doing, having been anointed by GOD, through Elijah.

Then, Elijah passes his mantle upon Elisha.

1 Kings 19:19-21

King James Version

19 So he departed thence, 

and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, 

who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, 

and he with the twelfth: 

and Elijah passed by him, 

and cast his mantle upon him.

20 And he left the oxen, 

and ran after Elijah, 

and said, 

Let me, I pray thee, 

kiss my father and my mother, 

and then I will follow thee. 

And he said unto him, 

Go back again: 

for what have I done to thee?

21 And he returned back from him, 

and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, 

and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, 

and gave unto the people, 

and they did eat. 

Then he arose, 

and went after Elijah, 

and ministered unto him.

More articles here.

Related material:

40-day fast

On ANGELS

MOSES' 40-day fast

 Exodus 34:27-28

King James Version

27 And the Lord said unto Moses, 

Write thou these words: 

for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant 

with thee and with Israel.

28 And he was there with the Lord 

forty days and forty nights; 

he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. 

And he wrote upon the tables 

the words of the covenant, 

the ten commandments.

Here's another account of a 40-day fast.

This time, in the case of the prophet, Moses.

GOD communed with him, giving him the 10 Commandments once again:

Exodus 34:1-4

King James Version

34 And the Lord said unto Moses, 

Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: 

and I will write upon these tables 

the words that were in the first tables, 

which thou brakest.

2 And be ready in the morning, 

and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai, 

and present thyself there to me in the top of the mount.

3 And no man shall come up with thee, 

neither let any man be seen throughout all the mount; 

neither let the flocks nor herds feed before that mount.

4 And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first; 

and Moses rose up early in the morning, 

and went up unto mount Sinai, 

as the Lord had commanded him, 

and took in his hand the two tables of stone.

The people knew Moses' was had been in the presence of GOD.

For when he finally came down from the mountain, he had a different light about him:

Exodus 34:29-35

King James Version

29 And it came to pass, 

when Moses came down from mount Sinai 

with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, 

when he came down from the mount, 

that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone 

while he talked with him.

30 And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, 

behold, 

the skin of his face shone; 

and they were afraid to come nigh him.

31 And Moses called unto them; 

and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation 

returned unto him: 

and Moses talked with them.

32 And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh: 

and he gave them in commandment all 

that the Lord had spoken with him in mount Sinai.

33 And till Moses had done speaking with them, 

he put a vail on his face.

34 But when Moses went in before the Lord 

to speak with him, 

he took the vail off, 

until he came out. 

And he came out, 

and spake unto the children of Israel 

that which he was commanded.

35 And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, 

that the skin of Moses' face shone: 

and Moses put the vail upon his face again, 

until he went in to speak with him.

The Bible tells us of prophets who fasted, before receiving instructions from GOD.

Now, you see that a fast, is not just a fast.

Especially for those in service to the LORD.

How many can survive a 40-day fast?

Only through GOD's GRACE, is this possible.

Only through GOD's purpose, is anything possible.

More articles here.

Related material:

The LORD's 40-day fast

HOLY SPIRIT's power

 Acts 13:1-2

King James Version

13 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch 

certain prophets and teachers; 

as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, 

and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, 

which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, 

and Saul.

2 As they ministered to the Lord, 

and fasted,

 the Holy Ghost said, 

Separate me Barnabas and Saul 

for the work whereunto I have called them.

Here's a remarkable account of what happens when the faithful fast, and the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD comes upon them.

From which, He sets them for a mission for GOD's GLORY.

Notice, too, what happens to the wicked.

Such is SPIRIT's power.

Acts 13:3-12

King James Version

3 And when they had fasted and prayed, 

and laid their hands on them, 

they sent them away.

4 So they, 

being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, 

departed unto Seleucia; 

and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

5 And when they were at Salamis, 

they preached the word of God 

in the synagogues of the Jews: 

and they had also John to their minister.

6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, 

they found a certain sorcerer, 

a false prophet, a Jew, 

whose name was Barjesus:

7 Which was with the deputy of the country, 

Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; 

who called for Barnabas and Saul, 

and desired to hear the word of God.

8 But Elymas the sorcerer 

(for so is his name by interpretation) 

withstood them, 

seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

9 Then Saul, 

(who also is called Paul,) 

filled with the Holy Ghost, 

set his eyes on him.

10 And said, 

O full of all subtilty and all mischief, 

thou child of the devil, 

thou enemy of all righteousness, 

wilt thou not cease to pervert 

the right ways of the Lord?

11 And now, behold, 

the hand of the Lord is upon thee, 

and thou shalt be blind, 

not seeing the sun for a season. 

And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; 

and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

12 Then the deputy, 

when he saw what was done, 

believed, 

being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

More articles here.

Related material:

The SPIRIT of GOD

The HOLY SPIRIT

RESPECT for the HOLY SPIRIT

The HOLY SPIRIT's REPROOF

SPIRIT of GOD

EDUCATION from SPIRIT