ClattsPASTORS JONATHAN + HERALEE TAKE YOUR PLACE

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William Wilfred Skinner
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3 TAKE YOUR PLACE If you have arrived early enough on a Sunday, you may have seen one of our pre-service countdown videos displayed on our monitors. These creatively produced service elements feature a montage of video clips and still images accompanied with an upbeat music track fitting for the occasion. Spiritually, we are preparing to enter into a time of praise and worship (Psalm 100:4). Practically, it informs everyone when we are going to begin. When only a few seconds remain on the countdown, I ll make my way toward the front and gleefully deliver these instructions to our worship team: Places! Places! Places! The countdown helps to inform you when it s time to assume your position, carry out your assignment, and to take your place. Beginning January 7, 2019, we will dedicate twenty-one days of the New Year in prayer and fasting. Through prayer, we grow deeper in our personal relationship with God. Through fasting, we strengthen our spirit that puts us in a position to become more sensitive to the voice of the Lord and the leading of His Spirit. Our prayer is that the Lord would best place you in this season of life and ministry to make an eternal impact for His Kingdom and glory. In short, that this year you would take your place. It s time! ClattsPASTORS JONATHAN + HERALEE WELCOME 1

4 PRAYER Simply put, prayer is communicating with God. Real prayer is expressing our devotion to our heavenly Father and inviting Him to speak to us as we speak to Him. God s Word commands us to pray (Luke 18:1; Acts 6:4; Mark 14:38; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 4:2; 1 Timothy 2:1,2). We pray to have fellowship with God, receive spiritual nurture and strength to live a victorious life, and maintain boldness for a vital witness for Christ. Prayer releases God s great power in our lives and in our world. To help make prayer a part of your everyday life, we can learn from three things that Jesus did: Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. MARK 1:35 HAVE A CERTAIN TIME Jesus got up early in the morning to spend time with His Heavenly Father. In order to cultivate prayer in our life, we should do the same. Make a daily appointment with God whether it s first thing in the morning, at lunch, or in the evening and faithfully keep it. 2 PRAYER

5 HAVE A CERTAIN PLACE Jesus had a specific place He went to pray. Having a designated place to pray where distractions are limited, where you can pray freely, and perhaps have some worship music playing in the background. HAVE A CERTAIN PLAN Go into your prayer time with a plan. When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, He gave them a prayer outline. We call it The Lord s Prayer. This outline is found in Matthew 6:9-13. Although prayer cannot be reduced to a formula, certain basic elements should be included in our communion with God: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication (ACTS). As we pray every day, our plans for our prayer time can vary. It doesn t always have to look the same; it just helps when we have a plan for connecting regularly with God. PRAYER 3

6 FASTING Fasting should be a common practice or discipline for believers. On the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said: When you fast... MATTHEW 16:6 Notice that Jesus didn t say IF you fast. He said WHEN you fast. The purpose of fasting is to draw closer to God and to hear His voice. Biblical fasting always has to do with eliminating distractions for a spiritual purpose. Our body and mind are in such control of our lives. When you fast, your body and mind slow down and your spirit comes to the forefront. Like a radio receiver that s been switched on, you can suddenly hear the voice of God more clearly. Fasting should not be legalistic. It is used for the purposes of direction (Acts 13), devotion (Luke 1: 37), and desperation (Esther 4: 16). It also enables us to celebrate the goodness and mercy of God and prepares our hearts for all the good things God desires to bring into our lives. Your personal fast should present a level of challenge, but it is very important to know your body, your options, and, most importantly, to seek God in prayer and follow what the Holy Spirit leads you to do. Consult your physician before beginning any type of fast. 4 FASTING

7 Below are brief descriptions of the different types of fasts. COMPLETE FAST This fast calls for drinking only liquids, typically water with light juices as an option. SELECTIVE FAST This type of fast involves removing certain elements from your diet. One example of a selective fast is the Daniel Fast. This types of fast removes meat, sweets, or bread from your diet. You consume water and juice for fluids and fruits and vegetables for food. PARTIAL FAST This fast, sometimes called the Jewish Fast, involves abstaining from eating any type of food in the morning and afternoon. This can either correlate to specific times of the day such as 6:00 am to 3:00 pm or from sunup to sundown. SOUL FAST This fast is common for those who do not have much experience fasting food, who have health issues that prevent them from participating, or who wish to refocus certain areas of their life that are out of balance. For instance, someone might select to abstain from using social media or watching television for the duration of the fast. Then after the fast, carefully bring that element back into their life in an orderly fashion. FASTING 5

