PUTTING THE NAME OF THE LORD TO WORK

Prov. 18:10 says “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” The strong tower is not a place but a name- the name of the Lord Jesus. The righteous will find safety from destruction, satanic harassment, safety from failure, reproach, setback and devastation only in the name of the Lord.

A name is an identity. When you call a person by name, you recall all there is to that person. When you talk about the name of the Lord, it implies authority, rank, character, power, majesty and excellence. For example, if you went to purchase a product, you immediately want to know what brand it is because the brand name determines the value you will place on it.

In these times of uncertainty, it is only in the name of the Lord you can find safety. But, how do you run into the name?

In Acts 4:31, the high priests recognized and understood the power in the name of Jesus that they “straitly threaten them and commanded them not to speak henceforth to no man in this name. And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus…” But the Apostles had a revelation of the name of Jesus when they responded by saying, “there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12. See also Rom.10:13).

Salvation is more than just becoming born again. Salvation is a total complete package of deliverance all round. That is, deliverance in your home, business, marriage, finances etc. Consequently, you cannot gain deliverance, freedom and total liberty in any area satan has harassed or caged you in no other name but in the name of Jesus. Any prayer that is not stamped in the name of Jesus, were just words rehearsed.

The reward God the Father gave to Jesus for the work of redemption is that name. You run into the ‘strong tower’ by calling upon the name of Jesus, but the calling is with a heart of conviction and understanding that the name will work for you. Jesus becomes responsible when you call Him into any issue. It is only in the name of Jesus that everything about you can be kept and preserved.

In the Old Testament, the covenant people only enjoyed a glimpse of the dimensions of the Lord per time, but the beauty of the New Testament is that all the dimensions of God is packaged in one and handed to us in Jesus. Every knee, tongue, sicknesses will bow to the name of Jesus. Your circumstances/situations all have a name and they will bow to the name of Jesus.

The name of Jesus was given and it can be taken. We are co-partakers of all that Jesus inherited. We are joint heirs with Him. Jesus declared that all that the Father had given Him; He kept in His name. So whatever is lost now is due to the fact that you refused to keep it. John 17:12.

In order to keep all that God has given us, it must be kept in the name of the Lord. So begin to use the name of the Lord in every issue, matter and situation and watch the Lord go to work.

SELF– Hindrance To The Great Commission

Today, God is looking for men and women who will forget themselves, their needs and desires and go after His own need and watch Him bring their needs to pass. The main thrust of the kingdom is still “go ye into all the nations and preach the gospel.” The great commission has not changed.

The only reason you’re on earth after you got saved is so that through you many more will come to Him and know Him. There are people who have never heard the name of Jesus, meanwhile, satan is doing a quick job of sending men to hell, but God wants men in the field and all He’s asking is that you reach out and tell someone that Jesus is alive and died because of him/her. It is not about you coming to church, but you are in church to get equipped in order for you to live, as God wants you to and become an example to your world. The church is not for God to meet your needs, they've been met already.

If you are not bringing men to the kingdom, you’re wasting away and living a wasted life. “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses…” (Acts 1:8) The reason for the Holy Ghost is not just for speaking in tongues or for causing commotion in the camp of the enemy. Yes! He does all of that, but it is to give us boldness, to energize us to become witnesses?

Who is a witness? A witness is one who produces proof. It is one who gives evidence that Jesus is alive. The value of your life is your kingdom worth; the value upon your life is how much you can forget yourself and go out and reach somebody by first getting the person saved and then come into the knowledge of the truth of God’s word.

How many of you have really suffered anything for the word of God? (See Paul’s account in 2 Cor.11:23-26, read book on The Heavenly Man). You have not yet resisted unto blood. (Heb.12:4) Anyway, God is not even calling you to suffer and shed your blood; all He’s asking is that, you should forget yourself and talk about Him.

The major reason we’re not reaching out is SELF. It isn’t as if you planned it but the cares of this world, the normal challenges of the everyday life has distracted you from the main reason you are alive. Paul declared, “For me to live is Christ to die is gain.” But for most of us, it is, “for me to live is me, so that all the goodness of God will be seen in my life.”

Matt 6:19 says you’re to “take no thought…” but rather “seek ye first the kingdom of God…” Every excuse we give is centered on Me, Myself and I. (See the account in Matt.22:1-5). Self has to die. The reason God wants us comfortable is so that we can think more of Him and about His business.

