PRAYER AND FASTING EMPOWERS FOR DOMINION – Living Faith Church Ekpan Delta State

Prophetic Focus: PRAYER AND FASTING EMPOWERS FOR DOMINION – Isaiah 58:6-14.

By: Pastor Adeniyi Alabi (Resident Pastor).

It is important to pray because God asks us to pray Jer. 33:3 but after praying it is important to receive an answer and to also know when one’s prayer has been answered. We have a scenario in Acts 12:10- where the church was praying for the release of Peter from jail and God answered the prayer but they had doubts about it until they saw him.

Every time we pray, we obtain mercy from God Heb. 4:16. We see how David prayed for divine intervention and God answered him instantly 1 Sam. 30:8-9, 2 Sam. 5:18-25. Every time we pray and we are sensitive enough to receive an answer, God sends us answers. God has ordained that anytime we call upon Him, we receive an answer Matt. 7:7-8 and as a matter of fact, God has assured us that before we finish praying, He will answer Isa. 65:24, and that He will give us more than we can ask or think Eph. 3:20.

There are certain things we need to put in place after we have prayed to know when our prayers have been answered. These include the following:

1. We must have prayed from our heart Jer. 29:13. Many pray and don’t receive answers because their heart is not there. God searches the heart and when He finds it in your heart, He puts it in your hand. Elijah prayed and received answer to his prayers because his heart was in it James 5:18-19. Hannah prayed and no one could hear what she was saying but her heart was connected and God answered her.

2. We must pray according to His will. The word of God is His will. God is not moved by our tears but by His word and that is why He asked us to put Him in remembrance of His word on every issue Isa. 43:26. God hears us when we ask anything according to His will and grants us our request 1 Jn. 5:14-15.

3. When we have prayed in faith and not in fear Matt. 21:22, Mk. 11:24. This is why Paul gave them counsel in Heb. 10:23 to hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering.

4. When we have prayed in the name of Jesus Jn. 14:12-14. The name of Jesus is not a full stop in prayer. It is the seal that releases the miracle to us. Heaven puts approval the moment you pray in the name of Jesus Prov. 18:10. Every time you call upon the name of Jesus, heaven guarantees the answer to your prayers. The name of Jesus is like when your boss in the office approves a request for payment, the finance/account department must release the funds. The name of Jesus is a strong tower that we run into and are saved. We are entitled to that name and all the power it carries as long as you are redeemed Jn. 16:23.

5. When we have prayed without offences in our hearts. This is when we have prayed without being offended in God. Some treat God as their earthly parents or siblings or acquaintance that they get offended with when they don’t behave in the way they desire. If you are offended with God, you effectively block your heavens Lk. 17:4. Many are offended when they think they are experiencing delay in the answers to their prayers. There is a blessing in not getting offended with God Matt. 11:6. When you are offended with God, it gives room to the destroyer to enter your life.1 Cor. 10:10. Our God is a good God that does not do evil Job 34:10, so He is not against you. He always wants good things for us, so don’t be offended in Him. If there are little delays, relax and keep at the good things you are doing and he will prove Himself faithful.

6. When you have peace concerning that matter. When peace rules your mind and your heart Phil. 4:6-7, Heb. 4:3.

7. When the Holy Spirit bears witness with your spirit that your prayers have been answered Rom. 8:26. The Holy Spirit is our helper and He helps us to know when we have prayed and received answers Rom. 8:16. The Holy Spirit is our helper, comforter and intercessor. He takes our issues to God when we pray in the Holy Ghost.

The Holy spirit strengthens our faith from the realm of asking and asking to the point of doing and doing. God’s word says there is a time for seed sowing and a time for harvest Gen. 8:22. Prayer time is the time of seed sowing. One must wait for the season of harvest after praying. The trick of the enemy is to push people into murmuring before the season of harvest arrives. Abraham received the promise of Isaac at age 75 but the manifestation came at age 100, so he waited for 25 years but he remained steadfast in faith Rom. 4:20-21. There is no issue that is hard for God to handle. The reason why we have some delays here and there is because of our unbelief.

What we must do in the time we are expecting answers from God to our prayers is to keep giving glory to God and don’t stop doing so 1 Thess. 5:18., Heb. 10:36-38. Don’t complain about that issue you are waiting for an answer from God for, don’t complain, just keep saying that God has done it Gal. 6:9. Your due season is not when you need it, it is when you are due for it. You are due when you are matured in the faith. Then also keep going out for soul winning endeavours Jn. 15:15-16, Mk. 16:20. This is what guarantees answers to prayers.

The only hindrance to answers to your prayers is when you are not on good terms with your helper Psa. 66:18. So, to begin to receive answers to your prayers, you must get on good terms with your helper by giving your life to Christ today if you have not done so before, or if you have done so before and then went back on the faith or if you are not sure of your salvation. As you give your life to Jesus today, you get on the right path with Him and your prayers will begin to receive speedy answers.

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** THE COMPLETE VERSION OF THIS MESSAGE IN CD/MP3 AND DVD FORMAT IS AVAILABLE AT THE DOMINION BOOKSHOP (DBS), LFC, EKPAN.