The Importance and Power of Fasting, Part 2

Thank you, Mr. Baker. As Mr. Baker mentioned, last Sabbath, we talked about the vital importance and the great power of fasting in our lives. We saw very clearly that God does indeed acknowledge those who fast in humility and in surrender. God often does intervene in dramatic ways when we seek Him and His will through fasting and prayer. We saw the power of fasting in the account of Samuel the prophet and the children of Israel as they were delivered from the Philistines, largely because they humbled themselves, they admitted their sins, they repented, and they sought God's forgiveness in fasting and prayer. We also saw the power of fasting in wicked King Agab's life as he humbled himself and repented of his sin, and God even intervened for him. And I didn't mention it last time, but you may remember that the ancient people of the city of Nineveh also repented, and they were very carnal, warlike people, but they did repent. They fasted at Jonah's preaching, and they accompanied that fasting with repentance, of course, and God spared them for a time. We saw the power of fasting when King Jehoshaphat and the children of Israel collectively sought God's deliverance in fasting and prayer. As they were being attacked by a physically superior enemy, God miraculously delivered them. We saw the power of fasting when Ezra and the children of Israel turned to God in fasting, and he brought them safely back to the land of Israel. We also saw the power of fasting when Nehemiah sought God in fasting, and in prayer, King Artaxerxes allowed him to lead a contingent of Israelites back to the land of Israel, back to build the wall around the temple. We saw the power of fasting when Esther, Mordecai, and the Jews turned to God. They fasted and they were delivered from the wicked Haman.

Their mourning was turned to great joy. We saw the power of fasting when Daniel the prophet sought God in prayer and fasting, and God revealed prophecies to him that we have in our Bible preserved for us. Last time, we also saw that fasting should be accompanied by fervent prayer, by true repentance, and by humility of mind and heart. So, brethren, fasting is indeed a very, very powerful spiritual tool.

As I mentioned last time, it's one, frankly, that we often neglect, even though we are God's elect, even though we're called out and chosen by God, we are to be a special people, preserved. And that goes along well with the sermonette today. Appreciated Mr. Hendy's sermonette. We are preserved by God. He protects us. He looks after us. He delivers us.

But at times, we have neglected to avail ourselves of this very powerful spiritual tool of fasting. So, in this sermon, I would like to continue to show you the power of fasting, as revealed in the Bible. Also, I would like to talk about some practical items in regard to fasting, why it is difficult, but how we can overcome some of the hurdles that we face in fasting. And hopefully, you will be encouraged personally to fast more frequently in the days ahead. That's the whole goal of this sermon, is to motivate, to inspire, to encourage all of us, myself included, to do more fasting from this point forward.

Fasting does indeed show our dedication to God. It shows our willingness and desire to put Him first in our lives, to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and put it above our own physical desires. It's easy to indulge the self. I'm pretty good at that. I'm pretty good at indulging myself. I like a lot of different things, such certain types of foods. I like food, period. I've told you that in the past. I've admitted it. But sometimes we just have to stop eating for a while and stop drinking and really put God first and give Him a special time of fasting. Let's go to Matthew 4, where we'll see that Christ fasted Jesus Christ, who is perfect. If He fasted, should we not be fasting as well? Matthew 4. Look at the example of Christ our Savior when it comes to fasting. Jesus Christ undoubtedly loved food. He had created food. He knew it was good to eat for us physical human beings.

And yet, look at the example in verse 1 and 2 of chapter 4 of the book of Matthew. Then Jesus was led up by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He knew that Satan was going to come out full-tilled against Him to really try to destroy Him, to destroy God's plan. So He went into the wilderness, and when He had fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, afterward He was hungry. That's got to be the biggest understatement in the Bible. After fasting 40 days and 40 nights, He was hungry. I'm sure He was ravenous. He was hungry.

But why did He fast? Why did He take it so seriously? Why did He fast for 40 days?

Christ understood what was about to happen to Him. He understood the importance of His faithfulness. And we can thank God and we can thank Christ that He was willing to do that for us, because He really did fast for you and me. He fasted for all of mankind.

Jesus fasted before He had to face this temptation, this battle with Satan the devil.

Satan is a roaring lion. He is seeking whom he may devour. He hoped to devour the Messiah, the Christ.

Christ realized that He had to be prepared and ready for the onslaught of Satan the devil as He tried to tempt Him in various ways. And yet Christ stood up to that test. He was strong spiritually. Satan really didn't have a chance. You know, in the book of Luke, it talks about Satan leaving Christ, hoping to find an opportune time to come back and to tempt Him.

But there was no opportune time with Jesus Christ, because Jesus Christ was always prepared spiritually. He was always close to His Father. I'm sure He fasted and prayed regularly, and He was prepared to do battle with Satan at all times. And so Satan was not able to find an opportune time. But I know that Satan looks for an opportune time with you.

