Healing Streams: Bible

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Monday, March 18, 2019

The Prayer of Release

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

The prayer of release is usually more of warfare, warfare in the sense that you are saying NO to the enemy who is withholding your God given blessings and resources from you. Quite significant is the fact that you are not in direct conflict with the enemy but that through fervent intercession, plea for mercy, acknowledgment of sins and cries for forgiveness of sins and cleansing so that the will of God is done in your life, the establishment and manifestation of His will in all goodness for your life, you tarry, spend quality time in God’s Presence for the release of God’s divine blessings.

Circumstances contrary to the word of God, the plans and purposes of God, the will of God can also precipitate the prayer of release as recorded in Acts Chapter 12 where constant prayer was offered to God for the release of Peter from death row. Peter was already condemned to death by Herod and would be killed at any point in time. But the Church did not give up praying because they trusted God to intervene and deliver Peter. God responded to their faith and set Peter free the night before he was to be killed by Herod. As evidenced by the constant prayer made by the Church for Peter, it is clear that the prayer of release is not always a one off activity until the desired result is gotten as in the case of Elijah’s prayer for rain. It is constant prayer; pray without ceasing as stated in the Bible in 1^st Thessalonians Chapter 5 verse 17. It is akin to the prayer God requested of the intercessors He placed in Jerusalem.

The prayer of release is also the divine assignment for the person who pronounces a prophecy as well as the person who receives the prophecy. The prayer of release is what happens between the prophecy and the manifestation of the prophecy. It is diligent work.

The prayer of release is usually preceded by a word from God, a prophecy, a promise, a desire for the manifestation of the word of God in the life of a person, family, Church, community or nation. The word of God had come forth that there would be rain after a period of drought and because Elijah knew that God Who does not lie, Who does not make empty promises had spoken, Elijah called down the rain in fervent, unceasing prayers to God after he had repaired the altar of God in Israel. Elijah prayed until there was a cloud in the skies. He did not stop praying until there was a manifestation. But for the mercy and grace of God, he would have been drenched in the rain. Please read 1^st Kings Chapter 18 for details and Holy Spirit inspired understanding.

You Can Call the Shots 3

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

O LORD our Lord, how excellent [is] thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all [things] under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, [and whatsoever] passeth through the paths of the seas. O LORD our Lord, how excellent [is] thy name in all the earth! Psalm 8 verses 1 to 9,

Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows. Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways. Job Chapter 22 verses 27 to 28.

The early Church called the shots severally. They refused to be silenced despite several harassments, threats to life and intimidation by the religious leaders of the day. As they chose to obey God rather than men (Acts Chapter 4 verses 18 to 31); the Church grew, the word of God multiplied and the believers were strengthened and comforted; and God worked many miracles by the hands of the Apostles.

Additionally, the early Church called the shots by rebuking sin, particularly the sin of deception and falsehood. The consequences of the sin of deception and falsehood by Ananias and Sapphira was enough warning and deterrent against sin as the Bible records that great fear came upon the Church and all those who heard the story. Please read Acts Chapter 5 verses 1 to 11 for details.

King Herod dared to stretch out his hand against the early Church. He took the Church unawares and killed James the brother of John. When Herod saw that his evil act against the Church pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter. However, the Church successfully called the shots against Herod’s harassment of the Church through constant prayer for the deliverance of the Apostle Peter from the unjust death sentence by King Herod. Though Peter was already sentenced and imprisoned; bound with two chains between two soldiers and surrounded by several other guards, about to be killed; the Church kept praying, praying without ceasing.

Guaranteed Deliverance 2

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Beloved, I am neither massaging your emotions nor telling you stories because I have nothing to do. I am sharing you with you what God wants you to know so that you can turn the seemingly dead or impossible situation around. God wants to intervene in your personal life as well as your nation. But you must do something by rising up to what God wants you to do. How He wants you to act to regain your freedom may be entirely different from mine but He wants to intervene in your situation. Besides, your situation differs from mine just as that of your nation differs from mine.

The lame man at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple was lame from birth; had grown into a man who could not fend for himself. In point of fact, he could in no way help himself as he had to be carried, probably on a daily basis to the gate of the temple, referred to as Beautiful where he daily asked for alms from those who entered the temple. A down trodden man at a beautiful gate; life can be quite ironical. What could be more indignifying, possibly hopeless! After all, he had been that way from birth and as far as he was concerned; that was probably his lot in life. So why not cope with it and stick to begging for alms.

But unknown to him, God had a different plan for him; a plan that would save him the daily embarrassment of being an inconvenience to people around him. Also, quite fortunately for him, he was at the gate when God came visiting in the form of Peter and John who were about to go into the temples. Significantly and quite instructive, the lame man asked for the usual pittance he got as alms. Please forgive the choice of the word pittance as I am only being realistic. This is because if he got anything substantial, he would not be there on a daily basis. How do I know he was there on a daily basis? Everyone who came to the temple knew him because at one time or the other he had stretched out his hands for alms. But God had something greater than alms for him on that day.

