Faith Covenant Church of Jesus Christ

“Winter Fire!”

2015 Corporate Fast: January 5 - 25

Consecration Guidelines

An Opportunity to “RESET” for 2015

CORPORATE PRAYER & FASTING

 

“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning” Joel 2:12

 

“Do you have a hunger for God? If we don't feel strong desires for the manifestation of the glory of God, it is not because we have drunk deeply and are satisfied. It is because we have nibbled so long at the table of the world. Our soul is stuffed with small things, and there is no room for the great. If we are full of what the world offers, then perhaps a fast might express, or even increase, our soul's appetite for God. Between the dangers of self-denial and self-indulgence is the path of pleasant pain called fasting.” -John Piper

WHAT IS FASTING?

Fasting is disciplining your flesh by abstaining from natural pleasures for a period of time while focusing on a deeper relationship with God.

The Bible records that great men of faith such as Moses, Elijah, Daniel, Paul and Jesus Himself fasted so that they might draw closer to God (Exodus 34:28; 1 Kings 19:8; Daniel 9:3; Daniel 10:2-3; 2 Corinthians 11:27; Matthew 4:2). Jesus knew that His true disciples, once He was no longer there in the flesh with them, at times would need to fast to regain and renew their zeal to serve Him (Mark 2:18-20).

 

WHY FAST?

          •       To get clear direction for the year.

          •       For spiritual growth in our lives.

          •       To obtain personal breakthroughs.

          •       To see the supernatural hand of God released in our church.

          •       To cover our children in the educational system & society.

          •       For financial breakthroughs.

          •       Enrichment in the covenant relation of marriages.

          •       For our Country’s Leaders & the President to do God’s will.

           •       Fasting empowers the believer to obtain deliverance, spiritual breakthroughs, answered prayers and victory. Isaiah 58:6,  

                  15, 2Chronicles 20:1-30

          •       Fasting prepares the believer to receive a fresh outpouring of the Spirit and the blessings of God.  Joel 2:12-29

          •       Fasting has medical benefits. Isaiah 58:8.

          •       Fasting will bring peace to our land. 1 Timothy 2:1-2.

 

I.  Consecration Focus: Last year the Lord showed Himself Faithful in keeping His Word that 2014 was the “Year of Better!” This year, God has given us the promise of “Connection, Enlargement, and Increase!”  By beginning our year in Fasting, we are putting God First and setting the course for the entire year (Matt. 6:33). So during this Fast we are seeking more of God in order to have more from God. Consider this time of Fasting and Consecration as an opportunity to press a spiritual “Reset” Button in your life and walk with God. At some point over the course of the past 12 months, most of us have found ourselves out of sync with God’s original intent for our lives. This Consecration is an opportunity to go back to God’s “default settings” for our lives. Rest assured that as we do, we will become Unstoppable in our pursuit of Destiny!

 

Prayer Focus

1. Pray that the church would be built after God’s pattern.  Exodus 25:8-9, Mathew 16: 17-19, Ephesians 2:18-22

2. Pray that the church would grow in all dimensions.

         •        Stronger through Worship

         •        Deeper through Discipleship

         •        Larger through Evangelism

         •        Broader through Ministry

         •        Warmer through Fellowship

Ephesians 4: 7-16, Acts 2:41-47, Acts 4: 31-35

3. Destroy every satanic attack and calculation designed to hinder the growth, progress, advancement and establishment of the church. Acts 12:1-10, 2 Corinthians 2:11

4. Destroy and arrest the operations of the spirits of strife, contentions, envy, jealousy, backbiting, criticism, undermining, sabotage and every form of carnality that hinders the work of God. Galatians 5:13-26, James 3:10-18

5. Release a spirit of unity and team work, in the lives of the people of God. Nehemiah 4:15-21, Ephesians 4:16

6. Pray that all members of church would discover their divine call and ministries and would be supernaturally set in the church according to the counsel of God and they would be fruitful in their ministries. Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12: 4-31

7. Pray and release every human, financial and material resource that heaven has ordained for the advancement of the Church. Psalm 118: 25

8. Pray that God would supernaturally empower His church financially so that the church can meet all its financial obligations without struggle.

9. Pray that every department of the church would be functional, efficient and effective and that all the needs of the people of God would be met.

10. Pray for revival and the activation of every spiritual gift in the lives of the people of God. Pray that this revival would cause a massive in gathering of souls into the kingdom of God. 2 Timothy 1:6

11. Pray that God would bless His church tremendously in all dimensions and that other churches would be established as a result of it.

