Hebrews 4: 1
The Word: Hebrews 4: 1 (KJV)

Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

Dig Deeper:
Hebrews 4: 16  (KJV)

¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Think about it
GETTING READY FOR A SEASON OF PRAYERS

By the grace of God, we are about starting our annual season of 21 days of fasting and prayers. Our text this morning is simple:
‘Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.’

So it’s possible for God to promise or intend something in a life of an individual, yet it doesn’t come to fulfilment…. In the Hebrews 4: 1 context, the children of Israel missed out on God’s rest because of lack of faith. However in a wider sense, so many other factors can lead to a man missing out on God’s promise.
Matthew 17: 21 – Jesus said ‘This kind goes not out but by prayer and fasting.
Matthew 11: 12 – Kingdom of God suffers violence and violent men takes it by force  

So certain promises will not be delivered until an element of spiritual force is added. Our fear (concern) of not getting the best that God has to offer (entering his rest) should move us and motivate us into the place of prayers. Long duration of prayers should be embarked on with the right mindset and certain preparations. Pregnant women and people with long term ailment may not undertake long fasts. Everyone is encouraged to fast till around 2-3 pm daily. If you can do longer like 6pm or dry fasting,  by all means please do so. Increased spiritual intensity could actually determine the speed of answers. Dry fasting will however require drinking water once it’s prolonged over 3 days 

Besides delivering long awaited requests, fasting and prayers has so many other benefits:

– It can be a time of very close fellowship and growth. In reality this should be the no 1 motivation for matured Christians: An opportunity to grow and develop. The delivery of petitions should be secondary. 
– It is a time of intensive spiritual exercise
– Your body detoxes, Your soul and mind becomes sharper and clearer
– It can be a time of clear direction and guidance to the next steps you should take.

Again: Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left of us entering his rest, any of us should miss it….
Our fasting will be starting tomorrow 30th October – 19th November. The prayer points will be coming out later today. The last Friday 18th November night –  Saturday 19th November will be a 12 hours of praise and worship. Last year there were unusual testimonies from this 12 hours of praise and worship. Long awaited miracles were delivered. Your turn to testify could be this year. Lastly you need a clearly written goals of why you are going to be part of this fasting and prayers. Don’t just do it because the house is doing it. What are you looking to benefit from it. Be specific. It could be:   

1. Closer relationship and growth.
2. Delivery of pending blessings before this year runs out
3. Clear direction and leading for 2017
4. Change in the status quo…. Children, babies, marriages, exams, work, finances, immigration etc. Whatever it is God is prepared to answer each of those requests. Remember from yesterday: God wants us to approach him with confidence. So determine to make this season of prayers a life changing period in your life and it will be so IJN

Prayer focus:  Lord thank you for another weekend. Thank you for grace, boldness and confidence IJN

Book of the month: The Church is embarking on weeks of discipleship workbook study starting with the Masterlife: Disciple’s cross.
On Grace: If not for the Grace of God by Joyce Meyer recommended.