Living By God’s Word Through Fasting
SUNDAY Worship Service: JANUARY 12, 2025
LIVING BY GOD’S WORD THROUGH FASTING
Rev. Charles Lee
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,
“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. (Genesis 1:29-31)
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17)
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. (Genesis 3:1-6)
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. (Matthew 4:1)
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights…
What happens day by day when you fast for 40 days?
Days 1–3: Adjustment Phase
•Body: Blood sugar levels drop. You might feel hungry, tired, irritable, and experience headaches. The body starts switching from glucose to fat for energy (ketosis begins by day 2 or 3).
•Mental State: Mood swings and brain fog are common.
Days 4–7: Early Ketosis
•Body: Fat breakdown intensifies, and ketones become the primary fuel for the brain and muscles. Ketosis is in full swing.
•Mental State: Improved focus and clarity for some; others may feel fatigued or lightheaded.
•Physical Symptoms: Bad breath (due to acetone), mild nausea, or dizziness.
Days 8–14: Adaptation Phase
•Body: The body becomes more efficient at using ketones. Muscle breakdown slows down as protein-sparing mechanisms kick in. Ketones and fatty acids dominate.
•Mental State: Increased mental clarity and emotional stability for many.
•Physical Symptoms: Reduced hunger as the body adapts; some report improved energy.
Days 15–21: Deep Ketosis and Healing
•Body: The body focuses on repair and regeneration, including autophagy (the breakdown and recycling of damaged cells).
•Mental State: A sense of calm and focus might deepen.
•Physical Symptoms: Weight loss continues; you may feel light but energetic.
Days 22–30: Plateau
•Body: Fat stores continue to be the primary energy source. The rate of weight loss may slow as the body adjusts.
•Mental State: Emotional and spiritual shifts are common, with many reporting profound clarity or peace.
•Physical Symptoms: Minimal hunger but risks of nutrient deficiencies increase without supplementation.
Days 31–40: Sustained Fasting
•Body: Fat stores become depleted (depending on initial body composition), increasing the risk of muscle wasting.
•Mental State: For some, heightened spiritual experiences occur; others may feel extreme fatigue.
•Physical Symptoms: Weakness, low blood pressure, and risks of serious health complications
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was_______.
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. (Matthew 4:1-2)
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” (Matthew 4:1-3)
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”
4 But he answered, “It is written,
“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:1-4)