And I know he looks for an opportune time with me, and unfortunately, he sometimes finds it. When we are weak, when we've neglected to do our part, when we haven't done our best, then he finds it easier to tempt us and to persuade us to sin, to go against God. It's important that we draw near to God at all times. That's what Christ was doing when He fasted for 40 days and nights. In James 4, in verse 7, James gives us some instruction, very powerful instruction. He says, Therefore submit to God, each and every one of us, submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you. So we do have to resist. We do have to be aware that we have an enemy. We have to resist Satan the devil, and then he will flee from us. If we don't resist him, then he's certainly not going to flee. In fact, he's going to try all the harder to sift us as wheat, as the Scripture says. Verse 8, Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you double-minded, lament and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom, and humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will lift you up. Again, God responds to our fasting, to our prayer, to our faithfulness, to our diligence in seeking him. So let us all draw nearer to God, and let's resist Satan the devil, because he will try to influence you each and every day of your life.

If Jesus Christ fasted for spiritual strength, certainly we should fast also for spiritual strength. And if we do fast regularly, Satan will have a very difficult time finding that opportune time to tempt us. In Matthew 6, Christ gives instruction in regard to prayer and fasting.

Matthew 6 is where we find the sample prayer. We read that when we talked about the importance of prayer not long ago. But let's notice verse 16 of the book of Matthew 6, Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites. Christ talked a lot about hypocrites. It was obvious that he hated hypocrisy. When you fast, do not be like the hypocrites with a sad countenance, for they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. It's pretty obvious he wasn't talking about the day of atonement. He was talking about other times when we fast, when no one would know that we're fasting. Everyone would know that we're fasting on the day of atonement because we're all fasting together. But we are the ones who get to select other days when we fast. So when we do fast, we should not appear so to men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. Those who fast and make a show of it, their reward is that people know about it. That's not much of a reward, is it? Verse 17, but you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that you do not appear to men to be fasting. Because that's what humility is all about. We humble ourselves before God. We don't make a show of our fasting. We do it privately, for the most part. Now, there are times when it would be appropriate to share that we have been fasting. If it's to encourage someone else, we have to use judgment. There are times when it's okay to talk about it as long as it's done in a humble way, but certainly never out of vanity and pride that we're so righteous that we're fasting. So fast to your Father who is in the secret place and your Father who sees in secret, He will reward you openly. There will be a reward, but that's not what we're focused upon. We're focused on our faithfulness to God, our diligence, our love for God, and our desire to please Him. Draw near to God, He will draw near to you. And when you fast, don't make a show of it. In Matthew 9, and notice again in Matthew 6, it says, when you fast. No doubt Christ does expect His servants to fast. In Matthew 9, He says this very thing, when they questioned Him, the Pharisees came to Him and questioned Him.

Or actually, it was the disciples of John who came to Him in verse 14 of Matthew 9. Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast? I guess they felt like, if we have to fast, you ought to fast, and your disciples should fast.

But the disciples were not fasting. And Jesus said to them, Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? Now, the bridegroom was certainly fasting, but the friends of the bridegroom were rejoicing that the bridegroom was with them. But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. When Christ was taken and crucified, that's when the disciples began to fast, I'm sure, in earnest. We are Christ's disciples today. We follow Him. He is our Messiah. He is the one that we look to. He is the head of this church, the Church of God.

It is important, brethren, that we are fasting people and that we are drawing near to God in fasting. In Matthew 17, and I did look at this account when I gave the sermon on prayer, but I want to go to it again because it is so important. Some things just don't happen except by prayer and fasting. Coupled together, they are an extremely powerful tool. When we pray and we fast, God certainly does listen, and God sees that we are humbling ourselves and seeking His direction, His intervention, His guidance. So in Matthew 17, let's read verse 14.

And it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting. There are some very thorny issues out there that sometimes we run into in our lives, and unless we are prepared to pray and to fast diligently, we are not going to see the progress that we want to see. Some things just don't happen except through prayer and fasting. Our faith can be as a mustard seed, but if we fast like a mustard seed, it's very powerful. It will grow a faith that starts small, but will grow powerful with proper nourishment, with proper water, and the proper nutrients. Spiritually, we're talking now, and it is important that we realize that prayer and fasting, they are the nourishment that we need to take. We need to take that in. We need to pray. We need to fast. It will nourish us spiritually. It will make us stronger. Our faith will grow. We will draw nearer to God. So use your fast in the future to ask God to remove the wrong sort of thinking that Satan has foisted upon you. Satan wants you to doubt. He wants you to be fearful. He doesn't want you to believe in miracles. He doesn't want you to believe that God is all-powerful, and that God does care, and that God will intervene. He wants to limit the Holy One of Israel. So let's be careful that we draw near to God, and we put on the mind of Christ. Satan is subtle. He will try to influence us, and there will be demons in our lives. Maybe not literal demons, but certainly figuratively difficult trials and problems that will come our way that will harass us. Asking God to strengthen your faith and to withstand Satan and his influence, and also to identify his devices in your life. What he's using against you, the weaknesses that he uses to get to you. These things are the very things that we should be asking God to show us during our fast. Show me where I'm falling short, God. Show me where I need to change. Show me where I need to repent. Help me to see where I fall short of your glory, and where I need to change. These should be a major emphasis in our fast to see ourselves more fully, more clearly. Satan does like to set up strongholds against us. Certain addictions that plague us and will not go away, except through prayer and fasting. Some people try to get rid of addictions without prayer and fasting. It's very difficult to do that. It's not that progress can't be made because there have been effective programs. Certainly Alcoholics Anonymous and the various programs like that are certainly helpful. But when we couple those things, those principles, with prayer and fasting, we have far greater power against these addictions.

