Sharon Baptist Church
Not So Fast Sermon Series
Message #3
FASTING LIKE JESUS
Not So Fast (Message #3)
Matthew 4:1-3
Matthew 4:1-3 NKJV
Introduction:
Biblical Fasting-an affliction or sacrifice in order to give pause so that one’s mind, attention and heart may be more focused in time and prayer to God.
Many times God will lead us by His Holy Spirit to a place where we can be used mightily and/or broken deeply.
Like Moses (Ex. 34:28), extreme fasting is for extreme situations. BTW—both Jesus and Moses were in extremely great shape and led by God for these extreme fasts.
“LET BY THE SPIRIT”
A. We should be led by the Spirit, filled with the Spirit, controlled by the Spirit, etc.
1. Galatians 5:16-26
2. The Holy Spirit of God is not a water faucet that we just turn on just to get a drink when we are thirsty.
3. This is OUR LIFE! He should permeate and ooze out of every pore of our being! If we are doing something, we should be led of the SPIRIT!
B. Colossians 3:17
Galatians 5:16-26 NKJV
Colossians 3:17 NKJV
“INTO THE WILDERNESS”
A.W. Tozer has a well known quote:
“It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until he has hurt him deeply.”He goes on to say...“The flaming desire to be rid of every unholy thing and to put on the likeness of Christ at any cost is not often found among us. We expect to enter the everlasting kingdom of our Father and to sit down around the table with sages, saints and martyrs; and through the grace of God, maybe we shall; yes maybe we shall. But for the most of us it could prove at first an embarrassing experience. Ours might be the silence of the untried soldier in the presence of the battle-hardened heroes who have fought the fight and won the victory and who have scars to prove that they were present when the battle was joined.”
B. To be greatly used by the Lord is a desire that every Christian should have, but it must be recognized that following Jesus is not for the faint of heart!
#spiritualwarfare
#pickupyourcross
#boutthatlife
C. It does not stand to our reasoning why God would allow us to be harmed, hurt, suffer, pained, ridiculed for HIS honor and glory.
D. It reminds us that He is the Potter and He is shaping us and molding us into a vessel for the Master’s use!
1. Jesus was no different, in that He suffered and submitted to HIS Father’s will.
2. Moses suffered, David suffered, the prophets suffered, but they were all greatly used by God!
3. Hebrews 11:13-16
Hebrews 11:13-16 NKJV
“TO BE TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL”
A. The nail in the road that gives you a flat tire on your way to church was not put there by Satan. Just as the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden was not planted by Satan.
1. This is not denying that Satan is real and he is the enemy, the tempter, the accuser, the manipulator, and the head-liar of our time.
2. Sometimes God sends or allows a “nail in the road” to see and allow us to make a decision how we will give HIM glory or not!
3. God gets the glory from our lives when we are MOST DEPENDENT on HIM! “When we are weak, HE is strong!”
B. What is we fail in the moment of the trial or temptation?
1. We have an advocate!—1 John 2:1-5
2. There is forgiveness, there is healing, there is a new beginning!
I John 2:1-5 NKJV
“WHEN HE HAD FASTED”
A. The tempter is coming!—Matthew 4:2-3
1. Jesus was ready.
2. It doesn’t mention prayer in these verses or the other accounts of the temptation of Christ, but the consistent pattern of Jesus’ life was permeated by prayer.
3. Jesus said to us…get ready—Matthew 6:16-18
B. The tempter is coming back (reminds me of the horror films, when you can’t kill the BAD GUY)—Luke 4:13
1. This means he does not give up easily.
2. We will battle temptation and our flesh as long as we are alive!
C. Remember, the Devil didn’t pop your tire, but he is standing right beside it, to see if he can get you to cuss God.
D. I hope you will call on God, instead of cussing HIM!
E. You have the decision today. You can despise HIM or DWELL with Him!
Matthew 4:2-3 NKJV
Matthew 6:16-18 NKJV
Luke 4:13 NKJV