The end of Fasting… (3 things)

• 1^st – The promise… vs. 1-8
  • 1^st – The Lord of Hosts is ZEALOUS for Zion… vs. 1-3
    • Zion is the name of one of the mountains (hills) that Jerusalem sits on…
      • But it is often given as a reference to the city of Jerusalem as a whole…
      • The term ZEALOUS – is repeated 3 times in verse 2 – the Lord is VERY ZEALOUS!
      • I like the way the NTL puts it – ‘the Lord is consumed with passion for Jerusalem’!
      • They shrugged their shoulders / plugged their ears / had hearts as hard as flint…
      • But in spite the wickedness of the people – God WOULD NOT give up on them!
      • There is A VERY destructive doctrine commonly taught today in many churches…
      • It states – God has rejected Israel – and been replaced by the church…
      • Galatians 6:16 – “Peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.”
      • The reason is – because Israel betrayed and crucified Jesus Christ…
      • Matthew 27:25 – “All the people… said, “His blood be on us and on our children.”
      • This doctrine has led to intense persecution of the Jews by the church over the centuries!
      • Yet in Romans 11:1 – Paul uses himself as an example God is not done with Israel…
      • In fact all of the Apostles and everyone in the church up to Acts 10 were Jews!
      • They are proof that God has not rejected Israel – Jews were/are still being saved…
      • Because God has not cast away Israel – He promised they would always be His people…
      • As long as the sun rises – waves crash on the seashore – Israel is Gods nation!
      • Jeremiah 31:36 – “I am as likely to reject Israel as I am to do away with the laws of nature!”
    • The Lord promised He would come back to Israel…
      • Ezekiel 10:4/18 – the Glory of the Lord departed from the Temple…
      • Ezekiel 11:23 – “and the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city…”
      • The presence of God – the Glory of the Lord – had abandoned Israel because of their sin!
      • But He would return to Zion – call the forsaken city of Jerusalem His home once again…
      • And when He did – Jerusalem would change – it would become the city of Truth…
      • It would become the Mountain of the Lord of Hosts / a Holy (Kadosh) mountain!
      • When we study the history of Israel – we find a sorted and often shameful past…
      • The people of God – were often anything but people who actually followed God…
      • But I LOVE the patience of God that is revealed in how He deals with Israel…
      • There are consequences to their actions and rebellion – but He never stops loving them!
      • In the same way we can frustrate the work of God in our live – loose His presence…
      • But He will never give up on us – and He is ALWAYS willing to come back…
      • All it takes is turning back to God – and we once again become the Home of the Lord!
      • He takes away all of our failures – and makes us Holy – set apart once more for Him!
  • 2^nd – The restoration of Jerusalem… vs. 4-5
    • God promises to give two signs that He has returned:
    • Old men will once again sit in the streets of Jerusalem…
      • War / famine / and disease had plagued Israel because of their rebellion…
      • Making old age a rare trait among the people – most did not live to see their golden years…
      • But God would again bring back the men who are old enough to need canes to walk!
      • Isaiah 65:20 – “No longer will adults die before they have lived a full life. No longer will people be considered old at one hundred!”
      • Since 1900 the average life span in America has increased by almost 30 years (78 today)…
      • A fact that most would credit to the prosperity and healthcare in the US…
      • But interestingly a statistic that has been on the decline the past few years
      • A long life is not the result of better medical care – or lots of money…
      • God is the one who keeps wars at bay – keeps disease / famine from culling a generation…
      • A long life is one of the signs of a blessing from God on a nation!
    • The streets will be full of young boys and girls playing in the street…
      • When there is strife in a land – people fear to let their children outside!
      • When I was a kid – we would leave the house at sunrise and not come back till sunset…
      • People did not fear for their children – they felt safe letting their kids out…
      • But sadly that is not the way it is today – the streets are empty…
      • People fear predators – wicked influences – a country besieged by corruption!
  • 3^rd – The impossible – made possible… vs. 6-8
    • This promise seemed MARVELOUS (impossible) to the remnant of Israel…
      • A small rag tag group of refugees huddling in a the ruins of a rebellious city…
      • How could they be ‘the City of Truth’ – with young and old alike filling its streets!
      • But as impossible as it seemed to them – that did not make it look impossible to God!
    • God would bring His people home…
      • He would save His people from the lands to the east and west – return the Diaspora…
      • They would come back and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem…
      • They would again be His people – and He would be their God – in truth and righteousness!
      • Since 1948 Jewish population in Israel has surged to over 6 million…
      • There are more Jews living in Israel today than any other nation on earth…
      • Isaiah 43-5-6 – “I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west… Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth.”
      • If we look at the MOUNUMENTAL problems in our lives  – we become overwhelmed…
      • We think it MARVELOUS when God says that He can heal / provide / rescue us…
      • But the only reason we marvel is because we limit God to our abilities / understanding…
      • He who created the universe with a word – has no limitations – if we will only run to Him!
      • But it is worth noting the timing of the fulfillment – it did not happen in a moment!

