Kingdom Fellowship 324 East Broadway Louisville, Kentucky, (502) kingdomfellowshiplife.org

Transcription

1 Kingdom Fellowship 324 East Broadway Louisville, Kentucky, (502) kingdomfellowshiplife.org

2 2018 YEAR OF TRANSFORMATION ROAD MAP ENCOURAGING MESSAGE FROM OUR PASTOR... 3 WHAT IS FASTING... 4 WHY FAST... 4 WHAT FASTING IS NOT... 5 PURPOSE OF PRAYER AND FASTING... 5 GETTING STARTED: WHAT IS THE DANIEL FAST... 7 FOODS TO EAT DURING THE FAST... 8 FOODS TO AVOID DURING THE FAST... 9 FAST APPROVED RECIPES...10 #UNPLUGGED: FASTING SOCIAL MEDIA CORPORATE PRAYER FOCUS... PRAY FOR YOUR CHURCH...11 PRAY FOR YOUR PASTOR...12 PRAY FOR YOUR FAMILY DAY TITHE CHALLENGE P age

3 AN ENCOURAGING MESSAGE FROM OUR PASTOR Greetings! I d like to thank each of you for joining us for a time of corporate consecration, fasting, and prayer as we enter this New Year. It is imperative for us to come together as a family to offer up unto God our first fruits and to humble ourselves before Him. I am expecting God to move like never before amongst us, allowing us to experience restoration, renewal, and revival. Please join us on our prayer call each morning and glean from the devotional included in this packet. I am also excited about our 90-Day Tithe Challenge. As we sow bountifully, we can absolutely expect to reap bountifully. All of the information you will need is included in this 2018 Corporate Fasting Guide. Feel free to share with others. TOGETHER, let's prepare to experience the blessing of God in a tremendous way as we consecrate ourselves before Him with one accord. His richest blessings, Pastor Timothy E. Findley, Jr. GENERAL INFORMATION 21-DAY TRANSFORMATION CORPORATE FAST January 8 th at 12 am - January 28 th at 12:01 am TYPE OF FAST: Daniel Fast & Social Media PRAYER FOCUS: Families, Marriages, Children, 90 Day Tithing Challenge (Information Included in this Guide) If after reading this guide you have any questions about fasting, please your question to kingdomfellowship@gmail.com 3 P age

4 KINGDOM DECLARATION 2018 is my year for great things! By Faith I've been EQUIPPED to move forward, I will exceed the norm, I will advance mightily, I will live victoriously and increase bountifully. In Jesus Name, Amen! The year we are going into is the YEAR OF TRANSFORMATION! The number eight, which is the number of new beginnings, require progress that moves our lives to change in ways that align with God s predestined plan. Transformation involves being trained to initiate something new and this year s new opportunities in Christ will usher you into this process. The process will be challenging, but your faith and discipline will help you rise to the occasion. This transforming movement will require patience and grace. During this 21 day fast, invite the Holy Spirit in to transform your life and watch what happens. WHAT IS FASTING? Fasting is chastising your flesh by abstaining from natural pleasures for a selected period of time while focusing on a deeper relationship with God. The Bible records that great men of faith such as Moses, Elijah, Daniel, Paul and Jesus Himself fasted so that they might draw closer to God (Exodus 34:28; 1 Kings 19:8; Daniel 9:3; Daniel 10:2-3; 2 Corinthians 11:27; Matthew 4:2). Jesus knew that His true disciples, once He was no longer there in the flesh with them, at times would need to fast to regain and renew their zeal to serve Him (Mark 2:18-20). WHY FAST? There are various reasons why we fast but none of them involve attention towards the flesh. Fasting with prayer is a spiritual discipline that helps to: Direct our hunger toward God. Clear the mind and body of earthly attentions and intentions to draw us close to God. Gain spiritual clarity of thought while fasting, it allows us to hear God more clearly. Demonstrate a profound need for God s help and guidance through complete dependence upon him. To recapture authority over our decisions and choices to please God. 4 P age

