Nigeria: Nehemiah’s Prayer Answered

Join This HeartCry Prayer- Every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 11.30am -1.30pm (UK Time)

Nehemiah 2:1-20

In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was placed before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not [previously] been sad in his presence. 2 So the king said to me, “Why do you look sad when you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of heart.” Then I was very frightened, 3 and I said to the king, “Let the king live forever. Why should my face not be sad when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies desolate and its gates have been consumed by fire?” 4 The king said to me, “What do you request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favour in your presence, [I ask] that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, so that I may rebuild it.” 6 The king, beside whom the queen was sitting, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me, and I gave him a definite time [for my return]. 
7 Then I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given to me for the governors of the provinces beyond the [Euphrates] River, so that they will allow me to pass through until I reach Judah, 8 and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, so that he will give me timber to construct beams for the gates of the fortress which is by the temple, and for the city wall and for the house which I will occupy.” And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me. 9 Then I came to the governors of the provinces beyond the [Euphrates] River and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent officers of the army and horsemen with me. 
10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard this, it caused them great displeasure that someone had come to see about the welfare and prosperity of the Israelites.

Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem’s Walls     

                   

11 So I came to Jerusalem and was there for three days. 12 Then I got up in the night, I and a few men with me. I did not tell anyone what my God was putting in my heart to do for Jerusalem, and there was no animal with me except the one on which I was riding [so as not to attract attention]. 13 So I went out at night by the Valley Gate toward the Dragon’s Well and to the Refuse Gate and inspected the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were consumed by fire. 14 Then I passed over to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but there was no place for the animal that I was riding to pass.15 So I went up at night by the ravine [of Kidron] and inspected the wall; then I turned back and entered [the city] by the Valley Gate, and returned. 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; nor had I yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or the rest who did the work. 17 Then I said to them, “You see the bad situation that we are in—how Jerusalem is desolate and lies in ruins and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, and let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so that we will no longer be a disgrace.” 
18 Then I told them how the hand of my God had been favourable to me and also about the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they thoroughly supported the good work. 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked us and regarded us with contempt and said, “What is this thing you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” 
20 I answered them, “The God of heaven [has appointed us for His purpose and] will give us success; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no portion, right, or memorial in Jerusalem.”

Gleaning from Nehemiah’s Life

• Burdens are from the Lord.
• He who gave the burden is able to make provision for executing it. “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supplies - Hudson Taylor
• The burden for Jerusalem was so great that it was obvious in Nehemiah’s expression to draw the attention of the King.
• Burdens can be singular; executing it will involve others.
• No one will rebuild Jerusalem; the children of Israel must arise to do so.
• Whenever anything is being attempted for God, opposition will arise (Sanballat and Tobiah). vs 10, 19
• Nehemiah was prayerful, patient and focused on God and His ability to do the impossible.
• Nehemiah had a heart connected to God even as he approached the king.
• Nehemiah planned and did not attempt to break any protocols. vs 7, 8
• He had knowledge of his geographical surrounding. vs 7
• Nehemiah found favour in God’s sight and he acknowledged this. The king granted his requests for letters to the governors in the province. vs 8
• He was determined and discreet; he did not announce his arrival in Jerusalem for three days.
• He kept God’s Word in his heart. Trembling at God’s Word. Isaiah 66:2
• Nehemiah inspected and acquainted himself with the situation at hand before approaching anyone. He went out alone in the night. vs 11-17
• He approached the people with a heart of faith in God’s faithfulness and His ability to help them build. Nehemiah’s approach did not leave any room for unbelief. Nehemiah found God’s favour with God and men.

Noah 
“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” Genesis 6:8 

Samuel
“...and the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favour both with the Lord and men.” 1 Samuel 2:26 

Jesus
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.” Luke 2:52



HUDSON TAYLOR (21 May 1832 - 3 June 1905)

Not defeated by suffering

By the time Hudson Taylor was in his fifties, he had suffered through and emerged from some of life’s harshest tests.  He had established one of the world’s greatest missionary agencies, without denominational backing. He had pressed into the interior of China, something the other evangelism agencies were reluctant to do at the time. He had suffered the loss of several of his children and the wife of his youth, Maria.

