The 21 day Corporate fast will commence on Sunday 15^th January 2012 at sunset (6pm) and end on Saturday 4 February at sunset.

 

We want to encourage you to participate in a manner that is meaningful to you. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you in what way you should participate. You may choose to pray and fast all 21 days or fast one or two days a week. The main goal is that we all come together during this time, at the beginning of the year, to pray, fast and seek God.

 

As a church we will be praying for:

• A gift of evangelism to be poured out on us to bring in a harvest of souls
• The Prophetic to rise up in greater measure among our people
• Supernatural breakthrough for our church finances
• Supernatural breakthrough for the positioning and provision of our new place of worship to manifest in due season

 

WHY 21 DAYS?
One of the most significant victories in the life of the prophet Daniel is recorded in Daniel 9. While studying the prophecy of Jeremiah, Daniel discovered that Jeremiah had proclaimed that the Babylonian captivity would last seventy years, then the Hebrew exiles would return to Israel. Daniel looked at the calendar and discovered that the time was up – the seventy years had been fulfilled – but the Hebrew exiles were still in captivity.

Daniel prostrated himself before God and began to confess the sins of his people. While he was praying, God dispatched the archangel Gabriel from heaven to tell Daniel what would happen to his people. The revelation he received placed a burden on his heart that weighed so heavily upon him, that Daniel began to pray and fast until an answer came.

After 21 days of prayer and fasting, the angel of God appeared to Daniel and informed Daniel that God had heard his prayer the very first day he set himself to pray. However, unknown to him, the angel had been engaged in spiritual warfare and it was due to Daniel’s persistence in prayer and fasting that ultimately brought a spiritual breakthrough.

A devoted period of twenty-one days can make us sensitive to God’s activity in this world and allow us to appropriate the victory Jesus Christ has already accomplished in any and every area of our life.

WHY SHOULD I FAST?
• Do you desire a deeper, more intimate relationship with God?
• Do you want to increase your spiritual sensitivity in regards to the heart of God?
• Do you need to break free from bondages and strongholds that are holding you hostage?
• Do you have a friend or family member that needs to know Christ personally?
• Do you want to know God’s will for your life?
• Is there a dream inside you that only God can make possible?
• Are you in need of a healing or a miracle?
• Do you want to jumpstart your spiritual momentum for the New Year?

HOW TO BEGIN
Set your objective. Start with a clear goal. Be specific. Why are you fasting? Do you need spiritual renewal, guidance, physical healing, grace to handle a difficult situation, a financial breakthrough? Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. This will enable you to pray specifically and strategically.

PREPARING SPIRITUALLY
The foundation of prayer and fasting is repentance. Here are several things you can do to prepare your heart:

• Confess every sin the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Accept God’s forgiveness (1 John 1:9).
• Ask forgiveness from everyone you have hurt or offended. Forgive all of those who have hurt or offended you (Mark 11:25; Luke 11:4; 17:3-4).
• Ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).
• Surrender your life fully to the purpose and plan of God (Romans 12:1-2).
• Believe that God “rewards those who diligently seek The Lord” (Hebrews 11:6).
• Do not underestimate spiritual opposition. Satan will usually intensify his efforts when you devote yourself to prayer and fasting (Luke 4).
• Develop an accountability partner who will encourage you in your fast.
• Keep a journal during your fast. Write down specific insights God gives you from God’s Word, promises that you have claimed and answers to prayer that you receive.

DANIEL FAST RECOMMENDED FOODS

Whilst the fast is modelled on a Daniel fast, we are including white meat once a week on a Friday or Saturday - chicken or fish for those that find difficulty in getting enough variation in their proteins. Meat once a week (fish or chicken not fried), for those that are not able to substitute. Coffee (limit this to only one cup a day during your fast if you drink coffee - Bush tea is fine) / limited sugar only in coffee or tea. Those that can’t eat wholegrain (eg. if you suffer with IBS) this may be substituted with standard pasta once a week.

 

Please see list for foods in this fast, we do make an exception for those drinking coffee and tea as it is very personal and I don’t want this fast to become legalistic in any way, but it must be disciplined. Bear in mind, that the purpose of fasting is vast ie to get spiritual refreshing and vision, to get focussed, to know God’s will personally and corporately etc.

 

 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 legumes (canned or dried): pinto beans, split peas, lentils, black eyed peas, kidney beans, black beans, white beans

FRUITS: Apples, Apricots, Bananas, Blackberries, Blueberries, Cherries, Cranberries, Figs, Grapefruit, Grapes, Guava, Melon, Kiwi, Lemons, Limes, Mangoes, Nectarines, Papayas, Peaches, Pears, Pineapples, Plums, Prunes, Raisins, Raspberries, Strawberries,Tangerines, Watermelon, etc.

VEGETABLES (fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned): Artichokes, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chili Peppers, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Garlic, Ginger Root, Leeks, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Onions, Parsley, Potatoes, Radishes, Spinach, Sprouts, Squashes, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Zucchini

LIQUIDS: Water (as much as possible), Herbal (caffeine free) Tea, Natural Fruit Juices (sugar free recommended)

Seeds and Nuts

 

WHAT TO EXPECT
When you fast your body detoxifies, eliminating toxins from your system. This can cause mild discomfort such as headaches and irritability as your body withdraws from caffeine and sugars. Naturally, you will experience hunger pains. Most individuals also experience bad breath.

Fasting can position you to experience miraculous results. You are following the example of Jesus when you fast.

IMPORTANT: For maximum spiritual benefit, it is important that the time normally devoted to eating be given to prayer, Bible study and being alone with God. (If, due to your job, this is not possible, then be sure to make time to pray before or after work.) Pray often throughout the day. Spend time in Bible Study. Make personal praise and worship a priority. Spend time in solitude and get away from every distraction possible (television, radio, cell phones, computers, etc.)

 

The more time you spend alone with God, the more effective and meaningful your fast will be.