The sign that you are wise is that you’re turning many to righteousness. That’s wisdom, that’s the way to shine (Dan.12:3) and it may just start with you encouraging somebody. The Philippian church was in deep poverty but they gave.

Sometimes also, we may be feeling as if we've not measured up to the stature of Christ and you know satan is the accuser of the brethren, he’ll come and tell you that you’re not good enough to talk/preach the gospel, but the ministry of reconciliation is not about SELF. It isn't about doing things at your convenience but there is a sacrifice you must make to obey God, discipline yourself in the faith so you can rise up and talk when you have to talk.

Paul declared, “I put my body under…” 1 Cor.9:27. There’s a discipline of your faith as a believer. You must make up your mind to follow God. There’s no higher calling than to do the reason for which He came to die. Paul pressed, we also must press.

Hebrews 12:1-3 admonishes that you should lay aside every weight, everything that will stop you on the track. The race is for the kingdom and you are to carry along everyone you meet on the way. It is not how much you have in your bank account, or how much clothes you have, but it is in how many are coming into the kingdom. Whatever is a weight should be put aside and seek ye first the kingdom; seek the kingdom way of doing things, the establishment of the kingdom, the purpose of the kingdom etc. Do not allow SELF to become a hindrance to preaching the word.

Philemon 6 says, “I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.” (NIV)

The knowing and understanding and the experience of all that is in Christ is in sharing your faith.

LABOURERS FOR THE HARVEST

“And Jesus went about all the cities and villages teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:35-38

Truly, the nations are ripe and the doors are wide open. The hearts of men are really fainting because of the unfolding events or happenings, failing predictions, surprises, and the unexpected are the order of the day – politically, economically, geographically etc. the harvest is plenteous and opportunities abound to bring in the harvest. However, in the midst of all these, something is obvious, we are either not seeing the opportunities or we lack the will to pay the price. Before I come back to how our eyes can be opened to the opportunities or have the will to pay the price, let me elaborate more on the PLENTEOUS HARVEST and OPPORTUNITIES.

China and India accounts for one third of the present world population from recent records. That is a really big fraction, and they have little or no gospel influence, vast majority know nothing about JESUS, by the time you add that to the vast number of unbelievers in other parts of the world, you can imagine the mass population heading for hell. This becomes very frightening when you know that the world’s population is increasing at an alarming rate present. There is no nation or continent in the earth that is not experiencing population increase.

Our present challenge as a church is that, we have refused to become flexible in the hands of God. While we are still relying on the conventional pattern to bring in the harvest, satan has almost successfully caged it. God is counting on the unconventional and new strategies to bring in the harvest. This is war, so there must be constant upgrading of strategy. Is it any coincidence that the two most populous nations in the world are presently one of, if not the two most travelled nations in the world presently?

China, for instance is attracting the world to it through its trade, innovations and their experts are being sought out all over the world. It’s regarded as the No.1 export nation in the world of goods and man power.

India is now a place people go for medical attention, further studies. Growing up, Paris used to be the place for holiday, now DUBAI in the United Arab Emirate, has taken over for ‘holiday makers’, shopping etc. That’s the zone that poses the stiffest opposition to the gospel, yet a free trade zone. The whole world is now a global village, there’s hardly any part of the world you cannot travel to for one reason or the other by air, water and in some cases, road and the internet connects you with the world, in addition, telephone services have being made a lot easier.

These openings and connections are divine and they are for us to take advantage of for kingdom advancement. The days of conventional missionary activities cannot get the job done, every member of the body must arise with a SENT MENTALITY and through every opportunity to connect and enter, be the light that will shatter the darkness by the wisdom and power of God, turn hearts from darkness to light, from the power of satan to God. (Mk. 16:15, Acts 26:18)

Back to where I left off initially, the opportunities abound far more than what I have highlighted, we can’t see unless our inner eyes are opened, the task of bringing these harvests is not for weaklings, babies but labourers. Labour is not for children but men. The Lord turned to His disciples (CHURCH) not the government, Politicians etc and said we need much labourers not church goers, members but LABOURERS for these plenteous harvest. Why LABOURERS? It is because, to bring in the harvest is work and He gave a clear prescription on how to recruit the labourers. He said to His disciples (church) pray to the Lord of the harvest. So, if this plenteous harvest will not waste, the solution and take off point is PRAYERS.

