Daniel Fast: Prayer, Fasting and Spiritual Renewal by Second Calvary Baptist Church

Church Theme for 2016:

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness The theme for the church is based on the reading of 3 John 1:2, “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.” The writer of 3 John was an elder in the ancient church. An elder was either a senior member or the primary leader of the congregation. In this case you may have been the leader of the congregation. Third John is a personal letter written primarily to a man named Gaius. We are not sure who he was nor do we have any details about his personal life. There has been some speculation about where this church was located and who the members of the church were. This letter was written primarily for the purpose of strengthening Gaius and encouraging him to continue serving the kingdom of God and assisting missionaries as they traveled. He expressed a strong desire to see him prosper, be in good health, and live a pure and holy life. These ideas are expressed by the words that are used in the passage. Over the course of the past year, we began to examine, study, and learn what it means to “reap the harvest.” This year, we will continue that examination and build upon what we have learned over the past twelve months. There are three fundamental aspects of this harvest: abundance, health, and holiness. Abundance refers to every aspect of the Bible’s use of the terms wealth, gifts, friendships, opportunities, and the like. Health refers to being in good health and doing the things necessary to remain healthy. Finally, holiness or soul prosperity has to do with the inner life. This month of consecration is about the inner life. The Greek word for “pray” or “wish” is a translation from a Greek word euchomai (pronounced: yoo—khom—ahee), a verb which means to desire strongly. It describes the act of expressing a wish or strong desire, especially through prayer. This verb originally meant “to speak out,” but later came to express a wish and therefore function in the context of prayer. In the New Testament (NT), it often means “to pray” or “to wish” to God (e.g., 2 Corinthians 13:7; James 5:16). The verb can also be used to express the act of deeply desiring something. An example of this use of euchomai is found in Romans 9:3, where Paul declares his desire to become accursed in order to save his fellow Israelites (taken from an article by Francesco Bianchi in The Lexham Theological Wordbook).

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

Seeking to Live the Prosperous Life For many people, prosperity is an elusive dream. It is something that they work extremely hard for all of their lives, only to be denied at every turn. What does it mean to be prosperous? How do we become prosperous? Is there something in the teaching of the Bible that points believers in the direction of prosperous living? God desires prosperity for each of us, but it has to happen on His terms and not ours. This does not mean rich beyond our wildest dreams, but prosperous. Being extremely wealthy has its advantages, but it has its drawbacks as well. Some of the simple freedoms and joys of life are not an option to people who are extremely wealthy. They have to be careful of who they are with and where they go. They can become a target. Wealth is one way to think about prosperity; it is not the only way. Further, the accumulation of things is not biblical prosperity. Let’s take a look at a few reasons why so many people never achieved prosperity. I want to give you several reasons based purely upon personal experience and observations of thirty-four and one-half years serving as a pastor:  First—the failure to put God first in every aspect of our lives.  Second—many people never make the connection between education/training and economic prosperity and security.  Third—failure to pay attention to changing economic and political trends that clearly impact our lives.  Fourth—assuming that things will make us happy, consequently we spend a lot of money and a great deal of time acquiring labels and new toys.  Fifth—failing to make real plans to become prosperous.  Sixth—not seeing the correlation between financial prosperity and sound money management and stewardship.  Eighth—failing to seek and to take financial advice from knowledgeable professionals.  Ninth—some people don’t really believe that the principles that work in one person’s will work in theirs.  Tenth—not taking the teachings of the Bible seriously when it comes to prosperity. Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

What is biblical prosperity? Prosperity as defined in the Bible means “to make progress, have success, or to advance.” Prosperity is always the result of some actions that we have taken. It is moving forward in life. Prosperity is having the capacity to finish whatever you set out to do successfully. In your professions you want to prosper—you want to advance and make progress. Look at the following three passages: 1. 2 Chronicles 31:32 (NASB)—Every work which he began in the service of the house of God in law and in commandment, seeking his God, he did with all his heart and prospered. 2. Joshua 1:8 (NASB)—This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. 3. Psalm 1:3 (NASB)—And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season, And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. Prosperity is described as making progress in the work of the Lord and thereby being blessed in those endeavors. In the second passage, prosperity is the result of being obedient to the plan of God for your life. Joshua was commanded to lead Israel into the Promised Land and that is where the blessing of the Lord would be realized. In the third passage, prospect is achieved because God blesses everything that the obedient man or woman does. Here is the point of this—biblical prosperity has everything to do with God and walking in the favor of God. Your life is blessed! To say that you have been blessed means that you acknowledge that God has allowed you to make progress in your profession or calling. To say that you have been blessed is to acknowledge that God has been the source of your good fortune.

Biblical Nugget: Never forget the source of your prosperity and good success.

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

Below is a multiplicity of definitions for prosperity, followed by teachings on prosperity found in the Word of God: 1. Prosperity is the capacity to maintain a healthy standard of living regardless of changes in the economy, interest rate hikes, inflation, recession, etc. 2. Prosperity is when you do not have to resort to all kinds of things that violate your moral principles to earn money. 3. Prosperity is when you have the resources to live for a sustained period of time without having to work. 4. Prosperity is when you can retire and do the things that you have dreamed of doing while you worked. 5. Prosperity is when your adult children are not a burden to you financially, because you taught them how to manage their money and resources. 6. Prosperity is when you can take advantage of investment opportunities that come along, which fuel even greater prosperity.

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

The Power of Prayer and Fasting January is a special month for the Second Calvary Baptist Church Family. Not only is it the beginning of the New Year, it is also the start of our period of spiritual cleansing and consecration. We have set this month aside as a time to pull always from our everyday pre-occupations and focus attention on drawing closer to the Lord God Almighty. Fasting is deliberately not eating food and in some cases not drinking water for the purpose of reaching a spiritual goal or achieving a spiritual purpose. The priority is not to be on food intake, but rather to submit our wills to God and allow Him to draw us into a place of heightened spiritual awareness.

January Bible Readings and Meditations All of our daily readings in January will come from the minor prophets in the Old Testamentâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. It is important to note that the difference between the major and minor Prophets is not a matter of importance, but of the amount of material written. All of them were inspired and authorized spokesmen for Almighty God, whether the message had to do with sin and righteousness in their own times or with events hundreds of years in the future. We find grace abounding in the Old Testament as well as in the New. Whether it was a message of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s impending wrath or punishment for an unfaithful Israel, the Minor Prophets also help us to see that there was a glorious message of future hope for Israel and for us.

At the end of our time of consecration and renewal we expect that the Lord will have worked miracles of healing, change, and restoration in the congregation. Joyfully anticipate and fully expect that at the end of this period, we will see a different spirit of worship, working, and willingness to serve in the ministry of Second Calvary Baptist Church.

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

Three Types of Fasts for January Fasting is reducing the amount of food or liquids consumed over a specified period of time. One does this either for medical reasons or for spiritual reasons. When one abstains from eating for medical reasons this is referred to as detoxification of the body through the limiting of food. Fasting is one of the means by which we develop a deeper life and faith in God. During the period in which one is fasting time is set aside for prayer, reading Scripture, and meditation. Sometimes persons will engage in doing good works as a part of their time of consecration. There are many different fasts that believers will follow during the course of quest for spiritual renewal and deep inner cleansing. There are three fasts that I want to suggest. First, there is a normal fast in which one may abstain from eating food although one may drink liquids over a specific time period. The second type is a partial fast which one limits the amount of food or liquids for a specific period of time. The third type of fast is an absolute fast wherein one ceases to eat or drink for a specified period of time. You should consult your family physician before beginning a fast. If there are severe medical reasons that will limit your ability to fast from food or water, you should not attempt to do this. Rather, look for other ways that you can fast or participate, such as limiting how much time you spend watching television or surfing the Internet. In September 2015, all members of the Ministry of Congregational Spirituality went on a ten-day Daniel Fast (a partial fast) in preparation for the 2016 prayer and fasting consecration period. Based on their experience, which was met with good success, the ministry strongly recommends that as a show of unity, Second Calvary Baptist Church utilizes the Daniel Fast (abstaining from all meat, dairy and sugar products) during its consecration period for the New Year. Members of the ministry reported the following results:  Makes one want to continue the Daniel Fast (no meat, no wine, no diary, no egg, no sugar)  Helps you focus on more prayer  Helps you determine/see what you can do without  When you stand your ground (committed to the fast), others in your household and around you are affected and sometimes will join you  Proves that if you are focused, God will bring you through—you can do without a lot of material things  Weight loss  Makes you feel like a different person

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

      

Strength Helps you develop and appreciate your quiet time Experienced breakthroughs, released some of the burdens, self-control Mental clarity Regularity was consistent Slept better Wanted to spend more time in the Word.

