Invitation. The. Seeking a Greater Experience of the Holy Spirit in our Lives and for our Church. Luke 11:11-13

Transcription

1 To Raise Up Generations of Families that are Built to last. The Invitation Seeking a Greater Experience of the Holy Spirit in our Lives and for our Church. Luke 11:11-13 GRACE CHURCH PRAYER & FASTING PLAN Grace Church Netcong & Rockaway Sunday Mornings 8:15, 9:45, 10:00, & 11:15a.m wwww. grace4families. com

2 Bible Passage Guide Luke 11:11-13 You fathers if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him. Food for Thought Every major spiritual awakening in the Bible is connected to an intense time of prayer. - J.D GREEAR The Summit Church

3 Purpose of the Prayer & Fasting Guide For five days in October 2011, approximately 500 congregants at Grace Church joined together for a week of prayer and fasting. Our hearts cry was that God would meet with us in power and expand our territory, just like Jabez prayed in the Old Testament book of 1 Chronicles 4:9-10. Within the first two days of prayer, we began receiving testimonies of the supernatural work God was already doing in people s lives. By the end of the week, we received further confirmation that God had planted a powerful seed in the hearts of many of our congregants. Having sought the Lord, our people discovered a new passion for prayer and delight Him. On the week of November 12-16, we will once again gather as a church to seek the Lord for a greater experience of His Holy Spirit in our lives and our church. In Luke 11:11-13, Jesus says the Father is incredibly eager to give good gifts to His children, especially the gift of the Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul builds on that case multiple times in the epistles, (Ephesians 5:18, Galatians 5:25) when he calls every believer to walk in, and be continually filled with the Holy Spirit. When we seek the Lord through prayer and fasting, and we open our hearts to be filled with the Holy Spirit, the potential of what He can do is, LIMITLESS! And therein lies our aim. This devotional booklet will serve as a prayer guide for the five days, and will refresh your understanding of God s mission and how, we as a church can enter it. Don t rush through each day s readings. Listen for the Holy Spirit as He speaks to you through the Scriptures. Keep your heart open to what He s saying. Confess your struggles. Celebrate your salvation. Praise God for His grace. Intercede on behalf of the rest of your church family. As you do, God will do in and through you immeasurably more than all you could ever think to ask or even dare to imagine, according to His power that is at work within you. It will be to His glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. page one

4 How You Can Participate in the Churchwide Prayer & Fast We are aware that this is the first time some of you have heard about the Christian discipline of fasting. We want this to be a positive, life changing experience. We have therefore proposed several different levels at which you can participate with the rest of the congregation. beginner level: Prayer is simply communication with God, and your requests are always made to God in Jesus name. You may already have a regular time of prayer at least once a week where you petition God for your needs, and on occasion, the needs of others, but you ve never fasted. You find yourself eager to learn what it truly means to commune with God on a level deeper than the one you re currently experiencing. FASTING FOR BEGINNERS: Abstain from any form of media, including social media for a set period of time each day. For example, you can choose not to view any media from 6:00p.m-12:00 midnight, and spend that time praying at the top of each hour. Or you can skip one meal each day, and spend that mealtime praying. intermediate level: You may have enjoyed in the past some of the benefits of prayer and fasting, perhaps you spend a total of forty-five minutes to one hour during the week in prayer intercessions (praying for your needs and the needs of others). You have fasted for at least one day in the past where you abstained from a meal or a hobby to seek God through prayer. You ve read books on prayer or have been part of a training course on prayer, and are looking for opportunities to put it to good use. FASTING FOR INTERMEDIATE LEVEL: You can do the suggestions above or do what s known as the Daniel fast. The Daniel Fast eating plan is like a vegan diet with more restrictions. The only beverage is water and the primary foods are fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes. There are no sweeteners on the fast and no processed foods or chemicals. For more information about the Daniel fast, visit this website ( During this fast, set aside four times during the day to pray: 9:00a.m, 12:00noon, 3:00p.m, and 6:00p.m. If you are an early riser, add a 6:00a.m prayer time. advanced level: Perhaps all of the above is true of you. In addition, you pray daily for15-30 minutes. You have fasted for three days or more in the past and have experienced God s blessings through it. You have a regular habit of taking prayer requests from people in need and praying over their needs. page two