However, Jesus did not only clearly state that the real need for the harvest were labourers but that the labourers (men, workers, toiler, teacher) are few, small etc. that is,

• Many professing Christians but very few with a clear sense of purpose and responsibility
• Many people but few workers with the vision of God and committed to the vision
• The work on ground, bringing in the harvest is not for a select few but for MUCH, MANY, ALL because the harvest is MUCH, PLENTEOUS, GREAT. Everyone, part of the body has a vital role to play. It is for strong and determined labourers, not weaklings.

If Jesus’ prescription is PRAYERS, then you can be sure that satan will fight us from praying through other activities, distractions, weariness, lukewarmness etc (Mk.4:15) or even when we pray, we pray the wrong prayers for the wrong reasons. We must however note that anything of God that will last and stand the test of time must be birthed and sustained in PRAYERS. For example, STRONG MEN (Matt.9:38), WORD (Acts 6:4), PRAISES (Acts 16:25, 2 Chron.20).

Only Him, the Lord of the harvest can send forth (force out, thrust out) labourers by ENVISIONING and EMPOWERING them and as such, we must rise up to His call to pray which means it’s His desire to but without us asking Him, He won’t (that’s serious, what a connection, responsibility). For this kind of prayers to be effective, they are usually

• Corporate: Ps.110:3 (thy people) Acts 2:1
• United- One accord: Acts 2:1, Ps. 133:1-3
• Fervent- Extremely hot, intense
• Focused: Clear direction
• Consistent: Maintain momentum
• Continual: without ceasing, stop or interruption

Actually, from scriptural research, I discovered that Prayers that have always turned a generation to God, cause revival, reawakening etc also had these characteristics.

Scriptural references – Joel 2:15-18, 2 Chron. 20, Acts 1:14; 2:1, 12:5-12

It’s time for the body of Christ (corporately, individually) to rise up to the burden of her head and honour His call to pray. We should be actively at work on this assignment now with a great sense of urgency. It should become our LIFE MISSION. He is not just the head but also Lord (Master) of the church. 

See the vision of His church.

“Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon my altar, for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.” Is.56:7

But see what we turned it to;

“And said unto them, it is written, my house shall be called the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves.” Matt.21:13

We must remember He said;

“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come.” Matt.24:14

Without our actively and continually praying His prayer request, that cannot be fulfilled.

LORD OF THE HARVEST, SEND FORTH BY THE HOLY GHOST LABOURERS INTO THE HARVEST IN JESUS’ NAME.

MARANATHA!

THIS DAY

“Can two walk together except they be agreed?” Amos 3:3.

Can two walk together if they are not in agreement, nor thinking the same thing? Is it possible to be of God and not bother about how God feels and what He’s thinking, what His agenda is? When we are thinking differently and acting differently, it shows we are not together.

This is our day, it is also the day of the Holy Spirit, who is the God-Head on the earth right now. The Father is on the throne, Jesus is at His right hand making intercessions, while the Holy Spirit is here on the earth. You have to know that the Holy Spirit is not inferior.  They are all equal in the God-head in authority, relevance, they only differ in function. He does not work/walk contrary to the Father. They have the same mindset and heart.

How Does God think?

“Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy Father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee… And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” Gen. 12:1-3 (Emphasis mine)

“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Mt.24:3,14 (Emphasis mine)

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of  the earth.” Acts 1:8 (Emphasis mine)

From these verses of scriptures, we get to understand that God thinks globally and not locally. He let Abraham know that what He was starting with him, will not end with him but will involve everyone on the earth. We cannot partner with God if we are not thinking like Him. The Apostles started from Jerusalem but it didn’t end there. They were commanded to go further. As the Father (God), He expresses His desire of reaching the nations, the world, As the Son (Jesus), He also expressed this desire and as the Holy Spirit, this desire is still expressed.

Why is God thinking globally? Why does He have this mentality?

Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fullness thereof, the world and they that dwell therein.” God is determined to get back what he had initially entrusted into the hands of man. You see, man was originally made in the image and likeness of God until he fell, but Jesus came to restore man back to that order – the original plan.

God’s desire is that every part be touched. That’s a global mentality. The question now is why is God particular about the earth? The nations? (People group, tribes or geographical boundary) The world (Every sphere of human operations, business, academic etc) What is God’s mind full of?

