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Jesus (Fasting and Prayer)

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.

Matthew 4:1-2

Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

being tempted for forty days by the devil.

And in those days He ate nothing,

and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.

Luke 4:1-2

Jesus began His public ministry with a fast.

Jesus fasted!

As we look at the scripture we see “Jesus was led up by the Spirit’, “being filled with the Holy Spirit’.

The key is the leading of the Holy Spirit.

The word for fasting means ‘to abstain or go without food’.

Since this was so important to Jesus then you should consider this for your life also.

I once fasted 40 days, another time 28 days, several times 7days and 3 days. It is a glorious and awesome experience. It is difficult the first few days then the ‘Glory Comes’.

I will not do a teaching about fasting but just stay focused on Jesus and fasting.

In the following we see Jesus warning of the dangers.

Matthew 6:16-18

“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

“But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,

“so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

At this time many of the religious would put on a show of their self-goodness by doing public fasting. We are not to fast to impress God or people.

Jesus used the words “when you fast’ this implied that His disciples would fast and that He wanted them to.

Matthew 9:14-15

Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying,

“Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?”

And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

Mark 2:18-20

The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast,

but Your disciples do not fast?”

And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.

“But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them,

and then they will fast in those days.

Luke 5:33-35

Then they said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?”

And He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them?

“But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them;

then they will fast in those days.”

John the Baptist and his disciples fasted.

They wanted to know why the disciples of Jesus did not fast. Jesus said that now He was with them. They could celebrate His presence but after He had departed they would be fasting. This is the day of fasting.

Now read the following:

Matthew 17:19-21

Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast him out?”

So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if 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.”

Mark 9:28-29

And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast him out?”

So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”

One reason to fast and pray is to deal with the ‘impossible needs’ of people. Some miracles need fasting mixed with prayer. When we obey Jesus in this and fast and pray we can expect miracles! Glory!

Are you willing to sacrifice in order to see the miracle power of Jesus in your life and ministry?

Others who fasted!

Luke 2:36-37

Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;

and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fasting and prayers night and day.

Acts 13:2-3

As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

Acts 14:23

So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

2 Corinthians 6:5

in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;

2 Corinthians 11:27

in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fasting often, in cold and nakedness–

Pilgrim followers of Jesus,

Arthur and Denise Blessitt

Luke 18:1