THE PROMISES OF FASTING

By Graham Bauer

Scripture:

Isaiah 58:6-12

Verse 6

(a) God has chosen the fast not man. We are led by his spirit to fast.
(b) To set free the oppressed HB ratsas (raw-tsats) to crack in pieces, to break - bruise - crush - discourage - struggle together.
What type of people are in your area? Poor, unemployed, living on hand outs, having no bright future.
(c) To break the yoke of bondage - every yoke HB mowtah (mo-taw) bands - binding lives with bad attitude, bad habits, poverty, sickness etc.
We are chosen (chosen warriors) to "rise up and possess the land".
We are like Moses going to pharoah, we tell the devil "God said let my people go!".
Through our God we shall do valiantly for it is HE who treads down our enemies. We are the chosen vessel.
Moses led the people from egypt to the promised land in the natural. We shall lead the people of our area in the spiritual.
Joshua led the people in. Jesus will lead into salvation.

Verse 7

To deal thy bread to the hungry. Jesus is our bread - He brings eternal life.
Bring the poor in spirit to our house. Bring the unsaved to God's house.
Jesus will cover their nakedness as he covers us. He will give them robes of righteousness.
The sinner shall obtain mercy not condemnation.

Verse 8 Now the Promises!

Promise - 1 - Light to dispel the darkness

John 1:1-5 "The light" is enlightenment, a revelation, a discernment. It brings hope to a hopeless situation.
Jesus is the light - the morning star.
Proverbs 4:18-19, 25-26 Eyelids HB aph'aph (af-af) fluttering eye - morning ray - our spiritual eye flutters at first light and as it becomes accustomed to the light sees more and more clearly the "Truth of the Word".

Promise - 2 - Health

Proverbs 4:20-22 When we have revelation of the truth (the Word) we obey the truth. We know sickness is a lie of the enemy because on the cross Jesus bore our sicknesses and infirmities.
When we walk in God's will we have divine health but when we walk out of God's will sickness comes. See Exodus 15:26.
The cloud the enemy has placed over us is now breaking up. The light rays are breaking through. We see victory. Hope rises in our heart.

Promise - 3 - Divine Protection

We are righteous (have a right standing). When we walk in the light we walk in truth. God looks for ways to show the world that he is our God and that we are his people - 2 Chronicles 16:9.

Verse 9 God shall hear

Promise - 4 - God shall hear our prayer

God shall hear our prayer which rises up to his throne. Our righteous prayer breaks through the clouds of the enemy. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Promise - 5 - God shall answer our prayer.

Isaiah 65:24, Job 34:28 God hears the cry of the poor.
Jeremiah 33:3 God answers with mighty things
Condition: Put away gossip, put away pride, put away false accusations, put away oppression.

Verse 10

Promise - 6 - Rising Light i.e. Spritual progress

Proverbs 4:18 The righteous have spritual progress. They walk in the right paths - God's way not mans.
Condition: Draw out thy soul i.e. a giving out of what sustains us (fasting) or keeps us alive.

Promise - 7 - Divine portion

Luke 6:38 As we give out so we get in. Give bountifully reap bountifully. Give little receive little.
We need to examine our motive for giving.

Verse 11

Promise - 8 - Guidance

Psalm 23:2 "He leadeth me...."
James 1:5 "If any lack wisdom..."

Promise - 9 - Satisfaction

Psalm 23:5 My cup runneth over

Promise - 10 - Unfading life

Psalm 1:3, Psalm 92:14, Deuteronomy 34:7 Moses natural force was unabated.

Verse 12

Promise - 11 - Restoration

Jeremiah 3:22 Healing of backsliding.
We get a renewed mind, a right spirit, renewed strength Psalm 103:1-5

As Christians we need to see what paths we tread Proverbs 2:10-15, 3:6

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