CCC’s 21 Day Consecration, 2023 

THEME FOR 2023: “IT’S OUR TIME, THE AGE OF THE CHURCH”


BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: ACTS 15:13-17 (KJV)


Acts 15:13-17 (KJV)
13  And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
14  Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
15  And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16  After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
17  That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.


 In Acts 15:13-17 James, the brother of Jesus, is interjecting his part in a conversation that the Apostles are having concerning the Gentiles becoming Christians and how the new converts ought to worship, whether under the Law of Moses, or as what they finally concluded, that Christ is the end of the law and who the law pointed to, and those coming to God now are not under the law but under grace. James repeated the experience of Peter in Acts 10:34-48, how the message of the gospel was to be preached not only to the Jew, but to Gentile as well. Then he reminded them of the prophecies of old telling of the raising of a people from among the Gentiles, which is the Church, to the glory of God, Amos 9:11, 12 (KJV); Isa. 11:10 (KJV); 42:1 (KJV); Joel 2:28, 29 (KJV);


Amos 9:11-12 (KJV)
11  In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:
12  That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this. 


Isaiah 11:10 (KJV)
10  And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. 


Isaiah 42:1 (KJV)
1  Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. 


Joel 2:28-29 (KJV)
28  And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29  And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. 



God, in these last days, is calling out a people that He will restore, according to His original plan in the Garden of Eden, where man communed with God, worshipped God, had an intimate relationship with God, and fellowshipped with God. This people will, again, desire Him and thirst after Him, and hunger after Him, as Adam had been commanded in the Garden to worship, praise, commune, have fellowship, and intimacy with His God. The Lord’s original plan was never to overlook one group to bless another, but that all men would have access to His grace. This is the age of the Church. It’s our time to walk in the grace afforded us through our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ


Acts 2:14-18 (KJV)
14  But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
15  For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16  But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17  And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18  And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 



The Holy Spirit is the agent of restoration. Jesus highlighted the importance of  the ministry of the Holy Spirit when He told the disciples in Jn. 16:7 (KJV): 7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. Running parallel with the age of the Church is the age of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit has been present in both Old & New Testaments except that under the Old Testament He did not dwell in them as He does in the age of the Church. The gift of tongues was prophesied of in Isa. 28:11 (KJV), and the Apostle Paul confirmed it in 1 Cor. 14:21 (KJV): Isaiah 28:11 (KJV): 11  For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.  1 Corinthians 14:21 (KJV): 21  In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. After his death, Jesus commanded His disciples not to do anything until they be endued with power from on high. Luke 24:49 (KJV): 49  And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. He revealed to them that they would receive power after they received the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8 (KJV): 8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. The Holy Spirit is the agent of restoration and the key to the age of the Church. The Amplified Bible: Jn 14:26 But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance)



The Lord is the root of Jesse prophesied in Is. 11:10 that shall stand for an ensign of the people that the Gentiles shall seek, and His rest shall be glorious. As we enter a new season let us be as the children of Issachar in 1 Chron. 12:32 (KJV): 32  And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment. The Lord is restoring the tabernacle of David, a reference to David’s desire for the presence of the Lord when restoring the Ark of the Covenant back to Israel. David taught the people how to approach the Lord without violating the spirit of the law. He taught the people worship and praise, intimacy with God. Again, the original plan of God for the man He created was to have a personal relationship with his Creator and that will finally be realized to it’s fullest extent in Rev. 19:7-9 (KJV):  7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9  And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. The Lord illustrates the restoration of His intimacy with His people through the analogy of the Bride and Bridegroom. The passage in Revelation 19:7-9 depicts the wedding feast of the Lamb, Jesus, when He claims His bride, the Church, after she has made herself ready for Him. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul explains how the bride will prepare herself: by submitting to God and allowing herself to be cleansed by the washing of His Word, so that she may be presented to the Bridegroom without spot, wrinkle, or blemish (Eph. 5:25-27). 


