July 2016 Messages
The Audacity of Power
Power is the ability to do things, to bring about a change. The scientists tell us a situation or condition will remain the same until power is applied. Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:4-5, my speech and preaching was not in words of man’s wisdom but in demonstration of the spirit and of power that your faith will not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
What is power?
Power is that which produces or delivers what other things cannot produce or deliver.
If you ask those knowledgeable in the world, they will tell you about:
· Political power – many strive for this power as their ultimate – to be a councillor, mayor, MPP, MP, minister, prime minister, president etc. This power can also be detrimental to the holder of the power that John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, first Baron Acton (1834–1902) made some comments. The historian and moralist, who was otherwise known simply as Lord Acton, commented that "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men. We thank God that our God is not a politician. There is:
· Social power
· Legal power
· Educational/Expert/SME power
· Legitimate power
· Reward power
ü Spiritual power. This is the power above all other powers. This is the power that made other powers and can unmake other powers. The religious and political powers of Jesus’s day felt threatened by Jesus’s power in Luke 13 from v31, some came to tell Jesus, get out of here, paraphrased, Herod is after your head and wants to kill you. The chapter started with some informing Jesus about some ‘city people’ Galileans whose blood had been used in sacrifice by Pilate, Jesus responded by saying you had better repent, i.e. align yourself with God so you don’t die in a similar manner. Jesus reminded them of some 18 people that were recently killed by the pillar of Siloam, that do you think they were worse sinners than all the people in Jerusalem, i.e. the weight of their sin led to their death? Jesus said it does not work that way, anyone can go, it can be anyone’s turn, you just need to get right with God and be ready. He used examples in their day; which is like saying, remember those who died in vehicle accidents or house fires last week, you better repent/change your attitude to God, so you don’t go the same way.
All powers that are ruling were allowed/permitted/established by God to rule, their empowerment did not take God by surprise. (Romans 13)
He that is from above is above all. He must increase so I must decrease to have His power increase in us.
Under the mighty hand of God, what should we do with the power?
- heal
- point the way of and to truth,
- bring people into the knowledge of God,; bring people to God and God to the people in prayers
Who can deliver himself or herself from addictions or accidents? in Romans 7- Paul had the same issue
He stated that what he needs is not in words but in the power of the spirit knowing that Strongholds can only be pulled down by a mightier power - the power of God. Strongholds such as sexual perversion, drunkenness, greed, lying tongue etc. can only be pulled down by God’s power.
This is the:
- Power to heal
- Power to deliver from addictions
- The audacity/application of power is therefore the power to do supernatural things which are hitherto not possible, humanly speaking.
Prayer
- Father, let your power that delivers from death work on my behalf and in my situation in Jesus mighty name.
- I destroy every stronghold of afflictions, addictions, and every work of the enemy working against me and mine by the blood of Jesus.
- Every agenda of wickedness against my life, be shattered in the name of Jesus.
- I arise into newness of life, having been delivered from every power of darkness in the name of Jesus.
The Audacity of Peace
• Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. (2 Thessalonians 3:16)
• Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all. KJV
• "I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid. (John 14:27)
• Sometimes there can be no peace without war. You have to silence, arrest, put down an unprovoked adversary to have peace.
• The strongest nations – militarily, politically and financially are usually the most peaceful.
• God says in Isaiah 48:22 that there is no peace for the wicked; your level of peace is determined by which side you are on, on the side of peace or war with God.
• We can have peace with God Romans 5:1
Romans 12:16 encourages us to live in peace with one another.
Peace is not absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means. Ronald Reagan
If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner. Nelson Mandela
• God is angry with the wicked but loves the wicked, angry at the sin of the wicked, the damage, hurt and pain the loved undiscerning person is inflicting on himself or herself. (Psalm 7:11)
• Many people live lives of quiet discontentment which not only lead to dissatisfaction, loss of opportunities and various health problems; it may well lead to an early grave.
• Be content! Contentment has great gains not only in this life, but also in the world to come.
Kunle O-Emmanuel
• There is no rest without peace and no peace without rest. When you are in a state of impatient waiting for whatever it is, the struggle continues. There can be no peace without trust. Trust is fundamental to peace.
• You cannot rest without being sure and you cannot be sure unless you have it in your hands or see it with your eyes, herein is the bridge between rest and faith. Eyes of faith enables you to see that expectation in your hands, in your reach...which enables you to enter into rest (Hebrews 4:1-11).
• Peace is more appreciated in turmoil and problems than when you are currently at peace. When flying in an airplane, if sudden turbulence starts the airplane goes up and down in quick movements by the time it stabilizes you will be more at peace than when everything was at peace throughout the journey.