He had escaped a violent mob assault against their home – with thousands gathering and several looting their belongings and physically assaulting him and his family, because of the false rumour that these ‘foreign devils’ were boiling and eating children. He had survived serious illness several times. Yet his was a buoyant faith.

You don’t need great faith – but faith in a great God!

People say, ‘Lord increase our faith!’ Did not our Lord rebuke His disciples for that prayer? It is not great faith you need, He said in effect, but faith in a great God.

We need a faith that rests on a great God, and expects Him to keep His own word and to do just as He has promised.

Keep God before you!

[but] I do want you, dear friends, to realize this principle of working with God and asking Him for everything. If the work is at the command of God, then we can go to Him in full confidence for workers; and when God gives the workers, we can go to Him for means to supply their needs.

PRAYERS

• Thank God for the privilege to bear the burden on His heart.
• Father, give us a faith that rests on You, our great God.
• Help us to know and to expect that You keep Your Word and You will do just as You promised.
• Make us men and women You can rely on to bring Your plans for Nigeria to come to pass.
• Make us people who tremble at Your Word, who will not give You rest, day and night concerning Nigeria.
• Show us mercy and let us find favour in Your sight and with men.
• Keep us in Your ICU (Intensive Care Unit) of mercy and bring forth this man-child, NIGERIA.

Romans 13:1

“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”

• Pray for our President, Vice President and all other government officials that they will rule according to the dictates of heaven.
• Father let our leaders know that their first accountability is to You.
• Lord, do not let them be controlled by the arm of flesh.
• Make them men and women after Your heart and the welfare of the citizens of the nation they govern.
• Make them people who not self-centred.
• Pray that God will frustrate every mystery of iniquity in the hearts of our leaders that makes them insensitive to the needs of their subjects.
• Pray for our Royal Fathers that they will uphold righteousness as expected of elders.
• Ephesians 5:1-2
• “Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children, And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us as, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”
• Father, make them men and women carrying the life of Christ.
• Lord, help them to walk in love and to be leaders ready to lay their lives down as Christ did for us.
• Make them people who will walk as children of light. Ephesians 5:8
• Father, let them walk in wisdom not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15
• Let them understand what the will of the Lord is as they discharge their duties.
• Ephesians 6:12
• “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places.”
• Pray against every principality contending against us.
• Pray against rulers, powers, world forces and principalities working against God’s purposes and determinate counsel for Nigeria (some of these may be leaders of other nations, businesses, organisations, individuals,  those profiting from production of certain goods etc.

CHURCH

1 Corinthians 1:18

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

• Pray that the message of the Cross will return to the church in Nigeria.
• May the mystery embedded in the Word of God overpower and overshadow every mystery of iniquity that has found its way into the church.
• Pray against the spirit of mammon in the church.

Join This HeartCry Prayer- Every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 11.30am -1.30pm (UK Time)

Europe: United Kingdom - There is a Fountain

Join This HeartCry Prayer- Every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 11.30am -1.30pm (UK Time)

Revelation 7:17 (NKJV)

“...for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

God’s Declaration Over Europe:

“A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it in its time.” (Isaiah 60:22)

“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.” (Zachariah 4:6)

Our Response:

“And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.” (Luke 1:23 )


The Scope of the Burden for Europe

Every man, woman, youth, teenager, child, young, old, middle aged;  87 people groups (all the people groups in Europe , 743.1 million people (as at 2015).

