Pray Until Something Happens
“-Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer’’. 1 Peter 4:7 {MSG}
It is no longer news that the days we live in are evil; but the good news is that God has made available for the Believer, enough spiritual weapons to ward off the wiles of the devil. God knows that you live in a world where the enemy tries to intimidate you and back you off into a corner and so in His infinite wisdom, He fashioned your weapons of warfare from heaven. When you understand and deploy these spiritual weapons, then you can truly possess your possession. One of such weapons I like to remind you of is the power of prayers and fasting.
The problem with a lot of Christians today is that we are busy fighting spiritual battles with carnal weapons. For those of you in business for instance, understand that you cannot win in the market place fighting with carnal weapons. As a wife, or husband, daughter, or son, you can’t win it that way either. There are battles to fight, but listen; you cannot win using carnal weapons. Look at what the scriptures say in Ephesians 6:12-18 “…For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of the world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God. Praying always with all prayer and supplication for all saints.’’
Beloved, with this impressive arsenal at your disposal, you cannot afford to coast along in life and hope that the devil will just go away. No, this is the time to deploy your weapons. It is the time to stand and fight. This is the time to step out, praying always, in all manner of prayers. Let your life be soaked in the word and prayer then you’ll become a terror to the devil. Put on the whole armour of God and fight. Don’t let the enemy pluck out your eyes. There is power in prayers.
Do you remember the story of Queen Esther? She knew the situation facing her people was critical and only the supernatural intervention of God could deliver them. She also knew that the fight was not carnal but spiritual. As a queen, she could deploy her soldiers, but this was a spiritual fight and she needed to fight with spiritual weapons. Mordecai and Esther, and all their brethren, fasted for 3 solid days & nights. They made preparations. They received the word of God in their spirit. They received the spiritual bullets, to confront their confrontations. If Esther had not acted, it would have been a total wipe out of the Jews living in the kingdom because according to the laws of the Medes and Persia, a law had been passed that can never be violated.
The good news was that Esther was able to change that law. The question is how did she pull it off? Beloved, it was not through diplomacy or political lobbying. No, she tapped into the divine principle of prayers and fasting. By the time she stepped before the king, the power of God had gone before her to make the crooked places straight, to break the gates of brass and bars of iron. The King had no choice than to stretch forth the golden scepter towards her even though she had wasn’t invited. Beloved, that was not all. He also promised to do whatever she wanted, even up to half of his kingdom. To crown it all, the 50 feet gallows, which Haman had prepared, for Modecai, was the very gallows on which he was destroyed. That is the power of prayers and fasting! I encourage you to refuse to lay back and watch the devil ride roughshod over your life. Get back to the place of prayers and pray until something happens. Pray like a man or woman from another world and I can guarantee that you will have the victory.
I bless you today in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Maranatha!
In His Royal Service
Dr Mike Okonkwo
The Presiding Bishop