MACEDONIA BAPTIST CHURCH 2014 CORPORATE FAST

Be Ye Transformed

\ Macedonia

Rev. Dr. Leonard L. Hamlin, Sr., Pastor 3412 South 22nd Street (Sanctuary) 2229 Shirlington Road (Office) Arlington, Virginia * 22204 * (703) 521-7663
Becoming Active Disciples Through Our Commitment, Witness, Love & Relationship.

BE YE TRANSFORMED

A Message from Our Pastor

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2nd Corinthians 3:17-18) As we move into this Lenten Season, we are once again able to give witness to the great things God has done! This is a witness that is personal, but is also a witness that is strengthened within community. I am appreciative and grateful for Gods love for each and every one of us. God loved us so much that He gave His only Son for us. It is this love that extends salvation to us, but it is also a love that transforms us and empowers us as we live each and every day of our lives. It is this love that moves from self-centeredness to benevolence. It is a love that transforms us from those who are focused on getting to the witness of giving. Each year we are reminded that as a Church, we have taken hold of the mission of transforming lives. We cannot transform lives until we transform ourselves. We are not able to transform community until collectively the Church has been transformed. We are the Church and to carry out the work, the ministry and the mission that has been given to us by our Savior Jesus Christ, we must seek to grow as disciples every day. The Lenten Season is a time of focus, sacrifice and service in which we are actively seeking to spend more time in Gods presence in order that we may be transformed by His power. This is a season in which we seek to make room in our lives for Gods presence as we prioritize and reprioritize our desires and our activities. It is in Gods presence that we are transformed from one degree of Glory to another. I am praying that you will personally commit to fasting, praying, and serving throughout this season. It is my prayer that this season will move you closer to being the active disciple that God is calling for in this generation. I also encourage you to invite a friend to join you as we walk together seeking to please God and Glorify God alone. We are in a year of GENEROSITY. We are not able to give in a transformational witness until we learn through love how to give sacrificially. Make the commitment to see this through from the beginning to the ending. At the conclusion of the journey you will be able to declare with the voices that have gone before us What A Mighty God We Serve. Let us be thankful for Gods love, our Saviors sacrifice, and look forward to declaring with authority and power on Easter Sunday morning, HE LIVES! May God richly bless you and bless the Church. It is my fervent prayer that during this Lenten season, you will surrender yourself to,

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Be Ye Transformed Rev. Dr. Leonard L. Hamlin, Sr., Pastor

Transforming Lives Through the Discipleship of Jesus Christ.

BE YE TRANSFORMED

Transformation occurs when we bring our whole self before God. Richard Rohr says that many avoid the part of selfknowledge because they are afraid of being swallowed up in their own abysses. But Christians have confidence that Christ has lived through all the abysses of human life, and then He goes with us when we dare to engage in sincere confrontation with ourselves. Because God loves us unconditionally - along with our dark sides we dont need to dodge ourselves. In the light of this love the pain of self-knowledge can be at the same time the beginning of our healing. During this corporate forty (40) day time of fasting and prayer, we sacrifice our heart, mind, faith and witness to become that which we are unable to become in our own strength. Let us rediscover the transforming purification that only comes from the atoning blood of Jesus who sacrificed his life for our numerous sins. As intentional adherents of Christ, Christians around the world prepare for Easter by observing a designated period of fasting. In Western Christianity, Ash Wednesday marks the first day, or the start of the Lenten Season which begins 40 days prior to Easter. (Sundays are not included in the count). Lent originated in the seventh century through prayer, fasting, almsgiving (financial or material offering towards the poor) and conversion. This was and is a preparatory time for Easter when the faithful rededicated themselves and converts were instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism. The number 40 biblically represents preparation, trials and testing.

What Is the Purpose of The Fast? God is the primary focus of our fast and our transformation comes from Him. Fasting was a common practice among the Jews, and was continued by Christians. Fasting and prayer is a disciplined, intimate, and private fellowship as imitators of Christ. In Matthew 6:16, Jesus began with when you fast, not as a commandment, but as an expected way of life of every believer. The most common characteristic of fasting should be a humble attitude in our petition before God. In fasting, we deliberately choose to abstain from or give up certain foods and practices to focus on prayer with our whole being and to spend designated quality time with God leading to reflection and repentance; continually surrendering our souls and bodies into subjection unto God. In doing so, we imitate the life of Christ by adopting and practicing a lifestyle of personal and corporate communion with the Father as we seek to become a body of one. Caution: Fasting is not an option to get God to do what we want. Who Should Not Fast There are some who should consider a dietary fast. Pregnant women, postpregnant women, diabetics, heart patients, and persons with gout, liver disease, kidney disease, cancer, bleeding ulcers, tumors and blood disease should consider all that is required for their health and consult the advice of their attending physician. For those persons, there is an alternative, such as fasting and abstaining from activities such as

Transforming Lives Through the Discipleship of Jesus Christ.

BE YE TRANSFORMED

watching television, excessive talking on the telephone, shopping, or other aspects of your life that have replaced God as the central focus. Abstaining from these life fillers will present a sacrificial opportunity to draw closer to God and set appropriate values and priorities. Excellence before God is our aim and through this Lenten season we are working to uphold a different kind of life that will be peculiar to some, but pleasing to God. Each individual must make their own realistic assessment of the appropriate measures to be taken for their personal fast.

