DEVOTIONAL. harvest mission community church

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Cory Gaines
5 years ago
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1 DEVOTIONAL harvest mission community church

2 OUR PURPOSE As we start this new year, we want to unite all of the HMCC sites around the world as one church and seek God together. Over the years, we have discovered that it is crucial that we start every year on a spiritually strong note. Therefore, the global pastors have decided to bring all the churches together for a corporate fast.! The spiritual disciplines of fasting and prayer have always been a key aspect of our core spirituality at HMCC. We believe that through a concentrated and unified effort in seeking God, we will be able to experience great things throughout this coming year. There is something powerful about coming together. This fast will not only benefit us as a church community, but it will also be advantageous to your personal walk with God.! This devotional is designed to help you seek God and unite our churches as we pray. For each day, one of our pastors has written a devotional and shared prayer requests on behalf of each church site. As you read and pray through this devotional, you will be connected to HMCC members throughout the world. We are excited to see all that God is going to do in 2014!! HMCC Pastoral Staff

3 OUR FAST THE ONE DESIRE FAST WILL BEGIN AT SUNDOWN ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 19 TH AND END AT SUNDOWN ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 26 TH ALL TOGETHER WE WILL FAST FROM ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA In addition, please choose from one of the following tracks: TRACK 1: FAST FROM ALL FOOD FOR 12 HOURS TRACK 2: LIQUID FAST

4 FASTING RESOURCES WHY DO WE FAST? 1. The Bible instructs us to fast, and we have many examples of godly men who fasted, including Moses, David, Elijah, Paul, and Jesus.! 2. Fasting is a way to humble ourselves before God (Psalm 35:13).! 3. By denying our physical sustenance, the Holy Spirit reveals our true spiritual condition, resulting in brokenness and repentance.! 4. Fasting leads us deeper into a life of prayer as we learn to depend on God through our weakness.! HOW DO WE PREPARE? 1. Reflection: As you prepare to fast, it is appropriate to spend time in reflection in order to focus on areas of your life that need the Lord's transforming work.! 2. Repentance: Fasting should draw us closer to God, so we need to repent of our sins in order to approach Him with a pure heart.! 3. Requests: Identify specific prayer requests that you want to focus on as you fast - and believe by faith that you will see answers to prayer!!

In God s sovereignty, He has ordained our prayers to fulfill His good purposes in the world.

At the proper time, God will fulfill His purposes in the world according to the prayers of His people.

5 DAY ONE READ: REVELATION 8:1-4!There is no greater incentive to fast and pray than the knowledge that God hears our prayers and uses them to accomplish His will. In God s sovereignty, He has ordained our prayers to fulfill His good purposes in the world. In Revelation 8, we see that the prayers of the saints are like incense before the altar of God. At the proper time, God will fulfill His purposes in the world according to the prayers of His people. As we start off 2014, let s pray with God s global purposes in mind. Let s ask God how our life stories fit into His grand salvation story.!!" Planting churches (Hong Kong & future locations)!!" Leveraging college students & adults (discipleship, missions projects)!!" Addressing global issues (Liberty Mission & sex slavery)!!" Networking churches (!gnite Conference, HMI Institute)!

DAY TWO ANN ARBOR READ: ACTS 13:1-3!Since HMCC began in Ann Arbor in 1996, we have pursued the mission of transforming lives and transforming the world.

6 DAY TWO ANN ARBOR READ: ACTS 13:1-3!Since HMCC began in Ann Arbor in 1996, we have pursued the mission of transforming lives and transforming the world. The church in Antioch provides a model for us of what this can look like. There were members of diverse backgrounds and giftings, and as they worshiped and fasted together, the Holy Spirit spoke to them to send out missionary church planters who would bring the gospel to unreached places. As we fast together, let's pray for God to continue the process of raising up and sending out kingdom workers!!!" Multiplication of kingdom workers who will serve locally or be sent out!!" Utilizing gifts for ministry!!" Developing mature faith and discipleship

DAY THREE CHICAGO READ: MARK 1:35-39!It s impossible to reflect insightfully about 2013 and think fresh thoughts about 2014 without spending time alone with God in prayer.

