Friday Fast

Joel Schmidgall

May 25, 2007 · 8:13 AM

Read Luke 4 today: Jesus fasted 40 days and nights

It’s interesting to me that the chapter starts out by saying “Jesus, full of the Spirit, was lead into the desert.” We’re usually praying for God to take us out of the desert—for the Spirit of God to relieve us from hardship and the rough places in life. But following God’s Spirit, Jesus is lead into adversity and suffering. God often provides difficulty for us to prepare ourselves for greater things for the Kingdom. That’s what we see here in Jesus. I like how the scripture begins with Jesus being lead by the Spirit, and the 40 days of fasting ends by Jesus returning ”in the power of the spirit” (v. 14).  That is what we are doing with these fasts, preparing ourselves for a great work of God in our lives and in the lives of others.

In fact, we’re asking for the Holy Spirit’s filling so that we can follow Jesus example in verse 18-19: 

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

Here are my questions for today:

  1. What if Jesus would’ve skipped this season of preparation and fasting before launching into ministry?
  2. What happens if we are not seeking the Holy Spirit leading into our trip?

P.S. You may download the study on Biblical Fasting that I handed out at the last meeting.

Commentary

Jen

May 25, 2007 · 10:55 AM
Washington D.C.

Wow! I love that he went through that period of fasting, temptation and desert dwelling, then came out the other side with the “power of the Spirit.” He then goes on to a power-packed chapter of incredible miracles and teachings right out of that experience. That’s what I want for me and for all of us—to be totally filled with the Spirit. I’m praying for you all!

Bonita

May 26, 2007 · 12:11 AM

It is a blessing to be reminded that God will never put us in a tough situation, or ask us to help others, without first preparing us or equipping us with the proper resources.  I am comforted to know that He is always with us as we are tested, and I hope we can follow his footsteps as we diligently fast, pray and prepare for our trip!

Michael

May 27, 2007 · 1:17 PM

God promises to be our Shelter, Salvation, and the Light unto our path.  Using fasting to be “filled with the spirit” as Jesus did is a great way to strengthen our personal relationships with Christ in order to hear what He is saying and in order to be sensitive to following His lead.  Isaiah 58:8 says that, through fasting, “your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righeous One will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.” And if we want God to guide us in this trip, we can hold fast to this promise.  But I really think the key to this passage begins three verses previous, in Isaiah 58:5:

Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself?  Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes?  Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?  Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?  Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

I think it’s really exciting that God has given us such an impossible fast that we must rely on His power and grace to even come close to living this out in our daily lives.  But this is what fasting is all about—and may the Lord bless us and guide us in our preparation so that we, as the body of Christ, may be a blessing according to His perfect will.

Jeff

May 27, 2007 · 6:04 PM

Joel, great point you made from Luke 4.  We should welcome the desert.  It seems so much of our earthly existence, even ministry in the Church, is centered around pain avoidance.  I think this ‘pain avoidance’ is even manifested in our desire to alleviate the pain, the deprivation, the lack, the loss of others.  Could it be that where the Cross is most acutely realized is where the glory of the Lord is most profoundly reflected? 

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!

I will be with you and your team in prayer throughout your journey.  God bless you all!

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