Satan's been waging trench warfare against us for many, many years, and he set up some strongholds and we need to fight back. Now in Luke 18, it shows that back in the time of Christ, there was a lot of fasting going on back in those days. Luke 18. Luke 18, verse 12. Notice what the Pharisee says here. Verse 11. Well, let's read verse 10. Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee. Of course, this is a parable that Christ is speaking. He says, Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax collector or a publican. I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I possess. That's what the Pharisee stood. That's what he said. And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much raise his eyes to heaven, but he beat his breath, saying, God be merciful to me, a sinner. I tell you, this man, this tax collector, went down to his house, justified, rather than the other, for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. This particular Pharisee and many like him were exalting themselves through making a show of fasting twice a week. Certain days that they would fast, and everyone knew they were fasting. And it really was not effective. It was not an effective fast at all.

God was not honored by that fast. They were trying to honor themselves through that type of fasting.

But they were fasting. But we need to fast properly in the way that God intends. Let's go to Acts 10, where we do find a proper approach toward fasting. Acts 10, this was also mentioned in the sermon on prayer. It has to do with Cornelius. You remember Cornelius. He was the first Gentile who received the gift of the Holy Spirit even before he was baptized, because God was clearly showing that he would pour his Spirit out on the Gentiles who were repentant and who lived godly lives and wanted to serve God. So God used this man, Cornelius, as the first Gentile convert to receive the very Spirit of God. Again, he received it without baptism as a proof to Peter that uncircumcised Gentiles should be baptized and have hands laid on them to receive the Holy Spirit.

First of all, notice what kind of man this Gentile was.

In Acts 10, verse 30, so Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold a man stood before me in bright clothing, and said, Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, your alms are remembered in the sight of God. And so God intervened in this man's life and made him the very first Gentile convert, again even receiving the Holy Spirit, before he was actually baptized. God granted him the Spirit in a miraculous way, showing Peter, again, that God called no man common or unclean. But anyone who will come to God with a repentant heart and mind will be accepted by God. You know, God is the one that has to grant repentance. God is the one that has to call a person, and then God grants that person repentance.

But he looks at a person's heart and he knows what's inside the person, and he sees the faithfulness of that person. And so he calls him and brings him to repentance. So this Cornelius was a special person. He feared and he revered God, and he did it through prayer and fasting. We could read the account and we could also see that he was very dedicated toward the poor. He also acted in helping the poor. That's what God also wants us to be doing actively, to help the poor, to be aware and alert for opportunities that we have to help someone who's poor and needy.

These three things—prayer, giving to the poor, and fasting—are also mentioned in Matthew 6 by Christ when he is talking of Christianity and doing things in secret, as opposed to wanting to be seen by men.

Oftentimes we have focused in the past on the fact that these things should not be done to be seen by men, but perhaps we haven't focused enough on doing these things for the right reasons in the right way. At the right time, in the right way, it's always the right time. Cornelius was a man that did all these things in the right spirit, and he was rewarded by God and exalted in the scriptures. If this was the kind of Gentile that God selected, doesn't it make sense that he chose him for a reason? That he was chosen because of these things—his willingness to pray and to fast, his willingness to help the poor. This was the kind of man that God would call and would choose and would set as an example to others. We are to emulate this type of an example, and we are to be this type of an example for others. So it was also coupled with a righteous life. He was very obedient to God's commandments. He was a righteous person striving to obey God.

In Acts 13, again we see that the early church fasted regularly.

Acts 13, now in the church that was at Antioch, there were certain prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon, who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaiian, who had been brought up with Herod the Tetrarch and Saul, and they ministered to the Lord and they fasted. The Holy Spirit said or led them to understand, now separate to me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Then having fasted and prayed and laid hands on them, they sent them away. So it was God's Spirit that was showing who God would be using in a special way. He was to be using Barnabas and Saul for his special work.

The people fasted and they prayed and hands were laid upon these men and they were sent away to do God's work in a special way. So this is a very interesting set of scriptures. These men were experiencing a communal fast. They were fasting together in order to make a choice on which prophet or teacher to send on this ministerial journey. Of course, the United Church of God asks all council members to fast before each meeting. They ask all elders to fast before the general conference of elders each year before we cast ballots to determine and decide who might lead us in a human way. Of course, Christ is the head of the church and we understand that, we know that, but we do want the Spirit of God to guide us in helping make decisions within the Church.

Also, it could indicate that ministering to God and to Christ and fasting should be coupled together.

When they are coupled together, when we serve God faithfully in prayer and in fasting and in preaching the gospel, the kingdom of God, then the Holy Spirit directs us. It inspires us. It helps us to get into the minds of people's hearts and their minds to move them, to inspire them.

So, fasting is important in so many ways. In Acts 14, Acts 14, verse 23, So when they had appointed elders in every church and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. So they appointed elders in every church, they prayed and they fasted.

They were preaching the gospel, these men that God had called to be leaders in the Church of God at the time, and others were being called to be leaders. We're all called to be leaders. Some are called in different ways than others, but every one of us is called to set an example. To be a leader, whether we're a man or a woman or a child, God wants us to be a good example.

