Theme: Unleashing the Power of Prayer

Topic: Arise Unto Prayer

Psalm 127:1-2
1 Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

The LORD builds the house with the power of His Word and Spirit. You can neither build your house nor keep it, with your own strength and wisdom only. We take several measures to protect ourselves, our families and our property. Society provides security services that work round the clock for our safety. We sometimes obtain guard dogs, wall our houses and purchase guns for protection. Everything of value to us, we build a measure of protection around it. We leave nothing to chance. However, without prayer, these things are done in vain (Psalm 127:1).

By praying, you commit the process of building the house to the LORD. It is more fruitful to rise up early and sit up late to pray than to rise up early and sit up late to work, depending on your own strength. Jesus Christ showed us the example by rising up early to pray (Mathew 1:35). This constant practice was the secret behind His successful ministry. To succeed in life and ministry, you must make a habbit of constant, fervent prayer.

Jesus Christ’s example of a constant prayer life should motivate you to pray. If He needed to pray to have spiritual results and be victorious in warfare, it cannot be different for you. A servant is no greater than His master – if the master prayed, you must pray. You cannot fight the demons that come against you in your own strength. With your own strength, you cannot prevail (1 Samuel 2:9). There is help from above, Jesus Christ is praying for you. There is the need for you to rise up and pray with Him.
Prayer Assignment:
1. Pray that you will receive the grace to have a consistent prayer life.

Scripture Reading: Psalm 127:1-2

Recommended Books:
“Jesus Christ Is Praying for You” by Eastwood Anaba
“All Sufficiency” by Eastwood Anaba
(e-books available at www.amazon.com)

Theme: Unleashing the Power of Prayer

Topic: God Moves Others To Pray For You

Hebrews 4:15-16
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Prayer is the key to relationship with God. It is important to spend time with God in prayer because, prayer strengthens your walk with God. The more you spend time with God, the more you become like Him as you behold His glory. The man Moses spent so much time with God in prayer that “the skin of his face shone” (Exodus 34:29-35). Prayer is the means by which the will of God is done on earth and in your life.

You must pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Although you know the usefulness of prayer and the need to pray, prayer is such a spiritual task that you cannot undertake it alone. Others must pray for and with you. In your moments of infirmity and distress, God stirs up other people to pray for you. A typical example of someone praying for another person is when the believers prayed for the apostle Peter while he was asleep in the prison (Acts 12:1-5).

The apostle Peter, while awaiting a trial to be sentenced to death, was bound with two chains, two soldiers were positioned beside him, prison keepers guarded the door of the prison and he was fast asleep. God answered the believers’ prayer by sending an angel to loose his chains and bring him out of prison (Acts 12:6-8).

Someone is praying for you. There are times in your life when you are under intense pressure, and cannot pray enough. God moves others to pray for you like He did for Peter. It is most exciting to know that apart from the human beings who are praying for you, Jesus Christ is praying for you.

Prayer Assignment:
1. Locate someone you know who has a challenge and pray that God will send help to him or her.

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 4:14-16, Acts 12:1-9

Recommended Books:
“Jesus Christ Is Praying for You” by Eastwood Anaba
“All Sufficiency” by Eastwood Anaba
(e-books available at www.amazon.com)

Theme: Unleashing the Power of Prayer

Topic: That The Body May Be One

Psalm 133:1-3
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Oneness is key to the Body of Christ fulfilling its purpose on earth. Jesus Christ prayed for believers to be one (John 17:9-11,21). Answers to our prayers for spiritual and physical blessings cannot be enjoyed in disunity.

One of the main reasons believers must be one is that if they are blessed with all blessings God gives but are not one, they will use their blessings to destroy one another. There are disturbing divisions in the Body of Christ, which are worse than that which existed when He was on earth. If He prayed for oneness in the Body when He was on earth, He must be praying the same prayer today. We must stop destroying ourselves with our blessings and rather be a source of joy to many (Proverbs 11:10).

Another reason for oneness among believers is that we have different kinds and measures of grace and spiritual gifts which work together to edify the Body of Christ and save a lost world. An individual cannot accomplish Christ’s vision by himself or herself. We must endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. We have several elements of oneness in common – one body, one spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all (Ephesians 4:3-7). These elements of oneness bind the Body of Christ together. We cannot keep using our gifts against one another. They complement each other for the edification of the Body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-12).

The blessings of God build up the Body of Christ when we operate as one body. Unity produces an atmosphere of blessing similar to that which is produced by the dew on mounts Hermon and Zion. Disunity produces an atmosphere that is not conducive to fruitfulness (Psalm 133:1-3).

Prayer Assignment:
1. Pray to God for the heart to forgive even those who have betrayed and hurt you the most.
2. Pray that God will touch the heart of anybody you have hurt to forgive you, when you go to genuinely plead.

Scripture Reading: Psalm 133:1-3, John 17:9 – 21

Recommended Books:
“Jesus Christ Is Praying for You” by Eastwood Anaba
“All Sufficiency” by Eastwood Anaba
(e-books available at www.amazon.com)

Theme: Unleashing the Power of Prayer

Topic: God’s Is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory

Matthew 6:13

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

The scripture verse above tells us that the Kingdom, the power and the glory belong to God forever. If God’s is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, we should be able to forgive. If you recognise the fact that you have no power, glory or kingdom of your own, but that you are enjoying a little of what is God’s, you will humble yourself and forgive others when they offend you.

