Fasting and Feasting Mt 4 v 1 to 4 Jesus Fast
BBC 11-18-07 THE JESUS FAST: FASTING AND FEASTING AT THE SAME TIME
INTRO: FEASTING AND FASTING / AT THE SAME TIME /MODERN DAYS ARE FULL OF MULTI-TASKING.
POST-MODERN GENERATION TRAVELS WHILE LISTENING TO IPODS; WALK WHILE MAKING PHONE CALLS; DRIVE WHILE THE KIDS WATCH MOVIES ON DVD; RECENT WINTER OLYMPICS THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE EXTREME SPORTS DID TRICKS AND FLOPS, IN EXCESS SPEED ON THE SKI’S HAD THEIR IPODS IN THEIR EARS...RACING TO THEIR SELECTED MUSIC OF CHOICE; COMPUTER GENERATION OF WINDOW...USERS CAN MULTI-TASK; SURF THE NET, CHECK AND SEND EMAIL WHILE DOWNLOADING A PROGRAM. IN THE OLD DAYS ...IT WAS SAID...THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE ABLE TO WALK AND CHEW GUM.
IN SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES THERE IS THE PARADOX OF TURNING DOWN SO GOD SHOWS UP.
ONE PRACTICES SELF-DENIAL TO BE SPIRITUALLY SENSITIVE. THUS BEHIND THE SCENE OF
OF FASTING, THERE IS A PARADOX OF FEASTING WHICH WE SEE IN THE JESUS FAST.
IN THE TEXT: WE ARE INTRODUCED TO JESUS AS THE KING. BUT WE ARE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE OLD TESTAMENT WITH THE NEW TESTAMENT IN MIND. FOR EXAMPLE THERE ARE FIVE BASIC BLOCKS OF TEACHING IN MATTHEW; WHICH CORRESPONDS WITH THE TORAH OR THE FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES.
ONCE WE GET PAST MATTHEW 4...THERE’S ....
MATTHEW 5-7 KNOWN AS THE BEATITUDES
MATTHEW 10 – INSTRUCTION TO THE DISCIPLES
MATTHEW 13 – TEACHING OF THE PARABLES
MATTHEW 18 - THE TEACHING OF LIVING IN COMMUNITY
MATTHEW 23-25 KNOWN AS THE MOUNT OLIVET DISCOURSE
THE OVERARCHING THEME IS THAT OF DISCIPLESHIP; AND DISCIPLES, LEARNERS AND FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST MUST BE...
READY
PREPARED
WATCHFUL
KEY AND CRUCIAL TO ALL IS THE JESUS FAST;
HERE JESUS FAST, THE SON OF GOD, CREATOR OF THE WORLD, AS THE SON OF MAN....IS DRIVEN INTO THE WILDERNESS FOR A PERIOD OF 40 DAYS/NIGHT OF SUSTENANCE.
INTER: WHY DID HE FAST? HOW WAS HE SUSTAINED IN THE FAST? WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FAST?
WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM JESUS FAST THAT WILL HELP US TO EMBRACE FASTING AND FEASTING AT THE SAME TIME.
THE FAST INFORMS US OF THE...HIS IDENTIFY, HIS HUMANITY AND HIS VICTORY.
MPI. THE JESUS FAST INVITES US TO UNDERSTAND THE IDENTIFY OF CHRIST. V. 1
1 THEN JESUS WAS LED UP BY THE SPIRIT INTO THE WILDERNESS TO BE TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL.
JESUS WAS LEAD, COMPELLED, DIRECTED AND DRIVEN, THRUST TO A HIGHER PLACE....... INTO THE ARENA OF CHAOS TO...MAKE FULL PROOF OF HIS MINISTRY
IT WAS LIKE HE WAS THROWN TO THE WOLVES
IT WAS LIKE HE WAS THROWN INTO THE LIONS DEN
IT WAS LIKE HE WAS THROWN INTO THE PIT WHERE THERE WAS NO WATER.
IMP. THE IMPLICATION IS THAT JESUS WAS MAKING IDENTIFICATION WITH THE PAST AND THE PROMISES OF GOD. JESUS IDENTIFIES WITH ADAM...AS ADAM AND EVE WERE LED OUT OF THE GARDEN, THRUST OUT OF THE GARDEN....SENT FORTH... THUS WE SEE A PARADOX IN PARADISE LOST, AND CHRIST AS THE SECOND ADAM IN PARADISE REGAINED.
