January 16-Febuary

Transcription

1 1 January 16-Febuary OUR 21-DAY CORPORATE FAST New Life Community UMC Wingate Rd. Jacksonville, Florida Lamont Hogans, Pastor

2 2 Theme Scriptures Philippians 3:13-15 (NIV) 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Isaiah 43:17-21 (KJV) 17 Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow. 18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. 20 The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen. 21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise General Information/Types of Fasts/ FAQ s Instructions The prayer guide isn t just a short booklet with scripture. God s words are life and life changing. The prayer guide isn t meant to be about information alone but personal transformation that radiates from the inside out. This takes place as we open ourselves to being renewed in our minds (Romans 12:1) and spirit. The tools provided in this guide are a practical guideline to help us a church body navigate through your personal 21-day journey. As you do the daily study, please consider how it applies to you and your circumstances and convictions.

3 3 We pray that you will experience the presence and power of God in ordinary and extraordinary ways as you commit yourself to Him. May God continue to bless you and enlarge you as you seek Him first! When praying make your primary goal to know Jesus more and experience Him. Before presenting any needs, start with worship. Pray prayers of total surrender being honest and open to the One who knows all about it. Aim to glorify God with your life. Focus first on what s right about Him, such as His greatness, and see everything through that filter. And if you re going through a tough season remember, every season has a beginning and an end. And that He is faithful and committed to His promises concerning you. And most simply make time to pray daily. Be intentional about meeting Him. Read Prayerfully Listen for God as you re reading. Don t rush through. If you come across something you don t understand, pause for a moment and ask God about it. Reading prayerfully is making space and time to talk to God and giving Him time and space to talk to you. Read Expectantly You are about to eat the bread of life, so having an attitude of expectancy is important. Believe God is going to speak to speak to you through His Word. Be prepared to do something with what He shows you. Why should the church fast? Biblical references to the spiritual discipline of fasting describe a practice of abstaining from food for a specified period of time. Fasting is a time of bringing the body under the control of the Holy Spirit on a consistent basis. Instead of receiving the physical gratification of food and various other activities, we become very aware of the substance and power of the Holy Spirit. When we pray in this manner, it is not to get God s attention, to impress Him, or to change Him. Instead, our purpose is to focus our attention on Him as the only Source of all of our needs (Elmer Towns). When we fast as a church body, we further honor who God is in our lives as a church family. There is strength in unity. Fasting is one of the most powerful weapons God has given us for our daily lives. Through fasting, you can experience spiritual renewal, supernatural healing, a release from the bondage of sin, restoration in your relationships, and so much more! During this time of corporate fasting, we will take the time to empty ourselves so that God can fill us fresh and anew until we over flow with His Spirit, His presence, His power, and His anointing. Pray that the Lord will give us fresh insight and revelation as it pertains to our lives, our families, friends, and our New Life Community Family. We believe that as we pray and fast honoring God giving Him our best here at the beginning of the year, He will honor His promises concerning us as a church. (Matthew 6:33).

4 4 Benefits of Fasting (Personal) 1. Improves your ability to hear from God (Ezra 8:21) 2. Builds you up spiritually (Matthew 4:2, 23, 24) 3. Lifts oppression and breaks demonic powers (Mark 9:29, Isaiah 58:6-8) 4. Leads you into a time of humility and repentance (Psalm 109:22-26) 5. Causes health to spring forth speedily (Isaiah 58:8) Biblical Examples of Corporate Fasting Psalm 133:1-3 tells us that when we come together (corporately) in unity, there the Lord has commanded His blessing. Corporate prayer was practiced throughout the Bible. In Acts 13:1-3 as they ministered to the Lord and fasted corporately, the Holy Spirit gave specific directions. In 2 Chronicles 20, Jehoshaphat, overwhelmed by an invasion, called the people to fast and pray. This corporate prayer and fasting resulted in Judah s victory over their enemy without a fight! In Ezra, 8:21-23, Ezra called a time of corporate prayer and fasting to seek God s wisdom and protection. Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might fast before our God to seek of Him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance so we fasted and besought our God for this: and He was entreated of us. Spiritual Preparation How to Begin Spiritually: Start with a clear goal. Be specific. Why are you fasting? Do you need direction, healing, restoration of marriage or family issues? Are you facing financial difficulties? Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. Pray daily and read the Bible. Preparing spiritually by confessing your sins to God. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of weakness. Forgive all who have offended you and ask forgiveness from those you may have offended. Surrender your life fully to Jesus Christ and reject the worldly desires that try to hinder you. Deciding the type of fasting you choose is up to you. Remember to replace that time with prayer and Bible study. In preparation for this special time with God, we urge you to examine your heart through prayer, and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any unconfessed sin. Scripture records that God always requires His people to repent of their sins before He will hear their prayers. King David said: Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me. For I cried out to him for help, praising him as I spoke. If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me. (Psalm 66:16-20, New Living Translation)

