Fasting Manual 2013

7/27/2019 Fasting Manual 2013

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victory.org.ph victoryph victoryph | #fasting2013


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Throughout history, God has called on His people to humble themselvesthrough fasting and prayer. Fasting is a spiritual weapon God uses toadvance His kingdom, change the destiny of nations, spark revival, andbring victory in peoples lives. There is something powerful that happenswhen we voluntarily humble ourselves, seek Gods will, and agree with Himfor His purposes to be ful lled.

As a spiritual family, we begin each new year with a season of prayer andfasting. It is our way of humbling ourselves before God and consecratingto Him the upcoming year. It is also the time when we corporately come

into agreement and believe together for breakthroughs in our personallives, families, nances, and churches.

Over the years, as a result of this time of prayer, we have seen peoplereceive healing, salvation, promotion, direction, family restoration,miraculous provision, and tremendous growth in their discipleshipgroups and churches. One of the highlights is always seeing and hearingtestimonies of how God answers over and beyond what people ask.

As you begin your fast this year, believe in your heart, by faith, that this isyour year of miracles and answered prayers.

Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly.Summon the elders and all who live in theland to the house of the LORD your God,and cry out to the LORD.

Joel 1:14

. . . Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing

things among you. (Joshua 3:5)

why fast?

We are calling on everyone to join our prayer and fasting. This is the timeof year when we corporately consecrate ourselves, our families, and ministriesto God. Believe God for victories and breakthroughs in every area of your lifethis year.

PRaCtICaL GUIDEPr er tOfastING aND

When a man is willing to set aside the legitimate appetitesof the body to concentrateon the work of praying, he isdemonstrating that he meansbusiness, that he is seeking withall his heart, and will not let God go unless He answers.

Arthur Wallis


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1. Jesus fasted.1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

Matthew 4:1,2

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about himspread through the whole countryside.

Luke 4:14

Before He began His ministry, Jesus fasted forty days. He knew He was going toneed spiritual strength to ful ll His purposes. Fasting makes us physically weakbut spiritually strong and prepares us to do Gods work.

2. Fasting is an act of humility and consecration.. . . I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. . . .

Psalm 35:13

Humility results in the grace of God. When we humble ourselves in prayer,we have instant access to the heart of God. As we deny ourselves as an actof consecration, we are better able to exercise self-control. We can keep our emotions and desires under control.

3. Fasting helps us become sensitive to the Holy Spirit.While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.

Acts 13:2

When we deny ourselves of our natural cravings, our spiritual antennas becomesharper. We become more sensitive to His voice as we divest ourselves of worldly distractions. We are better able to focus on God and submit to His will.This opens the door for the Holy Spirit into our lives.

4. Fasting brings revival. 2 . . . in the rst year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures,

according to the word of the LORD given to Jeremiah the prophet, that thedesolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. 3 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackclothand ashes.

Daniel 9:2,3

Fasting helps us prevail in prayer and intercession. Daniel understood thatIsrael was headed for destruction. He also knew that in times like these, thereis only one recourseintercession through praying and fasting. Throughouthuman history, God has brought revival and delivered nations from destructionin response to prayer and fasting.

5. Fasting is healthy.Fasting cleanses your digestive system from toxins. Doctors consider fastinga cure for certain allergies and diseases. By learning to deny ourselves andexercising discipline, fasting breaks unhealthy addictions in our lives.


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1. Be in faith!Prayerfully and thoughtfully ll out the prayer points page of this guide. Askthe Holy Spirit for guidance. Be clear and speci c about your faith goals in your

personal life, family, nances, and church. These are what you will be believingGod for during the fast and the entire year. Expect God to answer. Maintain athankful heart throughout and after the fast.

2. Commit to a type of fast.We encourage everyone to commit to a water only or liquid fast during thisseason of prayer and fasting. However, we understand that some are unableto do so because of certain circumstances , such as pregnancy, a physicallydemanding profession, and medical conditions. If you belong to this category,

there are alternativesyou may choose to do a combination fast. You may doa liquid fast for three days and then a one-meal-a-day fast for the next four, for example, or any other combination according to your need or situation.

Pray about the kind of fast you will undertake and commit to it. Do not decideon a day-to-day basis. Commit before the fast and be determined. Ask Godfor grace.

3. Plan your calendar.Limit your physical and social activities during this period. You need to conservephysical energy and devote more time to prayer and reading the Bible.

4. Prepare spiritually.More than anything, our annual fast is a time when we believe God for a freshencounter with Him. Be prepared to have the Holy Spirit put His nger on anarea in your life that needs to change. Repentance is the foundation of prayer and fasting. Be ready to repent and change, and be transformed. Surrender everything to Him. Be completely open.

