DAY 15 (SUN 11/3)

"Pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message…pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.” Colossians 4:3-4 

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

IN: Ask God to bless the public and personal ministries of Kent & Jason; ask the Lord to give them a spirit of wisdom and of power as they preach and teach.  

IN:  Father, we pray for the search process as we seek to hire a Discipleship Minister.  Please guide those involved in the process and make the choice abundantly clear.  Be with the family chosen and may the transition be smooth.    

MN:  There are many deacons who help to plan our worship services, prepare our Family Life Center for worship, and manage our assemblies.  We thank God today for the work of Tony Jones, Eric Moree, Gary Morton, and Clint Rhodes.  

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Friday Fasting

This week serves as the half-way point for our 40 days of prayer campaign. Our shepherds have called us to this campaign of prayer so that we might follow the example of Jesus. This week we will once again pray for the specific needs identified in this prayer guide by the overseers of our church family.  The following prayer items for this week are labeled either: PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), or MN (Ministry Needs).

This Friday, the 20th Day, has been designated as a day of prayer and fasting, as we earnestly seek God's blessings for revival in our congregation and in our community. You are invited to join in a lunch-time prayer service on Friday, November 8th anytime between from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. in the Auditorium.   

And, if you are able, to join in a day of fasting as we ask God to bless our church.  You will find information about fasting below.


FAST FACTS ON FASTING

Why are we fasting as a congregation?   It is the mid-way point of our 40 Days of Prayer, in which we are praying for revival. We will be asking God to bless our country and our community, to revive our faith, and to convict and convert the unsaved among us.

What does fasting accomplish for us?   It humbles our soul (Psalm 35:13), disciplines our body (1 Corinthians 9:27), intensifies our focus on prayer (1 Corinthians 7:5), strengthens our prayers (Ezra 8:23), and reminds us of spiritual priorities (Matthew 4:4, 5:6).

How do I go about it?    Decide in your heart you will dedicate that day to God and spend extra time in prayer. Tell your family what you are doing, so they will not expect you at the dinner table. Some may choose to abstain from food all day on Friday; other may wish to follow the practice of Biblical times and fast from 6 p.m. on Thursday to 6 p.m. the next day. Drink plenty of liquids during your fast, and abstain from vigorous exercise.

Do I have to fast?  No one is taking roll and no one will be required to fast. Like the discipline of prayer, it flows out of your own relationship with the Lord. God's blessings are bestowed upon those who freely choose to serve Him (2 Corinthians 9:6-11). 

This emphasis on fasting seems uncomfortable to me- I have been in the church all my life and I'm not used to it.    If your discomfort is spiritual, it may be because you have not been taught. Jesus fasted (Matthew 4:2), gave instructions to His disciples about fasting (Matthew 6:16-18), and expected His disciples to fast (Matthew 9:14). If your discomfort is physical, you should understand fasting has never been easy, because it requires us to tame and discipline our body (1 Corinthians 6:12, 9:27).