(To Coincide with Fasting Prayer Service Session III)
Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 4:1-11 is about the temptation in wilderness.
Matthew 4:1-2
4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
4:2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.
Why do we have to fast?
1 Corinthians 10:13
10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but Godisfaithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bearit.
Through the fasting prayer, we receive two thingsas follows:
In Matthew 4:1-11, there are three kinds of temptation to make the plan of God in Jesus’ life or our life failed, as follows:
The kingdom of world is the bond of worldas follows:
The practice of life that is bound to the worldis as follows:
To be free from the bond of world, we must worship and fast a lot.
The result is as follows:
God blesses us.
Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 4:1-11 is about the temptation in wilderness.
Matthew 4:1-2
4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
4:2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.
Why do we have to fast?
- Following the pattern of Jesus.
- We are unable to live in the wilderness of this world that is barren, difficult and impossible.
- We are unable to face the temptations from Satan.
1 Corinthians 10:13
10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but Godisfaithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bearit.
Through the fasting prayer, we receive two thingsas follows:
- Getting extra strength from God so we are able to bear the temptation.
We do not grumble or disappointed but always give thank to God. - We find the way of escape from all problems.
In Matthew 4:1-11, there are three kinds of temptation to make the plan of God in Jesus’ life or our life failed, as follows:
- [Verse 3-4] The temptation about stone changed into bread.
The plan of God is the stones or the Gentiles are changed to become the sons of Abraham. This temptation is intended for the Gentiles, so that they will not be the sons of Abraham and saved. - [Verse 5-7] The temptation about God’s temple.
This temptation is to make plan of God which is the building of the Body of Christ failed. God’s plan is Jesus comes from Heaven to the deepest of earth or Hades to lift up the stone to become the living stone, priest and king to serve in the building of the Body of Christ.
The obstacle from Satan is stumbling block and fall. The biggest stumbling block is the hardness of heart. It will lead to the building of Babylon. - [Verse 8-11] The temptation about the kingdom of world.
Matthew 4:8-11
4:8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
4:9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”
4:10 Then Jesus said to him,“Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship theLordyour God, and Him only you shall serve.’”
4:11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
The plan of God is Jesus comes a second as the King of kings and Bridegroom of Heaven to perfect and lift up the congregation to be the Bride of Heaven.
The plan of Satan is to uplift Jesus as the king of world.
Thus Satan is going to make the plan of God which is the plan of Jesus’ second coming as the Kings of king and the bridegroom of Heaven failed, so we will perish with this world.
The kingdom of world is the bond of worldas follows:
- The glory of world or something that is relied on more than God. It is also ministering to God but only looking for the physical things.
- The sin up to the peak of sin namely eating-drinking and marrying-being given in marriage.
- The suffering of world namely shortage, illness, sorrow, et cetera.
The practice of life that is bound to the worldis as follows:
- Making friendship with the world.
James 4:4
4:4 Adulterers andadulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
The practice is unfaithfulness in ministry. - Loving the world.
1 John 2:15-17
2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
2:16 For all thatisin the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
2:17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
The practice is being disobedient to the Word of God because there is the lust of the flesh, eye and the pride of life. - Conforming to this World.
Romans 12:2
12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove whatisthat good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
The practice is the one is never changed but keeps the carnal men, thus he cannot discern the right and wrong.
The result is perdition with this world.
To be free from the bond of world, we must worship and fast a lot.
The result is as follows:
- Experiencing the renewal of life.
Mark 9:2-3,7
9:2 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them.
9:3 His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.
9:7 And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”
Face or heart is being changed to become obedient. Thus, we cannot be touched by world. - Stabilizing the call and election.
Luke 9:35
9:35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son.Hear Him!”
Through worship prayer we stabilize our ministry and the gift of Holy Spirit.
1 Timothy 4:14
4:14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.
The ministry and the gift of Holy Spirit are received in the laying on of the hands of pastor. After receiving it, we must worship and fast a lot so we will not be deceitful in ministry (unfaithful and cursed) and never leave the ministry (perdition), but be firm in ministry and the gift of Holy Spirit. We are fervent, faithful, and obedient in ministry until the end line, namely the time of or bodily death or Jesus’ second coming. - Experiencing the stretch out of God’s hand with the power of creation.
Psalm 95:6-8
95:6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before theLordour Maker.
95:7 For Heisour God, and wearethe people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice:
95:8 “Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, asinthe day of trialin the wilderness,
The power of creation of God is able to create something that does not exist yet to care our life. The impossible one becomes possible; the problems are being solved by God.
Revelation 7:17
7:17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters.And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
The hand of God leads to the beautiful future, success and joy. All the tears are wiped away. He will lead us to the New Jerusalem, the last shepherding. We are being renewed to become perfect as He is. When He comes a second time we will be lifted up to Heaven throne.
God blesses us.