The Day of Atonement (September 28, 2020) pictures unique events in human history and shows us how the entire world will have access to God to reach its potential to be saved and inherit salvation. While this day refers mainly to collective reconciliation between God and man, it does not exclude the role of those who have already been begotten by God’s Spirit in this life. The rituals which were to be carried out on this day in Old Testament times show us what Christ has already accomplished and how He will deal with Satan; and they point out how the world can become at-one with God.
Fasting
Ready At ALL Times!
How are we supposed to prepare at all times? How are we to live our days and how important is prayer? What should we pray for? Are we ready if Christ were to come back tomorrow? Are we worthy enough? Is God our first priority and can we trust Him to take care of ANY situation that we are faced with? Do we truly understand how important God is in our lives and if we shut Him out, what would the consequences be?
Can Biblical Fasting Really Help?
The Bible commands us to fast on occasion. But why? And how can we make sure that God accepts our fasting and that He does not reject it as useless? How can we distinguish between correct and wrong fasting? And what could be the result of proper fasting in our lives and the lives of others?
The Spirit of God, of Angels, of Man and of Animals
The Bible teaches the existence of a human spirit, a spirit in animals, created spirit beings such as angels and those who became demons, and the Holy Spirit of God. Most do not understand much about this. This sermon will explain the differences and point out Scriptures which are rendered ambiguously in some translations.
Ancient and Modern Beliefs in the Third Temple
A German Christian map from the 15th century was recently presented to the public by the National Library of Israel, picturing what appears to be the building of the Third Temple in Jerusalem with Christian involvement. This year’s celebration of the Jewish festival of Tisha B’Av, commemorating the destruction of the two Holy Temples, prompted a strong reaction of the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, asking for foreign powers to intervene. This program will show you how all of this is related and points at events prophesied in the Bible, and why they indicate the soon-coming return of Christ to establish God’s Government on earth.
Download AudioGood Fruits
To produce good fruit, one has to apply certain attributes which should produce blessings, if applied correctly.
Christ’s Parables in the Book of Luke
Less than two months ago, we discussed many of the parables in the Book of Matthew. In this sermon, we will address those parables in the book of Luke, which are not addressed in the book of Matthew. They include, among many others, the parable of the good Samaritan; the rich fool; the great supper; the lost son, the unjust steward; the Pharisee and the tax collector; the minas; and of course the mostly misunderstood parable of Lazarus and the rich man.
Growing in Grace and Knowledge of Christ and God
The need to continue to draw close to God using the tools of prayer, fasting, bible study and meditation to achieve that goal.
When we fast, do we go without food and water as on the Day of Atonement, or are we just to abstain from food during ordinary fasting?
We are addressing here strictly the Biblically described spiritual fasting — not fasting for health reasons. The fast during the Day of Atonement — one of God’s annual Holy Days — is the only commanded fast in the Bible (Leviticus 23:27, 29, 32). The fast on the Day of Atonement, referred to by the commandment to “afflict your souls,” has been rightly understood as abstaining from food and drink for 24 hours. (For more information, please read our free booklet, “God’s Commanded Holy Days.”). However, we find that God’s people fasted, or were asked to fast, on other occasions as well (compare, for example, Joel 2:12; Nehemiah 1:4; 2 Chronicles 20:3; Matthew 17:21; Daniel 9:3; Acts 13:2-3; Acts 14:23).
David, a man after God’s own heart, wrote in Psalm 35:13: “I humbled [or: afflicted] my soul with fasting.” Here, David fasted in the same way, as it was required on the Day of Atonement — by afflicting his soul. This would mean that he abstained from food and drink during his fast.
In fact, all Biblical passages, defining or describing the manner of fasting, make clear that it is being done by abstaining from food and drink. We read in Esther 4:16, that the queen told her uncle Mordecai: “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Sushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise.”
We also find that Ezra, who was accustomed to fast in times of need (compare Ezra 8:21-23), fasted in this way: “[He] ate no bread and drank no water, for he mourned because of the guilt of those from the captivity” (Ezra 10:6).
In addition, when Moses fasted for forty days and forty nights, “he neither ate bread nor drank water” (Exodus 34:28). There is NO Scripture that would tell us that people who engaged in spiritual fasting drank water or other fluids.
We also read that Elijah, after he ate and drank, what the angel had provided him, “went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God,” (1 Kings 19:8) indicating that he did not eat or drink during these forty days and nights.
We note, too, that the Ninevites did not eat or drink during their fast (Jonah 3:7); and neither did the Jews who tried to kill Paul (Acts 23:12) — they, of course, fasted for a wrong reason. Still, this shows how the Jews understood the manner of fasting; in fact, Paul fasted by abstaining from food and drink for three days (Acts 9:9).
Some have suggested that Jesus Christ drank water, when He fasted for 40 days and 40 nights in the desert (compare Matthew 4:1-2). However, the Bible does not say that He drank water, and to conclude that He did, means to read something into the Bible which is simply not there.
We might want to add, however, that we do not recommend that anyone should fast today for 40 days and 40 nights or anywhere near that long. As we have reached the end of this degenerate age, to do so today would border on suicide. In addition, the principles discussed in this Q&A only apply in normal cases and circumstances, and not for people who are diabetic or suffer from other serious ailments. The Church of God has recommended a long time ago that a person with a medical condition should check with a medical doctor for advice in order to determine whether it is advisable and safe to fast at all, as described herein. In addition, children should not be required to fast. Children old enough to understand what their parents are doing may want to fast. It might be advisable for some children to start with a half-day fast.
In conclusion, a spiritual fast should be conducted by abstaining from food and drink.