“What is man that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him?” Ps.8:4

Literally, this verse is asking, “what is so special about man that your mind is full about the thought of him?” So, what is God’s desire? What is His wish?

“I exhort therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made  for all men… who will have all to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Tim.2:1-4

When God looks at humanity, His desire is that they will be saved. God does not need to come down to do it, He has made provision for it to be done.

In Psalm 2:8, God is telling us to ask of Him, to make our requests known to Him. However, this asking is at the point whereby one is abiding in Him, so that when one is asking, He is sanctioning it. (See Ps.22:27-28, 2 Pt.3:9)

While the heart cry of God is that all should come to the knowledge of the truth, satan’s desire is to have as many go to hell. Whose side are you on? God is not slack, He’s not weak, He can come at anytime but there’s something too precious that is holding Him, and that is the souls of men. His desire is to give everyone an opportunity to be saved and to come to Him.

As a child of God, you should be bothered to know what’s in the heart of God. His heart cry should be yours also. No matter the denomination or ministry we claim to belong, if this desire of God (the salvation of all men) is not being executed and accomplished, then, it is not of God.

“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few, pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” Mt.9:36-38.

The harvest of the souls of men needs labourers, not collectors or bench warmers. A labourer is worthy of his wage if he’s doing what he’s supposed to do. A labourer does not work in isolation but is part of a team. God is pained that majority are under the hold of satan. God is desirous of labourers who will partner with the Spirit to bring this about. This labour to bring in the harvest is not one of physical means, it is spiritual. It won’t come about by physical strength but by God’s power.

“Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” Zech.4:6

It is so common these days to find people who are born again but not filled with the Spirit. In the Acts of Apostles, the first question one is asked after getting born again is “are you filled with the Holy Ghost?” and not which church do you attend?

The ministry of the Holy Ghost has been in existence right from the book of Genesis. He has been actively in operation but after Jesus came and finished his work and it was time for Him to ascend to heaven, He began to shift the focus of the disciples to the coming of the Holy spirit. He enjoined them to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

“…And being assembled together with them, commanded them that they  should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:4-5,8

What makes the Holy Spirit very unique is that He comes with power. And if you believe in Jesus, you will believe in the Holy Spirit because He is the God-Head on the earth right now desiring to fill men with His power. It is our day. It is not the day of the ‘Daniels’, not the day of the ‘Finis Dakes’, the ‘Idahosas’. It is not the day of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. It is our day and the day of the Holy Ghost.

The Holy Ghost needs vessels to manifest through, available instruments. If the church will be saved and accomplish God’s mandate, she must recognize the person, relevance and activities of the Holy Spirit. We must give the Holy Spirit His place. He is the one that will lead and show us the way. Everything the Apostles wrought in the church was by the help of the Holy Spirit. Even in the beginning, every word that God spoke came to be because of the Holy Spirit. The disciples were nothing without Jesus and when He was to depart, He told them He would send ‘Another’ to take His place. The Holy Ghost has come and is here but He cannot do beyond the extent to which we invite Him and surrender to Him. It is only as we surrender to Him that we will begin to see the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. He is received and not imposed. The word receive means “to admit somebody, to hear and acknowledge something, relate with something, acquire something, get something.”

“Now it’s time to change your ways! Turn to face God so he can wipe away your sins, pour our showers of blessing to refresh you, and send you the Messiah he prepared for you, namely, Jesus. For the time being he must remain out of sight in heaven until everything is restored to order again just the way God, through the preaching of his holy prophets of old, said it would be.” Acts 3:21 (Message)

What was at work in Adam when he gave names to all creatures?  What came upon Abraham that at the age of 99, he impregnated Sarah? What came upon Samson that he rooted out the gates of a city? What about Gideon and his 300 men? What about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego? What about Archbishop Benson Idahosa, Babalola? It was the Holy Ghost! Do you think it was because God loved them so much? No! it was because they yielded.

In the day of his power, his people shall be willing. The Holy Ghost is looking for a people. We live in an arena of warfare and we will be ill-equipped without the Holy Ghost.

The whole purpose of the ‘Power’ of the Holy Spirit at work in us, is so that we will be witnesses.

“But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8

A witness is one who testifies of what he hears and sees. So beyond praying in tongues, the Holy Ghost makes you see and hear what ordinarily you couldn’t have seen and heard.

