PURSUIT - Day 3 - Preparing For Power

Jesus talked about giving, praying, and fasting as if they were non-negotiable practices in the life of a believer.  Yet, wrong motivations for these spiritual disciplines can derail the results, turning them into meaningless religious routines.

"So, when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do. . . And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. . . And when you fast, don't make it obvious, as the hypocrites do."  Matthew 6:2, 5, & 16

The religious leaders of Jesus' day, those he kept referring to as "hypocrites," prayed publicly, gave more money at the synagogue than the average person, and fasted two days a week!  Sounds like a pretty serious commitment that you would think God would be impressed with and respond to.  However Jesus said the only reward they would receive was the admiration of people.  Truthfully, I want a little bit more from my spiritual pursuits than impressing people.  The keys to fasting effectively and praying prayers that move heaven are to:

• SPEND SIGNIFICANT TIME IN THE SECRET PLACE

The secret place is simply that undistracted, designated place of prayer and worship that you intentionally reserve for just you and the Lord.  This is where we go and "shut the door"  to meet with God in secret.  Jesus made us a promise when we do this:   "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:6 (NIV2011)

• BE LED BY THE SPIRIT

If we are not careful, the term "Spirit-led" can get spooky or a little weird, leading many down a road of subjective and questionable behavior, yet the Word is clear that this is how we are to navigate our spiritual lives.  Romans 8:14 tells us that "The mature children of God are those who are moved (led)  by the impulses of the Holy Spirit."  Let's consider Jesus' preparation for ministry as he fasted for forty days and forty nights in the wilderness.

"Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry." Luke 4:1-2 (NIV2011) 

There are a couple of questions worth considering from this passage.  First, does the Spirit actually lead you into times of testing and a wilderness experience in order to release you into a new season of power and realized potential?  Second, what kind of fast is the Spirit leading you into?  Third, what should expect during these days of Pursuit?  There are no Biblical mandates or verse-by-verse instructions detailing how long we should fast, how often or what type of fast we should undertake.  To truly be effective in your time of fasting we must be willing to listen to the voice of God, the leading of the Spirit.  It also helps to get counsel from your pastor or other spiritual leaders.  For this 21-day period, our Pastor, our spiritual leader, has called as a community to particpate in this time together.  But at other times in your life, don't avoid the idea of fasting because we do not "feel led" or "Pastor hasn't directed us to do so."  Fasting is a discipline and an act of faith that we initiate whenever we choose.

THIS WAS NOT ON THE BROCHURE

The next step is to prepare your mind and Spirit for what might happen as the Spirit leads you in these days.  Many have a romantic concept of fasting and anticipate dreams, vision, angelic visitations, and an immediate sense of being closer to God than they ever have before.  Many times this is just not the case.  Don't get me wrong, fasting does create a nearness to Jesus and a sensitivity to the Spirit that nothing else will produce, but oftentimes during a fast, we will deal with some heart issues that begin to surface.  We will be confronted with our baggage and bondage that God is trying to free us from or we will face some real external spiritual opposition as we pursue God.

Let's consider Jesus again:  He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.

This is the part that is not in the brochure!  Who signs up for a wilderness trip to be tempted and have a one-on-one confrontation with the Prince of Darkness?  This doesn't sound like my idea of a spiritual retreat!  But let's look at the end game.

There were four distinct dynamics that happened to Jesus during his time of fasting that I believe we can use as a template during any season of an extended fast.  This will help us to have realistic expectations and to not be derailed as we encounter resistance and warfare in the process.

1. WE WILL DEVLOP A DEEP AND COMPLETE DEPENDENCE ON THE SUSTAINING STRENGTH OF GOD.  "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Matthew 4:4                     
2. WE WILL LEARN HOW TO FIGHT WITH THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT.  "It is written. . . It is written. . . It is written. . ."  Matthew 4:1-11
3. WE WILL LEARN TO RESIST AND DEFEAT THE DEVIL.  "Get out of here Satan," Jesus told him, "For the Scriptures say 'You must worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him.'" Then the devil went away. Matthew 4:10
4. WE WILL CONCLUDE OUR FAST IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT.  There is something in this portion of scripture that I want you to see and never forget.  Jesus headed into the wilderness full of the Spirit, but He returned in the power of the Spirit! (Luke 4:1 & 14)   There is a direct and obvious connection between fasting and the empowerment, the wilderness battle and the start of the miraculous, public ministry where demons cried out as he approached, and healing flowing freely to all who were near Him.  

I believe these days of  Pursuit are preparing you for a new release of power and authority in your life!  If Jesus need to fast to see a release of power, then so do we.  We have the biblical example of the "non-fasting" disciples who lacked power as the negative illustration of this truth (Matthew 21:19-21).  

Before you pray today, please remember the words of the Apostle Paul who lived a life of fasting, while being used consistently by the power of God.  This verse will also serve as our memory verse of the day.

MEMORY VERSE:  "My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power."  1 Corinthians 2:4

PRAYER DIRECTIVE:  As you spend some time with the Lord today, ask the Holy Spirit to lead you into and through every day of your PURSUIT.  That when you face the powers of hell you won't be discouraged or surprised but will be prepared to wield the Sword of the Word!  Let the Word of God be your sword as you resist and defeat your personal enemies.  Ask for a fresh baptism of fire and power so that you can be fully prepared for the ministry that awaits you as you "return in the power" of the Holy Spirit.

Adapted from Pursuit, by Dave Patterson, 2019, The Father's House.