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Contents
First, you must constantly pray.
Notice what Christ did after expending power in performing an incredible miracle: “And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, He was there alone” (Matt. 14:23). In order to remain fully charged with God’s Spirit, Christ prayed!
Christ prayed three times before facing brutal torture and death (Matt. 26:36-45). He drew closer to God through fervent prayer. Then, fully charged with God’s Spirit, He was able to face His scourging, saying to the disciples, “Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that does betray Me” (Mt 26:46). Likewise, we must pray and draw closer to God everyday.
Second, you must study the Bible.
Notice: “…when the Sabbath day was come, He [Christ] began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing Him were astonished, saying, From whence has this Man these things? And what wisdom is this which is given unto Him, that even such mighty works are wrought by His hands?” (Mark 6:2). It was Christ’s custom to teach from the Bible (Luke 4:16-17). To do this, He had to continually study and bring God’s Word to memory.
How can one teach about anything without first studying it?
When Christ taught, people were amazed at how much He knew! He studied the Bible—and so must we, if we wish to grow and become like Him.
The Bible exhorts us to “…desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” (I Pet. 2:2). We are commanded to “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (I Thes. 5:21). God demands that we prove—test and try—His Word. How can we, unless we study the Bible?
Third, you must fast.
Matthew 4:1-25 records a climactic battle between Christ and Satan. Knowing that He had to overcome the devil, notice what Christ did: “And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward an hungered…” (Mt 4:2).
A fast of one or two days was not enough to go face-to-face with Satan—so Christ fasted forty day sand forty nights! He knew that when situations became more difficult, His prayer, Bible study and fasting needed to increase. In order to draw close to God to overcome His scourging and crucifixion, Christ prayed for hours. In order to overcome the temptations of Satan, He fasted many days. By now, the pattern of Christ’s behaviour is obvious.
Fourth, you must meditate on God’s Word.
To meditate simply means to “reflect on, contemplate.” Bible study and meditation go hand-in-hand. To study something and not think or reflect on what you read is pointless! Paul exhorted Timothy to “Meditate upon these things; give yourself wholly to them; that your profiting may appear to all” (I Tim. 4:15).
Notice Philippians 4:1-23: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, THINK ON THESE THINGS” (Phil 4:8). Certainly, God’s Word is true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of a good report!
Christ said, “…Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). How can we do this, unless we study and meditate on God’s Word?
While writing the Thessalonians, Paul sets the pattern for Christians to follow: “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing [through prayer], because, when you received the word of God which you heard of us [through Bible study], you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually works also in you that believe” (I Thes. 2:13).
Prayer, Bible study, fasting and meditation can be done in vain, unless done with a proper attitude. Isaiah 58:1-14 records God’s severe reproof of His people for simply relying on their outward doings and activities (such as fasting), without producing good works, or demonstrating godly character. Although they believed that they were righteous, God condemned their vain, hypocritical, selfish attitudes!
In Jeremiah 9:1-26, God declares, “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, says the LORD” (Jer 9:23-24).
A Christian cannot either pray with a self-righteous attitude, study the Bible simply to be knowledgeable, fast to force his will upon God, or meditate on worldly things.
You must LIVE God’s Word each and every day!