Wikipedia - Grouping by major languages:

Russians (c. 95 million)

Germans (c. 82 million)

French (c. 60 million)

British (c. 60 million)

Italians (55 million)

Spanish (c. 50 million)

Ukrainians (38–55 million)

Poles (c. 38 million)

This scope massive, but for God, it is a light thing.
“And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.” (Luke 1:45)

Prayer Points: Europe

• Present Europe before the throne of grace - Have mercy Lord, and let Your word come to pass in the name of Jesus.

• Lord, we believe You. Let there be a performance in every people group in Europe. Let Your Kingdom come, let Your will be done.

• Envision us to see the scope of Your burden. 

• Enlarge our hearts Lord. Cause Your burden for souls in Europe to grow inside us. Let it be a heart cry that heaven cannot ignore.

• 1 Corinthians 16:9 - “For a great and effective door has opened to me and there are many adversaries” Lord, open the great and effective doors of the gospel of Christ and Him Crucified in every language and in every people group all over in Europe.

• Luke 21:15 “…for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.” Lord, give them and wisdom to Your vessels in Europe; give them a mouth that they may preach the gospel with power.

• Revelation 5:9-10 - You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.” 

• Holy Spirit, be the inner interpreter of the word of God to every soul in every people group in Europe, for You were slain, and have redeemed them to God by Your blood, out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, that they may know that You have made them kings and priests to our God; and they shall to reign on the earth. 

• Lord, we thank You that You will hasten the multiplication of disciples in every people group in Europe. Let every little one become a thousand in the name of Jesus. Amen.  

United Kingdom Focus

 Kings 3:16-20 (KJV)

“And he said, Thus saith the Lord, Make this valley full of ditches.

17 For thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts.

18 And this is but a light thing in the sight of the Lord: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand.

19 And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.

20 And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat offering was offered, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.

The Strategy 

To make all the nations of  UK full of ditches -  in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland.

• The ditches are human hearts that are dug through the restating of the mystery of the gospel - the gospel of Christ and Him crucified; the cross-centred gospel; the gospel that delivers from sin and makes a new creature in Christ.

• Hearts are dug deeper and deeper, though the process of discipleship.

• “You will not see wind or rain”  because it will be a silent labour. Until the convert becomes a disciple and the disciple becomes a saint.
• The Lord Himself will cause the water of life to spring forth from the heart by the power of the Holy Spirit.

     

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38)

God’s Part         

• God has made His intentions clear to us, and He has finished His part.

• Ephesians 5:1-2 “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”

• Revelation 5:9b “You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood.”

• John 17:19 
• “And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.” KJV
•  “And so for their sake and on their behalf I sanctify (dedicate, consecrate) Myself, that they also may be sanctified (dedicated, consecrated, made holy) in the Truth.” AMPC

He gave Himself ‘for us an offering and a sacrifice’ means He allowed Himself to be slain, butchered, slaughtered for us to be sanctified in the truth.

This is the highest expression of love.

Our Part 

• God desires for each one of us to imitate Him -  do our part and finish it.

• Be Imitators of God – Ephesians 5:1

• Do nothing against the truth – 2 Corinthians 13:8

• Put off the old man, put on the new man – Colossians 3

• Offer our bodies to God a living sacrifice – Romans 12:1

• Then the fire of the Holy Spirit will release a sweet-smelling aroma from your life – Ephesians 5:2

• Sanctify (dedicate, consecrate) yourself – John 17:18  

• Jesus knew why He came. Do we know why are we have been posted here? Are we ready to do our part for the sake of souls in the United Kingdom?

• It is only those who have done their part can use His strategy to make disciples.

We cannot dig ditches of human hearts if we our hearts have not been dug and filled with the water of life.

Prayer Points: UK 

• Lord, give me a fresh revelation of the reason why you have posted me here to pray for UK (and to live in UK, for those of us living here); to know that I am here on a mission to dig ditches.

• Open my eyes to see the human hearts that you have given me to dig.

• Colossians 3:9-10 “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.” Lord, this is my part.

