“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land” 2 Chron. 7:14
Lighthouse Christian Fellowship
January 13 - 20, 2019 - Week Of Prayer And Fasting
Sat. January 12, 10:00 AM - Orientation on Fasting for Spiritual Purposes
TOPICS
Δ LCF Corporate Prayer and Fast - Overview
Δ 2019 Agenda
Δ Biblical Fasts / Types of Fasts
Δ What to expect during Fast/Recomendations
Δ Other Resources
LCF CORPORATE PRAYER AND FASTING
† In alignment with the Assemblies of God, LCF dedicates a week in January for Corporate Prayer
Assemblies of God Reference: Week Of Prayer
† For the past few years, LCF has had corporate fasts with participants fasting as many as 21 days
† This year, we are aligning fully the corporate fasting period to the Week of Prayer (though participants can choose to fast for shorter or longer periods, based on Spirit’s leading)
† Prayer and Fasting together make for a powerful combination
† Fasting of the things of this world to clear our minds / enhance our abilities to hear from God
† Praying according to God’s will – Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done
CORPORATE PRAYER AND FAST LCF ACTIVITIES
Date |
Time |
Prayer Focus |
| Sunday, Jan 13 | 5:00 PM | Your Walk With God |
| Monday, Jan 14 | 7:00 PM | Your Family |
| Tuesday, Jan 15 | 7:00 PM | Your Community |
| Wednesday, Jan 16 | 7:00 PM | Your Workplace |
| Thursday, Jan 17 | 7:00 PM | Rural and Urban America |
| Friday, Jan 18 | 7:00 PM | Our World and Our Church |
BIBLICAL FASTS- EXAMPLES OF CORPORATE FASTING
† 3-Day fast (Esther 4:16)
- Seeking God’s favor in time of crisis
† 1 Day fast (Judges 20)
- Seeking victory (facing battle)
† Undetermined Periods
- Seeking God’s Guidance (Acts 13:2)
- Avert God’s Judgement (Jonah 3: 5)
TYPES OF FASTS
In the Bible, fasting always includes restriction of food intake and is associated with a time of seeking God
† Full Fast : Only water / no solids or juices
† The Daniel Fast : Vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts/seeds, legumes, water
† Partial Fast :
‡ One meal a day
‡ Omitting one type of food
‡ Combination of any of the above
How do I determine what/how to fast?
† Pray / Ask God for guidance - we fast onto God, not onto ourselves
† First Timers – start small, it is not a ‘showing of human strength’, rather a humbling before our God. Be mindful of your medical conditions that may be impacted by food restriction / contact your physician for guidance.
† A simple model is the Daniel Fast
† Reference LCF’s Daniel Fast Cookbook for easy recipes and a Week’s suggested plan
† Don’t stress if unable to stay on track – don’t give up, just start again
† Find a partner to be accountable & pray with during the time of fasting
What to Expect During Fast - Physical Aspects
† Stage 1 – Detoxification/Switching Energy Sources
† Elimination of toxins
† Switching from using blood glucose to burning fat for fuel/energy
† May experience temporary discomfort, irritability, headaches, coated tongue, etc.
† Last only a few days (1-3 days)
† Stage 2 – Normal Fasting Stage
† Hunger pains subside though cravings may still be present
† Levels of energy may vary
† General Recommendations
† Drink plenty of fluids – specially water
† Limit strenuous activity and exercise moderately
† Rest/Sleep
† Plan for times you know will be tough (e.g., prayer walks, praying with partner, reading the Word, doing an act of service, etc.)
† Keep a Diary – to record your times with the Lord / what the Lord is impressing on your heart / prayer requests, etc.
What to Expect During Fast - Spiritual Aspects
† Obstacles:
† The flesh will fight back – King Stomach wants to stay on the throne
† The enemy may try to distract, discourage or present obstacles/aggravate situations
† But the Blessing:
† Deep communion with God/New revelations (Is 45:3)
† He loves it when we humble ourselves before Him, when we make Him FIRST in our lives
† Law of the first fruits
† Proverbs 3:9-10 ESV: Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
† General Recommendations
† Reasons for fasting should be compelling
† Get away from distractions as much as possible (e.g., TV, games, social media, etc.)
† Participate in the church’s prayer session activities / pray with another participant
† Keep a journal of prayers, new revelations/insights into God’s Word. Read entries each day
Other Resources
† LCF Daniel Fast Cookbook (contact LCF office for details)
† LCF January 14, 2018 Sermon – Tapping into God’s Power through Fasting
Articles on Fasting and Praying:
