Topic: Fruitless Fast [Open Heavens for Teens 20 August 2019]

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Memorise: “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.” – Genesis 4:7a

Read: Isaiah 58:3-5

3 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.

4 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.

5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?

Bible In One Year: Psalm 116-118, 1 Corinthians 2

MESSAGE:

Fasting can be very beneficial for any believer, but then it must be done according to the scriptures. If you usually commit sin, then decide to suspend sin during the fast with the intention that you will return to it after the fast, your sacrifice is an abomination to God. He said it is better to hearken to His word than t make sacrifices to Him (1 Samuel 15:22). If you fast and brag about it for everyone to know that you fast frequently, you have just plucked out the fruits of your efforts because He said showing off your fast to others is hypocrisy (Matthew 6:17). If you are fasting and in that period, you are not taking out quality time to worship, pray and read your Bible so as to be more consecrated to God, you are embarking on a hunger strike.

The real essence of fasting is to kill the desires of the flesh and heighten the sensitivity of your spirit man above that of your flesh so that you can be closer to God. In this state, it is easier for you to get directions from God and to reach Him with your prayers too. Fasting is a very good thing that you should do regularly, but make sure that you are doing it correctly.

Action Point:

Identify the elements that make your fasting fruitless and stop doing them immediately.

Hymn 5:

1 Onward, Christian soldiers,
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before!
Christ, the Royal Master,
Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
See His banners go!

Chorus:
Onward, Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before!

2 At the Sign of triumph
Satan’s host doth flee;
On, then, Christian soldiers,
On to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver
At the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices,
Loud your anthems raise!

3 Like a mighty army
Moves the Church of God;
Brothers, we are treading
Where the saints have trod;
We are not divided;
All one body we
One in hope and doctrine,
One in charity.

4 Onward, then, ye people,
Join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices
In the triumph song;
Glory, praise and honour,
Unto Christ the King;
This, through countless ages
Men and angels sing.

Daily Devotional for Teen’s guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.