5 To collectively intercede for the steady advancement of the Kingdom of God along with the improvement of ministry development and total engagement of the church. Fasting enables the Holy Spirit to reveal your true spiritual condition, resulting in brokenness, repentance and a transformed life. The Holy Spirit will imprint God s Word deeper on your heart, and His truth will become more meaningful to you. Fasting can transform your prayer life into a richer and more personal experience. Fasting can result in a dynamic personal revival and make you a channel of life change to others. To obtain our goals of transformation as a collective body of believers. WHAT FASTING IS NOT! A public display of spirituality - it is between you and God alone. In fact, Jesus specifically instructs up to let our fasting be done privately and in humility, else we forfeit the benefits. A way to earn God favor by getting him to do something for us Rather, the purpose is to produce transformation in us a clearer, more focused attention and dependence upon God. The purpose of punishing or harming the body particularly for the sole purpose of weight loss. Medically, fasting reviews our physical body, aids the ejection of toxins from the human system keeping it vitalized. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF PRAYER and FASTING? Fasting without praying is simply embarking on a dietary regime or more interestingly, a hunger strike; therefore it is pertinent that we also pray and be strategic in our approach (Mark 1:35) Fasting and prayer are Bible-based disciplines that are appropriate for all believers. Throughout scripture we learn how prayer and fasting helps to acknowledge: THE NEED TO CRUCIFY THE FLESH Read Hebrews 12:11. If you can get your flesh out of the way, you will have more clarity and a greater sensitivity in the spirit what to ask for and you will receive answers. When we are dominated by the flesh, we don t know what to pray for. Read Romans 8:6. One of the worst aspects of the flesh is pride. Pride will take you straight into the arms of Satan. Fasting destroys the pride, something that all of us struggle with. Fasting produces HUMILITY. 5 P age

6 THE NEED TO HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD Read Acts 13:2-3. Prayer and fasting give directions. It makes you sensitive to God s voice. It enables you to hear His voice above the other voices around you. What could be more important? See Acts 13:1-3, 14:21-23, Matthew 7:7, Matthew. 6:33. THE NEED FOR POWER Read Luke 4:14. It causes more power. The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is being called back to the basics, to apply itself and the power of God that enables us to stand against the enemy. See Luke 4:1-2; Matthew 14:14, 15:32, 20:34. THE NEED FOR MORE FAITH When the Word of God is not combined with faith, there can be no results. God s blessings are not automatic (Romans 1:17; Matthew 21:22). The story of Hannah offers a biblical example of faith mixed with prayer and fasting (I Samuel 1:5-20). THE NEED FOR PREPARATION Read Matthew 7: To prepare means the process of making something ready beforehand for use. Preparation means getting something ready for a project. We want to be blessed but we don t want to do what is necessary to get the blessing. So we serve God when we feel like it or when we need Him. When we are unprepared, our life is in danger. Let s get prepared. THE NEED FOR A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE Read Isaiah 58:8. It disciplines our spirit and physical body. While we bring the flesh into subjection to the Spirit of God and develop a deeper relationship with our heavenly Father, we get the side benefit of a more healthy body. When we fast, our system is cleansed from toxins. Uncontrolled eating gradually damages the body. Periods of fasting bring the body into balance and help regulate the systems so that things run more smoothly. Remember, if you are not eating and not praying, then you are just on a diet. It is so important to fast and pray. HOW TO PRAY AND FAST MORE EFFECTIVELY MAKE A PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO PRAYER AND FASTING. The first step to successful prayer and fasting is to make a COMMITMENT to do it. That commitment is finalized by making a proclamation, by making it known of your intentions. If you are not committed to fasting, any excuse will do to avoid it. Read James 1: P age

