Increase in Stature and Wisdom: Back to School Prayers
Prayers
1. I will not fail; I will succeed by the power in the blood of Jesus.
Text: Luke 1:80
Luke 1:80 - And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.
The scripture from Luke 1:80 talks about John the Baptist growing, waxing strong in the Spirit and being in the deserts till the day of his showing (declaration or manifestation) to Israel.
Growth: This progression is similar to what every student has to go through. Some of us may not be in the four walls of a school, but are students of the Bible and some of us are equally learning one thing or the other. Growth is very important. The day we stop growing (learning, improving, getting better) is the day that individual begins to die (lose relevance, has no impact, becomes unable to contribute).
We will look at two types of growth we see in humans – height and breadth. People tend to grow taller and wider. It is also not abnormal for people not to follow this physical growth pattern especially in the case of special needs.
We are not only to grow taller and wider physically but also spiritually.
God’s love also has height and width, so should our spiritual lives through the knowledge of Him. The Bible states in Ephesians 3:
16that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
This we do by changing levels spiritually by growing from being babies in the Lord to adults spiritually.
The Bible states in 1 Peter 2:2 that: Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment
That pure spiritual milk is the word of God:
as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby
What is Learning?
· Learning has been defined as:
· the act of acquiring new knowledge or is the knowledge that has been gained through study.
· to the process of gaining new knowledge or mastering new skills.
· the acquisition of knowledge or skills through experience, study, or by being taught.
· the continuous process of learning which starts right from the time of birth of an individual and continues till the death.
· E-learning, also common place today is referred to as online learning or electronic learning; is the acquisition of knowledge which takes place through electronic technologies and media. In simple language, e-learning is defined as “learning that is enabled electronically”.
For the purposes of our discussion, I will define learning as:
· Hearing, reading or seeing
· Understanding
· Assimilation
· Application – Output
The grace to hear, read and see well may God grant unto you in Jesus’ name.
The grace to understand properly, receive it in the name of Jesus
Receive the grace to properly assimilate what you are learning and what you are supposed to learn in Jesus’ name.
May you be able to properly apply the things you learn in Jesus’ name.
May you shine to the glory of God in the name of Jesus.
You will not fail, you will not faint, even in period of adversity (challenges, strain, stress, or any situation that comes your way in Jesus’ name.
You will overcome and make good progress and excellent results in the mighty name of Jesus.
Waxing Strong: The second things we see from the Scripture in John 1:80 was that John the Baptist “waxed strong in the spirit”. We need to be strong in knowledge of the things we should know. As you go into this school year, may you be strong in Jesus’ name. John the Baptist was increasing in the Spirit of God, that is why he was able to make remarkable exploits for God. You need to study, learn to be strong in the knowledge of your subject. Pilots study to know which instrument or controls to use to make the airplane lift off the ground at the right time and to know which button to press to make the tires come out at the right time for a safe landing. Pressing or wrong button, or guessing is too dangerous to attempt. You must know the right buttons to press in your subject or profession to excel. Medical doctors too study a lot to know the right treatment to apply. Guessing or working out of ignorance of the subject could be disastrous. Similarly, you need to apply yourself to your subject to excel.
There is what we call the strength of wisdom and the strength of knowledge. May God make you strong in wisdom and knowledge in Jesus’ name.
The Bible states in Ecclesiastes 8:1 that:
Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.
There is wisdom that enables you to:
· accurately interpret a thing
· interpret situations
· explain how things are
· determine what should be done
· bring about solutions
· cause your face to shine
· cause you to stand out
· take away shame and reproach from you
· increase your boldness, and
· cause you to be much sought after.
I am praying this day, that:
You will wax strong in knowledge, wisdom and in the spirit of God in Jesus name.
May God give you the wisdom to excel, be a solution, stand out, be outstanding and much sought after in Jesus mighty name.
This is the wisdom to be relevant.
Wilderness sacrifice: The word of the Lord came to John the Baptist in the wilderness (Luke 3:2). The word did not come to him in the city or in a comfortable place. The word came to him in the wilderness where he probably had no bed, shelter or excellent food and water to drink. It came to him when he was wholly committed to his purpose not minding the hardships he was going through. When studying you go through hardships to be able to come out better in the end. Sacrifices need to be made, to go off television, ipad, tablets and focus on your studies.
In the university, I know some who did not have food to eat but were studying whole heartedly day by day. Some were on 001 formular, while some where on 101 formula. 001 meant no breakfast, no lunch, but you eat dinner. 101 means having breakfast, no lunch and you eat dinner. There were some on the 000 formula, no breakfast, no lunch and no dinner. They lived off the welfare and good nature of other students and helpers, yet they graduated from the university. Your excellent achievements would require some sacrifices. Some even sacrifice sleep, that was my experience in the university as well when I was working to improve my grades and God helped me.
John was in the wilderness, and he came out well.
Day of showing: John the Baptist was not in the city, he was first in the wilderness, then moved to the river Jordan. People left the cities and came to seek him out where he was. The purpose of learning, waxing strong, and the wilderness sacrifice experience was to prepare John for the day of his showing to Israel. The day of his manifestation. Your studying when others are playing, your commitment to do your homework while others are watching television is to ensure you are not ashamed on the day of your showing.
Be committed to learning, studying your academic books, and also studying your bible and praying and God will see you through in Jesus mighty name.
Announcements and song
Prayers
1. Give thanks
2. Born again?
3. I receive grace to hear, read and see properly by the power in the blood of Jesus.
4. I receive grace to understand and assimilate properly in Jesus’ name.
5. My memory, my brains function properly by the power in the blood of Jesus.
6. Father appoint my instructors and helpers to favour me and help me throughout this school year in Jesus’ name.
7. I receive grace and wisdom to properly apply what I learn in Jesus’ name.
8. Father remove from my way and paths people, situations and events that will hinder my success in Jesus’ name.
9. I will excel in this school year and beyond in Jesus’ name.
10.My heavens open by fire in the name of Jesus.
11.Every form of death and agents of death (including sickness and diseases), expire out of my life and family in the name of Jesus.
12.I welcome wealth, fruitfulness and prosperity into my life, home, and family in Jesus’ name.
13.Corona viruses leave the lives of those who have been infected and go into the bottomless pit by the power in the blood of Jesus.
14.Body parts that need replacement, be replaced, and begin to function properly in Jesus’ name.
15.I recover my lost wealth, business, and opportunities by the power in the blood of Jesus.
16.Lay your hand on your head or any part of your body or the body of your loved ones that requires the healing touch of God as we pray: PRAYER
17.Give thanks.
