Mensa Otabil - This is How It Began (09/28/2025)
This week is a great week for us in our church as we begin a very important spiritual exercise called «40 Days of Power,» starting from the 25th, which is on Thursday. I will be teaching about fasting this week as we prepare our hearts for these 40 days of power. Matthew chapter 4, verses 1 and 2 states, «Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward he was hungry.»
Jesus began his earthly ministry with a time of prolonged prayer and fasting. In that experience, he shows us how to connect to the power of God. At his baptism, he received a witness that he was God’s beloved Son, and the whole world knew that this was the Son of God, with the Spirit of God lighting upon him like a dove. However, on this occasion, in addition to all the witnesses he received, he embarked on a spiritual journey to help him fulfill his ministry and assignment. In imitation of Jesus, we also engage in a 40-day prayer and fasting each year, which we call «40 Days of Power.» It starts on the 25th of June and ends on the 3rd of August. I encourage each one of you to be part of this momentous spiritual experience.
Three thoughts to consider from our scripture: The first is that Jesus was led by the Spirit. The spiritual exercise he undertook was not merely a work of the flesh; he was led by the Spirit. This means that the same Spirit that bore witness to him being the Son of God also led him to prepare for his assignment. We trust that during these 40 Days of Power, as we start on Thursday, we will be led by the Spirit of God. I encourage each of you to allow the Spirit of God to lead you, rather than your flesh, which doesn’t want to be hungry and desires to eat all the time. The Spirit must be made strong.
A second point to note from the passage is that he fasted. This means he did not eat any food; he drank water, but he didn’t eat any food. I will provide further guidance on how to fast later on Wednesday. The third point you will notice is that the passage states he was hungry. This is very important; during fasting, you will be hungry because you’re not eating. So, when you feel hungry during a time of fasting, don’t worry; it’s part of the process.
Interestingly, when Jesus began teaching, he delivered his longest sermon, called the Sermon on the Mount, and started by saying, «Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness; they shall be satisfied.» It is fascinating that he began preaching by discussing hunger and thirst. In his fasting, the Bible indicates he was hungry; a spiritual hunger replaced the physical hunger. During times of fasting, when we are not eating food, the Word of God becomes our food. We experience physical hunger but receive spiritual satisfaction.
I encourage you to embrace these 40 Days of Power; it’s going to be heaven on earth. Pastor Mensa, shalom, peace, and life to you.