We are talking about interceding for others in prayer so that they would receive God’s real food that lasts forever. God doesn’t want us to hide from others and their real spiritual need.

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Isaiah 58:7 "Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry And bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, to cover him; And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?”

IF you give bread to the hungry. This is the fast God chooses, to give bread to the hungry. Yes, this can be actual bread, but the bread of life removes hunger forever. The goal of God is to set others free from spiritual hunger forever.

Am I neglecting their need for actual food? No. For years my friends in India would go around to poor Hindu communities who struggled for all their needs. They had food but not enough. They’d put cow dung on cuts thinking it would heal them. they’d not use a bathroom but instead would go behind a bush. Then later walk behind the same bush barefoot and get parasites in their feet that would travel up into their intestines and grow into worms that would eat all their food. The worms got fat on their food. They would walk around with big bellies, but be starving and malnourished everywhere else. Year after year my friends would go around with a medical team and pass out shoes and show a video on how not to have worms so they wouldn’t starve. The people never changed. But my friends began to notice a change in some of the communities. The ones who gave their lives to Jesus built outhouses and bathrooms and wore shoes and stopped putting cow dung on wounds. Their spiritual need was met, and that led to freedom in all the other things.

IF you bring the homeless home. This is the fast God chooses, to bring the homeless home. Yes, this can be an actual home, but His spiritual home lasts forever. The goal of God is to permanently join others into His household. I met a costa rican man in Costa Rica in the capital city of San Jose. He stopped me on the street and asked for help. He spoke perfect English and was originally a doctor. I could tell from his vocabulary that he was indeed highly educated. He was living on the street. He asked me for food. I bought him food. He asked for a place to stay. I didn’t have a solution but I asked Jesus what to do. I heard in my mind to ask the man to forgive his family and go back to them. He couldn’t do it. He had treated all his relatives poorly and he didn’t want to humble himself and stay with any of them. He chose to stay on the street. He let me pray with him. If only he would turn to Jesus for a permanent spiritual household, then everything would change.

IF you cloth the naked. This is the fast God chooses, to cloth the naked. Yes, this can be actual clothes, but the clothes of righteousness last forever. The goal of God is to permanently cloth others in righteousness by setting them free from the burden of sin and giving them the Holy Spirit to live inside them forever. Jesus also promises those who follow Him that we don’t have to worry about what to wear. Jesus will provide.

IF you don’t hide from others. You are to not turn away and hide from the spiritual needs of others. The spiritual need is not easily seen and requires seeking God in fasting prayer. The desire of God is that you intercede for the spiritual food, clothes and shelter that others need. The Holy Spirit living inside them is the answer that lasts forever.

Prayer coaching: “Jesus, Help (me) fast and pray for (their) spiritual needs. Give (them) Your spiritual food that lasts forever. Give (them) the Holy Spirit.

Jesus, Help (them) to never be spiritually homeless again. Adopt (them) into your household forever.

Jesus, Help (them) to never be spiritually naked again. Cloth (them) in Your righteousness.

Jesus, Help (me) not turn away from the spiritual needs of others. Meet (their) spiritual need to be free from the burden of sin.”