Fasting with Purpose: Aligning Hearts with God

Devotional

Day 1: Fasting Reflects Divine Love

True fasting is not merely a personal sacrifice; it is an act of love that mirrors God's concern for justice and the well-being of others. It is a tangible expression of the love commanded in the greatest commandments—to love God and to love one's neighbor. [18:09]

Isaiah 58:6-7 - "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?"
Reflection: How can you incorporate acts of kindness and justice into your fasting practice to better reflect God's love?

Day 2: Fasting as Trust, Not Transaction

Fasting should be an act of humility and trust in God, not a means to secure personal desires or blessings. It is a spiritual discipline that draws us closer to God and aligns our hearts with His will, rather than a transactional ritual. [09:18]

Joel 2:12-13 - "Even now," declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity."
Reflection: In what ways might you have viewed spiritual disciplines as transactions with God, and how can you shift towards a more trust-based approach?

Day 3: Sabbath as Trust in God's Provision

Observing a Sabbath is an act of trust, acknowledging that God knows our needs and that rest is essential. It is a reminder that our work does not sustain us—God does. This principle, while not mandated, invites us to experience the blessings of rest and reliance on God. [27:28]

Hebrews 4:9-10 - "There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from their own work, just as God did from his."
Reflection: What steps can you take to incorporate a rhythm of rest into your life, trusting that God will provide for your needs?

Day 4: Heart Transformation Over Ritual

The true measure of fasting is not found in the act itself but in the transformation of the heart and behavior it inspires. Quarreling, unforgiveness, and other sins negate the spiritual benefits of fasting. The focus should be on cultivating virtues and attitudes that reflect God's character. [14:30]

James 1:26-27 - "Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
Reflection: What negative behaviors or attitudes do you need to address to ensure your fasting is accompanied by a true transformation of the heart?

Day 5: Living a Life of Righteousness Daily

The call to live a life that reflects God's love and righteousness extends beyond fasting and into every aspect of our daily lives. It challenges us to examine our motives in all spiritual disciplines and to live in a way that honors God consistently. [16:16]

Micah 6:8 - "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
Reflection: How can you more fully integrate the principles of justice, mercy, and humility into your daily life as a reflection of your faith?

Sermon Summary

In the discourse delivered by Pastor Josh Poole, the focus is on the biblical practice of fasting, particularly the heart behind it. The message draws from the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 58, which provides a profound insight into the true purpose and acceptable manner of fasting according to God's will. The central theme is that the outward act of fasting must be accompanied by a correct heart posture and genuine intentions.

The discussion begins with a historical context, explaining that the Israelites, God's chosen people, had experienced deliverance from Egypt and had been given a Promised Land. Despite their knowledge of God and His works, they were on the brink of exile due to their sins. Isaiah is tasked with delivering a message to the Israelites, not because they were ignorant of God, but because they knowingly continued to sin.

The crux of the message is that God is not impressed by mere external displays of piety, such as daily temple visits or acts of fasting that are performed with ulterior motives. The Israelites were criticized for their hypocrisy, as they appeared devout yet their hearts were far from God. They questioned why their fasting did not elicit a favorable response from God, revealing a transactional approach to their faith practices.

God's response, as relayed by Isaiah, is that the kind of fasting He desires is not about self-affliction or seeking personal gain. Instead, it is about freeing the oppressed, being just in one's dealings, and engaging in acts of kindness and charity. The essence of fasting, according to God, is to break the chains of injustice and to share one's resources with those in need.

The message emphasizes that the blessings associated with fasting, such as answered prayers and divine protection, should not be the motivation for engaging in the practice. Instead, fasting should stem from a desire to draw closer to God and to align one's life with His will. The Israelites' misguided approach to fasting serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of practicing religious rituals for selfish reasons.

Pastor Poole also touches on the importance of Sabbath observance, which, although not mandated in the New Testament, remains a valuable principle for rest and trust in God. He cites the example of Chick-fil-A, a business that honors the Sabbath and yet thrives, to illustrate the blessings that come from trusting in God's ways.

The message concludes with a call to rest in God's love and to surrender one's own ways to His. It is a reminder that true faith involves trusting in God's provision and timing, and that rest is an integral part of a believer's life.

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What specific behaviors and attitudes were the Israelites criticized for in Isaiah 58? [05:33]
According to Isaiah 58, what does God desire from a true fast? [16:16]
How did the Israelites respond to their fasting not being acknowledged by God, and what does this reveal about their heart posture? [08:40]
What are some of the actions God associates with a true fast in Isaiah 58? [16:16]

Interpretation Questions

Why does God emphasize the importance of the heart posture behind fasting rather than the act itself? [08:40]
How does the concept of fasting in Isaiah 58 align with the greatest commandments to love God and love one's neighbor? [18:09]
What does the inclusion of Sabbath observance in the discussion of fasting suggest about the relationship between rest and trust in God? [27:28]
How can the Israelites' approach to fasting serve as a cautionary tale for modern believers? [09:18]

Application Questions

Reflect on your own practices of fasting or other spiritual disciplines. Are there any ways in which your heart posture might need adjustment to align more closely with God's desires? [08:40]
Isaiah 58 emphasizes actions such as freeing the oppressed and feeding the hungry. What specific steps can you take this week to engage in acts of kindness and justice in your community? [16:16]
The sermon mentioned the importance of not practicing religious rituals for selfish reasons. How can you ensure that your spiritual practices are genuine expressions of trust and devotion to God? [09:18]
Consider the role of rest in your life. How can you incorporate a Sabbath-like rest into your weekly routine to better trust in God's provision and timing? [27:28]
The sermon highlighted the importance of examining one's motives in all spiritual disciplines. What are some practical ways you can regularly check your motives to ensure they are rooted in a genuine desire to honor God? [16:16]
Pastor Poole mentioned the success of Chick-fil-A as an example of honoring the Sabbath. Can you think of other examples where trusting in God's ways has led to unexpected blessings? How does this encourage you to trust God more in your own life? [27:28]
Reflect on a time when you may have practiced a spiritual discipline with the wrong motives. What did you learn from that experience, and how can it shape your future practices? [09:18]

Sermon Clips

1) "We spend so much time talking about what we are going to give up... but we don't spend enough time talking about what are we picking up." [15:00] (Download)

2) "The kind of fast that I want is... to free those who are wrongly imprisoned, lighten the burden of those who work for you, let the oppressed go free, remove the chains that bind people." [16:16] (Download)

3) "Taking Sabbath is an act of trust... we live in a world that we got to give every day all of our time to accomplish the things that we need to do... he's going hey even with the religious practices... don't forget to rest and rest in me." [28:47] (Download)

4) "The Bible, when it's talking about the kind of fast that the Lord desires for us, he's not talking anything about food... he's going here's the fast that I want you to do: I want you to treat people well." [18:09] (Download)

5) "They're doing the right thing for the wrong reason... the heart posture there is that I'm doing what I'm doing so that I can get you to do what I want you to do." [09:18] (Download)

6) "If we're going Lord I see that whenever I fast... we can't do it in an effort to receive the benefits of it. The reason we fast is because we go Lord I desire to draw closer to you." [24:50] (Download)

7) "What does it look like to rest in that love? It looks like surrendering my way for his way even when it's scary... to go Lord I want to do things your way." [31:11] (Download)

8) "The teaching is focusing on the blessing and not focusing on the heart of why we give... it is better to give than it is to receive and there is a blessing that comes with trusting the Lord in the giving of our tithes and offerings." [24:08] (Download)

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