Personal Devotional Guide
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S PART OF OUR GAME CHANGERS CAMPAIGN, we will go through a 21-Day prayer devotional to accompany a 21-Day Fast.
The devotional will cover topics on vision, unity, faith, prayer and giving—positioning us to be the world changers that God designed us to be. The 21-Day fasting and prayer will cover every aspect of our transition in prayer. Together, we will ask God for His favor and grace. Remember that God can do anything!
God can do ANYTHING you know—
far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! Ephesians 3:20 MV
Prayer O
ur prayer for you over the next 21 days is that your passion for God and His word will be ignited, and that you will develop a heart that captures and lives God’s dreams for you. As you read these daily devotionals, keep in mind the following three things: ■ Read daily ■ Read prayerfully ■ Read expectantly
A great, simple way to journal your devotions is to use the SOAP method.*
S O A P
SOAP stands for: Scripture Read the daily passage and then identify a scripture from the passage that stands out to you. Observation Focus on that scripture and ask the Holy Spirit to show you what God is saying. Application How does this apply to your life right now? Prayer Thank God for revealing His truths to you. Remember, prayer is a two-way conversation, so listen for what God wants to say to you. *Author Wayne Cordeiro
We encourage you to read the passages and prepare your own SOAP in addition to what has been provided. God will definitely reveal Himself and His purposes to you— He is eager to.
WHAT IS A DANIEL FAST? In the book of Daniel, we find two different times where Daniel fasted. In Chapter 1, he only ate vegetables and drank water. In Chapter 10, while it doesn’t state what specific diet he was on, it does state he ate no rich (choice) foods, as well as no meat or wine. Based on these two scenarios, we can say that either of these, or combinations of them, constitutes a Daniel Fast. It is important to know that there is nothing inherently more spiritual about one type of fast over the other. It is an intentional decision to deny yourself of pleasure in order to concentrate and focus on God’s word, prayer and worship. Over the next 21 days, as a church, we are going to be strategically fasting and praying for the impact i5 CHURCH will make locally and throughout the world. Pray especially as we transition to our next location.
FASTING GUIDE Our food menu is going to be: ■ Rice ■ Beans ■ Vegetables ■ Fish This means, the following foods are discouraged: ■ All meat and animal products including, but not limited to, beef, lamb, pork, and poultry. ■ All dairy products including but not limited to, milk, cheese, cream, butter, and eggs. ■ All sweeteners including, but not limited to, 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 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.
Daniel Fast Sample Menu: FRUITS, VEGETABLES, JUICES AND WATER
MODIFIED DANIEL FAST
BREAKFAST
1-2 servings whole grains with fresh fruit juice
Fruit smoothie with whey protein
MID-MORNING SNACK Fresh fruit or fresh vegetables
LUNCH Raw vegetable salad with light, organic dressing and vegetable broth soup
MID-AFTERNOON SNACK Fresh fruit or fresh vegetables
DINNER Fresh salad with light, organic dressing and steamed or grilled vegetables
WATER Drink plenty of water - at least 100 ounces No meat
NOTE ■ If
you have a medical condition that restricts you, talk to your doctor and make sure you are cleared for this. ■ Should you decide you want a more intensive fast, feel free to adapt our recommendation to suite your needs. For example, you could decide to do a dry fast all day and end with just water, juice or a small meal.
BREAKFAST MID-MORNING SNACK Fresh fruit or fresh chopped vegetables
LUNCH 1-2 servings whole grains, fresh salad with legumes and light organic dressing
MID-AFTERNOON SNACK Fresh fruit juice or fruit smoothie with whey protein
DINNER 1-2 whole grains: fresh salad with legumes & light, organic dressing
WATER Drink plenty of water - at least 100 ounces Fish or chicken, grilled or baked
HELPFUL FASTING TIPS: ■ Keep your fridge and pantry stocked with the items you need. ■ Keep tempting foods out of sight and out of reach. ■ If you are fasting with friends and family, you may want to discuss the devotional, Sunday messages or what God showed you as a group. ■ Don’t get discouraged if you mess up. God’s mercies are new every morning (Lam. 3:22-23). God wants you to finish, and He will give you the grace to.
WEEK 1: GAME-CHANGING FAITH OCTOBER 19 – 25
Faith is our currency with God. When we have faith in Him, we move Him to work on our behalf. In this series of devotions, we explore the concept of faith, how we can have faith and how we can expand our faith to reach for more in God.
