Deeper with Jesus: Day 4

This is our fourth and last of the 4 Tuesdays of fasting and prayer in November. We are praying together to lay the foundation for our 2024 theme “Deeper with Jesus.”

Depth and Pressure Go Together

The ocean depth is remote and mysterious. Humans out of our God-given desire for cracking mysteries continue to investigate the depths for proving or disproving historical accounts, scientific knowledge, treasure, and pleasure. Hydrostatic pressure increases greatly with depth with the risk of crushing submerged bodies. This is why underwater vessels such as submarines are built to withstand great pressure. In the same manner, truth be told, seeking Jesus in the atmosphere of greater depth will attract demonic forces warring against you as described in Ephesians 6:10-12 who seek to crush us. Conversely, though this will also give the Lord the opportunity to build us like solid submarines to operate at greater depths of spiritual experience and expression. Understand that a greater army of angels and heavenly forces are also at our behest when we go deeper with Christ. The last thing satan wants is a bunch of humans exposed to Divine Power and authority. Jesus’ message and promise to members of His very first crew was recorded by Matthew:

“Follow me and I will make you fishers of men”

Matthew 4:19 NKJV

Look again and focus on the phrase “make you.” Jesus promises to make us if we follow. What does that mean? It means that He will make us into what He intends all conditioned on our continued following. Jesus experienced the depths of darkness and returned from the dead totally crushing satan by His resurrection.

Jesus Makes A “Persecutor” A “Preacher”

Paul was a firebrand persecutor of Christians in the first century who met Jesus on his way to Damascus to haul more Christians into prison. He was converted and made into a firebrand preacher who went on to travel 10,000 miles planting 14 historical first-century and writing 2/3 of the New Testament. Paul didn’t grow into that by accident. He pursued and pressed on for a deeper relationship with Jesus. Hear Paul in his own words:

 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, ¹¹ if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. ¹² Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. ¹³ Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, ¹⁴ I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:10-14 NKJV

More than following Jesus in accepting the salvation He offers and aligning with God’s plan for his life Paul urged his listeners to imitate (follow) him as he imitates (follows) Jesus. To imitate or follow Jesus means to study Him and do as He would.

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV

Jesus Will Make You

Jesus can and will make you, He can make your family, your business, your marriage, your children, and everything else about you according to His will if we are willing and obedient. He was there when God created everything. He can make you anything He wants you to be and you can bet that His version and vision of and for you is night and day compared to whatever version or vision you may have imagined or whatever lies the enemy has described to you. He will make us solid enough to withstand the increasing pressures of darkness in the world. By God, He will crush satan under our feet. Our light will shine brighter. We have overcome! Amen!

Let Us Pray

Pray Out Loud the written prayer below (You can also create your own variations as well using the same pattern)

Father in Heaven, AgeIess and Glorious One, Beginning and The End, the Omnipotent and Omnipresent God. Mighty Warrior, Ever Present One, Mighty in Deed and Miracles. The Great I am. You who knows all things. Your wisdom and knowledge are beyond compare. Your Majesty shines greater and brighter than the sun. You Who created a tabernacle for the sun in the heavens. Your throne is established in the heavens forever. Lord of all the earth, I worship and praise Your Holy Name. You are God and besides You, there is none else. You reign from Heaven forever. Your Throne and Your Kingdom are established forever.

Your Kingdom come. Father, God, Your will be done here on Earth as it is in Heaven. I thank you today and always Lord for your everlasting love for me. I thank You for Your Son Jesus Christ who took my place on the cross to pay the penalty of original sin in order to bring me into a relationship with You. I believe that Jesus calls me into a Deeper Walk with Him and in You. I believe that You have a plan for my life. I submit to Your will for a deeper walk in You. I believe that Jesus wants me to first be with Him, learning to enjoy His company above all else. Father, in Your mercy, lead me into deeper areas of your many Rivers. Jesus said whoever believes in You, out of their Spirit will flow Rivers of Living Water. Lord, I believe!

I forgive all those who have offended me and I refuse to hold a grudge. Help me release every offender to You today and always. Forgive me sins of omission and commission. You are Great, Awesome in Strength, Power, and Glory. Provide for those things I need, those that I am aware of, and those that I am not. My life and the life of my family are in Your hands. The life of the Church is in Your Hands.

Lead me and every one of us and your church away from temptation. Deliver me from the evil lurking and growing exponentially in the world today. Deliver my family and Your church from satan and the evil rising up and spreading across the land. Arise and let your enemies be scattered. You Alone have all the power and all the glory. No devil on earth can withstand the move of Your Holy Spirit. Thank You, Lord, for everything You do and what You will yet do. I pray all these things in Jesus’ Mighty Name. Amen!

Let us Pray

Read and Meditate on Matthew 4:17-20. Look for praise and prayer requests from the verses. Don’t Rush!

• Write out or make a note of what prayer requests for yourself arise out of the scripture reading.
• In addition, add the following:
• Pray that the eyes of the church be open for a deeper revelation of Christ from the Holy Spirit through the Scriptures.
• Jesus make me what You want me to be. Insulate my spirit against the pressures of darkness.
• Ask God for the grace to press on toward the goal never to draw back from Jesus Christ now, in 2024, and beyond. Philippians 2:13, Philippians 3:14, Hebrews 10:38
• Lord help me learn how to be with you, and how to stay in Your presence. Mark 4:13, Acts 4:13
• Bring other specific requests that you may have for yourself and others. Ezekiel 22:30

It has been a glorious 4 Tuesdays of fasting with prayer! Thank you for being part of the journey. May the Lord reward you and crown your investment of time.

21 Days of Fasting in January 2024

Registration for 2024 Fasting will open up in the first week of December. For guidelines and more on fasting if you are new to the concept of spiritual fasting, or just need a refresher, view our guidelines article here.