Why Are We Fasting Today?

Why are we here today? Well, I remember Mr. Armstrong asking that many times. Why are we Yah? And why are we fasting today? Today, brethren, I intend to discuss with you four reasons of this fifth Holy Day and why we're fasting. Because God has seven major steps or events in His plan of salvation.

Today represents the fifth. And so, I intend to give you four basic reasons. And let me tell you them up front so you can follow as we go through. We fast today because it's commanded. It's commanded to be at one with God and to fast. And indeed, we need to be aware that we need to fast with the right kind of fast that God wants us to do. So we look at that. Secondly, we fast so that you and I are not deceived. Brethren, the world is completely entangled in lies and deception.

And as we get closer to God, we are able to have our eyes open to the deception of this world. We fast so that we are not deceived. Thirdly, we fast to draw close to God. In other words, having our hearts sprinkled by the blood of our high priest and washed with the pure water that comes through God's Holy Spirit. And so we fast to use the help of our high priest and God's Holy Spirit to draw close to God. And fourthly, we fast so that we may stand before the Son of Man when he comes to judge and make war in righteousness. And so you and I know that we have seven major milestones or steps in God's plan of salvation, which are symbolized by the seven festivals in God's Holy Days.

And the first three of God's early days are basically tied to Christ's first coming. And they represent that our sins are being paid by Christ's sacrifice. In other words, we've been brought back. We've got to commit to repentance, symbolized by the days of 11 bread, in other words, to live and keep God's laws and commandments, as we heard in the sermon at. And thirdly, we have the need of God's early spirit, which Christ then sent to us on the day of Pentecost, fifty days after the Wave Sheaf.

And so those first three are, in a sense, history, although they're very meaningful and important, but the next four are more in the sense of prophetic. Because the fourth holiday, being trumpets, in fact, is the one in the middle of those seven, is pivotal. It's a pivotal holiday. Because it represents Christ's return, it represents our resurrection, represents the revealing of the mystery of God, which is when you and I become spirit beings.

And it represents when the world's governments will now be under the control of Christ and, obviously, the ultimate authority of the Father, as we read in Revelation 11.15. And so it will now, the world's nations, will now be under control of God's government, or in other words, under control of the kingdom of God. And therefore, is the time when Christ is going to come to destroy those that destroy the earth, so that all humanity can be at one with God. And so that leads us to the very reason why we fast, because we are commanded to be at one with God.

And within that, we need to have the correct fast, because you can have wrong fasts. You know, you've heard about hunger strikes. Well, a hunger strike is not a godly fast. Sure, people are fasting, but it's not a godly fast. So let's look first at Leviticus 23, where we are commanded, Leviticus 23, and we'll start reading in verse 26. Leviticus 23 and verse 26. Leviticus 23 verse 26. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Also on the tenth day of the seventh month shall be the day of the atonement, and it shall be a holy convocation for you, you shall afflict your souls. And brethren, an offering made by fire to the Lord.

We are making an offering, a living offering. In Romans 12, we're supposed to do now a living offering. That is our reasonable service. But we also are to afflict our souls. And you and I are afflicting our souls today as we fast. And verse 28. And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your God, for us to be at one with God, as we heard in the sermonette, for us to be reconciled and be at one with God.

For any person who is not afflicted in Saul, any person that is not afflicted in Saul today, on that same day shall be cut off from his people. That is a serious matter. God expects us to be afflicting our souls today and to be fasting today. And any person who does any work on that same day, that person I will destroy from among his people. So brethren, we can see that this day is commanded.

It's commanded for us to fast. But how do we fast? And that is described in Isaiah 58. So let's turn to Isaiah 58. Because there's a right way of fasting and there's a wrong way of fasting. And in Isaiah 58, starting in verse 3, we read, why have we fasted, they say? In other words, the people that are fasting with a wrong attitude, they say, why have we fasted? And you have not listened and you, God, have not paid attention. Why are we doing it? Why have we afflicted our souls and you taken no notice? Because there's a wrong attitude behind it. We've got to have a right and correct fast.

In fact, in that day, in the day of your fast, you find pleasure and you exploit all your laborers. You're exploiting, you're finding still ways of exploiting and demanding on rights and things like that. Indeed, you fast for strife and debate. Think about a hunger strike. It's for strife. And that's an example of a wrong fast. And to strike with the fist of wickedness. And you will not fast as you do this day.

