Feasting &  Fasting

We are called to remember the presence of Jesus with the Table of the Lord, or Communion, and we are also called to to seek Him with prayer and at times, fasting.  We are excited for all that God has for us through this time!

"I felt impressed by the Lord for our church to have a three day focus on prayer and fasting during the day and communion in the evening for three days.  The purpose is to simply draw near to the Lord.  We invite you to join us on this "Drawing Near to the Lord" focus this Passion Week (the week prior to Resurrection Sunday) with prayer, fasting and communion."                                                                              - Pastor Isaac Hernandez

       JAMES 4:7-8a NIV - Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you…

           Here are some ways you can connect with the Lord during your times with Him:

• Prayer: Pray and ask God to reveal Himself to you in deeper ways.  Pour out your heart before Him and let Him hear your voice in prayer.  
• Worship: Singing is not just for corporate gatherings.  Honor Him with your own song or play worship/soaking music to praise Him.
• Thanksgiving:  Be thankful!  Spend time thanking Him for His faithfulness and goodness in your life. Thankfulness changes our perspectives, renews our minds and catapults our faith!
• Reading & Meditating on the Word of God: Rehearse the scriptures and promises of God.  Pray and declare them over your life.
• Listen: Practice listening to the Lord.  What is He saying to you during this time?
• Journaling: Journaling is a powerful way to pray and share your heart with the Lord.  You can also write down what you feel the Lord is saying back to you.  
• Praying in your Spiritual Prayer Language: The Bible says we build ourselves up in most holy faith by praying in the Spirit.

THE FOCUS OF THESE DAYS OF PRAYER, FASTING AND COMMUNION IS DRAWING NEAR TO THE LORD

   SCHEDULE OF DAYS:

• March 31st - Start with communion in the evening (no call to fast during the day).

• April 1st - Fast and pray during the daytime, in the evening break the fast with communion.

• April 2nd - Fast and pray during the daytime, in the evening break the fast with communion.

• April 3rd (Good Friday) - Fast and pray during the daytime, in the evening break the fast with communion.

FASTING

*Before fasting from food, please consult your doctor if you have a health condition or concern. We would never encourage you to put your health at risk or stop taking medications.  

OPTIONAL WAYS TO FAST:

• Food/Certain Meals:  Pray during the time you would normally eat during the day or even just one meal a day.
• Daniel-type fast: Fruit and vegetables only.
• Media fast: Pray during times you would normally be on social media or watching television.
• Other fasting ideas: Fasting however the Lord leads you. This could be hobbies or other extra-curricular activities you would normally spend time on.

*Remember the focus of fasting is not so much the denial of food, but the focus on prayer, and drawing near to the Lord.

 Matthew 6:16-18 - “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

PRAYER

We are going to be seeking the Lord in prayer, specifically drawing near to him knowing he promises to draw near to us!  When you are with the Lord amazing things happen, you may feel him impress something upon your spirit, you might hear an encouraging word, you could experience a healing, He might bring breakthrough in a situation you are facing.  We just want to receive whatever he wants to bring, and his presence with us is the greatest privilege we have because of Jesus finished work on the cross.  We want to seek Him first!

1 John 5:14-15 - This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

Matthew 7:7-8 - Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And the door will be opened for everyone who knocks.

COMMUNION

1 Corinthians 11:23-25 - For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

 We are following Jesus' instruction to his disciples to take the table of the Lord, the bread and the wine (or juice) and remember him, and also in that remembrance we also remind God of his covenant with us and the promises that go with it that we are believing for, especially healing!

 Isaiah 53:5 - But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.