PERSONAL
DEVOTION -noun
1. The act of making room for God to speak to us through His Word.
2. Listening for God’s voice (vital to experiencing a God-first life.)
-verb
1. Reading the Word and discovering the character of God, then applying Scriptures in real-time.
DAY 1 ❏ OCTOBER 19 You may be grappling with the question, “Who am I to be a game changer?” You may see yourself as ordinary and here to live an ordinary, normal, status quo life. Or you may know and love God and believe the extent of your life is to go to church, read your Bible, pray, and treat people well. All of that is well and good; however, there is so much more for each of us as followers of Jesus. He asks us the question in return, “Who are you NOT to be a game changer?!” Because of His love for us and His divine imprint on our lives, we have the great calling to step out in faith and truly become those who change the world around us in big, dynamic, and lasting ways. Hebrews 11, known best as the faith chapter in the Bible, starts off by defining what faith is. “Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen.” What does that mean? It assures us of those things we hope for, and convinces us of things we have never seen. We have never seen Jesus face to face. We’ve PRAYER GUIDE Begin by asking God to help you to see yourself the way He does. Ask Him to increase your faith in what you do not see and to believe wholeheartedly. Make up in your mind and heart that you are called to impact
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never seen a mass body of water separated and turn into dry land. We’ve never seen tongues of fire above people’s heads, and we’ve never seen anyone walk on water. BUT this faith we have assures us that Jesus is real, that miracles happen every day, that The Holy Spirit lives inside of us, and that we can participate in the supernatural. YOU are more than qualified to change the game, in fact being a child of God gives you an all-access pass to do so! READ Hebrews 11:1,2 (MSG) “The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.” Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” this world in big and small ways. Memorize Hebrews 11:1. 21-DAY FASTING AND PRAYER Pray for the continued clarity of God’s vision for us, and our unity as i5 CHURCH.
DAY 2 ❏ OCTOBER 20 We have a mission that can only be accomplished through authentic faith in Jesus. When Jesus walked the earth, He was always breaking the norm, challenging tradition and yet establishing the Kingdom of God, extending radical love and forgiveness. As those who are His legacy, we are called to break the norm. We are called to change the game through our faith. Jesus says in John 14, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” These words were spoken by the very one in whom we place our faith. He said two key things we need to keep in mind. One, our faith in Him will cause us to do what He did. He performed miracles, He cast out demons, and He loved and forgave without measure. We can do what we see Jesus doing because He gave us His authority to. Secondly, Jesus says we will do GREATER things than He did.
READ John 14:10-15 (AMP) 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you I do not say on My own initiative or authority, but the Father, abiding continually in Me, does His works [His attesting miracles and acts of power]. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe [Me] because of the [very] works themselves [which you have witnessed]. 12 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, anyone who believes in Me [as Savior] will also do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these [in extent and outreach], because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in My name [[a]as My representative], this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified and celebrated in the Son. 14 If you ask Me anything in My name [as My representative], I will do it. 15 “If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments.
PRAYER GUIDE Ask God to give you the boldness and courage necessary to walk in game-changing faith. Then go and use this faith you have received to influence your life and the world for Jesus. Your faith grows by using it. 21-DAY FASTING AND PRAYER Pray for the leadership of i5 CHURCH. Pray that every decision made in this transition will be forward, towards God’s dream for us.
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DAY 3 ❏ OCTOBER 21 Faith is activated by action. It is one thing to say we trust and believe God to do the impossible in our lives, but it is another to put action to our faith. “Faith without works is dead!” (James 2:17) The Bible also says that we walk (live out our daily lives) by faith and not by sight. So in spite of what things look like, we trust God, so much so that we are willing to put action to our belief. What does activated faith look like? It’s paying your tithe, even when you don’t have enough to pay your cell phone bill. It looks like applying for a job you aren’t qualified for. It means forgiving someone knowing you may never get an apology. It looks like buying baby clothes
PRAYER GUIDE What action steps can you take today in faith? Ask God to give you boldness and desire to step out. Picture Jesus with you as you take faith steps, never leaving you and empowering you along the way. Thank Him in advance for answering these prayers.
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even though you haven’t conceived yet. It looks like choosing to believe God loves you and beginning to love yourself. It looks like quitting your job and starting your own business. These and many other action steps demonstrate our faith in what God has called us to do. But until you do, your faith is lifeless, an empty suit. But once you do, it’s living, breathing and something of true substance, something that pleases God. READ James 2:20-24 2 Corinthians 5:7-9 (AMP) - “..For we walk by faith, not by sight [living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises].”
