By Robert L. James, PhD
I would like to offer you 4 specific points that will help you, and can, if you allow it, change your life. I recently saw an advertisement for the Matthew 4 protocol. It was said that this is something that could give you (or me) victory over numerous ailments including, cancer, diabetes, and many other deadly diseases.
At this point in my life, I am a man who has crossed over the midpoint in life (50). I have picked up a few of my parents and fore-parents illnesses. Therefore, I am very interested in some plan or program that would free me and many of those with whom I fellowship, from the many deadly diseases that plaque us.
Despite my examination of it, I did not see what they were offering in the Matthew 4 protocol. . The most significant message I noticed in Matthew 4 was the actions of Jesus Christ as He encountered the Tempter (Satan).. Before the battle, Jesus the Christ fasted 40 days and 40 nights (Matthew 4:2).
So, I did pick up something that I think can and will be revolutionary to anyone who loves the Lord and wants to learn what God has to offer in regard to our health. After all, God said through John, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 3 John 2.
So, we can ascertain from the above, that it is God’s desire that we be healthy physically, mentally, and spiritually. Therefore, I would like for you to review the 4 points that I have for you to think about, then act on as the Lord leads you.
1. God tells us through John that sin comes against us physically, mentally, and / or spiritually. Look at this text in 1 John 3:15-17:“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that does the will of God abideth forever.” When the Devil tempted Jesus Christ, he challenged him with a physical temptation (hunger), a mental temptation (the things of the world), and a spiritual temptation, worship him and escape the soon coming torment. Jesus showed us what works, He had already fasted and He used the Scriptures (The Bible) to overcome all that the Devil could throw at Him.
2. When Jesus Christ was transfigured, There were two others that appeared with Him. And they were Moses and Elijah. All three had fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. You can see it by looking at 3 texts of Scripture. Moses fasted 40 days and nights during the time around God’s giving the Ten Commandments. “When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the Lord made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water.:
Elijah also fasted 40 days and 40 nights when he was afraid and ran from Jezebel. Look at 1 Kings 19:7, 8: “And the angel of the Lord came again the second time and touched him, and said, Arise and eat: because the journey is too great for thee.“And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.”
Jesus fasted 40 days and 40 nights before His temptation, Matthew 4:2, “And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward hungry.”
3 On the Mountain, having a mountain top experience, Peter, James and John the members of the inner circle witnessed an amazing event. In Matthew 17:13; Mark 9:2-13, and Luke 9:28-36, it is recorded that Jesus Christ was transfigured. The word, “transfigure” is the Greek word metamorpheo, from which we get our word metamorphosis which indicates a radical change or even a complete change.
Jesus was there and according to Matthew 17:3, “And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with Him.” Moses had died just outside of the promised land and was resurrected by Jesus Christ (according Jude verse 9). And Elijah was taken up to Heaven without dying (2 Kings 2:11).
So, all three, Jesus, Elijah, and Moses; all three of them fasted 40 days and 40 nights. Jesus did so, before He had the challenge of the Enemy of Souls, Satan. Oh say can you see? All three, the only men in Scripture that fasted 40 days and 40 nights, were on that mountain together.
4. Now, after He was Transfigured, it is recorded by all three of synoptic Gospel writers that there was a problem in the valley down below. Let’s listen in, Matthew 17:15: “Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.” Vs 16, “And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.” Jesus called them a “faithless and perverse generation.” Then, in Matthew 17:18, you see that Jesus rebuked the devil and he departed from the boy.
The disciples came to Jesus and asked Him, why couldn’t we cast him out?. Jesus said two things. Listen (Matthew 17:20, 21): “And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of a mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. “Howbeit: this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”
For the tougher encounters, prayer should be accompanied by fasting. Now, I am not saying that you should fast for 40 days and nights like Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. Let God lead you on what you should do. Do nothing that will endanger your health. But pray and look to God for His purpose, plan, and program for your life (which might very well include fasting) and remember the:
JESUS THE CHRIST PROTOCOL