1 - Introduction - Living like a real Christian Cleansing Coal week 1 | Page 2

Hi Everyone
Welcome to our new series which will take us up to Resurrection Sunday.
At this particular time in a church’s theological calendar, many will be embarking upon
“Lent”. Lent is a period of time where people will, as a means of spiritual discipline, restrain
from certain activities or luxuries in order to get the “flesh” under control and to put
themselves in a position where they can intentionally remind themselves of the seriousness
of the Passover period.
Our church has never corporately undertaken such an exercise, but this year (2014) I would
like to suggest that we embark upon a FAST. This Fast, however, is not a Fast from food or
specific indulgences, but is, what I have termed, an ISAIAH 58 FAST.
In Isaiah 58, God speaking through the prophet says to the people that He is unimpressed
with their physical fasting and their display of outward self-denial. He is, however, adamant
that a “true fast” is a legitimate one. The passage, Isaiah 58 v 6 – 14 reads as follows:
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
11 The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.