Guaranteed Deliverance

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

There is guaranteed deliverance for you and your nation; not by might nor by power but by the Spirit of the Lord. Please see Zechariah Chapter 4 verse 6. Therefore, do not give up; do not lose hope because the expectation of the righteous shall not be cut short. Your hopes concerning your nation may have been dashed severally; your personal dreams and aspirations have also been put on hold on account of what is going on in your nation; you have failed for the umpteenth time in business, academics, relationships and you have given up completely that things can never work out again; or perhaps you are on the verge of giving up completely or you have become pessimistic. Beloved, there is hope for you and your nation as God assures you of His guaranteed deliverance by His Spirit.

The valley of dry bones described in Ezekiel Chapter 37 verses 1 to 14 best describes the hopelessness, despair in the land of Israel. The people had given up hope describing their hope as lost. Please see verse 11. Yet at the instance of the Lord, life, strength and hope returned to the people as the prophet Ezekiel prophesied the words of God into the seemingly hopeless situation. Beloved, the miraculous transformation proves that nothing is too difficult for God to do. Please see Jeremiah Chapter 3 verses 27, 17 to 19 and Genesis Chapter 18 verses 13 to 14.

Sarah and Abraham were old and well past child bearing age yet because God had spoken the Bible records that they received strength to bear Isaac. The couple who had been childless for so many years and probably mocked; even written off as incapable of having their own biological children birthed Isaac, laughter. Please see Romans Chapter 4 verses 17 to 20, and Hebrews Chapter 11 verses 11 to 12. Beloved, you can also receive divine strength by the Spirit of God to receive guaranteed deliverance in your personal life and nation today in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. That seemingly dead or impossible situation can and will receive life by the Spirit of God to become flourishing streams of life, divine health, economic prosperity, academic excellence, etc that will bring you global honor, fame ad desirability in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.

The Place of Justice in Healing the Nations

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

King Solomon was feared and respected in the land of Israel because he administered justice in the land. It is significant to note that King Solomon’s ability to administer justice in the land was on account of the wisdom of God in him. On his own, Solomon would not have been able to administer justice in the land. But because Solomon had earlier on asked God for wisdom; an understanding heart to judge the people of God so that he would be able to discern between good and evil; he was able to administer justice in the land. The Bible records that the request of Solomon pleased the Lord and God Who always exceeds the expectations of His loved ones gave Solomon additional blessings. Please see 1^st Kings Chapter 3 verses 1 to 28, take note of verses 9 to 14, 27 to 28 and Ephesians Chapter 3 verse 20.

Beloved, the administration of justice in any land; even in families, corporations, institutions and communities is to a large extent pivotal to peace and economic prosperity in any land. The land of Israel experienced and enjoyed peace and economic prosperity during the reign of Solomon. Please see 1^st Kings Chapters 4 verses 24 to 34, take note of verses 24 to 25; 5 verse 12; 10 verses 24 to 29, take note of verse 27 and 2^nd Chronicles Chapter 9 verses 22 to 28. The land also enjoyed sustainable development, great international trade, fame ad human capacity development. A good number of Israelites were trained in Tyre to cut timber and prepare for building. Please see 1^st Kings Chapter 5 verses 13 to 14.

The example of Solomon implies that the administration of justice in any land is pivotal and therefore a critical factor of peace, economic prosperity, infrastructural and human capacity development in the land. That explains why the mother of King Lemuel counseled King Lemuel to avoid promiscuity and intoxicating drink so that he would give prime attention to the law; he would not forget the law and pervert justice in the land. She further counseled him to speak for the speechless, the voiceless and vulnerable in the society; judge righteously and plead the cause of the poor and needy in the land. Please see Proverbs Chapter 31 verses 1 to 9. This counsel is very significant for anyone who aspires to lead over people. This is because justice is a firm ladder for leading successfully and living a legacy of peace, economic prosperity and happiness in the land.

Your Tongue can be a Healing Stream

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

The wise use of the tongue can ensure that your tongue becomes a healing stream. Please see Proverbs Chapter 15 verses 7, 23, 28, 14, 40, 4; 10 verses 11, 13, 20 to 21, 31 to 32; 12 verse 18, 16 verses 20 to 24; 15 verse 30.

One of the most pressing problems in the world today is the way people use their tongues. Hate speech is pervasive in spite of laws that have been enacted globally against the trend. People enjoy cursing; using four letter words, invectives at the slightest provocation. Unfortunately, this trend is fast becoming pervasive among Christians as some Christians are quick to use their tongues to make negative pronouncements against people who hurt them and abuse people who misbehave or are rude to them. This worrisome trend has assumed frightful dimensions as even some ordained Ministers of the gospel pronounce curses on people who offend or hurt them, use invectives against other people even from the pulpit. Beloved, this is not right. The Scriptures do not permit such behavior. Please see Numbers Chapter 16 verses 12 to 35, 17 verses 1 to 7.

