BREAKTHROUGH
Prayer & Fasting Guide January 17 – 26, 2021
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Contents PURPOSE................................................................................................................. 3 THREE COMMON BIBLICAL REASONS FOR FASTING ...................................... 3 BIBLE VERSES ON PRAYER AND FASTING ......................................................... 3 PREPARATION ........................................................................................................ 4 STEP 1 - SET YOUR OBJECTIVES ......................................................................... 4 STEP 2 - MAKE YOUR COMMITMENT ................................................................ 4 TYPES OF FASTING .......................................................................................... 4 STEP 3 - PREPARE YOURSELF SPIRITUALLY......................................................... 4 STEP 4 – PREPARE AND SUSTAIN YOURSELF PHYSICALLY ............................... 5 STEP 5 – PUT YOURSELF ON A SCHEDULE ......................................................... 6 STEP 6 – EXPECT RESULTS ................................................................................... 6 COMPLETION ......................................................................................................... 6 STEP 1 – GRADUALLY END YOUR FAST ............................................................. 6 STEP 2 – RECORD TESTIMONIES & INSIGHTS FROM THE LORD ....................... 7 2021 CORPORATE PRAYER POINTS ...................................................................... 8 PRAYER NIGHTS ................................................................................................... 10 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ........................................................................................ 10
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PURPOSE The Bible teaches us to fast and pray. It gives us examples of people who committed to fast in various ways and saw powerful results. Jesus Himself fasted and prayed, and so did Christ’s disciples after His resurrection.
THREE COMMON BIBLICAL REASONS FOR FASTING 1. For spiritual renewal, direction and/or revelation 2. For healing 3. For deliverance
BIBLE VERSES ON PRAYER AND FASTING • 2 Chronicles 7:14 • Daniel 9:3-5 • Joel 2:12 • Exodus 34:28 • Jonah 3:5-9 • Ezra 8:21-23 • Acts 13:3 • Isaiah 58:3-7 • 2 Samuel 1:12 • Daniel 10:3 • Esther 4:16 • Luke 2:37
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PREPARATION STEP 1 - SET YOUR OBJECTIVES Write down your personal and corporate (your church/campus) main prayer points.
STEP 2 - MAKE YOUR COMMITMENT Pray about the kind of fast you should undertake and make a commitment to do it. God’s grace empowers us as we commit to obey Him in prayer and fasting. TYPES OF FASTING
The following types of fast are commonly found in the Bible: 1. Sunrise to Sunset fast (Judges 20:26)
2. 3-Day Fasting of both food and water (Esther 4:16, Acts 9:9) 3. Water fast, no food (1 Sam. 31:13, Acts 27:33-34) 4. Daniel fast --- Fruits, vegetables, nuts, and water ONLY (Daniel 10:3) OR vegetables and water only (Daniel 1:12) Making a commitment ahead of time will help you sustain your fast when physical temptations and pressures tempt you to abandon it.
STEP 3 - PREPARE YOURSELF SPIRITUALLY The very foundation of prayer and fasting is repentance. Unconfessed sin will hinder your prayers. So how do we prepare spiritually? 1. Confess every sin and accept God’s forgiveness and cleansing. 1 John 1:9 4 | Page
2. Seek forgiveness from those you have offended and forgive all who have hurt you. Luke 17:3-4 3. Ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit according to His command and Promise. Eph.5:18 4. Meditate on God’s attributes and allow the Father’s love to increase in you while refraining from worldly pleasures. 1 John 2:15 5. Begin your time of prayer and fasting with an expectant heart. Hebrews 11:6 6. Do not underestimate the spiritual opposition you will face as you pray and fast. Luke 4:1-13
STEP 4 – PREPARE AND SUSTAIN YOURSELF PHYSICALLY Although fasting is primarily a spiritual discipline, it begins in the physical realm. You should NOT fast without specific physical preparation. So how do we prepare and sustain our bodies to go on a fast? 1. Consult your healthcare providers before committing to fast if you have pre-existing conditions. 2. Gradually ease into your fast by eating smaller meals days before you start. 3. Avoid fatty and sugary foods. 4. Eat raw fruit and vegetables at least two (2) days before a fast. 5. Rest as much as your schedule permits during your fast. 6. Drink lots of water. Avoid strong stimulants (i.e. caffeine) and sugary foods during your fast. Soy protein drinks have also been known to cause health issues during a fast. 5 | Page
What physical effects should you expect? 1. Hunger Pangs: These are greatest usually during the first three days of the fast. 2. Headaches or stomach aches may be a result of salt, sugar, or caffeine withdrawal. They can also be symptoms of detoxification as our body detoxifies during a fast.
