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Face to Face:Spirit-Led
by J. Ross Greer of The Place of Grace Ministries (about the ministry)
[Note: If you'd like to read more from J. Ross Greer, be sure to subscribe to his daily e-mail list A Word For The Church.]
1Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. 3And the tempter came and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." 4But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'" 5Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, 'He will command His angels concerning You'; 'On their hands they will bear You up, So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.'" 7Jesus said to him, "On the other hand, it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 8Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; 9and he said to Him, "All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me." 10Then Jesus said to him, "Go, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.'" 11Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.
If we desire to be intimate with the Father, we must be led by His Spirit. Often that leadership will result in some desert or wilderness experiences.
In the case of Jesus, fasting was also involved. Fasting is a lost art among believers today. We do not desire to give up anything, even for one day. However, fasting is a spiritual discipline that needs to be learned and practiced in order to walk in communion with the Father.
Are we required to fast forty days and nights? While there is certainly nothing wrong with a fast of that length (check with your physician), it is more important that we fast regularly. Just as we need to study God's Word daily, we need consistent times where we abandon food and focus upon prayer.
The fasting of Jesus prepared Him for the confrontation of the evil one. How better could we handle the enemy's attacks if we were empowered by the Spirit through fasting?
Submitting ourselves to the control of the Holy Spirit ensures us that we will be led in the right direction to accomplish the right things in the right way at the right time. It also ensures us that we will be walking in harmony with the Father.
Copyright 2002, The Place of Grace Ministries. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
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About The Place of Grace Ministries: In 1992, God interrupted the well-organized life of J. Ross Greer through a study called "Experiencing God". This encounter birthed a passionate vision for local churches that has become The Place of Grace Ministries. Through teaching, music, and writing, we call believers to return to the basic principles of God's Word and participate in the work of God. For questions or scheduling information, please contact us at: theplaceofgrace@att.net Or visit our web site at: http://home.att.net/~theplaceofgrace/theplaceofgrace.html |
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