Having seen the mechanism of victory viz seeking and identifying with the will of God and making Scripture-based arguments before the Lord; we commenced our teachings, to equip listeners with the knowledge that will birth the awesome amazement proposed by the Lord.
We have seen the reality of the first fruits as a divine concept that yields great dividends (Pro.3:9,10), today, we shall briefly examine fasting.
Topic: FESTIVITY FROM FASTING Subtext: Isa.58:3-14
This teaching is meant to increase awareness and encourage people to progress in the exercise (Pro.1:5; 4:18).
Fasting is the act of abstaining from food (and sometimes water), especially as a religious observance.
The profitability of fasting is increasingly gaining ground in even secular societies.
We shall not be dwelling on the different kinds of fast based on the nature of the abstinence (like partial fast, dry fast, etc.), but we shall focus on the outcome of an appropriate fast, a regulated purposeful fast; a fast with positive attitude and intention (Matt.6:16-18).
‘FESTIVITY’ is the celebration of something in a joyful and exuberant way; merry-making.
Our subtext shows that there can be unproductive fast (Isa.58:3-5) as well as transformative result-yielding fasts (Isa.58:6-14).
The result-yielding variety does not end with food or water abstinence but goes with works: losing the bands of wickedness, liberating the oppressed, breaking yokes; showing kindness to the needy; feeding and clothing people.
These acts of kindness to needy persons potentiate the effect of the divinely-attracting, self-inflicted affliction (Num.29:7, Isa.58:5) to yield a supernova of heavenly blessings viz –
i. Breaking forth of personal light (Isa.58:8) ii. Springing forth of health (Isa.58:8) iii. Canopy of Divine glory of protection (Isa.58:8) iv. Speedy response from the Lord in response to prayers (Isa.58:9) v. Distinct answers from the Lord in guidance (Isa.58:9) vi. Rise of popularity (Isa.58:10) vii. Departure of gloom, for the brightness of life making for sustained health (Isa.58:10) viii. Divine provision and prosperity (Isa.58:11) ix. Divine productivity: herd usability (Isa.58:12) x. Divine promotion and enjoyment of Jacob’s heavenly heritage (Isa.58:14)
With these potential benefits of acceptable fasts, the child of God should employ the exercise with a double barrel approach to attack the challenges of people and also meet his personal needs.
So, fasting’s effect cuts across the spirit realm from the mental to the physical realm. Hence its deployment by saints of old to contend with arising challenges (Jos.7:6; Isa.7:5-9; 2Chro.7:14; 20:3; Esth.4:15-17; Job 2:11-13) as well as the recommendation by the Lord Jesus (Matt.6:16-18; 17:20,21; Lk.5:35; Acts 13:2).
Now, it must be reiterated that the gloomy clouds are gathering again over our nation, and servants of Satan are bent on hatching their diabolical agenda to emasculate the righteous and decent minds. But the church must rise in prayers and fasting to thwart their nefarious programmes to show that the heavens do rule (Dan.4:26,32,37).
The grace is available to carry the believer through the reward-yielding exercise (LK.5:35; 2 Cor.11:27).
It shall ultimately turn to our FESTIVITY (1Chro.7:14).