Fasting should be something that we do on a regular basis because we need God's direction and guidance always. In Acts 27, we'll see that Paul fasted faithfully. He was on a ship. In this case, let's go to Acts 27. Of course, we would all be more motivated to fast if we were caught in a tempest, as Paul was at this time. Acts 27, verse 9, Now when much time had been spent and sailing was now dangerous because the fast, the day of atonement, was already over, Paul advised them.

I don't want to read all of this, but they were in danger. Their lives were in danger. In verse 21, it says, But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them, and said, Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete, and incurred this disaster and loss. God was showing him that they ought not go further, but they did anyway. In verse 33, And as day was about to dawn, Paul implored them all to take food, saying, Today is the fourteenth day that you have waited and continued without food. Now they may have had water, probably did, but they had not been eating. They were certainly seeking God's deliverance. So Paul was urging them to take nourishment because they would need strength for their survival. They would have to swim to shore. They would need help. So they fasted for 14 days. It is possible to do more than we might expect of ourselves if we need to. In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul mentions that he was fasting often. Of course, Paul was challenged like very few others. He was harassed and people were trying to kill him continually. Some had even made an oath that they wouldn't eat until Paul was dead. And it was many days later, before Paul was dead, I mean many days, and I have a feeling they broke their oath or they would have all died of hunger. They would have died of starvation.

But Paul was one who fasted. In 2 Corinthians 11, verse 27, Paul was talking about all that he had to go through, all the tribulation, all the trials, all that he had to do in order to stay faithful and to continue to preach the gospel of the kingdom and in order to take care of the churches that God was giving him to oversee.

He says in verse 27, In weariness and toil, in sleeplessness, often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings, often, in cold and nakedness. Besides the other things, what comes upon me daily, my deep concern for all the churches. Paul really did care about the people of God, the brethren.

He was a very faithful example, one that we should emulate and follow, and he fasted often.

Now, let's talk about a fasting club. How would you like to join a fasting club? How would you like to be a part of the club that fasts twice a week? Right? No, you don't have to raise your hand. How would you like to be a part of the club that fasts once a week? How about a part of the club that fasts once every two weeks? How about a part of the club that fasts once a month? How about a part of the club that fasts once every two months? Bi-monthly. How about the club that fasts quarterly? Like four times a year, besides the day of atonement? How would you like to have some sign-up lists at the back table? Everyone can sign a list on which club you'd like to be in. Probably not, right? We're not going to do that, of course.

It's up to you how often you pray and how often you fast. It's entirely up to you. You get to make that decision. No one else makes that decision for you. You get to decide. You get to decide which club you're going to be in. I won't know which club you're in. Maybe your wife might, but your husband, but almost no one else would ever know. But I would encourage you to join a club.

Join one of these clubs. Get involved in more fasting in the year ahead, in the days ahead. Again, it's entirely up to you how often you fast in the future, but I assure you, I promise you that you will be richly rewarded if you decide to join a club.

A better club than you're already in. Now, maybe you're already in a fasting club, but if you get into a better club, one that fasts a little bit more often, then you'll probably be better off. I mean, I think it's safe to say that God will certainly bless those who humble themselves and are willing to dedicate themselves to more fasting. But let's talk about some practical challenges of fasting, because I know there are some challenges out there, and I am very much like you are. I have to face these challenges as well. But some of us are in different stages of our life. We're in different categories. We have different challenges. So let's talk about some practical challenges in fasting. Okay, number one, no time to fast. I have absolutely no time to fast. Some people, I think, believe that. They really believe they have no time to fast.

Undoubtedly, we are busy people. There is a lot going on in our lives. But is it really true that you have no time to fast? Why do you fast on the day of atonement? Do you have no time to fast on the day of atonement?

No, you fast because you are commanded to. And you figure out a way to do it on the day of atonement. Unless you have some kind of a medical issue or something that is overriding the problem, and it is between you and God how you deal with those things. I can't make those choices for you. You have to decide whether you are healthy enough, whether you can fast a full day. Maybe you can only fast part of a day. That is between you and God. God looks on your heart.

So, that is a myth. There is time to fast. You have the same time as everyone else, and you can decide whether or not you are going to fast. It is your choice. If you don't ever commit to fasting, then you will find it extremely difficult. You will continue to have no time to fast. You actually have to make a decision to fast. You might even have to get your calendar out and decide when you are going to fast. Again, otherwise, it likely won't happen. What is another challenge? It is too difficult to fast. It is too difficult. You can't do it. My body won't take it.

Again, if you have some medical issues, I am not advising you in any way medically. You have to determine that.

It is too difficult to fast. I work too much. I have children I have to look after. I have small children.

I believe where there is a will, there is a way. I do believe that. I saw my wife fast when we had small children.

Frankly, I would help her when she wanted to fast. I would take some of the burden. I would take care of the kids. I would give her time where she could go off for a couple of hours and then go back later for a couple of hours and go back later for a couple of hours. It is possible if we work together. There are ways around finding this will to fast.