• Lord, you have done your part. However, I cannot do my part if my own heart is full of ‘earth’ instead of living water. Please show me mercy. Dig out anything earthy from me. Help me arise to do my part, to know that I am to put off the old man with his deeds and put on the new man.

• I offer my body again to You as a living sacrifice. Activate Your Holy Spirit in me and let my life produce a sweet-smelling aroma to You. Qualify me to make the valley of UK full of ditches. I cannot preach a crucified Saviour if I am not living a crucified life.

• John 17:19 “And so for their sake and on their behalf I sanctify  (dedicate, consecrate) Myself, that they also may be sanctified (dedicated, consecrated, made holy) in the Truth.” Lord, this is my part.

• Lord, help to be deliberate about my consecration and sanctification. You are my sanctification. Please have Your way in me for the sake of those You have connected to my life. Let them not be unfortunate because of me.

BREXIT

Brexit is the greatest disaster to befall the European Union but the referendum in which British voters opted to leave the European Union does not automatically signal the country's exit. That is the job of Article 50.” (www.telegraph.co.uk). 

• Article 50 allows the complex withdrawal process of voluntary withdrawal from the EU to begin.

• Teresa May has announced that she will trigger it on the 31st of March 2017.

• Brexit will affect jobs, immigration, Britain’s position in Europe and in the world and people are fearful and confused.

• Brexit could break up the United Kingdom.

• The Lord is willing and ready to deliver the people of UK so that the gospel will not be hindered.

Prayer Points: Brexit

• Psalm 33:10 “The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.”      

• Isaiah 46:9-10 “Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’” 

• Let’s pray that God’s counsel will stand concerning Brexit and that He would make any plan contrary to His, of no effect.

• Let’s pray that the Lord will use Brexit to further His agenda to gather souls of men into His kingdom. Let there be open doors for the gospel message as a result. Let men run to You for comfort.

• Proverbs 21:1 “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.”  

• Lord, give wisdom to the Prime Minister, Teresa May and her team during the negotiation. Turn their hearts towards your counsel. Strengthen them, uphold and keep them alert as they negotiate with the EU. Let peace reign in the United Kingdom.

• Let Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England be full of ditches; raise disciples who will make disciples and let the whole country be full of the water of life.

• Isaiah 51:10 “Are You not the One who dried up the sea, The waters of the great deep; That made the depths of the sea a road For the redeemed to cross over?”

• Lord, dry up the waters of the great deep - the waters of sin and iniquity, the waters of death -by Your Spirit and send Your own spring of living water into the heart of every man, woman, girl and boy in the United Kingdom.

Hymn: There is a Fountain

1. There is a fountain filled with blood 

drawn from Emmanuel's veins; 

and sinners plunged beneath that flood 

lose all their guilty stains. 

Lose all their guilty stains, 

lose all their guilty stains; 

and sinners plunged beneath that flood 

lose all their guilty stains. 

2. The dying thief rejoiced to see 

that fountain in his day; 

and there may I, though vile as he, 

wash all my sins away. 

Wash all my sins away, 

wash all my sins away; 

and there may I, though vile as he, 

wash all my sins away.

3. Dear dying Lamb, thy precious blood 

shall never lose its power 

till all the ransomed church of God 

be saved, to sin no more. 

Be saved, to sin no more, 

be saved, to sin no more; 

till all the ransomed church of God 

be saved, to sin no more. 

4. E'er since, by faith, I saw the stream 

thy flowing wounds supply, 

redeeming love has been my theme, 

and shall be till I die. 

And shall be till I die, 

and shall be till I die; 

redeeming love has been my theme, 

and shall be till I die.

Join This HeartCry Prayer- Every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 11.30am -1.30pm (UK Time)

Nigeria: Nehemiah's Prayer

Join This HeartCry Prayer- Every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 11.30am -1.30pm (UK Time)

Nehemiah 1: 1-11

Nehemiah Prays for His People

The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah.

