THE

REFRESH2017 CORPORATE FAST

“After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” Acts 4:31

THE REFRESH 2017 CORPORATE FAST AT MESSIAH

WHAT IS FASTING? Our church’s theme for the year 2017 is “Refresh” – A Season of Relief, Recovery & Restoration. Our time of fasting will be a 7-day period of refraining from food, sweets, and calorie-rich beverages, in order to seek God. (January 9-15, 2017) We will gather for corporate prayer, worship, and teaching as we fast. We will be asking God to grant us, individually and collectively, a “time of refreshing” – i.e. a fresh outpouring of His Spirit. Equally important is your time for personal prayer, Scripture reading, and journaling. We recommend you reflect on the daily Scriptures provided and that you participate in the nightly gatherings. Fasting and prayer is our reminder to God that we are serious about His purpose for our lives and that we trust Him for our needs.

FASTING OPTIONS

THE COMPLETE FAST A Complete Fast is a fast from both food and drink, for a specified period of time. A Complete Fast is intense as its name implies and is practiced in Scripture as an expression of an extreme need for God in personal or collective circumstances. Moses, Esther, Elijah, and Jesus all practiced this fast as found in the respective Scriptures: Exodus 34:28, Esther 4:15-17, 1 Kings 19:8, and Matthew 4:1-10. We do not advise beginning complete fast without first consulting your physician and inviting the prayerful support of members of your church family.

THE PARTIAL FAST The Partial Fast is contrasted with what is known as a complete fast. The Partial Fast may be for a portion of a day or for portions of several days at a time. E.g. have a light breakfast and fast for the remainder of the day. It is practiced by abstaining from food altogether. (Our partial fast strongly encourages drinking plenty of water in order to stay hydrated.) You may also sip on clear liquids such as decaffeinated tea during the period of the day in which we are fasting. Whatever time you choose for your partial fast, maintain the schedule daily.

THE DANIEL FAST The Daniel Fast is based on Daniel’s choice “not to defile himself with the royal rations of food and wine.” Daniel chose, for a season, to be “given vegetables to eat and water to drink.” (Daniel 1:8-17 NRSV) In the midst of an attempt to persuade Daniel and his friends to abandon their allegiance to God, they consecrated themselves with a fast and God gave them great favor!

We practice a version of the Daniel Fast at Messiah by choosing to eat only vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts, etc. We abstain from meats, sweets, breads, and caffeine. Some may choose to eat fish during their Daniel Fast...but Daniel doesn’t seem to have done so.

THE FINACIAL FAST Author and Washington Post Columnist, Michelle Singletary, is well known for writing about the 21-day Financial Fast. The Financial Fast calls for a moratorium on frivolous and unnecessary spending, except for basic life needs such as food, gas, utilities, and debt obligations. Such a fast is meant to break the habit of wasteful spending, deepen our dependence upon God, move us toward debt-free living, and set us on a course to a healthier financial future.

HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE IN THE REFRESH 2017 FAST?

CHOOSE A FASTING OPTION For 7 days, beginning on January 9th through January 15th, we will fast as a church community. Please prayerfully consider a version of the Complete Fast that includes water and clear liquids. This is our desired level of participation. If you choose another of the fasts listed above, no problem! We want as many people to participate as possible. (The Financial Fast is intended as an addition to a fast from eating. It is not meant to be a stand-alone fast for REFRESH 2017) Whichever fast you choose, we recommend sticking with it for the entire 7-day period rather than doing both on different days.

S.O.A.P. DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS For each day the REFRESH 2017 fast, Scriptures are provided for our daily devotions. S.O.A.P. stands for the following: Scripture. Read the Scriptures reflectively in a quiet place where you can be alone with God. Observation. Write down any observations you make as you reflect on the passage(s). Note any commands, patterns, repeated words, questions, cause & effect relationships, etc. Application. Answer the question: What action should I take as a result of reading the passage(s). Prayer. Take time to talk to and listen to God. Note any impressions from the Holy Spirit. Pray for yourself and for others in light of the passage(s).

COME TOGETHER NIGHTLY Each evening during our fast, from Monday-Friday, the doors of our Worship Center will be open at 6:30pm. You may come in to pray quietly, then join us for worship, teaching on the Person and Ministry of the Holy Spirit, and prayer as we lift up our requests to God. If you cannot make it each night, set a goal of at least 3 nights.