When the bride is prepared and Jesus returns for her, the intimacy broken in the Garden will be completely restored, and man will again become one with Christ and with God, as Jesus prayed in John 17. But, as in the first “marriage,” the bride must be bone of His bones and flesh of His flesh – that is, she must be like Him. He will not return for a defiled, defeated bride. In these days of restoration, God is preparing the bride with beauty and power and dressing her in His glory.  


GENERAL GUIDE


If you are taking any medication and are under doctor’s care please check with your doctor before modifying your diet. Several days before fasting begin weaning away from caffeine products as these will cause headaches if in your system when fasting.


Prepare your body by slowly easing away from fried foods, eating late at night ( while fasting don’t eat anything after 6:30 p.m. ), & no sweets. Drink water before, during, and after fasting, and abstain from any unhealthy eating habits not only during the fast but maintain good eating habits after the fast as well. The 21 day consecration is a partial fast whereas water and some foods may be consumed as the Lord leads each individual person. I encourage everyone to drink plenty of water as your body detoxifies itself and goes into a type of hibernation during the fast. The following is only a suggestion and guide for the 21 day consecration. If for whatever reason you come off of the fast, regroup and get back in there. The rewards far outweigh the sacrifices.


MORNINGS – Light breakfast such as fruit, toast, oatmeal w/boiled eggs. Drink water,  health drink,  green tea, or juiced fruits and vegetables.


 NOON – Chicken salad sandwich, vegetable soup, fruit, and healthy nuts such as dry almonds,  and walnuts. Drink water, health drink,  green tea, or juiced fruits and vegetables.


EVENINGS – Salad w/light dressing, soup, or vegetable plate that includes beans for protein. If any meat then fish or chicken. Drink water, health drink, green tea, or juiced fruits and vegetables.


WEEKENDS – Chicken or fish on weekends w/meal. No fried foods. Bake or broil.  Drink water, health juice, green tea, or juiced fruits and vegetables. 



At the end of the 21 day consecration don’t immediately go back to normal eating but slowly return to give your body time to adjust. Remember, don’t go back to unhealthy eating habits but continue in what the Lord will have shown you during the consecration. Continue in His blessings.




Why Fast?


The very idea of someone actually fasting today seems strange to most Christians.  They view fasting as being to extreme or fanatical and perhaps used this as a basis to instinctively oppose fasting.  Why such negative attitudes to a practice that is obviously scriptural?


“I humbled my soul with fasting (Psalm 69:10)…Blessed are those who mourn (Matthew 5:4).”  If humility is the basic ingredient of true holiness, the soil in which the graces flourish, shouldn’t we, like David, humble our souls with fasting.  Behind many of our sins and personal failures—behind the many ills that infect our Church fellowships and clog the channels of Christian service—the clash of personalities and temperaments—the strife and division—lies that sinister pride of the human heart.  “This was the guilt of your sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness,” Ezek. 16:49.  God foresaw that pride and full feeding would be one of Israel’s pitfalls when they entered the land of promise.  “God has led you these forty years in the wilderness,” Moses reminded them.  “He humbled you and let you hunger…,” Deut. 8:2, 3.  Now those days of discipline were over, and the land of plenty that they were about to possess would provide new temptations, so Moses went on to warn them, “Take heed…Lest, when you have eaten and art full…your heart be lifted up,” Deut. 8:1-14.


Fasting, then, is a divine corrective to the pride of the human heart.  It is a discipline of the body with a tendency to humble the soul.  “I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble (afflict) ourselves before our God,” Ezra 8:21; Is. 58:3.  If, then, to the devout Israelite—fasting meant humbling, it also meant mourning.  In Old Testament days it was practiced as a sign of mourning for the departed, 1 Sam. 31:13.  It is associated with the rending of the garment and the wearing of sackcloth and ashes, Ezra 9:5.  There is a natural sequence as we move from self-humbling to the mourning of repentance.




