Fasting Must Be Done According To Scriptural Pattern

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Fasting Must Be Done According To Scriptural Pattern 

Sunday 07 September

Text: Matthew 9:14, 15   

Key verse: Jonah 3: 10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not. 

The unrighteous cannot win God's favor or receive His blessing through fasting. If they must fast acceptably, they must accompany their fast with deep sorrow and repentance from their sin. Those whose fasting is acceptable to God are those who are righteous. God expects righteousness and holiness to be exhibited during fasting for His blessing to be released. There are those who fast to let people know of their ability to fast. The Lord warns against this, because it has no reward. The glory they receive from men is their reward. God has no blessing to give them for their outward show. The local church should teach and train her members on scriptural fasting. 

Fasting requires moderation so as not to abuse it and bring harm upon oneself and others. The account of the New Testament Church does not reveal a church full of fasting. The marathon fasting many ministers often pull their church members through is strange to the early church. Care must be taken not to undermine the place of prayer and faith apart from fasting. Fasting must not be exalted above its biblical place. Apostles Barnabas and Paul ordained elders over the churches they planted. They prayed with fasting and commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. 

Apostle Paul spoke to Christian couples on the importance of marital intimacy. Pleasuring in marital relationship is due right husbands and wives have on each other. They must learn to satisfy each other always in this respect. However, where they may want to engage in prayer and fasting that may require abstinence, they should seek the consent of each other. The prayer and fasting should be for a time, after which they should come together again to avoid Satan's temptation. This scripture does not specify how long fasting may take, but gives caution to the married to consider the feelings of their marriage partner in their prayer and fasting. 

Thought for the day: The Lord expects His children to fast.

Song for the day: I need Thee every hour

Bible reading for the day: Ezekiel 41-43

#Horemow.