SITTING AT HIS FEET: ON THE QUESTION OF FASTING: WHY IS IT SO HARD?

My fasts are usually done until one or two in the afternoon and then in my anxiety at not having eaten, I overeat! Then by evening time I either have a headache or I am throwing up! Of course, I know there is great power on fasting and prayer and that’s why I even try it! And there is various types of fasts: a complete fast, where you only drink water; then another one would be where you can take away things from your meals such as sugars or anything you regularly crave: this would be a partial fast. And even skipping a meal would fall under this type of fast. And of course if you have a medical condition, you should eat according to your body’s needs, maybe eating smaller portions. And you can take away something like watching TV or listening to music! Removing something that is important to you. And all these fasts once a week!

According to Isaiah, a fast is for the following reason: “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer, you shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I Am’ “ Isaiah 58:6-9.

So you can se that you are on the midst of a battle before the Lord answers to your call. Fasting is also for waiting on God, seeking God in the right way to go, seeking God’s direction and preparation in desperation for a big battle…”Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions.” Ezra 8:21.

When Jesus’ disciples couldn’t cure an epileptic and at Jesus’ command he was cured, they asked Him why this was so. He first rebuked them for their lack of faith, but He told them, however, that this kind of spirit didn’t go out except by prayer and fasting. I believe the initial rebuke was because they didn’t believe enough to utilize all the keys to the kingdom, as fasting is one…”And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the child was cured from that very hour. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?’ So Jesus said to them, ‘Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, f you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. ‘However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.’ “ Matthew 17:18-21.

HALUAON MARHITE JESUS KRISTUS!

Di na lam maju sejarah ni halak Kristen, ditanda do goar ‘Jesus’ songon ‘Yahweh do Haluaon’. Sian pangantusion ni Padan na Robi taringot tu Tuhan, Sipalua, Sipalua, Debata, dipindahon do angka lapatan i tu Jesus dohot songon dia halak Kristen porsea tu Ibana. 1 Tontu, di pudian ni ari, taida ma nuaeng Jesus songon Sipalua jala Sitobus sian dosa dohot haholomon partondion, na mandurushon mudar di hau pinarsilang laho manggarar dosanta, molo porsea hita! Jala na holan Ibana do dalan tu Debata! Sai Ibana do Sipalua hita!

Porlu do nuaeng hita marpengalaman na tubu paduahalihon asa boi marparsaoran hita dohot Ibana! Di Johannes 3:3,16 didok: “ ‘Dung i ninna Jesus ma mangalusi ibana: Situtu do na hudok on tu ho: Molo so tubu paduahalihon, ndang tarbahensa marnida harajaon ni Debata’….’Ai songon i do holong ni roha ni Debata di . portibi on na nilehonNa AnakNa na sasada i, asa unang mago ganup na porsea di Ibana, asa hangoluan na saleleng ni lelengna di ibana.’ 25-26 didok: “ Dung i ninna Jesus ma mandok ibana: Ahu do haheheon dohot hangoluan. Na porsea di Ahu, nang pe mate, sai na mangolu do. Jala ganup na mangolu jala na porsea di Ahu, na so tupa mate ibana salelenglelengna. Porsea do hamu disi?’ “

Jadi porlu do hita porsea jala paubahon rohanta sian dosanta asa boi nuaeng marparsaoran dohot Debata na holan ro marhite pengalaman na tubu paduahalihon rap dohot Jesus Sipalua jala Tuhanta! “Di mula ni ngolu ni halak Kristen, ingkon panandaon do di dirina sandiri jala marsitutu manadingkon ngolu na mangalului dirina sandiri.”2.

CATATAN

1Sinclair B. Ferguson, Daud F. Rait dohot J.I. Kamus Baru Teologi, 1988, 610.
2006, 2006, buku Teologi Kristen.

DOHON MA TANGIANG ON ASA TUBU PADUALIHON:
“Jesus porsea do Ho mate di hau pinarsilang i, .
mangusehon mudarMu baen hasesaan ni dosangku ;
Jala mulak mangolu di ari patoluhon!
Huboto do pardosa au. Sai sesa ma dosangki;
Tolong ma masuk tu rohangku!
Ro ma Ho Sipalua ahu jala Tuhan ni ngolungku!
Mauliate ma Jesus”