5 5 In your prayers, confess not only the obvious sin that come to mind, but allow yourself to linger in His presence, giving Him time to show you the less obvious ones as well. You may want to ask God if you are experiencing any of these signs of leaving your first love: worldlymindedness, self-centeredness, spiritual indifference, unwillingness to share your faith in Christ with others, not spending sufficient time in God's Word and in prayer, a poor relationship with your spouse, your children, your friends, or other members of your church community. ( Food vs. Non Food Fasts Full Fast Drink only liquids (you establish the number of days). The Daniel Fast Eat no meat, no sweets and no bread. Drink water and juice. Eat fruits and vegetables. Partial Fast A partial fast is from 6:00 am to 3:00 pm or from sun up to sundown. You can select from three types of fasting a Full Fast, Daniel Fast or give up at least one item of food. ( 1. Radio/Secular Music What we put into our ears influences our thoughts, feelings, and actions. If you find yourself humming tunes with risqué lyrics or worrying over the news, perhaps this fast would be helpful. 2. Social Media -giving up Facebook for 21 days. Sometimes social media occupies a space/time in our lives that could be better spent seeking God. It can be a time of distancing herself from shallow relationships and focusing on projects that were neglected. Checking our status and notifications shouldn t take priority over seeking God s presence and will for your life. Sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest are not intrinsically bad. However, we can end up wasting time or hurting others on them instead of focusing on doing God s will and touches the lives of others. 3. Negative Self-Talk and Actions We look in the mirror, pinch our stomachs, glare at our imperfections, and complain to friends about the way our clothes fit or don t. These words and actions demean the body that God graciously gave us. That doesn t negate we work on the external but appreciate our uniqueness while we make changes through diet & exercise. 4. Shopping Eliminating unnecessary shopping from corporate fasting reminds us not to rely on earthly goods. 5. Complaining/gossip Refraining from unkind speech or whining is a huge commitment. Everyone struggles with saying sinful things. Ephesians 4:29Amplified Bible 29 Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God s favor) to those who hear it.

6 6 The reasoning for this is that we can begin to embrace this call by fasting from or giving up material things, including foods, that are in addition to our basic needs; taking up charitable habits that are directed to helping and caring for others; and lifting up our brothers and sisters who are in need through giving to meet a need, praying and participating in devotional practices of scriptural study, meditation and how we can apply it to our daily lives. Prayer Focus for the Church Pastor Hogans, family and staff: the Mission and Vision of the church: Growth through Evangelism the people of the church: the ministries of the church: the worship service(s): that God be glorified and lives changed the local and global church Praying for the Unchurched those unsaved with no relationship with Jesus those disconnected from Christ those not connected to a local church In Addition, Participants Should: Be in agreement with one another, not allowing bitterness, unforgiveness, or division to hinder their prayers. - Pray for one another. - Pray as often as possible throughout the day. - Read and meditate on God s Word. - Spend time daily in praise and worship. - Get away from the normal distractions as much as possible and keep their hearts and minds set on seeking God s face. - Pray in faith, expecting results! - Remember that it is the attitude of a heart sincerely seeking Him to which God responds with a blessing (Isaiah 58, Jeremiah 14:12, and 1 Corinthians 8:8). May God richly bless you as you fast! Adapted from Fasting for Spiritual Breakthroughs by Elmer Towns and Jentezen Franklin Ministries (Fasting at

7 7 Day One Philippians 3:12Amplified Bible (AMPC) 12 Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own. Philippians 3:12Contemporary English Version (CEV) 12 I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize. Some of the accomplishments of Apostle Paul include: He made three long missionary journeys throughout the Roman Empire, Of the 27 books in the New Testament, Paul is credited as the author of 13 of them. While he was proud of his Jewish heritage, Paul saw that the gospel was for the Gentiles as well. Planting churches, preaching the gospel, and giving strength and encouragement to early Christians through his letters. Imprisoned and beaten. If anyone had an occasion to rest on his laurels, Apostle Paul is the person. Yet he starts in today s focus scripture by announcing there is yet more he can do for the Kingdom in addition to all he has already accomplished. In our text the Apostle Paul uses the analogy of a race to describe his own spiritual experience. In so doing, he gives us some a great starting point for starting our journey. He s reminding us never to stop chasing after God so that we can run to win the race set before us.

