MOVING FORWARD IN 2012
THE CHURCH AT SOUTH LAS VEGAS
21 DAY CORPORATE FAST

BY

PASTOR MITCH FOX

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE - DANIEL 10:2-3

NLT – WHEN THIS VISION CAME TO ME, I, DANIEL, HAD BEEN IN MOURNING FOR 3 WEEKS. ALL THAT TIME I HAD EATEN NO RICH FOOD OR MEAT, HAD DRUNK NO WINE, AND HAD USED NO FRAGRANT OILS.

NEW CENTURY VERSION - DANIEL HAD BEEN VERY SAD FOR 3 WEEKS. HE DID NOT EAT ANY FANCY FOOD OR MEAT, OR DRINK ANY WINE, OR USE ANY PERFUMED OIL FOR 3 WKS.

NIV - AT THAT TIME, I, DANIEL MOURNED FOR 3 WEEKS. I ATE NO CHOICE FOOD; NEITHER MEAT NOR WINE TOUCHED MY LIPS; AND I USED NO LOTIONS AT ALL UNTIL THE 3WEEKS WERE OVER.

NKJ - IN THOSE DAYS, I DANIEL WAS MOURNING FOR 3 FULL WEEKS. I ATE NO PLEASANT FOOD AND NO MEAT OR WINE CAME INTO MY MOUTH NOR DID I ANOINT MYSELF AT ALL, TILL THREE WHOLE WEEKS WERE FULFILLED.

THE LORD IS CALLING US TO A 21 DAY FAST. WE ARE TO PRAY & SEEK GOD IN REGARDS TO OUR HEALTH, SPIRITUAL GROWTH, FAMILIES, RELATIONSHIPS, CHURCH, FRIENDS, FINANCES, AND ESPECIALLY FOR BREAKTHROUGHS FROM WRONG THINKING AND WRONG SPEAKING.
(PSALM 37:3-5)

TO FAST MEANS TO CHOOSE TO ABSTAIN FROM ALL FOOD AND TO DRINK WATER ONLY (KNOWN AS A COMPLETE FAST.) OR, TO ABSTAIN FROM CHOICE/PLEASANT/FANCY FOODS, MEAT AND ALCOHOL, WHICH IS WHAT DANIEL DID FOR 21 DAYS, KNOWN AS THE DANIEL OR PARTIAL FAST. DANIEL 10:2-13
THIS IS WHAT WE AS A BODY ARE DOING IN ORDER TO SPEND CONCENTRATED TIME PRAYING AND DRAWING CLOSER TO THE LORD. JOEL 2:12-14

A FAST IS REALLY ABOUT GIVING UP THOSE THINGS WHICH KEEP US FROM HAVING AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD; REPLACING PHYSICAL FOOD WITH PRAYER AND READING OF THE BIBLE (OUR SPIRITUAL FOOD.) LUKE 18:1

THE GOAL OF THE CHURCH FAST IS TO SIMPLY EXPERIENCE THE SUPERNATURAL BY GETTING OUT OF THE ROUTINE OR HABIT OF EATING WHATEVER YOU WANT WHENEVER YOU WANT FOR THE DURATION OF 21 DAYS. SOME MAY FIND IT DIFFICULT AT FIRST, YET, KNOW YOU ARE NOT ALONE AND YOU CAN PERSEVERE. OTHERS MAY FEEL THAT THEY DON'T HAVE IT IN THEM TO FAST DUE TO HEALTH CONCERNS OR JUST NOT WANTING TO GIVE UP EATING, AND THAT'S OK. PSALM 73:26

IF THAT'S WHERE YOU FIND YOURSELF, MAYBE A WEEKLY FAST, WHERE YOU CHOOSE ONE DAY EACH WEEK OF THE 21 DAY FAST, AND DRINK ONLY WATER OR JUICE WOULD WORK FOR YOU.
II CORINTHIANS 7:1

HOW ABOUT A CULTURAL FAST WHERE YOU FAST FROM SOCIAL MEDIA? NO TELEVISION, MOVIES, VIDEO GAMES, VIDEOS, CELL PHONE USEAGE, ETC., OR MAYBE SNACKS, JUNKFOODS, AND FAST FOODS. ISAIAH 40:29




RESULTS OF FASTING (Ezra 8:23)

1. Faith is developed (Matthew 17:14-21)
2. Humility is developed (Psalms 35:13)
3. Disciplines the soul (Psalms 69:10)
4. Crucifies the appetite and allows for more time to pray (II Samuel 12:16-23)
5. Demonstrates your earnestness before God and denial of all else (I Corinthians 7:5)
6. Shows your obedience (Matthew 6:16-18)
7. Gives the digestive system a rest.
8. Shows the majesty of man over his appetite. (Romans 13:14)
9. Aids in resisting temptation.
10. Helps attain power over demons.
11. Develops your prayer life.
12. Crucifies unbelief.
13. Demonstrates your servant attitude.

MANY OF YOU HAVE DONE A DANIEL FAST BEFORE AND MANY HAVE NOT. WHEREVER YOU FIT IN, PASTOR BENNY HAS CALLED THE CHURCH TO FAST BEGINNING SATURDAY,
JANUARY 7th THROUGH SUNDAY JANUARY 29th, 2012.

PRAYERFULLY CONSIDER JOINING US AND SIGN UP ON LINE TO RECEIVE PASTOR BENNY'S DAILY DEVOTIONS. REMEMBER NOT TO MAKE THE PREPARATION OF FOOD THE FOCAL POINT OR HIGHLIGHT OF THE FAST. IT'S NOT ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN OR CANNOT EAT WHILE ON THE FAST. IT IS BETWEEN YOU AND GOD, AND THE HIGHEST GOAL IS HIS PRESENCE. BE SURE TO FOLLOW ONE OF THE PRESCRIBED FASTS NOTED OR WHAT THE LORD GIVES YOU.
(II THESS 3:1)
(HAB. 2:1-4)