The mandate is an heavenly one and has a global scope. Your witnessing is to the ends of the earth, however, your Jerusalem (where you are) must not be neglected. It does not necessarily mean we will all go round the globe but it follows that we can start with prayers. The disciples did same. They were all in one accord praying and waiting for the Holy Ghost. And when the Holy Ghost came, they spake in tongues such that other tribes could hear them speak in their languages. When the Holy Ghost came, He confirmed and witnessed to what was and is still burning in the heart of the Father. This shows that the gospel will get to every tongue (tribe, people group).

Beloved, the time of playing is over. We have a great responsibility before us. If we are going to execute and accomplish it, it has to be in partnership with the Holy Ghost. Some places may look impenetrable but as shown in Acts 2, it is penetrable by the power of the Holy Spirit. This was what happened to Saul. No one could reach, but the power of the Spirit, he surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus.

This partnership will also come about in the place of prayer for there is no distance in the Spirit and we will travel faster in intercession.

What is before us can only be accomplished by the power of the Spirit and there’s no limit to what the Holy Spirit can do if we are in partnership. It is not about methods. He alone knows what He will do, He has the agenda and the power to execute it. Let us surrender to Him.

GOD thinks NATION – PEOPLE - SALVATION

REPORT ON APOSTOLIC SUMMIT

We had delegates from Niger Republic, Lagos, Abuja Lokoja, Ile-Oluji (Ondo State), in attendance and several other churches and ministries within the land of Sokoto, who actively participated.

EXCERPTS FROM THE WORD EXPOSITORY SESSION

The meeting commenced at the stipulated time, 5:00pm on Thursday,25^th October, 2012 with an opening prayer in tongues to set the stage for the Spirit influence over the meeting

The flow of the meeting was sustained by a deep intense worship session which led to the Word session.

The Word session was a moment to share with believers on the burden and premise for the meeting, the expectations of God concerning the meeting, what God is counting on us to achieve with Him through the summit.

The word came expressly that the focus for the meeting is laborers and not the nations or the harvest.

The words of enlightenment came on how the whole world has become a global village making the nations accessible and open to the gospel if only we can maximize the opportunities that abound before us.

It was further revealed that the most populous nations in the world with largest number of unbelievers are yet accessible if only we can look beyond the conventional open doors we are used to. It was revealed that through the instrumentality of education, health, commerce etc most nations of the world have become accessible to the gospel.

It is not about what to do but it’s about the mass of people required to do it.

The labourers can be categorized into three(3) namely: Praying, Preaching and Paying implying that everyone concentrates on his/her own division of the assignment with the due sense of purpose, duty and responsibility.

The word exposition culminated into a prayer session as instructed by the Lord in the central theme scripture Matthew 9:36-38

The meeting was well attended by seasoned men of God from divers’ denominations. 

The word session rounded off with closing prayer made by elders of the church in Sokoto, these prayers in a way set the tune for the next round of prayer sessions to be conducted.

FRIDAY MORNING-The prayers kicked off with praying in the spirit to access the mysteries of God as it relates to the central theme of recruiting labourers. The prayer flow led to a progressive revelation that true labourers must be envisioned and empowered to work.

Prayers were made on the envisioning of every heart and that Spirit encounters are given to every one diversely and individually as it relates to this harvest.

FRIDAY NOON-Prayers were made with emphasis still on the envisioning of hearts which is the seat of decisions to birth a willingness and availability consciousness to the master’s concern as it relates to the global harvest.

Scriptural insights were given on how God will give pastors after His own heart unto the people in response to these prayers.

FRIDAY EVENING-The prayers commenced with intense praying in other tongues still on the central theme that labourers be sent forth into the harvest.

This session was anchored by several women of God present with each person giving a supply of the Spirit to the prayer focus.

The meeting culminated into a worship session which ushered in some prophetic utterances.

SATURDAY MORNING-The meeting continued still with greater fervency and heart connections in prayers. The central focus still maintained on the deployment of labourers into the harvest.

Progressively the word of the Lord came that this meeting will lead to the emergence of strong and healthy churches and ministries.

SATURDAY NOON-The flow of the meeting was sustained with fervent prayers made yet on the central theme. Insights continued to flow as it was revealed by the Spirit that there will be a repeat of Acts13:1-4 through this meeting where believers will be sent forth by the Holy Spirit. These led to a corporate prayer for a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit in the church at large to fulfill the assignment before her.

