DAY 5
Don’t Lose Focus!
In Luke 4, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit to the wilderness and into an extended fast. We know that Jesus was about 30 years old, that he was by occupation a carpenter, but by vocation a “rabbi.” Traditionally, when a person was about 30, the title “rabbi” would be conveyed, and with it all the rights, responsibilities, and privileges. More than likely He had memorized huge sections of scripture from the time he was a very young boy having been trained in rabbinical schools throughout his life. Part of that training would have included lessons on the importance and value of fasting.
The Holy Spirit had not previously descended on anybody like He did at Jesus’ baptism. And with the Spirit’s leading, Jesus heads into a wilderness fast.
A couple aspects of Jesus’ wilderness fast seem poignant to me:
It was initiated by a visitation of the Spirit.
The Spirit led Jesus into a place of barrenness—the wilderness.
Jesus’ physical body went through tremendous discipline in order to accomplish such an extended fast (40 days).
The “tempter,” the devil himself, confronted Jesus.
Jesus had the power of the Word on his lips to defeat the enemy.
Most significantly, at the conclusion of the fast, Luke 4 says that Jesus returned to a new dimension of His life and ministry “in the power of the Holy Spirit…” (Luke 4:14).
As the Spirit instructed you to join this fast, be aware that it will challenge your body, it will require mental discipline, expect natural discomfort and spiritual challenges, and anticipate a new fullness of the Spirit in your life.
My prayer for you today is that you don’t lose focus, and that your passion for God deepens.In Luke 4, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit to the wilderness and into an extended fast. We know that Jesus was about 30 years old, that he was by occupation a carpenter, but by vocation a “rabbi.” Traditionally, when a person was about 30, the title “rabbi” would be conveyed, and with it all the rights, responsibilities, and privileges. More than likely He had memorized huge sections of scripture from the time he was a very young boy having been trained in rabbinical schools throughout his life. Part of that training would have included lessons on the importance and value of fasting.
The Holy Spirit had not previously descended on anybody like He did at Jesus’ baptism. And with the Spirit’s leading, Jesus heads into a wilderness fast.
A couple aspects of Jesus’ wilderness fast seem poignant to me:
It was initiated by a visitation of the Spirit.
The Spirit led Jesus into a place of barrenness—the wilderness.
Jesus’ physical body went through tremendous discipline in order to accomplish such an extended fast (40 days).
The “tempter,” the devil himself, confronted Jesus.
Jesus had the power of the Word on his lips to defeat the enemy.
Most significantly, at the conclusion of the fast, Luke 4 says that Jesus returned to a new dimension of His life and ministry “in the power of the Holy Spirit…” (Luke 4:14).
As the Spirit instructed you to join this fast, be aware that it will challenge your body, it will require mental discipline, expect natural discomfort and spiritual challenges, and anticipate a new fullness of the Spirit in your life.
My prayer for you today is that you don’t lose focus, and that your passion for God deepens.