NEXT JESUS IDENTIFIES WITH ISRAEL. ISRAEL LEFT EGYPT AND WANDERED IN THE WILDERNESS FOR 40 YEARS. REMEMBER THE INITIAL REQUEST BY MOSES TO PHARAOH WAS FOR ISRAEL TO GO ON A THREE DAY JOURNEY INTO THE WILDERNESS SO THEY COULD SACRIFICE TO THE LORD; HOLD A FEAST FOR THE LORD. AND WHEN EVENTUALLY WHEN ISRAEL WAS FOUND IN THE WILDERNESS....THEY FOUND NO WATER. OH YES, THE BAPTISM PARALLELS WITH ISRAEL PASSING THROUGH THE RED SEA!
THUS WHEN WE IDENTIFY WITH CHRIST; THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL LEAD US, GUIDE US AND DIRECT US ...HE WILL MOVE US AND ORDER OUR STEPS.
TEXT: PS 37:23 THE STEPS OF A GOOD MAN ARE ORDERED BY THE LORD; AND HE DELIGHTS IN HIS WAY.
PS. 119:133 ORDER MY STEPS IN THY WORD; AND LET NOT ANY INIQUITY HAVE DOMINION OVER ME.
LUKE 2:25-30 25 AND BEHOLD, THERE WAS A MAN IN JERUSALEM WHOSE NAME WAS SIMEON, AND THIS MAN WAS JUST AND DEVOUT, WAITING FOR THE CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS UPON HIM. 26 AND IT HAD BEEN REVEALED TO HIM BY THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT HE WOULD NOT SEE DEATH BEFORE HE HAD SEEN THE LORD'S CHRIST. 27 SO HE CAME BY THE SPIRIT INTO THE TEMPLE. AND WHEN THE PARENTS BROUGHT IN THE CHILD JESUS, TO DO FOR HIM ACCORDING TO THE CUSTOM OF THE LAW, 28 HE TOOK HIM UP IN HIS ARMS AND BLESSED GOD AND SAID: 29 "LORD, NOW YOU ARE LETTING YOUR SERVANT DEPART IN PEACE, ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD; 30 FOR MY EYES HAVE SEEN YOUR SALVATION
LUKE 2:36-38 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; 37 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. 38 AND COMING IN THAT INSTANT SHE GAVE THANKS TO THE LORD, AND SPOKE OF HIM TO ALL THOSE WHO LOOKED FOR REDEMPTION IN JERUSALEM.
THEN WE SEE THIS THEME IN ACTS – AS ACTS 3:1-7 NOW PETER AND JOHN WENT UP TOGETHER TO THE TEMPLE AT THE HOUR OF PRAYER, THE NINTH HOUR. 2 AND A CERTAIN MAN LAME FROM HIS MOTHER'S WOMB WAS CARRIED, WHOM THEY LAID DAILY AT THE GATE OF THE TEMPLE WHICH IS CALLED BEAUTIFUL, TO ASK ALMS FROM THOSE WHO ENTERED THE TEMPLE; 3 WHO, SEEING PETER AND JOHN ABOUT TO GO INTO THE TEMPLE, ASKED FOR ALMS. 4 AND FIXING HIS EYES ON HIM, WITH JOHN, PETER SAID, "LOOK AT US." 5 SO HE GAVE THEM HIS ATTENTION, EXPECTING TO RECEIVE SOMETHING FROM THEM. 6 THEN PETER SAID, "SILVER AND GOLD I DO NOT HAVE, BUT WHAT I DO HAVE I GIVE YOU: IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH, RISE UP AND WALK." 7 AND HE TOOK HIM BY THE RIGHT HAND AND LIFTED HIM UP, AND IMMEDIATELY HIS FEET AND ANKLE BONES RECEIVED STRENGTH.
APPL: IF WE SAY WE IDENTIFY WITH CHRIST – THEN THE DEVIL WILL MAKE US PROVE IT...
