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The Koinonia – February 2012
From Pastor Christina Sung
This year Ash Wednesday is on February 22nd, when we will begin 40 days of a Lenten Journey to Easter. On that day we will start 40 days of fasting and prayer at church, meeting from 6:30pm to 8:00pm, except on Sundays.
Fasting is hard but when we fast, God blesses us. For example, in the Isaiah 58:6-12 passages, there are more than 10 specific benefits of “the fast that God has chosen.” These are revelation, healing, wholeness, righteousness, the presence of the glory of God, answered prayer, continual guidance, contentment, strength, raising-up of future generations, and restoration. Please read the passages and see if you can find more benefits.
As our church prepares for the holy journey of 40 days, I would like to share with you some insights on prayer which I found in church materials called “Prayer: The Breath of our Spiritual Life.”
What is intercession? Intercessory prayer (praying for others) leads us from selfishness to a wider circle of usefulness. It can cause us to grow in grace through the changing years and can remain with us as a blessing to the end of life. We should uphold each other in prayer. Paul was constantly reminding the church to pray for him for the Kingdom of God’s sake.
Intercessory prayer is a number of Christians praying together for a given person or groups of people, or nations, or world events… In fact, pray for every affair of the world and whatever is in it so that God will be glorified.
Here are a few conditions for effective prayer:
• Be prepared in heart and mind. Put other tasks aside.
• Be humble before God and expect that God will speak to you.
• Be prepared in heart and mind. Put other tasks aside.
• Believe in the presence of Jesus in your life and feel His nearness. “…I am with you always.” – Matthew 28:20.
• Be confident and pray with faith, expecting your prayers to be answered. “Whatever you ask for in prayer, you will receive.” Matthew 21:22
• Devote yourself to God with all your love and desire; surrender your life, dreams, and plans to Him.
• Discipline yourself with daily prayer; be consistent and be persistent.
It was Jesus’ loving concern for others that led Him to pray for them, even His enemies. If we believe that God intends us to live together as God’s children and take care of His creation, we must pray for one another for God’s wisdom, help, strength, and guidance.
I hope and pray that you will experience God’s glory and power as you participate in our 40-day Lent Prayer and Fasting.
“May Jesus Christ reveal Himself to you as you seek His face! May God reveal His love and His enjoyment, and His plan to you when we together cry out to Him as a church family.
Five Different Types of Food Fasts
(from: “The Rewards of Fasting”)
1. Regular Fast: One goes without food, drinking only water or liquids that have no calories.
2. Liquid Fast: One goes without solid food and drinks only light liquids, such as fruit juices. Most people do not include milk shakes in this type of fast.
3. Absolute Fast (sometimes called an “Easter Fast”): one abstains from all food and water.
4. Partial Fast (sometimes called a “Daniel Fast”): one abstains from tasty foods and eat only certain things, like vegetables or nuts. John Wesley often fasted on bread and water.
5. Benedict Fast: one eats only one meal a day. Many monks in the monasteries of Europe lived this way for years.
From Pastor Christina Sung
This year Ash Wednesday is on February 22nd, when we will begin 40 days of a Lenten Journey to Easter. On that day we will start 40 days of fasting and prayer at church, meeting from 6:30pm to 8:00pm, except on Sundays.
Fasting is hard but when we fast, God blesses us. For example, in the Isaiah 58:6-12 passages, there are more than 10 specific benefits of “the fast that God has chosen.” These are revelation, healing, wholeness, righteousness, the presence of the glory of God, answered prayer, continual guidance, contentment, strength, raising-up of future generations, and restoration. Please read the passages and see if you can find more benefits.
As our church prepares for the holy journey of 40 days, I would like to share with you some insights on prayer which I found in church materials called “Prayer: The Breath of our Spiritual Life.”
What is intercession? Intercessory prayer (praying for others) leads us from selfishness to a wider circle of usefulness. It can cause us to grow in grace through the changing years and can remain with us as a blessing to the end of life. We should uphold each other in prayer. Paul was constantly reminding the church to pray for him for the Kingdom of God’s sake.
Intercessory prayer is a number of Christians praying together for a given person or groups of people, or nations, or world events… In fact, pray for every affair of the world and whatever is in it so that God will be glorified.
Here are a few conditions for effective prayer:
• Be prepared in heart and mind. Put other tasks aside.
• Be humble before God and expect that God will speak to you.
• Be prepared in heart and mind. Put other tasks aside.
• Believe in the presence of Jesus in your life and feel His nearness. “…I am with you always.” – Matthew 28:20.
• Be confident and pray with faith, expecting your prayers to be answered. “Whatever you ask for in prayer, you will receive.” Matthew 21:22
• Devote yourself to God with all your love and desire; surrender your life, dreams, and plans to Him.
• Discipline yourself with daily prayer; be consistent and be persistent.
It was Jesus’ loving concern for others that led Him to pray for them, even His enemies. If we believe that God intends us to live together as God’s children and take care of His creation, we must pray for one another for God’s wisdom, help, strength, and guidance.
I hope and pray that you will experience God’s glory and power as you participate in our 40-day Lent Prayer and Fasting.
“May Jesus Christ reveal Himself to you as you seek His face! May God reveal His love and His enjoyment, and His plan to you when we together cry out to Him as a church family.
Five Different Types of Food Fasts
(from: “The Rewards of Fasting”)
1. Regular Fast: One goes without food, drinking only water or liquids that have no calories.
2. Liquid Fast: One goes without solid food and drinks only light liquids, such as fruit juices. Most people do not include milk shakes in this type of fast.
3. Absolute Fast (sometimes called an “Easter Fast”): one abstains from all food and water.
4. Partial Fast (sometimes called a “Daniel Fast”): one abstains from tasty foods and eat only certain things, like vegetables or nuts. John Wesley often fasted on bread and water.
5. Benedict Fast: one eats only one meal a day. Many monks in the monasteries of Europe lived this way for years.
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