21 Days of Prayer and Fasting 2016

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Marshall Dennis
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1 Name: 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting 2016 Fasting 1

2 Fasting is to give up something that you focus on a lot to spend more time focusing on GOD. Adults will often fast by not eating food or eating certain foods like on the Daniel fast. It is not a good idea for children to give up food completely. You can give up some foods like chocolate, sweets, crisps or any other foods you eat a lot of. Or you could give up playing on a specific device, like PlayStation, Xbox or ipad. 2

3 UP IN OUT During the next three weeks we will be thinking about three relationships important to us in our journey as Christians. UP this is our relationship with God, our Father in heaven and is so special to us. However having a good UP relationship is no good on its own as God wants us to have In and OUT relationships too. IN this is our relationships with other people who we celebrate God with, so this may be people in your family, your church body, your Sunday school, your house group the list can go on and on and it will be different for each of you. OUT this is our relationship with those who don t yet know Jesus. We know these people from school or clubs or maybe as family members or groups of people you really care about and God puts in your heart to think and pray about again these relationships will be different for everyone just be sure that there is no wrong or right to these only you and God know. 3

4 Symbols These symbols appear through the book and here are their meanings. Q READ Q ACTION Q WRITE Q PRAY Q ASK GOD Q THANKSGIVING Q SPEAK IT OUT These are also called declarations but it is important to actually speak them out loud I am the bread of life Monday 11th 4

5 Then Jesus said: I am the bread of Life He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6 v 35 Jesus is telling us that it is Him and only Him that can give us what we need in life. We may want to do other things but they do not satisfy us. Think about a game you like playing on a tablet, computer, PlayStation or whatever it is you play games on. Do you always want to rush on to the next level? When you have built a room in Minecraft you don t feel that s enough do you? You want to go on and build more getting passed the sand monster in Lego Marvel is not enough is it? You want to go on, and on. It is the same with everything we have or want. A great meal may fill us up but it doesn t fill us forever we still want breakfast the next day, and lunch and tea. Nothing else fills us completely except Jesus and that is because he is the source of all we need. Use a dictionary and look up what provide means. BONUS POINTS IF YOU CAN SHARE WHAT IS THE NAME FOR GOD THAT MEANS PROVIDER. UP: Make a list or draw some of the ways in which God has provided for you: 5

Q READ Matthew 6 verses 25 34. Children do not always worry about food to eat but they do worry! Think and write down what is it you worry about that you need to trust God about?

6 Q READ Matthew 6 verses Children do not always worry about food to eat but they do worry! Think and write down what is it you worry about that you need to trust God about? If you don t know ask Him. IN: As Jesus is the bread of life, one way in which he makes sure we have all we need is by giving us gifts that we can use which help our community to have all it needs. List 3 gifts that you can think of that we need in our community/church. Make sure one of these is a gift you can use. Then make a note of how God wants you to use it. NOT SURE?????? Then ask Him He will tell you! 6

7 Q GIFTS The gift God wants me to use is OUT: God sent Jesus into the world and in the same way He wants to send you! How can I be bread to others? How can I bring life to those around me? 7

8 . Write down what He tells you! Give God thanks for being your provider and providing you with every good thing! Q PRAY UP: Ask God to show you ALL that He has given you. IN: Pray for those you know who do not have all they need. OUT: Ask God what and how he would like you to give to someone around you who is in need. Write or draw what God has told you to do. 8

9 Now share this with an adult and ask them to pray with you while you do what God has said. Jesus is MY bread of life. He is my provider. He gives me every good thing. 9

10 I AM the Light of the world Tuesday 12th Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the Light of the world. If you follow me, you won't walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life." John 8:12[NIV] READ Matthew 5: What does Jesus say you should do with your light? (Write or draw the answer). What is the opposite of LIGHT?. 10

11 People say that there is darkness all around us and they are right. You are probably shining your light so brightly that you don t even notice. I want you to do a little experiment now. Go into a room where it is very dark, notice how dark it is. Now turn on the light. Can you see that the darkness can t stay where the light is? Can you see as well that there are still some dark places? Now ask mum or dad for a torch or a small light (they may have to help you with this). Make the same room dark again and then light up your torch or other small light. Notice the difference? Cover the torch with your hand see what happens? Remember all of this for later UP: Ask God to help you see His light shining in you and out through you. Now ask Him if there are any bits of your life that are in darkness or that block your shining light. Write or draw these here: 11

12 IN: Think about how much brighter the light was when you used the light rather than the torch! If you think of the torch as being you shining as one believer and the light as being a community of believers, think how much of a difference we can make to the darkness when we shine together. Think of someone you know who shines brightly all the time or ask God to show you someone you know who shines brightly all the time. Write their name here: Next time you see this person tell them that you see them this way it will help their light to shine. OUT: I am sure you know that your light is not there for you but for other people. 12

13 Q Q Ask God to tell you how you can be a spiritual Street Light? Thank God that The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. PRAY UP: Pray that with everything you say and do God s light shines brightly out of you. IN: Thank God for the person he shows you who always shines brightly. Ask Him how you can shine brighter. (Make a note here of what He says) 13