5 How you can participate...(continued) FASTING FOR ADVANCED LEVEL: You can do either, or all of the above, or you can do an absolute fast. While we don t recommend you go five days without any food or water, you can consider skipping breakfast and lunch each day, and end the day with a light evening meal. During this fast, you should plan to be in prayer at the top of every hour, or every other hour. Warning: Consult your physician before beginning a fast, especially if you have a preexisting medical condition, or are an expectant or nursing mother. While fasting is a spiritually fulfilling exercise, God would not command a physical exercise that would harm His people physically or emotionally. Remember, none of these suggestions are hard and fast rules. They are guidelines. The scriptures give plenty of liberty in how one should engage in the fast. The goal is not simply to abstain, but to prayerfully seek God s presence and power in your life. page three

6 What resources are available during the week of Prayer & Fasting? online video - pastoral prayer: Each day at 9:00a.m. during our five-day fast, there will be a video on our website that features one of our pastors or ministry directors praying the theme of the day over the congregation. This is an additional resource to help you launch each day of prayer as you prepare to go about the day s work. It will be available on ( daily prayer guide - download online: On our website, you will also be able to download this prayer guide for each day, along with several resources on fasting and prayer. daily prayer meeting at 7:00p.m: Each day during the five day fast, we will host a prayer meeting at the church in the youth room at 7:00p.m. You don t need to sign up, just show up and join us in the youth room as one of our pastors leads and directs the group in a time of prayer. big worship night - friday celebration service On the evening of the last day, (Friday) of our of prayer and fast, we will cap off our week of seeking God s power and presence with a night of worship and praise. This is open to the whole congregation regardless of participation in actual fast. Come and praise HIM with us! book recommendations: Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney A Hunger for God by John Piper Fasting by Derek Prince The Prayer of Jabez by Bruce Wilkinson The Daniel Fast by Susan Gregory Lord, Teach Me to Pray by John MacArthur Crazy Love by Francis Chan Prayer: Does it Make a Difference? by Phillip Yancey The Complete Works of E.M Bounds on Prayer by Edward M. Bound Intercessory Prayer by Dutch Sheets Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough: A Guide to Nine Biblical Fasts by Elmer Towns Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire By Jim Cymbala Sun Stand Still By Steven Furtick page four

7 Bible Passage Guide Luke 11:11-13 You fathers if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him. Food for Thought Every major spiritual awakening in the Bible is connected to an intense time of prayer. - J.D GREEAR The Summit Church page five

8 Prayer & Fasting Guide for Monday Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30) personal prayer: Confess your known sins to God and admit where you have either grieved, stifled, or quenched His Holy Spirit. Receive His forgiveness and cleansing of all your unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Thank Him for restoring you into harmony with Him. Ask Him to strengthen you to turn from your sin, to grant you the gift of a deep and true repentance, as well as His deliverance and healing from strongholds and wounds that lead you to repeat sins like this. church-wide prayer: Ask God to reveal to us areas of ministry where we ve neglected Him or have been complacent in. Ask God s forgiveness for areas where we ve demonstrated a lack of faith or passion. scripture verses to read today: 1 John 1:9; Matthew 6:14-15; Ephesians 1:15-23; Romans 8:1, 37-39; Ephesians 5:15-18 page six

9 Notes: Reflections & Intercessions for Monday: Write out one verse from the suggested bible passages that was especially meaningful to you today: Write out in your own words what you are asking God to do in and through your life today: Write out in your own words what you are asking God to do in and through Grace Church today: page seven

10 Prayer & Fasting Guide for Tuesday I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:16-19) personal prayer: Ask God to give you a greater experience of His love and empowerment, so that you may be filled with the measure of all the fullness of God. Ask God to help you shut out all distractions so that you re continually tuned in to the Holy Spirit s move and direction in your life. Ask God to strengthen you with power through the Holy Spirit so that the world experiences the power of God in and through your life. church-wide prayer: Ask God for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on our church without measure. Ask God to anoint all our ministry leaders so that our ministries operate in the power of God. Pray that God would move us to be a church whose life and ministries is marked by persistent prayer. scripture verses to read today: Ephesians 3:14-19; Psalm 27:4; Matthew 22:34-40; Psalm 34:8-10; Matthew 11:28 page eight

