Fasting with purpose

Luke 22:39-46, I Samuel 1:1-17

Fasting will never be enjoyable, or useful for anybody as long as they go to it without PURPOSE!

Purpose is the reason for whatever we do. David said is there not a cause. If there is no cause, there is no power, no energy, no motivation, and no intense pursuit.

Is there no personal, heartfelt, anger stirring cause for you?

God says you will find me if you seek me with all your heart. Jer 29:13

James says, The effectual fervent prayer … avails much! James 5:16.

NB: It’s not the fact you are hungry that brings results. It’s not the fact you tried that brings results. Africans are normally satisfied with effort. At least I tried! It’s not that. It is going with one mindset – the mind set to win!

Going to fasting without a purpose is like going to war, without a cause! A cheaply hired mercenary! A cause always prevails over structure, knowledge and even talent. It’s like going to a beehive without equipment, proper instruments and not fully knowing your story! Bees will kill you. Enemies will destroy you.

What could be a reasonable purpose for fasting?

Anything and everything! You need a breakthrough in your life, you need another level, you are tired of poverty, you want peace and harmony for your family. You want an increase in the levels of anointing in your life.

You want favour etc. Esther and the nation of Israel fasted for favour?

Are you in danger of something, fast! Fast and pray!

Are you facing a mountain in your life, that you don't know how to move it away? Fast and pray

Is anyone afflicted – let him PRAY! Fast and pray…

FASTING goes hand in glove with the word and with prayer. But fasting pushes everything forward, it is like changing your car from economy drive to sport drive! You engage a much deeper source of power. It's the same car, same driver, same type of fuel, but it begins to do miracles right there. I promise you, fasting will do you much and greater benefits if you go for it with total understanding and clear purpose!

Agenda for fasting doesn't have to be many things. In the bible we see most people taking some days to fast and most of the times it was for only one reason.

Daniel took 21 days to hear from God about setting Israel free!

David took 7 days to try and save a sick child

Esther took 3 solid day for the salvation of Israel

Jesus went 40 days to prepare for the ministry

Moses did 40days X2 for the 10 commandments!

Intense Passionate Prayers

Man aught always to pray and not to faint!– Luke 18:1. Don't pray fainted prayers. Weak, unconvinced, half hearted! They will not yield you any results.

Luke 22:39-46 – Disciples had no cause, they couldn't see what was the real big scheme of things. They had just followed Jesus to prayer. They were just sorrowful that somebody was about to die. They didn't understand the dynamics of what was about to happen.  They did not fully understand that the cross transaction was about to deliver the whole world from the clasp of sin.

Hebrews 5:7 AMP In the days of His flesh [Jesus] offered up definite, special petitions [for that which He not only wanted [a] but needed] and supplications with strong crying and tears to Him Who was [always] able to save Him [out] from death, and He was heard because of His reverence toward God [His godly fear, His piety, [b] in that He shrank from the horrors of separation from the bright presence of the Father].

James 5:16 AMP … The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].

Esther 4:3 - And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, [there was] great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

2 Chronicles 20:3 - And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. – for victory

Nehemiah 1:4 - And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned [certain] days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,

Jesus woke up a while early to pray – mark 1:35. Get out of the comfort zone. Get out of the blankets. Have at least one key burning desire in your heart.

Epaphras labored in prayer – Col 4:12. - He was interceding for the churches.

Elijah prayed earnestly… James 5:14-16.

Cryings and sweated blood – Luke 22:44.

Is anyone in trouble – let him pray – James 5:13

Hebrews 5:7 – he offered prayers with loud cries and supplications

Common Prayer Points:

i.                    The year of the Explosive! Let my own financial life explode, my business opportunities increase, etc.

ii.                  Crusade 2015, … Let souls come in numbers. Boldness of the word spoken.

iii.                Ezekiel 47 – prophesying to my own life. Calling all dead things, dreams, back to life in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Will feed more scriptures to the chat group – whatsapp and facebook.