14 OUT: Ask God what He wants you to do to shine as a bright light in your school. (Make a note of it below) Tell an adult what God has told you to do. Ask them to pray with you about this and how you can do what He wants. I carry the light of the World! When I shine brightly the darkness disappears. 14

15 I AM the Gate for the Sheep Wednesday 13th.. so he explained it to them: I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep John 10:7 Read John 10: 6 10 In the olden days shepherds acted like gates, lying down at the front of their pens to keep the sheep in and wolves out. What does this mean for us when Jesus is our gate: 1) What did this mean for us when we came in through the gate? 2) What words describe how we, as sheep, can come and go? 3) What kind of pasture will we find? 15

16 UP: Listen to God and ask Him to show you what the rich and satisfying life in verse 10 is going to be like for you. What are the plans He has for your life? Draw or write what He shows or tells you. Is there something God wants you to do to follow his direction or are you on the right path? Q I must 16

17 Q Q IN: Think of some of the sheep you are on the path with. Write their names in the sheep Now draw a picture of someone God has given you to be your shepherd who is here on earth. 17

18 OUT: Who do you know that needs to know how to be saved? Draw a picture of them or write their name here. Thank God that He sent His son to save you and for the wonderful life He promises you. Thank Him for directing you on a good path. Thank Him for the shepherds you have here on earth and the sheep you are on a path with. Thank Him that the gate is open to EVERYONE. 18

19 Q PRAY Here we are using scripture to pray. Jesus I accept your commandments and obey them as I am one who loves you. And because I love you, our Father will love me, and you will love me and reveal yourself to me. (John 14:21) Thank you for the rich and satisfying life you have planned for me and all your sheep (John 10:10) Thank you for promising us that as we follow you, you will show us how to fish for people! (Matthew 4:19) Jesus show me specifically who you want me to fish for and how. Find an adult to talk to about what Jesus has shown you! Discuss this with them and ask them to pray with you and for you as you do what Jesus has told you. The Good Shepherd knows me and I (say your name) will make Him known. 19

20 I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD Thursday 14th "I am the Good Shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11 (NIV) "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me - just as the father knows me and I know the father - and I lay down my life for the sheep. John 10:14 &15 (NIV) READ JOHN 10: No one person can know everything about us. Even the people who have known us the longest, like our mums and dads, don t know everything about us. (That is probably a good thing too!!) But we have a Father in Heaven who knows absolutely EVERYTHING about us. AND even though he knows everything, absolutely every single thing about us.he still loves us. Not only does He still love us but He comes after us because He loves us. This shepherd knows the good and the bad and still He loves us and protects us. UP: Look at verse 14 and 15 again. What does this verse tell you about how well you can know Jesus? 20

21 Q Write this as a statement: Jesus knows me and I know Jesus just like Ask God to help you see how good He has been to you and make a list of some of the ways this has happened. IN: Can you think of a song which sings about laying your life down for other people? Q 21

That means there are people He wants us to reach for Him. What does He want you to do about it? Write or draw this here.

22 Q Who do you know that has done that for you laid their life down for you? Write their name down and write or draw what they do or have done for you. OUT: Ask God who He wants you to be the good shepherd to? He says in John 10:16 that there are sheep who must be brought into the fold. That means there are people He wants us to reach for Him. What does He want you to do about it? Write or draw this here. Thank Jesus that He laid down his life for you. (verse 18) Thank God that no-one took Jesus life (killed him) but that he gave it up and took it back. (18) Thank God for protecting us as we lay down our lives to follow Jesus. 22

23 Q PRAY UP: Think about how God knows everything about you. Is there anything that you wish he didn t know or that you hadn t done? This is a good time to repent of it. This means saying sorry for what you did and making a decision and a promise to God not to do the same thing again. Father I am truly sorry. Thank you for forgiving me. I will not again. Please help me with this. IN: Father please give me a servant attitude at home, in school and at church, happy to do things for other people, whatever they ask, without moaning or expecting a reward. OUT: Father give me a heart to love my neighbour. I know you have a word for me to give to someone who doesn t know you. Please help me to know what that word is, and to share it with them at the right time. Note here who it is and what the word is so that you know it when you have the chance to share it. 23

24 Show love to someone today who is not a family member. Make a note here of what you did! I know the voice of The Shepherd and I am ready to lay my life down for others! 24

25 I AM the Resurrection and the Life Friday 15 th Jesus said to her, I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in me will live, even though He dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? John 11: 25 & 26 READ John 11: 1 44 Because we are human, the way we see things can be limited by what we can actually see, feel and make sense of or understand. I mean could you ever imagine that your packed lunch could feed more than five thousand people? Seems unbelievable but think about the feeding of the five thousand that s just what did happen. You know our God has the power to do the supernatural. Even, as in this story you just read, to bring the dead to life. BUT do you live as if you know that because of Jesus in you, you have power to do miracles? Do you live like you have supernatural powers? You really should you know! Does your level of faith need to grow? UP: Ask God to help you see yourself with the power that you have through Him. Draw yourself with His power and ask God to help you see yourself this way and to live in His strength. 25