Pray for Your P-A-S-T-O-R

Here's another way to pray for your pastor - especially if you have trouble remembering what to pray about. Use the letters of the word, P-A-S-T-O-R to remind you of specific prayer requests. For example:

        P - Purity. Pray that your pastor will remain pure in the face of constant pressure in an immoral culture.

        A - Adversity. Pray for your pastor that he will be able to confront adversity with faith and endurance.

        S - Strength. Most pastors work long hours and at least six days a week. Pray that he will have the strength to continue his ministry.

        T - Teaching. Pray for your pastor that his teaching and preaching will be effective, powerful, and clear.

        O - Organization. Your pastor has more to do than any one person can handle. Pray for your pastor that he will be able to prioritize correctly.

        R - Rest. Your pastor needs rest. Pray that your pastor will sleep well each night and that he will take enough time away from ministry so that 

              he does not get worn out.

These are the areas of corporate focus for this year’s fast beginning January 5th and concluding on January 25th.  You are encouraged to pray about what the focus of your individual fast should be and make that decision for yourself.  As you seek His face, our prayer is that God will bless every area of your life.

 

II. Heart Preparation: In preparing your heart for this consecration, there are three questions that you might want to ask yourself.  They are:

 

A. “What are my motives for fasting?” This question deals with whether our motives are pure. Are you fasting just because everyone else is doing it? Are you fasting just to lose weight?  Remember that if you go into the fast with a frivolous attitude, you won’t get serious results.  Remember, you can do what you can do, but you can’t do what God can do.

B. “What results am I looking for?” Be specific about your expectations from this fast. Make a list of what you want God to do in and through and for you in this fast. Ask God not only for what you need, but ask Him for what you want this year. Be specific and have a target list.

C. “Am I determined on this fast to minister to the Lord?” Our fasting should be unto the Lord. It is a time of literally presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice.  If it is a sacrifice that ministers to God, make it a meaningful one. How? Make it mean something to you. If it doesn’t mean anything to you, it won’t mean anything to God.  Without being combined with prayer and the Word, fasting is little more than dieting.

 

III. Guidelines – our goal is to have 100% unity on this fast; to that end we are offering options to make this fast accessible to all.  Still, let’s face the facts:  there are unpleasant aspects to fasting.  It is denying the flesh, afflicting the soul. But the benefits far outweigh the discomfort you may experience.  Even people with medical conditions can find ways to deny themselves.  There is something that everyone can fast from.  Every sincere and obedient sacrifice unto the Lord will bring positive results.

 

Fasting Options

1. The Normal Fast – no food of any kind is to be eaten, but only water, unsweetened juices, and clear broth if needed for strength. This may be modified to include all liquids and one bowl of soup daily.

2. The Absolute Fast – midnight till dinner daily; no food or drinks of any kind are taken in until dinner (between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. and then only water or juices until midnight).

3. The Daniel Fast – fruit, vegetables, juices and water only – no meat, sweets, or bread.

4. Combination Fasting – you may choose to combine the above fasts by week over the course of the 21 days. But please ask God to give you the strength and determination to fast in one form or another for the entire 21 days.

5. Children – saved children under the age of 12 may be encouraged to participate in some modified form of this fast at their parents’ direction.

NOTE: If you are on medication, consult your physician before commencing an extended fast. Fast as directed by the Holy Spirit and  your disciplined prayer life (Isaiah 58:6, I Corinthians 9:26-27).

 

B.  DANIEL FAST INFO: Abstain from pleasant foods. Partake only of clear soup, fruit juice, cereals or grain, or give up one meal a day for prayer. (See Daniel 1:8-16; 10: 2-3.)

Daniel Fast Food List (Partial Fast)

In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled (Daniel 10:2-3).

One of the great things about the Daniel Fast is that you are not limited to any specific amount of food, but rather to the kinds of foods you can eat. The Daniel Fast is limited to fruits, vegetables, grains, and water. Please make sure to READ THE LABEL when purchasing packaged, canned or bottled foods. They should be sugar-free and chemical-free.  Keep this in mind as you review this list of acceptable foods.

 

Foods to Eat During the Daniel Fast

All fruits: These can be fresh, frozen, dried or canned.  Fruits include, but are not limited to apples, apricots, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cantaloupe, cherries, cranberries, figs, grapefruit, grapes, guava, honeydew melon, kiwi, lemons, mangoes, nectarines, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, prunes, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, tangelos, tangerines, watermelon.

All vegetables: These can be fresh, frozen, dried or canned.  Vegetables include, but are not limited to artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chili peppers, collard greens, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, ginger root, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, okra, onions, parsley, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, scallions, spinach, sprouts, squashes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, yams, zucchini, veggie burgers are an option if you are not allergic to soy. 