• God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing. C. S. Lewis
We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves. Dalai Lama
Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Francis of Assisi
Prayer
• 1.Thanks
• 2. Are you saved? If not please pray the prayers on the Life page before continuing the prayers.
• 3. Father, let your peace reign in my life in Jesus name.
• 4. Father, give me peace by all means in Jesus name.
• 5. I destroy every stronghold of afflictions, addictions, and every work of the enemy working against me and mine by the blood of Jesus.
• 6. Every agenda of wickedness against my life, be shattered in the name of Jesus.
• 7. I arise into newness of life, having been delivered from every power of darkness in the name of Jesus.
• 8. Personal Prayer points.
• 9. Give Thanks
Prevailing Prayers
• Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. (James 5:17-18)
• And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven." (Matthew 16:19)
• There are keys to effective heaven and earth moving and impacting prayer
• Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart (Colossians 4:2)
• What is prayer? What does it mean to prevail? What does prevailing prayer mean? Does it mean all my prayers will be answered? Will they be answered in exactly the way I expect?
• Prayer is your deepest conversation with God, where (the space or avenue) He hears and feels your deepest fears, worries, pains, losses, sorrows and joy; where God understands what will give you joy ultimately and begins to work things out for you in the best possible ways beyond what you can imagine or pray about. (Romans 8:26-28, Ephesians 1:11)
• Jesus prayed in the garden of gethsemane – was his prayer answered? His sweat was like blood dripping from His body; was he heard? – God made Him Lord of all (Philippians 2:5-11) God placed everything under his feet (1 Corinthians 15:27) He is Lord of heaven and earth and all things are subject to Him and His name is higher than all other names
Some questions
• Why did Elijah pray 7 times?
• Why did he not pray once, turn his back and head back to Samaria?
• Why was standing to pray not sufficient?
Why did Jesus pray 3 times in the garden of Gethsemane?
- He was and is God
- The Bible says once has God spoken and twice have I heard that power belongs to God
- He commanded and it stood fast
- He did not call Lazarus from the dead 3 times, he only once
- He did not say arise thrice to the widow of Nain’s son who was dead
Why did God pray 3 times on the same issue:
- Abraham did not see the promise of his children being as many as sand on the beach before he died, he died trusting God – it is fulfilled today
Prevailing prayers must:
• Give glory to God – our Father who is in heaven
• Be Genuine and agree with God (Hebrews 5:8)
• Be Submissive:
* your will or God’s will – fully, wholeheartedly desire that God’s will (plan, desire, approach, way) will be done (established, prevail) e.g. Jesus in the garden of gethsemane.
• Be in Faith:
* total trust that God has heard and the best possible outcome is what you will have because God – the One you prayed to has heard you and wants the very best for you, beyond what anything or anyone can give or deliver to you.
How do I pray prevailing prayers/Antecedents/Requirements:
• Praise and Worship:
*to enter into God’s presence to invite God into a meeting with you and have Him attend the meeting. (Psalm 100:4)
• Humility of mind:
* to subject yourself to God, his will, because God does not listen or hear the prayers of the proud (1 Peter 5:5) He resists the proud but gives grace to the humble - helps the humble even when they do not meet up
• By the word of God:
* God will always back up His word, God is His word, he cannot deny, reject or not align with His word, so when you use His word, you are committing Him to perform.
• Clean hands/heart:
* The lawyers usually say those who come to equity/seek justice must come with clean hands, even if you have missed it in the past come to God, He is willing to forgive , cleanse your heart and hands and make you acceptable to Him, not by what you have done or can do but in His love and mercy. Interceding/praying for others also help
Prayer
1.Thanks
2. Are you saved? If not please pray the prayers on the Life page before continuing the prayers.
3. Father, give me the spirit of prayer and intercession in Jesus name.
4. Father, help me to pray without ceasing.
5. As I pray, do great and awesome things in my life, family, community and the nations in Jesus name.
6. Every agenda of wickedness against my life, be shattered in the name of Jesus.
7. I arise into newness of life, having been delivered from every power of darkness in the name of Jesus.
8. I take back everything that has been stolen from me, in the name of Jesus.
9. I will not go down in Jesus mighty name.
10. I go forward and upward in the name of Jesus.
11. Father, do mighty things of greatness in my life, family and destiny that will make the world know that God is great.
12. I arise into glory, into power, into joy, into victory and into peace by the power in the blood of Jesus.
13. Personal Prayer points.
14. Give Thanks