Episode 148: Food aspect of Fasting

In the name of the glorious Trinity, Father and Son and Holy

Spirit, forever Amen. Glory be to the everlasting

mercies which sent you to us, O Christ, the Light of the world

and the life of all. Give us wisdom by your law and

enlighten our impulses by Your knowledge.

Sanctify our souls by Your truth and grant that we may be

obedient to Your words and may fulfil Your commandments at

every hour. O You who enlightens the

rational with the knowledge of Your greatness, do enlight, O my

Lord, our thoughts, that we may meditate upon Your holy and

divine Scriptures at all times. O Lord of all, Father and Son

and Holy Spirit, forever. Amen.

And four weeks to go as we have entered our wilderness in

fasting and praying and worshipping and scripture

reading and church attendance. These all come in a package.

You cannot fast and not pray. You cannot pray and not fast.

You cannot fast and pray and not read scriptures.

You cannot read scriptures and pray but not fast.

You cannot fast and pray and read scriptures but don't attend

church. And you cannot do 1 without the

other. Beloved, it's a it's a spiritual

package. All comes in one praise and

glory be to his name. Last week we spoke about the the

manner that we should fast, why we should fast and our scripture

passage was from Isaiah chapter 58 and what God was commanding

Isaiah 58 · chapter mention

the Israelites to do when they came in to fast and how they

would have to fast. What I'd like to speak about

today is what you've asked. And these are the questions that

I, I receive and I'm confronted with on some just inquiring,

some not so much arguing, but wanting to argue.

No, just just, you know, inquiring.

That's just sorry. Dialogue.

Dialoguing. Yeah.

You know, you know, you know, dialoguing going back in front.

Now there's another word disputing, Right.

What I'd like to talk about is the food aspect of fasting, and

the title is Food aspect of fasting, A biblical practice and

Instruction and a church tradition.

Stephen's laughing because he likes and he likes titles to be

one word, and I can't do that, Stephen.

So you go, and what is it? Summarize that.

So it's the food aspect of fasting, A biblical practice and

instruction and a church tradition.

Before we start, I'd like to the reason why I am covering this

topic and I am now, you know, replying to these questions and,

and you know, those who've reached out to me is because

within Christianity, beloved, we cannot have our own

understanding and our own philosophy.

We can't, we cannot draw the conclusions according to our own

understanding and feeling and emotion and how we'd like it to

play in our life. No, Saint Paul writes it

clearly. There is a warning in the in the

scriptures, in Colossians chapter 2 verse 8, something

Colossians 2:8

about this. And he writes, beware lest any

man mislead you through philosophy and vain deceit,

after the teaching of men, after the principles of the world, and

not after Christ. So I always, I have always

mentioned that, you know, when I want to give you my own opinion,

I always have this disclaimer. And I say this is my personal

opinion and I emphasize it. Why I am trying to stress the

point that my personal opinion should be 1 to take for

consideration maybe, but should not You should not be concerned

about that. Your reply can be well and I'll

be that's your personal opinion. I'm sorry.

I want the the the truth from the scriptures, the truth from

the the framework of the church, the life of the church and the

traditions of the church and the teachings of the Fathers.

That is what our faith is based on, if it's not based on the

Scriptures, the church, its traditions, its doctrines, and

its teachings of the Fathers. Our faith is flawed, beloved,

because we don't have a faith. We don't have a religion.

Religion is not a bad word, by the way, I'm not religious, I'm

spiritual. You don't know what you're

talking about when you say something like that.

We don't have this spiritual Christian religion.

We don't have a spiritual Christian religion that was

invented by man. No, the author of our faith, our

Christian religion, faith is Christ himself and Jesus Christ

is God. Listen to this.

Let me continue and read verse 9.

Now he says that of men after the principles of the world and

not after Christ. For in him meaning in who?

In Christ, Jehovah's Witnesses, friends, Mormon friends, Muslim

friends, Jewish friends, listen carefully.