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

How to Do the Daniel Fast There are two references in the book of Daniel from which the "Daniel Fast" is drawn. Daniel, Chapter 1, describes how Daniel and his three friends ate and drank only vegetables and water. At the end of a 10-day trial period, Daniel and his friends appeared healthier than their peers who ate the rich foods from the royal table. In Daniel, Chapter 10, Daniel fasts, abstaining from "pleasant food," meat, and wine. You too can gain a healthier body and clearer mind by following this fast in moderation.

I - The Daniel Fast and Your Relationship to God Avoid Distractions. This is a sacred time between you and God, so as much as possible avoid secular television, social media/events, internet, and radio programs. They may tempt you to eat or do something that you are not supposed to do during the 21-day Daniel Fast. Your aim is to grow closer to God and these distractions tend to draw you away from God.

Start the day by focusing on your faith. Worship God through sacrifice and love Him more than His gifts.

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

Pray. Your days should be filled with unselfish prayer. During the fast, increase the frequency of your daily prayer time by a factor of three or more. You should meditate and pray in a quiet place for 10 minutes or more, reflecting on your life. You should reflect on your life, accomplishments and spiritual growth. This will help you not only accomplish your 21day Daniel Fast goal physically, but also gain mental peace and growth spiritually. Make Time. Reserve time with God during the day by studying the Bible.

The Daniel Fast is not only to help you achieve physical health, but also help you gain clarity through prayers to God.

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Guidance. Ask for God's guidance in your life.

II - Preparing for the Daniel Fast Lighter Meals. Make your meals somewhat lighter for a few days leading up to your fast. It's an especially good idea to reduce your intake of caffeine. Next, clear out your cupboards, refrigerators, etc. from meat products, fish, poultry, etc. Clear out the artificial foods and processed foods, like sugar products and flour. You need to abstain from 'rich food' just as Daniel abstained from the king's meal. Stock your cupboards and refrigerator with raw and whole foods like vegetables and fruits and high protein foods like beans, nuts and legumes. You can eat seeds like nuts, natural peanut butter, natural almond butter, sprouts, ground flax, whole grain products, etc. Get rid of all other beverages in the house and drink only water. Other than water, you can drink 100% natural fruit or vegetable juice you make from the fruit or vegetable of your choice, distilled water, spring water and filtered water.

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

Fruit & Vegetables. In the first Book of Daniel, the Prophet ate only vegetables and fruit, and drank only water for 10 days. A short rundown of acceptable foods includes:  All fruits and vegetables  All legumes  Whole grains  Nuts and seeds  Tofu  Herbs and spices.

Foods to Avoid. Conversely, there is also an agreed upon list of foods to avoid. Keep in mind that no artificial or processed foods or any chemicals are allowed in the Daniel Fast.  All meats and animal products  All dairy products  All deep fried foods  All solid fats.

Read Labels. Carefully read food labels. Foods often contain hidden ingredients. Make sure the foods you buy are compliant with the Daniel Fast.

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

III - The Daniel Fast 3 Things to Avoid. Daniel, chapter 10, the Prophet went on a 3-week fast. To quote the Bible, Daniel "ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine." With this fast the text specifically names three things to avoid:  Wine  All sweeteners (including honey)  All leavened bread. Exercise. Assess how you feel after the fast. If you feel more energetic and healthier, it is likely that you will want to keep up healthier eating habits. While reintroducing many of the items you've not had during the fast is inevitable, you may want to do so with greater consciousness for quality and portion size. And some things, like fried food and sugar are best kept to a new minimum.

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

Tips  Engage in lots of prayer; we need God's strength and guidance.  Keep your diet simple. Avoid highly processed foods in favor of simply prepared or raw foods.  If for any reason you eat something you should not have during the fast, it is better to ask for forgiveness and continue, than it is to stop the fast.  If you are experiencing weakness or headaches, drink at least 8 glasses of water each day. Often, we do not understand just how much our body needs water, especially when fasting.  Set a goal for how long you will do the fast. Ultimately, you may want to continue the Daniel Fast longer than first intended.  Have a healthy stash of nuts at work to avoid those co-workers who always want to feed you.  You may want to supplement your diet with a multi-vitamin.  Be careful not to drink too much water, however; too much liquid can be as bad as not enough.

Warnings  During the time of fasting, you will face temptations; resist them in the name of Jesus Christ.  When you have finished fasting, eat light meals and slowly build back up to your normal diet.

Things You Will Need  Bible  A place and time(s) to pray  Good variety of fruits and vegetables

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

Types of Fasting There are several types of fasting. The one you choose is between you and God. He will honor your best sacrifice:  Full Fast: Drink only liquids.  The Daniel Fast: Eat fruits and vegetables. Drink water and juice. NO meat, sweets and or bread.  Partial Fast: A partial fast is from 6:00 am to 3:00 pm or from sun up to sundown.

Scripture References for Fasting:  Matthew 6:16-18; Matthew 9:14-15; Luke 18:9-14 Relation to Prayer and Reading of the Word:  1 Samuel 1:6-8, 17-18; Nehemiah 1:4; Daniel 9:3, 20; Joel 2:12; Luke 2:37; Acts 10:30; Acts 13:2 Corporate Fasting:  1 Samuel 7:5-6; Ezra 8:21-23; Nehemiah 9:1-3; Joel 2:15-16; Jonah 3:5-10; Acts 27:33-37

Remember that it is the attitude of a heart sincerely seeking Him to which God responds with a blessing (Isaiah 58; Jeremiah 14:12; 1 Corinthians 8:8).

Timing for Praying & Fasting Two time periods are suggested for your period of fasting and prayer. The first is a partial fast of six hours (6 a.m.–12 noon) and second, is a full day fast of twelve hours (6:00 a.m.– 6:00 p.m.) You can decide which fast works for you. Feel free to modify your fast according to your spiritual, health, and physical needs.

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

Using and Following the Prayer and Fasting Guide Many people spend a great deal of their lives complaining and looking for reasons why other people are not what we believe they should be. Deep inner personal change is one of the most difficult things to do, yet if we are willing to embark upon the journey our lives, families, marriages, professions, and ministries will become so much more vibrant. During the next twenty-one days, we will embark together on a journey of spiritual renewal and growth. Here are the steps to follow to get the most out of this period:

1. Resolve to follow the plan for the full twenty-one days, even when it looks like you cannot fulfill it. Try not to miss a single day. 2. Read the daily reading and take notes or write down your observations from what you glean. 3. Resolve to participate in one of the daily fastsâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; 6 hour or 12 hours. If you cannot fast every day, resolve to fast every other day or every third day. Establish how you will proceed. Consider the Daniel Fast, which is a partial fast that consists of fruit, vegetables, and water only, and eliminates all meat, dairy and sugar products from the diet. Good results are guaranteed. 4. At the end of the devotional readings are suggestions for how to live out the biblical reading for that day. Look for ways that you can apply the message to your life in a personal way. Use SOAP daily to journal your progress. 5. Remember we seek to live our faith in the light of the teachings we can learn about Jesus from the gospels in the New Testament and from the prophets in the Old Testament. As we read the minor prophets and heed their warnings and messages of hope, we will take on the character of the One who is the source of that hope, the Lord Jesus Christ. As we seek to be more and more like Him, let us seek the traits that will visibly mark us as His disciples. This twenty-one day period is a new beginning!

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

Prior to beginning your time of fasting and prayer spend a few days reading Isaiah 58. Write down your thoughts, reflections, and observations from the chapter. Read an article on fasting in a Bible dictionary or use the website www.preceptaustin.org for additional study material.

My Observations and Reflections from Isaiah 58: __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

S.O.A.P. Bible Reading and Journaling

S.O.A.P. is an intentional and strategic method of Bible reading and journaling. Intentional because it will require a commitment. Strategic because it provides a system that will allow you to evaluate progress. S.O.A.P. can be used with any daily Bible reading plan. Prepare for your S.O.A.P. time by removing as many distractions as you can. S = Scripture Open your Bible to today’s reading. Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you, and write it in your journal (Prayer & Fasting Guide). O = Observation Dig into God’s Word and act like a detective or reporter. What struck you and caught your attention in what you read? What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you. Paraphrase and write this scripture down in your own words. A = Application Personalize what you have read, by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now. Perhaps it is instruction, encouragement, revelation of a new promise, or corrections for a particular area of your life. Write how this scripture can apply to you today. P = Prayer This can be as simple as asking God to help you use this scripture, or it may be a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you. Remember, prayer is a two way conversation, so be sure to listen to what God has to say! Now, write it out.

