Fasting Guide

In Pursuit Of God 2010 The Dynamics of Faith “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing” 2 Thess 1:3.

Over the last few years, we have been led to set the month of June apart as a time for the church to specifically and diligently pursue a closer relationship with God. This initially started as a 3 day conference but has since metamorphosed into a month long period of prayer, fasting and teachings.

As we pursue a deeper relationship with God over 21 days, from 1st June to 21st June 2010, we will be exploring „the dynamics of Faith‟. Faith is the expected way of life for every Christian so it is essential that we gain knowledge about faith, and during this period we will be seeking to grow in new dimensions of Faith – Faith that will propel us into „New Territories‟. “……Have faith in God.” Mark 11:22.

“What do you mean, „if I can‟? Jesus said. Anything is possible if a person believes”. Mark 9:23

Growing through ‘The Word’ As we pursue God in this month, we will seek to enrich our souls through the study of the word. We therefore encourage you to spend an increased time in personal study of the Bible and to also attend the daily teachings in church. We will meet to pray every day in church from 7.00 – 9.00pm, except Sundays.

“So Faith comes by hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ” Rom 10:17 We are privileged to have the following guest ministers with us to expound the word during this period:

Revd Joe Olaiya, Living Faith Foundation, Nigeria Pastor Leke Sanusi, RCCG Victory House, UK Revd George Adegboye, Rhema International Church Dr Okey Onuzo, Foursquare Bible Church

Growing through Prayer Everyone is encouraged to spend even more time in prayer as we pursue God diligently this month.

In addition to our personal prayer times, corporate prayer meetings will also be taking place in church at the following times:

Monday to Friday

Saturday

6.30am – 7.30am

7.00am – 9.00am

1.00pm – 2.00pm

7.00pm – 9.00pm

7.00pm – 9.00pm IPOG 2010 – Dynamics of Faith

1st June – 21stJune 2010

In Pursuit Of God 2010 The Dynamics of Faith Growing through Fasting Fasting is the act of abstaining from any form of physical gratification as a means to achieving spiritual benefits.

A fast is an act of submission and consecration to God. Fasting allows the spirit of a man to become more sensitive to the Spirit of God by weakening the flesh but empowering the spirit. Hence we are more spiritually sensitive and we are able to hear God more clearly. It also helps our prayers become more effective and in tune with God‟s will.

A fast is expected to be accompanied by prayer, meditation/reading of the Word of God and worship i.e. any activity that seeks the face of God. Fasting must also be embarked upon with the right motives and the right attitude, otherwise it is not acceptable to God, and no more than a hunger strike or weight loss project. Isaiah 58 sheds light on the true fast - it encourages humility, loosens the chains of injustice, unties the chords of the yoke, frees the oppressed, feeds the hungry, provides for the poor, and clothes the naked.

Fasting Guidelines For this fast, we will be abstaining from foods everyday in any of the following ways:   

Abstaining from food everyday from 6am to 6pm (minimum participation) For those who are able to, you are welcome to abstain from food i.e. take liquids only, for periods of time i.e. 3, 7, 14 days etc interspersed with the minimum requirement of breaking at 6pm each day.

And for those who are able to, you are welcome to abstain from food i.e. take liquids only for the entirety of the fast i.e. from 1st -21st June.

Scriptures on Faith: “Without faith it is impossible to please God, for those who come to Him must believe that He exists, and that he rewards those who diligently seek him” (He 11:6). `Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and never doubt, you will ... say to this mountain, `Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and it will be done. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith!” (Mt 21:21 22).

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 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 1 Pet 1:6-7 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one Eph 6:16 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see Heb 11:1 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all Rom 4:16

...but the righteous will live by his faith Habakkuk 2:4b Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ Romans 5:1

IPOG 2010 – Dynamics of Faith

1st June – 21stJune 2010