However, God wants to bring us beyond the place of mourning only for our personal sins, to where we are moved by the Spirit to mourn for the sins of the Church, nation, and even the world.  God is searching the earth today for the Nehemiah’s who will weep, mourn, fast and pray for the walls that are broken down, and the gates that are destroyed by fire.


The scripture further says, “Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off,” Acts 13:3.  Not a social tea but a consecrated fast marked the first missionary valedictory.  Later in this chapter we see these men appointing elders in every Church, with prayer and fasting, Acts 14:23, and also the local leaders consecrated to their holy office.


Are the leaders of the Churches today set apart in a solemn season of prayer and fasting?  If not perhaps this is one reason why office in the Church is so often lightly taken up, loosely held, and readily tossed aside when difficulties or differences emerge.


When you give alms …When you pray…When you fast…Matt. 6:2, 5, 16.  In speaking about giving, praying and fasting, Jesus warned His hearers of the futility of practicing piety before men to be seen by them.  Equally important He did not say, “If you pray,” as though praying were optional, but when you pray.  Neither did Jesus say, “If you fast,” as though fasting were something that disciples might or might not be led to do, or as though it only applied to a select few.  He stated unambiguously, categorically and without qualification to the mass of His disciples, When you fast.”  


It is significant that the Lord dealt with fasting as a spiritual excise distinct from praying.  Though fasting and praying are often linked in scripture and in experiences, this is not necessarily the case.  On the contrary, fasting stands on it’s own grounds and on occasion serve a spiritual purpose all it’s own.  Just as there may be praying without fasting, so there may at times be fasting, truly acceptable to God, without praying…at least in the sense of intercession.


There is no mention of prayer accompanying the fast we read of in Esther.  Because one is not able to give oneself to prayer for the whole of a fast does not mean that the period not accompanied by specific prayer is devoid of spiritual value.


The time is now.  If you have been brought low through personal defeat; if there is a call in your soul to a deeper purifying, to a renewed consecration; if there is the challenge of some new task for which you feel ill-equipped—then it is time to inquire of God whether He would have you separate yourself unto Him in fasting.


“When the bridegroom is taken from them…then they will fast,” Matt. 9:15.  God is determined to have a glorious Church without spot or wrinkle, a bride fit for His beloved Son.  It is imperative that we rediscover one of the lost secrets of the early Church, the power that is released through the truly biblical practice of fasting unto God.  May those prophetic words, “Then will they fast,” be finally fulfilled in this generation.  It will be a fasting and praying Church that will hear the thrilling cry, “Behold, the Bridegroom!”  Tears shall then be wiped away, and the fast be followed by the feast at the marriage supper of the Lamb.  And so it is.




Types of Fasts


The Normal Fast (or Common Fast)


“He fasted forty days and forty nights and afterward he was hungry,” Matt. 4:2.  Jesus fasted…and afterwards He was hungry.  It meant abstaining from all food, solid or liquid, but not from water.  We are told “He ate nothing,” Lk. 4:2, but not that He drank nothing.  Afterwards it says “He was hungry,” but not that He was thirsty.  Though thirst pangs are more intense than those of hunger, satan tempted Him to eat, but not to drink. This all suggests that the fast was abstaining from food, but not from water.  In fact, the human body could not survive forty days without water apart from being supernaturally sustained.


There is nothing to suggest that true fasting involves abstaining from sleep.  God may call us to do this for very short periods, such as giving up a night’s sleep.  Paul speaks of “watching” as distinct from fasting, 2 Cor. 6:5.  If abstaining from sleep was essential to fasting, no long fast would ever be possible, apart from supernatural intervention.  The body craves sleep even before water, and is bound to succumb sooner or later, and the fast will be broken involuntarily.


There is a strong inference in 1 Cor. 7:3-5 that the true fast for married persons includes abstaining also from marital relations, but this must be by mutual consent.


The Normal Fast, then, involved abstaining from all forms of food, but not from water, and must be distinguished from any other type fast.