LET’S GET STARTED!

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

The Minor Prophets and You

The books written by the Minor Prophets—sometimes called “The Twelve”—may have been shorter, but their messages had a major impact on the New Testament. When we speak of the Minor Prophets, we refer to Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Many of their prophecies are dual, with an initial fulfillment as well as an end-time fulfillment. Though their messages were shorter—thus the reason they were called “minor” prophets—they were just as powerful and significant as those of the “major” prophets. Therefore, they should not be shunned simply because they are labeled minor and not major. What do the writings of the 12 Minor Prophets mean for you today? Even though they were written more than 2,000 years ago, the 12 Minor Prophets have much to tell us in the 21st Century. If these were not very important books for us to read and understand, why would God cause 12 different writers to record certain prophecies and teachings in their books? And why would Jesus Christ say that He explained all the things about Himself by using all the prophets? The apostle Paul wrote the following in 1 Corinthians 10:11, “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” Paul was specifically referring to the example of the ancient Israelites and their travels in the wilderness before entering the Promised Land. These events took place nearly 3,500 years ago, yet Paul says we (today) are to learn from their examples. So the principle is here clearly established that events in the Bible that took place thousands of years ago were preserved for us to read and learn from today. What do the writings of the Minor Prophets mean for you today? Here are a few things you will discover as you look more deeply into scriptures of “The Twelve:”         

Each wrote under inspiration of God. The messages of the 12 Minor Prophets are applicable for all people in all ages. Christian principles abound in all the prophets’ writings. Events in history are there for our instruction today. The Minor Prophets give us a greater awareness of God’s presence in history. They provide inspiring examples of people of faith during very difficult times. They give an understanding of cause and effect in human events. They provide deeper insight into God’s judgments and mercy. They teach the lesson of duality in Bible history.

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

Every book in the Bible was preserved under direct inspiration from God and contains information that every person in every age and time can profit from. These prophets who spoke to ancient peoples in the sixth, seventh and eighth centuries B.C. were also speaking to us today. They may not have understood the wider implications of their messages, but God did and He has preserved these ancient voices for us to listen to today. A study of the Minor Prophets will prove to be well worth the time for all who seek to understand God and His purpose for humanity more fully.

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

Week One: Prayers for the Saints of God

Monday—January 4, 2016 Reading: Hosea 1:1-3:5 Key Verse: Hosea 3:1 Prayer Focus: For believers to be faithful and live out our commitment to the Lord. “Be thou faithful unto death and I will give you a crown of life.”—Revelation 2:10 Devotional Reading: Henry T. Blackaby & Richard Blackaby, Experiencing God Day by Day – Relentless Love No human can comprehend God’s love for His children! Our limited experience of human love hinders us from understanding God’s unconditional love for us. We can see a picture of this love in the life of Hosea. Hosea was a righteous man, but God told him to marry a sinful woman. Hosea obeyed and took Gomer as his wife. He cherished her and treated her with dignity and respect. Never before had Gomer experienced this kind of love, but she soon grew dissatisfied. She began giving her affections to other men. She became so involved in adulterous pursuits that finally she abandoned Hosea altogether. Other men used her until she had nothing left to give. Then they sold her into slavery. After this, God gave Hosea an amazing command: “Go and buy her back.” Despite the intense pain and hurt that Gomer inflicted on him, God told Hosea to forgive her and to pay any price to bring her back into his home. God’s message is clear when we reject and turn our devotion elsewhere, our rejection carries the same pain as an adulterous betrayal. After all God has done for us, it is incomprehensible that we should reject Him. It is even harder to fathom that God could love us even after we have rejected, ignored, and disobeyed Him. Yet God’s love is completely different from ours. His love follows us to the depths of our sinfulness until He has reclaimed us. His love is undaunted when we run from Him, and He continues to pursue us. What incredible love He has demonstrated to us!

Application: Today, I will pray that I remain committed to and will not compromise my Christian lifestyle and adopt the ways of the world. Failure to do so would deem me unfaithful. If I am married, I pray that God will enable me, strengthen me, and fortify me to remain faithful to my marriage. If I am single, I pray that God will keep from an adulterous Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

heart and help me to not lose interest in my special relationship with Him to pursue dreams and goals that do not include Him. Like Gomer, I could very easily chase after other loves such as money, power position, pleasure, recognition, etc. The temptations in this world can be very seductive. Am I loyal to God remaining, completely faithful, or have other loves taken His rightful place? Today, I will pray for God to cleanse me from unfaithfulness! (Use the S.O.A.P. below.)

Scripture • Observation • Application • Prayer S __________________________________________________________________________ O __________________________________________________________________________ A __________________________________________________________________________ P __________________________________________________________________________

Tuesday—January 5, 2016 Reading: Hosea 4–10 Key Verse: Hosea 4:6 Prayer Focus: For the church to be obedient to the will of the Lord, and to do what is right and pleasing in his sight; for its leaders to live and teach the Word. Devotional Reading: John MacArthur – The Wayward The wayward; they're never in step. "Get with the program" is a slogan that suits them. When everyone else is moving ahead, they're going backward. Out of either apathy or rebellion, they've gone spiritually AWOL, and they're not interested in learning or serving. How do you deal with the wayward? You admonish them. The Greek term means "to put sense into someone in light of the consequences." If you see believers who aren't doing their duty—not using their gifts, not being supportive of the team effort—come alongside them and put some sense into their heads. It's to be a gentle, loving warning, yet also have some passion in it. You should be motivated by a compassion that says, "I don't want you to keep going in that direction because God will chasten apathy and rebellion." Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

When you truly love someone, you don't hesitate to warn—you want that person to avoid the negative consequences, which are inevitable, and to enjoy the blessing of spiritual involvement. So confrontation is necessary. Don't sit idly by while others struggle spiritually. Be involved in other believers' lives—especially the troublesome ones. They need you. Application: I recognize that spiritual leadership is a heavy responsibility whether I am a parent, Sunday School teacher, Bible Study teacher, hold a church office or a ministry leadership position; I must not take it lightly! I must be a leader who leads others to Christ. Although I have the privilege of choosing my own leader, I am also responsible for ensuring that they are taking people towards God and not away from God. Today, O God, I will pray that you will create in me a clean heart.

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

Wednesday—January 6, 2016 Reading: Hosea 11-15 Key Verse: Hosea 12:6 Prayer Focus: To offer true repentance and become doers of the Word with a hunger and thirst after righteousness. Devotional Reading: Brenda Thomas – The Restoration Power of God Whatever the enemy has tried to take away from you, God wants to restore it. He wants to make it better than before. That’s the kind of Father He is. Every day we have choices put before us. We can be tempted to get hurt, wounded, or depressed. We can complain and remain in the same awful condition, or we can praise God and be raised up. One of the first things the enemy will try to steal from us is our joy. God doesn’t want us to lose that joy! Nehemiah 8:10 tells us, “The JOY of the Lord is your strength.” It is important for Christians to have joy in their life! If you don’t have joy, you don’t have any strength. When we are in God’s presence, we come out with a new spring in our step, a new song in our heart. When we’re hanging out with Him, we take on His characteristics. You may have been through some trouble, but God is the One Who brings restoration. Isaiah 61:7 says, “For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.” Joel 2:25 says, “I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm.” Some of you have been down with a lot of “worms” in your life. You may have lost years to a bad marriage or health problems. But God’s mercy is greater than your mistakes, and He is a Master at fixing any disaster.” God loves us that much. Whether we’ve done things that are our own fault, or whether it is the enemy who has stolen from us, God is still the Restorer! God wants you to have that dream fulfilled, joy in your soul, and health in your body. God is a good God! And He’s got good things in store for us. Don’t let the devil steal anything from you. Declare restoration over your life! Take what belongs to you, in the Name of Jesus!

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

Application: Today, I thank God for not only His correction, but also for grace in restoring those who repent. I will also thank Him for His faithfulness and His willingness to forgive when I may stray. Heavenly Father, I am grateful that when You forgive, You judge the sin, but You show mercy to me. Your compassion never fails. I reaffirm my commitment to being Your person—faithful in my love and true in my commitment to our relationship. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for cleansing me with the power of Your Word. (Use the SOAP below.)