Again, use your calendar. Pick days. Talk to other women, your parents, relatives, friends. Maybe you can swap out. I will watch your children on this day. That will give you an opportunity to fast.

Would you watch my children this day? That will give me an opportunity to fast. It is possible, again, to work these things out if you have a will and a desire to do so.

Also, you can teach your children to play quietly for a couple hours at a time. That is also possible to do. Again, it depends on the stage. You can't expect a baby, a tiny baby, to do that. A baby is going to cry. They are going to need their diapers changed. They are going to need all kinds of things. I realize that. I am not asking you to do the impossible.

I just want you to think about what is possible. If you put your mind to it, it is too difficult to fast. It may be hard, but is it too difficult?

Another challenge is that it is too hard to fast. No time to fast, too difficult to fast, too hard to fast. It is just too hard. Well, if it is really too hard, then fast as long as you can. If you can't fast for 24 hours, fast for 18. Do something and start moving in the right direction. Again, these are things you can talk to God about. God understands your predicament. He understands your frailties. He understands your weaknesses. If that is all you can muster, then give Him all you can muster. Give Him your best, whatever that is. I don't sit in judgment of anyone. I have different trials, issues, and problems. That is between God and me. You have to decide for yourself how you can draw nearer to Him and how you can please Him more faithfully. Another challenge is that there are probably three of the main ones. There is no time to fast. It is too difficult. It is too hard. It kind of means the same thing, I guess. It is difficult and hard. Anyway, you can maybe not fast as long. If for some reason you really fast quite easily, you might consider fasting longer. Instead of stopping at 24 hours, go 36 hours. You can fast a little bit longer so you can experience some of the pain that others experience after only 12 hours or 16 hours.

Last time I read that Esther and all the Jews fasted for three days. When their life was on the line, then you can figure out ways to do things that you normally wouldn't do. When your life is on the line, well, your life really is on the line. Believe it or not, this is an important topic.

Some things don't happen except by prayer and fasting.

So do the very best that you are able to do at this point in your life and strive to improve. That is all anyone could do, is to do the very best. Just try to do your very best. Maybe you can't do your very best, but you can try to do your very best.

And you can continue to try to do your very best.

And no doubt you will improve. It will get better. It will get easier in the days ahead.

Also, some people ask, is it okay to fast at times other than from sunset to sunset? Well, I would say that's the main goal you should have, is to fast from sunset to sunset. I mean, that's a good thing to do, but it's not a requirement. If you decide to fast at other times, then that's also acceptable. You get to decide how long you're going to fast, when you're going to start your fast, when you're going to end your fast. These are your choices. They're not spelled out in the Bible. There are examples of fasting from sunset to sunset. And of course, that's what we do on the day of atonement. But nowhere does it say you can't do it somewhat differently at other times. On the day of atonement, you should do it from sunset to sunset. But if it works better for you, and you can more effectively fast, then I think you have that prerogative to choose. Now, I'm sure there are some things I haven't covered today in regard to challenges in fasting. Please feel free to talk to me if I haven't covered your particular issue, what it is that gets in the way of your fasting. And again, I'll be glad to see if I can help. I'll be glad to try. In Isaiah 58, it talks about an acceptable fast. We know that there are some fasts that are just not acceptable, and God doesn't accept them. Because, number one, a person may not be righteous. They may be unrighteous. They may be continuing in their sin. And they're going to continue in their sin, and they really don't want to stop sinning. And they're not really trying hard to stop sinning. And, you know, if you fast every week, and yet you will not strive to put that sin out of your life, that's going to be a largely ineffective fast. It's not going anywhere.

The effective fervent prayers and the effective fasting of a righteous man and woman avails much.

So you have to put the sin out of your life. You know, the blatant sins, especially these blatant things that some people get involved in, and they continue to sin in that manner, those things have to be rooted out if you're going to make progress when you fast.

Let's go again to Isaiah 58. Let's read what is said here about fasting. Isaiah 58. Isaiah 58 verse 1, Cry aloud and spare not, and lift up your voice like a trumpet, and tell my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

I think God wants His ministers to do that today. I believe He's speaking to all of us who are ministers when we have an opportunity to get up here. At times, not all the time, obviously, but especially the pastor, there are times when he should cry aloud, and spare not, and lift up his voice like a trumpet, and show the people of God their transgressions. Last week I mentioned that I thought a disaster had come upon the Church of God. When I look back at the history of the Church of God, especially the modern history back since the 30s, and I look back over the last 80 years, I believe a disaster. A number of disasters have come upon the Church of God. Could it be that we have not been as faithful as we should be? Could it be that we haven't been as righteous as God expects us to be? Could it be that we are the problem? Remember, what was the problem in the Old Covenant? Was it the law, or was it the people?

What about the New Covenant? Why don't we see God working more miraculously in His Church? Is it because we have limited the Holy Run of Israel because of our conduct, because of our unwillingness to repent and draw nearer to Him with our whole hearts and minds and souls? I don't know. I'm wondering. I know a disaster has come upon us. And I think we should all own up to the responsibility that we each have to do better in the future, to seek God more faithfully and more fervently through prayer and through fasting.

