More Scripture on Fasting

Good morning! This is the day the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it! I choose to rejoice regardless of my circumstances and regardless of how I feel!
I want to continue to look at fasting today. Let's read Isaiah 58:6-14:
"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?
⁷ 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 him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
⁸ Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness ^F125 will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
⁹ 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,
¹⁰ 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.
¹¹ 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.
¹² 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.

¹³ "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath
and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight
and the LORD's holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way
and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,
¹⁴ then you will find your joy in the LORD ,
and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land
and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob."
The mouth of the LORD has spoken.

I have noticed several things from this scripture:
I. The Purpose of the Fast-
1) The kind of fast that God honors is to pray that:
a) loose the chains of injustice
b) untie the cords of the yoke
c) to set the oppressed free
d) to break every yoke
2) The kind of fast that God honors is to give so that:
a) You share your food with the hungy.
b) You provide the poor wanderer with shelter.
c) You clothe the naked.
d) You do not turn away from your own flesh and blood.
II. The Result of the Fast-
1) Emotional Results
Your light will break forth like the dawn.
2) Physical results
Your healing will quickly appear.
The Glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. (Protection)
3) Spiritual Results
Your righteousness will go before you.
You will call and the Lord will answer.
You will cry for help and He will say, "Here am I."
I hope that breaks the scripture down for you as we focus our hearts and minds on the fast that God has called our church body to.
I pray that you guys have a great, blessed day in the Lord! Blessings!
Pastor Rusty

Today’s “Through the Bible in a Year” reading:
February 20, 2008 (Wednesday): Judges 9:1-Judges 12:15

This week’s MEMORY VERSE: Matthew 17:20-21
“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.”