Thursday—January 7, 2016 Reading: Joel 1-3 Key Verses: Joel 2:12-13 Prayer Focus: For the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and a Pentecost experience of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit; to be ready before the “Day of the Lord!”

Devotional Reading: Bill Muehlenberg – Sin, Forgiveness, and Consequences We have a wonderful savior who offers complete and amazing forgiveness. He has taken upon himself the penalty for our sins. But sometimes we still must bear the consequences of our actions. If I, as a forgiven and redeemed Christian, go out and murder someone, why should I expect to be let off the hook? I may repent and be forgiven by God, but I still must

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

pay my debt to society. Sin that has been forgiven and forgotten by God may still leave human scars. So we all can rejoice in God’s marvelous forgiveness. But his forgiveness has come at a price – the death of his son. And the principle of sowing and reaping is not just an Old Testament concept. It is found in the New Testament as well. Thus the biblical Christian takes seriously both the tragedy of sin and its consequences, and the matchless grace and forgiveness as found in Christ.

Application: Today, I will pray to God for the fortitude to turn to Him and seek Him while there is still time. Just as time ran out for Israel, time is also running out for me. Father, I do not know when my life will end, but I do know that I should trust and obey God while I can. Gracious God, I know that you do not want an outward display of penitence without true inward repentance. When I submit my will to Yours, God I know that You will rule and Your restoration will be complete. Help me to be faithful to You and put my life under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Today, merciful and gracious Father, I pray that you would wash away all my iniquities and cleanse me .from my sins. (Use the SOAP below.)

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

Friday—January 8, 2016 Reading: Amos 1-5 Key Verses: Amos 5:14, 24 Prayer Focus: For a heart of generosity toward the underprivileged and justice for all.

Devotional Reading: J. R. Daniel Kirk – Generosity and Justice Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of anger will fail. Those who are generous are blessed, for they share their bread with the poor. (Proverbs 22:8-9) Doing justice is not the same as fighting the injustice that other people are perpetrating. It is not the same as pouring ourselves out so that others might live. Generosity undermines our hoarding. It unravels the economy of greed, lack, and acquisition that leads to the gross imbalance of power, of food, of wealth, of voice, of life. Generosity is the countercultural narrative of the gift in a world driven by acquisition and consumption of both goods and power. Generosity overcomes injustice because it not only frames the actions we would otherwise already take as being done in the right way (justice), it bursts the bounds of what we would normally do, expanding the sphere of our action to those who would otherwise not experience us one way or another. Generosity is a narrative driven by trust, by faith. Faith that we will have enough. Faith that there is enough. Faith that there really might be not just enough for a meager supper for me and my buddies, but enough for the teeming masses and basketfuls of leftovers as witness to the God who provided it all. Application: Today I will pray for discernment to recognize the warnings of sin and judgment which are applicable to us today as they were for Israel, so that universally we have no excuse when judgment comes. God’s warnings are a way of showing us mercy. Believing in God is more than a matter of individual faith. God calls all believers to work against injustices in society and to aid the less fortunate. One day I will meet God face to face to give an account of what I did or did not do. Am I prepared? God Almighty, today I pray that You will wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. (Use the SOAP below.)

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

Saturday—January 9, 2016 Reading: Amos 6-9 Key Verse: Amos 8:11 Prayer Focus: A spirit of prayer and praise and a desire for the sincere milk of the word. Devotional Reading: Kelvin Franklin – “Understanding How to Grow as a Disciple of Jesus Christ” What to do to grow spiritually has plagued many who are seeking a deeper fellowship with Jesus. Yet, God provides a simple and comprehensive answer – “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word …” (1 Peter 2:2). There is no substitute for the reading of the Word of God on an individual basis. There is no other secret or replacement method for true spiritual growth in God than to acquire the knowledge of Jesus for oneself. If we love Jesus, then we will want to know more about him. When we read the Word we come to really know Jesus because Jesus is the Word made flesh. The Holy Spirit prompted me to think about a newborn baby and the way God engineered for it to grow. God placed within the woman a source that generates milk that is pure and originates within her for the purpose of providing her newborn baby the nourishment that it needs to grow to become strong and mature. Sincere or pure milk could therefore be defined as that which comes directly from the source and provides nourishment that produces growth. A mother’s milk is untouched by the world and can only be corrupted by what the mother takes into her body. Not only does the mother’s milk provide nourishment, it also provides the baby with natural antibodies

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

that helps to protect it from germs and illnesses. Today, in our modern world, man has created formula to replace the mother’s milk which provides an alternative source of nourishment. Formula serves as a quick and convenient replacement that relieves mothers from the requirement to be constantly available to nurse their children. The shortcomings of formula are that man lacks the ability to exactly replicate the mother’s nutritional milk and more importantly formula lacks the natural antibodies that a mother’s body provides to protect the baby from germs and illnesses. For a spiritual comparison, the sincere milk can be defined as the word of God that comes directly from the source who is God to the individual who is a true believer and disciple of Jesus Christ. Since God is pure and undefiled, the word that originates directly from Him is pure and undefiled when it is not affected by outside sources (external influences). The Holy Ghost revealed to Peter that there would be many false prophets in the last days and he encouraged the pursuit of the sincere milk of the Word as a means of immunizing the true believers from false teachers, prophets, doctrines and spirits that would seek to overthrow the faith of believers and caused them to not grow (2 Peter 2:1-22). Unfortunately, for many, in place of the sincere milk of the word, we have turned to the formula of the word, as a modern convenience. The formula of the word is when we receive God’s word through a man or organization that reads and studies on our behalf and provide us their interpretation of what they believe God is saying in his word. This method can provide benefit if the individuals we are following are truly sent by God and they follow the word verbatim to equip and train the church (Ephesians 4:11-16) or it can have devastating results if they are a false prophet who lead to destruction (2 Peter 3:14-18) (i.e., Jim Jones, David Koresh, etc.) or if the someone truly sent by God makes an innocent mistake or misread or misinterprets the Word. Just as society has turned to formula as a modern convenience, far too many disciples of Jesus Christ are relying on the formula version of the Word that is provided by man as their primary and sometimes only source for nourishment. Instead of making the reading of God’s Word a priority in their individual lives, many choose to rely on others to teach and interpret the word of God rather than relying on the Holy Ghost as their teacher. God purposely sent the Holy Ghost to be a teacher (John 14:26). The Holy Ghost will recall all things to your remembrance and ensure that you are not be misled (1 John 2:2627). However, we need to give the Holy Ghost something to work with through reading, studying, and meditating. Application: Today, I pray for all saints to recall and remember that our only source of spiritual nourishment and growth is found only in Jesus Christ. Heavenly Father, I pray that we not adopt the attitude of a complacent present which will lead to a disastrous future. Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

Teach us to see that You want simple trust in You, now showy external actions. O God we know that injustice permeates our world and some Christians turn a blind eye to the suffering of others for more important work. May we be mindful dear God that You called Christians to be in a relationship with You and with others. Both physical and spiritual needs of people matter to You. I pray too, O Lord, that You will correct and cleanse me and others from every defilement of body and spirit.

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

Week Two: Prayers for the Saints to Walk and Work with the Savior Sunday—January 10, 2016 Reading: Obadiah 1:1-21 Key Verse: Obadiah 1:15 Prayer Focus: Today we pray for the saints whose hearts have somehow become disconnected from God. We pray also for those who have never made the commitment to connect their hearts to God and His family. We must remember that we work in concert with our Saviour, Jesus Christ, and we are commanded to love and to forgive. When the enemy appears to be winning and when we become discouraged in the seemingly endless battle against his perpetual influence through godless people in the world today, we must not neglect to cry out to God, and ask, “How long, O God, how long, must we wait for you to banish evil and bring justice?” Devotional Reading: Lloyd J. Ogilvie – A Vision of the Enemy It is not wrong to have enemies. In fact, our spiritual maturity can be evaluated by the kind of enemies we have. The Bible does not condemn us for having enemies, but it does challenge us to be sure that our enemies are the self-appointed enemies of God. Often our enemies are simply those who have hurt us personally. When someone opposes us, disagrees with us, or thwarts what we want to do, he is categorized as an enemy. We have all had experiences with people who have misunderstood, misjudged, and misused us. We make enemies of people who do not like us or have gossiped about us. Sometimes, we slate as our enemies those who hold different political views, denominational backgrounds, cultural values, or lifestyles. Our obsession with petty enmity can keep us from confronting the true enemy. Our real enemy is the collusive force of evil rampant in the world. Jesus identified Satan as that enemy. He also exposed those who were possessed by Satan or ploys of his diabolical schemes. Satan is the anti-God spirit constantly seeking to recruit people and organized movements to oppose God and His purposes of righteousness and justice.

