Monday, May 17, 2021

2019 Fast and Prayer

 Day 1            2019/1/7

2019 - fast 1 meal per day 

Acts + Prayer for 1 family each day (or church/group)

Acts 1 + Acts 2

1:7 "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority."

    - my masters, my marriage/family, my doctorate, my ministry in Japan

1:14 They all joined together constantly in prayer...

    - am I praying enough with others?

    - am I intentionally seeking prayer groups? 

1:23-26 Process of new leadership

    - prayer, nomination, ask God to reveal, clarify needs, explanations 

2:4 being enabled by the Holy Spirit

2:17 God pours Spirit on His people, prophesy, visions, dreams

2:38-39 The importance of repentance and how far our salvation carries 

2:42-47 teaching, fellowships, breaking of bread and prayer

    - how am I leading small group/fellowships?

1) teach  2) fellowship  3) bread/meal  4) prayer


 Day 2            2019/1/8

(really hard falling asleep last night, kept thinking about money I got from grandma)

Acts 3 + Acts 4 

3:6 Healing power by name of Jesus Christ

3:8 not only walked, but jumped

    - God often blesses us way more than we expect

    - more than 100%

3:11-26 preaching

    - call to repent and believe

    - must recognize sin first, repent

4:2 "greatly disturbed"

    - leaders had fear and pride

4:8-12 Peter's bold statement by the Holy Spirit

    - the courage was recognized

    - to speak truth to authority 

4:19-20 to whom should we listen?

    - listen to worldly authority?

    - or listen to God?

4:23 Immediate response after questioning, Prayer

    - raised voices together in prayer

look to God for wisdom, comfort, affirmation, courage

4:29-30 gave all credit of the miracle back to Jesus

4:32-37 how to give and take care of courageous apostles/missionaries


 Day 3            2019/1/9

Lunch and Dinner switch

Acts 5 + Acts 6

(lots of nightmares the first 2 nights, spiritual attacks?)

5:1-11 Ananias and Sapphira 

    - dishonest with God

    - lied to Holy Spirit

5:12-16 miracles, healing

    - even the shadow was enough for some

5:17-42 Persecution 

    - jealousy slips into the hearts

    - at loss, then fear, furious

5:29 must obey God

5:30-32 boldly proclaim 

5:38-39 fear of God starts to sink in

5:40 persecution

5:41 apostles rejoicing in persecution 

6:1-7 when disciples increase

6:2 take care of ministries 

6:3 find people full of spirit and wisdom

6:6 laying hands and praying

6:15 face of an angel

    - Stephen's faithfulness and wisdom

    - how do other people see us when we receive knowledge from God


 Day 4            2019/1/13

(Fell asleep?) Had drink with Greeny

Acts 7 + Acts 8

7:2 God's glory appears to us

7:3 God will show us the land He wants us to go

7:32 Moses didn't dare look at God

7:34 God hears our groaning

7:36 40 years in wilderness

7:37 God raises up people

7:46 David enjoyed God's favor

7:55 Stephen full of Holy Spirit

7:59 Prayer through persecution 

7:60 Even at the end he asked God to forgive those persecuting him


 Day 5            2019/1/13

Rachel's Birthday 

Acts 9 + Acts 10

9:13-14 so hard to help those who persecute us

9:15-16 God's chosen instrument

9:34 "Jesus Christ heals you", by His name alone 

9:40 Peter praying on his knees

10:2 an example of a devout and God-fearing man

10:4 prayers and gifts became memorial offering before God

10:9 Peter praying on the roof 

10:15 We have no right to judge what is impure/unclean, nor what God has made clean

10:41 God has chosen the witnesses

10:44-48 

    - Gentiles were able to receive the Holy Spirit too

    - all were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ


 Day 6            2019/1/13

Matt's gathering (Matt brought breakfast then I met with Miho)

Acts 11 + Acts 12

11:25 Sometimes we get criticized by our own, so we must be patient to explain our reasons

11:26 first "Christians" disciples at Antioch

12:1-6 Peter was heavily guarded but he still got out!

