21 Day Fast - Starting Jan 11, 2024
Why are we fasting 21 Days
1. We are setting ourselves apart (Consecration)
What is consecration? Consecration, an act by which a person or a thing is separated from secular or profane use and dedicated to the sacred by prayers, rites, and ceremonies. (Dictionary.com)
One of the Old Testament terms translated consecrate comes from the image of a Hebrew priest standing at the altar to receive sacrifices. The term actually consists of two words, one meaning "an open hand" and the other meaning "to fill
up." Literally, it means "to fill up the open hand." We bring our offering to God and fill up the hands of the priest with that offering, thus affirming that it all belongs to God. It is consecrated to Him. And because God is holy, this sacrifice becomes holy. (exerpt from Kingdom Unleashed, Jerry Trousdale and Glenn Sunshine)
This has nothing to do with how God favors us. It has everything to do with how God can use us.
The gospel tells us that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.
When we consecrate ourselves, God often responds with power
Fire in the Tabernacle
Leviticus 9:23-24 NIV
23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people. 24 And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
Miraculous Provision
Numbers 11:18 NIV
“Tell the people: ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, when you will eat meat. The Lord heard you when you wailed, “If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!” Now the Lord will give you meat, and you will eat it.”
Crossing of the Jordan River
Joshua 3:5 NIV
“Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”"
2. Fasting Bringing us to an end of ourselves
Practically, saying no to the flesh. Allows us to say yes to God.
Coming to an end of our strength, makes it a necessity to rely on the power of God for our work.
1 Chronicles 7:14 NIV
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
When we humble ourselves and cry our to God. He promises he will respond with healing and forgiveness.
In Psalm 35:13 David said humbled himself with fasting, we will do the same.
What we wil do?
21 DAYS devoted to fasting and prayer
Over the course of the next 21 days we want to:
Starting on Thursday - 11th of month
Fasting 2 meals (unless you cannot fast food)
Write a devotional thought for one day that I will send out
10 Days prayer
- We are setting ourselves apart for special use for God, this is called Consecration
- Fasting brings us to an end of ourselves and forces us to rely on God
1. We are setting ourselves apart (Consecration)
What is consecration? Consecration, an act by which a person or a thing is separated from secular or profane use and dedicated to the sacred by prayers, rites, and ceremonies. (Dictionary.com)
One of the Old Testament terms translated consecrate comes from the image of a Hebrew priest standing at the altar to receive sacrifices. The term actually consists of two words, one meaning "an open hand" and the other meaning "to fill
up." Literally, it means "to fill up the open hand." We bring our offering to God and fill up the hands of the priest with that offering, thus affirming that it all belongs to God. It is consecrated to Him. And because God is holy, this sacrifice becomes holy. (exerpt from Kingdom Unleashed, Jerry Trousdale and Glenn Sunshine)
This has nothing to do with how God favors us. It has everything to do with how God can use us.
The gospel tells us that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.
When we consecrate ourselves, God often responds with power
Fire in the Tabernacle
Leviticus 9:23-24 NIV
23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people. 24 And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
Miraculous Provision
Numbers 11:18 NIV
“Tell the people: ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, when you will eat meat. The Lord heard you when you wailed, “If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!” Now the Lord will give you meat, and you will eat it.”
Crossing of the Jordan River
Joshua 3:5 NIV
“Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”"
2. Fasting Bringing us to an end of ourselves
Practically, saying no to the flesh. Allows us to say yes to God.
Coming to an end of our strength, makes it a necessity to rely on the power of God for our work.
1 Chronicles 7:14 NIV
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
When we humble ourselves and cry our to God. He promises he will respond with healing and forgiveness.
In Psalm 35:13 David said humbled himself with fasting, we will do the same.
What we wil do?
21 DAYS devoted to fasting and prayer
Over the course of the next 21 days we want to:
- Identify what we need to hand over to God (be delivered from sin)
- Identify our identity in Christ (know our purpose)
Starting on Thursday - 11th of month
Fasting 2 meals (unless you cannot fast food)
Write a devotional thought for one day that I will send out
10 Days prayer