Pray for your Jerusalem

Tuesday 10 October
READ: Psa. 122 :6 
MORE LESSON:  Psa. 122:1-9

The words in our anchor text are words of instruction and divine command; not mere advice or just another suggestion. In fact, the verse attaches a blessing to those who fulfil the condition. There is a level of prosperity exclusively reserved by God for those who love their Jerusalem enough to pray for her. God is sensitive and personal with those who love what He loves. Jerusalem is God's own land. It is the city of David and the centre of the many covenants God has with the Commonwealth of Israel. This is a powerful key to unlocking God's treasure chests of abundance.

There are both demographic and spiritual implications of Jerusalem as used in this scripture. Firstly, the demographic and literal sense of the word relates to God’s special love for the Jewish race. It also refers to Jerusalem as the centre of the Jewish nation because of God’s covenant with Abraham through David, and perfected in Jesus Christ. This places a responsibility on people of all races who share in the blessing of Abraham through redemption by the Blood of Jesus to love and pray for the Jewish nation and it's precious people. Secondly, the word has spiritual and figurative implications because the land where you live is your Jerusalem. The local assembly you fellowship with is your Jerusalem. The village, home and family you come from are as Jerusalem is to the Jewish people.

God expects us to mature in our prayer culture and quit praying only for ourselves and our needs. Pray for the land, the church and the people of your nativity. There are many reasons to watch and read both national and international news. Some people watch television just to complain about what the government has or has not done. Others watch the daily news only to fall into depression over the bad value of their currency in the stock exchange market or the recent news of terrorist attacks and the devastation they are wrecking all over the world. But there is another kind of people who have understanding of this scripture and watch the news to gather prayer points and prophetic declarations for their Jerusalem.

Gossiping about the leadership of your local church, rather than praying for it, is not the way to prosper. Being the dishonest, rebellious and a trouble shooter in the family is not going to bring prosperity. It will only attract woes and calamity. The sure way to prosper according to God, is to pray  for, not complain about your Jerusalem. Where is your Jerusalem? And what are you doing about the peace thereof, praying or complaining.?

Prayer/Action
*Ask God to show you mercy for ignorantly complaining and being complacent about praying for the peace of your Jerusalem.
* Stretch your hands and decree peace over the city of Jerusalem, your nation and local church.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
This month I will not labour in vain, my effort will yield positive results, I shall not work for another to consume, in the name of Jesus.

Using the Name of Jesus II

Monday 9 October
READ: Prov. 18:10
MORE LESSON:  Col. 3:16-17

The phrase, ‘in the Name of Jesus’ is not just a theological recitation to punctuate prayer or a church cliche to make people feel good. The Name of Jesus is not a magic word you hurriedly call out to for safety, at the slightest surprise or incident. The Name of Jesus is not the name of another prophet or good man of some high religious pedigree. The Name of Jesus is a place in the spirit. It is a place of authority and spiritual government, and our anchor text plainly confirms it. It says that in righteousness, we can run to the Name of the Lord and find safety. What does that mean? If you ponder a little more on our conclusion from the first part of yesterday’s study, you will find the answer. The Name of Jesus is the Authority of Jesus, therefore, running to the Name of the Lord Jesus is placing a demand on the Authority of the Name of Jesus in times of trouble. This is as a soldier would run to a strong tower during a fire threat at the war front.

Don't wait for things to happen when you have the power to dictate what happens by using the Name of Jesus. Run to the Name of Jesus! Go for it! Don't make the Name of Jesus an alternative. Those who run to the Name of Jesus will find all that they need in the Name of Jesus. To use that name is to deploy, to engage, to activate or commit the power of Jesus to work. This is important because the power and value of the Name of Jesus is not only determined by the owner of the name but also by the user of the name. This is what makes one Christian different from the other. The Name of Jesus on your lips will only be as potent as your relationship with Jesus is, because delegated authority feeds on relationships.

In the same way that you cannot go to an occasion in the name of someone you do not know; it would be impersonation and sheer deceit to use the Name of Jesus when you have no working relationship with Him. This is the reason why many ‘Christians’ go about powerless even though they call the Name of Jesus all the time. God gave us the Name of Jesus to live by. From the Cross of Calvary to the end of time, the devil and his cohorts will never forget the colossal power in the Name of Jesus. So every time you come face to face with darkness, boldly and with full conviction in your heart, relentlessly use the Name of Jesus.

Prayer/Action
*Decree that you are set free from any form of demonic oppression by the divine power in the Name of Jesus
*Ask the Lord for grace to be more intimate with Jesus and stronger in authority over life circumstances.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, I refuse to be a victim of evil circumstances this month, in the name of Jesus.