Application: Today I will examine my own life and pray for the light of God’s Word to shine on any dark areas that would diminish my testimony or my witness to others about the Lord Jesus Christ. I will pray for humility as I walk before God seeking to share with others Jesus’ message of warning against sin, salvation for the lost, hope for tomorrow and justice

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

for all. Heavenly Father, I will pray for an ever-conscious reminder that our enemies are those who are determined to be Your enemies, and that You still reign and You still have the final word. On time, and in time, Father God You constantly assert Your sovereignty and vindicate Your people who humbly trust in You.

Monday—January 11, 2016 Reading: Jonah 1:1-4:11 Key Verse: Jonah 4:11 Prayer Focus: Today our prayer is for God’s continued concern about every intricate detail of our lives. We pray for the subtle and not-so-subtle ways that God pursues us. We pray also for forgiveness when we insist on ignoring the evidence of His pursuit of us and try to run in a different direction. In our moments of truth, we pray that God will help us come to the realization that we cannot outrun Him, we cannot hide from Him, nor do we really want to. Today we ask for God’s grace to stop running away from and instead start running towards Him. Devotional Reading: David Jeremiah – Fighting from the Trenches During World War I, soldiers did most of their fighting from the trenches. It was the safest and most effective way to try to gain victory over the enemy. Just one peek over the parapet of the trench during the daylight hours almost certainly meant death for the curious solider, and thus the trench walls played guardian to thousands of heroic young men from 1914 to 1918. Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

Every day, Christians are fighting life’s battles, spiritual or otherwise, from the trenches of prayer. But there are those who mistakenly believe they can stand up, face off with the enemy, and win with sheer determination. They are like the soldiers who do not heed the advice to keep their heads down. Sometimes it feels as if the more we struggle, the more effective we are in the fight, but the Bible tells us that “the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). So the next time you find yourself braving the battlefield of life on your own, remember that there is safety within the trench walls of prayer. Victory can be yours when you bring your battle before the Lord. D. L. Moody says, “Christ’s soldiers fight best on their knees.” Application: Today, I will examine my own life and do an honest assessment on how I relate to Jonah’s experience of running from God in certain areas of my life. I will also look for ways in which I can help someone else see God’s pursuit of them. (Use the SOAP below.)

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

Tuesday—January 12, 2016 Reading: Micah 1:1-2:13 Key Verses: Micah 2:1-2, 8-9 Prayer Focus: Today we pray against the spirit of oppression, evil, fraud, coveting, violence, stealing, and dishonesty. We pray that people who walk and work with the Saviour Jesus Christ will possess thoughts and plans that will reflect His attributes and His character. We pray that people who are in leadership positions become consciously aware, if they are not already, that their daily actions and words are observed by others who may choose to follow their example. Devotional Reading: Rick Warren – You Are Not an Accident You are not an accident. Your birth was no mistake or mishap, and your life is no fluke of nature. Your parents may not have planned you, but God did. He was not at all surprised by your birth. In fact, He expected it. Long before you were conceived by your parents, you were conceived in the mind of God. He thought of you first. It is not fate, nor chance, nor luck, nor coincidence that you are breathing at this very moment. You are alive because God wanted to create you! The Bible says, The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me. (Psalm 138:8) God prescribed every single detail of your body. He deliberately chose your race, the color of your skin, your hair, and every other feature. He custom-made your body just the way He wanted it. He also determined the natural talents you would possess and the uniqueness of your personality. The Bible says, You know me inside and out, You know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something (Psalm 139:15) . . . . Because God made you for a reason, He also decided when you would be born and how long you would live. He . . . planned where you would be born and where you would live for His purpose. Your race and nationality are no accident. Nothing in your life is arbitrary. It’s all for a purpose. . . . It doesn’t matter whether your parents were good, bad, or indifferent. God knew that those two individuals possessed exactly the right genetic makeup to create the custom “you” he had in mind. They had the DNA God wanted to make you. While there are illegitimate parents, there are no illegitimate children. Many children are unplanned by their parents, but they are not unplanned by God. . . . Why did God do all this? Why did He bother to go to all the trouble of creating a universe for us? Because He is a God of love. This kind of love is difficult to fathom, but it’s fundamentally reliable. You were created as a special object of God’s love! God made you

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

so He could love you. . . . The Message paraphrase of Romans 12:3 says, “The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what He does for us.” This poem by Russell Kelfer sums it up: You are who you are for a reason. You’re part of an intricate plan. You’re a precious and perfect unique design, Called God’s special woman or man. You look like you look for a reason. Our God made no mistake. He knit you together within the womb, You’re just what He wanted to make. The parents you had were the ones He chose, And no matter how you may feel, They were custom-designed with God’s plan in mind, And they bear the Master’s seal. No, that trauma you faced was not easy. And God wept that it hurt you so; But it was allowed to shape your heart So that into His likeness you’d grow. You are who you are for a reason, You’ve been formed by the Master’s rod. You are who you are, Beloved, Because there is a God!

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

Application: Today, as I walk and pray throughout the day, I will remember to thank God for how He wonderfully and marvelously made me and the rest of humankind. Father, I pray that you will point me in the direction of someone who may not feel loved, wanted or needed. Grant me the wisdom to effectively convey to them that they are no accident and that you have a purpose and a plan for their life.

Wednesday—January 13, 2016 Reading: Micah 3:1-4:13 Key Verses: Micah 3:1-2, 9-11, 4:12 Prayer Focus: Today we will pray for all leaders in our communities, our government sector, and most especially in our churches. We pray that all leaders will be people of integrity and will remain true to their appointments and assignments. We, like the leaders, should not treat God like a light switch to be turned on only as needed. Instead, we should always rely on Him. Devotional Reading: Charles Spurgeon – Is Not the Lord Among Us? Sometimes great sweetness is found with intense bitterness. I have experienced immense joy in the depths of depression when I lean only on my God. I hardly know how to express this unrivalled pleasure of resting only on the Lord, for when I am hurled on God alone, my soul finds divine peace.

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

Dear friend, if both your circumstances and your spirit sink, all will be well if you lean on God alone. Never fear that you will become weary to Him, and never ask as little as possible. He says, “Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it” (Psalm 81:10). Never trust Him just a little. Never give Him only a part of your cares. Never rest just a portion of your trials on Him. Lean on Him with all your weight. Bring all the tons, pounds, and ounces and throw them all on God. Do not carry an extra ounce yourself. God loves His children to place their entire confidence in Him. Do you know the Aesop’s fable about the polite little gnat who when he flew off of the ox apologized for burdening him? The ox replied that he did not know he was there. God will never tell you that. He will tell you that your load is no burden. If you had fifty kingdoms burdening your brain, if you carried the politics of a hundred nations in your mind, and if you were loaded with all the cares of a thousand worlds, still you could safely leave them with the Wonderful Counsellor and go your way rejoicing. Lean hard brothers, lean hard sisters, for “is not the LORD among us?” “Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). He counts the very hairs on your head (Matthew 10:30).

Application: Today, I will pray for God to relieve me of all cares and anxieties that would rob me of the ultimate peace which I can enjoy only by wholly and completely trusting Him. I will also pray for peace in all families, our communities, our nations, and our world. (Use the S.O.A.P. below.)

Scripture • Observation • Application • Prayer S __________________________________________________________________________ O _________________________________________________________________________ A __________________________________________________________________________ P __________________________________________________________________________

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

Thursday—January 14, 2016 Reading: Micah 5:1-7:20 Key Verse: Micah 6:8 Prayer Focus: Today we pray that the saints of God will cease from attempting man-made ways to please God but instead follow His clear instructions to be just, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Him. Yes, God wants His children to become living sacrifices, but He also wants their obedience—not just doing religious activities—but living rightly. We pray too for a relationship with God that will allow us to have confidence like Micah’s. It does not require supernatural talent, but rather faith in God and a willingness to act on that faith. Devotional Reading: Henry T. Blackaby & Richard Blackaby, Experiencing God Day by Day, He Has Shown You God never conceals His expectations from us. We never have to guess how we should live. In response to the misguided ways in which people sought to please God, the prophet Micah clearly explained what God does and does not expect. The people asked: Should we come to God with many offerings? Should we bring a thousand rams and ten thousand rivers of oil? Would God be pleased if we gave our firstborn child to Him to express our devotion? (Micah 6:6-7). Micah’s response was straightforward: “He has shown you, O man, what is good.” Micah listed three things God desires. First, He wants to us to show justice. The desire to receive justice is not enough. We must also be absolutely just in the way we treat others. If we have given our word, we should keep it with complete integrity. If we have people working for us, we should treat them as fairly as Jesus would. . . . Second, we are to love mercy. The knowledge that we have received undeserved mercy from God should motivate us to show mercy to others. We must resist the temptation to retaliate against those who have wronged us, choosing to show them mercy instead. Finally, God requires us to walk humbly with Him, God does not ask us for spectacular acts of service—He asks for humility. At times we try to make the Christian life far more complicated than it is. We avoid confronting what God has clearly told us to do today. If we strive to be completely obedient in the basics, the more complex assignments will become clear.

