21 Days of Prayer & Fasting 21 January - 10 February 2013

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FREEDOM

THE YEAR OF BLESSINGSThis year we are thanking God for the blessings we have received during 2012 – ‘The Year of Breakthrough’ and for the blessings we are going to receive in 2013, as James 1:16 says “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above”. ‘Everything’ includes our family, friends, talents, abilities, intellect, jobs, opportunities, prosperity, favor, health – absolutely every good gift we have, and we pray to have, is from God.

We are trusting God with great excitement and anticipation that He will open the flood gates of heaven with showers of blessings.

“Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country. Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. The Lord will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you. The Lord will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways. Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you. And the Lord will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath”Deuteronomy 28:3-13

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” Psalm 34:8

In 1 Chronicles 4:10 Jabez prayed for God to bless him: “And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, ‘Oh that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!’ So God granted him what he requested.”

During this time of fast of prayer, we are not only giving thanks to God for his blessings, but we are also earnestly seeking God for an outpour of abundant blessings and miracles during 2013! Ask God, through prayer and fasting, what you need from Him. Be specific!

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!Matt 7:7-11

“You do not have because you do not ask.”James 4:2b

Corporate Prayer SupplicationsFOR 2013 1. To experience a PROFOUNDLY DEEPER DIMENSION in our DAILY WALK and PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive and your joy will be complete. John 16: 24 (NIV)

2. A UNIVERSAL INTERPRETATION of our GODLY AND CORPORATE PURPOSE AND DIRECTION

“It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, He had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose He is working out in everything and everyone.”Eph 1:11-12 [NKJ]

“Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.” Prov 16:3[NKJ]

3. CORPORATE COHESION to create a SPIRITUAL AND CORPORATE CULTURE OF DISCIPLINE AND FOCUS within the group

“I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it. Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I’ve warned you of them many times; sadly, I’m having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ’s Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high heaven! “Phil 3:14a-20a [Msg]

“He one who loves discipline loves knowledge”Prov 12:1a [NET]

4. The manifestation of Godly inspired FORESIGHT AND INSIGHT in our daily decisions and undertakings.

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”Jer 33:3 [NKJ]

“There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel – THAT will stand.”Prov 19:21 [NKJ]

5. Divine FAVOR for the group, each individual company and all employees. Furthermore, the reinforcement of our current business relationships and the formation of new, strategic business partnerships.

“If God is for us, who can be against us”Rom 8:31 [NKJ]

“Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.”Prov 3:4 [NKJ]

6. A SPIRITUAL AWARENESS AND APPRECIATION for the SUPERNATURAL AND MIRACLES we witness on a daily basis and the manifestation of the supernatural and miracles we trust God to receive in our personal lives and within the group.

7. FORTIFICATION of the group, each individual company and all employees against any attacks of the enemy in the supernatural.

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.”Prov 18:10 [NKJ]

8. For our county, our government, the church and its leaderships

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.1 Tim 2:1-2 [NKJ]

What Is Fasting?THE PRINCIPLES OF BIBLICAL FASTING

There are two main overriding principles related to prayer and fasting in the Bible.

The first biblical principal of fasting in the Bible is going without food. The noun translated “fast” or “a fasting” is tsom in the Hebrew and nesteia in the Greek language. It means the voluntary abstinence from food. The literal Hebrew translation would be “not to eat.” The literal Greek means “no food.”

Fasting is going without food to pursue and/or focus on something more important as outlined in these scriptures:1. Fasting helps subject our bodies to our spirits. (I Cor 9:27)2. Fasting is disciplining the body, mind, and spirit. (Prov. 25:28)3. Fasting is subordinating our flesh-desires to our spirit-desires. (Gal 5:17)4. Fasting helps set the priorities in our lives. (Mt 6:33)5. Fasting is longing after God. (Ps 63:1-2)

The second, biblical principal of fasting is linked with intense seasons of prayer. The more seriously we approach prayer and fasting, the more significant the results we will experience.

Fasting is the greatest spiritual discipline for seeking God’s intervention. Combined with prayer it makes up the most critical weapons of spiritual warfare and deliverance in our lives. While we cannot manipulate God to fulfill our desires exactly as laid out to Him, fasting always (when done the biblical way) moves God to fulfill His intended will over matters. Fasting is to tune ourselves to His wavelength in order to hear from Him and effectively walk with Him.

Fasting is moving into a spiritual realm of faith and power by putting down (denying) our fleshly desires. The Holy Spirit and the spirit part of us then take dominance in moving in an area of prayer (communion with God) that we cannot get into through any other way. It is moving into the spirit and walking in the spirit. This does not mean being foolish and turning our reasoning off. It is being wise with the mind of Christ while being submissive to the Holy Spirit.