In other words, you're not supposed to fast this way. To make your voice heard on high. Or you're fasting so that your voice gets heard. That's the wrong way, God is saying. Is it a fast that I've chosen a day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bull rush? Is this the way God wants you to fast? To walk around and show everybody that you're fasting?

Oh, I'm so... Oh, you know, I am fasting and I'm just showing off that I'm fasting. That's not what God wants. He says, and to spread, I'll take cloth and ashes. Would you call this a fast and an acceptable day to the Lord? No. That is not the way God wants us to fast. So what is the way that God wants us to fast? And then we can find it in starting in verse 6. This is how God wants to fast. The correct attitude. Is this not a fast that I've chosen, says God, to loose the bonds of wickedness? And to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke.

The reason of fasting is not just for today. It's for our actions from beyond today. Which is, how are we going to act and live and do? How are we going to change our way of life, that we are going to loosen the bonds of wickedness, that we are going to undo the heavy burdens, that we are going to let the oppressed go free, in the way and attitudes of how we do things and how we talk to people? Are we going to be kinder and more loving? Is our way going to be the one that pleases God? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor that are cast out? Is it not, therefore, for you to help those people that are struggling? That is why we're fasting. When you see the nacre that you cover in and not hide yourself from your own flesh. You know, this is what we need to do. It's interesting that, as we continue then in verse 8, it says, Then, if you do it this way, your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you. The glory of the Lord shall be a real God. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer. And you will cry, and He, God, will say, Here I am. God will say to you and I, Here I am. Just like we heard in a sermon in the past, a few weeks ago, that we need to say to God, Here I am. But God will say to us, Here I am. Because we are fasting the correct way, in a godly way.

If, continuing in verse 9, If, you take away the yoke from your midst, If you take away the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, it was blaming others. Oh, it's somebody else's fault. Blaming others. We need to stop pointing fingers and spreading vicious rumors. In fact, that's how the New Living Translation puts it. We need to help those in trouble and not be accusing others.

Continue now in verse 10, in the half portion of verse 10, halfway through. Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noon day. The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul en route, and strengthen your bounds, and you shall be like a watered garden. Then God will bless you, but it requires to have a godly fast. Let's not think that we stand as we read in 1 Corinthians chapter 10, because he that thinks that stands, beware, lest he fall. 1 Corinthians chapter 10 verse 12. 1 Corinthians chapter 10 verse 12. Therefore, let him who thinks he stands take heed, lest he fall. And that's why we need to fast. We need to fast to realize how frail and weak we are. We don't live by bread alone, but by the Word of God. We need God's Word, and we need God's help. That's why we're fasting, to be atuan with him. To be atuan with him. And so, we need to have a fasting attitude that lasts beyond today. Because we are fasting so that we examine ourselves for the days thereafter. For the days we're going to the feast. How are we going to treat others? And not just the feast, our life from here onwards. We are fasting so that we change. We become different. We become better. We become more like God. We become atuan with God. Secondly, we fast so we're not deceived. This world is completely entangled in lies and deception. It's unbelievable when you talk to people. Everything is twisted. Everything is twisted. Everything has a twist which is so convincing, which is so convincing that makes you think that it's true. But it's a lie. Everything. It all started, you and I can read, in Genesis chapter 3. In Genesis chapter 3. It always reminds me of Mr. Armstrong. There he goes. The two trees. Right? Those of you that are older will remember that. Genesis chapter 3 verse 4. And then it says, you know, Satan was talking to Eve. And then Eve says, no, you can't eat of the tree in the midst of the garden. And then look at verse 4. What is Satan's reply? You will not surely die. He's calling God a liar. He's calling God a liar. And secondly, he's breaking the trust between, or the relationship between Eve and God, and in fact Adam and Eve, ultimately, as we see, because now she starts doubting, well, did God tell me the truth? Because he's breaking trust. He's breaking that relationship through an outright lie. But then he mixes truth with lie. He says, for God knows that in the day that you eat your eyes, will be open and you shall be like God, knowing good and evil. We will be like God when we are the children of God, when we are finally changed to spirit beings. So he is now twisting truth with lie to deceive. And so we see, and the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise. Human reasoning. That's what it is. Human reasoning apart from God. That's one of the worst things, one of the greatest evils that we have. There's nothing wrong with human reason, but human reasoning apart from God, that is a problem. And when we're being lied and deceived, we reason around things and we draw the wrong conclusion.

