21-Day Daniel Fast Guide

Transcription

1 21-Day Daniel Fast Guide But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Matthew 6:17-18 (NKJV)

2 Context The Church is not a social, business, or civic organization. The Church is a spiritual institution, governed by spiritual truths. Matthew 16:18-19 (AMPC) - 18 And I tell you, you are Peter [Greek, Petros a large piece of rock], and on this rock [Greek, petra a huge rock like Gibraltar] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades (the powers of the infernal region) shall not overpower it [or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it]. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven. Ephesians 6:10 (NKJV) - 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV) - 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (NKJV) - 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, Fasting is a very powerful personal and corporate spiritual weapon! 2 Chronicles 20:3-4 (NKJV) - 3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. What is Fasting? Biblical fasting is abstaining from food and sometimes drink, for spiritual purposes; a time of spiritual focus, intensity, and intercession. Fasting should always be accompanied with prayer, worship, and Bible study. If you are under a doctor's care or taking medication, consult with your physician before starting a fast. If you're curious, Pastors James and Sharon will do both a full fast (liquids only) and a Daniel fast (fruits, vegetables, nuts, and liquids) for 21 days. 2

3 We Need the Lord s Help to Fast! A successful fast cannot happen in our human strength and effort. It requires our total trust in the Lord and dependence upon the power of the Holy Spirit. Fasting must not be a work of the flesh, but an act of faith. Philippians 4:13 (AMPC) - 13 I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ s sufficiency]. With the help of the Lord, you CAN and WILL complete your fast successfully without giving in! The Purpose of Our Fast 1. We Fast for Deeper Intimacy with the Lord, Greater Anointing, and Greater Spiritual Capacity a. Matthew 9:15 (NKJV) - 15 And Jesus said to them, Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. b. Matthew 9:17 (NKJV) - 17 Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved. 2. We Fast for Spiritual Breakthrough, Release of Demonic Strongholds, and Reaping a Harvest of Souls a. Isaiah 58:6 (NKJV) - 6 Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? i. Fasting to loose ii. Fasting to undo iii. Fasting to let go iv. Fasting to break b. John 4:31-35 (NKJV) - 31 In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, Rabbi, eat. 32 But He said to them, I have food to eat of which you do not know. 33 Therefore the disciples said to one another, Has anyone brought Him anything to eat? 34 Jesus said to them, My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. 35 Do you not say, There are still four months and then comes the harvest? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! c. John 4:38 (NLT) - 38 I sent you to harvest where you didn t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest. 3

4 d. Mark 9:28-29 (NKJV) - 28 And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, Why could we not cast it out? 29 So He said to them, This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting. e. Fast when things are not moving as they should...when things seem to be stuck... f. There is a this kind that blocks and hinder salvations, finances, healing, legal victories, business matters, miracles, etc., that only come out by prayer and fasting Fasting is 1. Fasting is a spiritual commitment that honors God... Fasting is a spiritual act of subduing your flesh to not be body-ruled, but dependent on your spirit-man Fasting is an act of faith and obedience 3. Fasting is a statement of conviction and non-compromise Fasting is an expression of your appetite for more of God, and not food Additional Keys for a Successful Fast Limit or eliminate entertainment such as movies, television, social media, secular music, etc. Try to not be as busy. Fasting is intended to be a time of consecration unto the Lord and purifying your soul. Your regular involvement in these normal activities will undermine your fast, break your spiritual focus, and possibly give the enemy access to your spirit during your time of dedication to God. During your fast, replace your regular mealtimes with time spent in God s Word. Fasting represents your desire to eat God s Word as spiritual food instead of natural food. Studying the Scriptures will also keep your thoughts fixed on the Lord, not permitting them to think about food. o Job 23:12 (NKJV) - 12 I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. o Isaiah 26:3 (NLT) - 3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! o Ezekiel 3:1-3 (NKJV) - 1 Moreover He said to me, Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel. 2 So I opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat that scroll. 3 And He said to me, Son of man, feed your belly, and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you. So I ate, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness. o Matthew 4:4 (AMPC) - 4 But He replied, It has been written, Man shall not live and be upheld and sustained by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God. Married couples may consent to refrain from sexual intimacy during the fast to focus and intensify their prayers even more. This should only be done if both the husband and wife agree, based upon their mutual faith in God s Word. If your spouse is an 4