It came to pass in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the citadel, ² that Hanani one of my brethren came with men from Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who had survived the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. ³ And they said to me, “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”

⁴ So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

⁵ And I said: “I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments, ⁶ please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father’s house and I have sinned. ⁷ We have acted very corruptly against You, and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses. ⁸ Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations; ⁹ but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name.’ ¹⁰ Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power, and by Your strong hand. ¹¹ O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and let Your servant prosper this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” For I was the king’s cupbearer.

GLEANING

• Timing - ‘It came to pass’.
• Nehemiah enquired.
• Nehemiah’s response – he sat down, wept, mourned, fasted and prayed.
• He took his request to the right source.
• Acknowledged the great God as the ONLY ONE  who is in control.
• Recognised a covenant keeping God, who is merciful and loves those who love Him and observes His commandments. 
• Nehemiah acknowledged the sin of their forefathers.
• He also knew that the sins were first of all against God.
• He did not exonerate himself or his generation.
• Nehemiah, though a king’s cup bearer in the king’s palace, carried the heart of Jerusalem.
• He was a “pre-Calvary” man manifesting the life of Jesus even before Calvary occurred.
• A little Nehemiah became a thousand and a small Nehemiah become a strong nation.

CURRENT ISSUES

• Many churches are still springing up on Incomplete gospel.

• It appears the President is about to return to the UK for medical reasons.

• The President’s choice for EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) chairmanship position is being objected by the Senate house because of the security reports given by the DSS (Department of State Services).

• Nigerians are being sent back from different countries - Libya and others.

• Xenophobia is still on in South Africa. Nigerians are being killed and their properties are being destroyed. Allegedly, they hate Nigerians for taking over their jobs and women.

• Nigerians with valid American multiple entry visas are being denied entrance into the USA and valid visas are being cancelled.

• Nigerian Aviation still facing challenges - Aero Contractors Airline sacks 60% (1200 workers) of their workforce.

• The President said he will not rest until the problem of Nigeria is solved.

• Shekau, Boko Haram Leader reappears in a video. He denies defeat and claims his caliphates are alive. The Nigerian Army however claimed they have destroyed them and destroyed their hide out in Sambisa forest.

• A mother of four dies in Delta State due to electrocution/high voltage in her house.

• Law making policy in Nigeria is bad as the policies do not reflect the interest of the masses.

• Judiciary, Legislative and Educational system needs divine intervention.

• Students in Queens College, Lagos died from what is not yet clarified - Diarrhoea, Cholera.

• Owner of a vehicle stopped at the 3^rd Mainland Bridge and jumped into the lagoon. He is reported to be a medical doctor. He was being driven by a driver, who was asked to stop. He came out of the vehicle and then jumped into the lagoon.

• Fulani herdsmen attacked villages in Benue State and many are feared dead.

PRAYERS

Nehemiah 1:1-11

• Let Your ears be attentive and Your ears open to the prayer of Your sons and daughters that we pray before You day and night concerning Nigeria.

• We confess the sins of the children of Nigeria which we have sinned against You. We have acted corruptly against You and we have not kept the commandments, the statutes or the ordinances which You commanded Your servants.

• Father, wherever You have positioned me, may I continuously carry the heart of Jesus. Don’t let me be carried away by the good things the world or any position is offering.

• Keep me focused on my calling and assignment as a kingdom labourer.

• Help me to carry the right perspective concerning Nigeria always. Give me a perspective focused on what You can do and not the circumstances around me.

• We have created division in the body of Christ through denominationalism. Father, let Your mercy prevail over judgement on the Church in Nigeria.

Isaiah 60:22

“The smallest one will become a thousand (a clan), And the least one a mighty nation. I, the Lord, will quicken it in its [appointed] time.” AMP

Zechariah 4:6

Then he said to me, “This [continuous supply of oil] is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel [prince of Judah], saying, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit [of whom the oil is a symbol],’ says the Lord of hosts. AMP

• Father, we thank You because You are a covenant keeping God.  We pray that You will quicken Your Word concerning us, at its appointed time.