WHEN WE IDENTIFY WITH CHRIST HE HAS A WAY OF MOVING US
INTO ARENAS OF CHAOS FOR HIS NAME SAKE
INTO THE DEEP WATERS
INTO THE LION’S DEN
IT IS AT THESE TIMES WHEN IN OUR DEVELOPMENT WHERE WE LEARN MORE ABOUT GOD AND MORE ABOUT OURSELVES.
YES, DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND THE DEVIL TAKES NOTICE AND WILL SHOW UP.
THE HOLY SPIRIT LEADS US....AND WE ARE TO OFFER OURSELVES TO HIS GUIDANCE.
FROM LOWER TO A HIGHER PLACE; KING OF KINGS, SON OF MAN, TO LORD OF LORDS.
LEVEL I – CHAOS .TEMPTED – PERIPAZO, TRY, TEST, EXAMINE, PROVE, TEMPTATION TO DO EVIL, DISOBEY...ILL WILL, CONTEMPT, TRAP, MAKE ONE TO SIN...
ILL: IDENTITY THEFT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE HEARD MUCH ABOUT IN THE MEDIA DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS. PERHAPS YOU PAY YOUR BILLS ON-LINE, OR JUST DO SOME CASUAL SHOPPING ON LINE FOR THE SIMPLE CONVENIENCE OF PAYING BILLS OR SHOPPING FROM THE PRIVACY AND COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME. I HAVE GROWN COMFORTABLE PAYING MAJORITY OF BILLS ON LINE. I FIND IT TO BE CONVENIENT. THERE ARE MANY SAFEGUARDS CURRENTLY IN PLACE. BUT, PERHAPS THERE WAS A PLANTED PROGRAM SOMEWHERE THAT CAPTURED YOUR VITAL INFORMATION AND PLACED IT INTO THE HANDS OF A THIEF. ALTHOUGH IDENTITY THEFT IS A RAPIDLY ESCALATING TYPE OF CRIME, IT IS NOT NECESSARILY NEW. INCIDENTS OF VARIOUS TYPES OF IDENTITY THEFT HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLED OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS AND NOW REPRESENT THE LEADING CONSUMER FRAUD REPORTED TO THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION, ACCOUNTING FOR 42% OF ALL COMPLAINTS.
MANY IDENTITY FRAUD CASES BEGIN WITH THE SIMPLE THEFT OF A CREDIT CARD NUMBER, AS EASILY AS TAKING THE INFORMATION FROM A PAPER RECEIPT. STOLEN CREDIT CARDS AND SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS CAN DEVASTATE YOUR LIFE. WHEN THIEVES EFFECTIVELY STEAL YOUR IDENTITY THEY CAN DO ONE OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:
• OPEN NEW CREDIT CARD ACCOUNTS USING YOUR NAME, BIRTH DATE AND SSN
• CALL YOUR CREDIT CARD COMPANY PRETENDING TO BE YOU AND CHANGE THE MAILING ADDRESS
• ESTABLISH CELLULAR PHONE SERVICE IN YOUR NAME
• OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT IN YOUR NAME AND WRITE BAD CHECKS ON THAT ACCOUNT
THE REAL TRAGEDY WITH IDENTITY THEFT IS YOU MAY NEVER REALIZE THAT IT HAS HAPPENED TO YOU UNTIL YOU RECEIVE BILLS FOR A CREDIT CARD YOU NEVER HAD – BAD CREDIT REPORT INCLUDES DEBTS YOU NEVER CREATED – BILLING CYCLES PASS AND YOU DON’T RECEIVE A STATEMENT – CHARGES APPEAR ON YOUR BILLS THAT YOU DID NOT AUTHORIZE. IDENTITY THEFT CAN BE VERY SUBTLE IN THE BEGINNING AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT YOU FIND YOURSELF ATTEMPTING TO PROVE YOUR IDENTITY. CAN YOU IMAGINE YOURSELF IN THE POSITION OF HAVING TO EVER PROVE WHO YOU ARE TO CREDITORS OR SOME LOCAL AGENCY.
