Prayer

TABLE OF CONTENT

1. TABLE OF CONTENT 1



2. PRAYER POWER FOR CHURCH GROWTH 2 -5



3. QUALITIES OF A PRAYING CHURCH 6-8



4. DEVELOPING A FRUITFUL PRAYER LIFE 9 - 15



5. MINISTRY OF PRAYER 16 - 19



6. THE EFFECTIVE PRAYER WARRIOR 20 - 22



7. MUST FOR PRAYER PATNERS 23 - 24



8. PRAYER WALKING: KEY TO EXPLOSIVE IMPACT 25 - 28



9. POSSESSING THE GATES OF THE ENEMY 29 - 31



10. PULLING DOWN STRONGHOLD IN THE CHURCH 32 - 35



11. INTERCESSION FOR GROWTH 36 - 40



12. INTERCESSION FOR LEADERS 41 - 44



13. SPIRITUAL WARFARE 45 - 47



14. SPIRITUAL BATTLE FOR EVANGELISM 48 - 50



15. DELIVERANCE IN TODAY’S CHURCH 51 - 55



16. CHURCH AT THE SEAT OF SATAN 56 - 58

PRAYER POWER FOR CHURCH

GROWTH

We greatly need to learn and relearn that increase, growth, development and progress can

only come to God‟s work through the supernatural power of God (I Cor. 3:16. Ps.127:1)



Fruitfulness in God‟s work is a supernatural process (Jos.15:15). Our excellent

leadership, organizational structure, preaching and teaching programmes or such like,

cannot produce growth and progress in the church unless we learn to draw down the

mighty arm of the Lord through prayer.



The key for all growth lies in the prayer life. If the churches don‟t have a prayer

emphasis, the planning, preaching and programming will be powerless. Prayer must return

as the main business of our life and church. Prayer, believing prayer is God‟s price for

supernatural power in our life and church. “No prayers, no conversions; no prayer, no

power, no prayer, no church growth”.



1. PRAYER AND CHURCH GROWTH



The church, a living organism, with Christ as the head must receive the inflow of life from

Christ if it is to grow. As the body of Christ, growth is fundamental, since the head of the

church is alive. Growth is natural to living organisms. But for true growth quantity,

quality, observable, and expansion, the principles of prayer must be foundational in the

church. Corporate and personal prayers an essential sign of growth found in every

growing church. The church that never prays never grows.



2. THE CHURCH IN ACTS – Act 1:13-14; 2:1-4; 3:1-10; 4:23-31;6:4;12:5;13:1-

3;14:23.



The first church made much of prayer. The early church was a praying church as well as a

working church, and it was a working church because it was a praying church. As soon as it

was born it began to pray and it grew in strength and efficiency as its prayer life developed.

None can deny the prayer factor in the early church. We must learn then, that without

increasing the number of Christian workers or their financial support, we could see

multiplied results, if we multiply prayer.



3. EXAMPLE OF APOSTLE PAUL - I Tim.2:8; 2:1; Phil 4:6; I Thes.5:1-18;

Gal.4:19; Eph.3:14-20; 1:15, 19; Phil.l:4; Col.l:9-12.



We could see that prayer was the highest exercise in the life of Apostle Paul and

assumed the same high place in his teaching and practice. He linked the growth of the

church, the spirituality of the converts and their spiritual enlightenment and upliftment to

prayer. We can safely conclude then that without fervent, importunate and believing prayer

the church cannot truly experience growth life of the church. The church with the least

developed prayer ministry records least growth. The decline of the church is the testimony

of the neglect of prayer.



4. PRAYER MUST HAVE FIRST PRIORITY



Prayer must become number one ministry in the church. It is when we accord prayer such

high priority that supernatural growth will come. You need to ponder the following facts:



1. Prayer is number one with God - Mat.7:7-11; Gen.4:26; Isa.45:11



2. Jesus Christ made prayer number one – Mark 1:35; Luke. 6:13



3. Prayer is number one with the HOLY SPIRIT - Rom.8:26



4. Prayer is number one purpose and use of God‟s word - Eph.6:18



5. Prayer is number one in the life of faith - Jam.1:5-8



6. Prayer is number one in the battle against Satan - 2 Cor. 10:4-5



7. Prayer is number one ministry of the church – Act 1:14; 6:4



8. We cannot stumble when we are on our knees.



CONTEMPORARY EXAMPLES



David Yonggi Cho of the famous Korean church attributed the spectacular growth of

his church to the highly developed prayer ministry of the church. He says “Church

growth is 60% prayer and 40% principles and methods”. Furthermore, „you could

remove the powerful preaching from our church and it would still continue. You could

remove the administration of pastoral care through the cell group system and the

church would still continue. But if you remove the prayer life of our church, the

growth would collapse.”



At the time of the declaration of the people‟s republic of China in October 1949,

Christians were numbered 700,000 to I million. In 1991 the estimate varied from

conservative twenty to fifty million. But in June 1993, the state statistic Bureau report

of the Republic of China officially declared that there were 63 million

protestant and 12 million catholic Christians in China. Recent statistics says 25,000

people are getting saved daily. What is of equal interest is that this phenomenon has

occurred without outside assistance and infact, it is claimed that apart from prayer no

external help is needed. Pastor Wang Mengdao explained, “we have nothing - no

pastors, no churches, no Bibles - nothing! We only have God. Therefore we go

to Him in desperation” Through prayer God is their first, only and last resort.



Las Acasia Evangelical Pentecostal Church in Caracas, Venezuela, has grown from 500

to 3,000 in the last decade. For sixteen hours a day, 5.00a.m. - 9.00p.m. People are

praying in the sanctuary. Pastor Samuel Olson attributed prayer as the major factor

for the growth. He says‟ “If you take away our prayer ministry our growth would

cease and sputter out”



Sidlow Baxter says “I have pastored only three churches in my more than sixty years

of ministry. We had revival in everyone. And not one of them came as a result of my

preaching. They came as a result of membership entering into a covenant to pray

until revival came. And it did come, every time”.



At second Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, Pastor Ed Young saw membership

increase by thousand two in 1987. He claimed that nothing much was happening until

their church became a “house of prayer” in 1982.



From these examples we note that “the key for all growth lies in the prayers life”.



6. LEVELS OF PRAYER FOR GROWTH



a. The pastor as a man of prayer - Lk.6:12; Mark 1:35.



If he doesn‟t set the example the people will not follow. His people must know him as a

prayerful leader. Pastors tend to be activists, yet they must get serious enough about the

growth of their church to create time for prayer.



b. Prayer Concerts



i. Personal prayer life of people

ii. Family alters

iii. House groups prayer meetings

iv. Prayer warriors - men, women, evenings or vigils

v. Intercessors - part or full time

vi. Prayer rooms or mountains - where people can come and

pray

vii. School of prayer - run courses on prayer

viii. Minister of prayer - take charge of the church prayer minister

ix. Week of prayer

x. Specialized prayer team for programmes.



c. Corporate prayers

ü Early morning prayers

ü Powerful prayers before services

ü Sanctifying the church for services

ü Prayers during and after services

ü Weekend prayers and fastings

ü Fasting for volunteers on public holidays

ü Protracted periods of fasting and seeking God.



These prayers in the church will signify the seriousness of prayer for all to see and when

persistency, fervency, and importunity are part and parcel of them; supernatural growth will

definitely be the outcome.

QUALITIES OF A PRAYING CHURCH

If the church is going to operate positively in this negative world, there is need for us to be

a praying church. The church is the only solution to the problem of the world. And until the

church begin to exercise her authority in prayer, nothing will be done.



For the purpose of the church to be realized, and be a force not a figure in this

millennium, we must dare to prayer. Prayer is the power and backbone of the church.

Without prayer, no church growth. For our church to grow, multiply, increase and to flourish

in this end time, prayer is number one. Act. 1:14; Ps. 92:10; Mat. 16:18; II Pet.3:18. The

gate of hell will not prevail against a praying church.



A. The need for a Praying Church



i. Increasing wickedness and evil - II Tim. 2:8

ii. Abounding sin and transgression

iii. Disease and sickness runs rampant

iv. Dishonesty reigns in society

v. Death destroys easily - murder, suicide, abortion, poverty, wars.

vi. Devil and his cohorts are having a field day

vii. Occultic powers are mushrooming



These above mentioned needs show the reality of a praying church, they combined to make

the majority of the people of the world despaired and miserable in life.



b. Positive Impact of a Praying Church - Matt. 16:18; Act. 2:17-18;

Isa. 6-7



Jesus has come, the world would never remain the same again and He had given the

church the key of the kingdom (Prayer) to bind and lose. Now the church has possessed

100% authority of God to make positive impact in the communities. While sin and evil are

abounding on one side, at the other side, God is pouring out His Spirit upon all flesh like

never before. It is through the outpouring of God‟s Spirit that the church will be able to

bring positive impact to a negative world.



i. Forgiveness, hope and restoration

ii. Renewal, revival and rebuilding

iii. Healings, signs and wonders

iv. Miracles, blessings and deliverance

v. Victory, prosperity and success galore

vi. Progress, promotion and peace

vii. Rapid and lasting growth



Balance For a Praying Church



Building a praying church is inevitable. A praying church that will experience turnaround in

her services must balance their praying activities with these things!.



 Purity with prayer

 Healing with Holiness

 Faith with faithfulness

 Power with pureness



c. Qualities For a Praying Church



1. Strong and praying pastor - like pastor, like church



2. Embrace change - by changing their praying attitude .



3. Believe in prayer ministry - a praying church must take prayer as a process not a

programme



4. Special presence of Holy Spirit - Holy Spirit is the spirit of prayer, and He is

interceding in us always.



5. Intercession - Standing in the gap for others is the best prayer.



6. Listen and obey the Spirit - Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit is the key to higher level



7. Faith - A praying church prays until something happen



The church must not exist as a figure but as a force. The church that God is looking for

today is a praying church.



