The International Fellowship Family Fasting January 12 - February 1, 2014 “2014, Jesus Is The Subject!” Dear Family, It’s 2014, a brand new year with brand new potential! Our Theme for the year is “Jesus is the Subject.” This is a simple reminder with profound importance. The entire Old Testament is pointing to the promise of God’s answer that restores us to His presence. The New Testament is the record of the fulfillment of that promise! Jesus is the Subject, He is the point, the essence, the topic and the substance of what life is all about. Jesus is our focal point. Our efforts are to be centered in Him. Without Him we can do nothing, or at least nothing that really matters. This time of fasting is for us to set the year up right, by returning our hearts to the One who really matters. It is time to renew the presence of God in our lives, in our worship, in every aspect of our personal and corporate worlds. We believe God that what happened in the New Testament will happen for us. In the Gospels wherever Jesus showed up something miraculous happened. There was never a time when Jesus was present and the power of God was absent. As we fast and focus again on the subject (Jesus), we can anticipate demonstrations of the power of God. Join us on this journey. This year will be like no other year, if you will make Jesus the subject! Bishop and Lady Aundria FOCUS FOR THIS FAST 1) Renew your personal altar of worship & prayer. Spend time daily in the word, prayer & worship. Just spend time in communion and fellowship loving on your Lord and Savior! Make Jesus the Subject! Remember, He loves you unconditionally and desires you more than You desire Him! 2) Ask the Holy Spirit to help you identify the things that are crowding out His presence in your life. Invite Him to fill every area of your life with Himself! Make Him Lord and Master again! Prioritize His presence! (Matthew 6:33) For those of you who may not be familiar with fasting, here is a condensed teaching that I hope will give a clear but simplistic understanding on Biblical Fasting. Please keep in mind that it is by no means all inclusive, there is much more that can be shared. I would encourage you to personally study and read about fasting--there are a host of materials available. The word “fast” in Hebrew is SUM which means TO COVER THE MOUTH or TO AFFLICT THE SOUL. Fasting means afflicting the soul in order to gain physically, emotionally and spiritually (Ezra 8:21). It is to starve the flesh in order to feed the soul and spirit. Simply stated, biblical fasting is refraining from food for a spiritual purpose. Jesus is our greatest example of the power in fasting. The Scripture records in Matthew 4:1 --11, that before Jesus began His public ministry, He was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness where He was tempted by Satan and He fasted for 40 days. He refrained from food for a spiritual purpose! He was empowered and overcame every satanic attack! Fasting is much more than a food strike! Therefore, fasting should be accompanied by prayer, praise and worship, and reading and meditating on the word of God. Fasting implies the sacrifice of the personal will in order to better understand God’s will. The gains are personal. Fasting benefits us more than it does God. What gives fasting its value is the sacrifice of one’s personal will. Fasting is an act of humility before God. It’s the “humbling of the soul” (Psalm 35:13). When a person can ‘will’ to eat, but lays aside that will in favor of going before God, ministering to Him with praise, worship, prayer, and spending time in His word, that is personal sacrifice. God will honor such a sacrifice and the benefits far outweigh the sacrifice! According to Hebrews 11:6, God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him! SPIRITUAL PREPARATION Confess your sins to God. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any areas of weakness. Forgive all those who have offended you and ask for forgiveness from those you may have offended (Mark 11:25; Luke 11:4, 17:3-4). Surrender your life fully to Jesus Christ and reject carnal/ worldly desires that try to hinder you (Romans 12:1-2). SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES FOR FASTING: Matthew 6:16-18, 9:14-15; Luke 17:14-21, 18:9-14 RELATION TO PRAYER & READING THE WORD: I Samuel 1:6-8, 17-18; Nehemiah 1:4; Daniel 9:3, 20; Joel 2:12; Luke 2:37; Acts 10:30, 13:2 CORPORATE FASTING: I Samuel 7:5-6; Ezra 8:21-23; Nehemiah 9:1-3; Joel 2:15-16; Jonah 3:5-10; Acts 27:33-37 There are several types