11 Notes: Reflections & Intercessions for Tuesday: Write out one verse from the suggested bible passages that was especially meaningful to you today: Write out in your own words what you are asking God to do in and through your life today: Write out in your own words what you are asking God to do in and through Grace Church today: page nine

12 Prayer & Fasting Guide for Wednesday May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. May the favor[a] of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us - yes, establish the work of our hands. (Psalm 90:16-17) personal prayer: Ask God to bring physical and emotional healing and restoration into every part of your life that needs it. Ask your Heavenly Father to establish and prosper all you set your hands to do. Ask God to grant you a Holy-Spirit shrewdness so you may be wise in the, how of managing all you ve been entrusted with. church-wide prayer: Pray that God s favor would rest upon Grace church and that we would see dramatic changes in the institution of the family throughout Warren, Sussex, and Morris counties. Pray that through the ministries of Grace Church, God would: Rescue and restore to wholeness broken families in our communities. Draw thousands of people who are far from Him into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Heal broken marriages and establish them in Christ. Help parents raise their children with God-given wisdom. Grant that children will respect their parents. Free family members from addictions. Help families manage their finances wisely so that they can experience His generous provision. That wives would respect their husbands and husbands love their wives as Christ loves His church scripture verses to read today: Genesis 39:21-23; 1 Chronicles 29:10-12; Hebrews 4:16; James 1:5; Jeremiah 29:11 page ten

13 Notes: Reflections & Intercessions for Wednesday: Write out one verse from the suggested bible passages that was especially meaningful to you today: Write out in your own words what you are asking God to do in and through your life today: Write out in your own words what you are asking God to do in and through Grace Church today: page eleven

14 Prayer & Fasting Guide for Thursday pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.. (2 Thessalonians 3:1) personal prayer: Pray that God s hand of blessing in your life would be so dramatic that people who don t know Jesus Christ will be drawn to Him through you. Pray that God would guide you into conversations that result in dozens and hundreds of people putting their faith in Jesus Christ. Pray that God would be so powerfully active in your life that you would be able to pray healing prayers over people in your life who are in pain (physically, emotionally, and spiritually). church-wide prayer: Pray that God s Spirit would brood over the people in this area, unblind them so that eternal life will be birth in them. Pray for opportunity and open doors for Grace church to engage the community with the gospel. Pray that God would grant us boldness & creativity in sharing the gospel, and that it would be met with receptive hearts. scripture verses to read today: Proverbs 3:9-10; 2 Thessalonians 3:1; Acts 4:29-30; Jeremiah 33:3; Matthew 7:7; page twelve

15 Notes: Reflections & Intercessions for Thursday: Write out one verse from the suggested bible passages that was especially meaningful to you today: Write out in your own words what you are asking God to do in and through your life today: Write out in your own words what you are asking God to do in and through Grace Church today: page thirteen

16 Prayer & Fasting Guide for Friday A Day to Pray for Rockaway campus. church-wide prayer: Saved Souls. Pray that there is an out pouring of the Holy Spirit in and around the Rockaway Area. Pray that people's hearts are quickened and awakened to faith in Christ. Boldness to share Gospel. Pray that each of us live each day with a sense of urgency in going OUT with the good news of salvation in Christ. Pray that our church is a training ground for every day disciple makers. Passion for the Community. Pray that the desire to serve those that live in the Rockaway area not only stays strong but also increases exponentially over the next few months. Pray for ministry to children and youth. As we reach the next generation may our work be presented in a way that connects with their lives in 21st Century America. May The Lord give us a vision for the blessings to come in and through the next generation. Leadership Team. Pray for the leaders at Rockaway; the Campus Pastor and his family, the elders that oversee the ministry, and those that lead the different ministry teams. May They be led by God and protected by His Spirit. Ministry Teams. Pray for our volunteers who faithfully serve each week; setting up, leading worship, teaching, and making people feel welcome. Pray for their encouragement, their stamina, and that The Lord gives them a vision for eternal rewards. Campus Site. Give praise and thanksgiving for the ability to use the Dennis O Brien Elementary School in Rockaway Township. Pray that the Holy Spirit will show us our next steps when it comes to location for the campus. page fourteen

17 Notes: Reflections & Intercessions for Friday: Write out one verse from the suggested bible passages that was especially meaningful to you today: Write out in your own words what you are asking God to do in and through your life today: Write out in your own words what you are asking God to do in and through Grace Church today: page fifteen

