5 Days of Prayer and Fasting Booklet SBC

Transcription

1 5 Days of Prayer and Fasting Booklet SBC 22nd to 26th January 2018

2 "One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple." (Psalms 27:4) "You have said, "Seek my face." My heart says to you, "Your face, LORD, do I seek."' (Psalms 27:8)

3 INTRODUCTION Dear SBC What a mighty privilege to serve a living God that loves it when His people seek Him in prayer! Martin Luther said, "Prayer is a powerful thing, for God has bound and tied himself thereto." Prayer is God's invitation not only to know Him, but His dignifying our participation in the advancing of His great plan and purpose in the world we live. He invites our prayers to shape nations, cities, communities, families, and even our own hearts. It is the believer's mightiest weapon and deepest source of strength. When God's people start praying, God starts answering! With this in mind, we are plotting a course for the next five days to cover 5 essential areas we want to bring to the Lord. We will be starting on Monday 22nd January with a corporate day of fasting, and this day will consist of us dedicating ourselves afresh to the Lord as we look to We will then be bringing our church before Him, seeking His will for us this year, seeking salvation to come to those who still need to come to faith in Christ, and finally, seeking God to move in our city and nation. If at any time you sense God giving you a Scripture, picture or word for the church, please it to elders@sbc.za.net. In Acts 13:1-4, the early church came together for a time of fasting, prayer and worship, and it was out of this time the Holy Spirit told the church to set aside Barnabas and Paul for their revolutionary missionary trips to the Gentiles. It sparked a new move of God! We can eagerly expect the same from the Spirit of God as we imitate the same fasting, prayer and corporate worship that the early church did. If you are not yet aware of our corporate meeting times leading up to the Church Summit on Sat the 27th Jan, they are as follows: Mon 22nd Jan - Day of fasting to begin 5 days of prayer Wed 24th Jan - Combined Prayer Meeting at 7pm at Stirling Fri 26th Jan - Evening of Praise and Worship at 7pm at Stirling Sat 27th Jan - Church Summit at 8am 'til 2pm at Stirling As we journey through the next 5 days together we advise you to keep a journal with you. God has a habit of speaking during these times so be ready to jot down what he says. Also feel a freedom to revisit an area you feel you need to pray into during the week, and know that there is nothing wrong with coming to Lord with the same request multiple times a day. Yours in His service SBC Eldership

4 A NOTE ON FASTING "In a culture where the landscape is dotted with shrines to the Golden Arches [McDonalds] and an assortment of Pizza Temples, fasting seems out of step with the times. In fact, fasting has been in general disrepute both in and outside the Church for many years." Richard Foster For some this will be the first time you are attempting a fast. This short note on fasting is to help you as you get started. For others this note on fasting will be a simple reminder of its place and purpose in the Christian's walk. Used correctly, fasting is a powerful way of seeking the face of God and often has far reaching spiritual benefits, not just for ourselves, but for others too. What is "fasting"? Fasting simply means "going without". In Scripture, it is primarily going without food, whether that be a meal or three over a day or more, or it may also include going without some sleep, certain legitimate pleasures, or even giving yourself in obedience to matters we routinely overlook (see Isaiah 58:6-7). Fasting is always combined with prayer. In fact, the helpful thing about "going without" is to create space to pray. When fasting food you will be amazed at how much time we actually spend on its preparation and eating. Why is fasting important? Firstly, Jesus assumed his believers would fast. In Matthew 6:16, he says, "When you fast", not "if you fast". He also predicted times when after his ascension his people would seek him in fasting (Matthew 9:15). Secondly, it introduces discipline into an area where we so often are undisciplined in the 21st century. Self-denial is not our strong point! Yet, although uncomfortable, fasting with prayer can lead to great spiritual blessing and breakthrough. Thirdly, it is a way of showing God that you mean business. It is humbling yourself before him and saying "God, I am serious about this request!" Fourthly, it is a way of expressing your need and dependence upon him. In essence you are saying to God "I need you more than the food I eat!" When should we fast? Generally speaking, fasting accompanied prayer for a specific purpose in Scripture. Here are some examples when fasting occurred: 1. For the nation (2 Chronicles 20:1-3; Jonah 3:5; 1 Samuel 7:6; Joel 2:15) 2. Coming together as a church in worship and prayer (Acts 13:2) 3. When appointing church leaders and commissioning them (Acts 14:23) 4. An urgent individual need or request (2 Samuel 12:16)

