Book one here.
Chapter One
Prayer notes from week two of the fast:
Prayer notes from week two of the fast:
1. We are being called to maturity and obedience. Not half or 90 percent of us, all of us as a church, together. You have called us to a higher standard than most churches. We must do this.
2. Matt 5:23-24 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
Father, show me where I need to reconcile. I don’t want to bring a detestable gift to the altar.
3. I just spent the last ten minutes wrestling with my flesh. I think I should be doing more in the church. But I don't have any duties, ministries, or obligations. Father, you have taken it all away and have called me to pray. That's it. My feelings and ambitions don't matter.
4. How critical it is for me to be obedient! No recognition, accolades, or the praise of men. Just the way it it should be. I suddenly see what a privilege I possess to just pray.
5. Gillian: "The power is not in fasting. It's in obedience. The Lord has asked us to pray that His kingdom come on earth, His will be done. Fasting clears the debris of our flesh and worldly desires and enables us to walk in heaven's light, thrive in the ministry of prayer."
6. Some of us have a condition, I deem it H and D syndrome. This is the Hopes and Dreams of our youth. Doctor, business owner, singer, fireman, millionaire, actor, rock star, etc..
Life, however, has brought us to a different place, yet we tenaciously hold onto H and D and never actually live the life you have given us. If we have a wife, we need to be a husband. Children? We need to be parents. Bills? Get a job and work for a living!
The life we've been given is the life we should live.
7. Father, don't allow the fast to be self-focused. I pray our vision turns upward and outward.
8. I had resolved to be at every evening gathering but I couldn't come last night, Monday. What did I miss? Holy Spirit, bring me back up to speed.
9. Matt 6:6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
The secret place is where you are. What is this place? How do I go there?
We are all men of the flesh. How do we learn to walk according to the Spirit? That's the spiritual man. The spiritual man can go to the secret place with confidence.
What is the reward of the secret place? You reveal your secrets!
Psalm 25:14 The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant.
10. I must go farther along this train of thought. "His covenant." That's Christ crucified! Your covenant... you show us Jesus!
Colo 2:27 ...God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Christ in you... I don't have to go far to go to the secret place. You're much closer than I thought.
I don't need a "war room" or some sort of retreat. Holy Spirit, help me to understand.
11. I drive by a health club every morning and there's dozens of cars parked there. Every day at 5:30 am. These people are dedicated and committed.
I have actually wept as I've driven past. Wept because they seem more interested in physical health than in spiritual health.
But then I arrive at the church and the parking lot is empty. Where are the committed saints who will rise early in the morning and join together?
In my weeping I am persuaded this is coming. I hold onto hope, knowing your desire is to bring revival to your church.
12. John 8:47 Whoever belongs to God hears the words of God.
Holy Spirit, help us to hear what you speak.
13. Half way through the fast. Father, what should I be seeing? In what ways have you been moving? I am encouraged by the prayers I've been hearing. People are praying for the kingdom, for revival.
After the fast is over, don't let us go back to the way we were. Don't let us settle back into the way church was before the fast.
If it does, I don't know if I will be able to bear it. I cannot abide by a church that is satisfied with yesterday's blessing. I won't sit through another year of nice songs and pleasant sermons.
Is quitting the answer? No. It would mean me admitting that the promise of revival was something from my vain imagination. Others who believed it over the past decades were mistaken.
No, I am persuaded you are going to do something amazing in these last days. The move of God we've cried out for will surely come.
14. Eph 3:20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think...
"Think," noeó, discerning or comprehending, often implying a deeper insight or reflection beyond mere surface observation.
Father, you are able to exceed what our minds can understand, even more than our deepest thoughts.
...according to the power at work within us...
The things you can do are that amazing, and that power is in us. Power in us beyond our ability to understand. What shall we do with this power? Most of don't even know that it's there or how to tap into it.
2. Matt 5:23-24 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
Father, show me where I need to reconcile. I don’t want to bring a detestable gift to the altar.
3. I just spent the last ten minutes wrestling with my flesh. I think I should be doing more in the church. But I don't have any duties, ministries, or obligations. Father, you have taken it all away and have called me to pray. That's it. My feelings and ambitions don't matter.
4. How critical it is for me to be obedient! No recognition, accolades, or the praise of men. Just the way it it should be. I suddenly see what a privilege I possess to just pray.
5. Gillian: "The power is not in fasting. It's in obedience. The Lord has asked us to pray that His kingdom come on earth, His will be done. Fasting clears the debris of our flesh and worldly desires and enables us to walk in heaven's light, thrive in the ministry of prayer."
6. Some of us have a condition, I deem it H and D syndrome. This is the Hopes and Dreams of our youth. Doctor, business owner, singer, fireman, millionaire, actor, rock star, etc..
Life, however, has brought us to a different place, yet we tenaciously hold onto H and D and never actually live the life you have given us. If we have a wife, we need to be a husband. Children? We need to be parents. Bills? Get a job and work for a living!
The life we've been given is the life we should live.
7. Father, don't allow the fast to be self-focused. I pray our vision turns upward and outward.
8. I had resolved to be at every evening gathering but I couldn't come last night, Monday. What did I miss? Holy Spirit, bring me back up to speed.
9. Matt 6:6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
The secret place is where you are. What is this place? How do I go there?
We are all men of the flesh. How do we learn to walk according to the Spirit? That's the spiritual man. The spiritual man can go to the secret place with confidence.
What is the reward of the secret place? You reveal your secrets!
Psalm 25:14 The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant.
10. I must go farther along this train of thought. "His covenant." That's Christ crucified! Your covenant... you show us Jesus!
Colo 2:27 ...God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Christ in you... I don't have to go far to go to the secret place. You're much closer than I thought.
I don't need a "war room" or some sort of retreat. Holy Spirit, help me to understand.
11. I drive by a health club every morning and there's dozens of cars parked there. Every day at 5:30 am. These people are dedicated and committed.
I have actually wept as I've driven past. Wept because they seem more interested in physical health than in spiritual health.
But then I arrive at the church and the parking lot is empty. Where are the committed saints who will rise early in the morning and join together?
In my weeping I am persuaded this is coming. I hold onto hope, knowing your desire is to bring revival to your church.
12. John 8:47 Whoever belongs to God hears the words of God.
Holy Spirit, help us to hear what you speak.
13. Half way through the fast. Father, what should I be seeing? In what ways have you been moving? I am encouraged by the prayers I've been hearing. People are praying for the kingdom, for revival.
After the fast is over, don't let us go back to the way we were. Don't let us settle back into the way church was before the fast.
If it does, I don't know if I will be able to bear it. I cannot abide by a church that is satisfied with yesterday's blessing. I won't sit through another year of nice songs and pleasant sermons.
Is quitting the answer? No. It would mean me admitting that the promise of revival was something from my vain imagination. Others who believed it over the past decades were mistaken.
No, I am persuaded you are going to do something amazing in these last days. The move of God we've cried out for will surely come.
14. Eph 3:20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think...
"Think," noeó, discerning or comprehending, often implying a deeper insight or reflection beyond mere surface observation.
Father, you are able to exceed what our minds can understand, even more than our deepest thoughts.
...according to the power at work within us...
The things you can do are that amazing, and that power is in us. Power in us beyond our ability to understand. What shall we do with this power? Most of don't even know that it's there or how to tap into it.
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