• Why fast?

• Fasting enables us to celebrate the goodness and mercy of God.
• Fasting prepares our hearts for all the good things God desires to bring into our lives.
• Fasting helps us to draw near to God.
• Fasting gives you more time for prayer. (Acts 13: 2-3)
• Fasting demonstrates the depth of your desire when praying for something ( Joel 1:14; 2:12)
• Fasting releases God’s supernatural power (Ezra 8:23; Isaiah 58:6)
• It hits the reset button of our soul and renews us from the inside out.

• Types of Fasts? When deciding on a fast, we encourage you to seek God in prayer and follow what the Holy Spirit leads you to do.

• Selective Fast – This type of fast involves removing certain elements from your diet. One example of a selective fast is the Daniel Fast, during which you remove meat, sweets, and bread from your diet and consume water and juice for fluids and fruits and vegetables for food.
• Partial Fast – This fast is sometimes called the “Jewish Fast” and involves abstaining from eating any type of food in the morning and afternoon. This can either correlate to specific times of the day, such as 6:00 am to 3:00 pm, or from sunup to sundown.
• Soul Fast – This fast is a great option if you do not have much experience fasting food, have health issues that prevent you from fasting food, or if you wish to refocus certain areas of your life that are out of balance. For example, you might choose to stop using social media or watching television for the duration of the fast and then carefully bring that element back into your life in healthy doses at the conclusion of the fast.
• Complete Fast – In this type of fast, you may stay away completely from food or drink for period of time or drink only liquids, typically water with light juices as an option.

• How and what time do we meet to pray together?

• “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” Psalm 55:17

• During this fasting, we are encourage to pray in private, in group of two or three or more, and in the general corporate hours of prayer. Please, see the corporate prayer schedule. 

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love…”  2 Peter 2:5

1. Selection vs Election – What’s the difference? (Daniel 1:3-5; 1 Samuel 16:7; Romans 8:33; Luke 18:7; Ephesians 1:4)  – Are we selected or elected by God? If we are elected by God upon what criterial are we elected by God? On the sideway, discuss Nebuchadnezzar’s leadership skills in selecting the right people in the right place? What was his criterial as compare to God’s? How importance in getting the right people for the right job? What job were the four Hebrews trained to do? Do you have the competence and the training to make your calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:10)?
2. Identity – who are you? (Daniel 1:6-15). Your name is your first identity. We are first recognized by our names. In the Scripture, God first introduced Himself to us in a personal way by His name. In many places in the Scripture, we saw God calling people by their names, changing people’s name, and giving people names. Can you site examples of this? As we see in the Bible and in our society today, there’s a great spiritual battle over our identity. Write in your journal what the Bible says you are in Christ? Our totality as a functional persons may be defined by many factors but primary we are defined by what?
3. Faith – Take a stand for your faith (Daniel 1:8-16). The goal we have set out for this fast is for us to flesh out our faith in an effective and productive manner. God has called us into an active and vibrant relationship with him. Is your faith all in your head or heart? Is your faith silent or vocal? Is your faith private or public? Write in your journal your personal goal for this fasting? How do you want to do the fast? How do you proposed to live out your faith this year and always?
4. Competence and Excellence – (Daniel 1:17-21; 2 Peter 1:5-9). What plans do you have to improve on your competence? What 
5. Bullet-Prayers: Write out your own bullet-prayer

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.… 2 Peter 1:

Today, the apostle Peter has brought us to the understanding that faith alone is not enough for us to live a productive life. We must “add” to our faith. Peter went further to show us eight qualities that must be added to our faith.
Also the life of Daniel has demonstrated to us that our faith in God is not to be pocketed for private consumption. In the way Daniel stepped out to take the
challenge given by the king, we also are called to step out our faith.  And like Daniel, we will not only save our own lives but the lives of others, and at the end lead many the  faith. Just as Daniel brought glory to God by
interpreting the king’s dream,  saving his life, and the lives of the officials, and salvation of the king.   

The king ordered all the magicians to be killed but Daniel intervened by putting his life on the line. What does this say of Daniel’s character? What kind of virtue and goodness did Daniel display here? 

What’s Virtue? Moral Virtue?

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.… 2 Peter 1:5

Bullet Prayers – Lord, make me an interpreter of dreams. The world is searching for interpreters of dreams. Many children have dreams but no interpreters. So, I pray that I become an effective interpreter of dreams. That I will make dreams come through people. And by so doing, I will take my position of honour in this world and  bring glory to your name.

The Physical (miracle) knowledge of God?

In Daniel chapter 2 verses 46 to 49, we saw king Nebuchadnezzar falling down before Daniel, lavishing him with gifts, promoting his friends, and proclaiming Daniel’s God has the only true God. However, chapter 3 began with Nebuchadnezzar demanding all his officials and the people in all his provinces to bow down and worship his gods and the huge golden image (90ftx9ft) he has made. From our perspective we might not expect king Nebuchadnezzar to do such a thing, not after he the encounter he had had with Daniel. What do you think happened here? Was Nebuchadnezzar not converted after he saw what Daniel did? Like Nebuchadnezzar, the children of Israel saw the mighty works of God in Egypt all through the red sea but a little delay from Moses they turned into idol worship, so what do you think? Read Psalm 103:7. Why do people see miracles and still don’t believe?

