Faith is...
Hebrews 11:1
- Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen – KJV
- Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]. – AMP
- Now faith means putting our full confidence in the things we hope for, it means being certain of things we cannot see. – PHILLIPS
What is our hope for Nigeria?
Isaiah 60:18-22 KJV
18 Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.
19 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. 20 Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.
21 Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.
22 A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it in his time.
- Violence shall no more be heard in Nigeria.
- There will be no more wasting or destruction at Nigeria’s borders.
- Nigeria’s walls shall be called Salvation and Her gates praise.
- The Lord will be Nigeria’s everlasting light and God will be her glory.
- The Body of Christ in Nigeria shall be all righteous.
- A little one of the disciples of Jesus Christ will become a thousand; a small one a great nation.
Again God said in Isaiah 55:10-12 (AMP):
“For as the rain and snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth,
Making it bear and sprout,
And providing seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
And do not return there without watering the earth,
Making it bear and sprout,
And providing seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
So will My word be which goes out of My mouth;
It will not return to Me void (useless, without result),
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
It will not return to Me void (useless, without result),
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
All of these promises have been signed by God.
On God’s side – It’s already a done deal,
On God’s side – It’s already a done deal,
On our side –We need the Spirit of faith to give us eyes of faith. We need the Spirit of Christ to reveal the unseen.
Spirit of Faith, Come down upon Us
Matthew 9:27-29 NKJV
"When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”
They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”Then He touched their eyes, saying,
“According to your faith let it be to you.”
The Lord is asking us the same question: Do we believe that He is able to do this?
We too say “Yes Lord”, but it is according to our faith that it will be to us.
Prayer Points: Spirit of Faith, Come down upon Us
- Lord, I believe You are able to do this in Nigeria.
- Please touch my eyes afresh and help me to see Your divine possibilities.
- Spirit of faith, please give me eyes of faith.
- Let my eyes be the kind that does not look Nigeria’s past – her past failures, past corrupt reputation, past struggles, past hardship and even past glories – but let it be eyes that sees the unseen; eyes that only see Nigeria in light of Your promises for her.
- Lift me up above my current experience of Nigeria and simply take You at Your Word.
- When You say, “Launch out into the deep and let your nets down for a catch,” Like the experienced fisherman that Simon Peter was, let our response also be, “Nevertheless at Your Word, I will let down the net.” Luke 5:5.
- Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my life – vision that sees every promise as divinely guaranteed and gives us full assurance of faith.
- Help us to hold fast the confession of our hope for Nigeria without wavering for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23.
- John 9:39-41: And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?”Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.
- Deliver us from saying, ‘We see’ when we do not see, or when it is vague. Grant us the humility to draw near with a true heart to acknowledge our spiritual blindness so that mercy will come to us. Lord, please show us Your mercy.
- Root out everything that opposes the Spirit of faith from our midst – unbelief, mammon, presumption, fear, timidity, disobedience.
- “...the veil is taken away in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 3:14.
- Help us to know that the cross must painfully tear way the veil of the life of sin and self from us; and it will bleed. Only then can we enter into the presence of the living God to pray down His will.
- Lord! Please give us the courage to insist on the crucified life.
Seen Versus Unseen
2 Corinthians 4:18 - While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Unseen: Violence shall no more be heard in Nigeria
Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. Isaiah 60:18.
Seen: Kidnapping
There has been a rapid growth in the kidnapping of babies, children and adults. This situation so acute that is giving a lot of concern to the people. It has also become a daily occurrence.
Nevertheless, this is What the Lord said:
Matthew 16:9 - And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. - NKJV
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; the things you don’t allow on earth will be the things that God does not allow, and the things you allow on earth will be the things that God allows.” - NCV
God has given us the authority to disallow on the earth the things that He does not allow and to allow on earth the things that He allows.
Prayer Points: Violence shall no more be heard in Nigeria
- Psalm 72:12-14a - “For He will deliver the needy when he cries, the poor also, and him who has no helper. He will spare the poor and needy, And will save the souls of the needy. He will redeem their life from oppression and violence...”
- Lord, we believe You, that despite all the kidnapping occurrences all over the nation, violence will no more be heard within the borders of Nigeria because You have declared it.
- You have declared that there will be no more wasting or destruction. Let it be so in Jesus’ mighty name.
- By Your Spirit, the kidnapping incidents in Nigeria has been declared stopped and we believe You. Please bring Your healing and restoration families that have been affected.
- O Lord, be the help of the victims. Deliver them from the hand of their oppressors and save their souls according to Your Word.
- O Lord, be the help of the victims. Deliver them from the hand of their oppressors and save their souls according to Your Word.
- Let Your gospel reach the ears of all the kidnappers in Nigeria, and let it affect their hearts. Deliver them from oppression and violence by the power of the cross and restore them to Your purpose.
- We agree with You, Lord. Nigeria’s walls will be called ‘Salvation’ and her gates ‘Praise’.
- Spirit of faith, descend upon Nigeria and show the virtue of Your name; impart Your saving power and speak to every heart. Violence shall no more be heard in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Unseen: The Lord will be to Nigeria an everlasting Light.