The Absolute fast


For three days he…neither ate nor drank…abstaining from drinking as well as eating.  Normally this was never for more than three (3) days, probably because any longer period might have proved physically injurious.  The body can go long periods without food and be physically benefited, but only for a very short time without water.


“He spent the night, neither eating bread nor drinking water; for he was mourning over the faithlessness of the exiles,” Ezra 10:6.  He was overcome with grief and astonishment at the shameful compromise of the people in which priests, levites and officials had given the lead.  He says, “I rent my garments and my mantle, and pulled hair from my head and beard, and sat appalled.”  Overwhelming concern drove him to fast, taking neither food nor water, Ezra 9:3.  Queen Esther instructed Mordecai, “Hold a fast on my behalf, and neither eat nor drink for three (3) days, night or day.  I and my maids will also fast as you do,” Esther 4:16.  A crisis of the utmost gravity threatened the whole Jewish race with extermination.  Even Esther herself could expect no immunity because she was queen.  She called this absolute fast because desperate situations require desperate measures.


The Absolute Fast is an exceptional measure for an exceptional situation.  It is something usually reserved for spiritual emergencies.  Please be very sure of the leading of God to undertake such a fast for any period of longer than three (3) days.


The Partial Fast


The emphasis here is upon restriction of diet rather than complete abstention.  Daniel sought the Lord for understanding of the vision God had given him.  “In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks.  I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks,” Dan. 10:2, 3.  The partial fast allows a great many variations which yields blessings and benefits.  There is a method of living exclusively on one type of food for the duration of the fast.  The partial fast is of great value, especially where circumstances make it impossible or inconvenient to undertake a normal fast.  Certainly it requires no less self-discipline.  It can be used as a stepping stone to the normal fast for those who have never fasted before or those with special medical situations.





How to Begin


Seek God for guidance if you have health challenges.  It is very important to insure this spiritual practice characterizes the fast that God has chosen.  Ask yourself the following question:


  1. Did I anoint my head and wash my face that I appear not unto men to fast, but unto my Father, which seeth in secret?

  2. Am I confident that this desire to fast is God-given?  Would He have me                       undertake a normal or just a partial fast?

  3. Are my motives right?  Is there any hidden desire to impress others?

  4. What are my spiritual objectives in this fast?  Personal sanctification or consecration?  Intercession?  What special burdens?  Divine intervention, guidance, blessing?  The Spirit’s fullness for self or others?  To loose the captives?

  5. Do my objectives tend to be self-centered?  Is my desire for personal blessing balanced by genuine concern for others?  Am I looking not only to my own interests, but also to the interests of others?

  6. Am I determined above all else to minister to the Lord in this fast?



Do not start with a long period fast unless you are very, very, very sure God has called you to do this.  The body grows accustomed to fasting by degrees, and God does not usually ask us to run before we have begun to crawl.  Start with a partial fast, or fast one day until supper.  Next time extend the fast until retiring, breaking it with just a light meal or fruit only.  When you can manage a one day fast without feeling faint or famished, not hungry, you will be ready to increase the number of days.



When you have designated a time to fast do not indulge yourself by overeating in an effort to ease the fast.  If the fast is for more than one day it is a good idea to have fresh fruit on the last day before fasting.  This insures that the last meal left in the bowl is fruit, which breaks down easier than other food residues.  This aids in the cleansing and elimination process.


Satan is well aware of the value and power of fasting, so he will do everything to get you to break your fast launching every attack he can.  Discouragement is one of his weapons.  Guard against it by maintaining a spirit of praise and thanksgiving.  Read through Ephesians chp. 6 and avail yourself of the whole armor of God.  Make use especially of the shield of faith to quench all his flaming darts.  Use the sword of the Spirit, and tell satan, “It is written…greater is He that is within me than he that is in the world.”


This information is not given as the rules and regulations that govern fasting, but only in an ongoing effort to keep in alignment with the word that says seek wisdom and understanding in all things.