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ consistently and always used His tongue as a healing stream just as God ordained for Him to do. Please Luke Chapter 4 verse 18 to 19, Isaiah Chapter 61 verses 1 to 3, John Chapter 6 verse 63. Severally, Jesus Christ used His tongue to bring healing, comfort, hope, life, deliverance and freedom from all kinds of oppression to great multitudes. Please see Acts Chapter 10 verse 38, Mark Chapter verses 17 to 27, Luke Chapter 9 verses 38 to 43 for details of His ministration to the epileptic boy; Luke Chapter 13 verses 11 to 16 for details of His ministry to the woman who was bent over for eighteen years; Matthew Chapter 9 verses 20 to 22, Luke Chapter 8 verses 43 to 48, Mark Chapter 5 verses 25 to 34 for details of the kind words He spoke to the woman with the issue of blood; Mark Chapter 5 for His ministry to the Gadarene demoniac. A number of other examples can be found in the gospels, Matthew through to John.

Consecrate Yourself to God

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

A consecrated person is more likely to be used of God to bring healing to the nations. Consecration means usable by the Master. It is one thing to be used by God to do things in the house of God without sanctification and another to be used by God, which is to minister to God and minister the grace of God to the people of God. It is impossible to be consecrated without being sanctified. You should therefore ensure that you do not serve around the temple but in the temple. The prophet Samuel was both sanctified and consecrated. If Jesus sanctified himself, then you should also sanctify yourself. Let this be your desire and commitment. Please see Romans Chapter 6 verse 22, John Chapter 17 verse 19.

Sanctification is to be set apart by God for God unto a holy life. Sanctification is separation from an unholy life. Sanctification is a purging process that is facilitated by the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer filled with the Holy Spirit and is submissive to the Holy Spirit at all times. Please see Romans Chapter 15 verse 16. Sanctification is your conscious effort to please God. It is your progressive growth to conform to Jesus Christ. Please see Philippians Chapter 2 verse 12, Acts Chapter 13 verses 2 and 3 and John Chapter 17 verse 17. Sanctification is progressive and it is your responsibility. Sanctification in speech is also important. A call to sanctification is a call to promotion. Salvation motivates sanctification. There can be no sanctification if there is no salvation. It is therefore important not to underscore salvation. Please see 2^nd Timothy Chapter 2 verses 20 to 22. Salvation is not a feeling because feelings change. You don’t feel salvation; you know it and you must have the assurance. A Christian life should consist of salvation, sanctification and consecration.

Schools of belief and opinions differ on sanctification and salvation. Please see 1^st Corinthians Chapter 6 verse 11 and James Chapter 1 verses 22 to 25. Sanctification begins with salvation and is progressive based on James Chapter 1 verses 22 to 25. The motivation for sanctification and consecration is salvation. A life that is not saved cannot be sanctified and cannot be consecrated.

Enjoy God’s wall of Fire

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her. Zechariah Chapter 2 verse 5

Violence, anarchy, bloodletting, warfare, armed robbery, kidnapping, piracy are not new. They have always been part of man from the beginning of creation. Cain killed his brother Abel because he was jealous of Abel’s success. Thereafter, bloodletting in diverse forms has been insisting on becoming the norm of life.

God the Creator and owner of the universe offers to be a wall of fire around you, your loved ones, your home, building, compound and estate. It is the greatest privilege and honor in life because God takes over all your battles so that you can rest and give Him the glory. He fights your battles and barricades the enemy from accessing you or anything that belongs to you.

Everything created by God can become either a weapon of destruction or safety and security in the hands of God depending on what divide a person is in. Fire destroys, consumes people that God is angry with. That same fire also becomes a wall of divine defence, security and peace to the people of God when God chooses to be a wall of fire around His people.

God’s wall of fire is an impenetrable fortress because God’s wall of fire is God Himself and nothing, no one no matter how powerful, how numerous can break through God. Every power bows to God. Besides, God does not move alone – the innumerable company of angels, heavenly hosts and chariots of fire that accompany God will mop up any force contending with the person God is protecting. Therefore, do not fear. When God comes down as a wall of fire around you, then nothing can come against you because God is watching over you with His love and compassion.

Have the Eyes of Faith

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

The Bible defines faith as the evidence of things not seen. Please see Hebrews Chapter 11 verse 1. Faith should be in God. Please see Mark Chapter 11 verses 22 to 24 and Acts Chapter 3 verse 16. Faith is not static which explains why the Bible instructs believers to grow in faith. Please see 2^nd Thessalonians Chapter 1 verse 3.

