"Teaching by Pastor Vlad Savchuk & additional studies by Ni'Asia Reeves."
TRUTH 1: FASTING INCREASES MY SPIRITUAL WEIGHT, NOT MY SPIRITUAL WORTH.
We get our identity and worth from God’s word not by fasting. Never fast, give, or go to church with the idea that doing so will get God to love you more, that is religious and not Spiritual or biblical and was the flaw of the Pharisees as Jesus taught.
Scripture References:
Matthew 23:12 (Amplified Bible)
12 Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be raised to honor.
James 4:10 (Amplified Bible)
10 Humble yourselves [with an attitude of repentance and insignificance] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up, He will give you purpose].
1 Peter 5:6 (Amplified Bible)
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time,
TRUTH 2: FASTING IS A BIBLICAL WAY FOR HUMBLING OURSELVES.
Fasting and humbling can be used interchangeably. Humbling ourselves protects us from the pit of Pride. It keeps us accountable to God, so we never get to the place where we feel we got it all together, we know everything and don’t need anyone else, or consumed by the power and authority that has been granted us by God. Pride was the fall of Satan and the temptation of Adam and Eve in the Garden, getting to a place where we decide we want to act independent from God. It was also what Jesus Himself was tempted by in the wilderness, and Jesus had a lifestyle of praying and fasting.
Scripture References:
Ezra 8:21 (Amplified Bible)
21 Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river Ahava, so that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a safe journey for us, our children, and all our possessions.
Psalm 69:10-12 (The Passion Translation)
10 When they see me seeking for more of you with weeping and fasting, they all just scoff and scorn at my passion. 11 When I humble myself with sorrow over my sin, it gives them a reason to mock me even more. 12 The leaders, the influential ones—how they scorn my passion for you! I’ve become the talk of the town, the theme of drunkards’ songs.
Psalm 35:13 (Amplified Bible)
13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth (mourning garment); I humbled my soul with fasting, And I prayed with my head bowed on my chest.
Leviticus 16:29 (Amplified Bible)
An Annual Atonement
29 “This shall be a permanent statute for you: in the seventh month (nearly October) on the tenth day of the month you shall humble yourselves [by fasting] and not do any work, whether the native-born or the stranger who lives temporarily among you;
Leviticus 23:27 (Amplified Bible) Symbol of fasting and praying
27 “Also the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall [a]humble yourselves [by fasting] and present an offering by fire to the Lord.
Daniel 10:12 (Amplified Bible)
12 Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words.
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