St. Paul writes principles of the

world and not after Christ. For in him in Christ is embodied

all fullness of the Godhead. Hence Jesus is perfect man and

his perfect God. Praise and glory be to his name.

Show me in the Bible where it says that's where it says go and

read the Bible. Saint Paul is telling you

there's ample of testimonies, but I'm not talking about the

divinity of the Lord. We're talking about the food

aspect of fasting. Biblically, Saint Paul writes

about self interpretations. You know, some people pick up

the scriptures and ponder on the scriptures and try to find an

interpretation, a message in the scriptures.

We don't need to reinvent the wheel.

We don't need to do that. Christianity is not a faith,

that is, that is being introduced every day.

It is being revealed and manifested to be true in the one

Lord Jesus Christ daily through the Holy Spirit.

But it this has been confirmed, established and sealed by Jesus

Christ himself and entrusted to his holy apostles, whom then

went and deposited this depository, deposited this

entrustment in the depository which is the Church.

So interpretations, we must be careful as well, beloved, when

you when you gather for Bible studies, you don't gather for

every person's interpretation and understanding.

Along with the Holy Scriptures, there needs to be the accounts

of the church fathers. There needs to be an account of

the history of the church, what the church has been teaching.

And we're doing it. We're going to do this and we're

talking about the, the, the, the aspect of food in fasting.

But what I want to do is I want to 1st cover that.

Listen, not everyone interprets scriptures.

You're not all, no one's permitted to interpret,

interpret scriptures unless God calls you because it's only been

interpreted. Look at what Saint Paul writes

in his second epistle, Saint Peter.

I'm sorry, Second Epistle of Saint Peter, chapter 1, verses

2021. Knowing this first, that not

every prophecy or prophetic writing is made clear in the own

book, in its own book. For the prophecy did not come by

the will of man, but holy men of God spoke when they were

inspired by the Holy Spirit. Knowing this first, that not

every prophetic writing is made clear in its own book.

Oh my God, praise be to your name.

So Sola scriptura is dangerous then?

Because what Saint Peter is writing is that not every

prophetic book in the Old Testament was clear by the book

itself. But who made it clear?

The prophets did so. The scriptures are made clear by

the apostles, the prophets, the Church led by the Holy Spirit

and not by every man's own interpretation.

Chapter 3, verse 16, that same epistle, St.

Peter Rice and also in all his epistles talking about Saint

Paul, he spoke concerning these matters in which they are

certain things so hard to be understood that those who are

ignorant and unstable pervert their meaning as they do also

the other scriptures to their own destruction.

Don't pervert the meaning. Don't come up with new

inventions when it comes to interpreting scriptures.

Don't come up with new intentions.

That fasting is not food. The food aspect is not

important. If you say fasting does not only

pertain to food alone, aim into that because not faith alone,

faith alone, faith alone. The 2 words faith alone appease

in the scriptures where James is saying James is talking about

that faith alone is not your salvation or or the Kingdom of

heaven. He talks about deeds.

So food alone, food is not the only aspect of fasting.

Yes, that is right, but food is a significant aspect of fasting.

And as I said, we're going to have a look at it through the

biblical practices and instructions by God and the

church traditions, the church, the pillar and foundation of

truth according to One Timothy 350.

So let's get into it. 10 minutes have passed and you're saying

love, you haven't gotten into it.

No, there has to be these clarifications because if we

don't have this understanding, then when we come to read these

Scriptures, everyone's going to have their own interpretation.

But let's read them and be careful and, and know that we

are going to understand these in the framework of the Scriptures

itself interpreted by the holy apostles and the and the holy

fathers of the church. Genesis chapter 2, verse 17.

Genesis 2:17

What did God say to Adam from the tree of knowledge of good

and of evil? You shall not but look at it,

glance at it, hug it, sleep under its shade.

No, you should not eat. Eat.

What does eating entail? You eat something.

Whatever it is, we call it food. It can be candy, it can be

chocolates or ham soma, it can be hamburger.