D. 7 Must for Praying Ministers

 You must have prayer burden

 You must have a prayer life and maintain it

 You must have a holy life

 You must have a good thought life

 You must have personal growth .

 You must have relationship with intercessors

 You must be humble.

DEVELOPING A FRUITFUL PRAYER

LIFE

One alarming trend of saints of these last days is failure to maintain quality and fruitful

prayer life. Personal prayer life is accorded little importance. The more reason there is too

much shallowness. Developing a fruitful prayer denotes the fact that we recognize and give

necessary importance to prayer. Prayer should play major role in our Christian life. Our

prayers should be result -oriented, fruitful; testimonies of answers to prayers must be

regular experience of our Christian lives.



We should be careful enough to nurture and build our prayer life to the extent that our

whole living revolves around the continuous growth and progress of our prayer life. Until

prayer becomes the main business of our life and church, there can be no growth. A fruitful

prayer life is not a monologue but a dialogue. A two way communication. A personal and

fruitful prayer life is basic to godly living. The private life is the secret of great growth and

usage.



1. The Bible on Prayer life - Lamentation 3:56.



The Bible does not leave us in doubt as to the importance of maintaining a prayer life.

Prayer is the Christian‟s native air, the breath of the believer. Since the fall of man it has

become necessary to pray in order to receive help and maintain an open communication

with the creator - Gen.4:26. The more reason there are numerous commands in the bible

concerning prayer - I Chr.16:11; Ps.65:2; Isa.56:7; Lk.18:1; Matt.26:41; I Thes.5:17;

Jam.5:13.



All those who walked with God and who amount to anything in life have maintained a

prayer life. Enoch - Gen.5:22-24; Noah - Gen.8:20-21; Abraham - Gen.12:8; 13:4; Isaac -

25:20-21; Moses - Deut.9:25; Samuel - I Sam.25: 11; Elijah - Kings 17: 1-3; Elisha - 2 Kings

4:33-35. Daniel - Oan.9:1O; Jesus - Mark.l:35; 6:46; Lk.5:15-16; 6:12; 9:8; 22:41-42.



These Biblical examples show to us that the key to knowing and enjoying profound

relationship with God lies in the prayer life. Your greatest lack therefore is that you do not

know how to pray. Developing a personal and fruitful prayer life with God is the key to

walking with God and being mightily used by him.



2. God’s intention - Gen.3:8; Pro.8:30-31; Ps.16:3.



God‟s original intention in creation was to fellowship and have intimate communion with the

man. God desires to share fellowship time with his creatures. His delight is with the sons of

men for communion and fellowship. The fellowship was destroyed by sin, yet it was

restored through Jesus. The call of God to us now is a call of love to come and share in His

divine love for us. We cannot really know and enjoy God if we have no time to commune

and fellowship with Him. Spending time in His presence will inflame and empower you.



3. The fact of Prayer Life - Job.l:5; Act. 10: 1-4; 9-16.



God desires intimate communion with his people. We cannot develop a deep, rich prayer as

long as we look at prayer as a command and duty of Christians. It is only when we see

prayer as a relationship will we see the need to develop and maintain a fruitful prayer life.

Prayer as a loving relationship between God and man. “What you love you worship; true

prayer, real prayer is nothing but loving; what you love, that you pray to” - Augustine of

Hippo. „Prayer is love in need appealing to love in power”





1. Servant relationship

2. Sonship relationship

3. Father relationship

4. Friendship relationship

5. Daddy relationship

6. My Daddy relationship

7. Favourite relationship.



The lowest stage is the servant relationship - sadly many are rooted there. The more we

have a fruitful prayer life, the rnore we move up in our relationship with the Lord. We

cannot attain a high, deep, rich relationship of a favourite in one day. It takes time and

persistent and continuous fellowship and communion with the Lord.



4. The Necessity of Prayer Life - Act.6:4; Pro.8: 17; Ps. 63: 1



Having a prayer life is so much important that without it there will be no growth. The

progress and development of our personal, public, family and business life de end on our

prayer life. “Prayer is the guide to perfection, and delivers us from every vice, and gives us

every virtue; for the one way to become perfect is to walk in the presence of God” Madame

Guyon.



“Prayer has the salutary effect of purifying, refining and enabling our heart. It banished evil

thoughts, and thus saves us much pain and sorrow”. To be prayerless is to be without God -

without Christ, without grace - without hope - and without heaven. It is to be on the road to

hell” – J.C. Ryle. Here are few points to further underscore its importance to every

Christian:



a. No growth and progress

b. Victorious living will be a mirage

c. Carnality and the flesh will have upper hand

d. Guilt and condemnation in the heart

e. Confusion and bewilderment

f. Touchy, irritating and quarrelsome

g. Unstable Christian testimony

h. Shone of glory and blessing

i. Hard and bitter blows of life.



Richard Newton says “the principal cause of my leanness and unfruitfulness is owing to an

unaccountable backwardness to pray”. We can safely conclude then that he that flees from

prayer flees form all that is good.



5. Hindrances to a Prayer Life - James.4:2



The devil is aware of the tremendous necessity of a prayer life that he does all he can to

hinder its practice. This is the jugular vein that the devil goes for in every Christian‟s life.

Victory for him here is victory everyday and every time. His first method is to hinder

through sin, guilt, condemnation in the heart, unforgiving spirit, doubt, hatred,

Lukewarmness and wrong motive. If he fails here then he will come through activities,

labours, tiredness, excuse making, visitors, children, fear, sleep, and eating, general lack of

interest and thought of no time.



However, we must rise above all these hindrances by the blood of Jesus and

watchfulness in order to maintain a prayer life. Remembering that Satan rocks the cradle

when we sleep or neglect our devotions. .



Don‟t forget what Samuel Chadwick said “the one concern of the devil is to keep the saints

from praying. He fears nothing from prayerlessness studies, work, and Christian activity. He

laughs at our toil, mocks our wisdom, but trembles when we pray”.



6. Tremendous Benefits of Prayer Life - Mark.1:35; Luke.6:12-13



No one should give the answer that it is impossible for a man occupied with business cares

to pray always. You can set up an altar to God in your mind by means of prayer. And so it is

fitting to pray at your office, shop, on a journey, standing at a corner or sitting at your

handicraft. Without these personal times of communion with the Lord we are failures.



Nothing can atone for lack of private and secret praying. Without it we lose in many ways.

Personal prayer life is important and beneficial in these following ways:



a Fresh and daily infusion of grace, mercy, power and blessings

b Guidance and light needed

c Kept burning and alive to God

d Strong bulwark against temptation and attack of Satan.

e Maintaining first love and faithfulness

f. Fruitfulness in the Christian life

g Deeper understanding and knowledge of God

h Refreshing presence of God

i. Victorious living and expectation of rapture

j Restoration and revival.



“Prayer is a powerful thing, for God has bound and tied himself thereto. None can believe

how powerful prayer is, and what it is able to effect, but those who have learned it by

experience” Martin Luther. .

Do no forget prayer. Every time you pray, if your prayer is sincere, there will be new feeling

and new meaning in it, which will give you fresh courage.

E.M. Bounds wrote “God‟s acquaintance is not made hurriedly. He does not bestow his gifts

on the casual or hasty comer and goer. To be much alone with God is the secret of knowing

him and of influence with him”.



7. Developing a Prayer Life - Jam.5:16-18



We must fight for our prayer life. The devil and the flesh plus the pressures of life will make

sure it does not exist. But we must realize that the great leaders of the Bible were not

leaders because of brilliancy of thought, because they were exhaustless resources, because

of their magnificent culture or native endowment, but because, by the power of prayer,

they could command the power of God. Ways to develop a prayer life are:



i. Study yourself



Know the amount of sleep you need for a night. Every normal human being needs six hours

sleep, some need seven a night. Know yourself either as an early or late worker and

schedule your prayer time. John Bunyan counsels “make conscience of beginning the day

with God, and the best way to begin the day well is to begin it the night before”.



ii. Set a particular time



Either morning, evening or night, even afternoon, find a convenient time for yourself;

through early morning is the Biblical model - Gen. 19:27; Exo.34:4; Judges 6:38; Job 1:5;

Mark 1:35. The heart of man is like a soup - without daily warming it will stink and decay.

We must receive daily manna if we are to live properly for God.



iii. Deny Yourself



To maintain a daily prayer life will demand sacrifice of some things. Self indulgence is the

law of death, while self denial is the law of life. Late night television, visitations, useless

conversation, heavy foods must be done away with.

iv. Pray for your prayer life - James 1:5



Prayer for our prayer life is vital if we are to have a truly effective and fruitful life of prayer.

Ask God for a prayer life and continue to maintain a quality and fruitful life of prayer.

Whenever you detect weariness, doubt and reluctance to pray, ask God for strength and

renewal.



v. a. Format for a life of Prayer.



1 Thanksgiving and praise - Ps.100:4

2 Sing unto God

3 Gratitude for who He is and for what He has done.



b. Confession and Cleansing - I Jn.21



1 Invite a search

2 Don‟t be deceived

3 Receive forgiveness



c. Offering up your life



1 Surrender your day to God

2 Show childlike need

3 Ask for specific guidance

4 Obey instructions.



d. Family and Church



1 Each member of the family

2 Immediate family needs

3 The church family

4 Remember those who ask for your prayers

5 Lift up the pastor/minister.



e. Intercession for the Nation:



1 The rulers of the nation/peace

2 Intercession for the nation

3 Spiritual warfare for the nation



f. Pray for yourself

1 Need for fresh grace and power

2 Physical and material needs

3 Urgent requests

4 Listening to the Holy Spirit

5 Praying in tongues

6 Thanksgiving and praise.



Following this format will take you at least one full hour, which is the set time by our Lord

(Mat.26:40) and as you are opportune it can be stretched to two, three hours. Note

answers to your prayers and thank God. “Endeavours even times a day to withdraw from

business and company and lift up thy soul to God in private prayer” - Adoniram Judson.