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

Application: Today, I pray to God for a closer relationship with Him, one that will exemplify the attributes of justness, mercy and humility. I will spend time seeking answers to the following questions: 1. Are you fair in your dealings with people? 2. Do you show mercy to those who wrong you? 3. Are you learning humility?

I will pray for determination to walk closely with God today so that I will be in the center of His will tomorrow.

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

Friday—January 15, 2016 Reading: Nahum Key Verses: Nahum 1:2-8; 3:1-7, 19 Prayer Focus: Father, we know that Your judgment is sure and that You will not disregard sin hidden in our hearts, nor the sin of the nation’s today. We honor and magnify our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has fully borne Your wrath against sin that we deserved, yet could not bear. We look forward to that Great Day, when the LORD will execute final judgment on all evil. Maranatha! Devotional Reading: John Piper – How You Should Respond to Evil How should Christians relate to evil? How should we think and feel and act about satanic evil? Death? Natural Disasters? What about the evil and pain you confront in your own daily lives? Here is my brief summary answer. Eight Things to Do with Evil On the one hand: 1. Expect evil. “Do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Pet. 4:12). 2. Endure evil. “Love bears all thing, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Cor. 13:7; cf. Mark 13:13). 3. Give thanks for the refining effect of evil that comes against you. “Give thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 5:20; cf. 1 Thess. 5:18). “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance . . .” (Rom. 5:3–5). 4. Hate evil. “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good” (Rom. 12:9). 5. Pray for escape from evil. “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matt. 6:13). 6. Expose evil. “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them” (Eph. 5:11). 7. Overcome evil with good. “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21). 8. Resist evil. “Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

Four Things Never to Do with Evil But on the other hand: 1. Never despair that this evil world is out of God’s control. “[He] works all things according to the counsel of his will” (Eph. 1:11). 2. Never give in to the sense that because of seemingly random evil, life is absurd and meaningless. “How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! . . . For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever” (Rom. 11:33, 36). 3. Never yield to the thought that God sins or is ever unjust or unrighteous in the way he governs the universe. “The Lord is righteous in all his ways” (Psalm 145:17). 4. Never doubt that God is totally for you in Christ. If you trust him with your life, you are in Christ. Never doubt that all the evil that befalls you—even if it takes your life—is God’s loving, purifying, saving, fatherly discipline. It is not an expression of his punishment in wrath. That wrath fell on Jesus Christ our substitute (Gal. 3:13; Rom. 8:3). Only mercy comes to us from God, not wrath, if we are his children through faith in Jesus. “The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives” (Heb. 12:6). When we renounce the designs of the devil and trust the power and wisdom and goodness of God displayed in the humble triumphs of Jesus Christ, we fulfill God’s purpose in letting Satan live a little longer. We glorify the infinitely superior worth of Jesus. So I invite you to trust him and to stand in awe of how he saves you and defeats Satan in one great sacrifice of love.

Application: Today, I will sit with the local news on mute, and pray for each news headline and topic. I will pray that the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ will be made known to the evil doers and that they would repent and submit to the authority of the Righteous Judge. I will ask God that His compassion would find the oppressed reported on in each story, and that the afflicted will leave vengeance to Him.

A __________________________________________________________________________ P __________________________________________________________________________

Saturday—January 16, 2016 Reading: Habakkuk 1:1-2:20 Key Verse: Habakkuk 2:1-4 Prayer Focus: Pray that like the prophet Habakkuk, you too will have a burden and deep concern for those that have gone astray from God. Pray that God’s people will rest in His total command over history and current happenings. Pray that the people of God will wait with full expectancy and hope that His good purposes will be accomplished, even in what appears to be the direst of circumstances (political unrest, terrorist attacks, rampant corruption, exploitation of the poor, etc.). Devotional Reading: John Piper – Did Christ Die for Us or for God? Do We Know (and Share!) God's Deepest Passion? This truth, we know well. We know well that God is for us. We know that our salvation is his goal in sending Jesus. But do we know the foundation of it all? Do we know that there is a deeper goal in sending the Son? Do we know that God's love for us depends on a deeper love, namely, God's love for his glory? Do we know that God's passion to save sinners rests on a deeper passion, namely, God's passion to vindicate his righteousness? Do we realize that the accomplishment of our salvation does not center on us, but on God's glory? The vindication of God's glory is the ground of our salvation (Romans 3:25-6), and the exaltation of God's glory is the goal of our salvation. "Christ has become a servant to the circumcised . . . in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy" (Romans 15:8-9). Can Self-exaltation Be an Act of Love? Someone may ask, "How can it be loving for God to be so self-exalting in the work of the cross? If he is really exalting his own glory and vindicating his own righteousness, then how is the cross really an act of love to us?" I fear the question betrays a common secular mindset with man at the center. It assumes that, for us to be loved, God must make us the center. He must highlight our value. If our worth is

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

not accented, then we are not loved. If our value is not the ground of the cross, then we are not esteemed. The assumption of such questioning is that the exaltation of the worth and glory of God over man is not the very essence of what God's love for man is. The biblical mindset, however, affirms the very opposite. The cross is the pinnacle of God's love for sinners, not because it demonstrates the value of sinners, but because it vindicates the value of God for sinners to enjoy. God's love for man does not consist in making man central, but in making himself central for man. The cross does not direct man's attention to his own vindicated worth, but to God's vindicated righteousness. This is love, because the only eternal happiness for man is happiness focused on the riches of God's glory. "In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forever more" (Psalm 16:1 1). God's self-exaltation is loving, because it preserves for us and offers to us the only all-satisfying Object of desire in the universe – the all-glorious, allrighteous God. Why Is the Cross Folly? The root reason for why the cross is folly to the world is that it means the end of human selfexaltation, and a radical commitment to God-exaltation. No – "commitment" is not quite the right word. Rather the cross is a call to radical "exultation" in God-exaltation. The cross is the death of our demand to be loved by being made the center. And it is the birth of joy in God's being made the center. How Is the Cross Your Joy? Test yourself. What is your mindset? Do you begin with God and his rights and goals? Or do you begin with yourself and your rights and wishes? And when you look at the death of Christ, what happens? Does your joy really come from translating this awesome divine work into a boost for self-esteem? Or are you drawn up out of yourself and filled with wonder and reverence and worship that here in the death of Jesus is the deepest, clearest declaration of the infinite esteem of God for his glory and for his Son? Here is a great objective foundation for the full assurance of hope: the forgiveness of sins is grounded, finally, not in my finite worth or work, but in the infinite worth of the righteousness of God – God's unswerving allegiance to uphold and vindicate the glory of his name. I appeal to you with all my heart, take your stand on this. Base your life on this. Ground your hope in this. You will be free from the futile mindset of the world. And you will never fall. When God's exaltation of God in Christ is your joy, it can never fail.

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

Application: Today, I will read and meditate on Psalms 73 and Psalm 37 to fully understand that life is preserved for those who have faith in God, while utter destruction and death is reserved for the wicked.

