The Great Invitation: Prayer & Fasting

January 6, 2013
Vol. 13, No. 1

WORSHIP
Suggested Worship Songs:
Amazing Grace, In Christ Alone, How Great Is Our God

WELCOME
Pray & Fast!
How did you prepare for the church-wide prayer and fasting week?

WORD
Hebrews 4:16
Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find
grace to help in time of need.
Amazing Invitation be bad but good stuff and even blessings in life
that preoccupy us so that we have no more time
Fasting and praying is an amazing invitation from
left to spend in prayer. We need to slow down and
God. We can now draw near and enter the throne
take some time to fast from people, gadgets, or any
of grace with confidence. We can come with
activities, and be alone with God in prayer so we
boldness not for who we are but for who Jesus is
could listen to Him.
and what He has done. It is all about Jesus.
When you are in Gods presence, He speaks and
The throne is the presence of the King of kings
when He speaks, you also receive the grace of
where we experience the fullness of His authority
being transformed by God because when He
and power. This is not the throne of judgment but
speaks and people respond in obedience, people
of grace. Grace is undeserved favor which we all
change and become like never before. So pray
need from God not just for our salvation but for
more, talk less; pray more, worry less. See how
our daily walk to empower us to do what He wants
God transforms you and the people in your life.
us to do.
Prayer is an Amazing Invitation
Some people do not take this invitation to enter
Gods presence in prayer because they dont have It happened that while Jesus was praying in a
pressing needs to pray for. They think that they certain place, after He had finished, one of His
have everything, but they do not know the disciples said to Him, Lord, teach us to pray just
blessings that they are missing. as John also taught his disciples. (Luke 11:1)
The Blessings of Prayer and Fasting The disciples did not ask Jesus to teach them to
perform miracles, or to write sermons, or to lead,
When you are in Gods presence, you receive the
but they asked Him to teach them how to pray.
blessing of grace to listen to Gods direction in
Perhaps they asked for it because they saw the
your life.
intimacy of Jesus with God the Father in prayer.
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, Prayer is foundational. It is not optional. Every
the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for me Barnabas follower of Jesus must learn and practice praying.
and Saul for the work to which I have called
Jesus taught His disciples the pattern of praying
them. So after they had fasted and prayed, they
(Luke 11:2-4). It was a revolutionary prayer that
placed their hands on them and sent them off.
Jesus taught to address God as our Father. When
(Acts 13:2-3)
we have a personal relationship with God, we can
Many of us miss to listen to God not because God is enter His presence as His children.
not speaking or because we dont want to listen,
Prayer should be a delight not a duty. It should be
but because we are too busy and preoccupied with
a privilege not a protocol; a relationship not a
too many things. These things may not necessarily
WORD (contd)
ritual. When we have the right theology of who God, our Father, wants to bless us and to answer
God is and who we are, prayer will be a joy our prayers. Our God is the God of How Much
because we believe that God is our Father who More.
invites us to come to Him in prayer.
If you then, being evil, know how to give good
So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; gifts to your children, how much more will your
seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who
opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; ask Him? (Luke 11:11-13)
and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it
If you believe that He invites you to come with
will be opened. (Luke 11:9-10)
boldness into His presence to give you the grace in
Keep praying. God our Father is telling us to come time of needs, then readily accept His invitation.
with boldness and perseverance. God may not be Come to His throne of grace with confidence so
answering your prayer now, but He is already that you may receive mercy and find grace in
working; He is the God of Already. Jesus.
Discussion Questions:
(Leaders: Please choose questions that are appropriate to the level of spiritual maturity of your members)
1. Recall. What is the amazing invitation of God to us according to Hebrews 4:16? What makes it amazing?
2. Reflect. What is your belief about God and about yourself? According to your belief, why would you (or
anyone) accept the invitation from God to come into His throne of grace?
3. Respond. Why and how would you pray and fast this week or so? How would you rearrange your life to
make prayer and fasting a regular part of your schedule this 2013?

WORKS
When You Think About the Lord Weekly Prayer Points
What you think about God is the most important
thing about you. As you begin your prayer and
fasting this week, write down and ponder on
Gods attributes or names according to who He is
in your life, not just by head knowledge or second
hand information but by your personal
experience and pursuit. Write as many as you
can. Example: Our God is
1. The God of How Much More because
_________________________________________________.
2. The God of Already because
_________________________________________________.
3. My gracious and loving Father because
_________________________________________________.
4. My Best Friend because
_________________________________________________.
5. My Jehovah Jireh because
_________________________________________________.
I. Thanksgiving
Worship God for Who He is, what He has
done, and what He will do in our lives
II. Country and the World
Upright and moral governance of Public
Servants
Cooperation & unity of Filipinos towards a
God-centered Philippines
For the Christians in India to be able to
influence the formulation and
implementation of new laws in promoting
the welfare of women
III. Church
Pastors & Leaders
Ministries & Churches worldwide
IV. CCF Facilities
New Worship and Training Center
Prayer Mountain
V. Personal Concerns
Deeper intimate relationship with God
Salvation of family and friends