5 unbeliever, it is not recommended that you deprive him or her sexually. This time of abstinence represents a couple s mutual desire to give themselves only to the Lord for a period of time. o 1 Corinthians 7:5 (NLT) - 5 Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won t be able to tempt you because of your lack of selfcontrol. Food Guidelines for a Daniel Fast Daniel 1:12 (NKJV) - 12 Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. Daniel 10:2-3 (NKJV) - 2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. 3 I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. Permissible: Fruits, vegetables, nuts, and water (Foods from the earth) Non-permissible: Meats, pastries, chips, breads, fried foods, sodas, coffee, sugar, etc. Five Prayer & Fasting Objectives 1. To Live the Love Life Toward God and Others a. We desire to live out the love image of God and fulfill the royal law of love at home, at work, at church, and wherever we go. b. Galatians 5:6 (NKJV) - 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. c. James 2:8 (NKJV) - 8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you do well; i. Well Gr. kalos to recover your full health and well-being d. 1 Peter 4:8 (AMPC) - 8 Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others]. e. A healthy church functions like a healthy marriage... f. Love suffocates the enemy's involvement in us and between us...it neutralizes his power...love is the highest form of spiritual warfare! 2. To Unite in Spirit, Having One Heart, One Mind, and One Language a. We desire to walk in the unity of the Spirit and experience God's commanded blessing in our lives, our families, and our church... b. Matthew 18:19 (AMPC) - 19 Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever [anything and 5

6 everything] they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven. c. Philippians 2:2 (AMPC) - 2 Fill up and complete my joy by living in harmony and being of the same mind and one in purpose, having the same love, being in full accord and of one harmonious mind and intention. d. 1 Corinthians 1:10 (AMPC) - 10 But I urge and entreat you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in perfect harmony and full agreement in what you say, and that there be no dissensions or factions or divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in your common understanding and in your opinions and judgments. i. Perfect unity is possible! e. Psalms 133:3 (NKJV) - 3 It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing Life forevermore. f. Genesis 11:1 (NKJV) - 1 Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. g. Genesis 11:6 (NKJV) - 6 And the Lord said, Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. i. The blessing that results from unity is a fixed principle that worked in building the Tower of Babel h. Unity is not about agreeing on the policies of an organization...unity is about having the same right attitude about the organization, its vision, its mission, its value, and its values... i. Unity happens when we all believe the very best about each other and our church... j. Being sincerely wrong and unified is better than being divided over who's right and who's wrong...unified error with good intention always qualifies for the mercies of God, but division and strife never do To Access the Fullness of God s Eternal and Abundant Life, and all the Covenant Benefits of Being God's Children and the Seed of Abraham a. We desire to position ourselves to receive all that God is, and that God has for us, our families, and our church... b. John 17:3 (NKJV) - 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. c. Luke 15:31 (NKJV) - 31 And he said to him, Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. d. Galatians 3:29 (NKJV) - 29 And if you are Christ s, then you are Abraham s seed, and heirs according to the promise. e. God has a permanent facility and home for INSIGHT... f. The indestructible, incorruptible life of Christ in us 6

7 4. To Refrain from all Negative Thoughts, Confessions, and Conversations, and Speak Life Only a. We desire to boldly declare God's powerful and create words over our lives, our families, and our church, and not grieve the Holy Spirit... b. Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV) - 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. c. Ephesians 4:29 (AMPC) - 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. i. When we think, speak, or listen to negativity, we become agents of the devil... d. Ephesians 4:30 (NKJV) - 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. e. Ephesians 5:4 (NKJV) - 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. f. Colossians 3:17 (NKJV) - 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. i. We speak as ambassadors of Christ, only speaking words authorized, approved, and endorsed by Him g. James 3:10 (NKJV) - 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 5. To Walk Humbly with Our God a. We desire a God-blessed, Christ-centered, Spirit-filled church that will be used by God to bring transformation and revival to Skokie, Chicago, America, and the nations God has called us to... b. Micah 6:8 (NKJV) - 8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? c. Mark 1:15 (NKJV) - 15 and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel. d. James 4:6 (NKJV) - 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. What do we need from you? 1. Your participation as a responsible leader and person of influence a. You can do this! You won t die! Challenge yourself! Breakthrough limitations! b. We encourage our youth and children to participate as much as they can! They need to learn the discipline of fasting 2. Your prayers as a faithful intercessor and priest of God 3. Your agreement as a faith-filled believer and valued member of the INSIGHT Team 7

8 How to Break Your Fast When breaking your fast, it is very important to pace your eating and allow your body to GRADUALLY return to normal eating patterns. Don t overeat or stuff yourself attempting to catch-up on the meals you ve missed! Allow the discipline you ve achieved on your fast to be extended for a few days beyond the completion of your fast. Your body needs time to adjust after fasting. Not doing so can cause serious health complications. Observe the following best practices when breaking your fast: Easy to digest foods (soups, broth, raw vegetables, fruits, yogurts, etc.) toward harder to digest foods Small meals toward larger meals Frequent meals toward less frequent meals Less variety toward more variety Begin with frequent small meals, every 2 hours or so, progressing gradually toward larger meals with more time in between them until you reach a "normal" eating routine, such as 3 meals and 2 snacks in a day's time. 8