NOT SO SUDDENLY - PART 2

Luke 4:14-15

14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

Throughout scripture and even when we look around today, it seems like people experience great things from God out of nowhere. An encounter with his presence, healing, financial breakthrough.

But when we look at these suddenly moments in the Bible, every time we see that it was preceded by something that paved the way for God to move.

 What paved the way for Jesus?

Luke 4:1-2

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 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.

In verse 1 it says Jesus was full of the Spirit.

In verse 14 it says Jesus was in the power of the Spirit.

What happened in-between? FASTING.

John 14:12

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing), and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

Jesus had sent his disciples out to cast out demons, but on a particular occasion they tried and failed. They asked Jesus, “Why couldn’t we cast it out?”

Matthew 17:21

He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer and fasting.”

Acts 13:2-3

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

:::RESPONSE:::

We have two weeks left of our 28 Days of Prayer and Fasting. How is God inviting you to participate?

Fasting is about a trade.

      “I want breakthrough more than I want food.”

      “I want a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit, more than I want food.”

      “I want his power, more than I want food.”

You fill in the blank…

      “I want ________ more than I want food.”

If you don’t sacrifice for what you want, what you want will be the sacrifice.