7 PREPARE YOURSELF FOR PRAYER AND FASTING. I Corinthians 9:27 You have to prepare mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually for a fast. Tell your body what to expect. Say this confession: I will bring my spirit, my body, my emotions and my mind all under subjection to the Word of God by giving myself to prayer and fasting. STOP MAKING EXCUSES. Read Luke 14:18: And they all with one consent began to make excuse. You may say, I m too busy! I m too old! I m too young! Read the example of an elderly woman in Luke 2: GETTING STARTED WHAT IS THE DANIEL FAST? The Daniel Fast is a biblically based partial fast. It is a method of fasting that men, women and young people all over the world are using as they enter into the spiritual discipline of prayer and fasting. During the Daniel fast we are to abstain from pleasant foods. Partake only of clear soup, fruit juice, cereals, and grains or give up one meal a day for prayer. There are two anchoring scriptures for the Daniel Fast. In Daniel 1 the Prophet ate only vegetables (that would have included fruits) and drank only water. Then in Daniel 10 we read that the Prophet ate no meat nor any precious breads or foods and he drank no wine for 21 days. So from these scriptures we obtained the guidelines for the corporate fast: Another important guideline is drawn from Jewish fasting principles, where no leaven is used during the fast. So that s why yeast, baking powder and the like are not permitted on the Daniel Fast. PLEASE NOTE: Although we are instructed to fast when directed by the Holy Spirit and to your disciplined prayer life (Isaiah 58:6, I Corinthians 9:26-27); PLEASE CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE BEGINNING AN EXTENDED FAST IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING HEALTH CHALLENGES OR TAKING MEDICATION. 7 P age

8 FOOD TO EAT DURING THE DANIEL FAST ALL FRUITS: These can be fresh, frozen, dried or canned. Fruits include, but are not limited to apples, apricots, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cantaloupe, cherries, cranberries, figs, grapefruit, grapes, guava, honeydew melon, kiwi, lemons, mangoes, nectarines, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, prunes, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, tangelos, tangerines, watermelon. ALL VEGETABLES: These can be fresh, frozen, dried or canned. Vegetables include, but are not limited to artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chili peppers, collard greens, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, ginger root, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, okra, onions, parsley, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, scallions, spinach, sprouts, squashes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, yams, zucchini, veggie burgers are an option if you are not allergic to soy. ALL WHOLE GRAINS: including, but not limited to whole wheat, brown rice, millet, quinoa, oats, barley, grits, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat tortillas, rice cakes, and popcorn. ALL NUTS AND SEEDS: including, but not limited to sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts, sesame. Also nut butters, including peanut butter. ALL LEGUMES: These can be either canned or dried. Legumes include, but are not limited to dried beans, pinto beans, split peas, lentils, black eyed peas, kidney beans, black beans, cannellini beans, white beans. ALL QUALITY OILS: including, but not limited to olive, canola, grape seed, peanut, and sesame. BEVERAGES: spring water, distilled water, 100% all-natural fruit juices, 100% all-natural vegetable juices. You may drink protein drinks and smoothies if they are sugar-free, dairyfree and chemical-free. OTHER: tofu, olives, vinegar, seasonings, salt, herbs and spices. Soy and rice milk are acceptable for cooking and with cereal. However, they should not be used as a beverage since the Daniel Fast is a water-only beverage fast with the exception of 100% fruit or vegetable juice, since that is merely pulp with water. 8 P age

9 FOOD TO AVOID DURING THE DANIEL FAST ALL MEAT AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS: including, but not limited to beef, lamb, pork, poultry, and fish. ALL DAIRY PRODUCTS: including, but not limited to milk, cheese, cream, butter, and eggs. ALL SWEETENERS: including sugar, raw sugar, honey, syrups, molasses, and cane juice. ALL LEAVENED BREAD: including Ezekiel Bread (it contains yeast and honey) and baked goods. ALL REFINED AND PROCESSED FOOD PRODUCTS: including, but not limited to artificial flavorings, food additives, chemicals, white rice, white flour and foods that contain artificial preservatives. ALL DEEP-FRIED FOODS: including, but not limited to potato chips, French fries, corn chips. ALL SOLID FATS: including shortening, margarine, lard, and foods high in fat. BEVERAGES: including, but not limited to coffee, tea, herbal teas, carbonated beverages, energy drinks, and alcohol. Please remember that the Daniel Fast is a water only beverage fast. The exception is 100% juice since it is merely pulp with water. REMEMBER READ LABELS! One of the great things about the Daniel Fast is that you are not limited to any specific amount of food, but rather to the kinds of foods you eat. The Daniel Fast is limited to fruits, vegetables, grains and water. Please READ THE LABEL when purchasing packaged or canned food. They should be sugar-free and chemical-free. 9 P age

