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February 10, 2006 – CI ASIA Day of Fasting
A couple of weeks ago, the Lord spoke to me to “seek Him”. I had been reading Psalm 27 and the word “seek” jumped out at me (vs. 4, vs. 8). So, I set that day aside to concentrate on seeking God. As I did, I began to sense that I needed to call a special day of fasting for all the CI Asia Churches and people.
I became aware that some churches were being attacked and hindered by the enemy. As I thought about fasting for them, I realized I needed to call a fast of all the CI Asia churches. At first I thought to do this only in Japan, but then saw that God wants all the CI Asia churches to participate. I have set Friday, Feb. 10 as CI Asia Day of Fasting. (Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia). I am very excited in my spirit about this, and feel it will help ALL of us move forward.
PURPOSE: To pray for all CI Asia Churches and leaders. Pray for great breakthrough and advancement in 2006.
METHOD: I encourage all pastors to announce this to their churches. I encourage that you use as much of Friday as possible solely for seeking Him and praying for the other churches. I know God will bless you individually as you fast, but do not focus on your own individual things. Focus on the other churches.
TYPE OF FAST: Absolute: no food, but water is OK.
Below is a list of seven purposes of fasting that I have taken from Guillermo Maldonado’s book on prayer. I have added the explanations and applied them to CI Asia.
- To honor God – We honor Him when we set aside time to spend with Him and seek His face.
- To humble ourselves and repent – (Is. 57:15 “I dwell in the high and holy place with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”) None of us intends to be proud. But we can very easily shift into a place of self-reliance – which is pride. When we fast, we choose to humble ourselves. As the above verse says, God will come and revive us with new faith, new passion, and new vision.
- To face a crisis – Crises occur when the enemy comes against us (2 Chron 20:3 “And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.”). Many CI Asia churches are in a crisis. The enemy’s plan is to destroy them. God wants to turn each attack into great victory. Fasting will result in God giving you strategy for great victory, just like He did for Jehoshaphat.
- To hear His voice and get direction – (Ps 23.3 – He restores my soul and leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.) God wants to give direction to us so we can do new works and ministries. Fasting enables us to hear His voice easily.
- To ordain people into ministry – Acts 13:1-3. This time our focus is not to ordain people. But notice that fasting itself births ministries. After fasting, the Holy Spirit gave the men directives that launched a brand-new ministry (Paul and Barnabas). I feel many in CI Asia have had ministries spoken to them. But these ministries are not being launched. Fasting will help launch that which God has promised. (I am believing for media ministries in 2006.)
- To develop spiritual sensitivity – Not only does it become easier to hear the voice of God, but also discerning the work of demons becomes much clearer. While Jesus was fasting 40 days, Satan came to him and was completely exposed. Nothing was hidden; it was a direct encounter. Fasting will allow us to see the work of demons, and thus we can simply drive them out. Discouragement is greatly reduced because demons and their work are exposed.
- To loose the bonds of wickedness – (Is 58:6 “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness…” The enemy wants to set traps and bind the people and works of God. By fasting, we can easily break those traps and loose the things God wants set free. I believe there are finances, buildings, and people bound up by Satan. Our corporate fast will set them free.
STEPS IN FASTING– (I list these four points from G. Maldonado’s Book on prayer)
- Declare your fast before God in an audible voice the minute you begin fasting
- Declare you purpose. In this case declare that this fast is to cause great breakthrough for all the CI Asia churches and ministries. (I have great expectation in my spirit about this fast!!)
- Ask the Holy Spirit to help you during the fast as well as lead your prayers
- Receive the answer to your fast before it comes. Give thanks for the answer before you see it manifest in the natural. (Mt 6:16,17)
Ron Sawka
02.02.06
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