Forgiveness is the means by which we show that God’s is the Kingdom, the power and the glory. You brought nothing into this world, and it is certain you can take nothing along on your way out (1 Timothy 6:4). When your car causes you to run late because it developed a fault, you forgive the car, call a mechanic to work on it, and you continue to live with your car. Same with the other materials things we pride ourselves in, nevertheless we will leave all these behind. However, it is certain we will go to eternity with other people. Should it not be easier then, to forgive people, work on them and live with them than things?

Unforgiveness causes the Kingdom of God to be weakened and divided (Matthew 12:25). People stop attending church services because they cannot forgive a pastor or a fellow church member. Families are being rent apart because of unforgiveness. This should not be the case – God’s is the Kingdom, not the offender’s. For the sake of the Kingdom, forgive the offender and go back to church, and make it stronger; go back to your family and make the home work again; return to the Kingdom, for God’s is the Kingdom.

Prayer Assignment:

1. Pray to God for a heart that forgives, and for humility to ask for forgiveness when you go wrong.
2. Pray for anyone who has left home, church, etc because of offence, that God will touch their hearts to return.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:9-15

Recommended Books:
“Jesus Christ Is Praying for You” by Eastwood Anaba
“All Sufficiency” by Eastwood Anaba
(e-books available at www.amazon.com)

Theme: Unleashing the Power of Prayer

Topic: Forgiveness Precedes Answer to Prayers

Matthew 6:12
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

In the Lord’s model prayer, forgiveness precedes answer to other prayers such as “lead us not into temptation” and “deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13). It is important that we forgive others if our prayers will not be hindered.

We cannot receive forgiveness if we do not forgive others (Matthew 6:15). Without God’s forgiveness, our prayers are hindered because every act of His grace, mercy and love we receive is based on His forgiveness. Without His forgiveness, we would qualify for nothing (Colossians 1:10-14). Our prayers will yield little results.

Like Apostle Paul confessed about himself, you are who you are by the grace of God (1 Corinthians 15:10). His forgiveness brought you this far. Just as it’s important to forgive others, and seek God’s forgiveness, it’s also necessary we seek forgiveness from those we offend; much more important than offering a gift at the altar (Matthew 5:23).

Has it ever occurred to you that the person you are refusing to speak with could be the one through whom your destiny would be fulfilled? Beloved, do all you can in your power (including forgiving others and receiving forgiveness from others) to live peaceably with all men (Romans 12:17-21).

Prayer Assignment:

1. Pray to God for a heart that forgives, and for humility to ask for forgiveness when you offend others.
2. Pray for the grace to release anyone you are holding something against. Pray for them too.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:9-15

Recommended Books:
“Jesus Christ Is Praying for You” by Eastwood Anaba
“All Sufficiency” by Eastwood Anaba
(e-books available at www.amazon.com)

Theme: Unleashing the Power of Prayer

Topic: Forgive Us Our Debts

Matthew 6:12
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

After the Lord’s model prayer, forgiveness is repeated twice, giving us an idea of how much importance is placed on it by Jesus Christ (Matthew 6:14-15). He taught them to pray for forgiveness even as they forgive others. This implies that forgiving people should be a way of life and not a privilege we grant people – we must keep forgiving people.

One day Apostle Peter asked Jesus Christ if it was okay to forgive a person seven times and probably, seek vengeance after. The Lord on the other hand told him he had to forgive seventy times seven times – there is no limit to forgiveness (Matthew 18:21-22). Forgive as many times as you are offended – this is Christianity.

Go all out to forgive. Jesus Christ taught that we should not wait for an offender to come and plead for forgiveness before we forgive him or her. He said the offended person should approach the offender, and do everything possible to forgive the offender (Matthew 18:15-17). This is how radical we should be towards forgiving others.

Quite strangely, people who have enjoyed great mercy from others, refuse to forgive when offended (Matthew 18:23-35). What kind of sin are you attacking people for that you have not committed before? Stop holding people’s sins against them. Release them and let them go.

Prayer Assignment:
1. Pray to God for a heart that forgives.
2. Pray for the grace to release anyone you are holding something against. Pray for them too.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 18:21-35

Recommended Books:
“Jesus Christ Is Praying for You” by Eastwood Anaba
“The Millennium Pages of Love” by Eastwood Anaba
(e-books available at www.amazon.com)

Theme: Unleashing the Power of Prayer

Topic: Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

Matthew 6:11
Give us this day our daily bread.

The present-day ministry of Jesus Christ is the ministry of prayer or intercession (Hebrews 7:25). The sinless Son of God is before the Father interceding for us. We are not told exactly what He is praying about. It is however possible He is praying along the lines of the model prayer He taught His disciples (Matthew 6:9-13). He is praying to the Father to give you your daily bread.

Daily bread does not come by complaining, weeping, or even working hard (Ecclesiastes 9:11). It takes God for you to have daily bread (2 Corinthians 9:9-11). He will provide for you daily. Stop doubting God’s faithfulness to provide for you because another person seemed not to have received provision from God. Their testimony is not the Word of God. Jesus Christ is praying for your provision.

Request for your provision daily (Matthew 7:7-11). God has all you need. He knows how to connect you to the person carrying your miracle (Psalm 23:1). Jehovah hears you when you pray, and He hears you praying through Jesus Christ. He always answers Jesus Christ’s prayer (John 11:42). Jesus Christ is praying for your daily provision.

Prayer Assignment:

1. Always thank God for the provisions of the past.
2. Always say a prayer for someone who needs provision, and share yours with them if possible.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:9-13

Recommended Books:
“Jesus Christ Is Praying for You” by Eastwood Anaba
“The Millennium Pages of Love” by Eastwood Anaba
(e-books available at www.amazon.com)