8 PERSONAL PRAYER FOCUS God has put us on the earth at this specific time for a reason. He says in Acts 17:26 that He determined when and where we would live. Knowing this, we can look at those around us at this specific time in history, and take personal responsibility to pray. I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 TIMOTHY 2:1-4 Pray for those in authority and those under your authority. Pray for those in your family and your circle of influence (anyone you re connected to). Write down the names of specific people and pray for them. 6 PERSONAL PRAYER FOCUS

9 MY GOVERNMENT PRESIDENT NATIONAL LEADERS STATE LEADERS CITY LEADERS MY FAMILY SPOUSE CHILDREN PARENTS SIBLINGS EXTENDED FAMILY PERSONAL PRAYER FOCUS 7

10 MY CHURCH PASTORS ELDERS LIFE GROUP LEADERS SMALL GROUP MEMBERS MINISTRY TEAM MY LIFE EMPLOYER CO-WORKERS EMPLOYEES TEACHERS/PROFESSORS CLOSE FRIENDS 8 PERSONAL PRAYER FOCUS

11 THOSE WHO NEED GOD MY GOALS INDIVIDUAL MARRIAGE FAMILY MINISTRY PERSONAL PRAYER FOCUS 9

12 HARVEST CITY PRAYER FOCUS 1 21 DAYS OF PRAYER + FASTING For times of refreshing, renewing and revelation to be given by God throughout the twenty-one days we pray, fast and seek Him as a church. That prayer would continue being a major part of our culture within the church. 2 MISSION To help others encounter the presence of God in our services and gatherings together; to find community in order to be connected relationally, discipled and healed; to discover purpose and desire to be equipped and empowered; and to take their place in making an eternal impact in the world and expanding the Kingdom of God. 3 THE HARVEST & CITIES That we express our love for God through our love for people and developing a heart for the harvest. For open doors in San Antonio and the cities around to win souls to the Kingdom of God by leading others to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. 4 LEADERSHIP That God will provide the leadership of the church wisdom, vision, guidance and direction in leading Harvest City into new levels of growth and increase. 10 CHURCH PRAYER FOCUS

13 5 MARRIAGE & FAMILIES That God will strengthen marriages and families in our church with love and unity for one another. To be a place where every member of the family can be planted, be fruitful and flourish. 6 KIDS & STUDENTS For continued growth in our kids and student ministries and the development of ministry teams (teachers, leaders, assistants). Expanding the reach and influence in the city. Covering over all the functions, retreats, and conferences. 7 LIFE GROUPS That God will strengthen our existing Life Group leaders and increase them in wisdom and knowledge as they help connect people to the life of our church and a continued relationship with God. That God would also raise up new Life Group leaders to help lead and disciple others. 8 MINISTRY TEAMS WORSHIP: To continue developing genuine, spirit-led worshipers. For our worship ministry to increase in the number of musicians and vocalists to provide an atmosphere of revival for our church. For new songs to be written in-house. CREATIVE: For God to raise up artists, designers, web developers, videographers, photographers, a/v and lighting technicians who passionately love God and desire to use their gifts as an expression to bring people to a saving or further knowledge of His love. SERVICE SUPPORT: For an increase of believers to be actively engaged through serving in the different areas of ministry within the church which include ushers, greeters, hosts, nursery, children, youth, kitchen, cleaning and special events. FOR NEW MINISTRY TEAMS to be established this year. CHURCH PRAYER FOCUS 11

14 9 MEN & WOMEN To build a strong community and connection for men and women within the church through various group meetings, activities and events that will empower them to impact their work place, communities, and their families for the kingdom of God. 10 SENIORS To continue building a strong fellowship and connection for our senior community within the church where they can be ministered to and be a part of a thriving, growing ministry. For volunteers to assist in transportation. 11 LOCAL/NATIONAL OUTREACH That God would anoint the leaders to equip and mobilize the body of Christ to reach out and get involved in our communities. To partner with other ministries and organizations to help meet the needs of children and families in our city and nation. 12 GLOBAL OUTREACH (MISSIONS) For fruitfulness, protection and provision for our missionaries, ministries and organizations we support and partner with in reaching the world for Jesus. For successful missions trips this year. 13 EXPANSION (BUILDING) Believing for the resources for a 15,000-20,000 sq. ft. expansion at our current location, estimated at $2.5-3 million. For the right construction firm to oversee our expansion. Praying for these initiatives to become realities and for God s hand to rest on the planning and construction of our new facility. 12 CHURCH PRAYER FOCUS

16 4906 Stahl Rd San Antonio, TX (210)

Man shall not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God, (Matt. 4:4).

Man shall not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God, (Matt. 4:4). Welcome to Awaken the Hunger Awaken the Hunger is a 21-day journey of fasting and prayer. It is designed to help you deliberately pursue God both as an individual and as part of the Crossroads Church family