Today we continue our new series entitled, “The Benefits of Prayer and Fasting,” under the banner of the overall series for the year: “Expectation.” The Bible only documents three humans who went on a 40-day fast: Jesus, Moses and Elijah. For the past couple of weeks we have been looking at the accounts of all three fasts. Today we we will look at a passage that involves all three men. The Bible says:
Jesus took Peter, James and John up to a mountain to pray. While Jesus was praying, his face began to change. It became as bright as the sun. His clothes became as white as light. Then two men were there, talking with him. They were Moses and Elijah. They also looked bright and glorious. They were talking with Jesus about his death that would happen in Jerusalem. Peter and the others were asleep. But they woke up and saw the glory of Jesus. They also saw the two men who were standing with him. When Moses and Elijah were leaving, Peter said, “Master, it is good that we are here. We will put three tents here—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)
While Peter was saying these things, a cloud came all around them. Peter, James and John were afraid when the cloud covered them. A voice came from the cloud and said, “This is my Son. He is the one I have chosen. Obey him.” When the voice stopped, only Jesus was there. Peter, James and John said nothing. And for a long time after that, they told no one about what they had seen.
(See Luke 9, Mark 9, and Matthew 17)
So what does this mean to you today? I could teach on this for a while. But I will keep my thoughts focused on fasting and prayer.
- It’s not a coincidence that some of the most powerful encounters between God and a human occurred during a fast. Fasting positions you to experience God in a supernatural way.
- I do not believe it is a coincidence that the most powerful encounter between God and man manifested to Jesus’ disciples — actually, just His inner circle: Peter, James and John — involved the only three humans to ever go on a 40-day fast. Jesus, Moses and Elijah were all present and emanating the glory of God on the Mount of Transfiguration. Whatever the fast did for Moses and Elijah, it made them candidates to be manifested again, in the New Testament, with Jesus. Fasting changes you to the point where the glory of God can be seen through you.
- Jesus was the fulfillment of the Old Covenant. All the Law and the writings of the Prophets were fulfilled in Jesus. On the Mount of Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah were present with Jesus. Moses represented the Law, because he was used of God to write the Torah. Elijah represented the prophets. He is considered by many to be the most powerful and prominent of the Old Testament prophets. Both men had fasted for 40 days while they were in the earth. Jesus did the same. All three men stood on the top of the mountain, talking, as the glory of God was manifested through their physical bodies. There was so much glory, that their bodies could not been seen. All that was seen was the light of the glory of God shining through them. This is what happens when you crucify the flesh through fasting. You position yourself to be a conduit of God’s glory in the earth. Like Jesus, Moses and Elijah, when people look at you, you want them to see the glory of God!
- Fasting does not change or move God. Fasting changes and moves you. Fasting helps you develop the discipline required to die to self, so God can be seen IN and THROUGH you.
- You are not the light, God is. He is light and He wants His light to be seen IN and THROUGH you. However, for this to happen you must get out of the way. You must die to self. You must decrease. This is what fasting is all about. Fasting help you minimize yourself, so God can maximize Himself IN and THROUGH you.
Closing Confession:
Father, this is a season of expectation for me. I expect to experience You like never before. I expect Your glory, power, anointing, favor and might to be manifested in my life for all the world to see. I expect people to see You when they look at me. I expect people to hear You when they talk to me. So I decrease, that You may increase in me. I die to me, so You can live through me. I fast and pray, so Your glory can emanate IN, WITH and THROUGH me on a daily basis. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
