The funeral is OVER, let's celebrate the Grace, freely given to us!
Whatever happened to Matthew 17:21 about the demon coming out with prayer and fasting? It's hard to find that verse in most translations actually saying "fasting"! Why? Did it get added? Why? Not sure I'll answer that here, however, it does relate to my point and gives pause for questioning our paradigm for fasting and what fasting is to look like.
Take a look at Isaiah 58... here is the fast we've been called to, primarily (I'm not anti-fasting, I'm encouraging grace-filled, joyful Christian living that accepts all that Jesus has done for us: no performance, no earning worth in the redemptive process!) We don't get extra heaven "gold stars" for beating up our body by refusing it food, in order to show how Christian we are. Jesus' disciples were encouraged to eat and celebrate, not fast. Jesus seemed to identify fasting with grieving (when He died/left them). Joyful men seem to rarely fast. So what is the big deal with absurd amount of fasting in some Christian circles? Is this dualism/Gnosticism?
Colossians 16 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink orin respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day- 17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come ; but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God. 20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21 "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch !" 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use )-in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men ? 23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.
Clearly, there are issues with motives and heart attitudes about which Paul is exhorting or challenging the church of Colossae related to fasting and eating various foods (I am not talking about allergies and dietary restrictions here). Today, there are also there same ungodly mindsets (that encourage various forms of self-effort in the Christian life, to please God) that must be exposed by the Truth, Grace and Love of God.
We are forgiven and free in Jesus Christ, our Redeemer! We have place (read: we are authorized) into the Royal Chambers and to come before the King with our requests and not be destroyed, but to be heard and given freely from His Bounty. We are His children and he has extended to us the "sceptre" of Jesus, He has torn the veil of separation, He has paid the Bridal price (too much to expand upon here are these scriptural word pictures of expensive, free Grace). We are His and He is ours & His banner (or His family name) over us as we banquet (feast) with Him is: Love! That's His name: Love and that is now our "Family Name": Love. What a Joy this is! So come and eat of and with Him who was The Sacrificial Lamb. He calls us into the Rest of All that He has done for us! Celebrate! Be filled with Joy! God is with us, Emmanuel!
Whatever happened to Matthew 17:21 about the demon coming out with prayer and fasting? It's hard to find that verse in most translations actually saying "fasting"! Why? Did it get added? Why? Not sure I'll answer that here, however, it does relate to my point and gives pause for questioning our paradigm for fasting and what fasting is to look like.
Take a look at Isaiah 58... here is the fast we've been called to, primarily (I'm not anti-fasting, I'm encouraging grace-filled, joyful Christian living that accepts all that Jesus has done for us: no performance, no earning worth in the redemptive process!) We don't get extra heaven "gold stars" for beating up our body by refusing it food, in order to show how Christian we are. Jesus' disciples were encouraged to eat and celebrate, not fast. Jesus seemed to identify fasting with grieving (when He died/left them). Joyful men seem to rarely fast. So what is the big deal with absurd amount of fasting in some Christian circles? Is this dualism/Gnosticism?
Colossians 16 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink orin respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day- 17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come ; but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God. 20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21 "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch !" 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use )-in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men ? 23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.
Clearly, there are issues with motives and heart attitudes about which Paul is exhorting or challenging the church of Colossae related to fasting and eating various foods (I am not talking about allergies and dietary restrictions here). Today, there are also there same ungodly mindsets (that encourage various forms of self-effort in the Christian life, to please God) that must be exposed by the Truth, Grace and Love of God.
We are forgiven and free in Jesus Christ, our Redeemer! We have place (read: we are authorized) into the Royal Chambers and to come before the King with our requests and not be destroyed, but to be heard and given freely from His Bounty. We are His children and he has extended to us the "sceptre" of Jesus, He has torn the veil of separation, He has paid the Bridal price (too much to expand upon here are these scriptural word pictures of expensive, free Grace). We are His and He is ours & His banner (or His family name) over us as we banquet (feast) with Him is: Love! That's His name: Love and that is now our "Family Name": Love. What a Joy this is! So come and eat of and with Him who was The Sacrificial Lamb. He calls us into the Rest of All that He has done for us! Celebrate! Be filled with Joy! God is with us, Emmanuel!
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