26 Q IN: Do we help one another by encouraging one another s faith? Think of someone you know who needs to be reminded of who they are in Christ. Now - tell them The person I am going to encourage is 26

27 Q I will remind him/ her that he/ she is OUT Ask God what he wants to see brought back to life in Ipswich. Draw or write what he shows you! Thank God that He is the resurrection and the life. Thank God for filling you with His supernatural power the same power that raised Lazarus from the dead! PRAY UP: Jesus called forth Lazarus from the tomb now you use your voice to call forth things which He has shown you - promises for your life, gifts He has given you or even the person He wants you to be. 27

28 Call them forth by speaking life into them. Ask an adult to help you if you need to. IN: Ask God to help us all, particularly the grown - ups, to choose to live in His power and to do miracles. OUT: As Jesus called Lazarus by name, call by name those whom you know who are not yet Christian - in your school, family, or neighbourhood come out of spiritual death into the life of Christ. I call from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. Remember He is with you. Think of His power in you. Now go and pray for one of the people who need to come into the kingdom. God will tell you who to pray for and what to pray. Don t question what He tells you to pray just do it. I prayed for We were at / in and God gave me these words to say 28

29 The resurrection power is at work in me and through me to bring life to others. I AM the Vine Saturday 16 th I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 READ John 15: 1 17 Jesus makes it very clear here that we cannot do anything on our own. It is no use us wanting to we simply HAVE to depend on the Vine to have life and produce fruit (that s the good things that God wants us to produce- what we were made to produce). Sometimes we get a bit out of line with what God tells us and instead of seeing Him as the most important thing in our lives we can see other things or even ourselves as more important than God. We are going to use this time to think about God and ask Him to help us see things in a new way: UP: Think about having the Father as our gardener. Now seeing Jesus as the strong, dependable vine ask Him to show you what this looks like and draw where you are in the Vine. 29

30 IN: Reading verse 12 ask God to show you what that means for you and what that means you have to do. Write or draw what He shows you OUT: Reading verse 16 and 17 what is the fruit He wants you to bear? Is He calling you to show love to someone? Who are they and where are they? What does He want you to do? Ask Him? 30

31 Write or draw what He tells you. Thank God for giving us Jesus to help us know the Father. Thank God that while we do the Father s will He will give us WHATEVER we ask! (How amazing is that!) PRAY UP: Ask God to help you to keep Him at the centre of everything and to help you depend completely on Him. IN: Pray that ALL the children in our Sunday school understand that He should be at the centre of their lives, know how much He loves them and show love for/ to one another. OUT: Pray that people who do not know Jesus come to know Him in Ipswich..and 31

32 Ask God to show you specific people that are fruit for you to harvest. Write their names below. God tells us to love one another. That can mean many things. Show someone the love of God today in some way. Write or draw what you did and who for. I WILL remain in the vine and I WILL bear fruit that will last. 32

33 Q I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life Sunday 17th Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 READ John 14: 1 11 In this reading Jesus tells His disciples that He is the way to the Father, the only way to the Father. He also tries to explain to them about how close Jesus and the Father are. UP: Philip seems to find it hard to understand that Jesus is in the Father do you find that hard to understand too? Later on in John 17 verse 21 we read that we are in Jesus and the Father in the same way that Jesus is in the Father and the Father is in him. How does that look to you ask Him to show you 33

34 Q IN: Think about how God wants us to be in community or groups just like Jesus was with His disciples. What might you need to do differently? OUT: If no one comes to the Father except through Jesus and we are in Jesus and He is in us what does that tell us about us and people who don t know Jesus? If you don t understand close your eyes and ask Him to show you. 34

35 Thank God for sending Jesus. Thank Jesus because through Him we can know the Father as He knows the Father. PRAY UP: Ask God to show you what it truly means to you for Jesus to be the Way, the Truth and the Life. Write or draw what He shows you. IN: Pray that we can build on another up pray with or for people in your Sunday school class. Ask God for words of encouragement to share with them. 35

36 Make a note of the words! 36

37 OUT: Pray to have a real love for those who do not know Jesus. Ask God to give you boldness to speak to someone about Jesus this week. When God gives you the boldness you are asking for and He will who are you going to share the good news about Jesus with? Ask Him to show you then do it! Write the name of the person below. Tell an adult what you intend to do so they can pray with you. My Jesus is the Way the Truth and The Life. NO ONE can go to the Father except through Him. Well done you have completed the first seven days. Make a note of questions you have from what you have learnt in the last 7 days or things that you found hard to understand. 37

38 I have spent time with God and in that time some of the things he has shown me are? Parents: - Your child has committed to fast... At the end of each day your child will bring you this book, please recognise what your child has achieved by initialling the box below. Day Mon Tue Wed Thur Fri Sat Initials 38

39 39

John 1:1 NIV 2011 John 1:14 NIV John 2:19 NIV 2011 John 3:16 NIV John 3:36 NIV 2011 John 4:10 NIV 2011

John 1:1 NIV 2011 John 1:14 NIV 2011 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory