THE POWER IN PRAYING
Pastor Ebenezer Kayode @Sunday First Service
Starting his message by reading 2 Kings 20: 1 – 6 and Luke 18: 1 – 5, Pastor Ebenezer Kayode, while ministering at the September 1 Sunday first service, noted that commitment and persistence are two major platforms he considers critical to effectual prayer life.
He pointed out rightly that no one should ever give up on God. He declared, “We do not have any other choice but to stay on and focus on Him.”
Citing notable examples of the immense power and miraculous capacity embedded in consistent and persistent prayer, he quoted 1 Samuel 1:1–20. He mentioned that the Bible did not specify the number of years that Hannah had been praying, but her persistence on just one request was noted. He exhorted that God could have chosen to answer her from the first day if He so desired.
Pastor Ebenezer used Acts 12: 1-17 to show how the entire church prayed for divine intervention. He cited Jonah 3: 5–10 as another example of the importance of prayer in which a whole nation gathered to stand in the gap to escape God’s judgement. The exploits of Moses, Joshua, and Elijah were mentioned as he continued to lay emphasis on the importance and significance of prayer in the life of a Christian.
Probing the consciousness of the congregation, he asked whether these exploits could be replicated in our days. He answered in the affirmative, declaring that God has not changed. He used Isaiah 65:24 to show that God cares about answering the prayers of His children.
He admonished that prayer should never be abandoned if there is to be any enduring achievement in life. Pastor Ebenezer taught that education, skills, and competencies are all subjected to spiritual power. He advised that priority must be given to one’s spiritual walk with God to have desired impacts on people, whether in any area of endeavour.
For prayer to be effective, the Minister stated that it must be offered in faith with the understanding of one’s position in Christ. Secondly, he said it must be backed by obedience to God’s instructions. Thirdly, a Christian must live a life that is godly and reflects what he preaches. Lastly, he charged that appropriate declarations must be made daily to reflect the Word and those things that are desired.
THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER
Pastor Bimbo Abiona @ Sunday Second Service
You can pray anywhere, whether your scarf is on or not. As long as you have your head still intact, you can pray. Jonah prayed inside a fish. These were the words of Pastor Bimbo Abiona during her ministration at the September 4 Sunday second service.
“God will meet you anywhere you pray, whether in your bathroom, kitchen, toilet, or anywhere. Open your mouth and pray,” she said.
According to the clergy, prayer is the staff a Christian needs to walk with God. “Without prayer, you will become a meal for the devil. Prayer is a necessity; you don’t joke with prayer,” she said.
The clergy who intermittently interjected her message with prayer points noted that being prayerful should be a lifestyle of a believer. Citing Daniel and Jesus Christ, she said that believers must pray all the time. In her words, “If Jesus prayed, why won’t you, His child, pray? You have to resemble your Father.”
She stated, citing Luke 18:1 and Psalm 125, that prayer is more than just asking but also having faith in God, who loves His children. She added that prayer is a sacrifice, which would cost them time, sleep, and hard work. “Devote yourself to prayer. If you are not a prayerful person and think you can navigate this life, you are not serious,” she said.
She continued, “There is nothing good in this life that won’t cost you something. You pay the price to get the prize.”
Pastor Bimbo further noted from Revelation 1:3 that studying the word of God is one way of praying effectively. “You must read and study the word of God. You must be a student of the word. You must carry the word everywhere you go,” she said.
She therefore urged the congregation to never stop praying because it has a long-lasting effect on their lives and even their future. “It is prayer that turns the lemon life throws at you into a lemonade,” she said.
PRAY WITHOUT CEASING
Pastor Mary Fayemi @Thursday Showers Service
Pastor Mary Fayemi has urged believers to always pray and not faint, as admonished in the scripture. She made this known while ministering at the September 1 Thursday Showers service.
The clergy, who engaged the worshippers in a series of prayer sessions in continuation of the ongoing one-week long prayer and fasting programme in the church, said that when believers surrender themselves wholly before God and pour out their hearts in prayer, He will answer them.
Pastor Mary made several prayer points for the nation, Nigeria, the world, the church both globally and at The Fountain of Life Church, parents, and children, citing Romans 10:13-17; Ephesians 4:11-16; Isaiah 8:18; Ezekiel 18:1-4; Luke 19:35; and Colossians 2:15.
She also made prayer points for the Senior Pastor of the church, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, and also prayed for the zeal of evangelism on believers, adding that that is the assignment given to them by God.
Pastor Mary rounded up the prayer session with other prayers taken from Psalm 13; Isaiah 45:1-3; and Habakkuk 3:17-19.