5 5. A time of deep trial (it seems the angel told Elijah to break his fast in 1 Kings 19:5,8) 6. When lacking understanding (Dan 9:3; 10:1-3) 7. When broken hearted over sin or we have grieved the Lord in an acute way (Ezra 9:1-6). Note, we don't do this every time we sin- thank goodness! Fasting is not necessary for forgiveness (1 John 1:9), but there does seem to be a place in Scripture where at certain times it is used to show God you see your sin, you are truly sorry, and you are truly changing. It is a response of deep humility towards him. What are the benefits of fasting? Very often (but not always), we don't experience much benefit or blessing during a fast. In fact it can be tough! We are vulnerable to feeling weak and irritable and Satan knows this! Instead of feeling closer to God (which can happen sometimes in a fast), you may feel further away from God than you did before you started! Don't be discouraged. The results of prayer and fasting often come later and are worth the wait! Some important precautions when considering a fast 1. Make sure you drink plenty of liquids when fasting food. Doing a "dry" fast, i.e. which includes no fluids, is usually a supernatural fast (Ex 34:28). This is not advisable! For those caffeine junkies, expect a mean withdrawal headache if you only choose to drink water. 2. Do not fast if you are ill or have health issues, for e.g. diabetes. If you are not sure if you should, ask your doctor or a trusted pharmacist. Consider fasting something other than food if this is you. Please also continue to take all chronic medications! 3. Sometimes you can get a sense of euphoria after the second day of fasting (we are only calling for a one day fast this year!) This often makes us feel great and is probably physiological and not spiritual. Beware of fasting for more than 3 days! Make sure you have a good reason to if you do. If you decide to fast for more than three days tell someone close to you so they know what you are doing and make sure you are in excellent health! 4. Beware of self-righteousness when fasting. A helpful principle is not to tell anyone you are doing it (Mt 6:16) unless the church fasts together. In this case be careful not to judge those who decided not to fast. We have asked the church to fast together on Monday 22nd January as we dedicate ourselves to the Lord, but please feel free to fast on any other day too, especially if you see a day's topic that you feel a special need to fast and call upon the Lord for. Again, if you feel a word from the Lord for the church over the next 5 days please send an to elders@sbc.za.net

6 DAY 1 DEDICATING OURSELVES TO THE LORD Monday, 22nd January 2018 DAY OF FASTING AS A CHURCH TODAY SCRIPTURES TO MEDITATE AND PRAY OVER: "But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7) "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" (Psalms 139:23-24) "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit." (Psalms 51:10-12) "You have said, "Seek my face." My heart says to you, "Your face, LORD, do I seek." (Psalms 27:8) TO TAKE NOTE OF: As we start our time of seeking the Lord together as a church, it is important to ask ourselves the question, "What is important to Him? What is He after?" We see in Scripture that first and foremost God is concerned about the state of our hearts towards Him. It is what set David apart from his older and more outwardly impressive brothers (1 Sam 16:7). The heart is the seat of our affection, desire and passion. The Bible calls all these things combined "worship". God wants our affection, desire and passion, i.e. our worship, to be fixed on Him only! David knew this, and so he says in Psalm 139:23 "Search me, O God, and know my heart!" He knew that his heart, like ours, is quick to run after and attach itself to other things; and that our head and hands follow it! David brings himself before the Lord and says "Examine me, God! Show me if there is anything unpleasing to you. I want to be devoted to you!" Let us start here before the Lord and pray the same prayer for our own lives; and as He brings to mind what we need to let go of and respond to, let us pray the same prayer David did in Ps 51: Let us ask God to stoke our passion and desire for Him only, and set our hearts to seek His face again (Ps 27:8).

7 DAY 2 CONTENDING FOR UNITY Tues, 23rd January 2018 SCRIPTURES TO MEDITATE AND PRAY OVER: "For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being merely human? What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth." (1 Corinthians 3:4-6) "I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment." (1 Corinthians 1:10) "Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the LORD has commanded the blessing, life forevermore." (Psalms 133:1-3) "And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand." (Mark 3:25) "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful." (Colossians 3:12-15) TO TAKE NOTE OF: The church in Corinth was perhaps Paul's most glitzy church. It had every spiritual gift active and yet lacked the most important element- love. This was seen in the divisions and party spirit which had developed within the church (1 Cor 3:4-6). Paul appeals to the church to contend for unity (1 Cor 1:10). The Psalmist says this will guard the anointing power of the ungrieved Spirit (seen in the anointing oil flowing down Aaron's beard in Ps 133:2). Satan knows that a house divided against itself "will not be able to stand" (Mk 3:25). Let us appeal to the Lord for the healing, safekeeping and prospering of unity in the Body at SBC, and for the Lord to bring about peace, starting with ourselves (Col 3:12-15). Is there any relationship you need to make right? Let us pray for the deepening and strengthening of relationships - bonds of love - within the church.