12:5 the church had emergency prayer Peter

12:9 lol, Peter thought it was a vision

12:23 Herod had it coming


 Day 7            2019/1/13

(no breakfast and dinner.... :/ )

Acts 13 + Acts 14

13:2-3 Before an important send off, they had prayer and fasting, worshiping and fasting, placed hands on them praying, and then sent them off

13:4-12 Dealing with sorcerers and false prophets 

13:16-41 Powerful speech

13:47 salvation the ends of the earth

14:3 preaching boldly and God blessing and enabling signs and wonders

14:9 Paul took time to observe and wisely performed miracle

14:8-20 the crowds mistook Paul and Barnabas as Zeus and Hermes. It was so hard for them to turn the crowd back. I can't imagine it being easy to give up people's gifts and praises. 

14:27 reports at the end of mission 


 Day 8            2019/1/14

Snowboarded and had a soft served ice cream at the onsen after 6pm....sigh....

Acts 15 I'm sad I fell by the temptations 

15:2 Paul and Barnabas had to go to Jerusalem to see official people to clear the dispute

15:6-7 met to consider, took time through much discussion 

    - they are serious about this issue

15:8 God knows our hearts

15:15 quoting prophets

15:23 Council took time to write a formal letter to address issue and send people to meet in person

    - real and intentional ministry 

15:31-35

    - much encouragement 

    - strengthening believers 

    - necessary to strengthen each other 

15:36-41 

    - even Christians fight and disagree, and it's okay 


 Day 9            2019/1/15

Sore body, volleyball, and no distractions at last!

Acts 16

16:1 Timothy grew up with 2 different cultures, a Jewish believer mother and a Greek father

16:6-7 sometimes the Holy Spirit will hold us back from something

16:13 we could find a place of prayer

16:14 to be called a worshiper of God....

16:16 The place of prayer

16:18 Paul annoyed...lol, in Jesus name, Paul had commanded the spirit to come out 

16:25 even in prison, they prayed and sang hymns to God

16:31-34 God uses this moment to save the Jailer

16:37 Paul uses the Roman law to demand justice and reclaim his righteousness/rights as a Roman citizen


 Day 10            2019/1/16

ice skating with Yuna, idols groupy, wow

Acts 17

17:2-3 reasoning with people

17:11 to take time to consider Paul's words and check the scriptures to examine the message

17:13 I can't believe those people traveled all the way to Borea just to stir up trouble

17:16 I experienced the Japanese Idol culture today....

    - It was a mix of creepy men, complete hype, and lost/lonely spirits surrounding a stage of lost and scared girls

17:18 sometimes there will be debates

17:23 Paul proved how ignorant some of the people's worship was 

17:27-28 seek God and we live in him, we are his offspring. 

    - This is a reverse idea for the people because they are used to having a made thing to worship.

17:31 God set a day to judge, we need to repent 


 Day 11            2019/1/17

Great onsen time with Rachel. Had chips at 5:55 pm.... girigiri

Acts 18

18:3 tent maker mentioning 

18:5 preaching requires devotion, sometimes depend on group

18:6 Paul got frustrated and wanted to leave this ministry 

18:9 God spoke through vision

18:18 I'm curious about cultural context of this statement

18:21 God's will

18:25 to learn a certain way and be instructed/trained 

18:26 Even though Apollos was already great, there's always more to learn still 


 Day 12            2019/1/18

switched lunch and dinner, staff carry udon

Acts 19

19:2 restating the importance of baptism by Holy Spirit 

19:5 speaking tongues and prophesized 

19:8 Paul was persistent and was bold, argued persuasively, for God

19:11 God did miracles

    - He works through people

19:27-28 the roots of idolatry was so deep (Artemis of Ephesus)

19:35-36 God's grace, people spoke out for them but mostly out of personal concern and matters

    - needed legal assembly

    - danger of being charged


 Day 13            2019/1/19

Missed breakfast, had yummy Eguchi lunch, Asako's mom's sushi and bread from Mie

Acts 20

I just prayed about needing help to run the Himeji marathon....and I read

20:24 ..... finish the race! 

20:1-2 Paul took time to focus on giving words of encouragement. He made a point to encourage the disciples, and then people he met from traveling through cities. 

20:7 knowing the little time he had, he made his mind to spend every minute

20:10 no hesitation in raising Eutychus from the dead

20:16 Paul managed his traveling/itinerary very well, to maximize time at locations, only God has called him to go.