• 2^nd – The commands… vs. 9-17
  • 1^st – Obey – and build the Temple… vs. 9-13
    • In the mean time – Lord commanded the people to let their hands be strong…
      • They had a part to play – they had a Temple that needed to be rebuilt…
      • They had been working on the Temple for 2 years – but had 2 years still to go – 516 BC…
      • And even thought their eyes might not see the total fulfillment of the promise of the Lord…
      • As long as they obeyed the Lord – the blessing of the Lord would flow!
    • Before they began to work on the Temple…
      • There was no work – no wages for either man or animal…
      • There was no peace – there were enemies on all sides – everyone against his neighbor…
      • There was no fruit – the people sowed but did not reap anything – Haggai 5:5-7
      • There was a curse – Judah was known among the nations for being CURSED!
      • We all know what it is like to fail in life – cursed – we have all experienced disappointment…
      • Maybe we have faced / or are facing – the frustration of always coming up short…
      • No matter what we do – not matter how hard we try – it just seems to fail!
      • The key to success in life – is putting things in their proper order…
      • We must learn to put God first – then we will find blessings from the Lord…
      • Blessings in life do not come from what we do – but who we know!
      • Luke 12:31 – “Seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.”
      • Psalm 1:3 – “Blessed is the man who delights in the Lord… whatever he does prospers.”
    • But now that the work on the Temple was underway…
      • God would deal with His people the way He had in former / better times…
      • The harvest would be plentiful – because the Lord would rain down the dew…
      • God would save Israel – make them a symbol of BESSINGS to the nations…
      • Therefore they had no reason to be afraid – instead their hands could be strong and build!
      • Not that God needed them to build the Temple – God did not need a building…
      • Isaiah 66:1 – “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool…”
      • But God wanted His people to invest their lives in Him!
      • We talk a lot about volunteering – put an emphasis on plugging in at the church…
      • Not because God need our help – or because of some obligation to the church…
      • It is for our sakes – it is an opportunity for us to invest our time in the Lord!
      • That is why I love it when people step out – not because of a need (God takes care of that)…
      • But cause I know what it will do to their relationship with God – the blessings it will bring!
  • 2^nd – Believe – and do not fear… vs. 14-15
    • Just as God was determined to punish Israel when Israel rebelled and provoked him…
      • And He would not relent – there was no changing His mind!
      • Now God was determined to do good to Jerusalem – nothing was going to change His mind!
      • Therefore the people had no reason to fear – the second time God says ‘do not fear’!
      • But notice the promise to not fear – is only for those who were investing in the Lord…
      • We would do most anything to make sure our kids have everything they need…
      • But we are not willing to make the same sacrifices for someone else’s children!
      • God does not give any promises to provide to those who belong to this world…
      • But God does promises to take care of His kids – those who have faith in Jesus!
      • But what does it mean to have faith – that is a bit of an ambiguous term…
      • Perhaps a better word is TRUST – we have no reason to FEAR as long as we TRUST in Jesus!
      • And there is ONLY ONE WAY to build trust – and that is to spend time with someone…
      • Therefore the more time we spend with Jesus – the more we TRUST – the less we FEAR!
      • II Timothy 1:7 – “God has not given us a spirit of fear… but of power, love…”
    • Jesus would say the same thing in Luke 12:32 – ‘fear not’…
      • But He adds perspective why we should not fear – our Father does not just what we need…
      • He wants to give us His whole kingdom – bless us beyond imagination!
      • In Christ we have become heirs to all that God has – joint heirs with Jesus – Romans 8:17
      • To the extent we will even sit on Jesus throne with Him – Revelation 3:21
      • Are we sure – ABSOLUTELY – God will NOT CHANGE His mind!
      • Often times we are left to wonder if God can/will take care of our needs…
      • God does not just want to provide for our needs – we are heirs to His Kingdom! 
  • 3^rd – Walk – and be an example… vs. 16-17
    • It was not enough to just OBEY and BELIEVE…
    • God wanted His people to WALK as His children – be HOLY / be an example…
    • 1^st – They were to tell the truth – each man to his neighbor…
      • In the world there are levels of lies – little lies / white lies / half truths…
      • But for us there is just the truth – and then there is a lie – no middle ground…
      • If we are not telling all of the truth – then we are telling a complete lie!
      • And there is ever a good reason not to tell the truth…
      • Such as if it keeps someone from having hurt feelings – ‘how do I look’ – ugly!
      • The end does not justify the means – it is as much about the journey as the destination…
      • There is never a good reason to lie – it is depending on our efforts / wisdom…
      • Better to be honest – tell the truth – and trust in/depend on the Lord!
    • 2^nd – They were to give judgment in the gates (speaking of the courts)…
      • The judges were to judge in truth and justice – which would bring peace…
      • Because when there is true justice – the lawless fear / and the righteous rejoice!
      • Proverbs 29:2 – “When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan.”
      • I laughed this this week when I read an article about recent legal decisions in California…
      • Convicts illegal immigrants were pardoned / but coffee was listed as dangerous!
      • Sometimes we wonder if there will ever be real justice – perhaps not in California…
      • But ultimately God will judge – fairly and righteously – the actions of all men…
      • So pray for those who are leaders – those entrusted with the justice of the nation…
      • Pray they will be righteous God fearing rulers – who listen to and obey God…
      • Pray because if they are not – they will be held accountable – James 3:1
    • 3^rd – They were to not think/plot evil in your heart against your neighbor…
      • This particular command stands out – because it was not an action / but a thought…
      • They people were not just to be Holy in their actions – it was also in their thoughts!
      • Our minds are literally a battleground for the control of our actions – Galatians 5:17…
      • Do we choose to live for pleasure/the moment – or do we live for the Lord…
      • Many face constant defeat because they try and fight the war in their own strength…
      • The only way to win the battle is to let Jesus fight for us…
      • As we abide in Him – John 15:4-5 – He fight and wins the war for us – makes us HOLY!
    • 4^th – They were not to give false oaths…
      • Those who do not know Jesus – do not tend to value their word…
      • They will often attempt to reinforce their word – to assure you they are not lying…
      • They will tell you what you want to hear – or even flat out lie to your face…
      • But God expects us to be men and women of our word…
      • We should not be taking oaths – we should just do what we say!
      • Matthew 5:37 – “’Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.”

