DAY FIVE: “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).
Fasting has rewards (Matthew 6:17-19) – “and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”
Fasting Reward #3: To let the oppressed go free.
The Hebrew word picture for oppression reminds us of a damaged, cracked vessel. Oppression wears on a person, causing internal “fractures.” Fasting helps “mend” the vessel so you can be the awesome “vessel of honor” God has called you to be. Fasting accelerates the mending process.
You Can Fast for Yourself as well as Others —
Are you feeling oppressed? Does it feel like there are fractures on the inside of your heart or soul? The Lord wants you to be set free–believe that He has already paid the price for your freedom. Receive it now, praise Him for it, and walk it out by faith, rejoicing in your freedom.
The battle may be between your ears — and what comes out of your mouth will determine who wins. Remember there is tremendous power in praise. That's why the praisers preceded the Israelites into battle. As they praised, the Lord secured the victory FOR them!
Oppression Others are Facing
There may be people around you who are experiencing oppression from the enemy of their soul — in their thought life, and from people in their own family. Within your own sphere of influence there may be people feeling very weighted down by the cares of the world.
You can include them in your prayers during your fast–whether you know them or not. Ask the Lord to put certain people on your heart as you pray. You can “stand in the gap” for them.
“Those from among you
Shall build the old waste places;
You shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach,
The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In” (Isaiah 58:12).
When Jesus walked the earth, He set the oppressed free.
“God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38).
I remember a friend of mine, Linda, suffered horribly from rheumatoid arthritis. Her son decided to fast for her healing. She was noticeably improved after that and the pain she had been experiencing for years was greatly diminished.
Let Jesus set you free during this period of fasting–and let Him use you to help heal those who are oppressed, and bind up the brokenhearted.
Confession: Thank You, Jesus for setting me free! You have healed me in spirit, soul and body. Thank You for loosing the bonds of wickedness (I let my thoughts and eyes dwell only on those things that are pure and wholesome). Thank You for undoing the heavy burdens (I refuse to carry the burdens of the past any longer), and thank You for freeing me from all oppression (I am MORE than a conqueror through Christ Jesus–I am not oppressed! Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world! I am free because Jesus lives in me!). AMEN!!!
DAY FIVE – What is the meaning of 5 in the Bible?
A number of GRACE. To the Ancient Hebrews, the number five represented God’s grace, as seen in the structure of the tabernacle in the wilderness. There were five pillars at the end of the Holy Place. The pillars were five cubits apart and five cubits high. The brazen altar was five cubits by five cubits. The sides of the tabernacle were reinforced by five bars on each side (Exodus 26:26-27). The inner covering of the tabernacle had five curtains attached to five other curtains for a total of ten curtains (Exodus 26:3). There were also five original priests: Aaron and his four sons (Exodus 28:1)
A number of PREPARATION. The first five books of the Bible (the Torah) prepare you for Israel’s story throughout the rest of the Bible. The five wise virgins were prepared (Matthew 25:2). David, in preparing to meet Goliath in battle, took up five smooth stones. The five-fold ministry is to prepare and perfect the saints (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors or teachers – Ephesians 4:11-12). Through the five-fold ministry, the Word of God goes forth into all the earth.
How is God preparing YOU to fit into one of these five because of His grace?
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Previous Entries:
Radio Interview with Pastor Jentezen Franklin (author of “The Fasting Edge”)
DAY ONE – Delight in the Lord (instead of food?)
DAY TWO – Loosed from Wickedness
DAY THREE – Undo Heavy Burdens NOW
DAY FOUR – DO and then Feel