STEP 5 – PUT YOURSELF ON A SCHEDULE To get the most spiritual benefits from your time of prayer and fasting, make sure to set a definite time alone with the Lord. Make it your “appointment with God” where you can meditate on His word, receive from His heart, and pray for all your personal and corporate prayer points.
STEP 6 – EXPECT RESULTS Praying and fasting in the spirit and attitude of humility and brokenness will heighten your awareness of God’s presence and cause you to gain fresh spiritual insights from His word.
COMPLETION STEP 1 – GRADUALLY END YOUR FAST Just as it is medically wise to gradually ease into the start of your fast, you must also gradually end your fast. Tip # 1:
Avoid feasting right after an extended fast (3 days or more)
Tip # 2:
Take smaller meals as you gradually ease back into your 6 | Page
regular eating routine/patterns Tip # 3:
Break extended water fasts by starting with low-acidic fruits or fruit juices and steamed vegetables
STEP 2 – RECORD TESTIMONIES & INSIGHTS FROM THE LORD ✓ Keep a prayer journal as you pray and fast. Expect to hear from God through His Word, dreams, and visions. ✓ Write down these impressions as well as any answered prayers or testimonies. ✓ Keep an eye out for any specific instructions or direction the Lord is showing you and share them with your spiritual leader(s) for accountability.
REFERENCES/SOURCES Much of the information in this guide can be found on various online resources: •
Greater New Hope Church & Ministries – 7 Basic Steps to Prayer & Fasting
•
Cru – Your Guide to Prayer and Fasting
•
International House of Prayer – Fasting Guidelines & Information
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2021 CORPORATE PRAYER POINTS 1. God will give each one a NEW HEART, a heart that yields and aligns itself to the Father’s will. “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.” Ezekiel 36:25-27 NLT 2. God’s people will be FILLED with and LED by the Holy Spirit. “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” Galatians 5:22-25 NLT 3. God’s people will HUNGER for and LIVE by God’s Word. “Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4 NIV 4. God will perform MIRACLES through His sons and daughters. “The Lord replied, “Listen, I am making a covenant with you in the presence of all your people. I will perform miracles that have never 8 | Page
been performed anywhere in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people around you will see the power of the Lord --- the awesome power I will display for you.” Exodus 34:10 NLT 5. God will bring HEALING to the sick and hurting. “He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping
all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you.” Exodus 15:26 NLT 6. God’s people will carry a BURDEN for the lost and GO into God’s HARVEST field. “In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.” Matthew 18:14 NLT “He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” Matthew 9:37-28 NLT 7. God’s people will be UNITED in mind and purpose. “I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no
divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.” 1 Corinthians 1:10 NLT 8. God’s ORDER will be established upon marriages and families. “Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord…Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…” Ephesians 5:22-26 NIV 9 | Page
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” --- which is the first commandment with a promise --- “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Ephesians 6:1-3
PRAYER NIGHTS From January 19 – 23 (Tuesday – Saturday), the following Networks will host a prayer night ONLINE. Please join according to the network you belong. We especially encourage parents to let their kids join the Children’s Prayer Night so they themselves can pray together. • Men’s Network – January 19 @ 7pm • Champion KIDZ – January 20 @ 7pm • CONNECT Women’s Network – January 21 @ 7pm • Momentum Youth – January 22 @ 6:30 pm • RISE Young Adults – January 23 @ 6:30 pm
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Champion Life Guelph wishes to thank the members of our Intercessors Ministry for helping organize our Breakthrough Prayer & Fasting and contributing to our corporate prayer points: • Angel Subang • Fatima Rodrigues • Ginelle Cruz • Jeanah Andres 10 | P a g e
Special thanks to our Network Coordinators for hosting the 5-night prayer sessions: • Men’s Network – Rene Abujan, Deodie Dador, and Gilbert Cruz • Champion KIDZ – Nerissa Dador • CONNECT Women’s Network – Lilian Abujan and Nelsa Cruz • Momentum Youth Network – Kristin Abujan • RISE Young Adults Network – Myla Abujan
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