IDENTITY THEFT MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS CAN ALSO TAKE PLACE ON THE SPIRITUAL LEVEL. MATTER OF FACT IT HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE BEGINNING OF HUMAN KIND. ONE OF THE CLASSIC, BIBLICAL WAYS TO UNDERSTAND SATAN IS AS A THIEF, JOHN THE EVANGELIST WRITES THAT THE THIEF COMES ONLY TO STEAL AND KILL AND DESTROY. THE AUTHOR OF 1ST PETER, POSSIBLY THE APOSTLE PETER HIMSELF, WRITES THAT “YOUR ADVERSARY THE DEVIL PROWLS AROUND LIKE A ROARING LION, SEEKING THOSE WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR.” THE DEVIL SEEKS TO STEAL OUR LIKENESS TO CHRIST. SATAN IS THE ORIGINAL IDENTIFY THIEF WHO WOULD LIKE NOTHING MORE THAN TO CORRUPT THE IMAGE OF GOD IN YOU, DRAIN YOUR SPIRIT, AND THEREFORE, DERAIL YOUR BECOMING LIKE CHRIST. FOR THAT IN ITSELF IS THE ESSENCE OF CHRISTIANITY = TO BE LIKE CHRIST.
YES...
TO IDENTIFY WITH CHRIST, YOU MUST HAVE A CROSS.
GOD COUNTED CROSSES:
I COUNTED DOLLARS WHILE GOD COUNTED CROSSES
I COUNTED GAINS WHILE HE COUNTED LOSSES.
I COUNTED MY WORTH BY THINGS GAINED IN STORE
BUT HE SIZED ME UP BY THE SCARS THAT I BORE.
I COVETED HONORS AND SOUGHT FOR DEGREES
HE WEPT AS HE COUNTED THE HOURS ON MY KNEES.
I NEVER KNEW UNTIL ONE DAY BY THE GRAVE
HOW VAIN ARE THE THINGS WE SPEND LIFE TO SAVE.
I DID NOT UNDERSTAND UNTIL MY LOVED ONE WENT ABOVE
THAT RICHEST IS HE WHO IS RICH IN GOD’S LOVE.
MP II. THE JESUS FAST – MOVES US TO LOOK AT THE
HUMANITY OF CHRIST.
Matthew 4:2-3 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."
SAVIOR – HIS HUMANITY – OF CHRIST – THE NT SHOWS HIS HUMANITY....FROM HIS BIRTH TO HIS MINISTRY OF TIRELESS HEALING AND STEADFAST SERVICE. JESUS WAS GOD AS WELL AS MAN. HE SHARED OUR PHYSICAL LIKES...AND GOT WEAK, WEARY AND WORN IN HIS WORK. HIS FASTING RESULTED IN HIM BEING STARVED...
STONE – ROCKS – USED FOR BUILDING, SEALING GRAVES, MILLSTONES TO PROCESS FOOD, TABLETS FOR WRITING, PRECIOUS STONES AND GEMS, USED NEG. IDOLS. BUT MORE FOR CHRIST...WHO IS THE CHIEFCORNER STONE.
BREAD – SHEWBREAD, MANNA, LAST SUPPER...JESUS IS THE BREAD FROM HEAVEN. DIVINE SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT ....FOOD...MEAL....FRIEND, BREAD, MEAL ....”MAKE A LIVING”.
JESUS IS THE BREAD OF LIFE.... SP. NOURISHMENT.....BREAD FROM HEAVEN.
IMP. PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR COMES TO US AND SAYS PROVE IT, APPEALING TO OUR PRIDE. HE PRESSURES AND PUMPS UP OUR PRIDE....PROUD...AND PUFFED UP; WHEN WE ARE WEARY AND WORN. JESUS PREPARED FOR THE TEST OF A LIFE TIME.
JESUS PREPARING FOR THE TEST LEFT HIM DRAINED IN ONE AREA.
SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE CAN LEAVE US PHYSICALLY DRAINED.
AND THE DEVIL WILL TAKE EVERY ADVANTAGE OF OUR DEFICIENCY PHY.SPIRITILA.
AND SEEK TO CAUSE US TO DOUBT GOD.
IMP. GET SAVIOR TO EAT WITH SATAN...IN FALSE FELLOWSHIP. EAT BEFORE SATAN. UGH.
SATAN PRESSURES US TO USE OUR POWERS IN THE WRONG WAY; CONFLICT OF INTEREST ISSUES...... AND THE LANG. SINCE YOU ARE...THE MAN...
HUNGRY – HE GOT HUNGRY BUT EVEN THOUGH HE WAS GOD HE WAS HUMBLE; AND DIDN’T USE HIS POWERS TO SATISFY HIS DESIRES.