21-DAY FASTING AND PRAYER Pray for every family at i5 CHURCH. Pray for unity, love and forgiveness to permeate any difficult circumstances any families might be facing.
DAY 4 ❏ OCTOBER 22 Faith is a precious gift. We as humans are the crown and glory of all creation. We are made in the very image of God and have been given the ability to do what nothing or no one else can. We can choose to believe. All other things and beings created do not get this choice for they know God, and that is the end of it. We have the will to choose to believe. How much more beautiful, rich, and valuable is it when we choose to believe? Our faith is a gift from God, to be guarded along with our heart, our vision, etc. Without faith, we wouldn’t know the majesty of God, we would not experience His glorious presence, and our lives would be one dimensional, hopeless fragments of being. To God, that would never do! He has given us game-changing faith, to believe that nothing is too hard for Him and that impossibility is just a word to be proven wrong. Cherish this gift
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you have been given and continue to walk in it today and always. READ 1 Peter 1:7 “These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” PRAYER GUIDE Today, reflect on the gift of faith. Think about how your life has been richly blessed because of it and worship God with that in mind. 21-DAY FASTING AND PRAYER Pray for every business and business owner at i5 CHURCH. Pray that God’s favor increases their efforts and accelerates their increase.
DAY 5 ❏ OCTOBER 23 Faith causes us to live for God. It enables us to overcome evil. Part of the promise we have from God is the authority to overcome evil. Our faith-filled belief in Jesus is a stand against the enemy and his works. Our faith is also an impenetrable shield, protecting us from the fiery darts of the enemy. It is a part of the holy armor that God has given us to stand firm against evil, “Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” (Ephesians 6:16). The entire armor of God is important, but the part set apart and designed to protect us is our shield of faith. With it, the darts that come at us have no access. So take courage, knowing that your faith in Jesus is more than
a statement. It is multifaceted enough to help you overcome the enemy and protect you against evil. READ 1 John 5:5 “Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” Ephesians 6:10-17 PRAYER GUIDE Reestablish your faith in prayer today. Declare out loud your belief in Jesus, the Son of God and all that you know to be true as a believer. Doing this will reinforce your shield and serve as a reminder of who you are and what you can do through faith.
21-DAY FASTING AND PRAYER Pray that God brings the people necessary to help us achieve His dream for us. Pray that God activates the people already with us and attracts the people who haven’t joined us yet.
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DAY 6 ❏ OCTOBER 24 Need some encouragement in your gamechanging faith? Let’s head back to Hebrews 11 where there are numerous examples of faith: Abraham, Noah, Enoch, Abel, etc. At the time of their faith moments, these people did not know their lives would be documented forever as pillars of faith, they just trusted and obeyed God. They didn’t know how the story would play out; they just chose to act. Take some time to read through Hebrews 11 and let it breathe encouraging life into your faith walk. Through Christ, you can do anything!
READ Hebrews 11 Philippians 4:13 (AMP) “I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace].” PRAYER GUIDE Though your faith is unique to you, ask God to inspire you through the people you read about today. Thank Him for knowing the result and for being a good God, who is more than able to sustain you and bless you.
21-DAY FASTING AND PRAYER Pray that God accelerates our favor with the people of Fort Meade and Howard County. Pray that Councilmen, Businessmen, government officials and residents will go out of their way to help us fulfill God’s vision for us.
NOTES
DAY 7 ❏ OCTOBER 25 Faith is a growth process and is used to build our character. Pastor Rick Warren shares six steps in the process of growing in faith: “First, God gives you a dream for your life. Second, you have to make a decision about it. The third stage is delay, where you wait for God to work in His time. The fourth stage is difficulty, where God tests you. Then, you might reach a dead end, which will make you want to give up. In the end, God always brings you to deliverance, the final stage of his six phases of faith.” No matter where you are in the faith
PRAYER GUIDE Talk to God about where you are in your faith process. Ask Him to strengthen you to endure and trust Him. Allow Him to show you the end goal, a picture of maturity and spiritual effectiveness.
