ZECHARIAH SEVEN motive & attitude

Justice and Mercy, Not Fasting "Should we plan for a day of mourning and abstinence next August, the seventieth anniversary of Jerusalem's fall, as we have been doing all these years?“ Zech 7:3 "When you held days of fasting every fifth and seventh month all these seventy years, were you doing it for me? And when you held feasts, was that for me? Hardly. You're interested in religion , I'm interested in people .” Zech 7:5-6 "Treat one another justly. Love your neighbors. Be compassionate with each other. Don't take advantage of widows, orphans, visitors, and the poor. Don't plot and scheme against one another—that's evil.” Zech 7:9-10

"Should we plan for a day of mourning and abstinence next August, the seventieth anniversary of Jerusalem's fall, as we have been doing all these years?“

Zech 7:3

A fast should be an outward sign of an inner disposition of humility and of a heart turned toward GOD Ralph L. Smith, Word Biblical Commentary #32 (224)

Micah 6:8 ” But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don't take yourself too seriously—take God seriously .” Sedaqah = (  God) + (  people) It isn’t individual piety expressed in fasting that keeps the fabric of society secure, but honesty, integrity, compassion, and faithfulness expressed in one’s conduct and attitude toward others, especially the powerless, the voiceless, and the overlooked. An outward sign of an inner disposition of humility and of a heart turned toward GOD

Micah 6:8 ” But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don't take yourself too seriously—take God seriously .”

Sedaqah = (  God) + (  people)

It isn’t individual piety expressed in fasting that keeps the fabric of society secure, but honesty, integrity, compassion, and faithfulness expressed in one’s conduct and attitude toward others, especially the powerless, the voiceless, and the overlooked.

Motive & Attitude Isaiah 58:3-12 Caring for the ignored and the despised are the evidence and fruit of a genuine and deep commitment to the LORD Without social justice, spiritual disciplines just end up being ways we try to impress God, ourselves, and others. But God isn’t impressed. Yet without a deep inner life with God, our best efforts to fight injustice, bring healing and embody hope will eventually run out of steam. We’ll be depressed. If our MOTIVE for fasting is to be humbly transformed into God’s champions for the ignored and despised, then our fasting is for God and the people on God’s heart, not for behaving religiously.

Isaiah 58:3-12

Caring for the ignored and the despised are the evidence and fruit of a genuine and deep commitment to the LORD

Without social justice, spiritual disciplines just end up being ways we try to impress God, ourselves, and others. But God isn’t impressed.

Yet without a deep inner life with God, our best efforts to fight injustice, bring healing and embody hope will eventually run out of steam. We’ll be depressed.

If our MOTIVE for fasting is to be humbly transformed into God’s champions for the ignored and despised, then our fasting is for God and the people on God’s heart, not for behaving religiously.

Which Comes First? It sort of depends.

No Small Matter Zech 7:11-14 Jewish people refused to care about what really mattered to Yahweh >> Yahweh was furious! Ignored their prayers Would make them homeless strangers Sucked the life out of their land Most American Christians today must think a) God doesn’t know, b) God doesn’t care, or c) God is thrilled with narcissistic religions.

Zech 7:11-14 Jewish people refused to care about what really mattered to Yahweh >> Yahweh was furious!

Ignored their prayers

Would make them homeless strangers

Sucked the life out of their land

Most American Christians today must think a) God doesn’t know, b) God doesn’t care, or c) God is thrilled with narcissistic religions.

Our Growing Conviction & Commitment EvergreenLA A Faith Village is a spirit-empowered community being formed to engage in biblical reconciliation and missional living Not either/or but both/and “ An outward sign of an inner disposition of HUMILITY and of a HEART turned toward God” “ LORD, I can’t transform myself into Your agent of healing, Your champion of the unseen and Your friend to the detested. Only You can do this miracle in me. Make me more like You, Jesus. Make me like You.”

EvergreenLA A Faith Village is a spirit-empowered community being formed to engage in biblical reconciliation and missional living

Not either/or but both/and

“ An outward sign of an inner disposition of HUMILITY and of a HEART turned toward God”

“ LORD, I can’t transform myself into Your agent of healing, Your champion of the unseen and Your friend to the detested. Only You can do this miracle in me. Make me more like You, Jesus. Make me like You.”