By Rev. Michael Mwangi
Senior Pastor, Fedha Church KAG
Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”
There are many things that we can do to make a difference and shine in our lives. But nothing can equal prayers.
Prayers unlock the heavens and bring showers of blessings into our lives. Before you achieve or solve things physically, always start in the spiritual dimension.
Our priority number one
If this year we are going to make a difference, the surest way is by arising in prayers. What we see in the physical is always a manifestation of the spiritual realm. Therefore we must tackle things in the spiritual realm to bring changes in the physical realm and hence make a difference.
All you need to make a difference is already there in the spiritual realm. Prayers reach the spiritual realm and bring these blessings into the physical realm
Ephesians 1:3
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Prayer is the only avenue to connect us to the spiritual realm
Prayers must become a personal responsibility
Anyone who desires to see a difference must rise in prayers personally. Many people want to be prayed for and give sacrifice but we must be ready now to pay the price and sacrifice personally to make a difference.
Biblical examples
The word of God gives us classic examples of men and women whose lives seemed like their fate had been sealed never to shine. But they rose in prayer personally and made a difference in their lives.
1 Samuel 1:9.
Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s house.
Hannah endured barrenness and endless shame for years. She desperately desired to experience the joy of holding a child without avail. Year after year, things remained the same as he depended on the prayers of the priest. Alibaki pale pale na kuishi vile vile (He (Elkanah) remained the same way).
Some of us are in the same place as Hannah. On this occasion, she took the matter into her hands and rose in prayers and that's what made a difference. She understood hii maombi ya kutumana hainisaidii wacha nijitume mwenyewe. (Asking other people to pray for me is not working, let me pray for myself). When she rose ... she got her miracle. That's what's made difference in her life. This year nilazima tujitume katika maombi ( we shall pray for ourselves).
Some of us are really blessed. It is only that we have slumbered in prayers. Our miracles are just a prayer or a prayer and fasting away. Some people here have never taken some good, serious time out in prayers personally. They only do it during church programs. I challenge you this year as an individual or family mujitume maombi wenyewe (pray for yourselves). Sio ile yakutumwa na kanisa (not the kind that the church has on the programme).
Some of you are very good at giving special offerings but God wants to encounter you, not your gift. Your presence and not your present is what will make a difference.
It's unfortunate Elkanah( Hannah's husband) instead of rising in prayers, rose in action and got another wife to have children and take his reproach away. He solved one problem but added more problems and troubles in his home. He could have risen in prayers like Isaac who was in the same situation for twenty years. Isaac rose in prayer and got a double jackpot.
Genesis 25:20.
and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram and sister of Laban the Aramean.
21. Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.
Rebecca remained barren for twenty years. Isaac remained fatherless for the same period until he rose in prayer. That's what made a difference and shined with twins.
Jabez rose in prayers
One of the remarkable stories of change in life is that of Jabez, it is a result of the prayer of Jabez.
According to 1 Chronicles 4:10-12, Jabez endured pain and limitations due to her name. He lived in that agony desiring a change for the better but no change came. One day he rose and shone in prayers and his shame changed into honour.
He did not even change his name but in serious prayers, he addressed the root cause of his problem. He addressed the spiritual realm and wiped out his physical pain, struggles and shame. He became honorable.
We must understand that most problems and battles must be worn in the spirit for us to see victory in the physical. Otherwise, we can put in a lot of effort and hard work without any tangible results.
There are many issues we see with our loved ones that we don't like and instead of fighting them and attacking them, we need to fight for them through serious persistence prayer, and fasting. They are slaves in spiritual bondage. No matter how much you fight a man bound with immorality you can never win him with a war of words. Ni ujutume maombi afunguliwe (Pray on your own until he is set free).
Prayer is a spiritual weapon that works to turn spiritual matters into physical reality.
Prayer is work but prayer works.
Prayers and fasting are even harder but work first and effectively.
Prayers are warfare but win battles and give victory.
Unless you rise in prayers and step up in fasting your star will remain dim.
Your situation is bound to remain unchanged as you struggle on that level
According to Matthew 17: 21, certain demons don't go except by prayer and fasting.
Some demons are territorial and others sit at certain doors and gates. You can not go beyond certain levels in your families or you are all affected by a certain issue. Only prayer and fasting can give you Leeway to escape their control.
Let's rise in prayers 2023 and experience the next level.
Conclusion
James 5: 13
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.
14. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.
15. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.
16. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
17. 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.
18. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
Comments
Post a Comment