20:22-23 holy spirit guides

20:28 encouraging others to raise more disciples and to care for their own flocks

20:36 Sent off in prayers


 Day 14            2019/1/20 

Didn't run again.... :( rain... fasted breakfast

Acts 21

21:5 on the beach all knelt to pray

21:9 no big deal, all 4 daughters can prophesy 

21:13 Paul's commitment is beyond the understand of those around him

    - He's ready to give up his life for Jesus

21:14 The lord's will be done

21:27-36 mobs were mad and so messy, no one could hear what was happening 

21:38 

    - what the heck?

    - so many false accusations against Paul

    - our lives are filled with those

21:40 the power of having a common language 


 Day 15            2019/1/21

had after school snack and 2 cups of hot cocoa.... 

Acts 22

Paul is a TCK (22:2-3)

    - the way he was raised

    - where he was born

    - a perfect person God chose

    - he was someone who knew the laws and traditions of both cultures 

22:24 he was flogged and interrogated 

22:25 Paul using legal knowledge to declare his rights, a blessing of knowledge 

22:28 other citizens had to pay 


 Day 16            2019/1/22

Forgot I had dinner plans...ate big lunch and snack...and big dinner....

Acts 23    :(

23:1 and 23:5

    - always starts with "brothers"

    - softens what he's about to say

23:2 physically strike his mouth

23:3 Paul using law to account the injustice 

23:5 Paul citing scripture

23:6-10 Paul knew his audience well, he chose very specific things to share to state the truth and express the injustice happening 

23:11 God was with Paul the entire time, encouraging him

23:12-15

    - conspiracy to kill Paul

    - making up fake pretext to gain a chance to ambush Paul

23:23-24 so many guarded him


 Day 17            2019/1/23

Small breakfast, no lunch, Chicken snack, popcorn at movies

Acts 24

24:1 high priest, elders, lawyer and the governor gathered

24:10 Paul showing his knowledge of the leaders of law

24:19 Paul is being honest with all parties that might be involved to show how transparent he is about his list of "charges"

24:25 Felix was afraid of the righteous and judgement 

24:26-27 Felix was just another corrupted politician 


 Day 18            2019/1/24

I'm not being obedient....had chicken after 6pm....and starbucks...and hot cocoa

Acts 25 

25:3 Jews asked Festus for a favor in order to kill Paul in an ambush

25:7     

    - many serious charges

    - no proof

25:8 Paul learned to have proper defense that are clear and just 

25:10-11 stating truth and declaring injustice, appealed to Caesar 

25:18-21 Festus at a loss as to how to investigate Paul's case

25:25 found nothing deserving of death 

25:26-27 They have nothing to send to Emperor for this case because there's no official charges

    - so they are stuck between having to follow conduct but also lack facts and reasonable/petition/charges


 Day 19            2019/1/27

Went to onsen on Friday, came home and passed out....

Acts 26  Fasted dinner

26:1 Paul followed proper defense protocols 

26:3 King was very wise and know a lot 

26:8

    - why should it surprise anyone

    - if God is all powerful, raising someone form the dead is no big deal

26:13 light from heaven

26:17-18

    - God's commission to Paul

    - Paul knew his vision clearly 

26:19 visions are from God and we must be obedient to them

26:27 lol, asking king if he believes

26:29 except for these chains, he's adorable

26:32 Agrippa would've chosen to free Paul


 Day 20            2019/1/27

Saturday lesson, fasted breakie, studied, Worship Night came home and... passed out....

Acts 27 

27:3 being allowed to get blessed 

    - God send us friends to help us in times of suffering 

27:10 Paul tried warning those persecuting him

27:20-26 

    - Paul encouraged those on board 

    - his words of power by God's authority brought comfort to many 

27:31 it was specific regarding how they can be saved, no more no less

27:33-36

    - Paul was able to recognize the side affects on the people's minds from their lack of attribution and poor physical conditions 

27:43 Paul's life spared again


 Day 21            2019/1/27 

Fasted breakfast, ran 10k

Acts 28

28:1-6 really weird people, easily swayed people

28:8-9 prayer of healing 

28:15-16 God sent friends/brothers and sisters to him and it brought Paul so much joy and was encouraged 

28:21-22 word haven't carried to Rome yet about Paul in a bad way, the elders wanted to hear 

28:23-31

    - Paul spoke and preached boldly about Jesus

    - God took away all hindrance

    - he was able to do ministry in his own home for 2 years, even under a guard's watch

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