THE CHOSEN FAST (Man's versus God's) in ISAIAH 58:1-14

THE CHOSEN FAST (Man's versus God's) in ISAIAH 58:1-14
Have you ever noticed...that sometimes we do things that we believe that God desires...but we do them for all the wrong reasons?  Oh we are "working for the Lord"...but He does not desire the works with our attitudes.  Isaiah 58:1-5 speaks of man's version of the fast.  It reminds me of God's word to church in Revelation 2:1-5 or David's insight into true repentance in Psalm 51:16-17. 
God asks the question..."Is this not the FAST which I chose?"  The thing that jumps out at me about MAN'S FAST versus GOD'S FAST is that as a man...I need to SLOW down my FAST if I am going to do God's Fast...and not just speedily go head strong trying to do religious things.  Here are some of God's Chosen Fast:
1.  To  loosen  the bonds of wickedness
2.  To undo the bands of the yoke
3.  To let the oppressed go free
4.  To break every yoke
5.  Divide your bread with the hungry
6.  Bring the homeless person into your house
7.  Cover the naked when you see them
8.  Don't hide yourself from your own flesh
THE CAUSE AND EFFECT OF THIS TYPE OF FASTING
1.  Your light will break out like the dawn
2.  Your recovery will speedily spring forth
3.  Your righteousness will go before you
4.  The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard
5.  You will call and the Lord will answer
6.  You will cry and the Lord will say...here I AM
THE BIG IF
These things are hinged on your free will to choose to do these things:
1.  IF you remove the yoke from your midst
2.  IF you remove the pointing of the finger
3.  IF you remove the speaking of wickedness
4.  IF you give yourself to the hungry
5.  IF you satisfy the desire (furnish) the desire of the afflicted
AGAIN...THE CAUSE AND EFFECT OF CORRESPONDING ACTIONS TO YOUR FAITH IN FASTING
1.  Then your light will rise in the darkness
2.  Then your gloom will become like midday
3.  The Lord will continually guide you
4.  The Lord will satisfy your desire in scorched places
5.  The Lord will give strength to your bones
6.  You will be like a watered garden
7.  You will be like a spring of water whose waters do not fail
8.  You will be like rebuilding the ancient ruins
9.  You will raise up the age-old foundations
10.You will be called the repairer of the breach
11.You will be called the restorer of the streets in which to dwell
THE SABBATH CONNECTION (Shabbat Shalom)
1.  IF you turn your foot because of the Sabbath
2.  IF you turn your foot from doing your own pleasure on His Holy Day
3.  IF you call the Sabbath a delight...the Holy Day of the Lord...honorable
4.  IF you shall honor it (the Sabbath)
5.  IF you desist from your own ways
6.  IF you desist from seeking your own pleasure
7.  IF you desist from speaking your won word.
CAUSE AND EFFECT
1.  Then you will take delight in the Lord
2.  Then The Lord will make you ride on the heights of the earth
3.  Then the Lord will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father
WHAT IS THE AUTHORITY FOR THESE THINGS TO HAPPEN?
"For the mouth of the Lord has spoken."  (Isaiah 58:14)


FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY


Well...if you are going to FAST...do SLOWLY and with PURPOSE.


Love and Supersonic Kisses
Rodney "Fasting As Slow As Possible" Boyd