The Prayer Advantage for Advancement

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, 

and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)

Many in life have risen through the thick and thin of life's hurdles to make the most of their lives by taking advantage of some opportunities that came their way which perhaps others didn't see or others were not smart enough to take advantage of the same.

For many characters in the bible and of course countless others in our contemporary world, prayer has been one of the forces that many have taken advantage of, for their advancement in life.

But what is Prayer?

Prayer is humanity communicating with divinity for intervention.

Prayer is the means through which we carry our desires to a higher force for attention.

There is no doubt that there are many kinds of prayer but whatever the kind of prayer we pray, it involves some form of communication with a superior force and this puts us in a privileged and advantaged position.

However, prayer does not only change things, prayer changes people.

No matter how disadvantaged in birth, features, eloquence, background and opportunity in life anyone may be, prayer can change a weakling to a giant, prayer can change a person who cannot speak to a great orator.

Moses, a mighty man of prayer comes to mind, here.

Who was Moses?

-        - He didn’t have the kind of privilege that most of us have at birth. He was thrown into the river because he was born in captivity yet God preserved him. Exodus 1:22

-      - Next 40 years he was living in affluence in the house Pharaoh, the one that wanted him dead.

-     - Then, another 40 years he became a fugitive running for his life as he worked for his father-in-law (working for your father-in-law can be demoralising especially if you are just tending his sheep)

-      - Then God remembered him and was going to use him to deliver His people from captivity for the last 40years of his life, yet he revealed another defect in his life- he was a stammerer/ not eloquent. Exo. 4:10

       

     Through it all, Moses, through prayers and fasting was able to overcome all his shortcomings in life to emerge one of the greatest prophets that every lived as testified by God Himself in Numbers 12:1,7-10.

Prayer truly changes people and can change your life too.

 

    Personally, I have seen the effect of prayer in my life whether it was when I prayed for success in my professional exams or for my dying daughter who God resuscitated at the point of death or praying for several others who in turn have testimonies. 

    However, my observation is that believers today are not taking advantage of prayer to advance their destinies like men of old who knew that to fail on the altar of prayer is to fail everywhere. 

  

     Let me conclude with the words of one of my favourite references on prayer, 

 

No man is greater than his prayer life. 

 The pastor who is not praying is playing; 

  the people who are not praying are straying. 

    We have many organizers, but few agonizers; 

many players and payers, few pray-ers; many singers, few clingers; 

lots of pastors, few wrestlers; many fears, few tears; much fashion, little passion; 

many interferers, few intercessors; many writers, but few fighters. 

Failing here, we fail everywhere.”
― Leonard Ravenhill

    May God help us this year to experience the transformation power on the prayer altar. Amen

New Year, New You

People don’t pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the new wine will make the skins burst. The wine will run out, and the skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine is to be poured into fresh skins. Luke 5:37-38 (GW)

Let me use this first post for the year to wish you a Happy New Year. This year will indeed be for you a year with a difference in all its ramifications in Jesus name.

But what really makes a year to be NEW?

A new year is not a function of a flip in the calendar or change in dates but what really makes a new year is a NEW YOU!

If nothing changes about me and you, that is, if we carry the same old malice, hatred, negative thoughts, disappointments and moodiness into the New Year.... it will be what is called in Latin, "quod in veteri" which simply means, "same as old".

Someone defined insanity as "doing the same thing and expecting a different result"

In the opening scripture above, Jesus made it clear when talking about fasting that if we need new experience or new level of power (which wine represents) we must put new wine in new bottles. So the problem is not with the wine (or new year in this case) it is with the container (you). If the container is old, it will not be able to hold the new wine and it will burst.

So what do I need do Differently to have a New Year?

- Be SPIRITUAL; Every building that will last must have a solid foundation. So dare to pray more, fast more, study the Word more and focus on your spiritual well-being this year to have a really New Year.

- Be KINGDOM ADDICTED; Let everything that has to do with the kingdom of God be your priority this year. Reach out to more people than you have ever done before this year, follow up more souls this year, serve in the kingdom and its interest more this year.

- Be FINANCIALLY FREE; Decide to be financially free this if you are not yet. Look out for areas of earning passive income through investments etc. Don't just work for money, let your money work for you this year.

- Be HEALTHY; Our body is the vehicle that conveys us to the place of our destiny. If we play down the importance of being physically fit because we are pursuing our dreams and visions, when we get to the place of performance, the neglected body will not be able to take us there. This simply means, be physically fit, get rid of junk food, exercise as often as you can even if it is just by walking. This also includes keeping healthy relationships.

- Be OBEDIENT; It is the master key to thriving in hard times according to my father and mentor- Bishop David Oyedepo. Doing what God says is what puts us in command of things. Those who were building the tower of Babel in Genesis 11, got every other thing right except the fact that what they were doing was against God's will, so their plans scattered. No matter what else you get right, OBEYING GOD is the master key to making a difference on the earth.

