ARE YOU READY FOR A CHANGE?

Matthew 4:1–3 NKJV

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

In the Bible, forty is often used for time periods, forty days or forty years, which separate "two distinct epochs".

Rain fell for "forty days and forty nights" during the Flood (Genesis 7:4).

What Is the Meaning of 40 Days in the Bible?

The phrase “40 days” in the Bible designates a period of time to complete an important spiritual challenge.

When the Bible uses that phrase, something challenging that leads to spiritual growth is always taking place within the context of 40 days.

Often, the spiritual challenge involves repentance from sin and strengthening faith, such as the story of the great flood and Noah’s Ark and the stories of Ezekiel, Jonah, and David and Goliath.

Conquering The Giants In Your Life

(Jentezen Franklin August 30, 2021)

Luke 10:19 NKJV

19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

1 Samuel 17:45 NKJV

45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

1 Samuel 17:47 NKJV

47 Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”

Nobody in King Saul’s army seemed to have factored God into the equation,

but David talked about nothing else.

He saw what they didn’t, and refused to be intimidated by what they did.

He believed that the God he served was bigger than the giant he faced.

Do you believe that too?

Do you see God as bigger than your problem?

If you’re in a situation where there appears to be no way out, instead of wasting time and energy dwelling on your own weaknesses and shortcomings, stand on God’s Word and start talking about His power.

You won’t win if you fight in your own strength, so don’t try it!

David said, “This is the Lord’s battle” (v. 47 NLT). And God has never lost a battle!

So confront your giant in the name of the Lord and declare:

“Giant of divorce, you aren’t entering my home;

depression, you won’t conquer me;

alcohol, bigotry, child abuse, insecurity, lust, you’re coming down!”

The Bible says, “When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard [flag of victory] against him” (Isa 59:19 NKJV).

There are three things Satan can’t withstand:

God’s Word,

Christ’s blood, and

the name of Jesus.

When you use those things you’ll bring him down every time—just like David toppled Goliath!

Moses on the Mountain

A 40-day challenge may also involve a vital meeting with God, like

Moses’ encounter with God on Mount Sinai and

Tablets of Stone

Pattern for approach to God

Elijah’s journey to meet with God on Mount Horeb.

Finally, the Bible uses the phrase “40 days” to refer to the challenge that Jesus gave people who encountered him between his Resurrection and Ascension – to believe in the good news of the Gospel and to begin saving relationships with God.

The Bible’s use of “40 days” is consistent with its use of the number 40 overall, which also signifies the time during which some sort of spiritual challenge takes place – such as the 40 years that Israelites spent wandering in the desert before reaching the Promised Land.

The significance of 40 days in the Bible is that God allows us to go through challenges in order to grow spiritually.

The 40-day time period highlights the importance of strengthening our faith by relying on God’s help in challenging circumstances.

Also, 40 days highlights God’s patience with us.

At other times, the spiritual challenge involves overcoming temptation, as

Jesus did in the desert wilderness

We must embrace the testing wherein the Spirit leads us to confront our greatest enemies.

Every follower of Christ will be led to confront these formidable foes.

The first is our flesh and it is ever with us.

The second is the tempter that lieth in wait.

Flesh

Soul

Spirit

2 Peter 1:21 (NKJV)

21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 1:21 (ESV)

21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:1–3 NKJV

1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

Matthew 28:16–20 NKJV

16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Luke 24:45–53 NKJV

45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. 46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things. 49 “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” 50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.

Feels like fire but it sounds like wind....