Having gone through the better half of the year one is forced to look back and evaluate on achievements and failures.
It is saddening to note that majority of the people having fasted together with others at the beginning of the year setting resolutions, nothing has been realized and in some cases situations have worsened. Some have already signaled giving up. Some have packed already and this raise questions in some believers and some going as much as asking the integrity of the Lord. Some fellow folks often ask if there is a set formula for praying prayers that moves God to act instantly.
If others do receive answers for their prayers what kind of people does God consider? is there any characteristic that God require in order to receive God's approval is God fair in his judgment
It is my prayer that through this space God will touch hearts and put you back in the race. the race is not over yet. it’s far from being over because it’s just beginning. Hold on, I know you were contemplating defeat, or worse death. I know times at one time you thought God was unfair. Believe you me I have been there. However God spoke to me through his word. "for he did not give us the spirit of fear but of power"
your resolutions can still be achieved. Just hold on a little. Your goals can be realized. Isaiah 38 vs 4-6 “ then came the word of the lord to Isaiah, saying, go and say to Hezekiah, thus says the lord the god of David , thy father have heard thy prayer and have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years . And I will deliver this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria and will defend this city.”
Here is a man having received a prophecy about his life turned to look at the walls. Despite the situation Hezekiah faced the wall. He pushed aside the situation, fueling all energies to the solution, his maker.
In his rightful senses he saw God as the solution to his problem. Choosing not accept defeat, he pressed on towards his goal. To face the wall means to remove all obstractions and focus on the source of power.
Many at times when faced with problems we lose focus. That's when we begin to entertain every form of religion. Some fellow Christian jump from one church to another and that’s when our faith dwindles.
However here is a man with a death sentence on his head but never panicking. Facing the worst situation yet remembering his words “he did not give us the spirit of fear but of power”. Knowing that within lays the most powerful spirit with effect of changing any situation. Hezekiah contemplates the fact that no situation is greater than God. “The one in you is greater than the one in the word”, “for he is able”
He brought out the truth that has been concealed in many folks that we tend to focus on the content instead of context
facing the wall is an act of faith. If it had been me I would have pleaded with the messenger to intermediate for me. Here is a man who seems to switch off the presents of Isaiah instantly because he wanted to put his case before his maker. A man not limited by the situation, one who believes in the Lord’s purpose for his life.
THE LORD’S PURPOSE
Great philosophers once said knowledge is power. Knowing the Lords purpose in your life puts at an advantage. Hezekiah knew and when he saw Isaiah he had nothing to fear.
“To die is gain, to live is Christ”, “though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I fear no evil”
What a great witness.
Hezekiah had the courage to remind the Lord of his work, how he had fulfilled his calling, how he had served him faithfully, how he had done what is pleasing before God
Here is a man who has everything to boast about yet so meek and humble. One is forced to wonder why when you posses such rare qualities? The reason is that he knew the Lords purpose for his life. One is forced to look back and ask what really God’s purpose is for our lives are.
"Love your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength”
This is the core of our faith. We sometimes lack in this prerequisite. If we love him with all our heart and soul yet lack strength God will not recognize us. We need all three elements to fulfill our calling.
When we love him unconditionally God will instill within us the power to change the world. The prayers we make will move God to act.
When situations rise against us and we pray God will equip us with not just modern forms of weapons but dangerous and undefeatable weapons. He will rise to defend us. "Those on our side are more than those on their side”.
When we know the Lords purpose for our lives, we make plans in that line. "Making plans is in the heart of man but God directs the steps"
this is where we find ourselves at par with God. We sometimes make plans contrarily to God's purpose. We end up fighting against God. Folks this is the truth, even if we fast 366 days we will never get the desires of our hearts if our plans are not in line with the purpose of God. Hence we should know the purpose before we make plans.
God had a plan first before he created us. “I knew you before I formed thee in the womb. I ordained you to be a prophet”
Someone once said ‘plan proceeds purpose’ and ‘God’s purpose will prevail’
Despite running away from the presence of God, Jonah ended up fulfilling the Lord’s purpose. Knowing the Lord’s purpose made Hezekiah determined
Determination
To move God e need to be determined. Hannah had a situation. Odds were against her that even her enemy had found a reason to despise her. However that did not limit her. She was so determined that God alone could help her so much to the extent that she loaned the child to God before he was there. With tears she prayed for an extra ordinary thing and God answered. Hallelujah
Ruth, yet a foreigner, was so determined and in the end she became the mother of Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Those determined to see an end to a situation will never be put to shame. Hannah discovered this with tears
Tears
You may be surprised as to how much tears you have shed for a problem yet there seems no end to the situation. God said “even your tears have been collected ion a bottle and recorded.”God is moved when we cry. He moves in to comfort us. “Blessed are those who cry for they shall be comforted” that is why he created that place where he said “there will be neither weeping nor sorrow”
God is moved by tears which come from deep within. When the right time comes the spirit will invoke you to shed tears and as much as you want to you will never hold them back. That’s the way of the spirit. He moves the man of patience to cry
Patience
Patience is the will to endure. Business may be falling apart, relationships on the rocks, but does not signal panic buttons to a patient man.