I trust God that, this year will mark a turning point in your life and no matter the negative occurrences around you, you will be able to say, 'My Case is Different'.

Happy New You!

Please feel free to leave a comment below to let me know what you intend to do differently this year to have a new you.

Understanding the Blessedness of Prayer & Fasting - Part 2

Prayer and fasting still remains the force through which certain kinds of afflictions give way. Matthew 17:21. When we pray and fast, we must remember our fasting is not to change God but essentially to empower us to take command of things.

That is why our teaching series for this month of January 2016 is captioned, "Understanding the Blessedness of Prayer and Fasting".

We must note that it is not just enough to fast, but what we do when fasting is much more important than the length of the fast itself. That is why we must understand the profitable approach to fasting in order to avoid being engrossed in mere religious hunger strike.

According the Isaiah 58:6, there are specific benefits why fasting is commanded among which includes; to undo the heavy burdens, let the oppressed go free, breaking of yokes, breaking forth of light, springing forth of health speedily. As we look at the following profitable approach to fasting, may all these benefits find practical manifestation in your life in Jesus name.

PROFITABLE APPROACH TO FASTING

1. Engage in Kingdom-promotion prayers. 

    For fasting to yield its maximum returns, we must not just engage in prayers for our own needs alone but we must put the kingdom first according to Matthew 6:33. This is the master key to having our own needs met. What specific kingdom promotion prayers can we pray?

·   We must pray the Holy Spirit to mobilize men and women into our local assemblies as He did in the upper room – Acts 2:2/6

·  We must pray for signs and wonders which will lead to supernatural church growth – John 4:48, Acts 5:12/14/ Acts 9:34-35

·  We must pray for new converts to be established in the faith – Colossians 4:12/ Galatians 4:19

·  We must pray for continuous flow of revelation for the ministers – 2 Thess. 3:6/ Ephesians 6:19

·  We must also praying for other brethren for God to turns their challenges to testimonies – Philippians 1:19/ Ps. 23:6

2. We must come thanking, praising and worshipping

Prayer in the kingdom has protocols. When Jesus taught the disciples to pray, He told them, "Hallowed Be Thy Name". This is an art or worship and it is perhaps one of the fundamental reasons for many unanswered prayers: lack of gratitude and worship to God. Our countenance in fasting should not be sorrowful but of praise and worship. Psalm 100:4/ Matthew 6:6-9, 16-19

3. We must come boldly and not beggarly

As bonafide children of God, we must come before God with boldness and not beggarly for our voices to be heard. Hebrew 4:16. Esther and Nehemiah went boldly before the King after a fast even though it was against the law and they both had their requests granted. Esther 4:16; 5:1-2, 7; Nehemiah. 1:4, 2:3-5.

4. Engage the force of faith:

It is faith-filled prayer that guarantees answers. As we fast, we must ensure our prayers are faith-filled. – Matthew 21:21-22. How?

     - The force of faith thinks the unthinkable as in Abraham. Rom. 4:19-20

     ­- The force of faith expects the unexpectable as in Noah. Hebr. 11:7, 2 Kings 7:18-19

     - The force of faith speaks the unspeakable as the 3 Hebrew boys. Daniel 3:17

     - The force of Faith dares the undareable as Daniel. Daniel 6:16

     - The force of faith conquers the unconquerable like Moses. Exo. 14:21-22

     - The force of faith achieves the unachievable like Gideon. Hebrews 11:33

BLESSEDNESS OF FASTING

·   Empowers us for dominion – Isaiah 58:6/ Luke 4:14/37

·   Engenders access to Revelations - 2 Corinthians. 4:4

·   Guarantees access to our high places in life – Isaiah 58:6/14; Matthew 5:13-15

·   Empowers fulfillment of prophecy – 1 Timothy 1:18

·   Enhances our access to visions and divine directions, thereby launching us into realms of greater glory –Isaiah 48:17/21/ Psalm 23:1-6 

The truth is that the greater glory will be by God Himself leading us to what to do and it is fasting that enforces divine guidance. 

Among others, that is what the Mystery of the Holy Communion does;

- Strength. 1 Kings 19:7-8, John 6:48-51

- Opening of understanding. Luke 24:30-31, 43-45

- Positive experiences. 1 Corinthians 11:24-26

To accept Jesus Christ into your life, please pray this  ‘salvation prayer’ with me;

Father, I thank you for sending Jesus Christ to die for my sins and rise from the dead so that I can know Your forgiveness and live with You forever. Right now I ask Jesus Christ to be my Saviour so I can live as the special creation that You intended. Thank you Lord for saving me, in Jesus name. Amen.

Congratulations! You are now saved.

To share your thoughts and experience with me, please email me at, Emmanuel.Odedeyi@winners-chapel.org.uk or visit our website; www.winnerschapelleeds.org.uk