Try the Daniel Fast in Preparation for Easter

Posted on April 9, 2014 by dkoop

Making My Life CountTomorrow we are ten days away from Easter! Within this Ten Day Countdown, some people in our church will be observing a Daniel Fast.

Why 10 Days? 

Its the number of days Daniel (who began the fast) chose,  read below:

“Daniel said, “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.  Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food.”  Daniel 1:11-13  NIV

What is the Daniel Fast? 

The Daniel Fast is a biblically based partial fast. It is a method of fasting that men, women and young people all over the world use (and have for centuries) as they enter into the spiritual discipline of prayer and fasting.

There are two anchoring scriptures for the Daniel Fast. In Daniel 1 the Prophet ate only vegetables (that would have included fruits) and drank only water. So from these scriptures we get two of the guidelines for the fast:

1. Only fruits and vegetables
2. Only water for a beverage

Then in Daniel 10 we read that the Prophet ate no meat nor any precious breads or foods and he drank no wine. So from this scripture, we get a third guideline:

3. No sweeteners and no breads

Another important guideline is drawn from Jewish fasting principles, where no leaven is used during the fast.  So that’s why yeast, baking powder and the like are not allowed on the Daniel Fast.

Finally, with all the above puzzle pieces, we conclude that no artificial or processed foods nor any chemicals are allowed on the Daniel Fast.

What Can I Expect?

The Bible teaches us that we are body, mind and spirit.  The Daniel Fast affects all three parts of us as we enter into a period of time for focused prayer and fasting.


The Body – Certainly our bodies are effected as our diet is changed, for some in very dramatic ways, during the Daniel Fast. Many men and women experience detoxing from caffeine, chemicals and sugar. The symptoms are most often headaches, leg cramps, fatigue and malaise.

Most people lose weight during the Daniel Fast. And many report healings from diabetes, allergies, arthritis and cancer.

The Heart and Mind – Our emotions will also be greatly impacted during the Daniel Fast.  We will we experience cravings, frustration, anger as well as happiness, peace and joy.

During the Daniel Fast, your mind and body may very well rebel against the dramatic change in your diet. Experiencing and winning this battle over the flesh is often one of the most powerful lessons of the Daniel Fast.

The Spirit – Our spirit is that born-again part of us that surrenders to God and then abides with the Father and the Son. Our spirit is filled with the Holy Spirit when we yield to Him. During the Daniel Fast, we want to put our spirit in charge of the other two parts of us. When our flesh is acting out with a craving, we take control of it with our spirit (just as a parent takes control of a rebellious child).

Fasting is always coupled with a spiritual goal. So during this time of fasting, you will want to focus on prayer, study and meditation.

 An important question to ask myself . . . 

During your Daniel Fast you will have many times when you might want to “stretch the rules” a little bit. For example, even though the guidelines say we are to drink only water, you conclude that coffee or tea is a vegetable with water and therefore you will want to go ahead and drink tea or coffee during the Daniel Fast.

Learn a powerful spiritual lesson by asking yourself (examining your heart) the question, “Why do I want these?”

The answer will most likely be, “Well I just want them. I need caffeine! I can’t drink only water. ”

The Daniel Fast teaches us to deny our “selves” and instead put our spirit in control over our bodies. As you plan your meals and eat your food, keep in mind that the definition of a fast is to deny food for a spiritual purpose.

What if I have health issues?

Fasting should never bring harm to the body. And if you have concerns, be sure to consult your health professional before going on the Daniel Fast or making any major dietary change.

The Daniel Fast is a very healthy way to eat.  It is a “vegan diet with even more restrictions.” So health professionals will support this eating plan, but might suggest a few modifications if you have health issues that need special attention.

Need Recipes?

Check out:  http://daniel-fast.com/recipes.html

Have more questions?  Go to http://daniel-fast.com/faq.html

If you would like to join us in fasting (in any form) prior to Easter,  just write “fast” on your Connection Card on Sunday.  You can also write a comment below.  You will be added to our growing list and I will be praying for you!  Darrell

www.ridgefellowship.com

Source:

http://daniel-fast.com/about.html

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Fasting, What is it?

Posted on April 7, 2014 by dkoop

Making My Life CountAs a church we will observe a time of fasting to prepare ourselves for Easter on April 20th.   We would love for you to join us! Here is a general overview of fasting:

What is fasting?  Abstaining from something, usually food, for spiritual purposes

 What does the Bible say?

  • Biblical examples:  Moses (Exodus 34:28; Deut. 9:9,18), David (2 Samuel 12:16), Elijah (1 Kings 19:8), Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:4); Esther (Esther 4:16), Daniel (Daniel 1:12), Anna (Luke 2:37), Paul (Acts 14:23), Jesus (Matthew 4:1-2), the early church (13:2).
  • Jesus placed fasting on the same level as financial giving and prayer (Matthew 6:1-18).
  • Jesus said that there is a time for fasting (Matthew 9:15).
  • Paul says we should give ourselves at times to prayer and fasting (1 Corinthians 7:5).

 What is the purpose of fasting?

  • The primary purpose of fasting is to focus on God and to center our attention on Him.  In doing so, we glorify God (Zechariah 7:5).
  • Outer fasting is to lead to inner prayer, worship, and devotion.
  • Fasting is not for personal glory or any other selfish motives (Matthew 6:16-18).
  • Secondary purposes of fasting:  fasting can reveal non-essential things that control us and take precedence in our lives (1 Corinthians 6:12); fasting can increase the effectiveness of prayer (2 Samuel 12:16); fasting can bring guidance from God in decisions (Acts 14:23);  fasting can bring revelations (Acts 13:2); fasting can help our physical wellbeing (Daniel 1:12); fasting can aid in concentration; fasting can help bring deliverance for those who are in bondage.   But these benefits come only when fasting is our attempt to diligently seek God.

What are the different types of fasting?

  1. Absolute fast:  no food or water for a period of time, usually no more than three days. (Exodus 34:28; Esther 4:16)
  2. Normal fast:  only water, but no food or other drink (Nehemiah 1:4) Many try this for 40 days.
  3. Partial fast:  usually only water and juices. In the Daniel Fast that observed for  a longer period, add fruits, vegetables and grains (Daniel 1:12)
  4. Lent fast:  giving up something specific for the duration of Lent (Ash Wednesday – Easter Sunday)
  5. Other things to fast from:  people, media, telephone, certain activities/habits, etc.

We will fast in one of the ways listed above, once each week until Easter on April 20th. Some are doing a Daniel Fast for ten days before Easter.  Most of our church will join in a fast on Good Friday, April 18th, along with our day of prayer.

If you would like to join us you can comment below or write fast on your Connection Card on Sunday.  I am praying for you.  God is going to do great things as we focus on Him!

Darrell

For more about The Ridge Fellowship, go to  www.ridgefellowship.com

Source: Developed from Nelson Searcy Coaching http://www.churchleaderinsights.com
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My Outreach Counts

Posted on April 5, 2014 by dkoop

Making My Life CountOn a dangerous seacoast where shipwrecks often occur, there was once a crude little lifesaving station. The building was no more than a hut, and there was only one boat; but the few devoted members kept a constant watch over the sea.  With little thought for themselves, they went out day and night, tirelessly searching for the lost.  Some of those who were saved wanted to be associated with the station and give their time, money, and effort to support the work. New boats were bought and new crews trained. The little lifesaving station grew.

Some of these older members of the lifesaving station were unhappy that the building was so crude and poorly equipped. They felt that a more comfortable place should be provided as the first refuge of those who were saved from the sea. They replaced the emergency cots with beds and put better furniture in the enlarged building. Now the lifesaving station became a popular gathering place for its members, and they decorated it beautifully and furnished it exquisitely because they used it as sort of a club. Fewer members were now interested in going to sea on lifesaving missions, so they hired lifeboat crews to do this work. The lifesaving motif still prevailed in this club’s decoration, and there was a memorial lifeboat in the room where the club initiations were held.

One day a large ship was wrecked off the coast, and the hired crews brought in boatloads of cold, wet, half-drowned people. They were dirty and sick, and some of them were foreigners. The beautiful new club was in chaos. Immediately, the property committee hired someone to rig up a shower house outside the club, where victims of shipwrecks could be cleaned up before coming inside.

At the next meeting, there was a split in the club membership. Most of the members wanted to stop the club’s lifesaving activities because they felt they were unpleasant and a hindrance to the normal social life of the club. A small number of members insisted upon lifesaving as their primary purpose and pointed out that they were still called a lifesaving station. The small group’s members were voted down and told that if they wanted to save lives, they could begin their own lifesaving station down the coast.

They did.

As the years went by, however, the new station experienced the same changes that had occurred in the old station. It evolved into a club, and yet another lifesaving station was founded. History continued to repeat itself, and if you visit that seacoast today, you will find a number of exclusive clubs along that shore.  Shipwrecks are frequent in those waters, but most of the passengers drown.[1]

As Jesus disciples our primary task is lifesaving or reaching others in His name. (See Matthew 28:19.)  Jesus said, “He came to seek and save the lost”[2]   Save them from what?  “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ” [3]  Our sins or shortcomings cause death, Jesus is the lifesaver!  Unfortunately, we sometimes forget our purpose.

We need to recover our passion for lifesaving.   At Easter this is great reminder! He died for our sins and rose from the dead. We too have new life in Jesus.  It’s why we do door hangers,  local and global outreach, loads of love, and more.  I pray your heart and mine will never forget our primary purpose to reach others with the life saving message of Jesus.

Darrell

[1] The Life Saving Station, Youth Specialties, 2011

[2] Luke 19:10

[3] Romans 6:23

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Israel 2014

Posted on April 1, 2014 by dkoop

A mission group from The Ridge Fellowship  in partnership Intimate Life Ministries traveled to Israel in March.   Our goal is to support and encourage several schools, missionaries and ministries in the Holy Land as they share the gospel.  We seek to literally fulfill Acts 1:8 “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”    

Special thanks to our Ridge Fellowship family for the items you provided me to give out!

