HARDER, STRONGER, FAST-ER

FAST LIKE JESUS

As we step into our fast tomorrow, I believe the Lord gave me some instructions for what we’re to do tonight to prepare. Before we do that, let’s lay the foundation by observing how Jesus Himself fasted at the beginning of His ministry.

Luke 3:21–22 (ESV)

21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Luke 4:1–2 (ESV)

1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry.

Jesus goes to be baptized, publically declaring His allegiance with God. Baptism is a public declaration of faith in God. Immediately after this, He is led by the Spirit that has come upon Him to go into the wilderness and fast.

Jesus is then tempted in the wilderness by the devil. While He was hungry. While He was depriving His flesh, the devil took the opportunity to tempt Him.

Jesus withstood that temptation by answering the devil with the Word of God.

After his fast, he went to church.

Luke 4:13–14 (ESV)

13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country.

There was a new power on Jesus after His fast. When He was done, He went and preached in the temple and this is what He said.

Luke 4:18–21 (ESV)

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives

and recovering of sight to the blind,

to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Fasting led to an increase in the anointing on His life to do what God had created Him to do. As we go into this fast, I want to start the way Jesus did. The Holy Spirit came upon Him. It empowered Him to withstand temptation and set Him up for new levels of the anointing in His life.