What does Jesus's 40 days of fasting mean to you and your life?

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TM19782017

Active member
Dec 15, 2018
256
158
43
#1
40 days and nights in the desert in 2019 seems impossible with full time jobs but, I am curious what it means to many of you?

Is this something that we today are supposed to follow?

Describe your interpretation please?
 

FlyingDove

Senior Member
Dec 27, 2017
1,260
431
83
#2
As a general rule 40 refers to testing. There were many mandatory rules for fasting under the law.

I have found no fasting requirements/demands given to the Church/Body of Christ.

That's not to say that, I believe, fasting has no positive benefits. I believe God rewards any sacrificial petitions/work done in his name.

Paul, warns the husband & wife when they bring a prayer petition before the Lord. To be reasonable with time constraints 1 Cor 7:5.

Personally I would apply this advise to fasting as well.
 

TruthTalk

Senior Member
Jul 17, 2017
2,904
2,262
113
#3
40 days and nights in the desert in 2019 seems impossible with full time jobs but, I am curious what it means to many of you?

Is this something that we today are supposed to follow?

Describe your interpretation please?
Hi TM19782017,
After Jesus was baptized by John He was then led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted."

My interpretation of the "temptations of Jesus" is that the credentials of Jesus of Nazareth, that He truly is the Messiah, are that he successfully overcame every temptation of the devil in the wilderness. If Jesus had not overcome every test that He went through He could not claim being the Messiah that takes away the sins of the world.

Most students of the bible will tell you that the "meaning", of the temptations of Jesus is His Messianic Credentials. There are many lessons that Christian can learn from our Saviors testing in the wilderness but is there a need for us to do the same, No I don't believe we need to venture into the desert although we will have temptations to overcome in this world most would agree.

Matthew4:1,2: The Temptation of Jesus
1) Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2) After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry.
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,706
3,650
113
#4
By fasting we further prepare ourselves for God and His service.

But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing [was] sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom. (Psalm 35:13 KJV)

And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: (Daniel 9:3 KJV)

Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. (Matthew 17:21 KJV)

And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting. (Mark 9:29 KJV)

Defraud ye not one the other, except [it be] with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. (1 Corinthians 7:5 KJV)
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,177
113
#5
Fasting...going without food (not water) for 40 days...or however many days God wants us to.

The traditional church practice of Lent follows this 40 days before Easter (or resurrection day).
Many people give up something they have daily, like chocolate or coffee or watching tv etc.
some churches call it 'self-denial' and people give up spending on food or extras and collect this money and use it to give to missions or to feed poor people who have no food.

The 40 hour famine is a similar event practiced by school children raising funds for World Vision. In this one gives up solid food, for 40 hours, one is only allowed water, fruit juice or barley sugars. They get sponsored how many hours they can fast for.

Fasting is a time not to focus on our needs and wants but to think of God and others. That time usually spent preparing food and eating is spent praying and connecting with God.

Resisting temptation in the form of food...how many of us need this discipline. Because man can not live on bread alone but every word that comes from the mouth of God.

When Jesus was successful at resisting satans temptations he was given miraculous power from on High. Satan knew that Jesus couldnt be swayed. And from then on Jesus set out on his ministry, it was good training for ministry. Jesus appeared to his disciples for 40 days after resurrection. It seems God likes the number 40. 40 years in the wilderness, 40 days and nights in the ark.
 
Dec 9, 2011
13,727
1,725
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#7
To me It means that the WORD of GOD manifested In the flesh proved that GOD SO loved the world that HE gave HIS only begotten son that whosoever believes In HIM should not perish but have EverLasting Life and since GOD loves righteousness HE was obedient to GOD even to death.

GOD looked past my faults and saw my need.
 

danja

Senior Member
Nov 28, 2014
2,067
1,888
113
#8
i have done many fasts,one lasted 21 days .During that time i felt great ,i felt God's presence like never before .He blessed me
 

Hevosmies

Well-known member
Sep 8, 2018
3,612
2,632
113
#9
Im not volunteering for a 40 day fast. I'll pass thank you very much. :D

I just ate a 1500 calorie meal just now, drank two cups of coffee and some water after lifting weights. CANT BE FASTING WHEN DOING HEAVY LIFTING.

I can fast for a day though, not 40! i'd probably drop dead after 40days of fasting
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,706
3,650
113
#10
An often overlooked passage on fasting...

Matthew 6:16-18 KJV
[16] Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. [17] But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; [18] That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
 
P

pottersclay

Guest
#11
Looking at the condition that Jesus must of been in near death. The landscape of the wilderness unforgiving.
The hot sun....cold nights. With nothing to bring relief. Then to face your greatest enemy Satan himself.
Bringing scripture to life when God says I am your strength in weakness.
Jesus ending in victory over Satan for a season reminds me how powerful Jesus is and how weak I am.
 
L

Locoponydirtman

Guest
#12
What are we supposed to make of it, or get out of it?
 
L

LPT

Guest
#13
Moses had done that as well the 40 days.
 
L

LPT

Guest
#14
Notice how satan omits (in all your ways) when he quotes scripture, in Matthew but in Luke it does say carefully but that isn’t the same as all your ways.

Psalm 91
11 For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
 

jb

Senior Member
Feb 27, 2010
4,940
589
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#15
Someone may ask, "What has the temptation of Christ got to do with the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the manifestation of spiritual gifts?" A simple examination of the Scripture gives the answer, the temptation of Christ followed immediately upon His 30 years of preparation for His mission, and His baptism in water and the Spirit at Jordan. The temptation of Christ shows the connection between spiritual preparation, temptation, spiritual maturity and a mighty baptism in the Spirit. Before God can give great power to a Christian, or give them a great ministry gift, there has to be a time of preparation, and a development of character by facing the difficulties of life with God. God will not give the power to shake a country to young Christians, or Christians who are not spiritually mature. Eph 4v1, Heb 5v14, Luke 6v40. ("perfect" means "mature" or "full-grown.")
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,231
6,529
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#16
Jesus was born prepared. He is the same in the beginning now and foreer.
 

jb

Senior Member
Feb 27, 2010
4,940
589
113
#17
Jesus was born prepared. He is the same in the beginning now and foreer.
Scripture doesn't teach that, you're venturing into Docetic Gnosticism, which the apostle John says is not of God. 1John 4v1-6.

Scripture teaches that He came into the world like any other child, that He grew spiritually strong, growing in wisdom and stature, responding to the Grace of God upon His life. Luke 2v40,52, Heb 2v10-18, 4v15.
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,231
6,529
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#18
He also was teaching in the Temple out of Isaiah as a child af ter disappearing from the band with whom he had traveled to Jerusalem with His parents..

When His mother found Him asking what He was up to, He replied, d"oman do you not know i AM GOING ABOUT MY fATHER'S BUSINESS."

i KNOW NOthing of agnosticism except that Agnostics are primarily in Egypt. My denomination, if there is such a thing, is the faith of Abraham, and my family is all who cleave to Jesus, Yeshua...…….thank you for the warnig, but I believe you are judging by appearaances adn not with right judgment.