Tell my people their transgression, the house of Jacob, their sins, yet they seek me daily, and they delight to know my ways as a nation that did righteousness. This is what God's saying. This is what the people believed. You know, for the last 80 years, have we believed that we've been doing this the way we should have been doing it? That we seek God daily. We delight to know His ways. We are a righteous bunch of people. We have not forsaken God. They ask of me the ordinances of justice. They take delight in approaching God. Why have we fasted, they say, and you have not seen. Why have we afflicted our souls, and you take no notice?

In fact, in the day of your fast, you find pleasure. You exploit all of your laborers, okay, now He's starting to show the reason why God doesn't bless them. It's because their hearts are not right, even though they've been fasting, even though they have a daily show of going toward God. In fact, in the day of your fast, you find pleasure and exploit all of your laborers. Indeed, you fast for strife and debate. Have we seen any strife or debate within the Church of God over the years? Have you ever seen anything? I speak facetiously. You know, I've seen a lot of strife and debate. A whole lot more than I would like to see. I've seen it in myself. I've seen it in others. We should be sick of it. Strife and debate. You will not fast as you do this day to make your voice heard on high. God's not going to listen. Is it a fast that I have chosen a day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bull rush to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast? Would you call this an acceptable day to the Eternal? Yes, you have a show of fasting. But where are your hearts? Is this not the fast that I have chosen? First of all, to lose the bonds of wickedness, to put the sins out of your life, and to walk righteously and faithfully, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, to stand up for one another, to do the right thing, not to cower in fear, but to stand up and be counted, as the Scripture tells us we should, that you break every yoke, that every yoke is broken away. Have we not seen cowardice within the Church of God over the years? I believe we have. We all have a responsibility to stand up against sin.

If someone in authority is sinning, you have a responsibility to go to that person and to confront them, and to say, how can this be right? You know, do it humbly, do it in a right spirit. Maybe the person will hear and change. And if not, then go get someone else. And if not, go over his head. Do what you have to do, but don't be fearful any longer. Stand up for what is right. Be courageous. Do the right thing.

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry? That's what God wants to see. A people that are giving, that are willing to share what they've been blessed with and share it with others.

And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out. I mean, I really have a lot of respect for those who really do this and practice this. They open their homes to people who are in need. They care. They're willing to sacrifice. They do the right thing. I mean, I think adoption is one of the most beautiful things a person can do. To adopt a child and to give it a happy home, to bring it into your home and sacrifice and dedicate yourself. I mean, that's a beautiful thing.

God sees a person's heart. He sees that a person cares and is willing to do something in their life that will make a difference. That will really make a difference. And that certainly makes a difference. In someone's life. I'm not saying you all have to go out and adopt children. I'm not saying that. That's entirely up to you what you do. I'm just saying that if a person does it for the right reasons and they're not doing it because the government's going to give it... Well, I guess if you adopt them, you're not going to get any money for it anyway. I suppose some people bring foster children in. Maybe because there's some monetary value in doing so. But I doubt that most people do that. Most people really care about children and they're willing to help them.

But God looks on the heart. God knows the heart. And again, I'm not telling you to do anything that God isn't leading you to do. You have to go before God on what you do with your life, what you do with your possessions, what you do with your home, what you do with everything that God gives you. 2. 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? 3. Then your light shall break forth like the morning.

Then you're going to see some results. Something beautiful is going to happen. Your healing shall spring forth speedily. 4. Huh! God is going to react in powerful ways. And your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you. Not that you're self-righteous, but that you really are righteous, that you humble yourself and do the right thing. The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer.

The Eternal will answer, and you shall cry. And He will say, Here I am! I'm right here! Sure, I'll answer your prayer. I'll help you. I'll be here for you. I see your heart. 5. If you take away the yoke from your midst and the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, the judging of others, God doesn't want us to harshly judge other people. We are told to discern righteous judgment. We should be able to tell sin from righteousness. We should be able to see certain things clearly, but we must be very careful not to judge.

Oftentimes we don't see the whole story, and some people rush to judgment prematurely, and it's not a good thing. 6. If you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noon day, as these bright lights that we have today before us. That's how bright God is going to shine in your life when you humble yourself and do what is pleasing to Him.

7. If you satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noon day. The Eternal will guide you continually, and He will satisfy your soul in drought. He will strengthen your bones, and you shall be like a watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail. There will be tremendous blessings poured out. Those from among you shall build the old waste places, you shall raise up the foundations of many generations, and you shall be called the restorer of streets to dwell in. 8. Then He goes on, if you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, and how we treat the Sabbath day.

Are we trampling on the Sabbath? Have we removed our feet from trampling all over the Sabbath day? God is looking at us and how we honor Him on this day, this day that sanctified and set apart for a holy purpose and a holy use.

We are to delight God. We are to delight ourselves as we serve God, and we will find that that indeed delights God Himself. The Sabbath is indeed a blessing. It is to be a delight to each and every one of us. So, brethren, obviously God is looking for a heart that's willing to serve and to surrender and to submit, to yield.

He is looking for a heart that is willing to help the poor, to extend Himself toward others in whatever need comes along, to help those who are in real need, to help our families, to start with our families, and to be the type of mother and father that our children need, to be the kind of child that our children, that our parents desire, to be the brother and the sister that your brother and sister deserves to have, someone who loves them, who cares for them, who looks after them.