SATURDAY EVENING-This session began with intense prayers still on the central theme. The flow of the meeting became charged as several ministers of God continue to lead the congregation in praying in the Spirit. The word of the Lord came that the ‘few’ as seen in that scripture (Matthew 9:37) is not only numeric but also in the strength, agility, equipping and fortification of these labourers. This led to prayers and congregational response of Amen. A vision was shared with the focus on courage as a necessity to accomplish the task ahead and Pastor Courage charged up the congregation by speaking to the soul and heart of the churches in the continents to be strong and courageous. 

He also led everyone to take a prophetic action which involved re-positioning themselves by physically walking away from where they were standing praying in tongues. A further instruction was given that everyone should look toward the pulpit while each person takes three (3) steps in this direction. 

The summit ended officially around 7:40pm with a charge from Pastor Courage that everyone should go in ‘this thy might’ and do as the Spirit bade them to and also a call and response on the Church is strong, agile, durable, long lasting, focused, courageous etc and the people answered Amen.

APOSTOLIC SUMMIT

Labourers For the Harvest

(Thursday 25-Saturday 27 October 2012)

VISION – The nations and people are ripe, doors are wide open and we are not taking advantage of the opportunities that abound for the harvest. There is a great need for labourers, stronger and healthier churches and ministries for more effective work at an accelerated speed.

INSTRUCTION – Gather my people (believers), as many as you can from everywhere to PRAY.

WHY PRAY? – That is the Lord’s prescription to the present situation we find ourselves. “Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few, Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38. 

This will be our only prayer point throughout.

WHY GATHER? – One place, One prayer point – The prayers that will birth revival, turn a generation to God or have global effect must be:

1.     Corporate: Thy people (Ps.110:3); One place (Acts 2:1)

2.     United: One accord (Acts 2:1, Ps.133:1-3)

3.     Fervent: extreme, hot, intense

4.     Focused: Clear direction

5.     Consistent: Maintain momentum, tempo

6.     Continued: Without ceasing, stop, interruption

Further references – (Joel 2:15-18, 2 Chron.20, Acts 1:14, 2:1, 12:5-12)

OBJECTIVES

1.     Everyone will leave with a greater sense of commitment to God and their God-given assignment

2.     Everyone will leave with a clearer picture and burden of the VISION OF GOD to run with it and pass it on to others.

3.     Everyone will be empowered by the Lord of the harvest through the prayers to take full advantage of the open doors, opportunities directly and indirectly.

4.     Everyone will find his place (and help others to do same) as LABOURERS.

DETAILS

WEDNESDAY 24th – ARRIVAL OF EXTERNAL DELEGATES

THURSDAY 25th: 5-8pm- Introduction of the;

VISION

BURDEN

INSTRUCTION from the LORD and the format for the meeting

FRIDAY and SATURDAY – PRAYERS: 6-7am, 
                                                                12noon-1pm, 
                                                                 6-7pm

                                                                
SO FAR – Six churches have signed to fully participate within Sokoto metropolis

-         NCCF, Sokoto

-         Delegates from
Lokoja
Akure
Ekiti
Lagos
Abuja
Kebbi
NIGER REPUBLIC
Uganda  

YOU – Can sign in, accommodation and feeding for all external delegates is free, opportunities or calls like this don’t come often, at times, once in a generation or a life time. It is worth all the sacrifice. Prayerfully plan to be a part. This definitely is not a programme or an ambition, but a clarion from the Lord.

If you plan to come, then;

Mail – loverevival@yahoo.com or loverevival1@hotmail.com

Call - +234808779213 or +2348036373417

REPORT ON OUR NIGERIA PRAYER PROJECT

The 21 days prayers was with fasting and we met 6am-7am for the morning sessions and 6pm-7pm for the evening sessions every day.

Excerpts from the 21 days prayer Sessions

The meeting commenced at the stipulated time on September 11, 2012 with guidelines given to everyone from the entrance on how the conduct and pattern of the meeting will go.

