Matthew 4:1-11 KJV
1 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.
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.
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.
7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
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.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Ash Wednesday was yesterday, it more of a Lutheran and Catholic tradition and some other denominations. I was not privileged to grow up with the custom as far as coming before Easter. Yet we did believe with repentance, fasting and prayer. By tradition we did not fast in some of church I was raised in but we did pray, and even knelt to pray. Traditions are often keep by believers based on the revelance they have as tradition, legalism, or faith. In Some churches Ash Wednesday would be a legal or traditional practice, that is meant to be taken to the heart for forty days of fasting for the Lord during the time of Lent. It begins with the preparation first with repentance and then fasting as a sign of seriousness of issue one is praying about, as will as a sacrifice of substance, or want in one's life to God. Dedication of giving something up until the time of fast is over. Faith part comes when it no longer done because it is Lent, or because the church was fasting. It became an act of repentance, sacrifice/fast and prayer without tradition being thought or understood. It is no longer a habit from year to year. This type of habit/tradition is not evil, but until one takes it to heart the meaning of the repentance, the fasting and the prayer time with God, it has no faith value. God wants it to be at the heart level.

Fasting by choice is different by no alternative, but to do without. Fasting by choice, means you taking that time to do so volunteerly and not because situation presents itself to fast. To fast does not mean you have to give up food if your on medicine, but by tradition food is usually what is given up, but other things like something one enjoys, and will go back to when the fast is over unless it is sin you are giving up. Why do I do a yearly fast talk, well perhaps to remind people when you fast take it to heart, just like when you pray know God hears you. Know if you fast take it seriously as something offered to God alone. Time is the easiest thing to give to God but not necessarily the only thing, depends on your prayer habits and Bible study habits. If God has lead you to fast, he will take care of you during your fast/sacrifice, if he did not he may or may not honor it in regards of protection. Be concern with your fasting/sacrifice that you do so for the right reasons. If God says to fast so many days, and then you got a call in the future, you will live to see the day of no longer in denial of fasting/sacrifice. I on this site go through 40 days from the beginning of Christ ministry to the end of Christ ministry on earth leaving with Christ departure during this time period. Yes much repetition here during this time period, but it a good time of reflection and prayer.

Jesus fasted forty days in the wilderness where the Holy Spirit had lead him to go. He was hungry when the devil came to him after forty days wanting him to turn stone into bread. Jesus chose to fast. Devil did not tempt Jesus with anything he could not of done himself to break fast, but Devil tempted him with the need of food. I suspect there was a water source near by, because it appears that Jesus only need was food. Did he eat during this fasting period at all, perhaps not, but physically when a person fast that long, your body is going to not only be hungry, but it is in need of strengthening. No doubt physically Jesus was weak in the flesh, but not desperate for food for he still refused the devil request of making bread out of the rocks. He refused the devil with "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God". Why are these words important, because we live by words out of God's mouth, we can not live and breath without God allowing us too. Christ would not of lived without God's ordaining his birth. He was ordained for the cross. He was ordained to suffer for us. Forty days is a long fast, not recommended, unless you know God told you too. Remember you are not Christ. Christ in the flesh was in need of food after forty days, but not with the power of God's word all ready manifesting in his life as the Son of God. Who else fasted forty days the Prophet Elijah. Yet he also had a good meal before fasting. People ate far differently then they do today. Jesus is hungry and devil tempts him with encouraging him to use his godly power to have bread. The body of Christ in the flesh is not his heavenly body. His need for food would of been great. Yet he still refuses the devil.

The Devil then takes Jesus to the top of the temple and said to 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". Jesus tells the devil, "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God". Interesting note Jesus tell the devil not to tempt whose God? Does the devil worship God and yet live in disobedience to him. Jesus is tempting just like Adam and Eve was tempted, dont worry nothing bad will happen if you do it. Jesus rebukes him not to tempt who "the Lord". We may struggle with the fact but the devil enters the sanctuary of the churches all the time. Anyone not saved is serving self and the devil, even if they bow not to the devil. They are living in opposition to God. Devil presents the opposition with promises of God, but you do not know the consequences will occur with disobedience to God. Jesus being the word of God could not be in disobedience to the one he has complete unity with. He has not unity with the devil. Humans on the other hand wrestle with principality and powers, yet as a child of God all we need to do is resist and stand firm in faith. Obey God and we will overcome the temptation of the devil.

Now Jesus is tempted one more time, he is taken to a high mountain and told to bow to the devil. God does not worship anyone. Jesus is/was demonstration to us humans to worship God and communed with God the Father on a regular bases in his ministry. As far as the devil goes, he only cast out demons after this one time of communication with the devil. He even told the devil(Judas Iscariot) to go, commanding him to betray him at the table. Christ had full power over the enemy. He need not to worship him for the kingdom was already Jesus'. How dare that mean devil offer him something that devil did not possess on top of the mountain. "Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." Jesus would not serve the devil but only do the Father's will. That was his commitment to God and devil knew it. Then God after Jesus refuses the devil sent his angels to minister to Jesus. To take care of his needs.Remember the story of Job how God provided for him after his trial, God is able to restore you after your test. Do not be worried about what the devil does, be more concerned if you obeyed God. For God will provide for your needs. He will take care of you, yet the time of temptation is for our benefit. Reason being God wants us to know the benefits of our obedience, and also the results of our disobedience to him. God honors those that turn around and resist the devil even when they backslide. He knows the heart of his children and they have to learn the cost of disobedience sometimes, to understand why Christ died for all sin.

Today spend time in prayer, and even examine your own heart, and repent of anything you know is unclean there. Work to be like Jesus, even with resisting the devil, because he will flee from you. Knowing God blessing is great as a child of God because you are already promised eternity with God as a believer of faith.

Dear Heavenly Father helps us to stand firm in faith. resisting the devil as a child of God already destined for kingdom when our time on earth is finished. That we are a child of the king, help us to submit to your will and ways. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: 1 Peter 5:6-11 KJV
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.