5. Prepare physically.Be smart as you enter into this fast. Do not go to a buffet restaurant on the eveof the fast, hoping to stock up on food in your body. The key is to graduallyprepare your body. Start eating smaller portions and meals seven days beforeyou begin your fast. Avoid food that is high in sugar and fat. Two days prior tothe fast, eat raw fruit and vegetables only. Consult a physician if you need to.

Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this isdone, I will go to the king, even though it is against thelaw. And if I perish, I perish.

Esther 4:16

PREPaRING tO fastFasting reduces thepower of self so that the Holy Spirit can do

a more intense work within us.

Bill Bright


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1. Seek the Lord.Commit to prayer and Bible reading the times you usually allocate for meals.Join at least one prayer meeting in your local church. There will be dailyprayer meetings scheduled in every local church throughout the fast.Call the nearest church for their schedule. Be ready to respond when youhear from God.

This guide also has a devotional that we encourage you to go through duringthe fast.

2. Commit to change.Whatever God tells you or puts His nger upon, apply it immediately.If you need to make restitution, immediately contact people you have brokenrelationships with. If there are habits that need to change, make the adjustmentimmediately. Ask your group leader to hold you accountable.

3. Practical tipsa. Avoid medical and even natural herbal drugs. However, if you are under

medication, these should only be withdrawn upon the advice of your doctor.

b. Limit your physical activity and exercise. If you have a workout routine,adjust it accordingly. A daily two to ve kilometer walk should be your maximum amount of exercise during an extended fast.

c. Rest as much as you can.

d. Maintain an attitude of prayer throughout the day. Intercede for your family,

pastors, church, nation, our missionaries, world missions, etc.

e. Drink plenty of clean water.

f. As your body adjusts, be prepared for temporary bouts of physical weaknessas well as mental annoyances like impatience, irritability, and anxiety.

16When you fast, do not look somber as thehypocrites do, for they dis gure their faces to

show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth,they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,18 so that it will not be obvious to men that you arefasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and

your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Matthew 6:16-18

DURING thE fast

The record of thewhole Bible indicates

that prayer and fastingcombined constitutethe strongest weapon committed to Gods believers. Dr. Mary Ruth Swope


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BREaKING thE fast

1. Reintroduce solid food gradually.You should break your fast the same way youprepared for it. It will take your body just asmany days you fasted to adjust to a normal diet. Begin eating gradually. Donteat solid food immediately after your fast. Start with fruits, juices, and salad.Then, you can begin adding vegetables and boiled potato. Take it slowly fromthere. Eat small portions spread throughout the day.

2. Continue praying.Dont let your prayer life end on the day you nish the fast. Build from themomentum you gained during the fast. Let it transform your prayer anddevotional life. Carry the newfound passion with you throughout the year.

3. Be expectant.Be in faith and believe God to answer your prayers soon! Dont give up,persevere in prayer even if you dont see the answers immediately. Make sureyou keep the copy of your prayer points. You can check it at the end of the year and see how God has answered your prayers. It can be your thanksgiving list atthe end of the year.

Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for themin each church and, with prayer and fasting,committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

Acts 14:23

Our annual prayer and fasting gives us theopportunity to realign our lives according toHis will and consecrate the coming year to Him.As we humble ourselves corporately to Him inprayer, we can expect Him to move mightily inour midst. Gods will is for all of us to experiencebreakthrough and victory in our lives. Be in faithfor God to move miraculously in your life this year beyond what you can ask or imagine. You havea fresh mandate. Be ready to accomplish greater things for God this year!

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according tohis power that is at work within us . . .

Ephesians 3:20

If our fasting is not unto God,we have failed. Physical bene ts, success in prayer,

the enduring with power,spiritual insights these must never replace God as thecenter of our fasting.

Richard Foster

CONCLUsION

Fasting in the biblical senseis choosing not to partake of food because your spiritual hunger is so deep, your determination in intercessionso intense, or your spiritual

warfare so demanding that you have temporarily set aside even eshly needsto give yourself to prayer and meditation.

Wesley Duewel


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prep ring or e

illedpiri wIth thE

Luke 24:36-49 John 7:37-39 John 20:19-22 Ephesians 5:17-21 Galatians 5:16-26

REaD

I am going to send you what my Fatherhas promised; but stay in the city until you havebeen clothed with power from on high.

Luke 24:49

In the last chapter of the book of Luke, Jesus reminded His disciples that Hewould ful ll everything written about the Messiah in the Old Testament byshowing them how He had ful lled Scripture.

The Old Testament foretold how the gospel would reach all the races andnations of the world starting from Jerusalem. The Jews resisted this thinkingat that time, yet Luke mentioned it again. God has an appointed missionfor the church and nations can only be reached with the gospel if discipleswould go and become His witnesses to the ends of the earth.

