Are you shouting Hosanna in the highest on this Palm Sunday, and will be like those who shouted crucify Him the next week?

Masses of people of various denominations have committed to fasting a certain number of days. Fasting can be personal, or corporate. But whatever the case, it must be done the proper way for God to be pleased with it. How in the world can anybody in their right mind do what they want to, rather than obey the Word of God?

The reason many people don’t’ follow the Lord’s rules is because they are carnal, acting in flesh.

 Example: Jesus told His disciples this: Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it (Matthew 7:30).

This was and still is a command from Jesus to all His disciples. Many scholars say the wide and broad is the gate that leads to destruction is referring to hell. The proof and truth is, Jesus was saying this to the disciples: “You enter in the narrow gate, which is spiritual, and not the broad way which leads to destruction” (Matthew 7:13-14) (suffer loss of rewards). Carnal Christians are those who act like the unsaved.

Didn’t Jesus say “If you love Me, keep My commandments? (John 14:15). Please stop picking and choosing how you want the Word of God to fit into your ways. We are required to study for ourselves (2 Timothy 2:15). Studying is work, but it is necessary to please God who will greatly reward those who are obedient and faithful. His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord (Matthew 25:21). Where is your faith?

Jesus is THE Model and Example for everything we do- following Christ – fasting, model prayer, gifts, healings, miracles, signs and wonders etc. He even said we would do greater works through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Some Biblical Instances of fasts

Moses - So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the ^]Ten Commandments (Exodus 34:28.

Esther - “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so, I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!” (Exodus 4:16).

Daniel- In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks [twenty one days].  I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled (Daniel 10:2-3)

Jesus- Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry (Matthew 4:1-2). Notice that after each of the fasts, there was a powerful move of God.

The Lord God told the Israelites they fasted for the wrong reason- Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? (Isaiah 58:6). The pharisees fasted for the wrong reason; moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites,…. so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly (Matthew 6:16, 18).

Challenge: Please do a self examination. Are you doing the same thing? When people fast other than Jesus’ example, it may seem successful, but it’s not.

Example: There are Mega churches that are not functioning under the power of God, but there is no true success. Are you shouting Hosanna in the highest on this Palm Sunday, and will be like those who shouted crucify Him the next week? The principle is the same if you are not obeying the Lord God.

Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org