8. Securing you prayer life - Isa.40:28-30.



This would demand serious efforts on our part. The devil would contest for each step of the

way. Men of God in history have realized the importance of the prayer life that they

consider it as the number one battle ground to conquer. The lay so much importance to it

that every other thing takes secondary position. Securing your prayer life from becoming

casual, monotonous, weak, shallow and powerless would require you take the following

steps.



a. Constant watchfulness

b. Special day of fasting and waiting upon the Lord.

c. Seasons of waiting upon the Lord

d. Seeking renewal and restoration each time there is failure

e. Balance it out with study and Christian literature

f. Guard against pride and self confidence.



Finally, brethren, I have read the lives of many eminent Christians who have been on earth

since the Bible days. Some of them, I see, were rich and some poor. Some were learned,

some unlearned. Some of them were Presbyterians, and some catholic. Some have loved to

use a liturgy, and some choose to use none. But one thing I see, they all had in common -

they all have been men of prayer.









MINISTRY OF PRAYER

If God must work and growth and revival experienced at this time, we must return to our

prayer chamber. The sin of prayerlessness must be dealt with. Lukewarmness, coldness,

tiredness and listlenessness in prayer must be taken away. Prayer must return as the MAIN

BUSINESS of our life and church. The church must elevate prayer to ministry status.



Prayer, believing prayer is God‟s price for supernatural power in our life and in the church.

“No prayers, no conversion; no prayer, no power, no growth. Prayer then is not option, but

mandatory, if growth must occur. The church that never prays never grows.



A. Scriptural foundation: 1 Chro.16:11; Ps.2:8; Luke 18:1; I Thes. 5:13; I

Tim.2:8; John 16:24; Matt.7:7; Mat.21:13.



Prayer is emphasized for three main reasons.



1. If you don‟t ask, you don‟t receive - Gen.26: Jam.4:2 2.

2. God‟s intervention in our lives will be based on our prayers. -Mat.18:18.

3. Case studies of God‟s working in churches and generations have one recurring factor

- Prayer Act. 1:13-14.

- The first century church - Act. 1:13-14

- Paul‟s ministry – Gal.4:19; Col.1:9-12; Phi1.4:6

- Contemporary church- Korea, Argentina, China and U.S.A.



We can safely conclude then that without fervent, importunate, believing prayer the church

cannot truly experience growth. Church growth is related to the prayer life of the church.

The church with the least developed prayer ministry records least growth. The decline of

the church is the testimony to the neglect of prayer.



B. Prayer must have first priority



Prayer must be given a ministry status in the church. Prayer must become the number one

ministry of the church. It is when we accord prayer such priority that supernatural growth

will come. Consider the following.



? Prayer is number one with God - Isa.45: 11

? Prayer is number one with Jesus Christ – Mark 1:35; Luke 6:13

? Prayer is number one with Holy Spirit - Rom.8:26

? Prayer is number one purpose and use of God‟s word - Eph.6:18.

? Prayer is number one in the life of faith - Jam.5:8

? Prayer is number one in the battle against Satan - 2 Cor.10:4-5

? Prayer is number one ministry of the church - Acts.1:14; 6:4; Mat.21:13

C. Prayer that touches Heaven



Prayer is not preparation for battle only, it is the main battle. The prayer that will bring

growth, health and world evangelization must include warfare. It is such prayer that will

touch heaven. The prayer that touches heaven is the one that brings results answers,

growth, power, change and blessings to our lives and churches.



 Prayer is number one with God - Isa.45: 11

 Prayer is number one with Jesus Christ - Mark 1:35; Luke 6:13

 Prayer is number one with Holy Spirit - Rom.8:26

 Prayer is number one purpose and use of God‟s word - Eph.6:18.

 Prayer is number one in the life of faith - Jam.5:8

 Prayer is number one in the battle against Satan - 2 Cor. 10:4-5

 Prayer is number one ministry of the church – Acts 1:14; 6:4; Mal 21:13



The prayer that touches heaven is the:



 Prayer with faith – Mark 11:22-25; Jam.1:5-8

 Prayer from a pure heart – I Tim. 2:8; I John. 3:22

 Praying according to His will - Jam.4:2-3

 Praying with fasting – Mal.17:21

 Praying with earnestness - James 5:16-l8

 Praying with persistence – Mal.15:21-28; John 20:10-18



D. Prayer as ministry



The key for all growth lies in the prayer life. If the church don‟t have a prayer emphasis the

planning, preaching and programming will be powerless.



1. Pastor as man of prayer – Luke.6:12; Act 6:4



If he doesn‟t set the example the people will not follow. His people must know

him as a man of deep prayer. Pastors tend to be activists, yet they must get

serious enough about the growth of their church to create time for prayer.



2. Prayer concerts.



? Personal prayer life of people

? Family alters

? Minister of prayer

? Group prayer meetings

? Prayer warriors

? School of prayer

? Week of prayer

? Specialized prayer team for programmes



3. Corporate prayers – Mat.18:19; Acts12:5-10; Eccl.4:9-1O



 Early morning prayers

 Prayer before service (workers)

 Prayer during and after service

 Weekend prayer and fasting

 Using public holidays for prayer and fasting

 Declaring periods of waiting upon God.



4. Intercessor - I Tim.2:1-2



 Men and women gifted for intercession

 Part time or full time engagement

 Interceding for specific areas

 Sinners to be saved

 Church leaders

 Our Nation

 World evangelization

 Church health and growth

 Warfare intercession

 Build a prayer room, mountain or house.



5. Prayer walking - Jam.1:3; Gen.13:17



? Prayer walk your church - Jericho battle

? Prayer walk your street

? Prayer walk your community

? Prayer walk your Region

? Prayer walk your city

? Prayer walk seat of government

? Prayer walk your country

? Praise march your area.



6. Features of these Prayers



 Confession and repentance - I John 1:9

 Petition – Mat.7:7

 Prayer of faith - Jam.5:15

 Binding and losing – Matt.8:18

 Praise and adoration - I Thes.5:18.

 Praying in the spirit - Jude 20: Rom.8:26.

THE EFFECTIVE PRAYER

WARRIOR

Prayer is one subject the church has talk, preach, and wrote so much about, but practised

the least. We have not really given prayer the priority it demanded. Today, there is too

much sleeping, eating, playing, preaching and too little time for quality prayer and seeking

of God‟s face. Much of the calamities and problems confronting the church today results

basically from the neglect of prayer. The greatest weapon for change which the church

possesses is prayer and we can see changes occur in ever segment of society if we could

only multiply prayer. It is our earnest hope that this will help the church to take prayer

more seriously.



1. Prayer warriors - Meaning - Col.4: 12; Eph.3: 14.



A selected and group of people who are committed to praying for the church. They are

gifted to pray. They are commissioned by the Lord to pray on a regular basis for the church.

They might be called several names, but the basic function is to see to the spiritual well-

being of the church through prayer.



2. Necessity of Prayer Warriors - Isaiah. 62:6-7; Est. 4:13-16



The following points underscore the importance and utmost necessity of prayer warriors to

any church and ministry.



? Standing in-the gap for the church

? Pillar and strength of the church

? Frontline troops at battle for the church

? Linking and lifting up the work and church

? Sentinel and watchmen for the church

? Agent of communication and revelation

? Protection from calamity and demonic onslaught

? Operation peace and progress

? Revival of God‟s work and His people



Several kinds of prayer warriors can be engaged by a church. Men, Youths, Women and

Children. Several kinds of needs and programmes can be assigned to them. There must be

permanent and regular prayer warriors for the church. However, there must also be prayer

warriors for different kinds of programmes of the church.



3. Role of Prayer Warriors – Acts 12:5; 13:1-3



Much will be accomplished for the church and the work through prayer. For what do the

prayer warriors pray for?



Prayer mapping the church. In prayer mapping there are three basic questions that must be

addressed. Why is the church not growing? What are the obstacles to growth? What is the

key to the growth of the church? To sufficiently answer these questions, historical, physical

and spiritual research will be conducted. Prayer mapping provides the following for the

prayer warrior.



 Spiritual photograph of the church

 Spiritual x-ray of the church

 Reasons for non growth and problems

 Prophetic word concerning God‟s move

 Steps to resounding victory and growth.



4. Dangers of no prayer warriors - 1 Sam.12:23; Isa.59:16; Ezek.22:29-31



 Sinfulness and evil

 Judgment of God poured out

 Freedom for demons

 Calamity and evil occurrences



5. Why there are no prayer warriors



 Ignorance of its benefits

 Misconceived notion against it

 Wrong priorities regarding prayer

 Lack of motivation and encouragement -V Lack of answers to prayers

 Lack of training and teaching‟

 Natural distaste of prayer.



6. Effective prayer warrior



Not all those who pretend or answer the name are true and effective prayer warriors. Many

who have been praying in the prayer room have little or no knowledge as to what

constitutes the qualities of an effective prayer warrior. The under listed points are what will

make one an effective prayer warrior.



 Genuine experience of salvation - Jn.3:3

 Holiness of heart and life - I The.5:23; I Thes.4:7

 Calling to the ministry

 Freedom from curses, animosity, grudge, bitterness and unforgiving spirit.

 Power and gifts of the Spirit

 Humility and obedience

 Determination and dedication

 Ability to hear clearly from God

 Ability to seek the face of God by fasting

 Growing faith and maturity

 Sincere love for God, His church and people.

MUST FOR PRAYER PARTNERS

If God must work and growth and revival experienced at this time, we must return to our

prayer chamber. The sin of prayerlessness must be dealt with. Lukewarmness, coldness,

tiredness in prayer must be taken away. Believing prayer is God‟s price for supernatural

power in our life and in the church.

Now as prayer partners, before our prayer can bring changes to our ministry we must know

what to do and things we must not do. Things we must do, that is compulsory for us as an

effective prayer partner, is what I called must, and there is no way we can avoid it.



Must



1. Be in Touch with Headquarter - Lk. 6:12; Mk. 3:14;1:35



You must constantly maintain a close communication with your headquarter (heaven).

