"CrossRoad Church is committed to the ministry of prayer. As an affirmation in our firm belief in the sovereignty of God over all areas of life, a significant portion of our corporate gatherings will be devoted to a ministry of prayer that is based upon the Word of God." Core Commitment Number Five of CrossRoad Church.
This month we launched a specific prayer ministry for the Meldrum family, who are covenant members of CrossRoad Church. As many of you know, Rob, who is in the Army Reserves, was called to active duty a couple of months ago and will be serving a one year tour of duty in Iraq. Rob, who is a graduate of West Point, already had served our country faithfully around the world after his graduation from the world's premier Service Academy. After the September 11 attacks upon the World Trade Center, however, Rob re-enlisted in the Army (the reserves) in an effort to be available if his country needed him. Uncle Sam has called and, as you read this blog, Rob is training in Mississippi in preparation of his unit's deployment to Iraq later this summer.
CrossRoad Church takes seriously its covenant commitment to pray for the members of our church. Upon learning of Rob's call to active duty, the elders decided that we need to stand with Rob in prayer as he serves his company. Specifically, we decided that our entire church needed to pray for Rob's safety, Rob's family (C.J. and the kids), and for Rob's ministry to his fellow soldiers. The manner in which we hoped to accomplish this task was by enlisting members to agree to fast and pray for the above items once a month until Rob returns. By enlisting members to pray in this manner our goal was to have someone fasting and praying for Rob everyday he was away from his physical and spiritual families. Our church has responded well to this challenge and this month our ministry begins.
In an effort to prepare you for the task ahead, we will devote this week's blog discussion to prayer and fasting so that everyone will understand the theological underpinnings of our approach to this situation. I will update the blog daily, so please check in each day for additional discussion. As for questions, ask away!
Today we examine the words of Jesus in Matthew 6.16-17, "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
In this passage of Scripture, Jesus assumed that his followers will fast on occasion. Fasting, as defined in our frequent emails about this ministry, is defined properly as the voluntary abstention from physical food for the purpose of focusing on the spiritual nourishment that is available only in Jesus Christ. If someone avoids food, but does not replace it with prayer and Bible study, they have merely gone on a diet. Please keep this in mind as you approach your task. When you fast and pray for Rob. Please do not use it as an opportunity to draw attention to yourself. Rather, let it be an opportunity to draw close to God.
Your pastors will know what day you are scheduled to fast and pray. We are keeping track for two reasons. First, we want to be able to remind you of your scheduled day in advance. We all have busy schedules and it is easy to forget commitments. This effort is very important to our church so we don't want anyone to forget. Second, not only will your pastors remind you of what day you are scheduled to pray and fast for the Meldrums, we will actually pray for YOU on that day as well. For many in our fellowship, this experience will be the first time you have ever fasted. We want God to use your employment of this spiritual discipline as an opportunity to bless you spiritually and will pray accordingly. If approached properly, this ministry should provide wonderful opportunities for spiritual growth. Hopefully fasting will be a discipline employed by all of our members will into the future. As we prepare for our year of ministry, I conclude with another reminder of a suggested schedule that may help you.
Thanks for your service to the kingdom,
Chris
A Suggested Approach to 24 Hours of Prayer and Fasting
This month we launched a specific prayer ministry for the Meldrum family, who are covenant members of CrossRoad Church. As many of you know, Rob, who is in the Army Reserves, was called to active duty a couple of months ago and will be serving a one year tour of duty in Iraq. Rob, who is a graduate of West Point, already had served our country faithfully around the world after his graduation from the world's premier Service Academy. After the September 11 attacks upon the World Trade Center, however, Rob re-enlisted in the Army (the reserves) in an effort to be available if his country needed him. Uncle Sam has called and, as you read this blog, Rob is training in Mississippi in preparation of his unit's deployment to Iraq later this summer.
CrossRoad Church takes seriously its covenant commitment to pray for the members of our church. Upon learning of Rob's call to active duty, the elders decided that we need to stand with Rob in prayer as he serves his company. Specifically, we decided that our entire church needed to pray for Rob's safety, Rob's family (C.J. and the kids), and for Rob's ministry to his fellow soldiers. The manner in which we hoped to accomplish this task was by enlisting members to agree to fast and pray for the above items once a month until Rob returns. By enlisting members to pray in this manner our goal was to have someone fasting and praying for Rob everyday he was away from his physical and spiritual families. Our church has responded well to this challenge and this month our ministry begins.
In an effort to prepare you for the task ahead, we will devote this week's blog discussion to prayer and fasting so that everyone will understand the theological underpinnings of our approach to this situation. I will update the blog daily, so please check in each day for additional discussion. As for questions, ask away!
Today we examine the words of Jesus in Matthew 6.16-17, "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
In this passage of Scripture, Jesus assumed that his followers will fast on occasion. Fasting, as defined in our frequent emails about this ministry, is defined properly as the voluntary abstention from physical food for the purpose of focusing on the spiritual nourishment that is available only in Jesus Christ. If someone avoids food, but does not replace it with prayer and Bible study, they have merely gone on a diet. Please keep this in mind as you approach your task. When you fast and pray for Rob. Please do not use it as an opportunity to draw attention to yourself. Rather, let it be an opportunity to draw close to God.
Your pastors will know what day you are scheduled to fast and pray. We are keeping track for two reasons. First, we want to be able to remind you of your scheduled day in advance. We all have busy schedules and it is easy to forget commitments. This effort is very important to our church so we don't want anyone to forget. Second, not only will your pastors remind you of what day you are scheduled to pray and fast for the Meldrums, we will actually pray for YOU on that day as well. For many in our fellowship, this experience will be the first time you have ever fasted. We want God to use your employment of this spiritual discipline as an opportunity to bless you spiritually and will pray accordingly. If approached properly, this ministry should provide wonderful opportunities for spiritual growth. Hopefully fasting will be a discipline employed by all of our members will into the future. As we prepare for our year of ministry, I conclude with another reminder of a suggested schedule that may help you.
Thanks for your service to the kingdom,
Chris
A Suggested Approach to 24 Hours of Prayer and Fasting
While twenty four hours without food sounds like a long time, it is actually quite easy to fast this long. An ideal way to do it for busy folks follows...
1) Identify the day you will be fasting - (for example - the third Tuesday of the month).
2) On the previous Monday, eat an earlier that usual dinner and begin your fast that evening. Eat a good meal.
3) The next day (Tuesday) - instead of eating breakfast, spend extra time in the Word and pray. Feel free to have some juice. Pray specifically for Rob's safety that day.
4) At lunch time, spend more time in God's word and pray for Rob and the Meldrums. Pray specifically for CJ - that she would not be lonely, that she would not be overwhelmed by life as a single mother, that she would find time to maintain her devotional life.
5) As you prepare to break your fast at dinner, note the time you ate the day before. Plan to eat a little later than you did the previous day. Prior to dinner, spend extra time praying for the Meldrums. At dinner, pray specifically for his children - that they would miss their father and that God would use that as motivation to pray for his safety. Pray that they (and CJ) would have numerous opportunities to communicate with Rob.
6) As you break your fast that evening, lead your family in praying for Rob once more.
If this day turned out to be a blessing in your spiritual life, please let your elders know so we can rejoice with you!