Sunday—January 17, 2016 Reading: Habakkuk 3:1-19 Key Verse: Habakkuk 3:18-19 Prayer Focus: Model your prayers today after the four part prayer found in the third chapter of Habakkuk: A. Petition – verses 1-2 (ask God to extend mercy to you and His church as we seek to root out the sin that so easily besets us), B. Remembrance & Praise – verses 3-15 (call to mind and VERBALIZE the works of salvation and deliverance God has done for you, and fruitfulness He has brought to the ministry of SCBC), C. Confession – verses 16 (we know and trust in God, but we are often times tired, scared, afraid, anxious – be honest with the LORD about your weaknesses and our short comings as a congregation), D. Adoration – verses 17-19 (bless God with the fruit of lips that that acknowledges His name). Devotional Reading: Charles Spurgeon – The Secret Strength of Faith So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and how you might be bound, that one could subdue you.” Judges 16:6 (ESV) Where does the secret strength of faith lie? It lies in the food it feeds on; for faith studies what the promise is-an emanation of divine grace, an overflowing of the great heart of God. And faith says, "My God could not have given this promise except from love and grace;

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

therefore it is quite certain His Word will be fulfilled." Then faith thinks, "Who gave this promise?" It considers not so much its greatness as, "Who is the author of it?" She remembers that it is God, who cannot lie-God omnipotent, God immutable-and therefore concludes that the promise must be fulfilled; and onward she proceeds in this firm conviction. She remembers why the promise was given-namely, for God's glory-and she feels perfectly sure that God's glory is safe, that He will never stain His own insignia, nor spoil the sparkle of His own crown; and therefore the promise must and will stand. Then faith also considers the amazing work of Christ as being a clear proof of the Father's intention to fulfill His word. "He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?"1 Moreover, faith looks back upon the past, for her battles have strengthened her, and her victories have given her courage. She remembers that God has never failed her, that He never once failed any of His children. She recalls times of great peril when deliverance came, hours of awful need when as her day her strength was found, and she cries, "No, I never will be led to think that He can change and leave His servant now. Thus far the Lord has helped me, and He will help me still." Thus faith views each promise in its connection with the promise-giver and, because she does so, can with assurance say, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life!"2 1

Romans 8:32, 2Psalm 23:6

Application: Today, I will intentionally be the catalyst to help strengthen the faith of a close friend or loved one. I will contact that person today and remind them of something they’ve previously shared about what the LORD had done for them.

Week Three: Prayers that Call the Church to Practice Justice

Monday—January 18, 2016 Reading: Zephaniah Key Verse: Zephaniah 3:17 Prayer Focus: With the fearsome Day of the LORD (1:7-18) in mind, pray for the redemption of lost souls – those who have unashamedly wronged you, blasphemed the church, and committed unspeakable acts against the innocent. Thank God for the invisible church that He has ransomed out of the world by the blood of Jesus Christ. Devotional Reading: John Piper – How Zephaniah Helps Us Feel the Glad Love of God In chapter seven of The Pleasures of God John Piper sketches a hypothetical dialogue between a one who struggles and the rationale of Zephaniah. He speaks for Zephaniah and interacts with the potential inhibitions that keep us from believing in God's love. It goes like this: A Dialogue with the Logic of Zephaniah1 "Can you feel the wonder of this today — that God is rejoicing over you with loud singing?” “No, I can’t, because I am too guilty. I am unworthy. My sin is too great, and the judgments against me are too many. God could never rejoice over me.” “But consider Zephaniah 3:15. God foresees your hesitancy. He understands. So his prophet says, ‘The Lord has taken away the judgments against you!’ Can you not feel the wonder that the Lord exults over you with loud singing today, even though you have sinned? Can you not feel that the condemnation has been lifted because he bruised his own Son in your place, if you will only believe?” “No, I can’t, because I am surrounded by enemies. Obstacles press me in on every side. There are people who never let me believe this. There are people at work who would make my life miserable if God were my treasure. There are people in my family who would ostracize me. I have friends who would do everything to drag me down. I could never go on believing. I would have too many enemies. The oppression would be too much to bear, I could never do it.” "But consider Zephaniah 3:17, ‘The Lord is a warrior who gives victory’; and verse 19, ‘Behold, at that time I will deal with your oppressors [says the Lord]’; and verse 15, ‘He has Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

cast out your enemies.’ Can you feel the wonder that God is doing everything that needs to be done for you to enjoy his own enjoyment of you? Can you see that the enemies and the oppressors are not too strong for God? Nothing can stop him, when he exults over you with loud singing. Can you feel the wonder of it now? Can you believe that he rejoices over you?” “No, still I can’t, because he is a great and holy God and I feel like he is far away from me. I am very small. I am nobody. The world is a huge place with many important people. There are major movements and institutions that he is concerned with and happy about. I am too small. God is like the president. He is far away in Washington, busy with big things." "But consider Zephaniah 3:15, ‘The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst’; and verse 17: ‘The Lord, your God, is in your midst.’ He is not far from you. Yes, I admit that this staggers the imagination and stretches credibility almost to the breaking point — that God can be present personally to everyone who comes to him and believes on him. But say to yourself, again and again, He is God! He is God! What shall stop God from being close to me if he wants to be close to me? He is God! He is God! The very greatness that makes him seem too far to be near, is the greatness that enables him to do whatever he pleases, including being near to me. Has he not said, for this very reason, ‘I dwell in a high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit’ (Isaiah 57:15)? Can you not then feel the marvel that God makes merry over you — even with loud singing — when you come to him and believe him?" “But no, you don’t understand. I am the victim and the slave of shame. I have been endlessly belittled by my parents (see Zephaniah 2:8, 10). I have been scoffed at and threatened and manipulated and slandered. Inside this cocoon of shame even the singing of God sounds faint and far away and indecipherable. It is as though my shame has made me deaf to anyone’s happiness with me, especially God’s. I cannot feel it.” "Now I am sure I do not feel all that you feel. I have not been through what you have been through. But God is no stranger to shame. Unbelievable shame was heaped on his Son (Hebrews 12:2), terrible slander, repeated belittling, even from his own townsfolk (Matthew 13:55–58). Therefore, ‘We do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses’ (Hebrews 4–15). I know I have never walked in your shoes. I did not have to live with the family you lived with. But Jesus knows. He feels it with you. And best of all, his Father says right here in Zephaniah 3:19, ‘I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth.’ Is it not amazing how well

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God knows you? Can you not feel the warmth of his heart as he makes provision for every question you have? Do you not yet hear the singing of God as you draw near?” Application: Today, I will reach out to one who has confessed to being bond by the guilt and shame of their past failures. I will remind them today, of the verses I have read and encourage them to embrace the truth of God’s love for them. (Use the S.O.A.P. below.)

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

Tuesday—January 19, 2016 Reading: Haggai 1:2-11 Key Verse: Haggai 1:7-8 Prayer Focus: That the Lord will take pleasure in our worship because our priorities reflects His constant presence in our lives. To be Kingdom minded is to be spiritual minded.

Devotional Reading: R. C. Sproul – Foolish Priorities Haggai criticized the people for their complacency. They showed little care for rebuilding God’s house. Even though the rebuilding was illegal, they apparently did not even try to get Persia to lift its ban. On the other hand, they did not fail to improve their own properties. They lived in paneled houses, dwellings that were rich enough to resemble Solomon’s temple and its panels (Hag. 1:1–4; see 1 Kings 7:1–5). Still, they were not satisfied. While they were somewhat well off, their success did not match their efforts (Hag. 1:5–6). Dissatisfaction, not poverty, is the picture we see—people who were not getting what they really wanted. Haggai said they were not being blessed because they had not made God’s house a priority. Worship according to the Mosaic law was not really their consideration.

Application: Today, I will pray for God to search my heart and show me the areas of my life that negating my spiritual growth. Consider my ways in setting priorities in building up the spiritual house that would please and glorify Christ.

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Wednesday—January 20, 2016 Reading: Zechariah 6:9-15 Key verse: Zechariah 6:12,13 Prayer Focus: Help us to be givers as well as receivers of your grace, by which we grow together in love (Ephes.2:21) and into a holy temple in the Lord (Ephes.4:16). Devotional Reading: R. C. Sproul – The Priestly Branch on the Throne The title Branch is used elsewhere in the prophetic literature for the Messiah (Isa. 11:1; Jer. 3:5). Thus, Zechariah’s actions showed the people that the Savior who was yet to come in his day would, unlike any ruler before Him, be a priest who is also fit to be the king. As Hebrews 7 indicates, this priest-king Messiah is none other than Christ Jesus our Lord, who now lives to make intercession for the people whom He leads against His foes (see also Rom. 8:34). This Jesus builds His temple—His church—on the Apostles, who serve as the church’s foundation even as Christ is its cornerstone (Matt. 16:18). Moreover, our Lord enlists the help of foreigners to build His temple (Zech. 6:15), namely, Gentiles who like Zechariah’s three friends will come to the kingdom from far off and work for its glory. John Calvin writes that today’s passage must refer to “the building of the spiritual temple, when Gentiles, formerly remote from God’s people, joined them as friends, and brought their labor to the work of building the temple, not with stones or wood, or with other corruptible materials, but with the doctrine and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.” We are fulfillments of prophecy, the foreigners honored to build Christ’s church in Him. Let us not forget this great blessing. Application: Today, I will give thanks unto God for engrafting me into His body and will seek his face concerning my place in the building of his spiritual temple.

