Isaiah 58:6-9
Wednesday Night Prayer and Praise • Sermon • Submitted
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There is absolutely one thing that we need to do be a Christian. Do you know what it is?
That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
There is absolutely one way that we can be saved. Do you know what it is?
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
We confess with our mouths Jesus is Lord and we are saved by grace. There is nothing we can do to earn our salvation. It is the gift of God.
However, should we do things that will enhance our walk with Christ, make us stronger, and leads us in a better life?
“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?
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 him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
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.
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,
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.
What is fasting?
Here, a fast day is for the creation of a caring society, meeting needs and family welfare. There will be some that try to make this a political process. It is a biblical process.
Fasting is also showing here to bring personal blessings that include new beginnings, security, and a worship opportunity that grows and grows.
Loosening the chains of injustice.
Untying the cords of oppression.
Feeding those that are hungry.
Clothing those that don’t have enough clothing.
Taking care of family.
All of these acts of mercy will do for us some great things:
“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.”
Then you will call out to God and you will here the most comforting words ever: HERE AM I.
“If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, 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.”
So why would you not want to practice mercy?