10 RECIPES AND MEAL PREPARATIONS IDEAS The Year of Transformation Daniel Fast Recipe Book is available for print via the church s website: It s here you will find a host of Daniel Fast approved recipes to help you stay committed. Also consider the following links for additional Daniel Fast approved recipes: FASTING SOCIAL MEDIA #UNPLUGGED Social media has become an important part of our lives. Many of us do not know a life without the heavy presence of social media. This is a presence we have become intimate with and dependent upon. The social media era has many benefits; as people in different regions are able to stay connected, the exchange of ideas are transmitted instantly and effortlessly. At the same time, the way social media spreads messages among the masses; it also spreads our attention far too thin to maintain a healthy spiritual balance. There are times where we have allowed our time on social media to replace spiritual disciplines. Time with God through prayer and reading His word has been replaced with timeline updates and tweets. Unplugging from social media during the fast is essential to your spiritual journey and truly hearing from God Fasting Social Media also shows that we care what God Likes more than man. If there is anything getting in the way of you returning to God, Feasting on Him, Abiding in Him, then cut it off and cast it far away. Everyone, especially leaders at Kingdom Fellowship are encouraged to UNPLUG and commit to fasting from any social media platform during the 21 day corporate fast. 10 P age

11 PRAYER OF DEDICATION Heavenly Father, today I consecrate myself to you in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. I receive fresh oil from your presence to empower me to be effective in these days of fasting and prayer. I declare that I shall not be distracted by any device of the enemy but I shall come to a place of deliverance, breakthroughs and victory in every dimension of my life. I receive supernatural strength from the Holy Spirit to rise above the cravings of my carnal nature. I declare that in the midst of this fast I would receive power and divine directions from the presence of God that would positively affect my destiny. This is my season of breakthroughs and Double Portion anointing. I shall not be denied of any blessing or miracle that you have ordained for me. In Jesus mighty name, Amen CORPORATE PRAYER FOCUS PRAY FOR YOUR CHURCH 1. Pray that the church would be built after God s pattern. Exodus 25:8-9, Mathew 16: 17-19, Ephesians 2:18-22, 2. Pray that the church would grow in all dimensions. Stronger through Worship Deeper through Discipleship Larger through Evangelism Broader through Ministry Warmer through Fellowship Ephesians 4: 7-16, Acts 2:41-47, Acts 4: Destroy every satanic attack and calculation designed to hinder the growth, progress, advancement and establishment of the church. Acts 12:1-10, 2 Corinthians 2:11 4. Destroy and arrest the operations of the spirits of strife, contentions, envy, jealousy, backbiting, criticism, undermining, sabotage and every form of carnality that hinders the work of God. Galatians 5:13-26, James 3: P age

