The Year of Promotion - Fasting & Prayer 2019 Messiah Community Church
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Messiah Community Church Fasting & Prayer 2019 The Year of Promotion
Dear Messiah Family, Each New Year, as a church community, we dedicate a portion of time to the Lord for fasting and prayer. It is our way of committing our hearts, our needs, our families, and the ministry of Messiah Community Church to Christ. It’s also our way of demonstrating to the Lord our humility as we acknowledge our full dependence upon Him. Through fasting and praying together, God has shown Himself faithful to the Messiah community throughout the years. He has saved people in our families as a result of prayers prayed during the fasting season. People have been healed as a result of fasting and praying. God has made miraculous provision for individuals and for the ministry. As the Pastor of Messiah Community Church I’m committed to helping our church grow stronger in our faith and closer to Jesus through the practice of fasting and prayer. It’s a special time in our lives and in our church. I’m especially excited to see how God will meet us and respond to us as we seek Him. I invite you to join me from January 13th through January 26th for this annual time of focusing on God in prayer. Pastor Rod Hairston Promotion Fast 2019 Our church’s theme for 2019 is “PROMOTION”. We are trusting God to move Messiah Community Church forward and upward, collectively and individually. We are asking God (1) to grow us in our practice of principles that lead to promotion (2) for new levels of influence for His glory (3) for new levels of financial resources that reflect promotion... all so we can reach more people in His name. Our time of fasting will be a 14-day period from January 13th to January 26th, 2019. We will refrain from certain foods, including sweets, and calorie-rich beverages, in order to seek God. We will gather for corporate prayer the nights of January 14th through January 18th, for a special Night of Worship on January 25th. We are asking God to open doors of promotion for us, individually and collectively, and praying for the ministries, leaders, and people of Messiah. One of the keys to meaningful fasting will be your time for personal prayer, Scripture reading, and journaling. We recommend you reflect on the daily Scriptures provided in the fasting guide and that you participate in the nightly gatherings. Look forward to hearing from God in fresh and clear ways and expect great things from Him!
Types of Fasts
The Complete Fast
A Complete Fast is a fast from both food and drink, for
The Daniel Fast
a specified period of time. A Complete Fast is intense
The Daniel Fast is based on Daniel’s choice “not to defile
as its name implies, it is practiced in Scripture to
himself with the royal rations of food and wine.” Daniel
express an extreme need for God in personal or
chose, for a season, to be “given vegetables to eat and
collective circumstances. Moses, Esther, Elijah, and
water to drink.” (Daniel 1:8-17 NRSV) In the midst of an
Jesus all practiced this fast as found in the respective
attempt to persuade Daniel and his friends to abandon
Scriptures: Exodus 34:28, Esther 4:15-17, 1 Kings 19:8,
their allegiance to God, they consecrated themselves
and Matthew 4:1-10. We do not advise beginning
with a fast and God gave them great favor!
complete fast without first consulting your physician
and inviting the prayerful support of members of your
church family.
The Partial Fast
The Partial Fast in contrast to a complete fast, may be The Financial Fast
for a portion of a day or for portions of several days at a Author and Washington Post Columnist, Michelle
time. E.g. have a light breakfast and fast for the Singletary, is well known for writing about the 21-day
remainder of the day. It is practiced by abstaining from Financial Fast. The Financial Fast calls for a moratorium
food altogether. (Our partial fast strongly encourages on frivolous and unnecessary spending, but allows for
drinking plenty of water in order to stay hydrated.) You basic life needs such as food, gas, utilities, and debt
may also sip on clear liquids, such as decaffeinated tea, obligations. Such a fast is meant to break the habit of
during the period of the day in which we are fasting. wasteful spending, deepen our dependence upon
Whatever time you choose, maintain the schedule God, move us toward debt-free living, and set us on a
daily. course to a healthier financial future.
“Healing, Strengthening, Equipping disciples to impact the world through faith in Jesus Christ.”
How Can I Participate In The Promotion Fast 2019?
Choose A Fasting Option What Should I Expect While Fasting?
For 14 days, beginning on January 13th through January 26th, we will fast as During the fasting season, expect to feel different the first two or three days
a church community. Please make sure that your fast option includes healthy of the fast, as your body gets rid of toxins and begins to adjust to not having
amounts of water and clear liquids. We want as many people to participate as meats, sweets, bread, alcohol, and caffeine. It will be helpful to slow down
possible. (The Financial Fast is intended as an addition to a fast from eating. It your schedule for reading, reflection, prayer, and rest as much as may be
is not meant to be a stand-alone fast for PROMOTION 2019) Whichever fast you possible. Eventually, you will feel more energy.
choose, we recommend sticking with it for the entire 14-day period.
You should also expect, as you read Scripture and pray with more focus,
to begin to gain clarity in your spirit. Expect to hear from God and to be
S.O.A.P. Daily Scripture Readings more spiritually alert. You should also expect to experience spiritual attack
For each day of the PROMOTION 2019 fast, Scriptures are provided for our from Satan, including temptation to eat the things you’re abstaining from,
daily devotions. S.O.A.P. stands for the following: Scripture. Read the temptation to eat more, and words of doubt sown in your mind. Stand firm
Scriptures reflectively in a quiet place where you can be alone with God. by praying the Scriptures and consider having a prayer partner to help you
Observation. Write down any observations you make as you reflect on the through the tough spots.
passage(s). Note any commands, patterns, repeated words, questions, cause
& effect relationships, etc. Application. Answer the question: What action
should I take as a result of reading the passage(s). Prayer. Take time to talk to Can I Fast From Something Other
and listen to God. Note any impressions from the Holy Spirit. Pray for yourself
and for others in light of the passage(s). Than Food?