• Thank You for the continuous supply of oil, Your Word, to prepare our lives for kingdom work.

• Thank You for the knowledge that it is not us but Your Spirit that works in us both to will and to do Your good pleasure.

• Father, may You see the travail of Your soul upon our lives and be satisfied.

• Every seed of the mystery of the gospel upon our lives will yield fruit and You will rejoice.

1 Timothy 2:1-8

First of all, then, I urge that petitions (specific requests), prayers, intercessions (prayers for others) and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all people, ² for kings and all who are in [positions of] high authority, so that we may live a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. ³ This [kind of praying] is good and acceptable and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴ who wishes all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge and recognition of the [divine] truth. ⁵ For there is [only] one God, and [only] one Mediator between God and mankind, the Man Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave Himself as a ransom [a substitutionary sacrifice to atone] for all, the testimony given at the right and proper time. ⁷ And for this matter I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying [when I say this]—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

⁸ Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger and disputing or quarreling or doubt [in their mind].

• Father, we thank You for all these ones because there is no authority except that which You established. The authorities that exist (even in Nigeria) have been established by You.  Romans 13:1
• Make us citizens who will be subject to governing authorities. Romans 13:1

• Lord, we pray for our President, Vice-President, Senate Leader and House of Representatives Leader, that Your wisdom from above will guide them.

• Lord, we trust You even for those who do not yet know You amongst them, that You will bring them to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

• Bring them to the recognition of the divine truth.

• We pray that You will uphold each one of them as they stir the affairs of Nigeria. May Your soul delight in them. Isaiah 42:1

• Lord, take away every spirit of tribalism in decision making in Nigeria.

• Let men/women be elected into position according to Your leading not according to the works of the flesh.

• Banish every iota of unbelief and doubt in the heart of Christians in leadership position in Nigeria. Like Nehemiah, birth in them the consciousness of their primary assignment of being kingdom labourers.

• Make them men and women who You have qualified to raise holy hands to You in prayer.

As sowers we’ll go to sow our seed

The mystery gospel of Christ

In all the lands, we’ll sow the Word

Like those who went before

The fire of revival will fall on us,

Bringing much fruit and our God will rejoice

Bringing much fruit and our God will rejoice

MAY THE GOD OF HEAVEN REJOICE OVER OUR LIVES! AMEN

MAY THE GOD OF HEAVEN REJOICE OVER NIGERIA! AMEN

Join This HeartCry Prayer- Every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 11.30am -1.30pm (UK Time)

Nigeria: Esthers and Mordecais - Arise!

 Join this HeartCry Prayer- Every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 11.30am-1.30pm (UK Time)


MATTERS ARISING

• The Federal Government is executing projects using loans from the Islamic Bank. 

• Mr President travelled to Chad, Niger, Benin Rep, Qatar, Saudi-Arabia, Editorial Guinea, Iran, Egypt, UAE since his inauguration.

• Control and sale of foreign exchange is now run by black market operators - who are Muslims.

• Three social bloggers were arrested for questioning because of their criticism of the government. Fading era of free speech.

• No arrest has been made till date for culprits responsible for the killings of Christians in Benue, Kaduna and Enugu.

• Three Muslim men positively identified for beheading a Christian woman in Kano by her husband were discharged of the offence on the orders of the Attorney General. What does this say to you?

• El Rufai has threatened to arrest anyone who makes false allegations about the Kaduna killings.

• In Port Harcourt, there has been and still is an influx of northerners infiltrating homes and public jobs - drivers, security men, gate men.

Esther 8:1-16

Vs. 3
We cannot stand aloof, be indifferent or be at ease in Zion. Esther had revealed her identity at this point. The decree to annihilate all Jews (God’s people) was global not just localised. 

We, the Esthers, must fall down at the Lord’s feet in prayers; beseech Him with tears to counteract the evil and the scheme devised by Haman against Nigeria.

