[Isaiah 58] The fast that pleases God

[There are much benefits in physical fasting, let alone one done in the spiritual context. Fasting cleanses our body, and there are many areas in our lives that God can cleanse as we approach fasting with a sober heart and right attitude. Fasting is also not just about ourselves. We are reminded to remember the needs of others, especially the poor - the people very much on God's heart. Most of all, as we seek God, He promises to bless us! That's just Him! We can trust Him, and He is always good...]


A) Four areas in our lives to ask God to CLEANSE
so that we may draw near to God with clean hands and a pure heart (Psalm 2:3-4)
Isa 58:6

1) To loose the bonds of wickedness

• Ways in us that are not right before God ~ Ask God to surface them and deal with them radically!
• Pray the prayer of King David in Psalm 139:23-24 "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

2) To undo the heavy burdens

• Past sins/issues that we are still holding on to that added weight/baggage in our lives, so that we cannot run swiftly or are choked in our growth in the Lord ~ Ask God to surface them and deal with them speedily!

3) To let the oppressed go free

• External or internal opposition, either voluntary - eg due to wilful sins in our lives that open doors to oppression or involuntary - eg. generational iniquity ~ Pray with someone and be set free!

4) And that you break every yoke

• Extra load that you have taken upon yourself unnecessarily that strips you of the joy in knowing, loving and serving God ~ Cast them aside, Learn to carry the yoke of the Lord, which is easy and light.
• Matt1 11:28-30 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

(B) Four types of people to CONSIDER
Isa 58:7

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?

Consider the needs of those around you and reach out to them. This pleases God.
Matt 25:40 "And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ "



(C) Five promises of God to CLAIM
Isa 58:8-9

1) Then your light shall break forth like the morning

• Your ministry/life will be fruitful. God is light. His light will shine through your life/ministry.

2) Your healing shall spring forth speedily

• You will receive God's divine healing, upon your heart, mind, soul and body.

3) And your righteousness shall go before you

• You shall be right before God and men.

4) The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard

• He will watch over you. You will have no fear of darkness or opposition.

5) Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’

• He will hear your prayers and answer them!

[Psalm 1] A life that's blessed and prosperous

[We are blessed already, not by our possessions or status, but by knowing God and his laws, and living them out to the fullest makes us prosperous! There is a blessedness and prosperity that is available both to us here on earth, and there in the days to come in eternity...]

WHAT (focus):
On God’s laws - chew, meditate, think, dwell, reflect, sense, contemplate, consider, ponder….

WHEN (intensity):
Day and night (v2)

WHERE (position):
By rivers of water – plant, take root, bear fruit (keep growing through the seasons!)

HOW (attitude):
Take delight in God’s law (v2)

Walk not in the counsel of the ungodly (v1)
- Listen to the right folks, dude.

Stand not in the path of sinners (v1)
- Do righteous acts. God is watching.

Sit not among the scornful
- Speak wholesome talk. Be found among the godly.

WHY (purpose):
There is a God who sees us (v6 For the Lord knows the ways of the righteous). And he is coming again (v5 the judgment). Don't play play...

SUCCESS 101 = What + When + Where + How + Why

WHO is God?
One who knows our ways, and is coming to judge. The upright - He will bless and prosper. The ungodly – They will not stand in God’s judgment.

Promises to claim, and conditions:
Blessedness and Prosperity in all we do if we stay steadfast and faithful till the end...
- Faithful (sit, walk and stand uprightly, taking root in God’s word, and bearing fruit in seasons)
- Steadfast (leaf does not wither), keep doing what is good.

Outline:
v1-2 The Conduct of the upright
v3 The Growth of the upright
v4-5 The Detriment of the ungodly
v6 The God of our hope

Stunned... Silenced... Repented... Restored

[Job 38-40]

[The LORD Reveals His Omnipotence to Job through the storms of his life, and brother Job was silenced by the revelation of God's Omnipotence... He repented and confessed God's sovereignty and power...]

1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:

2 “Who is this who darkens counsel
By words without knowledge?

3 Now prepare yourself like a man;
I will question you, and you shall answer Me.

4 “ Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding.

5 Who determined its measurements?
Surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?

6 To what were its foundations fastened?
Or who laid its cornerstone,

.....

[Job 40]

1 Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said:

2 “Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?
He who rebukes God, let him answer it.”