Operation withdraws to draw.



2. Listen and Obey - Jos. 9:14-15



The secret of success is to pray, listen and obey. When you pray God speaks, but when you

listen and you hear Him and then obey, you will understand Him.



3. Personal Growth - 2 Pet. 1:5-10



Personal growth equal ministry growth. As prayer partner, you personal preparation

precedes your public manifestation. You cannot grow without until you have grown within.



4. Be Serious About Spiritual things



If you are not serious with Him in prayer, He will not be serious with you



5. Be a Contributor not a Consumer



Prayer partners must contribute his/her efforts, ideas, to the progress of the church. Your

services can take you to anywhere in life.



6. Make Your Life Count



Being a prayer partner, don‟t neglect the activities of your church. You must be countable

for the work of God you are doing

7. Read and Learn - 2 Tim.4:13



Reading make a full man, but learning makes a complete man. Prayer partner must be

learned in the aspect of prayer. Leading and learning is important for you to pray aright.



8. Set a Prayer Goal



To set goal means to state what you aim at doing. When the goal post is down, the game is

over.

9. Have a Fasting life



The more you fast the more spiritual you become



10. Praying till Growth comes



Prayer is a journey not destination, keep on praying until growth occur



11. Positive Change of Attitude



Praying with positive change of attitude will determines our altitude in life. We must be

willing to change our dubious characters



12. Special Presence of Holy Spirit



The special and mighty presence of the Holy Spirit must have His way in the life of prayer

partners. We cannot make an impact without the manifestation of God‟s power in our life.

No power no result. No result, No respect



13. Exemplary and Transparent Living - Heb. 12: 14



Our life is like a micro, if stained, the stain will be exposed



14. Humility is a Must



Power flows from the humble heart. Learn from the story of king Nebuchadnezzar the king

of Babylon - Dan.4:28-33



15. Be Under Control



By putting yourself under authority will make you successful and lasting in the work of God



Note: If you can possess all these musts, your heaven will be the limit, while your sky will

be the beginning.



PRAYER-WALKING: KEY TO

EXPLOSIVE IMPACT

One of the great tools that God has given to the church to accomplish the Great

Commission is prayer-walking. It is an effective tool that has the capacity to accelerate the

fulfillment of the Great Commission. Unfortunately, the church in Africa has not laid much

store by this tool. Even though some form of prayer walking have been done one way or

the other, yet it has not been properly embraced and practiced rightly for effective and

explosive result. It is my sincere prayer that by t his teaching, every Christian leader and

people will realize the utmost necessity of prayer walking to the fulfillment of the Great

Commission. Revival will come to the church when we take prayer to the

community.



A. Biblical Basis and Foundation: Genesis 13:17, Josh. 1:13, 9, Rom. 16:20:



God told Abraham to walk the length and breadth of the land. Joshua was told that

wherever the sole of his feet shall tread upon, he would be given. There is something

about going out there where the devils are. What is prayer walking? Prayer walking is

simply walking while praying specific, directed, intentional and informed prayers in a very

unsuspecting and non-attention drawing way. It is praying on site with insight. It is taking

prayer to the very territory of the enemy.



B. Why must we prayerwalk?:



Prayer-walking is not showmanship; it is a serious battle for the soul of the community and

city. The following points underscore why we must prayer-walk.



$ To remove the veil and cover of darkness. 2 Cor. 4:3-4

$ Most prayers within the four walls of the church doesn‟t affect some categories of

demons in the community.

$ To stand in the gap for our communities and city. Ezek. 22:30

$ To secure the spiritual borders of the city for the Lord.

$ To destroy negative gates of the enemy and establish the church as the true gate of

God in the city.

$ To bind principalities and powers and destroy demonic domination.

$ To destroy the demonic covenant of founding fathers.

$ To change the spiritual patron and atmosphere of the community from that of evil

and Satan to good and Jesus.

$ To show love and concern for the problems plaguing the city.

$ To bring peace, justice, presence and power of God to the people.



C. Models and Examples of Prayer-Walking:



Three basic models of prayer-walking have surfaced:



(1) Home Zone:



Christians can prayer-walk where they live, work, study, worship or play.

Every Christian, groups of Christians or Christians can do this from the same church.



(2) Key Site:

Prayer-walking involves selecting a certain place, or several places and targeting them for

special sustained prayer focus. It may be a shrine, mosque, mystic temples, seat of

government, courts, police post or a palace. Such places must have first been identified

through spiritual mapping. Christians from various churches must do it together.



(3) Total Coverage:



Prayer-walking aims to cover the entire city or community in prayer-walking in a

systematic and on-going fashion. Every street, road, area, community, house is planned to

be prayed for in a systematic way.



Prayerwalking is moving the church into the community; it allows the people of the church

to become the people of the neighbourhood and the people of the city. Getting righteous

people out on the streets of our cities in a strategic, constant manner may be one of the

most effective means to reaching an entire city.



Testimonies abound of communities, neighbourhoods and cities that have experienced

transformation, revival, gospel breakthrough, reduction in crime rate and security simply

because Christians prayer-walk their communities.



D. Pitfalls to avoid in Prayer-walking



 Sin and ungodliness –it surely leads to defeat.

 Inadequate preparation – holes in your armour.

 Pride and show off – unanswered prayers.

 Disunity, competition and bitterness – becomes a prey to the enemy.

 Doing it alone without covering –it can result in death.

 Over zealousness and rashness – it closes doors of opportunities.



E. Methods of Effective Prayerwalking:



Two basic issues are very foundational if our prayer-walking efforts are to be effective in

our communities.



1. A life-giving church:



A life-giving church is a growing, dynamic church being pastured by a life-giving pastor and

inhabited by life-giving people. A cold, dead, divided and stagnant church cannot

effectively prayer-walk a community. A church or pastor with a bad image cannot

effectively prayer-walk the community. There must be repentance, restitution and

restoration. Strong prayer power must be in a life-giving church that intends to

prayer-walk her community.



2. A Networking Church:

To prayerwalk a community with positive results, churches and church leaders must

network together, we must stop competing, rather complete each other. We must stop

fighting each other and start fighting for one another. No one church can win a city or

community alone. It requires for cooperative effort.



Various methods abound on effective and impactful prayerwalking. Here I will mention the

most common.



(i) Vicinity Warfare:



This is prayerwalking the vicinity of the church, home, office and environment.



(ii) Street by street warfare:



This is Christians going out two by two and praying in street corners, junctions and

intersections. Christians of the same church can do it.



(iii) House to house warfare:



Moving from house to house in the community, it might be a two or three year

project, until every house in the community is prayed in. Again, group of churches

can do it together.



(iv) Praise Match:



Churches in the community coming together on a given day to match in procession

round the community, lifting the banner of Jesus up and pulling down the banner of

the enemy through praise, prayer and prophetic proclamation.



(v) Prayer Journey:



Christians from various churches going to a particular place to pray and sow the seed

of the gospel there by prayer. It may be a resistant place or where a particular

incident has happened.



(vi) Prayer pilgrimage:

Christians serving as prayer missionaries, they can take a pilgrimage of one, two or

three months to a particular group of people, tribe, area, religion and pray until the

powers of darkness holding the place in bondage will be broken.

POSSESSING THE GATES OF THE

ENEMY

All over the world there is a quiet movement of the Spirit of God that is causing churches to

re-evaluate how effective they are in serving their communities and making a difference.

Churches are throwing out the old measures of success. It‟s no longer about size, spiritual

gifts, crowd, programmes and material wealth, but it‟s about making a significant and

sustainable difference in the lives of the people in our communities and in our cities.



The community surrounding the church is the immediate ministry area of the church. The

church must make a strong difference that will lead to community transformation. The

church in Africa must wake up to this. We must start to have compassion for our

communities (Mark 6:34). We must stop condemning our communities and cites, (Jer. 29:7)

and start to build bridges across to them (Matthew 5:13,14).

Pastors must stop seeing themselves as only ministers in their congregation, but as spiritual

leader over the community (Luke 19:41). One of the most foundational and effective tool

for community transformation is possessing the gates of the enemy there.



A. Biblical Foundation (Matthew 16:18; Gen. 22:17; 24:60; Deut. 16:18; Ruth

4:1-2; Prov. 31:23:



Gates are very important to Old Testament cities and towns. It is where the elders‟ seats,

meets, discuss, deliberate and take decisions. It is the battle ground. Once the enemy can

take over at the gate, they control the city. Psalm. 24:9-8.



In the New Testament, the gate has come to symbolize demonic authority and place of

power. (Acts 14:13). Their three point plan is to Deceive, Dominate and Destroy. These

gates can be a round-about, junction, tree, river, mountain, market, entrance, strategic

location, particular building, a high ranking elder or person of influence, male or female.



B. Elders At The Gate (Acts 8:5-11; 13:7-12; Rev. 2:12-13):



Elders at the gate speaks about gathering of demonic powers ruling, deliberating and

taking far reaching decisions regarding the gospel in their area of operation. Elders at the

gate are demonic powers located in a community, militating against the health, growth,

progress and expansion of the church.



The sacrifices, rituals, oblations, shrines, baale or chiefs houses, mystic and Indian temples,

masquerade festivals and occultic practices are veritable avenue for elders at the gate to

operate in the community.



C. Levels of Gates (Phil 2:10; Acts 19:11-12):



1. Personal gate



Every life has a gate. Your mind, body, dream and mouth can be gates in which the enemy

can come into dominate, deceive and destroy you.



Individuals that are gate of the enemy usually cause lots of havoc in the community, i. e.

Witches, herbalists and demonized individuals. When the enemy has taken over the gate of

someone‟s life, then he can reign supreme.



2. Family Gate:



A particular family can open their gate to the enemy through, sinfulness, adultery, blood

covenants, incisions, juju, dedication and in the course of finding solution to a problem.

A seemingly harmless art image brought in can be the open door for the enemy.