8 DAY 3 "WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO FOR YOU, LORD?" Wed, 24th January 2018 [Combined Prayer Meeting Tonight, 7pm, Stirling Campus] SCRIPTURES TO MEDITATE AND PRAY OVER: "Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest." (Matthew 9:37-38) "And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here I am! Send me." (Isaiah 6:8) "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace" (1 Peter 4:10) "For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises." (Hebrews 6:10-12) "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." (Psalms 90:12) TO TAKE NOTE OF: There was a moment in Jesus' earthly ministry when he looked out among the large crowds following him. They looked harassed and helpless. Jesus said they were like a harvest ripe for reaping for the Kingdom of Heaven. The problem was not the harvest (it was vast and ripe), but the few labourers available to do the work. The Lord said the first step to address this shortfall was to "pray earnestly to the Lord to send (or "thrust") out the labourers". The result would be He would begin to stir His people to do things for him. They would begin to feel the relentless thrusting of the Spirit to take up assignments He has handpicked for them (Mt 9:37-38). How exciting! Imagine what God could do amongst His people in response to this simple request? Let's pray for this in the church. Each member of the Body has been given a gift for serving (1 Pt 4:10). Let's pray for the awakening of these gifts! Let's also pray this prayer for ourselves. Ask the Lord "What do you want me to do for you this year?" and then wait on Him. Then be like Isaiah, who when the opportunity came up, said "Send me!" (Is 6:8). Remember God will not overlook but reward all those who lovingly serve His Church, so let's either get going or keep going (Heb 6:10-12)! Remember we only get one life this side of the grave. Let's live it fully for the Lord (Ps 90:12)!

9 DAY 4 MAKE US A PEOPLE OF COMPASSION Thur, 25th January 2018 SCRIPTURES TO MEDITATE AND PRAY OVER: "Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." (Luke 15:1-2) "Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." (Luke 15:7) "Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents." (Luke 15:10) "And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him." (Luke 15:20) TO TAKE NOTE OF: In Luke 15:1-2, Jesus' ministry was facing criticism from those who were religious for attracting people who were considered the kind of people whom "godly" people avoided. They were the kind of people that make good church people morally awkward. Reaching these people clearly wasn't a priority for God's people at the time. Instead of inviting them in they subtly kept them out. Jesus was the opposite. He didn't just make it easy for those on the outskirts of the church to draw near but actively sought them out in their homes. No Pharisee or Scribe would ever do that! Jesus defends His ministry by showing the Pharisees and Scribes their hardness of heart, and that the heart of the Father was the exact opposite to theirs. It was one of deep compassion (Lk 15:20)! Unlike their thinking that God was pleased with them keeping their holy huddles pure, he said "there is more joy in heaven over ONE sinner who repents than over ninetynine righteous persons who need no repentance" (Luk 15:10), and that it causes a raucous party among the angels in heaven (Lk 15:10). Do we as a church get this excited (or perhaps you personally) about those lost and far away from the Lord coming to know Christ in our midst, or do we get more excited about developing our own personal space? It motivated Jesus. Does it motivate us? Our motivation stems, like Jesus pointed out, from a heart issue. Let's ask God to break our hearts afresh with what breaks His, and pray for salvations to be seen at SBC. Spend time asking God who you need to pray for and approach with the good news this year. Commit to do so. Pray also for the preaching to be effective in this area.

10 DAY 5 RESTORE OUR CITY AND OUR NATION Fri, 26th January 2018 [Praise and Worship Evening, 7pm, Stirling Campus] SCRIPTURES TO MEDITATE AND PRAY OVER: "And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?" (Jonah 4:11) "But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare." (Jeremiah 29:7) "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:1-4) TO TAKE NOTE OF: We looked yesterday at God's heart of compassion for the individual sinner, those who are lost and far from Him, and we asked God to give us the same heart, and to see individuals come to know Christ as Saviour and Lord. Today, God's Word is asking us to broaden our hearts to include our city and nation. God has compassion on these too, and when He looks from heaven He sees hundreds of thousands of people "who don't know their right hand from their left" (Jonah 4:11). God also commanded His people to seek the welfare of the city they inhabited whilst they waited to return home to Israel, their true home (Jer29:7). We are to do the same for our city whilst we wait to return to our true home, the new heaven and earth. God said the welfare of their city would be their welfare. How true! Let's pray for the welfare of ours today. Pray for her churches, pray for her municipality and its leaders, government officials and departments, businesses and homes. Pray for businessmen to resist corrupt deals and for God to remove corrupt officials, and that He would open the door for honest business. Pray for unity and healing in our society around the gospel. Pray also for our Advance friends at Everyday People in Greenfields, who will be planting an evening service in Beacon Bay on the 11th Feb. Pray that the gospel would prosper through their ministry and that the suburb find Christ. 1 Timothy 2:1-4 tells us in broad terms to pray for the leaders of our country and for the gospel to spread powerfully. Pray for the ANC in this critical leadership transition, for our parliament and ministers. Pray for God to send rain. Pray for the welfare of our nation and city, for whatever you know of or for whatever comes to mind!