The power of fasting:
In 1973, an obese man named Angus Barbieri completed a 372-day fast. It is the world’s longest fast recorded. He weighed 465 pounds and lost 276 pounds. He ended up weighing 180 pounds after his fast. Fasting is an ancient health remedy that doctors do not use. The benefits of fasting range from helping beat cancer, sleeping better, rejuvenating skin, and decreasing your biological age. Now, Biological age deals with how old your cells are. The stresses that fasting induces in the body are known as hermetic stress, and they cause weight loss and metabolic healing. Jesus’ long fast helped to decrease his biological age, making him physically strong enough to resist the temptations from the devil. Christian fasting is an added supplement to prayer and waiting on the Lord. The scriptures teach us that when we wait on the Lord, our strength will be renewed (Is 40:31). The purpose for the renewing of our strength is so that we can continue in the battle. The fear of dying comes to mind when we fast, but we cannot be afraid because God is with us (Deut 31:6).
Matthew 4:1-2
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
Satan was waiting for Jesus to feel that he was going to die from the fast. He waited until Jesus felt weak and vulnerable, which are the feelings of a Christian fast. Those moments when our flesh tells us that we are not going to make it are when Satan creeps in. But when I am weak is when I am strong; it is what the scriptures teach us. The Bible teaches us that Satan prowls like a roaring lion looking for someone that he may devour (1 Pt 5:8). Satan tempted Jesus in the three areas that affect us most: the lust of the flesh, testing God’s protection, and altering worship. He waited until Jesus felt hungry. Jesus needed to satisfy the desire to eat, so he told him to turn the stones into bread. But the response Jesus gave him was not what he was expecting. He told him that God’s word is the substance that sustains him (Mt 4:3-4).
The second temptation Jesus faced was with trusting God, his Father. In Matthew 4:5-6, Satan takes Jesus to the top of the temple and dares him to jump off. The temptation to demand that God send signs to prove who he is is one that Satan tempts believers with. The last temptation that Satan tempted Jesus with dealt with worship and riches. In Matthew 4:8-9, he takes Jesus to the top of a high mountain and shows him all the kingdoms and their riches. He tells him that if he bows down and worships him, he will give him all. Satan tests our loyalty to worshipping God alone with material possessions. Jesus said that God is seeking worshippers who will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth (Jh 4:24).
Isaiah 40:31
31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Deuteronomy 31:6
6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
1 Peter 5:8
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Matthew 4:3-4
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Matthew 4:5-6
5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Matthew 4:8-9
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
John 4:24
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.