1. THE FAST MESSAGE !

2. What did Jesus say? Matthew 6:16-18: “And now about fasting. When you fast, declining your food for a spiritual purpose, don’t do it publicly, as the hypocrites do, who try to look dishevelled so people will feel sorry for them. Truly that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, put on festive clothing, so that no one will suspect you are hungry, except your Father who knows every secret. And he will reward you.” The Fast Message

3. Jesus was addressing a problem that started way back with the Israelites: Isaiah 58:1-12 “Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the descendants of Jacob their sins. For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them. Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’ The Fast Message

4. “Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarrelling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for people to humble themselves? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? The Fast Message

5. Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, The Fast Message

6. and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well- watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.” The Fast Message

7. “It is not only what you do but how you do it!” In Isaiah 58:1-14 we see 7 principles: 1. RECOGNISE REBELLION 2. REPENTANCE 3. REVERENCE 4. RELATIONSHIP BUILDING 5. RESPONSIBILITIES 6. RESOURCES 7. RESULTS The Fast Message

8. 1. RECOGNISE REBELLION. (Isaiah 58:1,4) The Israelites needed to replace their sham of religious practice with listening to God. We must realise that anything less than wholehearted worship to the Lord is considered as rebellion against God’s perfect will. The Israelites were angry with God. Because of their self-righteous attitude they expected the Lord to act as their servant. The Fast Message

9. 2. REPENTANCE. (Isaiah 58:13-14) The Lord expected the people of Israel to turn from their wicked ways and humble themselves before Him. Repentance means a turning away from sin and turning towards God and His ways. Only when we bow our heads, hearts and feet to the Lord can we experience the full measure of His love, power and freedom. The Fast Message

10. 3. REVERENCE. (Isaiah 58:8) God wants all of our devotion, submission and respect. He wants us to give Him first place in our lives. Our daily devotions indicate to God that we have a desire to revere Him and have a relationship with Him. (Prayer and Fasting is a great opportunity to do that) The Fast Message

11. “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness as it is profitable for all things not only in this life but also in the age to come.” (I Timothy 4:7,8) The Fast Message

12. 4. RELATIONSHIP BUILDING. (God: Isa 58:2, Others: Isaiah 58:7) The importance of building relationships with God and with others around us. “Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love and peace WITH THOSE who call upon the Lord from a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22-24). The Fast Message

13. 5. RESPONSIBILITIES. (Isaiah 58:6-7) Take on the God given responsibilities to minister to the poor by providing for them (Food parcels, Food bank, Charity Shop.) Free those who are imprisoned by sin through sharing the Good News with those around you. Be more involved in setting prisoners free by your weekly giving to the church. The Fast Message

14. 6. RESOURCES. (Isaiah 58:9) Paul wrote, "My God will supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19) We can be assured that the rich reservoir of God’s glorious resources will be at our disposal when we engage in worship through our lives, actions and relationships. The Fast Message

15. Paul wrote, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13) You will be like a spring whose waters never fail or run dry. (Isa. 58:11) Thank God that His resources are unquenchable and His supply of whatever you need will never run dry. The Fast Message

16. 7. RESULTS. (Isaiah 58:8,9,11) There are great results achieved as we are obedient to God: Healing: Isaiah wrote, "Then your light will break forth like the dawn and your healing will quickly appear." (Isaiah 58:8) Answered Prayer: The Lord will answer our cries as we call out to Him: Isaiah writes, "Then you will call and the Lord will answer you, you will cry for help and he will say here am I." (Isaiah 58:9) His promise to guide us and satisfy our needs (even in a sun scorched land) (Isaiah 58:11). Despite all the circumstances that we face the Lord is still completely adequate for all our situations. The Fast Message