12 5. Release a spirit of unity and team work, in the lives of the people of God. Nehemiah 4:15-21, Ephesians 4:16 6. Pray that all members of church would discover their divine call and ministries and would be supernaturally set in the church according to the counsel of God and they would be fruitful in their ministries. Romans 12:3-8, 1Corinthians 12: Pray and release every human, financial and material resource that heaven has ordained for the advancement of the Church. Psalm 118: Pray that God would supernaturally empower His church financially so that the church can meet all its financial obligations without struggle. 9. Pray that every department of the church would be functional, efficient and effective and that all the needs of the people of God would be met. 10. Pray for revival and the activation of every spiritual gift in the lives of the people of God. Pray that this revival would cause a massive in gathering of souls into the kingdom of God. 2 Timothy 1:6 11. Pray that God would bless His church tremendously in all dimensions and that other churches would be established as a result of it. PRAY FOR YOUR P-A-S-T-O-R Here's another way to pray for your pastor - especially if you have trouble remembering what to pray about. Use the letters of the word, P-A-S-T-O-R to remind you of specific prayer requests. For example: P - Purity. Pray that your pastor will remain pure in the face of constant pressure in an immoral culture. A - Adversity. Pray for your pastor that he will be able to confront adversity with faith and endurance. S - Strength. Most pastors work long hours and at least six days a week. Pray that he will have the strength to continue his ministry. T - Teaching. Pray for your pastor that his teaching and preaching will be effective, powerful, and clear. O - Organization. Your pastor has more to do than any one person can handle. Pray for your pastor that he will be able to prioritize correctly. R - Rest. Your pastor needs rest. Pray that your pastor will sleep well each night and that he will take enough time away from ministry so that he does not get worn out. 12 P age

13 PRAY FOR YOUR FAMILY Heavenly Father, please shine Your light upon my family. Give us strength to overcome all of the difficulties that we are dealing with now and protect us against any and all problems we may encounter in the future. O Lord, please bring us together as we are meant to be. May the love that binds us only grow stronger as we fulfill the destiny you have laid out for us. Grant my family forgiveness for any sins we have committed. May we also forgive one another Lord, as it is sometimes difficult to do. Draw us ever closer to You that You may be glorified in us. Bless us Lord, In Jesus Name I pray. In Jesus mighty name, Amen Prayer Points for Spouses 1. That they might learn to love and respect each other as commanded in Scripture; that the fruit of the Spirit will be exhibited more in their lives. 2. That they might become holy in conduct, people of prayer, mature in the Lord, and growing in the knowledge of God. That they might daily seek God with all their heart, walking in the Spirit, moment by moment, growing in their dependence on Him. 3. That they might learn to take every thought captive, to not be conformed to the world s thinking and to think scripturally; that they would learn to not depend on their circumstances for happiness but on God alone. 4. That they might have new strength in the midst of their busy schedule and that the Lord might infuse them with strength; that their self-image might be a reflection of the Lord s thoughts toward them. 5. That the Lord might give them wisdom to lead their family physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. That they might stand firm against the schemes of the devil and resist Satan in all circumstances; that the Lord might protect them. Prayer Points for Children 1. That they will know Christ as Savior early in life; that they will have a hatred for sin. 2. That they will be protected from the evil one in each area of their lives: spiritual, emotional, and physical. 3. That they will respect those in authority over them. 13 P age

14 4. That they will desire the right kinds of friends and be protected from the wrong friends. 5. That they will be kept from the wrong mate and saved for the right one. 6. That they learn to totally submit to God and actively resist Satan in all circumstances. 7. That they will be single-hearted, willing to be sold out to Jesus Christ. Countless people experience God s blessings when they tithe, but often the first step is the hardest one to take. That is why we have begun the 90 Day Tithe Challenge. We think it is an exciting adventure to trust God and we have found that He proves Himself faithful again and again. This does not mean you will only tithe for the 90 days. This is a way to begin tithing consistently as God has already commanded. Over the next 90 days, put God first in your finances and watch how He will bless you in more ways than you could imagine. If you are not tithing already, a great way to start is with the 90 Day Tithe Challenge. Essentially, it s a contract based on the promises of God in Malachi 3: Test me in this and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be enough room to store. - Malachi 3:10 Are you ready to accept the challenge? Follow these steps: STEP 1 Commit to tithing 10% of your income for 90 days. STEP 2 Begin the practice of tithing. Return 10% of your income to God through giving during offering; by giving online ( or through cashapp using cashtag - $kingdomfellowship STEP 3 Record what God has done in your life for 90 days and share your story with us by sending your to kingdomfellowship@gmail.com. Please remember, this tithe challenge is the start to consistent, lifelong tithing as God has instructed us in His Word. 14 P age