Having explained this mission to the disciples, Jesus told them that Hewould send what the Father has promisedthe Holy Spirit to be poured outon His people (Isaiah 32:15; 44:3; Ezekiel 39:29; Joel 2:28,29; John 14:16,17).

Yet Jesus also told them to remain in Jerusalem until they have received theHoly Spirit. Why is that? It is because the task of world evangelism wouldnot be possible unless the disciples were endued with power from heaven.

In this time of prayer and fasting, let us wait on the Holy Spirit to ll us.This is the best time to open up ourselves to Him as we denythe natural appetites of the esh and allow Him tostrengthen us from within. REsPOND

REfLECt What do you think would have happened if the

disciples immediately went on doing the task of worldwide evangelism without having been clothedwith the power of the Holy Spirit?

What are some of the extraordinary things that you can doas a Christian when you get lled with the Holy Spirit?

Ask the Holy Spirit toopen your mind so youcan comprehend andunderstand Gods planand will for your life thisyear during this season

of prayer and fasting. Pray for God to prepare

your heart to receivethe fullness of thepresence and power of the Holy Spirit.


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REsPOND

REfLECt Why were the disciples so courageous in their

faith and speech before the Sandhedrin (Acts 4:13)?

What was the conviction of the apostles when thereligious ruling council threatened them? Who wouldthey rather obey (Acts 4:19,20; 5:29)?

Ask the Lord togrant you boldnessand courage tospeak the Wordof God to people

around you. Pray for divine

opportunities toshare the gospelin your areaof in uence.

BOLDNEsssPEaK wORD

Acts 4:1-31; 5:25-32 1 Corinthians 16:10, 13,14 2 Timothy 1:7 Proverbs 28:1 Psalm 27:1-6

REaD

29

Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable yourservants to speak your word with great boldness. 30Stretch out yourhand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through thename of your holy servant Jesus. 31 After they prayed, the place wherethey were meeting was shaken. And they were all lled with the HolySpirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Acts 4:29-31

Peter and John were arrested for healing a crippled man at the temple

gate (Acts 3). Though the validity of the miracle was undeniable, thereligious leaders were troubled by Peter and John vocally crediting Jesusfor the miracle (Acts 4:20).

After being released from the prison, Peter and John went to their fellowbelievers and reported everything the high priests and the elders told them(Acts 4:23). This news of persecution immediately drove them to theirknees and in urgent prayer they raised their voices to the Sovereign Lord. The believers declared the omnipotence and absolute power of God andencouraged themselves through worship, confessing the truth about Godsfull control in the face of threats from the powerful Sanhedrinthe Lordwill enable His servants to speak the Word of God with boldness.

Boldness means being out-spoken and having fearless con dence. Godlled the disciples with His Spirit in response to their prayer and so theywere able to speak the Word of God boldly.

2 tO thE


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REsPOND

REfLECt What is the bene t of having at least one person in

the family experience salvation in Christ? WhenZacchaeus invited Christ in his home in Luke 19:9, why doyou think did He say, Salvation has come to this house?

How will you pass on your faith to the next generation so theycould also experience Christs salvation? Read 2 Timothy 1:5.

For the remaining daysof prayer and fasting,name at least one familymember and lift him or her up in prayer so heor she can experienceGods saving grace.

Hold on to Godspromises by citingJoshua 24:15. Prayto God for open doorsso you can share HisWord with wisdom toyour family.

3 lv ion llor Acts 10:24-48 Acts 16:31 Luke 19:8-10 1 Corinthians 16:15 1 Timothy 2:3,4

REaD

The next day Peter started out with them,and some of the brothers from Joppa went along. The followingday he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them andhad called together his relatives and close friends.

Acts 10:24

A God-fearing Gentile named Cornelius prayed to God constantly andfervently which resulted to a supernatural eventhe saw a vision of an

angel. The angel instructed him to send his two household servants and agodly soldier to invite Peter. The apostle ended up teaching Gods Wordamong Cornelius household and they were saved. They were the rstGentiles to receive salvation through faith in Jesus and this door of faithhas been opened to the Gentiles since then (Acts 14:17).

You may be praying intently for your familys salvation for quite a while nowand yes, answers to prayer may not come overnight. However, let us beencouraged that God hears our earnest prayers. He can divinely arrangea way for our loved ones to encounter Jesus to lead them to salvation justlike Cornelius relatives. More importantly, it is Gods desire that all peoplebe saved (1 Timothy 2:3,4).

What are you believing for your family and loved ones? Who can sharethe gospel to them? Who can change their hearts? Continue to holdthe ropes for the people you know need to encounter Christ andthe salvation He brings.


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REsPOND

REfLECt What will happen if you try to deliver yourself from

sinful habits without Gods help? How can the livesof Paul, Silas, Jonah, and Jehoshaphat be anencouragement as you believe the Lord for deliverance?