All whole grains: including, but not limited to whole wheat, brown rice, millet, quinoa, oats, barley, grits, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat tortillas, rice cakes, and popcorn.

All nuts and seeds: including, but not limited to sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts, sesame.  Also nut butters, including peanut butter.

All legumes: These can be either canned or dried.  Legumes include, but are not limited to dried beans, pinto beans, split peas, lentils, black eyed peas, kidney beans, black beans, cannellini beans, white beans.

All quality oils: including, but not limited to olive, canola, grape seed, peanut, and sesame.

Beverages: spring water, distilled water, 100% all-natural fruit juices, 100% all-natural vegetable juices.  You may drink protein drinks and smoothies if they are sugar-free, dairy-free and chemical-free.

Other:  tofu, olives, vinegar, seasonings, salt, herbs and spices.  Soy and rice milk are acceptable for cooking and with cereal.  However, they should not be used as a beverage since the Daniel Fast is a “water-only” beverage fast with the exception of 100% fruit or vegetable juice, since that is merely pulp with water.

 

Foods to Avoid During the Daniel Fast

All meat and animal products:  including, but not limited to beef, lamb, pork, poultry, and fish.

All dairy products: including, but not limited to milk, cheese, cream, butter, and eggs.

All sweeteners: including sugar, raw sugar, honey, syrups, molasses, and cane juice.

All leavened bread: including Ezekiel Bread (it contains yeast and honey) and baked goods.

All refined and processed food products: including, but not limited to artificial flavorings, food additives, chemicals, white rice, white flour and foods that contain artificial preservatives.

All deep-fried foods: including, but not limited to potato chips, French fries, corn chips.

All solid fats: including shortening, margarine, lard, and foods high in fat.

Beverages: including, but not limited to coffee, tea, herbal teas, carbonated beverages, energy drinks, and alcohol. Please remember that the Daniel Fast is a “water only” beverage fast. The exception is 100% juice since it is merely pulp with water.  For those who will be going to the gym, one protein drink/day may be permitted.

 

C. Social Interactions/Entertainment – (Solemn Assembly) – you are encouraged to abstain from secular media (other than necessary news and Christian programming), restrict all entertainment including reading (either the Word or personal/business growth materials), limit phone conversations & social internet usage, and suspend courtships & “marital relations” from Monday to Friday each week of the consecration. 

D. Duration – Consecration is to start on Monday, January 5th and conclude on Sunday, January 25th with Communion and Healing Service!!

E. Combine your fasting with your giving – ask God what financial seed you are to plant during this season of fasting. 

 

IV. FCC Corporate Prayer and Worship Opportunities

• Sundays (January 11, 18, 25) –

  9:30 – 11:00 – Congregational Prayer

  11:30 & 6:00 – Worship and Word

• Mondays (January 5, 12 & 19) – City-wide Prayer and Praise – 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.

•  Noon Prayers: Tuesday – Friday

• Wednesdays Mornings (January 7, 14, 21) – 5:30 a.m. Morning Glory Prayer and Worship.

• Revival Crusades – Thursday/Fridays (January 8 & 9, 15 & 16 and 22 & 23).

• Additional Opportunities – Shut-in Services as announced; Special Saturday Noon Prayer Healing and Deeper Life Services.

 

V. Suggestions for Getting the Most Out of the Fast

A. Drink lots of water – try to take in a minimum of 1 gallon of purified or distilled water daily.  This will aid in removing toxins from your body and also will provide a sense of fullness.

B. Keep your focus and avoid temptations – this advice is especially important during the first 3 to 4 days if you are on the “Normal Fast.”

C. Remember your objectives in the fast – keep a written list and refer back to it daily in prayer and meditation.

D. Form accountability partnerships or groups – fasting will be easier if done in the fellowship and company of others.

E. Maintain a journal of your experiences, prayers and insights as you go through this experience.

F.  Keep sugar-free gum, mints, or breath-spray handy.

• Check your e-mail for a daily inspirational word from Pastor Moore to you as you are going through the fast.

• Remember that fasting is more than just abstaining from food; it is an act of self-denial for a higher purpose. Keep God at the center of your focus, pray, read, journal!

• Commit yourself to fasting and prayer so much so that you refuse to make excuses. Read Luke 14: 18: “And they all with one consent began to make excuse.” You may say, “I’m too old!” “I’m too young!” “I’m too busy!” Read the example of an elderly woman in Luke 2: 36 – 38.

 

Should you have any questions about fasting please e-mail them to us on our contact page.