3. Church Gate (Matthew 6:18)

Every church has a gate. The demons would love to take over the gate of the church.

Fighting, animosity, lukewarmness, cheating, incidents, wrong foundation and motives are

some of the ways they come in. Their purpose is to render the church powerless from

within.



4. Community Gate:

The light of the gospel cannot shine brightly in a community if the enemy has taken over

the gate. The founders of the community, the reason why it was found, what was used to

found it, and the founding god or idols will determine the prosperity or otherwise of the

community. The name also goes a long way. Unless we evict the enemy at the gate, the

church will only have a minimal presence there.



5. City Gate:



In African cities, much crime, poverty, sickness, injustice, violence and diseases are the sure

sign of the enemy at the gate. The communities that make up the cities are demon-

dominated and invariably, the city will be also. The church in the city must rise up to

destroy the enemy and possess the gates, it is then the city can be transformed.



D. The Need To Possessing The Gates:



Without conscious and deliberate efforts in detecting these enemies at the gate, the church

in the communities will continue to flounder and record minimal growth. Here are salient

points to consider:-



1. Revival did not come to the Old Testament cities until idols were removed - II Kings

10:10-23.

2. The church is not called take cover but to take over - (Rev. 2:7,11).

3. The church holds the key to the liberation of people - (II Cor. 4:3,4).

4. The church is called to overcome, even in the seats of Satan - (Rev. 2:12-13).

5. So that the light of the gospel can shine brightly in all communities

6. If we don‟t do it, God will not do it for us - (Jam. 4:7; Luke 10:19).

7. The Ephesians church was wiped out ostensibly because she neglects warfare -

(Acts 19:11-23; Eph. 6:10-18; Rev. 2:1-5).



Jesus has overcome them on the cross (Col. 2:15), we only need to exercise the authority

of Jesus over the power of the enemy. Pastor‟s and Christians are the true spiritual gate-

keepers of the community. We are the real people with the authority of Jesus. Satan‟s

power is counterfeit.



E. Possessing The Gates:



1. Warfare must start from your personal life. John 14:30.

2. Overcome the enemy inside the church II Cor. 10:13-14.

3. Battle for our communities - Rev. 13:6-12

a. Seek the leading of the Lord

b. Share your vision and insights

c. Gather prayer partners and pastors

d. Declare time of waiting upon the Lord.

e. Employ the best prayer strategy.



i. Jericho warfare - inside and around the church

ii. Street warfare - praying in the streets of your community

iii. House to House - praying from house to house.

iv. Strategic warfare - praying at specific locations.

v. Dedication warfare - anointing the land, ground for rededication to the Lord.

vi. Community praise - joining together to lift up the banner of Jesus in the

community.









PULLING DOWN STRONGHOLDS IN

THE LOCAL CHURCH

2 Cor.10:3.5



It has been said that “he that need peace must prepare for war”. The church is the only

power that can convey the light of Gospel to the rest unsaved world. So, the devil will do all

that is in his capacity to stop the church by placing strongholds in the church. (Act.12:1;

Mat.16: 18). The Devil has been losing in the past and he will continue to fail, if we map out

strategies to the pulling downs of his strongholds. Satan has a target, he does not only

launch out his attack against the church from outside but also attack the church from

inside.



A. Strongholds



Stronghold speaks of the high places of Satan or the seat and headquarters of Satan in the

church

Stronghold is also a combination of two words, strong and holds. Which implies the place

that the devil holds tenaciously unto to serve as impediment to the operation peace and

progress of the church.



B. Types of Strongholds



 Inside some churches the stronghold of sin reigns

 Inside some churches the stronghold of coldness and lukewarmness reigns

 Inside some churches the stronghold of witchcraft reigns

 Inside some churches the stronghold of quarrelling reigns

 Inside some churches the stronghold of poverty reigns

 Inside some churches the stronghold of sickness reigns

 Inside some churches the stronghold of occult reigns

 Inside some churches the stronghold of divination reigns - Acts.16: 16

 Inside some churches the stronghold of death reigns

 Inside some churches the stronghold of failure reigns

 Inside some churches the stronghold of problems and bad episode reigns

 Inside some churches the stronghold of curses reigns .

 Inside some churches spiritual tapolin covers

 Inside some churches spiritual skeleton walks around



These strongholds serve as bulwarks, barriers, obstacles and hindrances to the growth,

health and well-being of the church. These strongholds come through secret sins, rebellion,

strange fire on the altar, strange doctrines, disobedience to God, Injustice, cheating and

ungodly incidents.



How to pull down the Strongholds



1. Take your strength in the Lord



Waiting upon the Lord for strength and renewal is mandated. For the weapons of our

warfare are not carnal.



2. Pray to discover the location of the enemies in the church -



You can borrow a leaf from an hunter. An hunter shoot to kill. Apply operation four “F‟s -

Find, Face, Fight and Finish.



3. Saturday Night Prayer



There must be prayer volunteers group to serve as midnight soldiers, who will pray to

destroy all the plans of Satan against Sunday service programme.



4. Sunday morning workers prayer

The workers must come to the church earlier than the members. They must pray to sanctify

the church and for open heaven.



5. Operation Jericho



Workers must pray around the church to destroy the work of Satan and also to change the

atmosphere and the environment of the church with the Holy Ghost fire.



6. Warfare prayer during the service



This should range between 15-20 minutes. Every member must participate and it must be

real vigorous prayer lead by an evangelist.



7. Intercessor



These are needed for the spiritual photograph of the church. These will do the spiritual,

physical and historical research of the church.



 PRINCIPLES OF WARFARE.



 1. Be sure you are in proper relationship to God.



 2. Confess all known sins.



 If you attempt to bind a principality or power while you harbor sin in your

heart, you will surely be defeated.



 3. Seek healing for persistent sin patterns.



 4. Allow your spiritual barometer to be read by others.



 5. The higher God calls you to leadership, the higher your standard of holiness. If

you feel you are gifted and called to this kind of ministry be especially strict with

yourself.



 6. Put on Gods Amour Eph. 6:12.



 Putting on the whole amour of God is the only way to dress for success in the

Lord, because the whole amour of God is the Christians battle dress.



 15 ESSENTIALS IN CASTING OUT DEMONS.



 Personal Preparation and Methods of Operation



 1. Be sure you are free from sin Psalm 66: 18



 2. Always cover yourself and your environment and properties with the blood of

Jesus, especially when you are about to do the casting out. Rev. 12:11.



 3. Quote the scriptures at the devil Ps 107:·



 4. Never enter into dialogue with demons but give a word of command for them

to go out and they will obey. Mark 16:17



 5. Use the name of Jesus throughout and Satan will bow.



 6. When you are a group praying for the demonized, always allow a single person

to exercise authority in casting out while others follow in agreement to avoid negation

of authority.



 7. Be confident in the Holy Spirit that you can cast demons out



 8. Depend upon the anointing for success Act. 1:8



 9. Tell the demon where to go after leaving the demonized Isa. 10:27



 10. Warn the demon never to enter the individual again.



 11. If there are demonic instruments in the possession of the individual he must

submit all after deliverance Acts 19:18.



 12. Prayer and fasting is very helpful in casting out demons Mark 9:28-29.



 13. Be quick to exercise your authority over devils, never allow him to gain any

advantage over you Luke 10:19



 14. After the deliverance the individual must be sufficiently fed with the word of

God I Peter 2:1-2. .



 15. After every successful casting out case, give all the glory to God and never be

puffed up Isaiah 42:8.



 Our effectiveness in casting out devils depends on how much we follow the laid down

biblical patterns and upon our level of anointing. We can, however, identify the

demonized by the operation of the gifts of the Spirit. I Cor. 12:10 Acts 16:16-18; Mark

1:23-26.

INTERCESSION FOR GROWTH

Church growth is very complex. There is no one key to the growth of the church. Rather

there are several keys that brings growth to a church. We will have to be doing many things

in the right way that will eventually culminate in the growth of the church.

Intercession is one of the keys that lead to the growth of the church. All over the world

there is revival of intercession today. People are coming to realize that until we begin to

intercede for one another, the great things we expect might be a mirage after all.



a. What is Intercession?



We often confuse intercession with prayer. While prayers is talking to God, intercession

means coming to God on behalf of another. All intercession is prayer, though not all prayer

is intercession. Intercession then means “going between” or “standing in the gap” (Eze.

22:30; Job 9:32-33). “Intercession is the act of pleading by one who in God‟s sight has a

right to do so in order to obtain mercy for one in need”.



b. Biblical Basis for Intercession - lsa.59:16; 62:6-7; GaI.4:19; Eph.3:14-20;

CoI.1:9-12

Intercession is of high priority in the Scripture. It is the duty of leaders to intercede for their

people (ISam.12:23); and praying on behalf of one another is both a precept and practise in

the Scripture (Gen.18:23-33; Exo.17:8-15; 32:7-14). The power of intercession as

revealed in the Scripture for blessings cannot be over emphasized. The neglect of

intercession is the bane of good and great workings of God in the church. Power of

intercession will do the following:



 Averting danger and destruction

 Restoration and renewal

 Mercy, favour and compassion Healing and health

 Victory out of defeat

 Salvation and deliverance

 Growth and increase

 Stability and peace

 Fulfillment of promise

 Removal of obstacles and hindrances

 Breaking down demonic strongholds



These and many more will be our daily and church experience when we give and accord

intercession its rightful position in the church and individual lives. Every Christians should

possess the intercessory Spirit in the church. Then, God‟s power will be displayed over every

opposing force of advancement. Knowing the power for good that intercession possesses

small wonder that God is alarmed when there is no intercessor! Isa. 59: 16.



c. Kinds of Intercession

As powerful and effective as intercession is, yet, it must be focused and directed, if

maximum damage is to be done to the kingdom of darkness. Vague and unfocused

intercession will achieve little and are of least concern to the host of darkness. For

maximum effectiveness, our intercession must be focused on these specific areas.



