The book of Matthew 4:1-4 reads, “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” This scripture bears out that fasting teaches us that God’s Word nourishes us…our spirit man. This passage shows that the word of God provides, gives strength and nourishes our spirit. Let’s say this together, “I am a spirit. I possess a soul. I live in a body!”
This passage of scripture in Matthew is a direct correlation to Deuteronomy 8:3-5 which talks about the 40 years Israel spent in the wilderness, depending daily on manna sent from God to feed them. It says that God humbled them and let them be hungry in order to teach them to depend on His Word for nourishment. By His example of fasting, Jesus reminds us that food alone can’t sustain us. We need to be fed by God’s Word. Fasting positions us to hear the word of God that will sustain us in and through all the situations we may face in life! So during these twenty days of fasting, let God’s word continually sustain you and know that His word has the answer to every question you may have or difficulty you may face.
Let’s challenge ourselves during this season! During these twenty days of fasting, don’t forget to spend time today reading the Bible, worshipping God in your private time, serving in our church and your community. And set aside that dollar for every member of your family so when we break the fast together on Sunday, January 26th each member of your family will be able to sow in that offering. We will close our 20:20 fast with a worship night for family and friends that Sunday evening. We are anticipating what God is going to do in us and through us during these twenty days.
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