Welcome to a new year I am so excited that you made it, my name is Lara Gboyega Adedeji and today I will be sharing quickly with you Three Important Things to Note as You Start Your Year with A Fast. The disclaimer I will like to put forward is that; it is not compulsory you start the year with a fast. I know that at the beginning of the year, there are instructions of fast from denominations and bodies all over the body of Christ encouraging believers to start the year with a fast. It is laudable, but you must understand these three important things that will make that fast a profitable one for you. And that is why you must quickly settle it in your heart that it is not compulsory.
It becomes profitable for you when you note; number one, that the fast you are about to get into or start is an instruction you have received from the Lord. You must be led by the Spirit of God, in Matthew 4, the model of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible says the Lord Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit. So, the first thing you must note is that; you must receive the instruction of a fast yourself, you must become yielded to it. You must be led by the Spirit of God, there must be a witness within your spirit that the fast you are about to embark upon, this journey of a fast no matter the number or the length of the days, you are receiving it as a direct instruction for you by God.
The Spirit of God must lead you into a fast. So, it's not enough that the denomination you attend or the fellowship you attend declared a fast. Have you received the fast as an individual? Have you yielded yourself to the Holy Spirit and be led by Him into that fast? That is when it becomes profitable for you. Point number two: The second thing you must note as you start into a fast is also from that example, it will be meaningful for you if you go to Matthew 4:1-11, and read the journey of Jesus, when He was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit. The second thing that is so important that you must note as you start your year with a fast, is that after the fast you will be tempted, you will be tested. So, you must prepare for it, you must get yourself equipped for it, you must get yourself ready for it at the end of the fast you will be tempted.
You will come to a point after the fast that there will be an expectation, there will be a hunger. The Bible says after Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. He was hungry, there will be an expectation, there will be a hunger, and when that happens, it's a test of your faith. After your fast there will be a test. You must put on strength you must be ready for that temptation; you must be ready for that test; you must be ready for that expectation and that hunger. That's another thing you must note as a second thing. The third thing which is also very vital and important is that you must have the word in your fast. That is why you can't afford to enter a fast that you are not led into. You can't afford to go into a fast without a preparation and an equipping of the word ready for ready for the temptation and the test that will come thereafter. It is important for you to note that this number three is the hallmark of any fast.
You must be equipped with the word. You must have the word inside of you, you must have an answer in you. When Jesus was led into the wilderness and He was tempted, He had an answer for every temptation, He had answer for every word, what will be your answer, what are you going to be equipped with, are you ready for that faith journey, are you ready, equipped and armed with strength?
Because one of the things you will note when you start that fast is that your strength will be tested. The Bible says if you faint in the days of adversity, it is because your strength is little. Your strength, resolve and conviction will be tested in the period of your fast, and that is why it is important that you should note that you must have that requisite strength within you in the fast. That is why it is not good to enter into a fast and you are looking at the time, you are trying, you are just whiling away time. That is hunger strike. When you enter into a fast, you must be prepared to study the word, you must be prepared to pray.
Because those are the things, that He will equip you with the requisite strength to be able to carry on, on that journey and to be able to respond when the time comes. Because when your fast is done, you will be tempted, you will have to respond to life issues. If you don't take in the requisite strength in the place of the word and in the place of prayer, you will not be able to stand. So, doing all these, you must stand. So, the three important things; I will run through them. Number one: you must receive the instruction for the fast, number two: you must be ready for the temptation and the test because you will be hungry, and number three, you must be equipped with the word, you must be equipped with prayer. And after you have gone through the process, verse 11 of Matthew chapter 4, the enemy will come with a test, but when he is done the angels of the Lord will minister to you.
You will have such a victory, you will have such a beautiful time, in the presence of the Lord. The glory of the Lord will cover your life, the glory of the Lord will cover you and that is why you should know that after it is all done, you are going to enjoy the presence of the Lord. So, for the fast to be profitable for you, you must be led by the Spirit, you must be ready for the temptations and the test, and you must be equipped with the word. I believe this word and this little charge about the Three things you must know as you start your year with a fast has blessed you. As you go ahead and are led by the Spirit of God, as you go ahead and are ready for the temptations that will come your way and as you are ready to equip yourself with the word and prayer, I pray that this fast that you would embark upon will be profitable for you.
God bless you.
