The hidden secrets of fasting

Continuing….

a) Mark 2:18, 19, 20; And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

b) Matt. 4 :2, 3, 4: And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Matt. 6:16, 17, 18: Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

 c) Isaiah 58:5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,11; Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

d) Psalm 35:12, 13; They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul. But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.

e) Esther 4:16; Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

f) Matt.17:21; Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

SPECIAL WRITING #81

A)  “So obey God’s laws of health in eating, resting and exercise. This was what Moses did, and look at what the Lord did for him in divine health. (Deut. 34:7) And here is another thing, Moses intensified his long life (120 years) by fasting. But even if one does not fast or fast as often he or she is still ensured divine health by proper trust and living. And should sickness try to strike, God will heal him or her.”

God has threefold foundations: Giving, Praying and Fasting (Matt. 6) These are the three things Jesus Christ especially stressed promising rewards. Don’t forget to praise these three. Consecrated fasting acts as a refining fire to the saint of God, and enables him or her to become purified and cleansed to such an extent they can obtain the power and the gifts of the Spirit. Jesus said, “Tarry —- until ye be endued with power. Learn to stay alone with God in fasting, prayer and praise; from time to time especially as the translation is drawing near and we have a job to do, in the quick short work. Make your self ready for service in the vineyard of God..

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