The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. 20 Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. Isaiah 60: 19-20.
Seen: Darkness in the economy and in the Government of Nigeria.
The economy is erratic and exchange rates are an all-time high. The government’s decision making also generates concern with the people.
Prayer Points: The Lord will be to Nigeria an everlasting Light
- Proverbs 21:11 -The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.
- Lord, shed Your everlasting light on every decision made in that the office of the president, in the senate, in the house of representatives - be according to the divine counsel of heaven for Nigeria, even if the leaders are not aware of it.
- Let Your everlasting Light will guide the affairs of the economy, not human wisdom. We ask, O Lord, for You to miraculously stabilise the economy. Continue to expose with Your everlasting light, all those who waste or steal from the public purse.
- Lord, shed Your everlasting light on every decision made in that the office of the president, in the senate, in the house of representatives - be according to the divine counsel of heaven for Nigeria, even if the leaders are not aware of it.
- Let Your everlasting Light will guide the affairs of the economy, not human wisdom. We ask, O Lord, for You to miraculously stabilise the economy. Continue to expose with Your everlasting light, all those who waste or steal from the public purse.
- Please Lord, turn the hearts of the President and Vice President towards Your desire for Nigeria. Cause them to fear You. Put Your fear in the hearts of every government leader.
- Lord, please shine Your everlasting light upon President Buhari. Go to the root of his health issues, take control and heal him completely so that He can return to Nigeria.
Unseen: Your people in Nigeria shall be all righteous
Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. Isaiah 60:21.
Seen: Many Churches are not on the path of righteousness
Many churches have leaders that are not in right standing with God and as such are unable to preach the complete Gospel.
Prayer Points: The Lord will be to Nigeria an everlasting Light
- Lord! Visit Your church in Nigeria.
- Purge Your Church, O Lord. Wash away all the things that do not allow You to be glorified and revive Your Church.
- We look to You for correct churches founded on the complete Gospel, where men will serve You aright and will all be righteous.
- Lord, give us correct pastors and leaders who will preach the correct message the correct way so that the body can be correct and all righteous.
- Give us pastors and leaders who are not money conscious but kingdom conscious; those who are the branch of Your planting and the work of Your hands.
- Spirit of faith, come down upon the church in Nigeria.
- Come and reveal the things of God and make the Godhead known. Come in Your power and make the Christ and Him Crucified Known in every place.
- You died for every sinner in Nigeria. Please apply the blood and give them eyes to see that You have brought them into Your new covenant. Deliver Your people from the old covenant – i.e the kind gospel that does not dislodge sin in their lives.
Unseen: A little one shall become a thousand
A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it in his time. Isaiah 60:22.
Seen: Disciples are not multiplying as expected
There is a shortage of committed kingdom labourers who carry a burden for disciple-making.
- Revelations 3:8-9 - I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it;for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
- Lord, help disciples in Nigeria to keep Your word and never deny Your name. Give them the tenacity in seeking You even in their little strength.
- Set before the disciples in Nigeria an open door that no one can shut - open doors for the gospel message to be preached in fullness, so that the spirit of faith can come upon the souls of men.
- Make those in the ‘synagogue of Satan’ come through these open doors. Call them from every street to come and worship at Your feet.
- Grant divine help and wisdom to the disciples for disciple-making.
- Let disciples multiply - let a little one of them become a thousand.
HYMN: SPIRIT OF FAITH COME DOWN
1. Spirit of faith, come down,
reveal the things of God,
and make to us the Godhead known,
and witness with the blood.
'Tis thine the blood to apply
and give us eyes to see,
who did for every sinner die
hath surely died for me.
reveal the things of God,
and make to us the Godhead known,
and witness with the blood.
'Tis thine the blood to apply
and give us eyes to see,
who did for every sinner die
hath surely died for me.
2. No one can truly say
that Jesus is the Lord,
unless Thou take the veil away
and breathe the living Word.
Then, only then, we feel
our interest in His blood,
and cry with joy unspeakable,
"Thou art my Lord, my God!"
that Jesus is the Lord,
unless Thou take the veil away
and breathe the living Word.
Then, only then, we feel
our interest in His blood,
and cry with joy unspeakable,
"Thou art my Lord, my God!"
3. O that the world might know
the all atoning Lamb!
Spirit of faith, descend and show
the virtue of His name;
the grace which all may find,
the saving power, impart,
and testify to humankind,
and speak in every heart.
4. Inspire the living faith
(which whosoe'er receive,
the witness in themselves they have
and consciously believe),
the faith that conquers all,
and doth the mountain move,
and saves whoe'er on Jesus call,
and perfects them in love.
the all atoning Lamb!
Spirit of faith, descend and show
the virtue of His name;
the grace which all may find,
the saving power, impart,
and testify to humankind,
and speak in every heart.
4. Inspire the living faith
(which whosoe'er receive,
the witness in themselves they have
and consciously believe),
the faith that conquers all,
and doth the mountain move,
and saves whoe'er on Jesus call,
and perfects them in love.