BENEFITS OF FASTING

1.      Helps you to overcome the desires of the flesh

Fasting is a means of bringing the flesh into submission to the Lord so He can strengthen us in our mastery over our own selves. Fasting in the flesh makes us stronger to stand against the temptations of the flesh. Merlyn Hickey!

2.      Clears the clutter so you can hear clearly from God.

3.      Helps your spirit to be sensitive to God.

4.      Helps you to pull your energy and effort towards one focal point.

Prayer needs for FCC 2015

-          Crusades – 2000 salvation, 700 membership by Dec 2015

-          All FCC programs and activities to be blessed and flourish

-          Land and building – to buy land and build church - 2015

-          Access to Media – Radio and Television ministry

-          Buy Ministry bus/es

-          Conferences – 2015!

-          5 years of the explosive…

o   Explosive word and Worship Atmospheres etc.

* Please take much of the time to pray for yourself, your family, your personal needs. I believe God wants to bless and increase you this year. In every situation of your life, I assure you God has a much bigger and better plan. Connect to him and enjoy the blessing.

The Audio Download

Hi

 It has been a really long time since we last posted something, we trust you have not grown weary of hearing the word from other places.....

We have launched our audio downloads, so if you are pressed for time and cannot read our blog you can still come here and find audio to keep you in the word on the go.

Be blessed and be expectant of greater things to come, if you download this then feel free to share with a friend and help us build faith, inspire hope and spread the love of God to the nations....

 Be blessed and enjoy the word

 Pst Mk and K Dube





If you are having trouble then you can Listen Here

 

5 Key Revelations For Your Life

Hi all

Welcome to the month of October. Over the past month you will have noticed how we are constantly talking about revelation and its importance to you as a believer. If you read your bible, you will realise that before God does anything significant He always reveals it to people first.

In line with revelation here are 5 that you need to fully be aware of in your life as a believer. When you grasp these you will find your walk with God more fulfilling and you will see victory in your life, so meditate on these 5 points and walk in their fullness afterwards.

1.       Revelation of Salvation and Righteousness 

We are a totally new species of beings (II Cor 5:17)

*New creation means you are totally changed, you are not an improved being but have become a being that did not exist before

We are able to approach him without fear or sense of guilt (Heb 4:16)

When you receive Christ, the word says that you are now in Christ and are therefore made righteous, not because of what you did but because of who you are, this means that no matter how back slidden you may be you can still come to God without guilt or shame for there is no condemnation for you (Romans 8:1)

We are just as He is – we are worthy! (I John 3:2 & 4:17, John 1:12)

Christ has restored our relationship with God, so as far as God is concerned, we look, think and act like Jesus.

2.       Revelation of the Finished work of Calvary 

It is finished (John 19:30)

The hold and control that the enemy had over man was broken

As a result of this we are no longer under the curse but are able to walk in the blessing and all of its benefits (by his stripes we were healed (Isaiah 53:4,5) He Himself became poor that we may become rich (II Corinthians 8:9))

3.       Revelation of the Holy Spirit and His work in our lives

He informs us things to come (John 16:13)

He replaces Jesus’ role here on earth and as such he is our teacher, guide, our comforter..but most significantly He dwells within us (yes He is inside of you)

4.       Revelation of your inheritance in the Lord (The Blessing)

All that God has is mine (Ephesians 1:3)

As a son (John 1:12), I have access to everything that belongs to my Father as it has already been given to me (Ephesians 1:3) (ie I have access to divine healing when unwell, divine supply for all my needs etc)

5.       Revelation of the Force of Faith!

Matthew 9:22 and 15:28, Mark 5:34 & 10:52, Luke 7:50 and 8:48

In these scriptures it is clearly highlighted how each of the individuals’ faith gave them a reward of what they were looking for.