SHOUT OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA Each day share the daily Scripture, something you’re learning, an answered prayer, a relevant photo, or some word of encouragement on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Snapchat! Your tweets, chats, & posts will be a huge blessing to someone who needs to be refreshed by God! @messiahcchurch #REFRESH2017

WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE?

As always, please check with your doctor to make sure your health will not be at risk if you participate in fasting. Pregnant and nursing mothers, please do not participate. If you are medically cleared, age 15 or older, we invite you to join us for this exciting time of seeking God at Messiah! Parents should determine if their children, ages 15-17, may join the corporate fast.

WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT WHILE FASTING? During the fasting season, expect to feel different the first two or three days of the fast, as your body gets rid of toxins and begins to adjust to not having meats, sweets, bread, and caffeine. It will be helpful to slow down your schedule for reading, reflection, prayer, and rest as much as may be possible. Eventually, you will feel more energy.

You should also expect, as you read Scripture and pray with more focus, to begin to gain clarity in your spirit. Expect to hear from God and to be more spiritually alert. You should also expect to experience spiritual attack from Satan, including temptation to eat the things you’re abstaining from, temptation to eat

more, and words of doubt sown in your mind. Stand firm by praying the Scriptures and consider having a prayer partner to help you through the tough spots. CAN I FAST FROM SOMETHING OTHER THAN FOOD? There is no biblical precedent for fasting that does not include certain foods or all foods. While there is no prohibition from fasts that include TV, the internet, shopping, etc., we recommend fasting that includes food since it is so basic to our daily existence. Food speaks most directly to our urges and appetites in the natural realm, forcing us to address them with spiritual means -- i.e.., prayer and Scripture. Of course, if medical reasons preclude you from fasting from food, your fasting is between you and The Lord! Another approach, then, is acceptable as God directs you.

ARE THERE BOOKS I CAN READ ABOUT FASTING? In addition to our Messiah Fasting Tool Kit, we recommend the following book resources: • The Daniel Plan by Pastor Rick Warren• Fasting by Pastor Jentezen Franklin• The Fasting Edge: Recover Your Passion. Recapture Your Dream.Restore Your Joy by Jentezen Franklin• A Hunger for God: Desiring God Through Fasting & Prayer by John Piper• Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough: A Guide to Nine Biblical Fasts by Elmer Towns• Daily prayers & scripture reading using the S.O.A.P. method

S.O.A.P. SCRIPTURES FOR REFRESH 2017 FAST

Day 1 (January 9th) Scripture: Acts 1:1-5, Matthew 3:7-12, John 14:15-18, Ephesians

1:13-14, 5:15-20 Prayer Emphasis:

ASK GOD FOR A DESIRE TO KNOW AND BE FILLED WITH

THE HOLY SPIRIT

Day 2 (January 10th) Scripture: Acts 2:1-21, Acts 19:1-7, Zechariah 12:10-13, Joel 2:28-32

Prayer Emphasis: ASK GOD FOR A FRESH

OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN OUR LIVES &

MINISTRY

Day 3 (January 11th) Scripture: Ephesians 5:18-

6:9, Galatians 5:16-25, Romans 8:1-11

Prayer Emphasis: ASK GOD FOR SPIRIT-FILLED LIVING IN OUR

HOMES & DAILY DECISION MAKING

Day 4 (January 12th) Scripture: John 15:1-8,

Matthew 3:4-10, Isaiah 5:1-7

Prayer Emphasis: ASK GOD TO PRODUCE THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IN OUR

LIVES

Day 5 (January 13th) Scripture: 1 Peter 4:7-11,

Exodus 31:1-11, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11,

14:22-25 Prayer Emphasis:

ASK GOD FOR GRACE TO KNOW & USE OUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS

SKILLFULLY & FAITHFULLY

Day 6 (January 14th) Scripture: John 4:23-

24, Isaiah 61:1-3, Ephesians 5:18-20

Prayer Emphasis: ASK GOD TO LEAD US TO DEEPER, RICHER

WORSHIP OF HIM

Day 7 (January 15th) Scripture: Acts 6:1-7,

13:1-5 Prayer Emphasis:

ASK GOD TO PROVIDE MORE FAITHFUL

WORKERS AND LEADERS FOR THE MINISTRY