The elders of the church are calling all supporters of this ministry to 7 days of fasting and prayer beginning January 3rd and ending after church January 10th.

Here's why!

One evening the disciples of Jesus fished all night long and caught nothing. In the morning Jesus called to them from the shore challenging them to throw their nets "on the other side of the boat." Now we all know that fish swim so one side or another doesn't seem to matter much but the disciples obeyed and caught so many fish the nets began to break. Jesus was letting them know that nets and boats and hard work are important, and God has set a natural order in place so we can benefit from these things - but God can, and will, fill the nets if He so chooses. We need to remember that God is our provider.

In the same way our mailer on January 10th is the net. Our hard work getting it designed, paid for and in the mail is just tossing the net into the water. Sure - basic marketing principles are a natural order that any business can use for a benefit because God has designed the world so that the "rain falls on the just and the unjust". We could just rely on these marketing principles but we're not. We're asking God to fill the nets and we're asking you to be in fasting and prayer with us about this request: Ask God to fill the nets from our mailer outreach like never before. Ask God to draw in no less than 100 new people on January 10th.

Fasting
There are all kinds of ways to fast. You can have nothing but liquids for 7 days. You can eschew all forms of sugar and other "sweet meats" as Daniel did. You can decide to eat only one meal a day or only eat before and after sunset. Whatever you choose to do - make sure it is a genuine sacrifice.

A fast is designed as an "act of worship". It's NOT designed to manipulate God or try to control the outcome of a situation or circumstance. Instead, as an act of worship, it is a means of demonstrating to God the sincerity of our request, ALWAYS saying "nevertheless, Lord God, not my will but yours be done in this situation." Fasting reminds us that all we have comes from God. As an act of worship it pleases God.

Make a decision on what kind of fast you are going to do and then confide this decision to someone you trust who can hold you accountable to it. Let's fast and pray, asking God for three things:

Jesus is coming again. He came the first time as a baby in a manger, vulnerable and weak. God intentionally handicapped Himself, setting aside omnipotence for a covering of flesh, setting aside all wisdom for a body that had to learn the language of His day, one word at a time. But when Jesus comes again He will come in power to judge the living and the dead - and we are to "hold fast what you have till I come." What are we to hold fast to? What does it mean to "hold fast" in the first place because some people think that means circling the wagons and isolating ourselves from the world. But I think "holding fast" means something altogether different and I invite you to be inspired this weekend with Tyratira, part 4 of "to the Angel at the church of Surprise, write..." See ya' Sunday.

 

Coming up....

 

January 9 - Men's Power Breakfast. 7 AM, Desert Palms Restaurant.
January 10 - Celebrate the New Year with your family with a message series called "Are you on the edge?". Join us as we welcome new visitors who respond to your 30,000 mailer outreach.