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.