Truth mixed with lie. In John 8, verse 44, John 8, verse 44, Christ is telling the Pharisees that you're like your father, which is Satan. And he says in John 8, verse 44, You are of your father, the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning. A murderer. Because of his lies, he brought death to the world. He's a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth. Oh yeah! He did not stand in the truth. He lied outrightly to Eve. Because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own. Because, from his own resources, for he is the liar and the father of it. The father of lies.

He's responsible. He has a responsibility for mankind's sins. Granted, Eve did not have to believe. Adam did not have to just follow Eve. Adam wasn't deceived, but he just went along with what she said.

Sure, we are accountable for our own sins, but he stirred the pot and is accountable for stirring the pot. He's got a responsibility for mankind's sins. And what has he done to Eve? He deceived her. He lied to her. What does Satan do to you and I today? He deceives you. You go to school, you go to college. Oh, it's science, but a lot of it is actually falsehood mixed with some truth. You've got to be careful. It attacks. The church is going to attack you. Look at Revelation 12, verse 9. Revelation 12, verse 9, when it says that Satan is going to come to a time near in the future, maybe it's kind of happening soon or has happened. I don't think it has happened, but it could happen any moment. And it says, so the great dragon was cast out. He was expelled from heaven. That serpent of old called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world. He was cast out, and his demons, angels, his demons were cast out with him. They were expelled out of heaven. Oh, yeah, they were thrown out of heaven before, or they fell down, but they were not expelled. Now he's expelled. He's out, out!

And he is going to come to the earth with great power to deceive. He deceives, it says here, the whole world. Well, let's just start a little bit here, one or another person. The whole world. It means you and I. Unless God opens your eyes and my eyes to the truth, you and I are also being deceived. And that's why we're fasting. So we, if God, show us the truth, illuminate us so that we are not deceived.

People are so deceived today that they don't know anymore the right from the wrong. They don't know anymore what is a man and what is a woman. They're confused. Look at Isaiah 5, verse 20. Isaiah 5, verse 20.

They don't know at all. And prudent in their own sight. In other words, they think they're above everybody. In their eyes, oh, we're very smart. They think they're so clever.

Brethren, I want to give you a serious warning now. And I don't mean warning to you, but just a warning to us to be aware.

Pay attention. False religion is on the rise again. The white horse is rising again.

False religion is on the rise again. And it's going to cause wars and famine and sicknesses and death.

What are we seeing today is people claiming they're preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Just believe in Jesus, and you are saved.

They are saying He was resurrected, and because He's resurrected on Sunday, we keep Sunday. Oh, and they're so strong about those facts, quote-unquote.

This is going to get stronger in our society and around the world, and it will get stronger in Europe. It will lead to the rise of the beast power and of the false prophet. This white horse is riding harder again.

Turn with me to Galatians chapter 1. Galatians chapter 1 verse 6.

Galatians chapter 1 verse 6. A marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who calls you into the grace of Christ to a different gospel, which is not another, but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. And that's what they're doing. They're perverting the gospel of Christ. Well, the type of perversion that was happening at the time of Paul, the Galatians, is different than the one that's happening today. But the point is, it's still a perversion of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

They're preaching about the man, but they're not preaching about what He preached.

And there's nothing wrong to preach about what Christ has done for us.

But you are not already saved. You are not already having eternal life.

What do I mean? Well, turn with me to 1 John chapter 5. 1 John chapter 5. Verse 13. These things I've written to you. Can you see? Yah is the Apostle John saying, these things I've written to you. You see? To you who believe in the name of the Son of God. You see, I believe in Jesus. That you may know that you have eternal life. You see, you already have eternal life. I believe in Jesus. That's all I need. I already have eternal life.

That is a false religion. Beware, brethren. This is going to get stronger.

And it's going to deceive many.

And then you say, well, look at verse 11. This is what he said before. Verse 11. 1 John chapter 5 verse 11. And this is the testimony that God has given us eternal life. You see, I already have eternal life. I've accepted Jesus. I already have eternal life.

