WELCOME
As we go into this Holy Week, I am so reminded about the significance of the journey Jesus embarked on as we will discover this week. Good Friday and Resurrection/Easter Sunday are two of the most important events in the Christian life and its significance should not be overshadowed. Holy Week is often referred to as Passion Week and passion, in its original text, meant suffering and we see how Jesus, despite being fully God and without sin, suffered willingly to the point of His crucifixion, for us and our sins.
As we gather to remember and reflect on what Jesus did for us as His people, we will also take this opportunity to Pray and Fast. We recognize that as followers of Jesus, we are called to pray first as prayer is our first response not our last resort. This week, we remember all Jesus did, and continues to do, for us as we seek Him first.
I encourage you to set apart 10-15 minutes daily to pray first. Our team have put together this journal to guide you as we pray together as Edge Church this week. We will then be meeting every night at 19:00 at the church to pray corporately.
What is the purpose of fasting?
Fasting is an act of abstaining from food (typically) as a declaration of your dependency on God and His provision. It is a physical representation of our hunger and desire to do God’s will above all else as an act of surrender.
Although food fasts are most common, there are many different things that we have become dependent on to survive. There are various fasts that you can commit to this week and we encourage you to spend time with God in deciding which you will commit to:
1. Total Fast – to abstain from all food for a set time and only drink liquids
2. Partial Fast – choosing to fast specific meal times e.g. fasting from sunrise until sunset 3. Selective Fast – removing certain foods from your diet e.g. meat, sugar, breads etc. 4. Soul Fast – not using things such as social media, not watching TV etc.
I really am trusting that this Holy Week, as we draw near to Jesus, our Saviour who paid the ultimate price for us as His people, that we would be encouraged to Love God and Love People. This is the heart of God and for us as Edge Church.
Love you guys!
HOW TO S.O.A.P.
Bible Pencil Journal
Items needed for each day: 1.
2. 3.
S — SCRIPTURE Which verse stood out to you?
Open your Bible to your reading for the day. Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you that day, and write it in your journal.
O — OBSERVATION What is God saying to you?
What do you feel God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you.
A — APPLICATION How can you apply it today?
Personalise what you have read, by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now. Perhaps it is an instruction, encouragement, a new promise, or corrections for a particular area of your life. Write how this scripture can apply to you today.
P – PRAYER Ask God to help you use what you’ve learned
This can be as simple as asking God to help you use this scripture, or even a prayer for a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you. Remember, prayer is a two-way conversation, so be sure to listen to what God has to say! Now, write it out.
VERSES TO REMEMBER
EASTER AT EDGE CHURCH
MATT 21:12-13
Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!
MARK 11:22-24
Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.
JOHN 16:7
But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate[a] won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.
MATT 11:28-30
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
EZEKIEL 37:4-8
Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’” So I spoke this message, just as he told me. Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons. Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones. Then skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still had no breath in them.
JOHN 13:14-15
And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.
GALATIANS 5:13-14
Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbour as yourself.
Monday
FOCUS: Personal Renewal and Healing PRAYER MEETING FOCUS: Healing
• Pray for anyone that you need to forgive. Do you need to speak to them today?
• Is there a secret sin that you have allowed to let grow – now is the time to confess that to God (and others) • Pray for those (yourself) needing physical healing
S — SCRIPTURE
O — OBSERVATION
A — APPLICATION
Tuesday
Mark 11:22-24
John 16:7
WEEKDAY: TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:
FOCUS: Faith and the work of the Holy Spirit PRAYER MEETING FOCUS: Holy Spirit Baptism
• Is there an area in your life that is dead and not producing fruit? Pray that God would breathe fresh life on that again
• Pray for your faith to be strengthened and enlarged as God puts new dreams in your heart • Pray for the Holy Spirit to fill you
S — SCRIPTURE
O — OBSERVATION
A — APPLICATION
Wednesday
Ezekiel 37:4-8
FOCUS: Finding Rest in His Presence PRAYER MEETING FOCUS: Worship Night
• Pray for God to refresh you as you spend time worshipping Him
• Pray for a fresh perspective and understanding of what it means to worship Jesus in Spirit and Truth • Pray that God would speak to you about this year during a time with Him in worship
S — SCRIPTURE
O — OBSERVATION
A — APPLICATION
Thursday
John 13:2-17
(Key – John 13:14-15)Galatians 5:3
WEEKDAY: TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:
FOCUS: We Are Called PRAYER MEETING FOCUS: Easter Weekend
• Pray for opportunities for God to use you by serving others
• Pray for Edge Church, Ps Daniel and his team as we serve our community as the Church
S — SCRIPTURE
O — OBSERVATION
A — APPLICATION