Why Should I Fast?THE PURPOSE OF THE BIBLICAL FAST

1. THE SCRIPTURES TEACH US TO FAST AND PRAYThe Bible has a great deal to say about both fasting and praying, including commands to fast and pray. The Bible also gives us examples of people who fasted and prayed. Kings and commoners, Priests and Prophets, and cities and nations fasted in the Bible. Revivals and renewals are recorded as occurring during or directly after a fast.

• Jesus fasted and prayed. • Jesus’ disciples fasted and prayed after the Resurrection. • Paul fasted three days prior to his conversion experience.• Cornelius was fasting when an angel appeared unto

him, prior to his conversion. • The followers of John the Baptist fasted and prayed.• Many of the Old Testament heroes and heroines of

the faith fasted and prayed.• Many people in the early

church fasted and prayed.

What the Scriptures have taught us directly and by the examples of the Saints is surely something we want to do. We want to obey the Lord in every way that He commands us to obey Him.

This year we are thanking God for the blessings we have received during 2012 – ‘The Year of Breakthrough’ and for the blessings we are going to receive in 2013

2. FASTING AND PRAYER IS THE KEY TO SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH & BLESSINGSEvery person needs a breakthrough in some area of his or her life. We need breakthroughs all the time - it may be a breakthrough in understanding a situation, a breakthrough answer to a problem, a breakthrough idea, breakthrough insight, a breakthrough in financial or material provision, a breakthrough in health. If you have any need in your life, you need a breakthrough from God to meet that need! Fasting and prayer break the yoke of bondage and bring about a release of God’s presence, power, and provision.

Ezra 8:21 says “Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions.”

As the exiled Jews prepared to return to Jerusalem, Ezra called for a nationwide fast. The purpose of the fast was threefold:

• Firstly, they petitioned God to lead them in a “right way”. This was the direction focus.• Secondly, they petitioned God to protect their little ones. This was the assistance• focus of their fast.• Thirdly, they petitioned God to guard their possessions. This was the substance focus• of their fast.

The breakthrough that you may need in your life is a sense of God’s direction - not only for today and tomorrow, but for the broad scope of your life. If you long to know God’s purpose for you on this earth, then seek God in prayer and fasting.

For people who seemingly are unable to discern God’s positive directions, we recommend “negative” guidance. Say, “Father, I want Your will above all else. Please do not let me miss Your plan and purpose for my life.” Such surrender has the guarantee of His guidance as is written in Proverbs 3 verse 5 and 6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.”

The very simple and direct conclusion is, if fasting and praying are means to a breakthrough that God has for us, we want to undertake those disciplines so we might experience that breakthrough!

3. THE POWER AND PROMISE THAT IS RELEASED THROUGH FASTINGBiblically fasting, by means of doing without food and seeking God in prayer, achieves:• honoring God - Mt 6:16-18, Luke 2:37, Acts

13:2, Mt 5:6• humbling Yourself - 2 Chron 7:14-15• discerning - I Cor 11:30• healing - James 5:13-18, Isaiah 59:1-2• deliverance from bondage - Mt 17:21, Is 58:6-9 • revelation - God’s vision and will - Dan 9:3, 20-

21, Dan 10:2-10, 12-13• revival - personal and corporate - Acts 1:4, 14 /

2:16-21, Joel 2:12-18• repentance - personal failures - Psalm 51: Jer.

29:11-14, James 4:8-10• spiritual strength and empowerment• spiritual clarity, direction and answers• spiritual deliverances - Mark 9:29• obtaining skills, understanding and wisdom -

Daniel 9:2-3, 21-22• victories are won • power is received• tempers our desires • receiving the Holy Ghost - Acts 10:1-48

Read & Study Isaiah 58:1-14 When we fast according to the fast that God has chosen:• Our light shall break forth like the morning• Our healing shall spring forth speedily• Our righteousness shall go before us• The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard• When we call, the LORD will answer; when we

cry, He will say, ‘“Here I am.”• If we extend our souls to the hungry and satisfy

the afflicted people, then our light shall dawn in the darkness, and our darkness shall be as the noonday

• The LORD will guide us continually• He will satisfy our souls in drought• He will strengthen our bodies• We shall be like a watered garden and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail• Those from among us shall build the old waste places• We shall raise up the foundations of many generations• And we shall be called the Repairer(s) of the Breach, the Restorer(s) of Streets to Dwell in

Read & Study Joel 2:15-28When we call a sacred time of prayer and fasting as a group:• God will send us “grain, new wine and oil” & we will be satisfied.• God will drive our enemies far away from us.• He will cause the “rain” to come down for us.• Our harvest will be full of plenty.• He will restore the years that have been stolen from us.• We shall eat in plenty and be satisfied.• We shall never be put to shame.• He will pour His Spirit out upon all flesh.• Our children shall prophesy.• Our elders shall dream dreams and the younger ones shall see visions.