8 8 WE MUST REALIZE GOD HAS A GOAL FOR OUR LIFE!!!!!!! RECOGNIZE THAT YOU HAVE NOT ARRIVED YET! Paul not only recognized that the Lord had a grand purpose for his life, He realized that he had not arrived at that purpose yet. Paul knew he was not what he should be. He is aware of his faults and the areas where he still needed to grow. The word for "perfect" also means "complete" in the Greek. Paul recognizes that he is not completed yet. God is seeking progress not perfection." Chuck Swindoll Some people get so discouraged because they feel they aren't progressing very rapidly. The Christian life is a life of growth and maturity and not unlike life itself. Growth takes time. As diligently as Paul worked at his faith, he still had not arrived. Don't get discouraged. Growth takes time. We must measure ourselves by Christ. He wants us to be pure in our actions, in our conversations, in our thinking, in our attitudes, in our relationships. He wants us to love Him more than anything else. He wants to be in the position of influence in every part of our life. If you understand the standard you will, like Paul, understand that you are not there yet. Keep moving forward. Keep running!!! Reflection Questions: Is there an area where God is calling you to start or restart your race? Y or N. Name the area(s). Ask the Holy Spirit to give you strategies, strength and discipline to begin again. Write your next steps here.

9 9 Day Two Philippians 3:13 (AMPC) 13 I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, We are not called to remember everything. The Lord views our sins this way 25 But I, yes I, am the one who takes care of your sins that s what I do. I don t keep a list of your sins. Isaiah 43:25 (MSG) 25 I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. (NIV) The prophet Micah reminds us in Micah 7:19 where God places old sins and why He does it. That does not suggest that God forgets. When one forgets something, they cannot remember it, even when they try. But to CHOOSE not to remember something is different. It means God in this instance COULD remember the event, but He chooses not to do so. Out of love, mercy, and grace, our Savior has promised that he will not remember (or drag back up) the sins that we have confessed and accepted his forgiveness. Actually, I prefer that our God is not forgetful but instead, loves us so much that He refuses to remind us of our past. 19 He will again have compassion on us; He will subdue and tread underfoot our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:19 (AMPC)

10 10 THINGS WHICH ARE BEHIND WHICH WE SHOULD FORGET Strangely enough, a good memory is not always a great asset! It is not the things we forget which we should have remembered which cause the most trouble; it is the things we remember which we should have forgotten. 1. We must forget our past sins. That is, if we have truly repented, confessed and forsaken them (Proverbs 28:13), then we must forget them. If we have confessed and renounced our sin, God has forgiven it and forgotten it (1 John 1:9)If God has forgotten our sins we must do the same, otherwise the memory of them will hinder us. 2. We must forget our past failures. This is not easy, but if we are constantly dwelling upon our failures and reviving the memory of them, we shall find that our peace is destroyed, our progress is impeded and our usefulness is limited. Some people are always filled with regret over what might have been. Don t cry over spilt milk! 3. We must forget our past successes. To dwell constantly upon our past achievements will certainly not ensure present victory, and it may in fact engender pride. Some Christians are living on a past experience and some Christian workers are living on a past reputation. 4. We must forget our past pleasures. The Children of Israel failed just here, and frequently we read of them crying for the abundance of food and water which they had had in Egypt. (Numbers 11:5-6; 20:5 and 21:5.) To be engrossed with the past advantages of Egypt is to fail to realize the value of God s present miraculous provision. 5. We must forget our past unhappy experiences. Have we lost a fortune? Forget it! thinking of it cannot bring it back. Has someone let us down? Forget it! To keep reviving the memory of the experience will cause resentment, and this will do far more harm to ourselves than to anyone else. 6. We must forget our past blessings. They are insufficient for today s needs, so we must cry out with the psalmist (Psalm 103:2) but yesterday s provision will not suffice for today s demands. The Lord s provision is new every morning (Lamentations 3:23). 7. We must forget the sins and the failures of others. This needs to be said, for we so easily remember the shortcomings of other people. If we have been wronged, we must forgive and we must forget. Do not say, I can t! You can! ( In order to forget we must reverse the process of remembering. To remember one must revive the image and keep on reviving it. Now reverse the process; refuse to revive the image. Forget! Reflection Questions: Stop take a minute pray asking the Holy Spirit and write down some things you need to forget about in 2018.