There are dimensions of faith such as great faith, little faith and zero faith.

The Centurion in Capernaum demonstrated great faith when he requested that Jesus should simply speak the word so that his sick servant at home would be healed. Please see Matthew Chapter 8 verses 5 to 13. So also did the woman with the issue of blood recorded in Luke Chapter 8 verses 43 to 48 and Mark Chapter 5 verses 25 to 34. The exploits of King David also speak of someone who always exercised great faith. Please see 1^st Samuel Chapter 17. The Syro Phoenician woman who requested healing for her daughter despite being referred to as a dog (Matthew Chapter 15 verses 22 to 28) demonstrated great faith as she kept asking to receive. The friends of the paralytic took faith to another level when they decided to bring their sick friend to Jesus through the roof. Please see Luke Chapter 5 verses 17 to 20. They had absolute confidence that Jesus would heal their friend and Jesus did.

The Place of Knowledge in the Healing of the Nations 2

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

God is the author of knowledge. Please see 1^stSamuel Chapter 2 verse 3, Proverbs Chapter 2 verses 1 to 5.

Ask God for the grace to proclaim the good tidings of His knowledge that dispels darkness and brings good news, peace, expansion, salvation, deliverance, et all to humanity. Please see Isaiah Chapter 52 verse 7, 61 verses 1 to 4, Luke Chapter 4 verses 18 to 19.

Pray that you will always be willing to proclaim the word. Please see Psalm 68 verse 11.

Pray that believers and disciples will grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as stated in 2^nd Peter Chapter 3 verse 18.

Pray that God in His infinite mercy will destroy whatever is blinding the minds of people held in satanic captivity of mental and spiritual strongholds in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.

Pray that God will show them mercy and open their hearts to receive and believe the gospel so that they will be saved and become children of God in the mighty name of Jesus Christ – John Chapter 3 verses 16 to 18, 1 verse 12.

Pray that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ in the image of God should shine on them to eliminate every form of spiritual darkness in their lives in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Please see 2^nd Corinthians Chapter 4 verses 3 to 4.

Pray that God in His infinite mercy will build and plant salvation by faith in Christ Jesus – the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus so that Christ will dwell in their hearts by faith, the eyes of their understanding to be enlightened to know their inheritance in Christ Jesus.

Pray that they will have definite life transforming encounters with the word of God and if need be encounter Jesus just as Saul did and he became Paul – missionary extraordinaire.

Pray that every satanic veil blocking their eyes of understanding should be destroyed so that all the lies, deceit, ignorance orchestrated by the enemy will be destroyed even as the veil was torn when Jesus paid the supreme price for the redemption of man. Please see Ephesians Chapter 1 verses 16 to 25, 3 verses 16 to 19, 2^nd Corinthians Chapter 10 verses 3 to 6, Jeremiah Chapter 1 verse 10, Luke Chapter 2 verse 45, Psalm 2, 2^nd Corinthians Chapter 3 verses 14, 4 verses 3 to 4, Ephesians Chapter 6 verses 12 to 1, Ezekiel Chapter 13 verses 17 to 23.

The Place of Knowledge in the Healing of the Nations 1

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

The Bible records that the people of God perished for lack of knowledge. Please see Hosea Chapter 4 verse 6, Isaiah Chapter 5 verse 13, Malachi Chapter 2 verses 1 to 8, note verse 7, Ezra Chapter 7 verses 6, 10 to 11, Nehemiah Chapter 8 verses 1 to 18, Proverbs Chapter 28 verse 2.

Knowledge, the right and accurate information anyone requires to make informed choices is also a critical determinant in the healing of the nations. This is because ignorance of God’s ways will make peoples and nations live contrary to God’s ways. But with the right information about God and salvation as well as the benefits of salvation, peoples and nations will have a choice – whether to live for God or walk in their own ways. Knowledge therefore enlightens and empowers to transform. Please see Proverbs Chapters 24 verses 4 to 5, 14; 27 verses 23 to 27. Knowledge also enlightens, enriches and empowers; as well as strengthens nations to transform – the nation is filled with all precious and pleasant riches, the nation is strengthened, has prospects and its hope will not be cut off.

This is to say that what nations need to come out of darkness, oppression, insecurity, economic doldrums and all forms of limitation is the knowledge, the knowledge of God. Additionally, nations should be ruled by people of understanding and knowledge because right is also prolonged in a nation blessed with a man of understanding and knowledge. Please see Proverbs Chapter 28 verse 2. When Moses chose leaders from among the twelve tribes of Israel, one of the criteria for choosing leaders was knowledgeable men and not ignorant men. Please see Deuteronomy Chapter 1 verses 13 to 15. Ezra the teaching priest and Huldah, the prophetess who interpreted the word of God were people of knowledge.