•  Lord, be my vision and wisdom. Evil must not prevail whilst I’m on duty.

• Qualify us to stand in the gap concerning kingdom matters not just merely our needs. Burden us most of all to see Your Will done and Your kingdom come.

• Give us hearts that seek to counteract every evil written concerning Christ and Him crucified.

Vs. 6
Our hearts must bleed concerning Nigeria; how can be at ease; why should we stand aloof whilst the enemy destroys God’s nation and people.

•  Make us deep women, pregnant with, conceiving and nurturing God’s counsel.

Vs. 4/8

The Lord, out of the multitude of His love and mercy, has held out the golden sceptre to us. 

The Lord is giving us permission to re-write laws/decree in His name with His ring. This cannot be reversed.

• When the sceptre of God’s love, mercy and loving kindness is held out to us, help us make request that will further Your kingdom and gospel.

• Make us bold to ask for that which completely cripples evils so that evil is reversed.

• When the opportunity comes to be visible, please help us defer to the Mordecai’s. Esther was content to be silent labourers.

Vs. 5
Esther’s petition was a letter to reverse all that Haman has planned against the Jews. 

•  Grace to arise and demand on our knees for superior laws/decrees which reverse evil, please grant unto us.

Vs. 7 

Even though the enemies of the Jews were hanged, his imprint in the letter/decree remained valid.

• Help us Esthers and Mordecais to prevail with on our knees until God’s glory burst forth.

• May we never be satisfied until God reign supreme in the hearts of all men.

Vs. 9

Scribes were called in and letters were sent unto every province according to their language.

Provinces- i.e. Education, Government, Media, Politics, Health, Commerce etc.

• Lord of the harvest, please raise Mordecais that will be dispatched across every province seeking only to re-instate LIGHT.

Vs.10

Mordecai’s writings was irreversible and upheld only because it was written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s ring. Give us Mordecais who will only re-write laws/decrees/curriculum in Jesus’ name not their own.

• Mordecais that will only act and write decrees in the King’s name. Mordecais who know and submit to the authority of Jesus Christ and also human disciplers.

• Mordecais who the Esthers will defer to in reversing error but will never touch God’s glory or use the privilege to make a name for themselves.

Vs. 11 

Liberty, authority, boldness, courage by the Jews to subdue darkness; and to uphold justice and righteousness.

• Divine and lasting legacies only come about as our Mordecais follow according to the pattern shown them. Give them a heart that is broken, contrite and trembles at God’s Word.

Vs. 16

Joy, light, gladness, conversions and reverential fear of God and the people of God was the result.

• Lord, show forth Your power and outstretched arm in our days. Grant us the privilege to see Your glory cover the nations. Bend us and bring revival to the nations. Amen.

Join this HeartCry Prayer- Every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 11.30am-1.30pm (UK Time)

Europe: Mary, the Little One Who Became a Thousand

Join This HeartCry Prayer- Every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 11.30am -1.30pm (UK Time)

Isaiah 60:22 A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it in his time. 
Zachariah 4:6 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. 
Luke 1:23-38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. 

Luke 1:28-38 (KJV) 

And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 

And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 

And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 

And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.  For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

• Mary actually did nothing but accept the word of God that was given to her.
• Mary abandoned herself unto that word; it was a reckless abandonment to the word of God.
• Mary did not discuss this matter with anyone; her other friends who were also virgins but who has not received the same word, her parents, even her betrothed Joseph.
• Mary simply waited for the word of God to show forth in her body, then she wen to Elizabeth, who also had received a similar word from the Lord. 
• Note that it was the same word of God that pointed at her Elizabeth so both of them can watch , wait and believe God together.
• MARY SIMPLY BELIEVED GOD.

Believe meaning:

To accept that (something) is true, especially without proof.

Hebrew 3:7-19 (KJV)

Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, today if ye will hear his voice, 

Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, they do always err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So, I sware in my wrath, they shall not enter into my rest.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. 