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growing, be encouraged to trust God with the process. Since God is in the business of developing us into healthy children, He provides opportunities for us to be tested and to triumph. He loves us enough to mature us, making us more and more like His Son, Jesus. READ • Mark 9:23 (GNT) “Everything is possible for the person who has faith.” • James 1:3 “...The testing of your faith produces perseverance.” • Romans 15: 13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
21-DAY FASTING AND PRAYER Pray that God will send us the right contractors and vendors we need for the construction of our new facility. Pray that there will be no tales of deception or fraud.
WEEK 2: GAME-CHANGING PRAYER OCTOBER 26 – NOVEMBER 1
Prayer changes things, but I think prayer should change us more than we let on. In this series of devotions we look at the different kinds of prayers, how we can make prayer a part of our lives, and more importantly, how we can become prayers ourselves. Prayer doesn’t always bring the answers we want, but it makes us more like Jesus.
#i5GameChangers
DAY 1 ❏ OCTOBER 26
enters into your midst and positions Himself in your favor. Imagine your prayers for freedom in your region causing chains to fall off of people One of the first things you need to know about and scatter demons in the name of Jesus. game-changing prayer is that it starts in the Seeing these images begins to turn our words spirit realm. Often when we live our day to day into game-changing, atmosphere-shifting, and lives and have our daily times of prayer, we kingdom-establishing prayers. Remember forget what is happening in the Spirit when we when you pray, it starts in the spirit realm and pray. For a moment, let’s use our imagination in due time--God’s time--it will show itself in and peel back the veil of what we see and what you can see. peek into what we cannot see. Imagine as you pray, warring angels with gigantic wing spans READ and valiant swords fighting on your behalf. Colossians 4:2 “Devote yourselves to prayer, Imagine legions of angels surrounding your being watchful and thankful.” home, protecting you and your family. When you speak prayers of thanksgiving, the doors Psalm 145:18 “The Lord is near to all who call to heaven open and release blessings. As on him, to all who call on him in truth.” you declare who God is, your belt of truth is strengthened. As you send up worship-filled Matthew 21:22 “If you believe, you will prayers, the King of Glory—God Himself— receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
PRAYER GUIDE As you imagine what prayer does, take time today to pray for your family, pray for i5 CHURCH, and pray for our nation. Ask God to act on your faith-filled prayers and thank Him in advance for moving. See your prayers going into the spirit realm, accomplishing what you sent them out to do.
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21-DAY FASTING AND PRAYER Pray that God will open doors of providential relationships for every family at i5 CHURCH. Pray that people will go out of their way to make life easy for everyone who calls i5 CHURCH home.
DAY 2 ❏ OCTOBER 27 Prayer should reflect what already exists in heaven. The model prayer Jesus taught His followers says, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10). Jesus wanted to show us that our prayers should always be Kingdom driven, and heaven minded. God’s will is perfect in action in heaven. Unfortunately, that is not true on earth. That is why we ask God for His perfect and pleasing will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. This heavenly will is individual and specific as well as corporate and global.
READ Matthew 6:9-13 PRAYER GUIDE Think about what you know to be true about heaven and ask God bring those things—His heavenly will—to earth in your life and within i5 CHURCH.
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You can pray the will of God to happen in a specific situation and also pray God’s will to be done in every situation across the globe. This kind of prayer begins by spending time with God so He can show you what His heavenly will is. It takes practice and consistency, so keep at it. To get you started, think about what you know about heaven: there is no sickness, there is no darkness, it is beautiful beyond description, there is perfect peace and joy, there is no sin, and the enemy has no authority there. Pray from what you know about heaven and watch as God gives you new revelation and vision to fuel your prayers.
21-DAY FASTING AND PRAYER Pray that everyone in i5 CHURCH is financially buoyant and stable enough. Pray that God causes a spirit of generosity to fill i5 CHURCH and stir the heart of people to give towards God’s dream for us.
DAY 3 ❏ OCTOBER 28 God wears a suit and it’s you. Everything God wants to do on earth requires people. It requires you. God chooses to take on earthly suits in us to answer prayers. Knowing this takes our heaven-minded prayers and turns them into action. It’s that simple, yet that profound. Imagine if we all were in God’s wardrobe. He is looking for just the right ‘suit’ to wear for a specific prayer, and He spots you. He sees your gifts, your willingness, and your heart to impact and chooses you. You’re the one He wants to use to bring heaven to earth. Now with the same eagerness you prayed, will you now be God’s earth suit? Will you put into action God’s will on earth as it is in heaven? What an honor to know God thinks highly of you and trusts you! He sees so much value in
PRAYER GUIDE Ask God to use you today. Be open to whatever He may lead you to do, knowing He is with you, leading you to be a game changer!