Whatever it is, it's food. So when God said you shall not

eat, meaning you abstain from food, the word soma, we're going

to talk about this next episode. Soma means abstain.

You shall not not eat. Don't eat, stop from eating.

So eating entails food. So there it is.

And it's an instruction in the Scriptures.

God is instructing praise and glory be to his name.

You shall not eat. Moses in Deuteronomy Chapter 9,

Deuteronomy 9:9

verse 9 writes when I went up to the mountain and I took tablets

of stones and the tablets of the covenant that the Lord God

covenanted or contracted with you, and I dwelt in the mountain

40 days and 40 nines I-40 nines. I ate ate not believed and

closed the eyes and the ease. No, I ate.

Now he elaborates. No bread.

There's your food and no drink. I ate no bread and I drank no

water. Just just Jesus did praise and

glory be to say that's fasting, abstinence, soma and God sets it

in Isaiah chapter 58 verse six last episode.

Isaiah 58 · chapter mention

Is this not the fast I chose? Is this not the fast meaning

abstinence from food? We've already ascertained this

Joel chapter one, verse 14. Sanctify a fast.

God says sanctify. You know what sanctifies mean?

Set it apart. Meaning it has to be something

special. Not I'm not going to drink Coke

for 50 days. I'm not going to have a, a, a

true gum. No, no, no food.

Abstain food. Next week we'll talk about why

no flesh, no dairy. Sanctify a fast, call an

assembly and gather the elders. For those who dispute the fact

that the church 2 weeks ago called a fast or three weeks

ago, almost 3 weeks ago called the assembly in the church,

gathered the elders, the priests were gathered, and the church

called the assembly and sanctified a fast.

So it's not wrong for the church to indicate on the

ecclesiastical calendar that Lent is here.

Oh, because then everyone knows we're fasting.

Yeah. What's the problem with that?

What's the problem with someone asking you, would you like a

burger? You say?

No, I'm sorry, I'm fasting. There's no problem, but when

you're sitting there and you're constantly putting it in

people's face, you know, I'm fasting, you know, I fast, I

fast truly, I fast. Oh, that's you're doing it.

So to be seen to be applauded by man, Jesus said do not do your

charity before men to be seen by them.

You can do it before men, but don't do it to show off.

Do it just humbly. You have to do it do it humbly

again, Joel chapter 2 verse 12. Therefore the Lord God says the

Joel 2:12

Lord God says the Lord God said and not only for 50 days.

We have a program I think Steven fasting beyond 50 days.

The Lord God said therefore the Lord sorry, Joel writes in

chapter 2 verse 12. Therefore the Lord God says God

is speaking, be attentive, stop your vacuuming, stop driving,

listen intently. God is saying return to me from

all your heart in fasting and in weeping and in mourning.

Fasting, absence from food, weeping, mourning.

That's why the church declares during these 50 days, no

celebratory activities, no weddings, no parties, no going

out and enjoying yourself and having a drink and ha, ha, no,

no, no, we're supposed to. Our necks are supposed to be

bowed like a bow in humility, in weeping, in mourning because of

our sins, because Satan has overcome us, because we let the

guard down. Christ fasted so that he could

hammer Satan. And we're doing the same,

beloved. So fasting, there it is.

It's an aspect of food. There's food aspect there.

Ezra in chapter 8 proclaimed a fast who humbly seeks God seek

God's protection during this fasting.

These there's some prayer points.

Lord, forgive my sins. Lord, I sorrow for my sins and

my stupidity and my foolishness. Lord help me.

Lord, I need your because I want to take on this job because I

want to endeavour embark on in this endeavour during this

fasting. Lord, hear my prayers.

This is what Ezra did, proclaimed a fast to humbly seek

God's protection for a dangerous journey.

They were going to Jerusalem with children, with possessions

and some significant temple treasures.

Joel Ezra chapter 8 in verse 23 he says we fasted and we

Ezra 8 · chapter mention

inquired of God for this and he listened to us.