11 11 Day Three-Heavenly Goals Philippians 3:14Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) 14 I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward. The prize refers to the goal of knowing Christ that also results in eternal reward. Paul strives to lay hold of this great pursuit because Christ laid hold of him. God s goal is not just to get you in the door. He is not merely looking to save you and fast track you to Heaven. Instead, He is working to transform you by moving you toward Christ-likeness. God saved you, not just for heaven; He saved you so that you would be of earthly good. God has called you TO something. He DOES have a plan for your life. His plan will lead you to joy, fulfillment, contentment, and eternal blessing. God s great goal is for you to pursue the prize of intimacy with Christ and eternal reward. Set your earthly goals on heavenly gains. THINGS AHEAD WHICH WE MUST STRIVE TO ATTAIN The apostle speaks of three things for which he reached forth for which he was constantly on the stretch. We must press on to perfection. The first part of verse 12 tells us this, and the word perfect means spiritually mature, not sinless or faultless. In order to grow we must feed upon the Word of God; we must regularly engage in prayer and have sufficient work to do in the Lord s vineyard. We must press on to take hold of the purpose for which God has taken hold of us. The second part of verse 12 tells us this. He has a particular purpose for every one of us a life plan. Have you discovered God s plan for your life, and are you pressing on in it? We must press on with deep concern to win the lost. As we hurry on to the time of the Lord s coming, which will mean glory for us and gloom for the lost, we should be burdened to win souls. This is one our prayer targets for this week. What an urgent need there is to evangelize!

12 12 Our goal is to be able to declare like Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 4:7-8 (AMPC) 7 I have fought the good (worthy, honorable, and noble) fight, I have finished the race, I have kept (firmly held) the faith 8 [As to what remains] henceforth there is laid up for me the [victor s] crown of righteousness [for being right with God and doing right], which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me and recompense me on that [great] day and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved and yearned for and welcomed His appearing (His return). A testimony of a life dedicated to serving the Lord. Reflection questions: Who are you praying for to get saved, list their names here. Look up Acts 9:6 and make Paul s question your question every day. Day Four-Earthly Goals Goals that are Not written down are just Wishes-Author Unknown Making a New Year's resolution is a great way to make a positive change in your life, whether it's going to the gym, waking up earlier, or saving your money. But, it's very rare you'll keep your resolutions for the whole year. According to U.S. News, approximately 80% of resolutions fail by the second week of February, so the odds are against you. Just 8% of People Achieve Their New Year's Resolutions by years end.

13 13 Why Set Goals? Top-level athletes, successful business-people and achievers in all fields all set goals. Setting goals gives you long-term vision and short-term motivation. It focuses your acquisition of knowledge, and helps you to organize your time and your resources so that you can make the very most of your life. By setting sharp, clearly defined goals, you can measure and take pride in the achievement of those goals, and you'll see forward progress in what might previously have seemed a long pointless grind. You will also raise your self-confidence. As you recognize your own ability and competence in achieving the goals that you've set. Biblical Examples of Goal Setting Apostle Paul in Phil. 3:14, I press toward the GOAL for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Goal in the Greek, Skopos which means finishing mark) 14 I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward. Nehemiah 6:15 (KJV) 15 So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days. Luke 14:28-30 (ESV) 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, This man began to build and was not able to finish. SMART Goals A useful way of making goals more powerful is to use the SMART mnemonic. While there are plenty of variants (some of which we've included in parenthesis), SMART usually stands for: S Specific (or Significant). M Measurable (or Meaningful). A Attainable (or Action-Oriented). R Relevant (or Rewarding). T Time-bound (or Trackable). (mindtool.com) For example, instead of having "to sail around the world" as a goal, it's more powerful to use the SMART goal "To have completed my trip around the world by December 31, 2027." Obviously, this will only be attainable if a lot of preparation has been completed beforehand!

14 14 Reflection time.as we begin 2018, write down your goals for the next 21 days, 6 and 12 months? After reading Luke 14:28 how committed to you are you to reaching your goal? What are you willing to sacrifice to get there? Using the SMART plan as a guide, write down the vision for your life, family, ministry, and job. Pray asking the Holy Spirit for wisdom and strategy to make the vision to come to pass. My Life- Family- Ministry- Job/Occupation-

15 15 Day Five So many things have our attention careers, relationships, finances. What about God? As we conclude our first week of our corporate time of fasting and prayer. How are you feeling? Continue to use this time to refocus our minds, renew our passion for God, and find spiritual and physical restoration through sacrifice. Enjoy your weekend. See you in services Sunday. Let us pray God, help us to be the Church you desire us to be. Let us live like you. Let us love like you. Let everything we do be for you. Help us as continue to grow as one body, of one mind, and with You as our focus. God, thank you for the power to destroy anything in our lives that displeases you. Please forgive us. We seek your guidance as we pursue godly minds and hearts. Lord, our friends, co-workers, and neighbors are all gifts from you! Help us to build relationships in our sphere of influence so that we can bring you glory, and they will come to know you. In Jesus name.