Call for a fasting prayer during Holy-Passion Week
Biao Chen
One of spiritual discipline is fasting & prayer 禁食祷告. There are three purposes for this church wide calling to the fasting & prayer:
1. Remember suffering and death of our Lord Jesus during Holy Week.
2. Pray for election and ordination for new deacons, and confirmation of rest of deacons/elders.
3. Resist for any temptation and fighting a good fight of spiritual battle
I believe all of them accord with Biblical teachings. The purpose of fasting is not merely to abstain from food, but people are to humble themselves by praying and mourning. The fasting is to be a matter of the heart between the Christian and God.
You can fast from one meal to several meals, one day or several days, according your physical condition and past practice. I suggest you fast on good Friday, if you choose to do so for 1 meal or 1 day.
1. Remember suffering and death of our Lord Jesus during Holy-Passion Week.
All Synoptic Gospels record Jesus’ teaching about fasting to disciples of John Baptist:
Matt 9:14 Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 15 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.Mat 9:14 那时，约翰的门徒来见耶稣，说：「我们和法利赛人常常禁食，你的门徒倒不禁食，这是为什麽呢？」
Mat 9:15 耶稣对他们说：「新郎和陪伴之人同在的时候，陪伴之人岂能哀恸呢？但日子将到，新郎 要离开他们，那时候他们就要禁食。
So the early church and even now, Christian practice the fasting from one day to a week to remember what Lord Jesus has done for us in his suffering.
2. Pray for election and ordination for church officers.
On Easter day we will elect for a new deacon and a deacon assistant, and confirmation of the rest of deacons/elders by calling member meetings during the Sunday morning. And on 4/18 of 10th anniversary celebration, we will ordain newly elected deacon and commit all church officers and deacon assistants in the hands of Mighty God. And we even pray that God will call and prepare more brothers to serve Him and his church as ruling elders in 2011.
Acts 13.2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.Act 13:2 他们事奉主、禁食的时候，圣灵说：「要为我分派巴拿巴和扫罗，去做我召他们所做的工。」Act 13:3 於是禁食祷告，按手在他们头上，就打发他们去了。
Acts 14:23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. Act 14:23 二人在各教会中选立了长老，又禁食祷告，就把他们交托所信的主。
We can see the Scripture indicate that the practice of setting apart of ministry are often along with fasting and praying.
3. Resist for any temptation and fighting a good fight of spiritual battle.
As Lord’s prayer remind us that lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Our church both individually and cooperatively just like any other church of Christ are tempted and attacked by Evil ones. So we need to alert and guard ourselves with the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
As Paul remind the Eph church that one of spiritual weapon is PRAYER: Eph 6:18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, Eph 6:18 靠著圣灵，随时多方祷告祈求；并要在此警醒不倦，为众圣徒祈求，
May our Lord bless you, keep you and give you the strength and power.