“You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:9-11)
Luke chapter 4 recounts the time Jesus spent in the wilderness during his fast. Verse 1-2 states, “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.” (emphasis added). Jesus went into his fast prompted by and directed by the Holy Spirit. The moment you proclaimed Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you received the gift of the Holy Spirit. You too have entered into your fast filled with the Holy Spirit. As you allow the Holy Spirit to lead you during the fast, you are supernaturally being cleansed and refined. The Holy Spirit is doing a mighty work within you. While the reason each person is participating in this corporate fast will vary from person to person, as you all have different desires or needs, so much more is being accomplished in you. Jesus was on the cusp of entering into a new season of his life. The fast was his launching point. Just like he asks of us, Jesus endured temptations and died to his flesh. Jesus used the Word of God as his weapon. He knew gratifying his flesh was not worth it compared to what his sacrifice would accomplish. At the culmination of the fast, Luke 4:14 records a key difference in Jesus: he was not only filled with the Holy Spirit, but this time he was filled with the POWER of the Holy Spirit. Jesus gives us strategy for our fast. You can expect the enemy to tempt you. You may feel irritable, short tempered, tired, and hungry for what you have given up. But you are filled with the Holy Spirit, your helper. You can rejoice when those things arise because it is an opportunity to allow God to help you root out areas where our flesh is weak and invite him in to be your strength. You know the Holy Spirit is at work in you to transform you and prepare you for the things you will be facing when it is time to break your fast. Let us submit humbly to the Holy Spirit and his leading, so at the culmination of the fast, you will not only be filled with the Holy Spirit, but filled with his power.
Listening Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit how he wants to lead you during this fast. Is there anything you need to let go of? Is there a certain way he wants you to spend your time? What areas are you feeling tempted in during your fast? Write down what you hear.
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, thank you for being my helper and my guide. Humbly, I submit myself to you during this fast, and I ask you today for a fresh filling. I recognize that part of the fasting process is dying to my flesh and resisting the devil. Help me to overcome all temptation. Cleanse me and prepare me for what you have in this next season. Teach me. Grow me. Stretch me. I want to be filled with your power, not for my sake, but for the sake of partnering with you to see people saved, healed, delivered, and set free. Purify me and mature me to be able to steward your power well. Remove any pride or self-importance that would get in the way. Transform my heart to be like yours and increase my capacity to love people like you do. As I spend time in your Word, highlight the truths and promises I need to combat the lies of the enemy. I pray that each day you would increase my capacity to carry your power for your kingdom and your glory to destroy the works of the devil and to see your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Resource: Bible Verses on the Power of the Holy Spirit
“Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6)
“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11)
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13)
“And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:29-31)
Worship Song:
“Here As In Heaven” by Elevation Worship
“Come Holy Spirit” by Vertical Worship