1. Intercession for one another - Jam. 5:16; Act5. 12:5



This is a long neglected practise in the church of today. No one remembers other fellow

Christian in prayer to any appreciable degree. Until we begin to pray and intercede for one

another, we might not really enjoy God‟s blessing. The problems, attacks,

backsliding, discouraging calamities befalling our fellow Christians today will be greatly

reduced when we constantly, sincerely and fervently pray and intercede for one another.



Many dangers will be averted. Rather than do this we spent our time complaining,

murmuring, backbiting and generally condemning one another. Remember, Peter was saved

when brethren intercede for him. Intercession will bring light, joy, breakthrough,

understanding, peace, deliverance, healing, rest, growth, progress, maturity and change to

individuals.

2. Intercession for our Homes - Gen. 25:21



Much of the calamities in the home today could be averted if the power of intercession is

adequately tapped. Mothers in the home should especially posses this intercessory Spirit.

The troubles, chaos, accidents, demonic influence, fighting, misunderstandings and

wayward children could be brought under control through the power of intercession.

Interceding for one another and for the children will bring God‟s favour, promotion, peace,

joy, tranquility and protection to the home. God‟s provision will be abundant in such homes.

The devilish fury against the home will be thwarted, if serious and fervent intercession

is made on continuous basis.



3. Intercession for the Church - Isa. 62:6-7; Co1. 4:12



Genuine, consistent and importunate must be our intercession if the church must record

tremendous growth and increase. The least intercessory church is the least growing church.

In churches where members from the least to the great - all category of members

does not take up the ministry of interceding for the growth „of the church on regular,

dynamic and constant basis, growth will be a mirage. Intercession for the church must rank

high in the agenda of members, else God‟s outstretched hand cannot be seen.



Health, growth, divine presence, conversions, healings and spectacular miracles,

blessings and open heaven cannot be regularly experienced in the church when

intercession is not accorded the right priority by members. Demonic machinations, occultic

powers and gates of hell will have a field day hindering the growth of the church when the

ministry of intercession is neglected. When the fire of intercession dies out in

members heart and lives, revival, breakthrough and divine visitation will die out in the

church. Intercession is what will lift up the church, purify it and purge it for the rapture.



4. Intercession for Sinners - 2 Cor. 4:304; Ga1. 4:19



God is incapacitated by our lack of intercession. God‟s hand will remain folded and

listless when the saints have left their intercessory chamber. Do we love sinners enough to

intercede for them with favour and passion? Until we do, they will not be saved and comes

in droves to our churches. In churches that are not growing, one trait is that they don‟t

pray, let alone intercede for sinners. (Act.7:59-60) Stephens prayer was what saved Paul

the apostle.



Until we give a sizeable portion of our private, public and corporate prayer time to

intercession for sinners, our church will not see the desired growth. Interceding for sinners

demands that we take their names, bind the demons blindfolding them, bind every resistant

spirits and claiming them for the Lord. We should also take authority over every tormenting,

oppressive, and depressive spirits that brings poverty, sickness and diseases into their lives.

Using intercession before witnessing to them will result in many yielding and becoming

members of our church.

5. Intercession for our Communities/Nations - Dan.9:3-23; Neh.1 :1-4



Our communities and nation will remain as they are until we take up the ministry of

interceding for them. Much of the evils pervading our communities and nation today are

demonic in origin and until we engage them and resist them through the power of

intercession, we cannot really experience any appreciable change. Our intercessory prayer

for our communities must include the following: Repenting of past sins, breaking

demonic covenants, renouncing of all curses and proclaiming God‟s blessing over the

communities and nation. We may need to do Jericho walk in the streets, junctions, centers,

road intersections and gates of authority in such communities and nation.



Proper planning and adequate preparation should precede these prayer walks through our

areas. And as we do them repeatedly, opposition will break down and our

communities will be changed and the banner of Christ will fly high. The violence, sin, evils,

demonic activities will be greatly reduced.



Every church should be community -conscious. Our impact must be felt in the area we are

located. Intercession inside our church for the community and outside, right in the street,

centres and open in the community is the key. Our open intercession for the community

communicates love, care, concern, relevance and goodwill for our church.



Intercession for our Pastors and Leaders - I Thes. 5:25; Rom. 15:30; Phii. 1:19;

CoI. 4:3; Eph. 6:18-20.



Pastors and leaders need to be interceded for. Though everyone needs intercession, yet the

need for it by pastors and Christian leaders transcend that of everyone for obvious reasons.

There are many areas of help for the leaders today but that of prayer of

intercession transcends them all. What are the challenges of intercession for pastors and

leaders?



 Avoiding mistakes and falling

 Communicates love

 Assurance of being wanted

 Assuages doubt and fear

 Gives boldness and courage

 Motivates and inspire

 Enables one to go to the extra mile

 Assurance of protection and coverage.

 Effectiveness and impact



Though many pastors views the idea of being prayed for differently. Some believe that it

means they are prayerless and it diminished from their super-human status. Yet the

Scripture supports it. Pastors are Joshua in the battle field; they need Aaron and Hur to lift

their hands - Exo.17:6-15.

Such intercession for pastors and leaders must be regular, consistent and persistent. Here is

the clincher “No matter how well you pay your pastor, praise him or work for him, it is only

through earnest, strategic prayer that you can ever really help him be an effective minister

in the hands of the Almighty God”.



e. Characteristics of Intercessors



1. Born again

2. Broken and tender

3. Zealous and devoted

4. Committed and yielded

5. Self denial and self sacrificial

6. Spirit -filled

7. Love and perseverance.









INTERCESSION FOR LEADERS

Isa. 59:16; 62:6-7



This is one secret of supernatural power for supernatural growth that very many leaders are

overwhelmingly ignorant of. It is largely neglected and unused, and most times unknown.

Furthermore, many pastors and leaders cannot easily come to terms with this topic. They

see it as somewhat degrading and uncalled for. They look down on such teaching as

demeaning to the exalted office of the minister. This is much farther from the truth and

reality. Pastors and leaders need to be interceded for. Though everyone needs intercession,

yet the need for it by pastors and Christian leaders transcend that of everyone for

obvious reasons.



There are many areas of help for the leaders today but that of prayer of in transcends them

all. Pastors are Joshua in the battle field; they need Aaron and Hur to lift their hands -

Exo.17:8-15.



1. It is a biblical Concept – Act 12:5; I Thes.5:25; Rom.15:30; Phil.1:19;

Col.4:3,2; 2 Thes.3:1-2; Philemon 22.



From the above passages we see clearly the concept of intercession for leaders in the Bible.

Peter was saved through the prayers of others, and Paul always asks specifically for

intercession believing that his deliverance from prison will be made possible by it. Pastors of

today equally need intercession to deliver them from myriads of problems they found

themselves. If it was of help to leaders in the past, then it will be of immense help to

leaders today.



2. Challenges of intercession for leaders



Communicates love

Assurance of being wanted

More ministry effectiveness

Assuages doubt and fear

Gives boldness and courage

Supplement pastors prayer life

Motivates and inspire

Enables one to go the extra mile

Assurance of protection and coverage

Further impetus for grater ministry

Avoiding many mistakes and failings

Salvation from dryness and tiredness.



3. Personal Prayer Partners



 Paul had Euodias and Syntyche - PhiI.4:2,3

 Finney had father Nash

 Billy Graham had Pearl Goode and 40 people

 Moody had a praying invalid

 Yonggi Cho had 2,000

 Peter Wagner had 19 people

 Lamentation of Jimmy Swaggart

 John Maxwell had 100 people

 A pastor had his mother and her friend

 Elizabeth Dabney prayed for her husband

 Redeemed Christian church had 12



Why don’t we employ its benefits



1 Ignorance

2 Messiah Status

3 Fear

4 Spiritual Pride

5 Over humility



4. Reasons why pastors need intercession

a Pastors have more responsibility and accountability - Jam.3: 1

b Pastors are more subject to temptation - Mat.26:31; Mak.14:2 7

c Pastors have more influence on others

d Pastor are more targeted by spiritual powers

e Pastors have more visibility

f Pastor need more emotional and encouragement supports.



Three levels of intercessions



A. 1-3 intercessors:



This is the casual “pray for me” salutation among Christians and they can casually

remember the minister once in a while.



B. 1-2 Intercessors:



These people who are contacted and agree to spend 15 minutes a day in prayer for

the minister. There is not too much closeness here.



C. 1-1 Intercessors:



This is the most important level, full time intercessors agreeing to spend several

hours everyday praying for the minister and his ministry. They could be employed full

time or they could do it at their leisure.



On must hasten to add that women are more visible in this ministry than men. The gift of

intercession seems to be more prevalent among women, so don‟t be afraid to find women

there in your church and engage them in the ministry. The 1-1 intercessors have a close

relationship, while the 1-2 have casual relationship and the 1-3 intercessors have remote

relationship with the pastor.



5. Employing prayer partners



Moving into action would demand that you ask from God to give you prayer partners. Not

those who are willing to pray or might be praying for you and make contact with them. We

must be slow and cautions to avoid blatant mistakes. We must watch out for those who will

want to become our prayer partners out of selfish motives of:



 Boosting or bragging

 Seeking control

 Seduction and lust

 Sentimentalism

 Pride and

 Personal emotional needs

Rather these are the qualities we should look for and demand in intercessors:



 Humility

 Submission to authority

 Gift of intercession

 Obedience to God

 Dependence on the body of Christ

 Close relationship with God

 Receiving from the Lord

 Quiet people

 Holding the pastor in high esteem

 Genuine holiness of heart and life

 Open communication

 Confidentiality



People with such qualification should be recruited and trained for the ministry. They are to

decide either to be 1-1; 1-2 or 1-3 intercessors. The 1-1 intercessors must be encouraged

and information shared. Maintain them by praying for them and encouraging them in

whatever way possible. Intercessors may change roles and many more be added as time

goes on but pray and seek guidance from the Lord.