Look at what Jesus said to Simon in (Luke 22:31-32).  That is the awesome power of the faith that you as an individual has and each and every person must grow their own faith (Romans 12:3 and Romans 10:17)

To fully access the promises of the blessing you will have to be a person who understands the power of faith (Mark 11:23)

 


 As always we welcome your feedback and questions, you can leave them below as a comment or you can simply clicking on the links and get intouch with us via  Faith City Church on Facebook or Tweet to @faith_citychrch     


Enjoy your weekend and remember "The blessing of the Lord makes rich and He adds no sorrow with" it"

The Church I See

I have responded to a call of God to minister to the people of God, to lead a generation of faith people. I have responded to a call to take back nations for Jesus, to build faith, inspire hope and spread the love of God to the nations.

We have looked strait into the eyes of failure, we have seen the beastly and notorious eyes of poverty. I have looked into the eyes of purposeless lives, my soul has longed to be the difference in turning sordid lifestyles into galvanized and harnessed lives, strengths, potentials. Myriads of people sit in the valley of hopelessness, and abject morass - spiritually, morally and in resources. Some people now think they are incapable of rising like a sphinx above their daily limitations. I have desired to be the wake up call to their lives. I have desired to be the siren that raises the sleeping giants. I have longed to see a nation awaken. I have desired to see young people caught up and raptured in a positive passion. I have desired to see ambition, passion and desire blazing hot on the eyes of young people of our land.

I have noted my weaknesses, my limitations. Like Paul writes, I have judged myself and accepted what I am and what I am not. Nevertheless, it would be sad in my life, if I lived all my life and did only the things that I can do. I believe I can do far above my abilities… I believe there is a grace to exceed natural confinements, life’s limitations, to go beyond the endowments of life. I have resigned my life to what Paul says, “Woe is me, if I preach not the gospel”. I set out now, not to be the greatest in anything, not to be the biggest in anything, not to be the most renowned whatever, I set out now, like a football player would to the pitch of play, full loaded enthusiasm, excitement and verve. I set out to the field of life, as a tourist to the hitherto unknown destination. I take my life with me, my family with me… I will answer questions when I am done. I will respond to gainsayers not in words but in action. I will create time for academic and theological discourses when I retire, when I have run the race, when I have finished the course, when I have fought the good fight, when I have lifted the crown. Then will we talk, then we have time! Then will we sit down together under the twilight rays of a setting sun of our lives to laugh at the bluffs and blunders of life and marvel at the victories along the way…

So long, let us extend the touch of heaven into the spiritually arid lands. Let us be the smile of heaven on earth. Let us be the soothing breeze of the love of God to the forgotten and dejected. Let us glow the light of heaven and lead many out of extinction, out of frivolous lives and let us help them redeem their time for the days are few and evil. Let us build monuments of faith. Let us build structures and systems to help the forgotten reach out for greatness.

Yeah who said there can’t be champions born in oblivion? Who said champions can’t emanate here, can’t rise from there! Whoever it is, whoever crosses our path, whoever listens to our ministry, let them be soothed with the love of heaven, let them hear the buzz of life, let them encounter heaven on earth, let them see the glimmer of light that so eluded their lives.

Let the rich hear and be thrilled with the drums of life; let them dance to the sound of victory, let the living espouse the opportunity of a much better life. Let the young see a place to grow at, let the old see a place to raise their families. Let the weak see a home of strength, the balm of Gilead, let the afflicted see the burden removing grace on the house. Let the whole see the place of preservation, place of family, place of joy. Let the afflicted see hope for tomorrow.

Faith City Church rises as a home, a hospital, a paradise of love, a hinterland of hope, and an oasis of faith. Faith for the weary revived, faith for the young buttressed, faith for the slow quickened, faith for the poor jogged, faith for life embraced!