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who you are and wants to display who He is through you today and tomorrow. He can’t wait to say this to you: “Well done my good and faithful servant!” READ 1 John 3:16-18 “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” Matthew 25:23 (NLT) “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
21-DAY FASTING AND PRAYER Pray that God gives the leadership of i5 CHURCH unique and creative strategies to deliver His heart for us. Pray that Pastor Jimmy and the staff will not make any mistakes or take any wrong turns.
DAY 4 ❏ OCTOBER 29 Game Changers pray risky prayers! When was the last time you asked God for something ridiculous? Not a prayer for the sky to pour down free tacos, but a prayer so audacious and crazy only God could be the one to answer it. Mark Batterson, Author of The Circle Maker, has this to say about crazy prayers: “Bold prayers honor God, and God honors bold prayers. God isn’t offended by your biggest dreams or boldest prayers. He is offended by anything less. If your prayers aren’t impossible to you, they are insulting to God.” And even more gripping: “The greatest tragedy in life is the prayers that go unanswered because they go unasked.” Think about it. God says He can do anything,
PRAYER GUIDE It’s time to ask God for the audacious and impossible. He already knows it’s there and is postured with a listening ear. It may not come in ways you expect or in your timing, but praying these prayers is first to trust God enough to ask them. Take the time to write down these prayers and bring them to God as often as you are led to.
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that nothing is too hard for Him, and that if we ask anything according to His will he hears us and will answer us. Why would we pray anything less than bold, audacious prayers? Couple this truth with yesterday’s challenge to be an answered prayer, and you have a recipe for God to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all you could ever ask or think. Living this way invites the supernatural to be your new normal, and you get to see heaven come to earth. READ Ephesians 3:20-21 (MSG) “God can do anything, you know far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!” 1 John 5:14, 15 (NLT) “And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.”
21-DAY FASTING AND PRAYER Pray that we all develop a supernatural spiritual burden for the people of Howard County and Maryland as a whole. Pray that everyone at i5 CHURCH takes ownership of the vision that God has given us.
DAY 5 ❏ OCTOBER 30 Prayer takes agreement with other believers. Tying game-changing prayer to our previous discoveries with game-changing unity, we see why agreement with other believers is so important with God. Jesus was clear when He said, “When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action.” (Matthew 18). This prayer model shows us that if we can agree in prayer about anything on earth as followers of Jesus Christ, our Heavenly Father goes into action. He gets busy seeing to what was asked of Him. God loves nothing more than seeing His children coming together, combining their faith, and seeking Him for one another’s needs, and for the sake of building His Kingdom. PRAYER GUIDE Today, connect with another believer and pray for one another. Share your needs and what you believe God for. Thank God for hearing your prayers and giving you tools to pray effectively.
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Do you have a prayer need? Call up someone on your team or group. Talk to another believer and pray together. Come together on a regular basis and seek God for one another. Start prayer times with your family. Invite your children to pray with you. Come together, and see God swing into action. READ Matthew 18:18-20 (MSG) “Take this most seriously: A yes on earth is yes in heaven; a no on earth is no in heaven. What you say to one another is eternal. I mean this. When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.”
21-DAY FASTING AND PRAYER As God leads you, pray for the residents and officials of Howard, Arundel and PG Counties.
DAY 6 ❏ OCTOBER 31 We can hinder our prayers by the way we live, what we say, and the posture of our mind and hearts. Here are some things to refrain from: ⊲ Selfish motives ⊲ Unforgiveness ⊲ Doubt ⊲ Unresolved conflict in relationships ⊲ Unconfessed sin ⊲ Disobedience ⊲ Turning away from the Word of God ⊲ Disunity ⊲ Complaining It’s likely that you may struggle with one or more areas. Do not live in condemnation or fear, but humbly come to God and allow Him forgive you and help you to move forward. He loves you, and His correction is to strengthen your Spirit and activate your prayers. PRAYER GUIDE If any of the above mentioned pricked your heart, you should submit them to God and ask the Holy Spirit to help you overcome these things so that your prayer life can be life-giving and effective.