“No matter how well you pay your pastor, praise him or work for him, it is only through

earnest, strategic prayer that you can ever reallY help him be an effective minister in the

hands of the Almighty God” - Willy Bruce.

SPIRITUAL WARFARE

The subject of Spiritual Warfare is relatively a new field. It is only recently that close

attention is being paid to it by missions, churches and some few seminaries or Bible

schools. We shall look at this subject in some detail so that we might grasp the truth and

be blessed in order to be effective in the ministry.



1. JESUS ON THE OFFENSIVE



If Jesus Public ministry began with his baptism, his first act of public ministry involved the

highest degree of strategic level spiritual warfare. “Jesus was led up by the spirit into

the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Matt. 4.1)



The Old Testament does not have a parallel account of this type of activity. Jesus

introduced something new to the history of salvation. By engaging the enemy in the

highest level power encounter, Jesus was serving notice to him and to the whole world that

the battle was on. War has come. The kingdom of God has come Mark 1:14-15, Matt. 4:17.



A Before Jesus came Satan has enjoyed almost unlimited power here on

earth.



The Bible described Satan in awesome ways (II Cor. 4:4; John 12:31; 1 John 5:19). If we

think Satan has formidable power these days, we must realize he had even more power

before Jesus came. Jesus proclaimed war when he stated that the kingdom of God was

near (Mark 1:14-15).

B He came to earth to destroy the devils work - 1 John 3:8; Luke 4:18-19.



The devil was not happy that his territory is being invaded.



1. Jesus through his life, ministry, death and resurrection defeated the devil and won

decisive battle against his kingdom. He provokes the conflict (Col. 2:15) Jesus did not

wait for the devil to attack him, he took the initiative, he was on the offensive. He

provokes the conflict by healing, deliverance and rebuking and excising of demons.



2. In his life, Jesus BOUND Satan, Satan could gain no hold on Jesus (Mark. 3:23-27;

John 14:30).



3. In his ministry, Jesus began to PLUNDER Satan‟s kingdom. Jesus rebuked

demons and drove them out, healed the sick, cleanse the lepers, raised the dead e.t.c

Luke 4: 1 8 - 20.



4. On the cross, Jesus BROKE Satan‟s power. (Col.2:15; John 19:30; Mark 10:45).

Jesus cancelled the debt of sin and death. Jesus made available the forgiveness of

sins, freedom from devil, escape from Gods wrath and reconciliation with God.



In his resurrection, Jesus DISARMED Satan. Matt. 28:2-4 At his return, Jesus will

UTTERLY DESTROY Satan and his kingdom Rev. 20:10.



c The Battle Rages On.



The battle still rages on today in the church, nations and minds.



1. Jesus recruited and trained his followers to do what he did. He gave them power and

authority to do the work of the kingdom. Matt. 10:1; 7-8; Luke 10:19; Mark 16:16-20.



2. For our part, we have been commissioned to enter the strong mans house and take

back the goods. The war is not over. We are to continue the battle until Jesus return.

(Matt. 28:18-20). Unfortunately many Christians, even ministers does not realize

today that we are on a battle field. They live, talk, eat and do ministry as if we are in a play

ground - the reason for aparty, coldness and lack of fruit in our churches.



THE REAL BATTLE IS SPIRITUAL



The basic lesson we need to learn and grasp very well was that the real battle for effective

evangelism is a spiritual battle. Research has shown that all the evangelistic technology in

the world will have only a minimal effect unless the spiritual battle is won.



LLUSTRATION:

In the late 80‟s Churches mushroom and are mushrooming in every corner, advertising on

television and radio increases. Crusades, seminars and conferences, were held

frequently. But it have been discovered that vital and fundamental Christianity have not

really increased. Sin, theft, corruption and 419 Christians are only the outcome.

A better job can be done if we will learn and apply this spiritual warfare.



THREE LEVELS OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE.



When all is said and done, there are probably many, many different discernable levels of

spiritual warfare, but we shall consider three. Even though they may overlap into one

another in many areas, yet we distinguish the following:



1. Ground level spiritual warfare.



This is the ministry of casting out demons (Matt.10:1; Luke 10:17; Acts 8:7). Ground level

spiritual warfare is the most common variety we find in the New Testament, and it is most

common variety practiced by Christians today. Groups and individuals involved in

deliverance ministries by and larrse are engaged in ground level warfare.



2. Occult level spiritual warfare.



It seems evident that we see a kind of demonic power at work through shamans,

magicians, herbalists, occult practitioners, and witches, fortune - tellers, satanic Priests and

the likes. This is substantially different from the ordinary demon who may cause

headaches, marital problems; drunkenness e.t.c example of this occult level is in Acts

16:16-24; 8:9-13. Occult - level spiritual warfare is needed today as we see the increase of

witches and increasing contact and influence of them in nations of the world and against

the church.



3. Strategic level spiritual warfare.



Here we contend with an even more ominous concentration of demonic power:

territorial spirits (Eph. 6:12-13; Rev. 1 2: 7). In this level, nations, regions, cities, tribes,

areas and neighborhoods are assigned to specific demons to control. They rule in

absolute authority over these territories. These territories may have been covenanted out

to demons by the founding fathers of such cities, towns and areas for one favour or the

other from these evil forces.



The devils will maintain strong hold on those nations, cities, towns, houses and places

dedicated to them and will not relinquish them easily nor will they want the people to be

free by the power of God and therefore will oppose and hinder the gospel penetration

there.

Unless strategic level warfare prayer is engaged the gospel cannot prosper in such areas.

This is the answer to many years of barrenness. This course will focus on strategic

level warfare and the kind of prayer required to address it.



Not that it can totally and cleanly be separated from the other two kinds of spiritual

warfare. The three levels are closely interrelated and what happens on one level can and

will affect what happens on there levels.









SPIRITUAL BATTLE FOR

EVANGELISM

God‟s highest priority is evangelism, calling out a people who will honour and glorify this

name. This should be our highest priority as well. If we have ten more years to serve God,

it should make a difference in the number of souls that are saved around the world. Church

-growth experts all but agree that the real battle for world evangelization is spiritual, and

that the more we learn about it the more effectively will be able to complete the

great commission of Jesus.



We need only to observe what God is doing in the world today to realize that the

effectiveness of our evangelistic efforts depends to a great degree on the outcome of the

spiritual battles in the heavenly places.



The Scripture indicate that our chief weapon for engaging the enemy in this battle is

warfare prayer and fasting (Matt. 17:21).



A. Overcoming the Strongman.



Jesus used the word NIKAO in one of His references to dealing with the „strongman‟, or with

an opposing demonic force. (Luke 11:14-22; Matt. 12:29; Mark 3:27). Jesus uses the word

„Overcome‟, „Bind‟ „Conquer‟ interchangeably in Matt. 16:19. The churches in the seven

cities of Asia are to overcome or conquer the evil forces preventing the glory of God from

shining in their cities.



*. Acts 19:1-20, 23-29 DIANA was one of the seven wonders of the then known world.

Despite the pervasive influence of these territorial spirits represented in DIANA, Paul

overcome the spirit by power evangelism and the gospel was established and it

was a virile church.



* Pergamos was the centre of four pagan cults (Zeus, Athena, Dionysus and Esclepus)

and the seat of the blasphemous Emperor worship. Yet a church there!



* Pergamos – Rev. 2:8-9; 12-13 „where Satan‟s seat is. It was the official capital of the

province of Asia and seat of imperial authority. One of the prominent symbols on the

coinage of pergamos was the serpent, their emblem for Asklepios, the god of

medicine, who was worshipped there. They had a great temple built without chairs,

brought snake craw on the ground and when touched by snake the god of medicine

had touched them. They had 200,000 books in their library in the university

and wrote all by hand.



B. Satan’s strategy.



Overcoming the strategic - level demonic forces ruling a city demands a basic

understanding of Satan‟s modus operandi. All the evil and treacherous activities of Satan is

summarized in this statement: Satan‟s central task and desire to prevent God from being

glorified.



Whenever God is not glorified in a person‟s life, in a church, in a city or in the world as a

whole, Satan has to that degree accomplished his objective. We must realize that Satan

himself wants the glory due to God Isa. 14:12-14; Gen. 3:5; Matt. 4:9. How does Satan go

about keeping God from being glorified? He has primary and secondary objectives.



1. Satan‟s primary objective is to prevent God from being glorified by keeping lost

people from being saved. Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost.

Whenever a person is saved, the angels rejoice. Satan hates all these, he wants

people to go to hell, not to heaven and each time he succeeds he has won on eternal

victory.



2. Satan‟s secondary objective is to make human beings and human society as

miserable as possible in this present life. The enemy has come to steal, to kill and to

destroy. When we see wars, poverty, oppression, sickness, racism, greed and similar

evils too numerous to mention, we have no doubt that Satan is succeeding all too

much. II Cor. 4:3, 4. The empty churches and indifference to the gospel reflect

Satan‟s eternal victories

The spiritual strongholds that rule over our cities and blinding of the heart of the people will

only be overcome by serious warfare prayer, it is then that the gospel can be really

effective. God is calling us to fight on our knees for the gospel. Serious and intense,

consistent and persevering prayer and fasting is the answer.



3. Effective Evangelism



Not everyone who sets out to evangelize is effective. However God want us to succeed. And

the most effective evangelistic methodology is warfare prayer.



Here are some principles:



1. Select an area by Gods leading.

2. Research by prayer the Spirits ruling the area.

3. Join hands together in warfare prayer and fasting to overcome the strongman there.

4. Then go out there to reap the harvest.



In Argentina, where a great harvest of souls is being reaped for God, it was reported that

evangelists begin to pray over cities before proclaiming the gospel there. Only after they

sense that spiritual powers over the region have been bound will they begin to preach.

Warfare prayer helps to bring about effective and result oriented evangelism.



Omar Cabrera frequently closets himself in warfare prayer and fasting from 5 to 40 days

before commencing a new work in a city. It is only when he is sure that the spiritual power

is broken will he come out and sinners will be saved and healed in their thousands.

