During this first week of 2024, we’re entering a time of prayer and fasting as a church. In Daily Bible Reading, you’ll have the opportunity to hear from a different campus pastor each day, guiding you through the various reasons why we fast and pray. Today, you’ll hear from Fishers Campus Pastor Chad Lunsford. For more information on Prayer + Fasting Week, visit tpcc.org/prayerandfasting.
Read Matthew 3:16-17 and Matthew 4:1-2 in your personal Bible or at the links provided.
Review
- In verses 16-17, how did Matthew describe what the Spirit of God did to Jesus, and what did God the Father say about Jesus?
- Who led Jesus into the wilderness and why?
- How long did Jesus fast and pray, and what was His condition at the conclusion?
Reflect
When stepping into a new year or a new season of life, what do you think is the first and most important thing that you can do?
When Jesus was baptized, God inaugurated this new and important season for the life of His Son. Throughout chapter 4, Jesus did many significant things, but pay close attention the first thing that Jesus did. Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit and there He prayed and fasted for 40 days. Before the Son of Heaven stepped into a new and demanding season, He spent extended time with the Father.
We might think that our most important step is to prepare financially, to connect relationally with important people in our lives, to reset physically, or even to rest on a vacation. While all of these are significant, if the Son of God knew to spend extended time with the Father, how much more should we? Consider the results of this decision.
After 40 days of fasting, Jesus was hungry, so we assume that He was weak. However, the devil tempted Jesus three different times, and Jesus rejected the temptations. How did He do this?
The Greek word for wilderness is eremos, which can also be translated as a solitary or quiet place. So, before Jesus took on the devil and began His new season of life and ministry, He was led by the Spirit to spend 40 days quietly with God the Father. Jesus wasn’t weak; Jesus was spiritually soaring!
Beyond the 40 days, this is a way of life for Jesus. After an exhausting day of serving others (Mark 1:35), Jesus went to a quiet place to pray. After miraculously feeding 5,000 people, Jesus found a solitary place and prayed (Mark 6:45-46). When a great crowd came for healing, Luke said that Jesus often withdrew to pray with the Father.
In Matthew 4 alone, Jesus overcame the devil, fulfilled prophecy, selected the people who led the Church after His death, healed many, and taught multitudes. However, Jesus didn’t go from His baptism straight into ministry - He started with prayer and fasting. Then, He continued to break from the busyness of life to reset with the Father.
Respond
- As you begin a new year, in what ways do you sense that God is doing something new in and through you?
- The devil tried to derail Jesus from God’s plan. How was prayer and fasting integral to Jesus’ ability to withstand the temptations?
- How can this week of prayer and fasting guide you to new rhythms of walking with God like Jesus did?
Read More
As you process the questions above, you may want to read Acts 13:2-3, where church leaders in Antioch pray and fast with Paul and Barnabas before sending them out on their first missionary journey.
For more information and resources on our week of prayer and fasting, visit tpcc.org/prayerandfasting.