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READ James 4:3 - “And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.” Mark 11:25 - “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” Psalm 66:18 - “If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” James 1:6, 7 - “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.” 1 John 1:9 - “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
21-DAY FASTING AND PRAYER As God leads you, pray for the pastor and leaders of the churches in Howard, Arundel and PG Counties.
DAY 7 ❏ NOVEMBER 1 Prayer changes things. That’s easy to believe because we see mountains move, the sun stand still, seas part, children get healed, and barren women carry their babies. But there is an aspect of prayer that we sometimes neglect. More importantly, prayer changes us more than it changes things. Prayer is God’s conduit to mature us for our next level of relationship with him. In John 11:1-44, we see a story of the death of Lazarus, a friend of Jesus. While he was still sick, Lazarus’ sisters sent a message to Jesus to come and heal their brother. For reasons best known to Jesus, He waited till His friend died. On the surface, it might look mean and insensitive, but underneath all the emotions, Jesus was trying to move this family to another
PRAYER GUIDE Ask God to help you to embrace the challenge to go deeper and wider in him when we are faced with difficult circumstances. Ask for courage and staying-power when every ounce of our body is asking us to give up.
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level of faith and trust in Him. At this point they could trust Jesus to heal, but could they trust Him to raise the dead? In their conversation when Jesus arrived their home, it was evident they didn’t believe Jesus could raise their brother then. Guess whose faith moved to the next level when Lazarus was raised from the dead? Everyone who made a funny or sarcastic comment learned firsthand of the power of God to raise the dead. The sisters moved from a healing-faith to resurrection-faith. Lazarus moved from death to life. When we pray, we must first be open to the work God wants to do in us and then believe Him to move in our challenging situations. READ John 11:1-44
21-DAY FASTING AND PRAYER Pray that God increases the impact of all our outreach efforts across the state. Pray that God gives us creative ideas for more impact.
WEEK 3: GAME-CHANGING GIVING NOVEMBER 2 - 8
Our generosity is God’s chief strategy to draw people to Him. God calls us light and salt. These work by influencing the things around them. That is what we have been called to do: Influence our surrounding. Our giving, and generosity has to move to the next level. In this series of devotions, we explore giving and generosity.
#i5GameChangers
DAY 1
❏ NOVEMBER 2
Giving is a matter of the heart. It likely stings when we read that last sentence, but it is a true statement. The reason we may or may not be generous lies solely on the posture of our heart towards generosity. Let’s start with the Source of giving - God. God so loved the world that He GAVE. God demonstrated the very essence of who He is when He chose to GIVE His son for us. He spared nothing, knowing it would cost Him everything, and yet saw it was worth it. He loved His Son Jesus, but He knew without His generosity, we would be lost forever. This is the same choice and posture we are now to have as those who benefit from His generosity - to be generous in return. As sons and daughters, our spiritual
PRAYER GUIDE Thank you, God, for providing Jesus as a means to freedom and life! Ask God to show you the posture of your heart toward being a giver. Ask Him to help you be a generous and cheerful giver, just like Him.
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DNA beckons us to give our time, resources, energy, love, money, talents and abilities. This giving is not out of obligation, but out of devotion and gratitude to the One, who gave first. Giving may not come to you naturally, but dust off that natural mind and heart and you will discover an authentic giver. READ John 3:16 ”For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” 2 Corinthians 9:7 “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
21-DAY FASTING AND PRAYER Pray that God already begins to release His attractional power to draw people from far and wide to His freeing power, using i5 CHURCH as a conduit and landing pad. Pray that God multiplies every effort we make to attract people to church and Him.
DAY 2
are meant to influence. Light boldly emits, banishing darkness and illuminating the way ❏ NOVEMBER 3 to God. Salt intentionally flavors, bringing out Giving is always about people. We addressed God’s wonderful goodness to those who taste and see Him. They—salt and light—have a yesterday that giving is a matter of the heart. relationship. One shows the way to God, and God loves people, He can’t get enough one shows His nature. Light allows others to of them, and since that is the object of His affection, being generous with people please see truth through what once was dark. Salt allows those who now see to taste of God’s God. goodness. If we operate us true salt and light, God has called us to be two very distinct it will always effect people and influence them things to people - SALT & LIGHT. Both of these in a beautiful God way. It’s why we are here!