This season of the Fast commences on Wednesday, March 5, 2014, and concludes at Sunrise Easter Sunday Morning, April 20, 2014. There are 40 days outlined for the prayer and practice of the congregation. Not only are we restricted from certain foods, but we will also seek to abstain from certain lifestyle practices that prohibit us from chasing after God and His purpose for our lives. We must believe, trust, and have an expectation of God. Scripture declares: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Heb.11:6 (KJV).

Prayer Partners As disciples, Jesus encourages us in Philippians 2:4 which declares Let each of Luke 18:1(KJV) concerning our need to pray you look not only to his own interests, but always and not to lose heart. Prayer escorts also to the interests of others. Have this us to a place of communion with the Father. mind among yourself, which is yours in In the fellowship of this fast for strength and Christ Jesus.. (ESV) Aim to set aside a accountability, you may want to seek out a specific and committed time to devote to prayer partner. In this we exemplify prayer and reflection throughout your day.

Partial Fast The bible describes what could be considered a partial fast, that is: there is a restriction of diet, but not total abstention. Although the normal fast seemed to be the custom with the prophet Daniel, there was an occasion where for three weeks he ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over. Daniel 10:3 (NIV). Daniels fast is a way of denying the body of meat, coffee and certain other foods the body craves, without totally abstaining from food.

Transforming Lives Through the Discipleship of Jesus Christ.

BE YE TRANSFORMED

Fasting Emphasis: Transformation of the Heart, Mind, Faith, and Witness of the Disciple.

Fasting Guidelines
But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 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. Matthew 6:17-18. (NIV)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Dietary: Dietary: Dietary: Dietary: Dietary: Almsgiving: Financial: Sacrificial:

No meats of any kind except for Fish. Plenty of fresh vegetables, fruits and fish. No sodas or alcoholic beverages. No snacks of any kind. Water Remember the poor through financial or material offerings. No new or excessive purchases focused on self beyond daily necessities. Give up the attitude of the world, to have a mind like Christ.

God is the light that shows me the way, for there is nothing that God cannot do. (Unknown)

Transforming Lives Through the Discipleship of Jesus Christ.

BE YE TRANSFORMED

Day of the Week

Emphasis Transforming Your Heart: The Heartbeat of the Disciple O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you. I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.
John 17: 25-26/ESV

Scripture Reference

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10

March 5 March 6 March 7 March 8 March 10 March 11 March 12 March 13 March 14 March 15

Ezekiel 36:26 Psalm 119:11 2nd Corinthians 5:17 Ephesians 1:18 Psalm 26:2-3 Psalm 51:10 Luke 6:43-45 Matthew 5:8 Matthew 6:21-23 Proverbs 3:5-6

Day 11 Day 12 Day 13 Day 14 Day 15 Day 16 Day 17 Day 18 Day 19 Day 20

March 17 March 18 March 19 March 20 March 21 March 22 March 24 March 25 March 26 March 27

Transforming Your Mind: The Mind of the Disciple Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day or daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Matt. 6:9-13/KJV

2nd

Joshua 1:8-9 Romans 12:2-3 1st Peter 1:13 Galatians 5:1-26 Psalm 119:15 Corinthians 10:1-7 Philippians 4:8-9 Romans 8:5-7 James 4:17 1st Peter 5:8-9

Day 21 Day 22 Day 23 Day 24 Day 25 Day 26 Day 27 Day 28 Day 29 Day 30

March 28 March 29 March 31 April 1 April 2 April 3 April 4 April 5 April 7 April 8

Transforming Your Faith: The Faith of the Disciple But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matt. 6-6:8/RSV Transforming Your Witness: The Actions of the Disciple

Hebrews 11:1-6 Isaiah 41:10-11 Colossians 2:6-15 Romans 10:17 Matthew 21:21-22 Matthew 9:22 James 2:17-18 Acts 26:18 1st Corinthians 2:5 Hebrews 10:38-39

Day 31 Day 32 Day 33 Day 34 Day 35 Day 36 Day 37 Day 38 Day 39 Day 40

April 9 April 10 April 11 April 12 April 14 April 15 April 16 April 17 April 18 April 19

But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness because you have been with me from the beginning. John 15:26-27/KJV

Isaiah 6:8 Ezekiel 33:6-7 Matthew 6:33-34 Acts 1:8 Romans 1:16 Ephesians 5:17-20 Hebrews 3:13-14 Philippians 3:12-17 Psalm 150 Matthew 28:19-20

Transforming Lives Through the Discipleship of Jesus Christ.

EASTER RESURRECTION SUNDAY

Sunday, April 20, 2014 Sunrise Service 6:00 a.m. Macedonia 9:45 a.m. Kenmore Middle School Auditorium Matthew 28:1-10

28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other
Mary went to look at the tomb.
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There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
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The angel said to the women, Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him. Now I have told you.
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So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. Greetings, he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.

Transforming Lives Through the Discipleship of Jesus Christ.