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We packed and brought (about 70 pounds of stuff!)  for the students in the schools:  candy and snacks,  Life Books (Gospel of John) for the Jr. High & High School students; Coffee, tea and pop tarts for the missionary families and ministry workers;and some books for  The Jerusalem School Bethlehem school library.

 

2014-03-12 12.03.53The first day we spent time in Bethlehem at the Jerusalem School Bethlehem.  It’s a Christian school that’s serving the Arab population in Bethlehem.

Pictured to the left is Ms Grace the school’s principle.  She and her family are Arab believers from Bethlehem and trace their ancestry in area back hundreds of years.

 

 

 

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Pictured left are some kindergartners enjoying the candy we brought them.

 

 

 

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Aaron Alexander, Lewis’s son teaches 5th grade at the school.  Aaron is pictured left with his class.

 

 

 

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An Arab student reading her Gospel of John that we gave her.

Special thanks to the Gideon’s  for providing these Life Books for us to distribute!

 

 

 

 

 

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Then we went to Bethlehem Bible College.  This is an interdenominational school that prepares students to become teachers, pastors, youth directors and more.  Lewis did a relational training from Intimate Life Ministries to some of the faculty, students and teachers from there and Jerusalem School Bethlehem.

 

 

 

 

13 Church of Nativity exterior 2013-09-25

Bethlehem is the city where Jesus was born. Pictured left is the Church of the Nativity which is built over the cave thought to be the birthplace of Jesus.

 

Built originally in 327 AD by Emperor Constantine, some believe its the oldest church still in existence.

Other facts I learned about Bethlehem in the present day:  The Christian population of Israel is about 2%.  So there is a lot of work to be done!  Of the 2%,  most of Christian’s live in Bethlehem.  However a wall was built around Bethlehem with strict military check points in or out.  This was due to a some fighting that took place there with the Second Intifada.

Personally I am grieved that the people there, especially the Christians are not free but literally prisoners in their own city.

2014-03-14 19.53.16Then we went up to Jerusalem, left is a city gate built by the Romans and used during the time of Jesus.  Notice how it is below the current street level.  In the ancient world they would keep rebuilding on top of older structures which are beneath.  Archaeologists usually dig down into layers of history.

 

 

 

 

 

Below, we are on the Mount of Olives overlooking the old city of Jerusalem at night

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Below is the Judean Wilderness or dessert.  This is where Jesus fasted for forty days and nights.  (Matt 4:1, Mark 1:13, Luke 4:2)  The structure in the cliff is a Greek Orthodox Monastery.

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2014-03-15 14.55.17We did another relational training at the Tantur Institute in Jerusalem. Our hosts were Dr. Doug Magnuson and his wife Patty.  They oversee The Middle East Studies Program.  Lewis Alexander does most of the training but was kind of enough ask me to assist and share about our church.

Students in this program are required serve once a week in Bethlehem or Jerusalem at a Nursing Home, local school or helping underprivileged families.  Doug and Patty have offered to let us (group members from The Ridge) serve with them in touching lives in the Holy Land.

 

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We attended a contemporary church that meets on Saturday nights.  American teachers and students mostly attend as well as some Palestinian believers.

 

 

IMG_0685I was privileged to give the message at the church that weekend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Pictured left with Lewis and I are his son Aaron and Samir who is a believer from Jordan that oversees a counseling and relational care ministry there.  In the red, Alabama shirt is Jamison Creel. He served as our tour guide and is the superintendent of the Jerusalem School of Bethlehem and the pastor of the local contemporary church  that we mentioned above.  He is a man of God and has a great ministry in the Holy Land.

2014-03-16 12.50.44Other sites we got to see were:  Jericho.

Pictured left is the base of a wall tower dating to the Old Testament time of Joshua. (Joshua 6)

In the New Testament, Jericho is where Jesus encountered Zacchaeus (Luke 19: 1-10) and Blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52)

 

 

2014-03-16 13.05.45Pictured left is Lewis Alexander.

Some say that Jericho is the oldest continually inhabited city in the world.  It has ideal growing weather and many springs.

 

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Pictured left is the Jordan River. This is the traditional baptism site that John the Baptist used and where Jesus was baptized (Mark 1:4-11) Even today many people get baptized there.

Across the river is border of the country Jordan.  The water is muddy because of recent rainfall in the area.

The purpose of the trip was to continue to foster ministry partnerships.  The hope of future trips is to have half of the trip seeing sites like above and the other to serve in the schools, ministries and communities.  The ministry leaders there said that as American believers our “presence” speaks volumes and is an encouragement to them.   We will return in March 2015 during our school’ system’s scheduled Spring Break.  Are you in interested in going?

Darrell

www.RidgeFellowship.com

 

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