You know, this way of life reaches deep within each and every single one of us. It reaches deep into the marrow of our bones, and we must respond. Our fast should not be self-centered. Our fast should not be just about our personal problems. But when we fast, we should focus again on the needs and the service, mainly, first of all, toward other people. Praying for others, fasting for others, fasting for repentance, not only for ourselves, but for others.

When you're truly serving others in your heart, as well as in your actions, because God wants to see both, good intentions aren't enough. God wants to see something we have to be doers of God's law, not just hearers only. A good intention is not enough. God does hear our prayers. He sees when we are truly seeking Him in humility. This is the type of fast that gets resolved, the kind of fast that we just read about in Isaiah 58. There's plenty to do on a day of fasting. We can read the Bible. We can study the Bible. We can pray to God. We can meditate on His way. We can write cards and send them to people who are in need. We can look to the poor. We can go serve in a kitchen. We can do all kinds of things as we approach God more faithfully in the future. Certainly, those with this type of heart will fast for the benefit of others and not only for themselves. It's not wrong to go to God with your own problems. God wants to see that you care enough to fast and to pray when you have a problem too. But is the drought and the hunger that is spoken of here in Isaiah 58 only a physical drought, or is it indeed a spiritual one? More importantly, it seems to me that this service coupled with our fasting brings the result of an ample amount of the Holy Spirit. God grants His Spirit in greater measure. He gives us the Spirit. During a time of spiritual drought and hunger, He stirs up the Spirit within us. As we stir up the Spirit as well, as we seek Him, Israel thought they were obeying God and they were seeking Him, yet they were deceived. They approached God and they sought Him thinking they were righteous. They kept the feast days thinking they were righteous. They kept the Sabbath thinking they were righteous.

But God said they had forsaken His ways.

They fasted for wicked purposes and expected God to hear them. God said they should have been living a life of service and of giving and fasting for those purposes, the right type of purposes, if they wanted their fast to be heard and fruitful, if they wanted to really produce spiritual fruit in their lives, they had to be fasting in a proper, godly way. Let's go to Zechariah 7. Zechariah 7.

Should you not have obeyed the words which the Lord proclaimed through the former prophets when Jerusalem and the cities around it were inhabited and prosperous and the city and the low land were inhabited, Zechariah 7. Say to all the people of the land and to the priests, when you fasted and mourned in the fifth and the seventh months during those 70 years during their captivity, did you really fast for me? For me, God says, did you really fast for me? When you eat and when you drink, do you not eat and drink for yourselves? Should you not have obeyed the words which the eternal proclaimed through the former prophets when Jerusalem and the cities around it were inhabited and prosperous and the south and the low lands were inhabited? It goes on to talk about how disobedience resulted in captivity and that obedience is better than fasting. Obedience is better than fasting, but obedience coupled with fasting is more powerful than either. God wants to see us do both. So we should seek to honor God, to show our respect toward Him through our fasting and through our repentance.

So again, this is not necessarily talking about specific days of fasting, but that we should have the daily attitude and conduct and be the type of servants and people every day of our lives. It is only then that fasting is effective. Your example is the first thing you need to work on, but perhaps if you start fasting, your example will improve immediately.

We should have a heart that is coupled with actions and fasting. It's not only our fasting to God, but that we are eating and also drinking for Him. So that refers to our everyday lives. What is the purpose of our existence? The reason we should eat and drink is to serve God more faithfully. That's why we eat and we drink in the first place. It's not to keep us alive, it's to serve God.

We eat and we drink daily to serve God. And then at times we stop eating to serve God, and to show that He really is number one in our lives.

In Joel chapter 1, it speaks of a time of fasting. It also is a prophetic book. It talks about perilous times that are going to come upon this land and upon God's people. In Joel chapter 1 verse 13, and you'll have to read this in context. It'll mean more to you. I don't have time to go there. Gird yourselves and lament, you priests. Wail you who minister before the altar. Come, lie all night in sackcloth, you who minister to my God. For the grain offering and the drink offering are withheld from the house of your God. And consecrate a fast, and call a sacred assembly, and gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God. And cry out to the eternal, Alas, for the day of the Lord is at hand. It shall come as destruction from the Almighty, is not the food cut off before our eyes. Joy and gladness from the house of our God. The seeds will shrivel under the clods. Storehouses are in shambles. Barns are broken down, for the grain has withered. You know, this country is going down when God withholds the rain. Look what's happening to California right now.

It's getting bad. It's getting desperate in certain parts of the country. What if it hits the entire land at the same time? How the animals grown, the herds of cattle are restless because they have no pasture. Even the flocks of sheep suffer punishment. O Lord, to you I cry out, for the fire has devoured the open pastures. Yes, when there is no rain, fires come. And a flame has burned all the trees of the field. The beasts of the field also cry out to you, for the water brooks are dried up. And the fire has devoured the open pastures.

Now, we've seen little evidences of things like this throughout the last many years. There are brush fires that happen that destroy thousands and thousands of acres.

It's just a warning. It's a sign. One day it's going to hit the entire land. It's all going to come crashing down upon us.