18 How do I Get My Children involved in Prayer & Fasting? Getting your younger children to abstain from food or media for a set time is a choice we leave up to each parent. Please do not compel them to fast if they have any pre-existing medical condition, or have absolutely no idea or desire to engage in the fast with you. We do however recommend that you involve them in the prayer part of your fast.even if they aren t present during the actual fast, find time each day during the week to sit, kneel, or stand, and pray out loud together with them. It can be a powerful life-changing experience for them to hear you intercede on their behalf before God daily. Food for Thought God is free in His dispensation of mercy to do as He pleases. But this I do know: that before God enables His people to bring in a harvest, He pours out a spirit of prayer upon them. The surest sign that God is about to send power upon us is a great movement of prayer in our midst - John Piper (a message from 1981 titled: Prayer at Harvest Time: Now! ) page sixteen

19 Practical Guidelines for Fasting what is fasting: Theological answer: Fasting is a way to take a break from lesser things that have hijacked our hearts; things like TV, the internet, consuming relationships, books, fashion, shopping, sports, and the most basic - food. When we fast, we deny our physical appetites in hopes that spiritual ones might be awakened. We release our hearts from being fixated on the passing pleasures of this life and we rivet our hearts on the eternal God who alone can satisfy our souls. Simple answer: It s an intentional abstention from food and any other appetite for a specific period, for the purpose of prayer. It s a way of telling God through prayer that you are desperate to see Him answer you ASAP! It s a cry of your physical body and soul screaming, I really mean it Lord! I need you more than I need breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Ultimately, fasting is prayer! albeit, an intensely, focused time of prayer. getting your body ready for fasting: Certain medical conditions don t allow for some to engage in a food fast. If you have health concerns about your health, seek the advice of a physician before fasting from food. During a fast, it is important to drink plenty of fluids. Drink plenty of water (at least 8 eight- ounce glasses of water). You might also drink juices, especially if you suffer from headaches or nausea. Fruit juices are good in the morning because they are energizers, and vegetable juices are good at night because they are replenishers. Start slowly. Don t attempt a lengthy or extended fast your first time around. You can start by fasting from one meal a day. Then try skipping two meals a day. An example of a full 24-hour fast would be to eat your last meal on a Tuesday night and then miss breakfast and lunch the next day, breaking the fast at dinner on Wednesday. If you do choose to do an extended fast of any significant length, seek the advice of your physician. Before fasting, you may be tempted to eat a large meal to stock up. This can have some negative effects on your body. It is best to wean yourself from food. Make your last meal before the fast a light meal consisting of fruits and vegetables. Stay away from greasy or oily foods. When breaking your fast, do so slowly. If engaging in an extended fast, ease your body back into a normal pattern by eating a light diet consisting mostly of fruits and vegetables. After a few days, you can begin to eat meats again. page seventeen

20 Practical Guidelines for Fasting...(continued) getting your mind and spirit ready: Don t make your fast simply about food. Before you begin your fast, pray that it will be a fruitful time of seeking the Lord. Know in advance what it is you want to pray for. If you just avoid food without prayer, then you re simply on a diet. It might even come in handy if you write down the prayer needs for which you ll be fasting for. In this case, we have provided on each day s prayer guide, some very practical guidelines on how you should be praying for the church and for yourselves. During the fast, begin your day by drawing close to Him through prayer and time in the Scriptures. Turn your regularly scheduled meal times into times of private devotion before God. Some suggestions for reading are the Psalms and the Gospels. We ve helped out the process by including some bible passages you can meditate on each day. Write down your thoughts and your struggles during the fast in a journal. Be honest about your frustrations and your joys. It might be helpful for you to fast from TV, the Internet, sports, recreation, reading, shopping, etc; Anything in your life that seems to be louder than God is a good thing to take a break from temporarily. Don t give up. Fasting is a discipline that takes practice. You might find it frustrating and seemingly unproductive; but as you practice this discipline, you will grow in your ability to glean great benefits from it. As you persevere in fasting, you will learn to feast on God. If you are fasting for longer than 6 hours, it is a good habit to pray at the top of every hour. If you re in a location that prevents you from leaving your desk that often, then pray at the top of every other hour. You may find it helpful to set your alarm to go off every hour so you remember to pray. The main thing to remember is to pray as often as you can within the time frame you are fasting. page eighteen