Such was Hezekiah, Misheck, Shaddreck, Abednego, Elijah, Daniel to name but a few.
Having commanded the killing of all the prophets of Baal, Elijah instructed Ahab to eat and prepare “for there is a sound of great waters”. This is demonstration of both power and faith. The sky was blue, not even a speck of clouds but he talks of great waters
Elijah goes on top of the mountain and knelt down to pray. He sends his servant to go over to the sea and watch. The young man brings back the report that nothing could be seen. He told him to go back seven times. Why?
There had not been rain nor dew for three years by the word of Elijah. Then God send him to Ahab because he wanted to bring down rain. Here is the truth unless the land is prepared God will never send down the rain.
Hold on folks, you have been crying for transformation of your lives for so long but unless the ground is ready God will not rain shows of blessings upon your lives. As long as the prophets of Baal lived God did not send the rain by the word of Elijah.
You need to start looking at your life. Remove and prepare your lives for “there is a sound of great waters”
Well the prophets are killed, you have removed the sinful things about your life but still the rain did not come. Elijah had to go on top of the mount. A step in faith. Seven times the servant had to go and check. Why? There was still blood on the land and Elijah knew the importance of patience. He could have folded his hands and wait upon God to fulfill his word. After all it was by God’s word that the rain should come. However he knew he had a part to take in the matter. God wanted him to exercise his patience, while God perfected the land. The number seven is a symbol of perfection. Glory be to God. No matter how much you pray you will not move God until you exercise patience because God has to perfect your life before you can receive the abundant showers of blessings.
On the seventh call the young man told Elijah “I have seen a cloud raising over the sea the size of a fist.” Elijah instructs Ahab to flea with his life. The faith of a patient man whose prayers knows no boundary
Prayer knows no boundary
Physically we might be limited to access certain places but with prayer we can reach any place. I am talking of your very situation. Prayer knows no boundary.
I don’t know what you are going through but I know Jesus Christ who died but lives. He is able to break that situation. All you need to do is tell him for he said “casting your burdens unto him for he cares.”
No folks, we have someone on our side that not only cares but died on the cross “that who so ever believeth in him should not parish but have eternal life” and hanging on the cross he announced “it’s over” your suffering, your diabetic, your unemployment, marital problems, all that he took with him to the cross, liberating us from the forces that once held us. He broke the barriers that prevented us from accessing the abundance of life that is rightfully ours
Pray the prayer of faith and unlock the store house of the treasures of heaven. You don’t need to suffer anymore.
Prayer can change any situation. A heartfelt prayer can move God. The church prayed for Peter when he was in prison and God send an angel to free him.
Let me challenge you now. I know you are going through trying times. At times you don’t sleep. It might be your business, your family, your job place, or whatever it is I bring you Jesus Christ, the resurrected. Through whose wounds we are healed. Tell him your sorrows.
Tell that situation that you an over comer. Challenge the devil and tell him that you are more than a conqueror. He may fight but victory is yours guaranteed. Tell him the relationship you may have shared is over. He has no right to whatsoever to claim power over you. Let him know he belongs under your feet. Claim everything he has robbed you. You have the right to the spoil of the wicked. Take your position. And start smiling for “there is the sound of great waters” coming.
No one can prevent you that from coming because you are on top of the mountain and your enemy is below [under your feet]. Command the very situation to flee. Don’t stop commanding till you have it. Don’t stop prophesying and walk in that faith.
Walking in faith
In concluding I urge you to walk in faith. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and assurance of things not seen.
Having commanded an end to your situation, start walking in that faith. Someone said faith is living tomorrow today. Act as if the situation has been resolved. Stop seeing the situation instead see Jesus. You believe it’s no more and act as that. Believe you have got what you prayed for and indeed it is yours. Start praying prayers that move God.
May the grace of God equip you for his service. Amen
