The word appetite means the desire to satisfy a bodily need, especially for food: craving, longing, passion, lust. By THE SPIRIT, it is written in Genesis chapter 3:
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.
The adversary appealed to the appetite of the woman in order to convince her to eat of the forbidden fruit. The five physical senses are tied to our stomach and impacts our decisions to succumb to the flesh. Wisdom wrote in Proverbs chapter 23:
1 When you sit down to eat with a ruler,
Consider carefully what is before you;
2 And put a knife to your throat
If you are a man given to appetite.
3 Do not desire his delicacies,
For they are deceptive food.
Wisdom warns us of being moved by our fleshly appetites, no matter what form they take. Isn’t this the source of drug addiction by the masses today? Isn’t this the method used by drug dealers to further their nefarious intent? Consider the pharmaceutical companies who promote pain killers.
Matthew wrote by THE SPIRIT in chapter 4:
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.
3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
Notice that the devil appealed to the appetite just as he did in Genesis chapter 3. Just as mankind became separated from FATHER in the beginning by succumbing to the appetite, Jesus began the restoration process by overcoming the appetite. It is imperative that we do the same in order to allow FATHER’S power and authority to flow through us in an unhindered manner.
Jesus took full command over His appetite by fasting. He overcame His body’s cravings to be satisfied for He knew FATHER’S Word was to be preeminent in His life in order to fulfill His calling on behalf of mankind.
In 2 Corinthians chapter 6, Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT:
4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,
5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;
6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,
7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8 by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;
9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed;
10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Paul understood the need to fast in order to walk in the power of GOD, not just once but as he was led by THE SPIRIT. Luke wrote by THE SPIRIT in chapter 2:
36 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;
37 and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
38 And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
Anna was given the privilege to bear witness of Jesus being the redeemer for FATHER knew of her commitment and purity before HIM. What a blessing! Let us take command of our appetite and fast as we are led by THE SPIRIT for there will be great reward.