How Should I Fast?There are different types of Fasts in the Bible:

• The Normal Fast: No food is eaten, but water is drank (Matthew 4:1-2; Luke 4:2)

• The Absolute Fast: Abstaining from both food and water (Acts 9:9; Ezra10:6) Today, it is advisable to drink water due to modern toxins & pollutions in the body, which need flushed.

• The Partial Fast: Diet is restricted, rather than total abstinence from food (Daniel 1:15; 10:2-3)

Ideas for Modern Day Fasting:

• Liquid fast from 06h00 to 18h00 daily No meals are taken during these times, only liquids are consumed and these exclude coffee, tea, soft drinks or any dessert like drinks

• Daniel’s 21 Day Fast Only fruit, vegetables, water and fruit juices are consumed. No bread, meat, or desserts are taken during this time Meals before starting and when breaking the fast should be in moderation. Do not over indulgence during this period of fast

THE TYPE OF FAST YOU CHOOSE IS BETWEEN YOU AND GOD AND HE WILL HONOUR YOUR SACRIFICE AS IT COMES FROM A SURRENDERED HEART.

Guidelines for fasting• Stay physically active• Get enough rest• Avoid Media - Disconnecting from TV, radio, newspapers and the Internet can help you

stay focused on your purpose for fasting• Wean Yourself Off Caffeine - Several days before your fast begins, you should start

weaning yourself off caffeine. Some people experience unbearable headaches 2 to 3 days after ceasing to drink caffeinated products

• Beware of Your Emotions - Some people experience vast mood swings during a fast. One moment they are totally focused on God and the next they are wallowing in pity. Knowing that this is likely to happen will help you react properly. Learning to refocus on God and His goodness during this tough emotional time will help when your fast is over and you experience similar emotions

• Be Still and Focus on God - Fasting is a time to study God’s Word, meditate and pray. To help with this, plan a specific Bible passage or topic you want to study during your fast. Look for verses you want to memorize and meditate upon

A fasting program ought to include prayer, intercession, reading of God’s word (i.e. one way of listening to God), allowing God to speak from within. It can also include worshipping him with songs of praise on multimedia or personally. Listening to or watching sermons focusing on areas you are burdened with is also edifying.

Allowing God to speak from within is not waiting to hear a strange voice. It is God speaking from within. His Spirit dwells in you so he speaks from within. You will be able to grasp matters in your life and the lives of others in ways you never perceived them before. That is God speaking to you and revealing His ways to you. What He says is always supported by scripture.

If it’s something contradicting scripture then it’s the voice of a stranger, Satan.Satan also speaks to our hearts with his temptations and appeal to the flesh. His voice can be recognised by its appeal to the flesh, the fallen nature and contradiction of what God has told us in His word.

Scripture also tells us to move out of our comfort zones and stretch our hands by giving to those who don’t have whatever basic needs we have. We share whatever resources we have with them and with extended family members that may be underprivileged.

Solomon, when writing the books of wisdom for Israel, made the point that a cord, or rope, braided with three strands is not easily broken (Eccles. 4:12). Likewise, when praying, and fasting, and giving, are practiced together in the life of a believer, it creates a type of threefold cord that is not easily broken.

Could we be missing our greatest breakthroughs because we fail to fast? Remember the thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and hundredfold return Jesus spoke of (Mark 4:8, 20)? Look at it this way: when you pray, you can release that thirtyfold return, but when both prayer and giving are part of your life, I believe that releases the sixtyfold blessing. But when all three – giving, praying, and fasting – are part of your life, that hundredfold return can be released!

For those with health limitations, it’s not wise to fast, depending on the severity of the illness that can be worsened through fasting. It is worth consulting your doctor for further assistance. The following groups are generally not recommended:

• People who are pregnant or breast-feeding, • Children and teenagers, since they are still growing and developing

(in the Bible only adults are known to have been permitted to fast), • People in their senior or elderly years, since their organs need a consistent flow of

body fluids and nutrients, • People who are recovering from illness, injury or surgery (operation), • People who are highly underweight, • People who have diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, heart disease, and other

chronic health problems.

The rest of us with healthy bodies, it’s merely a choice we make - to fast or not to fast.

FORESIGHTAND

INSIGHT

SPIRITUAL ANDCORPORATE CULTURE

OF DISCIPLINEAND FOCUS

INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP

WITH GOD

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PURPOSE

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APPRECIATION ANDMANIFESTATION OF THE

SUPERNATURAL ANDMIRACLES

OUR COUNTRYGOVERNMENTTHE CHURCHLEADERSHIP

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PROTECTIONAGAINST

ATTACKS FROMTHE ENEMY

17/01/2012 -1991 - EVDW