But we see, we've got to read more of what the apostles are saying. You see, like people distort the Scriptures to their own destruction. Because if you look in the same epistle, in the same chapter, a little earlier, in verse 2 and 3. That's 1 John 5, verse 2 and 3. By this we know that we love the children of God. When we love God and keep His commandments. Keep His commandments. For this is the love of God that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

Oh, I keep the commandments, but I don't have to keep the Sabbath. Because, you know, Christ resurrected on Sunday, so we do that on Sunday.

Obviously, you and I know, Christ resurrected on the Sabbath. But, you just go back in the same epistle. In chapter 3, 1 John chapter 3, verse 22. It says, and whatever we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep the commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

And not only just keep the commandments, but we are doing what is pleasing to God in His sight.

Look at verse 4. Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness. In other words, transgresses the law. For sin is lawlessness. Sin is a transgression of the law. And look a little bit even earlier, still in the first epistle of John. 1 John chapter 2, verse 1 through 4. My little children, these things are right to you that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous. And He Himself is a propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world. Now, by verse, we know that we know Him if we keep His commandments.

He says, I know Him, oh, I know Jesus, I know Christ, I'm already saved, I've already got eternal life, and does not keep His commandments, which includes the fourth for the Sabbath. If you break one, you're breaking them all. He's a liar, and the truth is not in Him. Oh yeah, these are very nice people. They're very nice, quote-unquote, Christians.

But be careful, brethren. And you know what they're going to do next? They're going to mix it with politics. They're going to mix it with politics.

And that will bring wars and more trouble.

Reverend, it's Yah. Do not be deceived. That's why I said, beware! False religion is on the rise again.

Look at Matthew 24 verse 24. Matthew 24 verse 24.

And false Christs and false prophets. In other words, preaching the wrong Christ. They're preaching Christ, but they're preaching the wrong Christ. Preaching a Christ that says, oh well, you don't have to keep the Sabbath. That is a false Christ. And false prophets. Oh, I'm going to put it in today's language. False ministers. False pastors. Oh, my pastors said, I don't have to keep the Sabbath. Oh, my pastors said, as much as I love Jesus.

False pastors. False prophets. Will rise and show great signs and wonders. Brethren, these people now know their scriptures. The ones that's convenient to them. And boy, they can't quote the Bible like this. And you and I got to be alert. You and I got to be alert so that you and I are not deceived. Because it says they will show great signs and wonders to deceive. If possible, even the elect.

If possible, even the elect. So is it possible? If you and I are not close to God, it's possible.

If we are not close to God, that's why John said, my little children, I'm asking you, you know, be careful. Do not sin. If we are not close to God, we will be deceived. Even those in the church, which means it will deceive the whole world. Everybody, Christians, and everything will be deceived.

Even the very elect. If you're not close to God. If we're not at one with God. That's why we're fast, to be at one with God. You see, Satan has again, has twisted everything. His arguments are so clever, so subtle, so convincing. These arguments are so convincing, they will convince you if you're not careful. It will convince you.

Turn with me to 2 Corinthians 4, verse 4. 2 Corinthians 4, verse 4. And yeah, we see what Satan is doing.

2 Corinthians 4, 4. He's talking about that the true gospel is vile. These people don't get it. They don't get the true gospel. Oh yeah, they get a false gospel, a perverted gospel of Jesus Christ.

And it says, their minds, whose minds the God of this world, in other words, Satan, has blinded.

How has Satan blinded the people's minds? Through deception, through lies. They're so rampant throughout society, everywhere.

And it's deceiving the whole world. And it says, as blinded of those minds, who do not believe? Oh, I believe in Jesus! I believe! I believe in Jesus! That's what they say.

I have said it before, and I say it again. When you see the word believe in the Bible, see the word obey.

When you see the word believe, see the word obey.

I will do what you say, because you are trustworthy, because I believe you. So believe means I'll do what you say.

Yeah, it's a simple proof of this point.

And this point is described. And keep your finger in 2 Corinthians 4, because we're going to come back to it in a moment. But I just want to show the point about belief. And that's in Hebrews 3, verse 17-19.

In Hebrews 3, verse 17-19, it talks about, Now with whom was he, God, angry for the years? You know, when the Israelites went wearing the desert, leaving Egypt on the way to the promised land, who was God angry with? Those 40 years. Was it not with those who sinned? What did they do? They sinned. Is it clear? They sinned.

Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did they swear that they would not enter this resting land? In other words, they would not enter the promised land. In other words, they would not enter this resting land. In other words, they would not enter this resting land. Who did they swear to not enter this resting land? But to those who did not obey. Do we get what he's talking about? Sin? They sinned. They did not obey.

Right? Now read the next verse. They did not enter because they disobeyed. No, it says, because of unbelief. He said, they sinned and disobeyed because they did not believe. So whenever you see the word believe, you got obey.

They did not believe, so they sinned and they disobeyed.

And so going back to 2 Corinthians 4 verse 4, it says, the God of this world has blinded their minds who do not believe. Oh, I believe in Jesus! No! The point is, do you obey what Jesus said?

And then it says, Lest the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, would shine on them. They don't really understand the Gospel, because that true Gospel is not shining in them, or they have a perverted Gospel of Christ, as Paul refers to it in Galatians chapter 1. And so we got to believe by doing what Christ says. And what does Christ say? Well, we just have to go back to Matthew chapter 7, verse 21. Matthew chapter 7, verse 21.

Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, Jesus, Jesus, I love you! Not everyone that says that shall enter the kingdom of heaven. Oh yeah, you see, it's going to heaven, it's the kingdom of heaven. No, it's the kingdom of God, but God is in heaven now, so it's His kingdom, it's the kingdom of heaven that's going to come and roll on earth.

But He who does the will of my Father in heaven.

Not everyone that says, Jesus, Jesus, Lord, Lord, I love you, I believe in Jesus.

We need to believe in Jesus. We need to, to do that. But we need to obey and do what Jesus told us to do. And He says, you have to do the will of my Father in heaven. Well, people say, oh no, but I'm doing Christ's commandments, not the Father's commandments. No, He says, of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say, will say it in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not preached in Your name? We went out and preached Jesus. We've tried to save so many souls, quote-unquote, in Your name. We have cast out demons in Your name. We've done so many wonderful things in Your name.

And what will Christ say?

I declare to them, I never knew you. Imagine these so-called Christians saying, but Jesus, we've done all this in Your name. And you know, Christ says to them, I never knew you. Can you imagine that? Wow! What do you mean? I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness. It's not just believe, He's obey. You see, Satan is coming with great wrath soon, and he's going to deceive many big time. He's going to be a big deception. And you and I could be deceived if we are not at one with God. We need spiritual help. And that leads me to the third point. We fast to draw near to God, having our hearts sprinkled by the blood of the high priest, and our bodies washed with pure water, which is God's Holy Spirit. Turn with me to Hebrews 10.22. Hebrews 10.22. Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from a evil conscience, that's the sprinkling of Christ's blood, and our bodies washed with pure water, which is God's Holy Spirit. As it says a little earlier, starting in verse 14, For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. Being sanctified. Oh yeah, He has perfected us. That's the end result. Yes, we will have eternal life. Yes. But we are in the process of conversion, from conversion, using God's Holy Spirit, and growing, and being faithful to the end, so that ultimately, at the end, we have been in the process of being sanctified by the power of God's Holy Spirit, and with the help of our high priest, to be our advocate, and then we will, ultimately, at His coming, will be able to stand with Him. But we fast to draw closer to Him, so that our hearts are sprinkled by His blood, the blood of the high priest, and our bodies are washed with pure water, which is God's Holy Spirit. Look at verse 19. Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus. We are able now to enter the Holy of Holies, which is God's heavenly throne, by Christ's blood, by a new and living way. Because the old way was on the day of atonement, when the high priest, with the story of the two goats, as you know, he would go only once a year into the Holy of Holies. But now you and I can go any time, having boldness! Because we obey God, because we are trying our best to follow Him and do His will.

And therefore, this is the new living way, which He consecrated for us, through the veil that is His flesh, and having a high priest over the house of God. We have a high priest. Jesus Christ says in John 1526, that He would send us the Holy Spirit, and so He did. He did brought the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. That was part of the mission that He did as part of His coming, and He brought the Holy Spirit on that day. John 15, verse 26. And it says, But when the help comes, whom I shall send to you, Christ sent to us the Holy Spirit, from the Father, the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father, the Spirit of Truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of me. God's Holy Spirit, He's God's power, and He helps us to overcome our weaknesses. Brethren, this is the role of the high priest. This is what we read in Leviticus 16. In Leviticus 16, let's turn there. Leviticus 16, starting in verse 1. Leviticus 16.