I see faith taught in absolute clarity and simplicity. But more so I see it embraced. I see hope spread forth like sunrise beams stroking and caressing the face of the earth. I see young people growing and maturing in hope. I hear the language of the house firm up and change and affect the language of whole communities. Words of life, of hope; words beaming with joy and possibility! The language of opportunity swallowing up hopelessness, wrinkles of years of failure disappear in the smile of faith! I see streams of young people caught up in worship, swelling to rivers of hope, unstoppable oceans of love reversing and defining new cultures in the communities!

In this day church is the only parent some children would ever have. It is the only advanced school some will ever attend. It is the only friend for somebody; it is the only hope for the community. The church in my eyes is the only light coming from the other end of the tunnel that is not a train.Many of the ‘lights’ I have seen have called for someone to flee. While not perfect, it is the only way that has been pre-checked by a heavenly eye, it is the only road whose pot-holes are being mended daily, it is the only meal that has life giving nutrients, it is the only hope for this generation.

I refuse to measure our success with numbers, to be drawn to the numbers game as if we are rearing some kind of stock for sale. I refuse to be drawn to the financial figures either. I am satisfied to receive and to give, to sow and to reap. I am satisfied to see lives changed, communities converted, generations touched. I am satisfied to see young people burgeoning in the glory of the Lord. We will daily oblige the word of the Lord and we will do exactly as we are instructed of our heavenly instructor and commander in chief. 

The Power Of Revelation

Hello everyone, trust you have been well and walking in the blessing of the Lord. If you have been with us at Faith City Church, we started on another awesome series this month (The Power of Revelation) and have been building on it over the weeks.

For those who have been unable to join us we will, as always, unpack the message here so that you can walk with us and be blessed by the word.

The bible has alot to say about the issue of revelation and today we will merely get into the basics and continue to build on it.

The word of God says:

"The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law" -Deut 29:29

That just means simply that if you have found it in the scriptures, and have received the "revelation" then it belongs to you.

Lets start by giving a few definitions of the word "Revelation"

• It is access to the mind of God regarding an element or facet of the kingdom or your life
• Revelation is the ability to see beyond the veil/façade/horizon/natural
• Revelation is not of the head, it is not of the soul either. It is of the spirit. It emanates straight from the innermost being and permeates into the soul.

This is important to understand because as you begin to walk with God you will notice that the kingdom of God is based on revelation.

From 1Peter 2:24 we read that we were healed and in 2Peter 1:3, we see that we have been given all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him............... It is a settled issue, however what hinders most from walking in that is a lack of knowledge as well as the lack of revelation. (walk with me we are headed somewhere)

We have to note the importance of the 2 words highlighted here Knowledge and Revelation.

Ephesians 1:17, Paul says that he prays that God would grant unto the people at Ephesus a spirit of wisdom and revelation IN THE KNOWLEDGE of Him. In simple words revelation comes where there is already knowledge of Him (see why we always say read the word, so that you may grow in knowledge of Him and give the Spirit some seed for revelation).

All the promises of God are yes and amen, but as the word says my people perish for a lack of knowledge, and a lack of knowledge will lead to a lack of revelation.

When revelation has come into your life you will begin to walk in the fullness of the promises, and miracles will begin to manifest in your life. Consider The 3 Hebrew boys in Daniel 3, they had clear knowledge of Who God is and that regardless of what the outcome He will still be God. This revelation allowed them to be thrown in the fire and not be burned (even though it burned those who threw them in the fire).

Or consider Daniel in Daniel 6, He knew he served the true God and would continue to pray to Him even if it put his life in danger. See how even though he was thrown in the pit of lions, nothing happened to him.

Think of Elisha II Kings 6:15,16 – Surrounded by an army but he had a revelation on the protection he had.

That is why the scripture in Daniel 11:33 is so amazing, The people that know their God shall be strong and do exploits. Child of God, get knowledge of God from his written word (the bible) and pray for a spirit of wisdom and revelation to reveal more based on that knowledge and see great things happen in your life, see manifestation of the promises in your life.

Next week we will as always expound deeper on the power of revelation and lay a case for revelation and finally give you ways to walk in divine revelation.

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