READ Matthew 5:13-16 (encouraged to read the MSG and NIV versions) PRAYER GUIDE Take a minute to reflect on the first time you were introduced to this all-loving God. It was likely someone who influenced you in some way. Go back to those moments and ask God to refresh the desire in you to give. Ask Him
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to brighten your light and strengthen your salt. Ask Him to show you specific people He wants to influence through you. 21-DAY FASTING AND PRAYER Pray that there will be no uncompleted projects in this transition. Pray that we will not leave anything undone or unfinished. Pray that we have the strength and strategy to push this transition to the finish line.
DAY 3
order your morning latte and you sense the Holy Spirit nudge you to pay for the person ❏ NOVEMBER 4 behind you. As you obey, you feel the release Generosity is intentional. You can see now that of the love of God for that person, and you giving is not only a matter of the heart towards now have turned an ordinary morning, into a divine God moment. It affects the person you people but it’s also about focus and thought. paid for; it affects the person at the register. It God knows the needs of those around you may even affect anyone who noticed. It also and wants to give you a “heads up” on how affects you. Giving what you have may not and when to give. He wants to lead you and always be as simple as this example, but done help you understand the why of your giving. intentionally makes a profound impact on Yes, it is about people, and that includes you. those around you, and eventually yourself. Giving done intentionally begins to change the READ way you see your time, money, relationships, and talents. A perfect and simple example Hebrews 4:7b, NLT “Today when you hear his of this is when you are in line at Starbucks to voice, don’t harden your hearts.”
PRAYER GUIDE Today is about listening. Listen in your time of prayer on how you can be intentional today. Listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. He WILL lead you to be generous if you let Him. And when He leads you, don’t resist or hesitate.
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21-DAY FASTING AND PRAYER Pray that God gives everyone at i5 CHURCH a deep and sincere desire for the presence and power of God. Pray that this desire is met with a manifested presence of God in our experiences and our homes.
DAY 4
❏ NOVEMBER 5
For a believer, Generosity isn’t optional. You do not get to opt out and leave it for someone else to do. It is God’s personal mandate for you specifically. Generosity defined is, “the quality of being kind and generous, giving plentifully and largely.” Generosity speaks to kindness, and we know that kindness is one of God’s very definitions of love (1 Corinthians 13:4). Our kindness and generosity should not be measured, but rather be in heaps and large
PRAYER GUIDE Pray that your generosity and kindness is unfettered and influences people for God. Ask God to provide you with opportunities to let your light shine before men.
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quantities! Generosity calls us to be kind, intentional, thoughtful, but it is never optional. God will always want you to be generous. Remember, it is not just defined by money, but in actions, in love, in time, in motive. We get to partner with God if this generous movement! We are literal conduits of His love. He has so richly blessed us in Christ Jesus and now we have a great responsibility to bless others in return. READ Matthew 5:16, NLT “In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
21-DAY FASTING AND PRAYER Pray that there is an increase in our experience of the miraculous in our lives and at i5 CHURCH. Pray that all through this transition we will experience miracles and wonders too numerous to count.
DAY 5
❏ NOVEMBER 6
Lack of generosity produces the opposite result. Have you ever been called stingy or have you ever been around a stingy person? It’s the worst! Often, lack of generosity is because somewhere in someone’s life they have experienced lack and never want to again. Naturally, we think conserving our time, energy, money, and talents will result in us having enough. When we decide NOT to give generously, it shows we do not trust God to provide for us. Lack of giving breeds selfcenteredness (opposite of God-centeredness) and makes even what we have, not enough. It hurts our relationship with God and others. God’s economy is backward, thus has the greatest potential to change the game. When PRAYER GUIDE Dear Lord, it is hard sometimes to give generously. I often do not feel like it or think I have enough to give. Help me to trust you with all that I have and all that I am, for it all belongs to you. Forgive me for any lack of generosity and help me to put on your nature, the nature of love in action. Thank you for a fresh start today to be a generous giver!
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we give, we open the door for generosity to be reciprocated. When you take care of others, God in turn takes care of your needs. READ Proverbs 28:22 “The stingy are eager to get rich and are unaware that poverty awaits them.” 2 Corinthians 9:6 “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” Luke 6:38 “Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back-given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.”
21-DAY FASTING AND PRAYER Pray for increased boldness to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our community. Pray that no one at i5 CHURCH is timid or will shy away from doing what has to be done to make Jesus famous.