The Lord will listen if we offer our fast, which entails

abstinence from food as well. But most significantly, Jesus

fasted Matthew 41 to 11, beloved.

And what did he say in John chapter 14 verse 12?

John 14:12

Timeless truth. I love that translation.

This is the Pshuta Amen in the Aramaic in the Pshuta Amen,

which means continuously. I mean it continuously, Amen,

Amen, timeless truth. That's that's a great

translation. Timeless as a powerful, truly,

truly, I say to Lord, of course Jesus speaks truly, but timeless

truth, I tell you, whoever believes in me, Do you believe

in Jesus Christ? Yes, you will do those works.

Jesus says whoever believes in me, those works which I have

done, he will also do. Jesus baptized, we baptized.

Jesus prayed, we prayed. Jesus showed love.

We need to show love. Jesus showed compassion, We need

to show compassion. Jesus forgave, We need to

forgive. Jesus fasted, we need to fast.

And when he fasted, he too didn't eat or drink.

There's the food aspect, but not food alone.

We'll talk about that next week. Not food alone.

TuneIn next episode, Matthew Chapter 9, verse 15, a lot of

Matthew 9:15

verses, Saint John the Baptist, I'm sorry, Jesus, when was

questioned about his disciples not fasting, he said they don't

need to fast. The bridegroom is with us.

If Christ was on earth, we wouldn't be fasting.

We wouldn't be fasting, but Jesus says when the groom or the

bridegroom will be taken from them and then they will fast

fast food and then they will abstain from food.

Jesus says this and the bridegroom is not with us.

And who is the bridegroom praising?

Glory be to His name. John the Baptist clarifies it in

John chapter 3 verses 29 to 30. And Christ confirmed as fasting

John 3:29–30

being an armor against evil demons AKA addictions.

You have an addiction, my dear brother and sister.

You have a demon. There is a demon that is

constantly driving you to the sexual immorality, the alcohol,

the gambling, the drugs, the hatred, whatever is evil.

There is a demon that cannot overcome you.

You're a child of God. But you've allowed the demon,

you've given yourself to demons through what you're going

through. But Jesus is giving you this.

This is your armour, beloved, your armour.

Is this not just to read the Bible and you'll be OK.

We just ascertain that the Bible, Yeah, the Bible itself,

as Saint Peter writes, doesn't give us the clear indication

what it is. We need to go back to the

interpreters of the Bible who've been moved by the Holy Spirit.

So Jesus confirms that that fasting pertaining to abstinence

from food is an armor against evil demons or addictions.

Matthew Chapter 11 verse 21. When the disciples asked him why

Matthew 11:21

they couldn't cast out the demon, Jesus said, But this kind

does not go out except by fasting, abstinence from food.

And by praying and we can continue by reading the

Scriptures, by attending church, the package.

And I'm sorry to say, those who have the NIV version of the

Bible, put it to one side. It has done no justice to the

truth of Christianity. Put it to one side, because you

will see in Matthew chapter 17, verse 21 is not there.

Matthew 17:21

There is a footnote and the footnote reads.

Some manuscripts include here words similar to Mark 929.

Go to Mark 921 in an IV and this is what it reads.

This kind can come out only by prayer.

Woe to you, Zondervan, Woe to you.

You have dared to touch the holy Word of God because you don't

accept, you don't believe in fasting and you've taken the

word you've, you've, you've, you've deleted the word.

You've deleted the word that came out of the mouth of Jesus

Christ, in whom is all divinity embodied.

Woe to you. So put your NIV aside and pick

up a new American Standard Bible, the King James Version,

the the Catholic Study Bible, the Orthodox Study Bible, the

Shukta, the Lens of Version, and read the the true translations.

So by fasting and praying, the disciples fasted, beloved.

Now if, if fasting was obsolete after Jesus Christ, well, the

disciples were doing that was something that was obsolete in

the book of Acts chapter 13, verses two to three.

