In the day of your fast you have found pleasure in the long face and recognition of those around you. You fast for strife and debate and with wickedness in you heart. You ask more of your laborers than you are willing to give. You should not fast as you do, to have your mourning heard and to be seen in sackcloth and ashes. Wash yourself and put on your daily robes and go about the day. In your fast, lighten the load of your laborers – leave wickedness – share your bread, open your house to the poor and cover the naked, then your light will shine forth. Your healing will come and righteousness will go before you; the glory of God will protect you. Then when you call the Lord will answer and when you cry He will say, “I am here.”

Be free and take away the accusing finger and the speaking of wicked things. If you extend your soul to the hungry and tend to those hurting among you then your light will dawn in the darkness and it will be as the afternoon. The Lord will guide you and tend to you and strengthen you and you will be like a garden in the desert with a spring that does not fail. If you delight in God and keep from doing your own pleasures and call the holy of God honorable; you will honor Him and not your own ways or find you own pleasures, or speak your own words, then will you find your joy in the Lord God.

We have all read how Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born to a woman still untouched by her husband. We have all read of how the wise men were instructed by Herod and did not heed his request, but listened to God. We have all read or heard of how the spirit sent Joseph, Mary and the Child to Egypt. After that Herod sent men to kill the male children of Bethlehem and its districts from the age of two and younger. The innocent, of the land, was put to death because Herod did not, could not, understand the mercies of God. When we are living under the king of darkness, we cannot understand the light. As the stars in the sky at night, we may see the light but it is a mystery to us. In the darkness we find it hard to see even what is close to us and we protect ourselves with walls, that hide our sins from us, and hate, that tells us of the sins of others. We must walk out of the darkness and into the light. But we do not make the journey alone. God has sent to us a comforter and a helper that is the Holy Spirit.

When you fast in the flesh, feast in the spirit. Be of good heart and joy inviting the spirit to feed you the bread of life and meat in due season. As Jesus fasted, the tempter came to Him, he said, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The Word said, “if anyone loves Me, they will keep my Word; and My Father will love them.” And He said, “the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom My Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring you to remember all things that I said to you.” He did not leave unsaid, “love one another; as I have loved you, love one another so the world will know that you are My disciples.”

Do not fast to seem righteous before the family of God, God knows your heart. Do not fast to seem righteous before your brothers and sisters in Christ, your righteousness is the Lord Jesus. Do not fast to seem righteous before the world or you will have your reward with the world. Get behind your door and pray. Break spiritual bread and drink the wine that is the spirit. Wash your face, comb your hair and press your clothes before leaving the privacy of your home. At the noon hour, find a private place to be feed by the Holy Spirit. Do not boast of the number of hours or days that you fast. Do not make it a commandment to others that they fast a number of hours or days in a week, month or year. Do not say to anyone that it is a condition of loving God or being loved by Him. Do not appear before men to be fasting, but to the Father in secret and He will reward you openly.

© 2000 Tim D. Coulter Sr.