What are the things in your life that need deliverance?Why do you need such help from God?

List down at leastthree major things thatyou want the Lord todeliver you from. Seekhelp and counsel frompeople you trust

in church. Ask a prayer partner to

pray for your situation,as you believe the Lordfor deliverance over things that discourageand bring youdown spiritually.

reedomPri onrom

Acts 16:24-34 Psalm 118:5 2 Chronicles 20:15-20 James 5:13-16

REaD

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying andsinging hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundationsof the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors ew open, andeverybodys chains came loose.

Acts 16:25,26

After delivering a young slave girl spiritually from the spirit that has oppressedher, Paul and Silas were stripped, beaten, severely ogged, and imprisoned into

the innermost cell. A jailer was asked to keep them secure in their prison cell sothey could not escape. However, instead of blaming each other or the Lord fortheir dif cult situation, Paul and Silas chose to pray and worship. They did notfocus on their miserable situation but rather centered their attention on God.The other prisoners inside the prison ward were intently listening to them. Asthey prayed and worshiped God, deliverance came almost immediately.

You may not be in a literal prison right now but you may be imprisoned in debt,sinful habits, lustful thoughts, worry, bitterness, or anger. God wants to deliveryou from these prison cells. Consider how some men in the Bible faced theirprisons: Jonah prayed for deliverance while trapped inside a big sh since heknew he couldnt call on anyone else but God; Jehoshaphat inquired of theLord and commanded his people to fast when they were surrounded by a greatnumber of enemies.

Gods power is mightily unleashed through prayer and fasting. When weturn to God this way, He is moved to deliver His people from anysituation. As the Lord declared, The battle is not yours,but Gods (2 Chronicles 20:15).

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REsPOND

REfLECt Why does God sometimes delay His answer

to prayers? What situations in your life will encourageyou to pray unceasingly?

How will you develop this attitude of praying withperseverance to experience a breakthrough in your life?

List down at leastve prayer itemsthat you believewill see breakthroughin this year.

Read and meditateon Genesis 32:24-28, focusing on theattitude of Jacob topersevere in askingfor Gods blessing.

5 Per i enceBre k roug aND Acts 12:1-17 Exodus 17:11,12 Genesis 20:17,18 Genesis 32:24-28 Judges 13:8-13

REaD

11 Then Peter came to himself and said, Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me fromHerods clutches and from everything the Jewish people wereanticipating. 12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the houseof Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people hadgathered and were praying.

Acts 12:11,12

It was like a scene in a movieKing Herod initiated a crackdown of allbelievers including their leaders. After the Apostle James death, he also hadPeter seized during the Feast of the Unleavened Bread. He had Peter heavilyguarded so his friends could not rescue him easily. As a result, the church wentunderground to avoid being captured by the authorities. They also met to prayfor a miracle for Peter. In a few days time, the apostle miraculously escapedprison. The Lord answered their prayers!

God wants us to experience divine breakthroughs in lifein our studies,careers, health, and relationships. This happens by faith. Intense praying is the

action and venue by which this faith is expressed. We can look to the exampleof the early Church when they persistently prayed to God for Peter s safetyand release.

We can see this principle of persistence over and over again in the storiesof the Bible like when Aaron and Hur had to persistently raise the arms of Moses so they could win the war against the Amalekites and how Jacobwrestled with a man until daybreak so he could receive his blessing.Our divine breakthroughs will happen when we continue

to pray unceasingly until we nally receive His blessing.


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t i e r, I m believing God or . . .

Spiritual Revival Physical Healing Prosperity and Abundance Rich Generosity

Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agreeabout anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.

Matthew 18:19

PERsONaL faIth GOaLs

Restoration of Relationships Household Salvation

My faMILy

Excellence Promotion

My sChOOL /CaREER

Victory Group Growth Salvation of Colleagues, Classmates, Bosses, Employees

My MINIstRy

PRayER PaRtNER


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sChEDULE

1 Fasting Options 2 Fasting Options

3 Fasting Options 4 Fasting Options

5 Fasting Options

Water fast

Liquid fast

Eat one meal only

Others:

Prayer meeting to attend:

Copyright 2013 EVEY NATION PRODUCTIONS.All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE,NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSIONCopyright 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible

Society. Used by permission of Zondervan.All rights reserved.

Visit victory.org.ph for more information.

Join the conversation on Twitter!Use the #fasting2013 hashtag when tweetingabout the 2013 Prayer and Fasting.


Prayer meeting to attend: Prayer meeting to attend:


Water fast

Liquid fast

Eat one meal only

Others:

Water fast

Liquid fast

Eat one meal only

Others:

Water fast

Liquid fast

Eat one meal only

Others:

Water fast

Liquid fast

Eat one meal only

Others:

Documents

Fasting Manual 2013