Acts 13 · chapter mention

If you go back, you'll see him on the episodes.

We read that as they were fasting and beseeching God.

This is the disciples, the Spirit of holiness.

Holy Spirit said to them. The Spirit spoke to them.

We've talked about this, we've expanded on this and this is

what the Spirit said separate to me soul and Barabbas for the

work to which I have called them.

So This is why they were fasting, meaning maybe one day,

one week, they abstained from food.

We've already ascertained that. The reason I keep hopping on

this because this is what the program's about for those who

who want to obsolete, make obsolete the aspect of food in

fasting. And next week we're going to

talk about what type of food and how we do for how we how we

abstain. So set, set aside, sanctify, in

other words, soul and barbas for the work to which I have called

them. And after they had fasted, So

when they finished their fasting and they finished praying, Oh my

God, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Apostolic succession.

They placed hands upon them and they sent them.

You know who they placed their hand upon?

Saint Paul, who was already chosen by Jesus to be his chosen

vessel, who had appeared to him, who had spoken to him, who had

rebuked him. Soul, Soul, why do you persecute

me? Yet the disciples or the

apostles laid the apostles, not the whole congregation.

The apostles laid their hand on Paul or Soul and Barnabas, and

they sent them, laid their hand. Now when they laid their hand,

we don't read of a voice coming from heaven saying take off your

hand, remove your hand. Who are you to lay hand?

I have chosen them. The Spirit has chosen them.

Why didn't the holy speak, rebuke Holy Spirit, rebuke the

apostles who had placed their hands upon them?

That's another topic. But they were fasting,

abstaining from food. And Saint Paul fasted means

again, abstain from food in his suffering.

You know, I work. It's hard for me, Robbie.

You know, I wake up at 6:00. You wake up from a bed during

winter time. Your heat is on.

Summer's coming. Your AC is going to be on,

right? You wake up from a comfortable

bed and you go into a shower and you have your soap and you have

your shampoo and you have to do toothbrush and you have to do

Listerines and whatever you right, all it is that I go to

work. I don't I don't think I can

fast. Well, Saint Paul fasted in his

most miserable sufferings in Second Corinthians 11/27.

Listen to what he writes in toil and fatigue.

Fatigue in many vigils he was he was individual shaharta praying

in hunger and in first. Now that pertains to him being

hungry. No food to eat.

There was nothing there right? And in many fasts, meaning there

was food, but he chose to abstain.

He didn't say, well hang on a SEC, I'm in my toil and fatigue,

I'm individual, I can't do this. No, no, no, he fasted in cold

and in nakedness. Again, you wake up in the

morning in summertime. It could be like Detroit or

Canada -10° or what have you. You still have the heater on.

Or in Arizona it's 155,000°. You have your AC on right?

You still have the comfort. This man was in cold and in

nakedness, and yet he still fasted.

And the fasting pertains to abstaining from food because he

already has has touched up on being hungry because there was

no food. But then he fast.

He chooses to abstain from food. Yes, again, I reiterate that

it's not food alone. His Holiness the like Mardenko

writes, he encourages the faithful to food, but not only

from food alone, but from our deeds, from the heart, from the

mind, from our deeds. So your fasting is scripturally

commanded and practiced, traditionally honored and obeyed

by the Church and within the Church, but most importantly,

it's offered by you freely, joyfully, without any force,

knowing that Christ fasted to teach us that we too must fast

and pray. Read the scriptures, Examine the

scriptures He commands. Read the scriptures.

Attend church. Do not forsake your assembly

Saint Paul rites as some have habit of doing.

So I pray that during this program, those who haven't

fasted, who have found themselves 345,000 excuses,

invalid excuses compared to what Saint Paul went through.

I pray that you're now thinking, you know, I want to fast, what

do I do? TuneIn next week and we'll talk

about that. Praise and glory be to his name

now and at all times and forever.

Amen. We hope you enjoyed this week's

message. Please don't forget to rate and

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Until next time, God bless you all.