So there is a time to call a fast. There is a time to gather people together in solemn assembly. There is a time to cry unto the Lord. I believe that time is now. I believe it's right now. Not to say it's not going to get worse in the future, but let's get ahead of the curve. Let's get ahead of the curve as God's people, whether it happens in five years, or ten years, or twenty years, we'll all be better off. Far better off if we prepare ourselves now for whatever might come. And if it doesn't come, then all the more blessed we will be.

In Jeremiah 14, it talks about a time when God isn't going to hear. Let's look at that. Jeremiah chapter 14.

Jeremiah chapter 14. There will come a time when God is not going to hear our prayer and our fasting. If we haven't been praying and fasting properly along the way, then there will come a time when it will be useless for some. Not for those who are near to God and close to God, who are staying within distance of God. Jeremiah 14. This is spoken to those who are not going to change. They're not going to repent. They're going to think that God delays His coming. Christ delays His coming. He's not coming back in my time. I don't need to get concerned.

In Jeremiah 14 verse 7, O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do it for your name's sake. For our backslidings are many. We have sinned against you. O the hope of Israel, His Savior, in time of trouble. Why should you be like a stranger in the land and like a traveler who turns aside to tarry for a night? Why should you be like a man astonished like a mighty one who cannot save? Yet you, O Eternal, are in our midst. And we are called by your name, do not leave us. This was someone in Jeremiah saying that people are going to become desperate in the days ahead. Jeremiah was known as the doomsday prophet. And sure enough, doomsday came.

Verse 10, came upon these people. It's coming again. Thus says the Eternal to this people. Thus they have loved to wander. They have not restrained their feet. Therefore the Lord does not accept them. They have not restrained their feet. They trampled all over the Sabbath. Maybe one meaning this has. I'm sure it has many others. Therefore the Lord does not accept them. He will remember their iniquity now and he will punish their sins. Then the Lord said to me, Do not pray for this people for their good. When they fast, I will not hear their cry. When they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. See, that time hasn't come yet, but it's coming. There will come a time when God isn't going to hear. But I will consume them by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence. Then I said, Ah, Lord God, behold, the prophets say to them, You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you assured peace in this place. And the Lord said to me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name. I have not sent them.

Commanded them, nor spoken to them, they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their hearts. Therefore, thus says the Lord, concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name, whom I did not send and who say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land. By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed. That is exactly what happened to those false prophets. They were consumed. They were taken into captivity. Many were killed. They died.

So this is a warning for all of us that there is a time coming when God isn't going to hear, because you have had ears that have been dull of hearing too long. You haven't been willing to act and do something in your life to change and to repent. Again, fasting ought to be accompanied with much prayer, with much Bible study, with much worship, and with much praise, with giving thanks to God. Now is the time for the elect, now is the time for God's saints to prepare themselves for whatever comes our way. I don't know when Christ is coming. I don't know. But I know this. There will be frightening times that come upon us in the days ahead, no matter if Christ doesn't come for a long time. Because I've seen frightening times come upon individuals many, many times. We don't know when is coming upon us. Now is the time to draw near to God. Let's go to Joel chapter 2 as we conclude the sermon today. Joel chapter 2. Joel chapter 2 verse 12. Now therefore says the Lord, turn to me with all of your heart and with fasting and with weeping and with mourning. So rend your heart and not your garments. Again, God is not so concerned about the sackcloth and ashes and the garments. He's concerned about your heart. So return to the Lord your God for he is gracious and merciful. He is slow to anger and he is of great kindness. And he relents from doing harm. God doesn't want to do harm. God wants to bless us. He wants to pour out great blessings on us. Who knows if he will turn and relent and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God. Blow the trumpet in Zion and consecrate a fast. Call a sacred assembly. Gather the people and sanctify the congregation. Assemble the elders and gather the children and the nursing babies and let the bridegroom go out from his chamber and the bride from her dressing room and let the priests who minister to the Lord weep between the porch and the altar and let them say, Spare your people, O Eternal, and do not give your heritage to reproach. That the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, Where is their God? You know, God needs to be glorified. We need to do all things to the glory of God. God deserves to be glorified. We are the people of God called to glorify Him. We have a part to play in all of this. We need to return to God with fasting, with true repentance. There are many, many good reasons why we ought to fast and why we ought to fast often. Christ said His disciples were going to fast. We see that Paul fasted often. The early Christians fasted often and there was great power in the early church. We are all sinners. We do need to also be overcomers. Righteousness does matter. We are to become unleavened in our conduct, in our thought, our words, our actions. Fasting is a powerful tool. Sometimes change doesn't take place except by prayer and fasting. I know you want to change spiritually. I know I want to change. I want to be stronger spiritually. I know you want to be stronger spiritually. I know we all want to be more pleasing to God individually and as a local congregation. Brethren, I want to see growth take place here in this congregation. I'd like to see growth take place all around the world. I know you do as well. So, brethren, prayer and fasting can and will make a real difference. Fasting is important. It's very, very important. And there is real power in fasting.

Oh, by the way, I've made a handout that I will put at the back tables. Please pick one up. There should be enough for every adult and every teenager for sure. Anyone who wants it. If you're younger and want a coffee, feel free to take a coffee. There's plenty.