It’s no accident that the devil tempted Eve with food first. Notice that he doesn’t change his tactics. The children of Israel cross the Red Sea and watch their enemies perish in Exodus 15. The very next chapter starts with them complaining about food.
Exodus 16:3 ISV The Israelis told them, “If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt when we sat by the cooking pots, when we ate bread until we were filled—because you brought us to this desert to kill this entire congregation with hunger.”
Many people today would rather stay in bondage to their own flesh than go without food for a time.
We find Esau selling his birthright for a bowl of beans, just because he was hungry and had no self control.
Then the devil tries the same tactic on Jesus. This time though it fails.
Matthew 4:1-11 KJV 1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
You see as stated in a previous post Jesus was in the Spirit. He was praying and fasting. We must be in prayer while fasting. If we are not in prayer then we are just dieting. We are just not eating and that alone will not help our spirit.
Matthew 26:41 KJV Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Prayer is the key that unlocks the power of fasting.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV Pray without ceasing.
We must be in constant spirit of prayer. We may not be praying at all times, but at all times ready to pray. If we continue in continual communion with God it leaves no room for other voices to interject into our lives.
Ephesians 6:10-18 KJV 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Here are a couple different translations of verse 18 to maybe help it sink in a little better.
NLT 18. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Easy English 18. To do all of this, pray all the time as God’s Spirit leads you to pray. Pray about everything. Ask God for what you need. For this purpose, be careful to continue praying always for all God’s people.
To stay strong in the LORD, we need to put on the armor of God. This is done by prayer. The fight we fight is not physical, but spiritual. So, we must prepare in the spirit for it.
Romans 8:26 WEB In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don’t know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can’t be uttered.