Preparing to Fast...
9th August 2024
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Some final thoughts from me before tomorrow's day of prayer and fasting...
You may have missed it, but we've been sharing for a while now about a strong sense that the Lord is calling us as a fellowship into a season of prayer and fasting.
We're encouraging people to consider fasting on:
- Saturday 10th August and/or
- Saturday 24th August
With an opportunity to join us for a simple breakfast the following morning at 9:30 before the morning service.
- What is fasting?
It's important we understand firstly what fasting is so that we can engage with this spiritual practice thoughtfully, carefully and effectively.
And so there's been chance to do that in a number of ways.
Here's the links if you'd like to catch up:
- Podcast: Habit.at (11th April)
- Blog: Think Fast (17th July)
- Video: 4 Reasons NOT to fast (17th July) - and it's also on the blog here
- Video: 8 Ways to fast BIBLICALLY (26th July) - and that's also on the blog here
- Video: Some GREAT Quotes About Fasting (5th August) - or on the blog here
- Blog: What Happens When We Fast? (20th August)
- Prayer: A Prayer for Fasting (24th August)
- Tim also took some time in July's All Together Service to walk us through the time when Jesus fasted in the wilderness. There's some really great teaching there about what happens when we fast, and you can catch up with that here.
- Why are we fasting now?
But once we understand what fasting is, it's also important to have a clear objective as to it's purpose. If fasting provides us with more time, space and focus for prayer - why exactly is more prayer needed in this particular season.
We believe the focus for prayer in this season is threefold:
(1) Build Your Church (Matthew 16.18)
(2) Meet our Needs (Philippians 4:19)
(3) Break the Dam (Unified Vision)
(1) Firstly, that Jesus would build His Church in every sense:
- Strengthening our faith in Him and stirring our spiritual hunger for more of His presence
- Renewing us in our love for Him, our fellowship, and the lost He calls us to reach
- Adding to our number daily those who are being saved!
(2) Secondly, that God would "meet our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus":
- We are seeking the Father to provide for our church financially in this season
- In fasting, we are aligning ourselves physically with the spiritual reality that He alone is our Provider and Sustainer
- We are crying out for wisdom (James 1:5), vision (Jeremiah 29:11), opportunity (Acts 4:29) and boldness (Isaiah 41:10)
(3) Thirdly, in accordance to what we believe the Lord has promised us, that God would
- Unite His people
- Break the dam
- Unleash His blessing
So whenever our hunger pangs call to us, or our cravings for whatever it is we feel called to lay aside, we will use those inner stirrings as a prompt/reminder to call out to God to:
- Build His Church
- Meet our Needs
- Break the Dam
- How should I fast?
As mentioned in a
previous blog, there are eight different ways to fast biblically, so how do they apply to this weekend?
(i) Diet or (ii) Distraction:
What would be a sacrifice for me?
What distracts me from God?
If not food - what would demonstrate the intensity and urgency of my prayers?
(iii) Response or (iv) Rhythm:
You may decide that fasting will become part of your regular rhythm, but in this case we are fasting in response to both the sense of God's leading and the needs He has highlighted as our focus.
- Build Your Church
- Meet our Needs
- Break the Damn
(v) Full or (vi) Partial:
Do you feel called to fast for a whole day or part of a day?
Do you feel called to fast from all food, or types of food and drink?
What would be sacrificial but sensible for you?
(vii) Individually or (viii) In Community:
On this particular occasion we are fasting in community - together as a church. And so, let's seek to encourage, support and inspire one another towards love and good deeds! (Hebrews 10:24-25)
One final thought - when the Antioch Church fasted, we read:
"While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said..."
ACTS 13.2
When we drown out other distractions, it can be a very common experience to hear more clearly what the Holy Spirit is saying. As we spend time fasting and praying - please also be listening to Him. He is speaking in all kinds of ways, pray that you and I might be those with "ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches!" (Revelation 3:6)
Whether you are able to join us for fasting this weekend or not - everyone's invited to break the fast with a simple breakfast before the service on Sunday. 9:30am in the Church before the next of our Simply Sundays stripped-back-style service! (Wow, that's a lot of Ss!) Would love to see you there if you're able to join us!
"Father God, according to Your Word
And in the power of Your Spirit
Your Church cry out to You today to
- Build Your Church
- Meet our Needs
- Break the Dam
We ask these things in the mighty name of Jesus
And for Your glory
Amen."
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I prayed this