21 Day Fast: The Power Of Us All
For the past several years, Antioch Church has started each new year by conducting a church-wide 21 day fast. This year is no different! We would like to encourage you to join us as we start the journey of 2012 with great expectation of the things of God! Imagine what might be accomplished for the Kingdom if we all come together and focus our hearts and prayer life on the same initiatives!
You may be asking yourself why should I fast?
Jesus fasted. (Matthew 4 & Luke 4)
Jesus taught that his disciples would fast after he left. (Matthew 9:14-16, Luke 5:33-39)
Along with prayer and giving, Jesus included fasting as part of a three-fold system of “righteous” living. He did not stress the importance of one over the other. He expected that a God honoring life would include all three. (Matthew 6:1-18)
Scripturally, whenever the Bible talks about humbling oneself before God, fasting was part of that humbling process. Think about how this might change the way you understand the following verse: If my people, who are called by my name would 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. (II Chronicles 7:12)
Fasting is a time of intimacy with God. Fasting is a time to dedicate the first portion of your year to God—a type of first-fruit offering.
Fasting is a time of committed and specific prayer, meditation on the Word of God, and listening to the voice of God.
If you have never fasting before, here are some of the types of fasts you might consider:
Complete Fast—during this time you will consume nothing but water. This is a very difficult fast and should be done with caution and preparation.
Juice Fast—this type involves eating nothing, but does allow the consumption of 100% juice (no additives, fresh if possible). This type of fast has many of the same benefits as the complete fast, but is not as rigorous.
Daniel Fast—in this fast you eat basically just fruits, vegetables, and nuts. This is a great fast for someone seeking wisdom, or who desire to set themselves apart from the world around them. (doing a “Google” search for “Daniel Fast” will yield you plenty of helpful resources)
Activity Fast—while this type of fast is not included in the scripture (except for married couples) setting a side an activity that you regularly engage in (watching T.V. facebooking, reading the newspaper) and purposefully choosing to spend time with God is a great way to commit your time to God.