of Fasts. I would encourage you to seek the Lord in prayer and allow the Holy Spirit to direct you on how you are to fast. Again, the called Fast is for 21 days but you are not under any pressure so don’t be overwhelmed by the length of time. Again, seek the Lord and allow His grace to sustain you! FOR THE EXPERIENCED FASTER: FULL FAST/THE MASTER CLEANSER FAST Only consume water and the Master Cleanser beverage (recipe provided below) throughout the entire fast process. If an individual is on medication, he or she must consult his or her physician and follow the medication recommendations put forth by his or her doctor. Physician consultation is necessary because some medications will preempt one’s ability to fast while other medications can be safely taken during a fast. FOR THE INTERMEDIATE FASTER: A PARTIAL FAST You can choose from three types of fasting--Full Fast, Daniel Fast or give up at least one item of food. This option can include a sunup to sundown alternative—the faster can eat from 6: 00 A.M. to 6: 00 P.M. and then do a water-only fast from 6: 00 P.M. to 6: 00 A.M. With this model, eating is done during the day when the faster is actively engaged in activities and can use the additional dietary fuel and burn the excess calories, but this option can also be implemented vice versa with fasting occurring from 6: 00 A.M. to 6: 00 P.M. with eating beginning after 6: 00 P.M. Or, otherwise on this partial fast, the individual may eat only fruits and vegetables (during a specified time window) and drink water only during the entire 40-day fast; organic fruits and vegetables should be used when possible. The fruits and vegetables that are consumed should be consumed from 8: 00 A.M. to 12: 00 noon only. The individual can eat any variety or version of fruits and vegetables. After 12: 00 noon, the individual should abstain from all whole fruit and vegetable intake. During the remaining 20 hours of the day (12: 00 P.M. to 8: 00 A.M.), preferably only water should be consumed. The Master Cleanser beverage may also be consumed, if the faster desires a cleansing, healthful beverage as an alternative to water. During the 20 hour water-only fasting period of each day, if the faster experiences overwhelming cravings that are unsatisfied by water or the Master Cleanser beverage, he or she should go ahead and have a serving of fruit and/ or vegetables at that time and as needed. Again, if an individual is on medication, he or she should consult his or her physician and follow the medication recommendations put forth by his or her doctor. Physician consultation is necessary because some medications will preempt one’s ability to fast while other medications can be safely taken during a fast. During this partial fast, it is suggested that no other food items be consumed besides any variety or version of fresh fruits and vegetables. No other beverages, other than those stated, should be consumed. All sodas, fruit juices, sweet tea, lemonade, coffee, lattes, and other drinks are to be avoided. FOR THE BEGINNER FASTER: THE DANIEL FAST: (Daniel 1:8-12; 10:3) The individual would eat no meat, no sweets and no bread. Throughout the fast days, the individual would eat any variety or version of fruits, vegetables, legumes (peas, beans, nuts, etc) and certain dietary fibers, such as brown rice, steel-cut oatmeal (without butter, sugar, or other condiments), and drink water only as desired throughout the day. Meal variation may include a vegetable/ legume plate with several servings of vegetables constituting one meal (e.g. squash, green beans, cabbage, and black eye peas, etc.), salads, vegetable soups, whole fruits, grilled vegetables, bean soup, vegetable and bean casserole, etc. If an individual is on medication, he or she should continue to take them, unless directed otherwise by a physician. Physician consultation is necessary because some medications will preempt one’s ability to fast while other medications can be safely taken during a fast. This fast is recommended for the beginning faster as well as for Type II Diabetics, who have received medical clearance from their doctors to participate in the fast. Type II Diabetics should consult their physician about possible adjustments to their blood-sugar lowering medication regimen during the fasting season to avoid episodes of hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. FOR FASTERS OF ALL LEVELS: THE JUICE FAST For this type of fast, the individual will need a juicer and a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables.