There is a specific kind of atmosphere that only comes after a season of consecration. This past Sunday at 3C South Coast, that atmosphere was tangible. We gathered not just for another routine Sunday, but for a powerful anointing service that served as the grand culmination of our 21 Days of Fasting and Prayer.
The air was thick with expectation. From the first note of worship, there was a sense of gratitude for “one more day” of God’s grace. We’ve seen strongholds come down over these three weeks because we’ve learned to use praise as a weapon. But as Pastor Larry and the team reminded us, the end of a fast isn’t just a finish line; it’s a launching pad into a new season of apostolic power.
The Apostolic Blueprint: Acts 2
To understand the significance of this anointing service, we looked at the early church in Acts 2:41-47. After three thousand souls were added in a single day, the believers didn’t just go back to business as usual. They followed a specific order — and we know that our God is a God of order. When He speaks, and we obey, the “new wine and oil” follow.
According to the Word, the early church stayed “steadfast” in four primary pillars:
- Apostolic Doctrine: They didn’t just hear the Word; they lived it. This means coming to church often, studying the Bible personally, confessing the Word, and practicing it in daily life.
- Fellowship: They built unity by walking in love, staying positive, and reaching out to others.
- Breaking of Bread: This isn’t just about a meal; it’s about “one heart” and caring for each other’s needs.
- Prayers: This was the engine room of their breakthrough.
The 5 P’s of Prayer
The highlight of the teaching focused on the fourth pillar: Prayer. Pastor Larry broke down the “5 P’s” to help us move beyond surface-level petitions into true intercession.
1. Powerful
Prayer is not a weak ritual; it is powerful. Whether it is an extended time of deep fellowship or a brief moment of acknowledgment during your workday, we are told in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to never limit our connection to the Father.
2. Processing
We often carry baggage that weighs down our spiritual walk. Prayer is the place where we process things with God so we can find closure from the past. As Luke 14:27 suggests, we must carry our cross, processing our journey so we can move forward into our best future.
3. Purposeful
According to Isaiah 59:16-17, prayer must be purposeful. Many people stop praying because they only have an “emotional interest” in it. It feels good when our souls are uplifted, but true intercession and worship must go together. Without purpose, we become hard toward God when our emotions don’t match our expectations.
4. Perspective
True intercession means raising ourselves up to get the mind of Christ regarding a situation (Philippians 2:5). Instead of reciting speeches to God about how we think prayer should work, we must worship. When we say, “But God, I don’t see how You’re going to do this,” we aren’t worshiping; we are disputing. Worship shifts our perspective from our problems to His power.
5. Perfecting
Finally, prayer is about perfecting our relationship with Him (Galatians 4:19). Intercession is real work that demands energy, but it has no hidden pitfalls. If you feel like no one is interceding properly, don’t complain—be that person.
Breaking the Fast: The Multiplied Harvest
A beautiful moment in the service occurred when we discussed the concept of “Seeding and Harvest.” Referencing the widow in 2 Kings 4, we were reminded that God multiplies what is offered to Him. Whether it’s our last jar of oil or our time in prayer, our willingness to give demonstrates our trust in God’s provision.
This is the heart behind our current building project — we are seeding into a larger “vessel” so that more people in our community can experience the overflow of God’s house.
The 21 Days of Fasting and Prayer culminated in the breaking of the fast through Communion. By sharing the bread and the cup, we acknowledged the finished work of the cross and the unity of our “one heart” at 3C South Coast.
This wasn’t just a religious ceremony; it was a “sacred assembly” as described in Joel 2:15-19. We blew the trumpet, gathered the people, and sanctified the congregation. And the promise for us is the same as it was for them:
“Then the Lord will be zealous for His land… Behold, I will send you grain and new wine and oil, and you will be satisfied by them.”
Surrendering to the New Season
As we move forward from this anointing service, the challenge is to maintain the momentum. This requires a total surrender to God’s will. You can explore more on this topic in Ps Charne Pretorius’s message on surrendering to God’s will.
The fast may be over, but the lifestyle of “The 4 Pillars” continues. We are a people of the Word, a people of fellowship, a people of the table, and a people of prayer.
Join Us This Sunday!
If you missed the anointing service, we invite you to join the 3C South Coast family this coming Sunday. There is a place for you here!
- Service Times: Sunday Mornings at 08h00 & 10h00
- Family Friendly: Every service features a full Children’s Care Facility & Program.
- Connect with Us: For directions or more info, visit our Contact Us page.
A Prayer for the New Season
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the breakthrough experienced during these 21 Days of Fasting and Prayer. As we move forward from this anointing service, help us to remain steadfast in Your doctrine, in fellowship, and in the breaking of bread.
Lord, let our prayer lives be transformed — make them powerful, purposeful, and filled with Your perspective. We choose to process our past at Your feet so we can walk boldly into the future You have prepared. We thank You that as we obey Your order, You are releasing the grain, the new wine, and the oil into our lives, our families, and 3C South Coast. May we be a people who intercede with worship, perfecting our relationship with You every day.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