For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So, we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. 

Hebrews 4:1-3 (KJV)

Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 

For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 

For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

What were Their fears?

• We are going to die in the hands of these giants in this wilderness.
• Actually, if death is the end for us, it was better if we died in Egypt.
• We were actually dying in Egypt but not in the numbers that will happen here.
• Our wives will become casualties of our folly to abandon all and follow this God and we are meant to protect our wives.
• Our young children will become another man’s child, servant or slave if they are not killed.
• We should have known there is no God that can do this; we have been fooled; our previous life of slavery although bad was better than this. 
• At least, we still could farm a little and after a day’s work we still had food, cucumbers, onions; and we still had each other.  

Number 14:11

The Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me disrespectfully and reject Me? And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the [miraculous] signs which I have performed among them?

And the Lord said to Moses, How long will this people provoke (spurn, despise) Me? And how long will it be before they believe Me [trusting in, relying on, clinging to Me], for all the signs which I have performed among them?

They forgot all these…

Aaron's rod is turned into a serpent.

Moses hands became leprous.

1. Water Is Turned into Blood

2. Frogs

3. Lice

4. Flies

5. Gnats

6. Boils

7. Thunder and Hail

8. Locusts

9. Darkness

10. The Firstborn Are Slain

The Spoiling the Egyptians

The Parting of the Red Sea

Pillar of cloud day and Pillar of fire by night

Healing the Bitter Waters of Marah

The Manna from Heaven

Water from the Rock at Rephidim

The Death of Nadab and Abihu

The Burning of the Congregation at Taberah

Clothes and shoes did not wear out for 40 years

Dangers of Unbelief

• So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
• They did not enter, although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
• God was grieved with them, so He swore in His anger that they will not enter that rest.
• They perished in the wilderness; estimated 1,078,000 adults (600,000 men, 400,000 women, 45,000 Levite men, 33,000 Levite women, plus adults among the mixed multitude).
• They delayed their children whom they originally said would die entering the Promised Land.
• God was still feeding them, clothing them, protecting them, shielding them from the elements, even though they were been kept for death.

Are we also forgetting something?

Romans 8:32

He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (KJV)

He that did not hesitate to spare his own Son but gave him up for us all—can we not trust such a God to give us, with him, everything else that we can need? (PHILLIPS)

Luke 1:45

And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

John 20:29

Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Who is going to believe God for Europe?

Prayer Points | Search Me O Lord!

Psalm 139:23-24

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (KJV)

Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong— then guide me on the road to eternal life. (MSG)

Prayer Points | Deliver Me from an Evil Heart of Unbelief

Hebrews 3:12

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. (KJV)

Take care, brothers and sisters, that there not be in any one of you a wicked, unbelieving heart [which refuses to trust and rely on the Lord, a heart] that turns away from the living God. (AMP)

[Therefore beware] brethren, take care, lest there be in any one of you a wicked, unbelieving heart [which refuses to cleave to, trust in, and rely on Him], leading you to turn away and desert or stand aloof from the living God. (AMPC)

Prayer Points | Let Me Labour Correctly to Enter This Rest

Hebrews 4:11,12,16

Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. (KJV)

Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], that no one may fall or perish by the same kind of unbelief and disobedience [into which those in the wilderness fell] (AMPC)

The two legs of the labour:

1. For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
2. 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 Points | Help Me to Labour in the Word of God

Hebrews 4:12,13

God means what he says. What He says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defence, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God’s Word. We can’t get away from it—no matter what. (MSG)

And not a creature exists that is concealed from His sight, but all things are open and exposed, naked and defenceless to the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do. (AMP)

Prayer Points | Help Me to Labour in Prayer

Hebrews 4:16

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (KJV)

Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with fullest confidence, that we may receive mercy for our failures and grace to help in the hour of need. (PHILLIPS)

Join This HeartCry Prayer- Every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 11.30am -1.30pm (UK Time)