And they come up and tug on our sleeves – and ask to come with us to Jesus!

3^rd – The Results… vs. 18-23

1^st – The end of fasting… vs. 18-19

In answer to the original question from chapter 7 – should Israel still fast in the 5^th month…

All of the fasts – 4 different months – commemorating aspects of the fall of Jerusalem…

4^th month – wall of Jerusalem– II Kings 25:3/ 5^th month – Temple destroyed– Jeremiah 52:12

7^th month – death of Gedeliah- II Kings 25:25 / 10^th month – start of siege- Jeremiah 52:4

Would turn from fasts of mourning – into feasts of celebration! Love truth and Peace!

God has given us incredible promises – in spite of our failures and sin…

Too often we want to hold onto our past – mourn the dates of our failures…

But God wants to take those same dates and make them days of celebration…

Because it was through those failures that we learned to depend on Him!

It was through them we learned to – OBEY – and invest in the things of the Lord…

We learned we learned to – BELIEVE – and all of our fears were wiped out in perfect trust…

We learned to – WALK – and were made HOLY and an example as children of God!

Isaiah 61:3 – “To give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning…”

2^nd – Many will seek the Lord… vs. 20-23

In those days people from all over the world will come to Jerusalem…

People from one city will go to another city and say – let us go and pray / seek the Lord…

Many people – even from powerful nations – will come to seek the Lord…

In that day 10 men from different languages / nations – will grab the sleeve of a Jew…

Asking to go with him – because the they have heard God is with them!

Yalak (we will go) / Shama (we have heard) – Eloheem (God)!

Isaiah 2:2 – “In the last days, the Temple of the LORD in Jerusalem will become the most important place on earth. People from all over the world will go there to worship.”

When we WALK as HOLY children of God – people take notice…

Because they have no promises – yet we are blessed in whatever we do…

Because they are terrified by life – yet we have no fear…

Because we have God living in us – making us HOLY – setting us apart…

So although we live in this world – we are obviously not apart of this world…

We become a light – example – to those who are around us – Matthew 5:1