Using the Name of Jesus I

Sunday 8 October
READ: Jn. 20:31
MORE LESSON:  Acts 3:1-9

It's impossible to measure the value of spiritual power wrapped up in the Name of Jesus. Every believer in Jesus Christ has access to unlimited advantages as well as dominion over all the works of the enemy simply by invoking the power in the Name of Jesus of Nazareth, Son of the Living God. God honours the Name of Jesus. A revelation of the true power in the Name of Jesus will bring an end to demonic oppression and manipulation in the lives of men. The real superman is not the one in Hollywood, wearing a fancy red and blue cape. He is the Christian who knows how to use the Name of Jesus.

The real spiritual kings and nobles of the earth today are not those who live in palaces and state houses, but those who have gained mastery of the Name of Jesus by revelation and use. Getting hold of the power in the Name of Jesus and using it to change our world requires that we embrace a few basic truths.

First, we must believe in the Person, ministry and finished works of Jesus with all our hearts. It must be settled in our spirit that Jesus is the Only Begotten Son of God, born of a virgin, who lived a sinless life, while He walked the earth doing miracles and wonders. We must also believe that He died on the Cross of Calvary for the redemption from sin of mankind; and that He went  down into hell, disarmed the devil of all his power, and God raised Him up from the dead on the third day. Also believe that He ascended up into the clouds to the tabernacle of God in Heaven and purged it with His precious Blood. He is now seated on the right hand of the throne of God in Heaven, with all power over Satan, sin, hell and the grave.

Secondly, we must understand that the Name of Jesus is synonymous with the Person of Jesus. All the power of Jesus is conferred on His name. It's common knowledge that you cannot separate a man from his name. When a name is called, it is the person who bares the name that responds. Simply put, the Name of Jesus is given to the Christian with the assurance that using the name will produce the same responses and results that Jesus desires from that life. Use the Name of Jesus repeatedly and consistently. Don't stop using it until you emerge victorious. There is no defeat for those who use the Name of Jesus. The world is about to be shaken and turned upside down again as it was in the days of old through men and women, boys and girls who will use the Name of Jesus with conviction and confidence.

Prayer/Action
*Ask God for full revelation of the unlimited advantages of the Name of Jesus.
*Declare that as you use the Name of Jesus, the impossible will become possible.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Any evil plantation in any part of creation targeted against me, be uprooted now, in the name of Jesus.

Anchor for Life

Saturday 7 October
READ: Heb. 6:9-20 
MORE LESSON:  Isa. 42:5-7

A boy was standing beside his father at a sea shore. He saw some empty boats on the water at the shore and wondered why they were left there. He turned to his father and asked, “Where are the owners of these boats? Don't they think the waves of the sea could carry them away?” His father replied, “No, my son, the boats are properly anchored”. While the boy was wondering what an anchor for a boat looks like and how it keeps the boat stationary on the water, another boat pulled up at the shore and the boy saw the fisherman lower a metal bar tied with a rope to his boat into the water. His father said, “There he goes, anchoring the boat! With that metal inside the water, the boat cannot be dragged away by the waves of the sea”. While the boy was still pondering how the anchor works, a huge wave came tumbling over the boats. He watched in amazement, and after a minute or two, the sea was calm, and all the boats were in place. 

Life sometimes can be like a boat at the sea shore beaten by waves occasioned by the problems of life. These waves have no respect for age, title, status, religion or culture. Just as boats and ships at the sea shore are able to stand the waves because they are anchored; you are able to withstand the problems of life only when you have an anchor. Without a life anchor you will be carried away by the waves and storms of life. The truth is that many lives are being carried away by terrible life's waves and storms because they have no anchor.

Friend, who is your anchor? Do you know Jesus Christ? Do you have trust in His Word? He is the only sure and steadfast anchor for life, as it is written, That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec: Heb. 6:18-20. Stay with Jesus today, and keep His commandments, and enjoy the promise, ...whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: Matt. 7:24-25. God the Father also promised, When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee: Isa. 43:2. Since it is impossible for God to lie, we can receive these promises as a sure anchor for our soul in the midst of life storms.

Prayer/Action
* Ask the Lord to release His word which is the anchor for your soul, in the mighty name of Jesus.
*Pray that the storms of life will not prevail over you, in Jesus’ name.
*Ask God to go with you on your journey of life, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, make me a symbol of strength and blessedness wherever I go this month, in the name of Jesus.