21 Bible Passages About Fasting Spiritual fasting is not just about giving up food or other items, but it is about feeding the spirit through our obedience to God. Here are some scripture versus that can inspire you or help you understand the act of fasting and how it can help you grow closer to God as you pray and focus: Exodus 34:28 - Moses remained there on the mountain with the Lord forty days and forty nights. In all that time he ate no bread and drank no water. And the Lord wrote the terms of the covenant the Ten Commandments on the stone tablets. Deuteronomy 9:18 - Then, as before, I threw myself down before the Lord for forty days and nights. I ate no bread and drank no water because of the great sin you had committed by doing what the Lord hated, provoking him to anger. (NLT) 2 Samuel 12: David begged God to spare the child. He went without food and lay all night on the bare ground. The elders of his household pleaded with him to get up and eat with them, but he refused. (NLT) Nehemiah 1:4 - When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven. (NLT) Ezra 8: And there by the Ahava Canal, I gave orders for all of us to fast and humble ourselves before our God. We prayed that he would give us a safe journey and protect us, our children, and our goods as we traveled. For I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to accompany us and protect us from enemies along the way. After all, we had told the king, Our God s hand of protection is on all who worship him, but his fierce anger rages against those who abandon him. So we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and he heard our prayer. (NLT) Ezra 10:6 - Then Ezra left the front of the Temple of God and went to the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. He spent the night there without eating or drinking anything. He was still in mourning because of the unfaithfulness of the returned exiles. (NLT) Esther 4:16 - Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die. (NLT) Psalms 35:13 - Yet when they were ill, I grieved for them. I denied myself by fasting for them, but my prayers returned unanswered. (NLT) Psalms 69:10 - When I weep and fast, they scoff at me. (NLT) Isaiah 58:6 - No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. (NLT) Daniel 9:3 - So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and fasting. I also wore rough burlap and sprinkled myself with ashes. (NLT) Daniel 10:3 - All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine crossed my lips, and I used no fragrant lotions until those three weeks had passed. (NLT) Joel 2:15 - Blow the ram s horn in Jerusalem! Announce a time of fasting; call the people together for a solemn meeting. (NLT) Matthew 4:2 - For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. (NLT) Matthew 6:16 - And when you fast, don t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. (NLT) Matthew 4:2 - For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. (NLT) Matthew 6:16 - And when you fast, don t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. (NLT) Matthew 9:15 - Jesus replied, Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. (NLT) Luke 2:37 - Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. (NLT) Acts 13:3 - So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way. (NLT) Acts 14:23 - Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church. With prayer and fasting, they turned the elders over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. (NLT) page nineteen

22 Different Types of Fasting the normal fast: This involves abstaining from all food, solid or liquid, but not from water. In the 40-day fast of Jesus, we are told that "He ate nothing" and toward the end of the fast that "He was hungry," and that Satan tempted Him to eat. This indicates that the abstinence was from food, but not from water (Luke 4:2). the partial fast: The Bible describes what could be considered a partial fast; that is, there is a restriction of diet but not total abstention. Although the normal fast seemed to be the custom, with the prophet Daniel there was an occasion where, for three weeks, he "ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all" (Daniel 10:3). So a partial fast can mean one abstains from certain types of meals. the absolute fast: There are several examples in Scripture of what has rightly been called an "absolute fast," or an abstaining from both food and water. It usually appears as a desperate measure to meet a dire emergency. Paul engaged in a three-day absolute fast following his encounter with the living Christ (Acts 9:9). It must be underscored that the absolute fast is the exception and should never practiced unless one has a very clear command from God, and then for not more than three days. is fasting a commandment: Nowhere in Scripture do we find Biblical laws that require regular fasting, neither do we find a direct command to fast. Jesus gives instruction on fasting in the Sermon on the Mount. He states: "And whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do" (Matthew 6:16). Jesus did not say "If you fast," neither did He say "You must fast." He seemed to make the assumption that people would fast, and we simply needed instruction on how to do it properly. page twenty

23 To Raise Up Generations of Families that are Built to last. Grace Church Netcong & Rockaway Sunday Mornings 8:15, 9:45, 10:00, & 11:15a.m wwww. grace4families. com