3 Then Job answered the LORD and said:

4 “ Behold, I am vile;
What shall I answer You?
I lay my hand over my mouth.

5 Once I have spoken,
but I will not answer;
Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.”

------------------
[Job 42]

1 Then Job answered the LORD and said:

2 “I know that You can do everything,
And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.

3 You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

4 Listen, please, and let me speak;
You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’

5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear,
But now my eye sees You.

6 Therefore I abhor myself,
And repent in dust and ashes.”

Still...

[ Psalm 63:7 "Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice..." Hide me Lord, under Your wings... Where else can I go, what else can I do... I keep my gaze on You, in quietness and trust. Isa 26:3 "YOU will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You"... You answered the storms of my life with Your Presence. I press on, I press on...]

Hide me now under Your wings
Cover me within Your mighty hand.

(Chorus) When the oceans rise and thunders roar,
I will soar with You above the storm.
Father, You are King over the flood.
I will be still and know You are God.

Find rest my soul in Christ alone.
Know His power in quietness and trust.

Psalm 46:10-11
Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!

The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

I will follow you!!! erm... let me think again...

Ever wondered why Peter denied Jesus?

Yes, he denied Jesus, not once, not twice, but thrice...

Even the rooster was counting down...
John 18:27 "Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed."

Omigosh... Pete... how could you... one day you said you would follow him, another day stress comes, off you go in the other direction. How can like that? What's wrong with you?!!

There's nothing wrong with Peter actually... Many claimed he was too boastful and confident in his own commitment to follow Jesus. Perhaps he did it out of devotion to Jesus... But Jesus saw his heart (that loves God) and spoke to him forthrightly:

John 13:38 "Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!"

Let me run you by Peter's profile... But before that, I just want to say this - I think I like Peter! He was bold, brash, and enthusiastic. He didn't always think before speaking. He wasn't always faithful, and sometimes fearful, but he has a good heart and loved Jesus. He was not afraid to be transparent before Christ ("I will lay down my life for you!!").

Alrighty, here's more about Pete:
1) He was the first to begin preaching to the gentiles.
2) Father: Jonah (John 1:42)
3) Spouse: Unnamed (Matthew 8:14)
4) Brother: Andrew (John 1:40)
5) First mention: Matthew 4:18
6) Final mention: 2 Peter 1:1
7) Meaning of his name: Simon means "hearing;" Peter means "rock" (Greek) Cephas means "rock" (Aramaic)
8) Frequency of his name: Referred to 183 times
9) Biblical books mentioning him: Nine books (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, 1 Corinthians, Galatians, 1 Peter, 2 Peter)
10) Occupation: Fisherman and apostle
11) Place of birth: Bethsaida in Galilee (John 1:44)
12) Place of death: Tradition says he died in Rome.
13) Circumstances of death: Tradition says he was crucified upside down.
14) Important fact about his life: He was one of the chief apostles and author of two New Testament books.
15) He and John were the first to visit the tomb where Jesus laid; Peter was the first who entered it. (John 20:1-10)
16) On the day of Pentecost, Peter, as the spokesman of the apostles, preached that remarkable sermon which resulted in the conversion of about 3,000 souls.
17) Temperament: choleric
18) Christ in Peter: From impulsive, unsteadfast, slow of heart to understand the mysteries of the kingdom--to one, in the book Acts--firm and courageous, ready to go to prison and to death, the preacher of the faith, the interpreter of Scripture.

How did Peter respond when he realised that he denied Jesus?

Like all flesh and blood, Peter broke down and wept... At the end of himself, realising his human frality, he wept...

Mark 14:72 "Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times." And he broke down and wept."

But the highlight of it all, is how Jesus restored Peter, as seen in John 21. Read already can cry...

1) Jesus came to Peter where he was v1
2) He did a miracle and opened their eyes to see Him v6
3) Peter ran away from Jesus (v7 "Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.")
4) Jesus spoke to Peter tenderly (v15 “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”) Jesus helped Peter realised that he (Peter) actually loved Him. Jesus did not say... Peter, will you now follow me, or, Peter, will you do this do that? But He said, do you love me....

The rest is history... Peter was restored to Jesus and went on to live for Him and served Him fervently.

Take heart and know that God sees your heart, your heart that says "I love You, Lord..."

1 Samuel 16:7 "... The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."