IMP. CHRIST KNOWS ABOUT ALL OF OUR CHALLENGES; AND HERE GOD LED CHRIST TO PROVE HS CHARACTER AS HE WAS ...TEMPTED BY THE TEMPTER. AND LUKE, GIVES US THE IMPRESSION THAT IT WAS NOT ...AT THE END OF THE FORTY DAYS, BUT DURING THE FORTY DAYS. AND IT CLIMAXED AT THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM....IF JESUS WOULD ONLY WORSHIP SATAN.
IMP. TESTING REVEALS OUR TRUE CHARACTER; WILL WE TAKE MATTERS INTO OUR OWN HANDS OR WILL WE TRUST GOD. GOD ALLOWS TO REVEAL TRUE CHARACTER....GOD TEST US FOR GOOD AND THE DEVIL TEST OR TEMPTS US FOR BAD.
I PETER 5:8 BE SOBER, BE VIGILANT; BECAUSE YOUR ADVERSARY THE DEVIL WALKS ABOUT LIKE A ROARING LION; SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR.
JAMES 1 SAYS, COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YOU FALL INTO DIVERS TRIALS, KNOWING THAT THE TRYING OF YOUR FAITH WORKETH PATIENCE. BUT LET PATIENCE HAVE ITS PERFECT WORK THAT YOU MAY BE PERFECT AND COMPLETE, LACKING NOTHING. JAMES 1:2-4
JAMES 1:13-17 13 LET NO ONE SAY WHEN HE IS TEMPTED, "I AM TEMPTED BY GOD"; FOR GOD CANNOT BE TEMPTED BY EVIL, NOR DOES HE HIMSELF TEMPT ANYONE. 14 BUT EACH ONE IS TEMPTED WHEN HE IS DRAWN AWAY BY HIS OWN DESIRES AND ENTICED. 15 THEN, WHEN DESIRE HAS CONCEIVED, IT GIVES BIRTH TO SIN; AND SIN, WHEN IT IS FULL-GROWN, BRINGS FORTH DEATH. 16 DO NOT BE DECEIVED, MY BELOVED BRETHREN. 17 EVERY GOOD GIFT AND EVERY PERFECT GIFT IS FROM ABOVE, AND COMES DOWN FROM THE FATHER OF LIGHTS, WITH WHOM THERE IS NO VARIATION OR SHADOW OF TURNING.
1 CORINTHIANS 10:13 3 NO TEMPTATION HAS OVERTAKEN YOU EXCEPT SUCH AS IS COMMON TO MAN; BUT GOD IS FAITHFUL, WHO WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO BE TEMPTED BEYOND WHAT YOU ARE ABLE, BUT WITH THE TEMPTATION WILL ALSO MAKE THE WAY OF ESCAPE, THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO BEAR IT.
APPl KNOW THIS...
JESUS WAS PUT TO THE TEST
DEVIL WAS WILLING TO GIVE THE TEST
RESIST THE DEVIL = RESPONSE – IT HAS BEEN WRITTEN: WORD...
DON’T COMPROMISE
ILL: GROW STRONGER. GROW STRONGER IN YOUR CONVICTIONS THROUGH STUDY OF THE WORD. GROW STRONGER IN YOUR FAITH THROUGH MINISTRY TO OTHERS. GROW STRONGER IN YOUR LOVE FOR GOD THROUGH DAILY COMMUNION WITH HIM. GROW STRONGER IN YOUR PURPOSE FOR LIVING BY MAKING A DECISION TODAY TO LIVE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD. GROW STRONGER.
GET HEALTHIER. YOU KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT NUTRITION TO KNOW THIS STUFF. TAKE YOUR VITAMINS: BIBLE READING AND STUDY, FASTING, PRAYER, MEDITATION, AND WORSHIP. YOUR DOCTOR TELLS YOU IF YOU WANT TO BE HEALTHIER THEN YOU NEED TO DO TWO THINGS: EAT BETTER AND GET MORE EXERCISE. THE GREAT PHYSICIAN HAS THE SAME REGIMEN FOR US: EAT BETTER (LESS JUNK AND MORE MEAT) AND EXERCISE MORE. WE NEED TO EXERCISE OUR FAITH MORE BY STEPPING OUT AND TRUSTING GOD. WE NEED TO RUN THE RACE SET BEFORE US. WE NEED TO LIFT UP HOLY HANDS IN PRAYER.
