fasting: Overcoming the world, the flesh and the devil

 
There has been an increase of Anti Christ teachings,  be encouraged to know that God is faithful.  We are in the world but not of it.  We have dual citizenship.  We dwell in the secret place of the most High God!
The basic principle to be reminded of:  Basic foundation of what we do not just a formality, but a consistent way of life.  We should be “in fasting often”.   Take time in personal life for fasting,  some things come not but by fasting  -  A corporate endeavor to seek God for wisdom, guidance and power.
 
There are things that we need to get done.  Not by our might or power, but by the spirit.
Overcoming the world the flesh and the devil
Jesus was moved by the spirit to fulfill His purpose.  We are on a journey, on a walk of faith
Jeremiah 29;11  God has plans for us.   We will hear his voice, saying “walk this way”.  Walk in the light.
There is much darkness in the earth, but His glory will be seen on us.
Be filled with the Spirit, walk in the Spirit, fasting not for personal gain, but that we can walk in the power to set others free.  To have our lives purged
 
In Isaiah 58:6, The Lord rebuked them for their abuse of the  fast.
Fast not for personal benefit, but preparation for the call, the work!
Not by anything of ourselves   death to the flesh to make full manifestation   Faith comes into  our spirit
in times with God, place of belief, believing and trusting
 
Thy will be done, thy kingdom come in earth – put down the ways of the world, the ways of the flesh, the trinity of evil
Faith moves God – without faith, you cannot please God
We want to be strengthened in our faith to believe e God
 
Have a hunger to be in his presence, deny physical appetite
The flesh wars against the spirit
 
Romans 7:18 “ in my flesh dwelleth no good thing”
We recognize that we have an enemy.  We recognize the devices of the devil
 
We can identify with Jesus in the wilderness
How to overcome the ways of the devil and the ways of the world, works of the flesh, wiles of the devil.  As we overcome in our personal lives, we will be able to help others. ….
Judgement must first begin at the house of God
Take a firm stand and commitment, no compromise.
If we are not standing on principles of righteousness and holiness – purifying ourselves, preaching loud from the mountaintops and if we are in fear, responding to the world, what hope do they have?
We must have a life of consistent victory. 
Some things come not but by prayer and fasting
Mt 17:14-18 the boy with the lunatic spirit , the disciples were not able to do anything
Father turns to  Jesus, “can you do anything?”
 
The discipled had already been anointed and empowered by Jesus
He sent them out, saying, You have feely received, freely give
Matt 10:8  8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
When they returned to report to Jesus, He “behold I give you power  Luke 10:19  Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
 
Because of Matt 10, not automatically assume to be able to turn the switch on and off, assuming that the power will automatically work in you
Remember Sampson!
He had an anointing on his life, but wist not that the spirit had departed” “Icabod”
 
Psalm 51  David was repentant, saying “take not your spirit away from me”
Consistency in the presence of God keeps the anointing in the presence
 
The battle/warfare Jesus fought in the wilderness relates to how we overcome
We have treasure in earthen vessels, the excellency of God, not of ourselves
The breaking of the flesh is necessary
 
3 basic temptations Jesus overcame in the wilderness
He was filled with the spirit, led by the spirit into the wilderness and came out of the wilderness with power
With every temptation, Jesus responded, “ it is written”.
 
1 .(the lust of the flesh)
First temptation in the bible was for Adam and Eve to take from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil
Jesus’ first temptation in the wilderness was to turn stones into bread – (the lust of the flesh)
Overindulgence is our temptation now
Food has become an idol!   Selfies with food, we want to eat like a pig and look like a poodle
Our taste buds bring death to a lot of people
 
Man does not live by bread alone
Natural food is not food for our soul
We need healthy nutritious food for the flesh
Appetites of the flesh, food, sex, etc.
 
God makes provision for all appetites
Lusts of the flesh come by way of food and sexual desires
Appetites of the body
We must know how to  “turn our plate down”
Sow to our spirits with the Word
Job said the word was “more than my necessary food’
The word of God will sustain you physically.
His word is spirit and life we must have an understanding of the power of life in the word of god
2) (the pride of life)  Power to give you the kingdoms of this world 
 
3) (lust of the eye) What your eye continually beholds, your heart will follow after.
For the light of the body is the eye.
Look not on things that are seen , we walk by faith and not by sight, faith is the substance of things not seen.   
(1Cor 3:16-18)  16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
As we behold Him we are transformed into his image by the spirit
As we draw nigh we become changed
As you see His goodness, nature and character, you are being changed
 
We Look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith
Our eyes are upon the Lord.
2Chronicles 20:12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.
Jehoshophat was surrounded by God’s enemies
Set himself to seek the Lord but rather than focus on an evil report
First came sudden fear, but perfect love casts out fear
Rather than sickness and death we declare healing and life
Take every thought captive
We take authority over sickness and death, we declare healing and life
 
(2 Chron 20:12) 12O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.
Like Jehoshaphat, we don’t know what to do, but we know   All things work together for our good….  (Romans 8:28) 
BE ENCOURAGED, We are overcomers through Christ Jesus
 
Elisha’s servant, Gahazzi saw that they were surrounded  by the enemy and his master prayed that the Lord open his eyes to see that they that be for us are more than those against us.
There are no weapon formed against us can prosper
See that our God is for us…the enemy will try to get Jesus to bow for kingdom glory
Seducing spirits and doctrines of devils try to blind and deceive us.
Many will say, “this is the way” as they speak contrary to the will of God
 
In Matt 24  Jesus began his answer to the disciples’ question concerning the end times with these words:  And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
There is a spirit of deception, people receive a lie and hearts are made to believe, they are drawn to rage and violence.  “Marvel not when the world hate you.”
The glory of riches, fame and greed
Mark 8:36 36For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
We are instructed to seek the kingdom of God and its righteousness
Spiritual pride: outside of Christ, you cannot think your way is the only way
 The devil said to Jesus, the angels will catch you if you throw yourself off the temple
We must humble ourselves
Paul wrote 2/3 of new testament , even with his long list of accomplishments, he says, I count all these as nothing
 Pride goes before destruction
If my people humble themselves, fast and pray, and turn from their wicked ways.. (2Chron. 7:21 )
In fasting, we press toward the mark and are enabled to be use of God where we are!
We overcome in the spirit, with more authority, anointing and zeal as your outer man perishes and the inner man is renewed
 Building up yourself in the love of God,  praying in the Holy Spirit 

Humility
2Cor 12:9  Paul even though a man of great authority, mighty words, says “in my weakness am  made strong”
His grace 
No longer I that liveth but Christ that lives in me…I will not frustrate the grace of God …we have treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power is not of us…  keep the flesh under
Paul displayed humility… “I am he least of the apostles”
“ I Labored more abundantly than them all”…God gets all the glory
1Cor 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Overcome the trinity of evil!   I John 2  love not the world… he that doeth the will of God abideth forever
Be faithful to God, faithful in the fast 
Let this be Breaking of the flesh so that we can be useful to God!`