Text: Isaiah 58

Many of us wonder why our fasting is not effective.
The Word of God in Isaiah 58 pointed out some reasons and also describes to us what True Fasting is.

Some Actions That Make Fasting And Prayers False And Ineffective are:
1. Oppressing your workers.
2. Fighting and quarrelling.
3. Not saying the truth from the heart
4. Backbiting and mocking of friends
5. Unbelief
6. Talkativeness
7. And every form of sin pointed out in Galatians 5: 19.

The True Fasting.
This is the kind of fasting God wants from us. Isaiah 58: 6-10
1. Free those you have wrongly imprisoned or accused.
2. Let the oppressed go free and remove heavy yokes from your workers.
3. Remove all chains and evil acts that you have used to bind people.
4. Share your food with the hungry and give shelter to the homeless
5. Give clothes to those who need them.
6. Don't hide from relatives who need help.
7. Stop spreading vicious rumours and pointing accusing fingers.

God's Promises For Those Who Observe the True Fasting. Isaiah 58: 8
1. Your Salvation will come like the dawn and your wounds will quickly heal
2. Your godliness will lead you forward and the glory of God will protect you from behind.
3. When you call, the Lord will answer, " Yes I'm here", he will quickly answer.
4. Your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
5. The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry.
6. You will be a well-watered garden, like an ever flowing spring.
7. You will rebuild the ruins of your cities and will be known as a restorer of homes.
Thus Saith the Lord of Host, amen.

To enjoy this grace, need to be in connection with Jesus, the giver of grace.
1. Surrender your life to Jesus.
2. Confess and forsake all your known sins.
3. Ask a for His mercy and sufficient grace.
4. Ask and be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
5. Forsake the conformation to the world, submit yourself totally to God and always ask Him to take control of your life in totality.
6. Trust God completely and undoubtedly.
7. Always ask God for True Fasting and True Worship.

Congratulations on giving your life to Christ.

God bless you.
Peace!

What you term "true fasting," as detailed in Isaiah 58 is in fact the very same work of righteousness God has called all of His own (from both the days of old and the New Covenants) to focus on while walking with Him. Anyone who claims to be of God but does not do works of righteousness, as described in Isaiah 58, and later on in Matthew 25 vs 31 -40, will never see the kingdom of Heaven. God said so, and Jesus Christ made it law for everyone who accepts Him.

No amount of preaching, prophesying, deliverance, fasting(the old way) or even praying, will get anyone close to the Kingdom of God. All that is filthy rags before God - our many half-arsed attempts ain't gonna cut it either. The only criteria for entering the Kingdom of Heaven is righteousness and it can only be done through obedience of God's own commandment.