STAY WITH THE HERD. YOU’RE EASY PREY FOR SATAN WHEN YOU’RE OUT THERE ON YOUR OWN. YOU NEED TO BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE BODY LIFE OF YOUR CHURCH FAMILY. I DON’T JUST MEAN COMING TO SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP – BUT REALLY RUNNING WITH THE HERD AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.
STAY FOCUSED. GET YOUR SIGHTS ON THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH AND RUN IN THAT DIRECTION. MY VBS LESSON THIS WEEK WAS ABOUT THE FOUR SOILS. SO MANY BELIEVERS GET TAKEN OUT BY SATAN BECAUSE THE SEED OF GOD LANDS IN YOUR LIFE, BUT IT’S TOO QUICKLY CHOKED OUT BY THE WORRIES OF THIS LIFE AND THE LURES OF WEALTH. IF THE WORD CAN’T TAKE ROOT IN YOUR LIFE THEN YOU’RE AN EASY TARGET.
SO, WAKE UP, WORK OUT, AND…
WALK RIGHT
MP III. JESUS FAST EXEMPLIFIES THAT WE HAVE VICTORY IN CHRIST.
MATTHEW 4:4 4 BUT HE ANSWERED AND SAID, "IT IS WRITTEN, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD.'
THE LORD USES THE WORD OF GOD, IT IS WRITTEN AND USES THREE QUOTATION FROM DEUT. 8:3, 6:16: AND V. 13.....THUS WE LIVE BY THE WORD...PROCEEDS...FLOWS, DEPARTS, ISSUED... IT’S LIKE MOSES SPOKE TO GOD...FACE TO FACE AND WE LIVE....MOUTH TO MOUTH RECITATIONS, CPR...PERSON TO PERSON
MORE THAN BREAD TO STAY ALIVE BUT A STEADY STREAM OF THE WORD FROM GODS MOUTH....
IMP. OUR LIVES ARE NOT JUST SUSTAINED BY PHYSICAL NEEDS, BUT SPIRITUAL NEEDS TOO. JUST AS GOD’S WORD BROUGHT FORTH CREATION, HIS WORD SUSTAINS US ....EVERY WORD.
YES, FEEDING THE INNER SPIRITUAL PERSON IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN FEEDING THE PHYSICAL. YES, LIVE UNDER GOD’S SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY.
TEXT:
PSALM 1:2 2 BUT HIS DELIGHT IS IN THE LAW OF THE LORD, AND IN HIS LAW HE MEDITATES DAY AND NIGHT.
PS. 119:11 THY WORD HAVE I HID IN MY HEART THAT I MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST YOU.
PS OH TASTE AND SEE THE LORD IS GOOD.
APP: FEAST ON THE WORD OF GOD.
CLOSE: WE ARE BLESSED TO FAST...AND FEAST BECAUSE JESUS DEFEATED SATAN ON HIS OWN TERRITORY; WHICH ALLOWS US TO PRESERVED AND ENDURE UNTO THE END.
YES, SATAN LEFT AND THE ANGELS SUPPORTED JESUS...
SATAN WOULD RETURN...BUT IT WOULD BE ON JESUS TURF...
AND WHEN JESUS WAS DETERMINED TO GO TO JERUSALEM...
VICTORY WAS ASSURED...AT THE CROSS...
AND BECAUSE HE DEFEATED SIN, DEATH AND THE GRAVE...
WE ARE BLESSED TO FAST....DENY OURSELVES .. AND FEAST...
ON THE WORD OF GOD AT THE SAME TIME. KNOWING THAT ...IF JESUS OVERCAME
THE DEVIL ON HIS TURF.....AND FILLED US WITH HIS SPIRIT ...WE CAN LIVE VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN LIVES...FASTING AND FEASTING AT THE SAME TIME.
WE ARE ABLE TO OVERCOME TEMPTATION BY FASTING
FROM THE THINGS OF THE WORD, AN FEASTING ON THE WORD OF GOD.
WE OVERCOME TEMPTATION AS WE
FAST FROM THINGS OF THE WORLD
WHILE FEASTING ON THE WORD.