There is no biblical precedent for fasting that does not include certain foods
or all foods. While there is no prohibition from fasts that include TV, the
Come Together Nightly internet, social media, shopping, etc., we recommend fasting that includes
For six special evenings during our fast, from food since it is basic to our daily existence. Food speaks most directly to our
Monday-Friday, January 14th-18th and 25th, the doors of the church will be urges and appetites in the natural realm, forcing us to discipline our flesh
open at 6:30pm. You may come in to pray quietly, then join us for corporate with spiritual means -- i.e., prayer and Scripture. Of course, if medical reasons
worship and prayer as we lift up our requests to God. If you cannot make it preclude you from fasting from food, your fasting is between you and The
each night, set a goal of at least 3 of the 6 nights. Lord! Another approach, then, is acceptable as God directs you.
Shout Out On Social Media Are There Books I Can Read About
Each day share the daily Scripture, something you’re learning, an answered
prayer, a relevant photo, or some word of encouragement on Facebook, Fasting?
Instagram, Twitter or Snapchat! Your tweets, chats, & posts will be a huge In addition to our Messiah Fasting Tool Kit, we recommend the following book
blessing to someone who needs to be refreshed by God! resources:
• The Daniel Plan by Pastor Rick Warren
• Fasting by Pastor Jentezen Franklin
Who Should Participate? • The Fasting Edge: Recover Your Passion. Recapture Your Dream.
As always, please check with your doctor to make sure your health will not • Restore Your Joy by Jentezen Franklin
be at risk if you participate in fasting. Pregnant and nursing mothers, please • A Hunger for God: Desiring God Through Fasting & Prayer by John Piper
do not participate. If you are medically cleared, age 15 or older, we invite • Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough: A Guide to Nine Biblical Fasts by Elmer Towns
you to join us for this exciting time of seeking God at Messiah! Parents should • Daily prayers & scripture reading using the S.O.A.P. method
determine if their children, ages 15-17, may join the corporate fast.
“Healing, Strengthening, Equipping disciples to impact the world through faith in Jesus Christ.”
Days 1 & 8 (Sunday, January 13th & 20th) Scripture: 1 John 1:9-10, Matthew 3:8, 2 Corinthians 2:20-21, Malachi 3:6-18 Prayer Emphasis: REPENTANCE, CONFESSION OF SIN, & SPIRITUAL RENEWAL Days 2 & 9 (Monday, January 14th & 21st) Scripture: Luke 14:26-35, Mark 8:35-37, John 13:35, 15:1-17 Prayer Emphasis: GROWTH AS DISCIPLES ALL ACROSS MCC & THE RE-LAUNCH OF MESSIAH DISCIPLESHIP CLASSES & GROUPS Days 3 & 10 (Tuesday, January 15th & 22nd) Scripture: Mark 16:15, Joshua 4:1-28, Romans 15:20, Matthew 9:35-38 Prayer Emphasis: EFFECTIVE MINISTRY TO OUR MESSIAH ONLINE COMMUNITY & LAUNCH OF ANOTHER MESSIAH LOCATION IN 2019 Days 4 & 11 (Wednesday, January 16th & 23rd) Scripture: Exodus 30:30, 31:1-11, Numbers 11:16-30, Exodus 18:1-27, Luke 6:12-16, Acts 6:1-7 Prayer Emphasis: MINISTRY LEADERS: PASTOR ROD & FL SHERI, ORDAINED LEADERS, TEAM LEADERS, VOLUNTEERS & THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW LEADERS AT MCC Days 5 & 12 (Thursday, January 17th & 24th) Scripture: Exodus 36:2-7, Deuteronomy 16:16-17, Nehemiah 12:47; 13:10-13, Malachi 3:10-12 Prayer Emphasis: FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR MINISTRY: TO PAY OFF OUR BUILDINGS, FOR EXPANDED MINISTRY TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, TO SINGLES, MARRIAGES, MEN, WOMEN, & YOUNG ADULTS ($4 million) Days 6 & 13 (Friday, January 18th & 25th) Scripture: Romans 8:1-17, 1 Corinthians 10:13, James 1:12-18, Ephesians 5:18-20 Prayer Emphasis: DAILY FILLING WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, VICTORY OVER TEMPTATION CONSISTENCY IN OUR WALKS, OUR WORSHIP, & OUR WITNESS FOR CHRIST Days 7 & 14 (Saturday, January 19th & 26th) Scripture: 1 Chronicles 11:6-9, Psalm 75:6-7, Psalm46, Psalm 113:7-8, Daniel 1-2, Daniel 6:1-5, Prayer Emphasis: PROTECTION, PROVISION, & PROMOTION FOR GOD’S PEOPLE AT MESSIAH
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