Thursday—January 21, 2016 Reading: Zechariah 7:1-7 Key Verse: Zechariah 7:5-6 Prayer Focus: For the intimacy of knowing the Love of the indwelling Christ and being filled with the fullness of God. Through the discipline of prayer and fasting, may we reap the spiritual harvest out lined in (Ephesians 3:16-19) according to the riches of His Glory. Devotional Reading: Moody Bible Institute – Today in the Word In today’s reading, Zechariah similarly rebuked his fellow Israelites for their self-centered religious practices. About two years after the night visions, the people of Bethel sent a delegation with a question: should they fast and mourn in the fifth month or not? It was during the fifth month that the Temple had been burned; throughout the years of the Exile, the Jews had remembered that disaster by fasting and grieving (2 Kings 25:8-10; Ps. 74). But the Exile was over, they had returned home, and the Temple was being rebuilt, so they were a bit confused about how to behave. The Lord’s reply through Zechariah, which consisted of a series of rhetorical questions, showed that their religious observances generally were self-centered, ritualistic, and insincere. Both their feasting and their fasting were “for yourselves” (vv. 5–6). Furthermore, other prophets, including Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, had already condemned the nation for this same sin, so they should have already known the answer to their question (v. 7; cf. Isa. 58). Application: Today, I will pray for God to grant me spiritual eyes and ears. Help me to see the repetitive behavior(s that is under minded my relationship with The Lord, Jesus Christ. Help me to hear your lovingkindness when you give me warnings and directions about my life.

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

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Friday—January 22, 2016 Reading: Zechariah 7:8-14 Key Verse: Zechariah 7:9 Prayer Focus: We pray for Christ to be formed in the generation to come; that The Lord will receive the honor and the glory because they mirrored a generation that executed justice, showed mercy and compassion one to another (Zec.7:9) Devotional Reading: Moody Bible Institute – Today in the Word Jackie Robinson, the player who broke baseball’s color barrier, endured a difficult rookie season with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Fans hurled racial slurs and mailed death threats, opposing pitchers threw beanballs, and even some of his own teammates started a petition against him. One man who stood by him was shortstop Pee Wee Reese. At one game, fans sitting close to the field abused Robinson mercilessly, and it looked as if he might be near the breaking point. At that moment, Reese walked across the field to where Robinson was playing, and put his arm around his teammate’s shoulders. The crowd fell silent. Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese showed the courage to stand for what was right, even when the majority opposed them. Similarly, Zechariah exhorted the Israelites to pursue righteousness, even when many were practicing hypocrisy and self-centeredness. In today’s passage, the prophet moved from yesterday’s condemnation of false religion to an exhortation to true religion. The emphasis, as we can also find in other prophets, was on justice, mercy, and compassion (v. 9; cf. Micah 6:8). Specifically, the people should not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, or poor people, nor should they think evil of others (v. 10; cf. James 1:27). These extend the command to love our neighbors as we love ourselves (Lev. 19:18; Mark 12:33). Application: Today I pray Lord Jesus for the courage to stand for righteousness, speak against injustice and seek mercy when I see someone being afflicted or persecuted for righteousness sake.

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

Scripture • Observation • Application • Prayer

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Saturday—January 23, 2016 Reading: Zechariah 8:16-23 Key Verse: Zechariah 8: 22-23 Prayer Focus: We pray for a greater passion for prayer and a deeper desire for holiness, a thirst that draws others to Christ. Devotional Reading: R. C. Sproul – The Nations Cling to the Jews God certainly delights in surprising people, in doing great things through God unexpected means. Should we ever forget this, we will lose our ability to stand before the Lord in wonder, to have even the barest glimpse of His awesome wisdom. He saves the world through the weak and despised, the powerless whom everyone else has passed by. As indicated in today’s passage, the fulfillment of this prophecy is tied to the Jewish nation living according to God’s covenant. Verses 16–17 list several things the returned exiles could do to show forth their true faith and commitment to the covenant stipulations. Rendering true judgments in the gates is a demand for justice, as justice was determined and judgments were made by the elders at the city gates (Ruth 4:1–2; Ps. 127:5). Additionally, keeping one’s word is emphasized in Zechariah 8:16–17, a demand in keeping with the Bible’s frequently repeated). Warnings against breaking oaths and vows (Num. 30:2)

Faithfulness was the prerequisite to blessing, to the Gentiles joining God’s people. Now that Messiah has come, faithfulness to His covenant will bring about the same ends. As our light shines before others, the nations will glorify our Father in heaven (Matt. 5:14–16).

Application: Today, I will pray for those who are outside the Ark of safety; .and may I be tender hearted for the lost and with all readiness share the difference Christ has made in my life.

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

Sunday—January 24, 2016 Reading: Malachi 2:5-17, 3:6 Key Verse: Malachi 3:6 Prayer Focus: Meditate on Malachi 2:15. He seeks godly seed. Pray for wisdom regarding the type of spiritual investment(s) needed that will yield an abundant return of holiness to your account. Devotional Reading: R. C. Sproul – God Unchanging The Lord is immutable — it is impossible for His character or being to undergo any mutation. His power cannot be augmented or diminished. He never learns or forgets, and He cannot be anything other than perfectly holy. Human beings can change in a multitude of ways, but our Father remains ever the same. God’s immutability does not mean that He cannot move or that He remains inert. In fact, Scripture in many places testifies of the Lord’s constant work to sustain creation (Heb. 1:3a). Furthermore, the Lord’s unchanging character does not mean His relationship with us is not real. In fact, it is His unchanging righteousness that results in His wrath toward the impenitent (Rom. 1:18–32), and it is His unchanging love that leads Him to call out His people (Ex. 2:23–25). Jonathan Edwards said immutability provokes sinners to enmity. The world hates God because it knows that His unchangeableness guarantees He cannot forget or overlook its rebellion. But for Christians, the unchanging character of God is the rock upon which we stand in all our circumstances (Ps. 46).

Reaping the Harvest: Abundance, Health, and Holiness.

Application: Today, I will pray for the help of the Holy Spirit to bring to remembrance during times of testing as an opportunity to grow in godliness (1 Peter 1:15-16).

Scripture • Observation • Application • Prayer

Conclusion Our twenty-one days of prayer and fasting for spiritual formation and renewal concludes today. As you reflect back over the past three weeks, what are the areas where you have seen noticeable growth in your life? What are the areas where you will need grace to grow? What has been the biggest blessing in your life and or your greatest surprise about yourself? Review your SOAP notes and record your overall reflections below.

My Reflections:

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End Notes and Additional Resources For additional study material about the Daniel Fast and the devotionals cited in this guide, please refer to the following websites and resources: 1. http://draxe.com/daniel-fast 2. Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough by Elmer L. Towns, published in 1996 by Regal Books, Ventura, California. 3. Honoring God Through The Daniel Fast by Terrance Day, published in 2009, http://www.danielfast.net 4. Daniel Fast 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting, New Life Worship Center, www.newlifealtoona.org 5. www.ligonier.org 6. Today in the Word from Moody Bible Institute (Copyright Moody Bible Institute. Used by permission. All rights reserved) 7. http://preceptaustin.org/zechariah_devotionals.htm 8. http://www.desiringgod.org 9. http://www.gty.org/resources/articles/A137/dealing-with-problem-people 10. http://www.rhema.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1077:therestoration-power-of-god&Itemid=304 11. http://billmuehlenberg.com/2007/10/14/sin-forgiveness-and-consequences/ 12. http://bibleplace.wordpress.com/tag/how-to-grow/

Tips for Family Fasting: How do I include my young children and teens? 1. http://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/fasting-as-a-family.html 2. https://danielfast.wordpress.com/2008/08/11/teens-on-the-daniel-fast/ 3. https://danielplan.com/faith/ 4. https://danielfast.wordpress.com/2007/12/27/youth-special-diets-and-the-daniel-fast/

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Join our prayer line We invite you to participate in the daily online prayer and devotional. Call the Second Calvary Baptist Church Prayer Line at: Telephone Number: 712-432-3100 Conference Code: 580995 Time: 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.

Members of the Ministry of Congregational Spirituality Brother Toby Stewart, Elder Rev. B. J. Stancel, Vice Elder Deaconess Banta Alston Rev. Roma Hall Deacon Nathanial Parker Sister Talitha Parker Brother David Tancil Sister Joyce Tancil Rev. Barbara White Brother Anthony Williams Sister Delydia Williams

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