Starting in verse 1, we see Yada, situation of the high priest, the physical high priest, on the Day of Atonement, having a bulak for himself, to cleanse himself, to purify himself, so that he could then represent Christ. And then we have the situation of the two goats. And we read in verse 7 and 8. Then he shall take the two goats, and present them before the Lord, at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. And Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats, one lot for the Lord, which is Christ, and the other lot for, as it says in Hebrew, Azazel, which is the name of an evil demon. One goat represented Christ, and the other goat represented Satan, Azazel. Now we have the two goats. And the point is, human beings could not distinguish one from the other, because Satan dresses himself as an angel of light, that you can't even distinguish that he is evil, because he is so deceitful and so subtle. And so then we have, once that is done, then the high priest has a role of doing and cleansing the temple, and that the Holy of Holies, and goes there and does a whole ceremony about making atonement. We read that starting on verse 15. He says he will kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, bring its blood inside a vial, do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. And so he will make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanliness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions and for all their sins. And then he goes on and he says, and there will be no man. Verse 17. There's no man there. That's what Christ is doing now. He's making atonement for us. He's our high priest, and there's no man there. Yes, you and I have boldness to enter the Holy of Holies in our prayers, but there's no man there. There's no man in heaven at this moment. And he says, and he'll make atonement for the Holy Place until he comes out. Until he comes out. When he comes out, and then ultimately at the end, symbolizes when he is going to come back to earth, and he would have completed that process. And that's what Christ is doing now. Christ died for us, but now in heaven is our high priest. And now, whenever you and I try to be godly but fail because we're imperfect, and we get on our knees and ask God, please forgive me, and Christ sprinkles that blood seven times completely so that you and I are forgiven. And so, brethren, that's what we've got to do now, is we've got to be careful. We've got to be careful because we've got to put on Christ's armor, God's armor. We've got to be close to God because this is the time that we are being cleansed and we are being sanctified with the help of the high priest and with the help of God's early spirit as we overcome our problems and we grow. We have to grow. We have a battle. We have a war. A war against spiritual powers of darkness. Reading 2 Corinthians 10, verses 4-6, against philosophies, against philosophical arguments, against vain thoughts and selfish ideas. All type of deception that appears very logical, basically human reasoning apart from God. And so our high priest is inevitably interceding for us individually as we struggle daily, and with the help of God's early spirit, we are in a spiritual battle so that we are at one with God. That's why we're fasting, because we need the help of our high priest, Jesus Christ, and we need the sanctification of the Holy Spirit for obedience.

That's what we need to be at one. And last but not least, we fast so we may stand with the Son of Man when He comes. In Luke 21, verse 36, He says, watch and pray that you may be accounted worthy to escape and to stand with the Son of Man. We need to be watching and praying. We need to be faithful to the end. And then after that, when we go back to Leviticus 16, then the live goat is brought out, and that Satan is then put in jail for a thousand years as we read in Revelation 20. And so why are we fasting today, brethren? We're fasting today because we command to be at one with God.

But we've got to have the correct fast, the correct attitude. And that is not just fasting and having the right attitude today, but it's an attitude that remains changed throughout our life. We fast so we're close to God, so we're not deceived by the wiles and tricks of Satan. There's so much deception in the world today, brethren. We fast and draw close to God so we can be approaching the holiest in confidence and bolded, not afraid, because we have a high priest, Christ. And with the power of God's Holy Spirit to help us, we can overcome. And we fast so that we can be accounted worthy to stand with Christ. But I want to turn to one last concluding scripture about why we're fast today. And that's in Leviticus 25 verse 9. Leviticus 25 verse 9. And then you shall cause the trumpet. Now this is another trumpet. It's the trumpet of Jubilee. It's not of the other seven prophetic trumpets. It's an additional trumpet, the trumpet of Jubilee, to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month. That's today, on the day of atonement. On the day of atonement, you shall make the trumpet to sound throughout all your land. And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land. What wonderful liberty will be when Satan will not be there to deceive mankind. Wow! Liberty throughout the land. To all its inhabitants, it shall be a Jubilee for you, and to each of you shall return to his possession, and each of you shall return to his family. Brethren, we fast to be at one with God. We fast for that great day of the Jubilee. That's why we're fasting today.