The reveled knowledge of God – Ephesians 1

Chapter 3 opens with a summon to worship a golden image. In verse 8 some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews, forcing Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to appear before the king.

Verses: 16-18 – The three Hebrew friends (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) dare to defied the king’s order, how well do they know their God? What made them so bold that God will deliver them? Why were they ready to die than to bow to the golden image? 

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.…

King Nebuchadnezzar saw a terrible dream and after he narrated the dream to Daniel, he was warned (Verse 27) by Daniel to humble himself before God but his pride took hold of him. And his dream was fulfilled. However, God didn’t intend to destroy Nebuchadnezzar, He wanted to teach him a lesson. When Nebuchadnezzar came to his senses, he repented and humbled himself before God.  This is called God’s discipline. 

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.…

 Daniel has remained productive and effective in his old age. He has survived the reigns of three kings. His faith has remained unwavering. His gifts, and insights are incomparable to any of his colleagues.

What has helped Daniel to remain effective in the midst of glamour, oppositions, and wars?

 Time is a test of our faithfulness and loyalty.

Daniel 5:11-12 “There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners. He did this because Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.

Also read Matthew 24:12-14; Matthew 25:21; Hebrews 6:12.

2 Thessalonians 1:4 – That is why we boast among God’s churches about your perseverance and faith in the face of all the persecution and affliction you are enduring.

Spend time alone with God and your family in private prayer. Reflect on all you have been taught and praying about. 

Today is Sunday. Fasting continues. follow the lead of your pastor. And do your assignment. blessings.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.… 2 Peter 1:5. 

1. Godliness With Excellence – (Daniel 6:3-5)

“Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.” 

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love… 2Peter 1:5

One of the greatest areas of spiritual battle is brotherly kindness. Just as Satan fights so hard to destroy marriages, he fights so hard to destroy brotherly relationships.

God asked, Where is your brother? We are responding this way, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

Can killed his brother. This is Cain: “It is I and not you. If it cannot be I, it cannot be you. If it is you, no way. It must be I otherwise you must go out of the way.” Joseph was sold by his brothers. Jacob deceived his own brother. Jephthah was driven away by his brothers. Absalom killed his own brother. We see in the Bible how Satan fights brotherhood. Jesus redeemed brother old. He became our elder brother. He died to elevate His brothers. He called us brothers and sisters…

Why brotherly kindness? What is brotherly kindness? -Be considerate. And be kind to one another. 

Esther 2:5-15

We are focusing on the unique brother and sister relationship between Esther and Mordecai. They were both cousins. Mordecai was committed to Esther. He adopted her as his own daughter and brought her up in the way of the Lord. Esther in return showed a high respect for Mordecai and his instructions. Is this not brotherly kindness displayed by Mordecai? Are we not supposed to be like this to each other?

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.… 2 Peter 1:5

Taking the risk of Faith

Vs: 14-16

For if you remain silent  at this time,
relief  and deliverance  for the Jews will arise from another place,
but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have
come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

      Then Esther sent this reply to
Mordecai:   “Go, gather together all the
Jews who are in Susa, and fast  for me.
Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast
as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against
the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

Reflection Questions:

Esther
was a queen, doesn’t she has the right to appear before the king? Why must she
request for prayer and fasting before going to the king?

Jesus
said, “But this kind does not go out except by prayer
and fasting.” What kind is Jesus referring to?

At what point do I
need to supplement my faith with serious fasting and prayer?

When my faith is
tested, can I take the risk?

Ephesians 6:12  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

 On one hand Mordecai was a chief gateman in the king’s palace. He prevented the king from been assassinated, but nothing was done for him. He was a father in-law to the king but no one regarded that. He was messing up with the most powerful officer of the king. He is now facing capital punishment and his people are scheduled to be annihilated. On the other hand, Haman has been promoted upon Mordecai’s uncovering of the king’s plot. Haman hated Mordechai. Haman has succeeded in establishing an order to annihilation all the Jews. Haman has erected a pole to hang Mordecai.

Now everything is set, and Mordecai is finished. Haman is set to go to the king very early in the morning to take final permission to impale Mordecai before the Sun set. But the king couldn’t sleep throughout that night. So, he had the bookkeeper to read the annals for him and there discovered nothing was done for the man who uncovered the plot against him. While thinking of what to do for the man who prevented his death, Haman walked in and that began the fall of Haman before Mordechai.

Reflections Questions

·       What spiritual weapons were employed here by Mordechai?

·       Where is God while all these were happening to Mordecai and Haman appear to be succeeding in his plan?

·       When did the battle started turning against Haman and what was Haman doing that he wasn’t doing before?

Spend today and reflect on what you have learned. take time to write on your journal your goals, resolutions, prayers, and personal Bible verses.

We meet in church service and worship and pray and observe the communion. 

The book of Esther ended with the enactment of the feast of Purim – the celebration of joy and triumph over all the enemies of the Jews. Mordecai became next to the king and his fame went throughout all the provinces of the Media and Persia. All the kings officials were afraid of Mordecai for they saw how God fought for His people. Indeed, God fought for Israel, God fought for Mordecai, God fought for Esther, and God has fought for you.

“Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far,   to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar   as the time when the Jews got relief  from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration.  He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food  to one another and gifts to the poor.” Esther 9:21-22