7 DAY THREE CHICAGO READ: MARK 1:35-39!It s impossible to reflect insightfully about 2013 and think fresh thoughts about 2014 without spending time alone with God in prayer. Jesus rose early and found a solitary place to pray at the launch of his public ministry. He made extra effort to wake up early and find a place where he would not be interrupted because he needed to pray. Do we sense our need for prayer like this? Alone with God, He was renewed in His purpose to preach the Gospel. God wants to do the same for us as we pray.! " Renewed vision to reach Northwestern, UIC & the city!!" Spiritual growth & maturity of the leaders!!" Unity among churches throughout the city to combat violence, sex slavery & poverty!

8 DAY FOUR AUSTIN READ: MATTHEW 6:25-33!When we fast, we are reminded that there is more to life than just the daily concerns and pursuits of this world. Jesus teaches his listeners in Matthew 6:25-33 that our primary focus has to be the pursuit of God s kingdom. But in the hustle and bustle of life, it easy to forget that we are called to live everyday in the reality God s kingdom. As we fast, we need to be reminded that rather than seeking after what we shall eat or what we shall wear, we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.! " A hunger for God and His presence!!" Love for pre-christians in our city and on our campus!!" Boldness in sharing Christ to those around us

9 DAY FIVE JAKARTA READ: PSALM 85!The Lord's love and faithfulness remains steadfast throughout history for all who trust in Jesus Christ. This psalm is full of bold requests for God to restore his people. We echo this prayer today: Revive our church so that we would rejoice, love, and serve you in a manner worthy of who you are. Revive our city so that the lost would be found by you and you would be made famous to the city's reaches. We can start at the cross, the only place that God's "righteousness" and "peace can kiss each other. God's wrath was satisfied through Jesus' sacrifice and through his blood we are reconciled with God and our fellow man.! " Spiritual breakthroughs in Jakarta in the CHARGED spheres!!" Radical discipleship in all life stage ministries in the church!!" Faithfulness and fruitfulness in our calling as a church

DAY SIX SINGAPORE READ: PSALM 25:4-5, 21!The psalmist knows that he must allow nothing sinful if he is indeed to meet the Holy One, and receive His full blessing.

10 DAY SIX SINGAPORE READ: PSALM 25:4-5, 21!The psalmist knows that he must allow nothing sinful if he is indeed to meet the Holy One, and receive His full blessing. A great desire to know God's will not suffice, but it must also be from a heart that is wholly given up to His will. If in our attempt to wait on God, we begin to discover how much integrity is needed, that alone is truly a blessing. A soul cannot seek close fellowship with God, or attain the abiding consciousness of waiting on Him, without a very honest and entire surrender to all of His will. In 2014, you can wait on God by surrendering your heart and your will to Him. Only then will you begin to see how much He can use your life for His greater glory.! " Members to have a heart of surrender & commit to live for God s glory!!" Greater influence on National University of Singapore (NUS) campus & the city!!" Guidance and spiritual protection for the leaders

11 DAY SEVEN HONG KONG READ: MATTHEW 8:18-27 Andrew Murray in his book, Absolute Surrender, writes, Faith always means helplessness. In many cases it means: I can do it with a great deal of trouble, but another can do it better. But in most cases it is utter helplessness; another must do it for me. And that is the secret of the spiritual life. Too often, in our journey with Christ, we find ourselves becoming selfsufficient and self-centered. This is why we struggle with living a life of faith. We have forgotten that when Christ called us to follow Him, He demanded everything. It s because life is about God and His glory. In this new year, remember when we find ourselves feeling helpless and afraid, it is a good opportunity for us to bring glory to God by stepping out in faith.!!" Preparation in forming and training the HMCC of Hong Kong launch team!!" Provisions for necessary connections & resources to launch the church in 2015!!" Penetration into the campus & city with the Gospel in order to impact China

21 DAYS OF PRAYER A PERSONAL PRAYER GUIDE

21 DAYS OF PRAYER A PERSONAL PRAYER GUIDE 21 DAYS OF PRAYER A GUIDE WE HAVE A CONVICTION AT CROSSPOINT THAT WITH GOD, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. In light of this, we desire to practice consistent faith filled prayer, knowing and expecting that he