A pattern for the meeting was also set that the morning sessions will be times to enforce God’s counsel as Watchers (Is.62:1, 6-7; 46:10) and the evening sessions will be to enthrone Jesus’ kingship over Nigeria as warriors. (1 Chron.12:22,38; 1 Cor.15:25)

Each session was marked by prayer and prophetic declarations over the nation covering every sphere of influence (education, political, religious, families, economic, media, entertainment & arts, all tiers of government, states of the federation and tribes)

Day 1 – Morning: This was a session of thanksgiving to God for Nigeria as a nation, how she has survived such great threats to her peace yet God has kept the nation as one. (Ps.100:4, 1 Tim.2:1, 1 Thess.5:18, Eph.5:20)

Evening: This was a session of prayer of consecration, expression of willingness and request for grace to undertake this God given mandate. (Judg.5:2,9, Heb.4:16, Mt.9:37-38, Col.4:12)

Day 2 – Morning: This was marked by calling forth Nigeria unto the expected status of her age post-independence. (1 Cor.13:11, Gen.21:10, Deut.32:12, Is.8:10, Is.54:15,17)

Evening: This session was characterized by a corporate plea for mercy on behalf of Nigeria with a request for the healing of the land of Nigeria. (Joel 2:15-17, 2 Chron.7:14-15)

Day 3 – Morning: The cry of intercession was raised against the controversy of who is God over Nigeria with the dethronement of every strange god and influences seeking to contest the place of God in the affairs of Nigeria. (1 Kgs.18-21, Ps.33:12, Gen.21:10, Deut.32:12)

Evening: Prayers were made for open heavens over Nigeria and also for a fresh breath, move and descent of the Holy Spirit upon Nigeria. (Lk.3:21-22, Ezek.1:1, Acts 9:3, Gen.1:2b; 2:7, Lk.3:22)

Day 4 – Morning: Prayers were made to banish from all elective posts and appointments in Nigeria, men who will act contrary to God’s counsel over the nation, and prayers were also made to instill the appropriate kind of leaders over the positions of authority. (2 Sam.23:3,Prov.29:2,1Tim.2:1-2,Prov.21:1)

Evening: Prayers were made for the intervention and penetration of light into the affairs of Nigeria. (Gen.1:3,Jn.1:5,2Cor.4:6,2Pet.1:19)

Day 5 – Morning: This was a confrontational challenge against every beast and demonic hierarchy militating against the destiny of this nation. (1Cor.15:32,Eph.6:12)

Evening: Jesus’ prescribed prayer pattern was adopted “hallowed be thy name”, “thy kingdom come” was raised for the intervention of God’s kingdom over the country. (Rev.11:15,Mt.6:9-10a)

Day 6 – Morning: This was a disannulment of every evil covenant and agreement made or established on behalf of this country. (Is.28:18)

Evening: We had the establishment of God’s will to be done in Nigeria, giving Him liberty to execute His counsel Over the Nation. (Mt.6:9-10)

Day 7 – Morning: We prayed for the discomfit of every scheme and device of the evil one over Nigeria. (Job 5:12-14)

Evening: Prayers were made to open up the gates and doors of the nation to the King of glory, the Lord strong and mighty in battle, the Lord of hosts. (Ps.24:7-10)

Day 8 – Morning: Prayers during this session focused on the deposing of evil and unrepentant leaders in the country. (Dan.2:21,Ps.75:7)

Evening: Prayers were made to open the gates and doors to the hearts of men in Nigeria to the King of glory, the Lord strong and mighty in battle, the Lord of hosts. (Ps.24:7-10)

Day 9 – Morning: This session was a decree of judgement against all oppressors and those manipulating the nation. (Ps.149:9,Rev.18:15-17,Ps.20:7-8)

Evening: Prayers were made to open the gates and doors to the wealth of Nigeria to the King of glory, the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord of hosts. (Ps.24:7-10)

Day 10 – Morning: This was a request to the Father to shake Nigeria so that only what can stand His voice may remain. (Heb.12:27-28)

Evening: Prayers were made concerning the divers threats we face as a nation and a reinforcement of God’s Spirit upon the church. (Ps.2:1-5)

Day 11 – Morning: We desired of the Father to root out of the nation every planting not of Him as in beliefs, practices, structures etc. (Mt.15:13)

Evening: Prayers were made for the conversion of Sauls to Paul in order to advance the kingdom of God in the nation. (Acts 9:1-3)

Day 12 – Morning: The cry of watchmen was upon the walls, gates and palaces of Nigeria with decrees of salvation, praise and peace. Prayers were also made against the company of those that delight in war and opposed to the peaceful coexistence of the nation. (Is.60:18,Ps.122:7,Ps.68:30)

Evening: Prayers were made to secure elective positions and appointments for just men ruling in the fear of God at every level of leadership in Nigeria. (2 Sam.23:3, Dan.4:17)

Day 13 – Morning: Nigeria was established in righteousness, creating a spirit distance against violence, terror and oppression. (Is.54:14)

Evening: The word of command was issued to Nigeria that she moves forward and upward henceforth. (Deut.2:3)

Day 14 – Morning: Nigeria was betrothed to God Almighty as Her God and Her people as His chosen inheritance. (Ps.33:12)

Evening: A prophetic cry and prayers were raised for the fulfillment of prophecies already given by words, visions, revelations and scripturally documented that all should manifest in their seasons, a divine hastening to perform each of them. 1Tim.1:18,Dan.10:12-14,1Kgs.8:15,Is.55:11,Jer.1:12,Is.9:7

Day 15 – Morning: The destiny of the nation was entrusted unto the guidance and leading of God alone, strange gods and influences were shut out of her affairs. (Deut.32:12)

Evening: The prevailing influence of the word of God was enforced in and over the affairs of the nation. (Acts 19:20)

Day 16 – Morning: God Almighty was assigned as the King, the Judge and Lawgiver of Nigeria so that the laws governing our nation promote the kingdom reign. (Is.33:22)

Evening: The banner of God was displayed over the nation as a spiritual sign of change of governance and ruler ship to the Lord’s. (Ps.60:4)

Day 17 – Morning: The dominion of God was enforced in the spheres of existence in the nation (air, land and water) with a declaration that Nigeria fulfills the purpose of God as a nation born of God. (Ps.24:1,1Jn.5:4)

Evening: Nigeria was summoned in prayers to arise and take her place in the League of Nations. (Is.60:1-3)

Day 18 – Morning: This session was dedicated to a prayer of request for a new Nigeria, that God should do a new thing in this nation as we turn 52. This was accompanied by prophetic declarations by men and women of God. (Is.43:18-19)

Evening: This session marked the receiving of this new Nigeria into our hands. Prophetic insights came that this is a new Nigeria that is all of God (Zech.4:2), that our spiritual assessment of this new Nigeria is that it is “very good”. (Gen.1:31) also Is.33:20-21 was given as our vision for this Nigeria.

Day 19 – Morning: The Lord God was established as the foundation, builder and watcher over this new Nigeria. (Ps.127:1)

Evening: The new Nigeria was perpetuated to continue even till Jesus comes such that it’s not an experience only in the lifetime of one generation. This was established by 21 prophetic chants over the new Nigeria. (Ps.127:1)

Day 20 – Morning: This was a day of thanksgiving unto God for delivering this new Nigeria into our hands and establishing a perpetual altar of unceasing praises to God from NIGERIA. (Ps.136)

LAST NIGHT: This was a special prayer, praise and prophetic declarations over this new Nigeria. The meeting started at the scheduled time with a great turn out of saints in the land of Sokoto, each person holding up the flag of Nigeria. The flags were continually waved to God in appreciation of how He has kept the nation as one and sustained our peaceful coexistence as against what could have been by the enemy’s plot. God gave an insight through His servant Pastor Courage Ode that the true celebration of independence implies an independence from satan unto a dependence on God.

The meeting continued with great participation and enthusiasm expressed by the saints. The thanksgiving session was linked into a prayer session for the country considering the fact that in the last thirty nine sessions of the meeting, divers prayer points have been raised as inspired by the Holy Spirit, however, a perfection and completion to the whole process can best be guaranteed by employing the means of praying in other tongues to rightly compensate for the limitation of man. This session was marked by fervent prayers in other tongues which ushered us into the Independence Day proper by 12am, a praise session took over the center stage fulfilling scriptures that Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises at midnight unto God.

A prophetic praise shouting was raised unto God twenty one times. This was immediately accompanied by a session of prophesying unto the New Nigeria in our hands, definite prophetic words by every individual unto God. This was sealed by the final declaration by Dr. Moses Fagbemi who crowned the meeting with prophetic declarations from the pulpit while resounding amen’s from the congregation greeted the proclamation. The meeting ended at exactly 12:30am with cheers and salutations to one another for a new Nigeria.

As a people, we have no doubt in our hearts that we have totally dedicated Nigeria over to God. Nigeria is all of God; we have received a NEW NIGERIA in Jesus’ name.

Happy Independence Nigeria as you turned 52.You will fulfill all of the counsel of God. Life, Light and Peace to you in Jesus’ name.