How to Break the Fast


To break a fast of only a day or two presents no problem.  It is most important, however, that we should understand the rights and wrongs of breaking longer fasts and to avoid considerable pain and discomfort.  During prolonged fasts the stomach has been slowly shrinking, so that by the end of the fast it has nothing like it’s previous capacity for food, and the smallest quantity of food makes one feel surprisingly full.  Secondly, the organs in the body that are usually engaged in assimilating food goes in to a kind of sleep which becomes deeper and deeper as the fast is prolonged.  Because of these two facts, the utmost care should be exercised as to how much you eat, what you eat, and how you eat it.  The stomach must be given time to return to normal size.  The digestive organs also must be gently and progressively caressed into wakefulness and efficient activity.  It may be a good idea to break your fast with fruit or vegetable juices.  Many say citrus fruit juices are best.  This may well be the case in lands where oranges and grapefruits are picked ripe.  But where they are imported the fruit is picked unripe and the juice can  often be too acidic for many stomachs.  Apple, tomato or grape juices are possible alternatives, or pure citrus juices canned.  Start at first with a small quantity. 


Fresh salads (without dressing), homemade vegetable soups (no fat), and cooked vegetables may then be included in the diet, always starting with a little of everything and building up gradually.  A little crisp bread or toasted whole-wheat bread with a scraping of butter may next be eaten with the meals, but cakes, pastries and cookies should be avoided.  Go very steady on the starchy foods at this stage.  Protein is best introduced first in the form of cheese, eggs or nuts, with fish, and meat last of all.  Just how quickly you increase your diet in variety and quantity depends on the length of your fast and how you find the body succeeds in coping.


It is of the utmost importance that the food be eaten slowly, and chewed very well, that it is reduced to liquid at swallowing.  At the first sensation of  fullness in the stomach you should stop, even if you haven’t completed your portion.  Discomfort following a meal should be regarded as a signal to ease off, and if necessary, miss the next meal.


It is important to rest as much as possible during this period so as to let the body concentrate on the business of digestion and assimilation.  To sum it up, watch your quantities, eat slowly and chew well, stop at the first warning sign.  Rest as much as possible.  Don’t try to do too much too soon.


Give thought and prayer to your future diet and eating habits.  Try not to return to the old ways of overeating, eating between meals, or eating the wrong foods.


Finally, you cannot afford to relax spiritually during this breaking of your fast period, for the thief will still be on the prowl.  Beware of talking about your fast that your fasting may be in secret, as Christ commanded.  This should be a time of consolation, when you get right through prayer on matters that God has revealed to you.


You should begin to see the fruit of this time set apart for God, with blessings rebounding not only on your own head but also on those for whom you have been interceding.  Thus, like your Lord and Master, return from your fasting wilderness “in the power of the Spirit,” expecting that the works of and the graces of Christ will manifest in you, as they were in Him.


“Truly, truly I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do, and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father.  Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son,” Jn. 14:12, 13.








    Answers to Practical Questions


  1. Are there some illnesses or conditions that render fasting inadvisable?  In cases of serious undernourishment or nervous exhaustion, fasting is not recommended unless for very short periods.  It should not be undertaken by diabetic patients, especially if insulin is being taken nor is it deemed advisable for expectant mothers unless you are very, very, very sure God has said it is okay.  In other cases of more serious illness seek God and your doctor.

  2. If I get caught up in my daily routine and eat something by mistake, or if I give in to temptation should I continue my fast?  Absolutely!  The enemy will tell you God won’t honor your fast but God looks upon the heart.  Don’t use this as a crutch though.

  3. How much water should one drink during a fast?  It is good to drink lots of water.  This aids the process of elimination by flushing the system.  It is better to let the body determine how much to drink.  Also, be honest with yourself whether you are drinking for thirst or to get full.

  4. What if I have to eat food when I take my medication?  Food, not a meal.  If your prescription only calls for just a small quantity maybe you can just eat a couple of unsalted saltine crackers.  Check with your doctor to see if that would be sufficient.


   



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