DAY 6
may have given you increased favor at work so you can influence policies to implement God values in the workplace. God may have given you a bonus so you could afford to “Think this through with me. If I’ve been sponsor a child in another country. God may blessed more than the rest of the world, then it would stand to reason that God would want have given you an extra day off so you could me to care about the rest of the world.” Pastor spend time visiting with elderly patients at a local nursing home. God may have given you Rick Warren an approved credit score for a house because God brings increase to increase our He wants to make your home a safe place generosity. It’s that time of year again where for domestic violence victims. God always you receive your annual review at work. You gives us increase so that we can increase have done all you can to be a stellar employee our generosity. It will be important for us to and you are believing God for a raise. God remember that all we have belongs to Him, and blesses you with a raise, and now you have we have a responsibility to manage it faithfully more than enough to pay your bills, take care and obediently. of the needs of your family, and have some READ extra funds. What do you do with it? Would you save it for a vacation? Would you splurge Luke 12:48 “Much is required from the person on a new television or surround sound? Would to whom much is given; much more is required you pay off debt? Would you give it away? from the person to whom much more is given.”
❏ NOVEMBER 7
Being a game changing giver may require that some or all of your increase goes back to sowing into others. God may have given you that raise because there is a friend on the team you serve on who has four children and is running out of food and diapers. Or He
2 Corinthians 9:8 “God is able to make it up to you by giving you everything you need and more so that there will not only be enough for your own needs but plenty left over to give joyfully to others.”
PRAYER GUIDE Where has God increased your life? How can you use this increase to bless others? Talk to God about this. Recommit all you have back to Him and allow Him to lead you on how you should give out of your increase.
21-DAY FASTING AND PRAYER Pray for our Lead Pastors: Jimmy and Irene Rollins. Pray that God continues to bind them together in love and marital bliss. Pray that God protects their children from all harm. Pray that God continues to strengthen their hands and hearts as they lead us towards God’s dream for us.
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DAY 7
❏ NOVEMBER 8
forward in the vision God has given. Pray for wisdom, discernment, and supernatural agreement.
And finally, dear brothers and sisters, on this last day of our Game Changers Devotional, there are a few final words that are fitting as you go forward, from some of our fellow game changers:
Ephesians 3:20, MSG ‘God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!’
2 Thessalonians 3:1 - “Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you.” We ask that you pray for the leadership of i5 CHURCH as we move
Numbers 6:24-26 - “May the Lord bless and protect you; may the Lord’s face radiate with joy because of you; may he be gracious to you, show you his favor, and give you his peace.” Go forward, with God’s favor and overwhelming love. You are a game changer, no GO and impact the world!
PRAYER GUIDE Thank God for trusting you to change the world in His name and by His grace. 21-DAY FASTING AND PRAYER Pray that everyone at i5 CHURCH has an overcoming spirit that makes us the city on a hill that Jesus speaks of in Matthew 5. Pray that this game changing spirit last beyond this period of fasting.
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Pray, commit & spread the word. Pray This is the easiest thing to ask for and the hardest to do. Join your church family in this prayer: Lord, what would you have me and my family do to accomplish your will at i5 CHURCH?
Commit Prayerfully consider a financial commitment, over and above your current giving, to achieve our goals. Your financial commitment can be given during the campaign, ending in December 2017. Every gift is important, and it will take all of us making our mark and changing the game.
LOCATION: 7595 MONTEVIDEO ROAD, JESSUP, MD 20794
COMMITMENT CARD SUNDAY: NOVEMBER 8 BIG GIVE SUNDAY: NOVEMBER 22
Be an Advocate Spread the word about what God is doing here at i5 CHURCH. Let your neighbors know we are making room for them. Learn about the need and the project. Read the materials and check out www.GameChangers.city and subscribe to the newsletter to stay up to date. It’s OK to ask questions. Send your questions to gamechangers@i5church.com
#i5GameChangers
The Next Two Years Over the next two years the GAME CHANGERS Campaign is going to be at the center of our endeavors at i5 CHURCH. This is more than a sermon series or brilliant idea. It is a reality and a journey towards God’s next for us as a church and our surrounding communities. We encourage you to subscribe on our website to receive email updates about our progress with transitioning our
church at www.gamechangers.city so that you don’t miss out on any thing. Keep doing practical things to change the game for the lives of the people you encounter each and every day. Don’t forget to post it on any social media platform and tag us using @i5church and #i5gamechangers. Let’s make Jesus famous. It’s time to make your mark and Change the Game!
P.O. Box 381 Odenton, MD 21113 410.672.4260 GameChangers.city