His „vision of the future‟ church that was started in 1979 has grown to 137,000 as at 1985.



The scriptural position is not only that we have authority to war against these powers of

darkness, but we have the responsibility to do so as well if we are to succeed in God‟s work.

If we don‟t pray against our spiritual enemies, they will indeed prey upon us.

DELIVERANCE IN TODAY’S

CHURCH

The issue of deliverance has become a v ery volatile subject in the church today.

While some welcome and practice it, others are vehemently opposed to it and see

it as strange doctrine. Moreover, this subject has generated so much debate and

sometimes heated arguments that results in b ad blood among Christian leaders

and churches. As a ministry committed to the balanced growth and health of the

church, it is high time we take a close look at this subject again. Kindly maintain

an open mind if you are to benefit in this exposition.



A. Definition and Biblical Basis – Luke 4:18, 17



The Greek word, soteria means salvation, deliverance from death, danger, sin,

calamity, poverty, powers and principalities. (Ps. 18:17; 34:4; 56:13; 2 Sam.

2:2 ). Deliverance to the captives is part of the earthly ministry of our Lord.

Deliverance is a term used to describe the process of setting the captives free.

It is the total and complete freedom from sin, Satan, sickness and evil

entanglements by the power of the Holy Spirit in the name of Je sus. Col. 1:13,

Acts 26:18, I John 3:8, 2 Tim. 4:18, 2 Pet. 2:9, Heb. 2:15, 2 Cor. 1:10 .



Deliverance is a spiritual cleansing for the believer. Deliverance is part of

spiritual warfare. Even though, it doesn‟t start and end with demonic spirits, yet

it has much to do with demonic defilements, depression, domination and

possession. Deliverance can happen instantly, progressively or

simultaneously. God do deliver without human aids, yet most times, He goes

through human clean vessels.



B. Basic reasons for Deliverance – Luke 1:73-75, Acts 26:18, I Tim.

4:1-2



 Jesus came not only to save but also to deliver. Luke 4:18

 Deliverance is Scriptural and experiential.

 Many who are saved in spirit are still being oppressed in body.

 Many saved people still have problems with smoking, drinking, immorality,

lust, bad habits, nightmare, curses and covenants.

 Demonic activities are on the increase.

 Too many people, nation, city and communities are into occult and idol

worship. Idol worship leads to bondage.

 Too many dedicated area, lands, people, generat ions and places.

 Too many people in bondage of demonic oppression, depression and

obsession.

 Complete freedom demands for deliverance session.

 So that the full benefits and blessings of Christ redemption can be

appropriated.



C. Christians and Deliverance



Genuine and sincere Christians cannot be demonized in their spirit, but they can

be depressed, harassed, afflicted and tormented in their bodies. If the mind is

not renewed (Rom. 12:1-2) and the body carelessly handled, demons will wreck

havoc with evil thoughts and diseases.



Christians can also open the door for demons through unconfessed sin,

unforgiving spirit, prolonged anger, bitterness, compromise, immorality, stealing,

lust, masturbation and curses. Christians who found themselves in

these things need deliverance; repentance only will not solve it.



D. The Need for Deliverance



 Half-baked and incomplete salvation experience.

 Sicknesses, diseases and ailments are rampant.

 Poverty and squalor reigning supreme.

 Bondage and oppression in churches.

 Darkness and hostility to the gospel.

 Idol worship and ancestral worship is common.

 Generational sins and curses.

 Sexual bondage.

 Demonic foundation and covenants.

 Multivarious problems that defy human solutions.



E. Wrong Practices of Deliverance



 Beating and physically abusing people.

 Tying with chain and ropes.

 Pushing and pulling people down.

 Punishing with food and deprivation

 Binding the devil and not demons.

 Conversation with demonic spirits.

 Calling fire to consume spirits.

 Showing peoples‟ nakedness and touching sensitive parts.

 Bathing, washing and rubbing the opposite sex.

 Selling anointing oil, handkerchiefs and candles.

 Ungodly and unbiblical, syncretism practices.

 Seeing every woman as a witch or demonized.



F. Levels of Deliverance



There are four levels or degrees of deliverance, though many tends to focus on

only one aspect.



1. Personal deliverance



Demonic activities in an individual‟s life. In personal delivera nce, even though

there is what is called self-deliverance, yet you will always need somebody with a

higher anointing to pray with you and for you. It may be once or gradual.



2. Church Deliverance – Mark 1:20-23



Demons do attach themselves to churches through faulty foundation, incidents,

calamities, occult practices, spiritual curses and unconfessed sins. Setting your

church free requires strong deliverance practices.



3. Community Deliverance – 2 Cor. 4:3, 4



Many fruitless evangelistic efforts in a community are traceable to community

bondage. Once a community is under the spell of demonic domination, there can

be no light of the gospel shinning brightly there. Pastors and church leaders in

such community must of necessity come togethe r for prayer, sharing, fellowship

and strategic action on how to set their community free.



4. Family Deliverance

Some families are under a particular demonic spell or bondage. It may be a

re-occurring sickness, disease, calamities or curses. Even though repentance is

necessary for such people or family, yet deliverance session is the key solution to

complete freedom.



G. Dangers of Neglecting Deliverance



In churches and circles where deliverance is not allow ed and welcomed, these

are some of the outcomes:



 Weak, powerless and anemic Christians.

 Unexplainable defeat and sinfulness of Christians.

 Baffling problems and situations that refuse to yield to petition prayers.

 Sicknesses, poverty and calamities killing Christians.

 Christians not living up to their kingdom privileges.

 Curses and wrong foundation troubling Christians.

 Oppressive air of bondage in the church.

 Little fruit despite years of labour.



H. Pitfalls to avoid in Deliverance



 Extremism – seeing deliverance in every issue and problems.

 Glorification of devil and demons.

 Ungodly practices and questionable actions.

 Prayerlessness or little preparation.

 Failure to study, soak and drink deep in the Word.

 Listening to deception and deceiving spirits.

 Doing it alone in pride.

 Condoning sin and evil in private life.

 Assumption theology and routine.

 Doing it without spiritual covering and protection.



1. The Deliverance Minister



Too many promising ministers have made a s hipwreck of their faith, simply

because they dabbled into deliverance ministry without adequate knowledge and

preparation. So many young men have fallen into immorality, fornication,

adultery and sexual bondage as a result of conducting deliverance session s for

young females who entice and seduce them into sin. Many heard strange voices

and the resultant „prophetic act‟ have landed them in trouble and chronic

bondage of iniquity.

Many churches have scattered and many women have been taken advantage of in

the name of deliverance. In the light of the above, we must observe these codes

of conduct and imbibe these qualities of an effective deliverance minister.



 Must be genuinely and soundly born again.

 Must be holy, pure within and without.

 Totally and completely free from any bondage.

 Must embrace personal growth and maturity.

 Must be freshly and highly anointed.

 Ability to hear God clearly and unmistakenly.

 Must be well trained and informed.

 Must maintain a personal and vibrant prayer life.

 Must be adept in the Word of God.

 If invited, must operate within the order of the house.

 Cases must be treated individually and confidentially.

 Must no operate alone.

 Must have minimal contact with opposite sex.

 Must be aware and work against negative bounce back.

 Must be humble, teachable and submissive.

 Must be under spiritual covering and leadership.

 Must quickly report any strange feeling or experience.

CHURCH AT THE SEATS OF SATAN

It is not possible to really talk about church health without taking a closer look at the

activities of the devil and demons in our world today. The supernatural is always a strong

factor in church growth and health, especially in African context. You must also

understand that one of the most insidious diseases of churches, be it denominational or

independent, is the fifth column - the secret penetration of the agents of the enemy inside a

church in order to render her powerless from within.



1. Scriptural Foundation and Basis - Rev. 2:11-13



Jesus specifically noted that a church is located at the seats of Satan. The more reason for

stagnation, lukewarmness, coldness and ungodliness inside the church. (Matt. 16:18)



 Gates of hell are militating against churches

 Satan and his agents target and mark out churches

 Satanic power boosters in every community

 Demonic darkness to blindfold people - (II Cor. 4:3-4)

 Dedication of land and community to demonic strongholds

 Jesus did warfare before starting his ministry (Matt. 4:1-11)

 Every street and community has an assigned angel - good or bad



There is no reason why churches should not be healthy and growing. Jesus is still

building His church (Matt. 16:18). God doesn‟t want any person to perish (I Tim 2:3-4). The

Holy Spirit is still in the world, bringing many sons to glory.



The hindering factor is seats of Satan inside churches.

2. Evidence of Seats of Satan



There are numerous evidences to show that seats of Satan in a community and church are

in operation:-



 Small growth despite years of toil

 Grave yard of churches

 Rise and fall of pastors

 Anaemic Christians

 Internal wrangling

 Calamity and crisis

 Discouragement and dejection

 Hardship and poverty

 Violence and sinfulness

 Death and negative incidents

 Resistant to the gospel

 Empty churches and barrenness



The empty churches despite much programmes are clear evidence of satanic victory against

us. The indifference to the gospel and ungodliness of those who even professed faith in

Christ are clear signals of seats of Satan in control.



3. Open Door For Seats Of Satan



How does a church or community become a place where Satan dwelleth?



 Pact and covenant by founding fathers

 Dedicating land to a particular diety or strongman

 Open worship of idols

 Cults, invocations, shrines and rituals

 Polluted altars / foundational problem

 Condoning sin, evil and wickedness

 Prayerlessness

 Fornication, immorality and sexual pervasion

 Allowing demonic people to lead and minister

 Christopaganism by minister



These are some of the major ways through which the devil gains a foothold and

eventually established his kingdom in a church and community.



 Story of a church where all the pastors must fall into sin

 Story of the church where everyone did vigil in Adam‟s cloth (nakedly)

 Story of the church where youths conjugate on the altar in vigil

 Story of the church that is covered in thick darkness

 Story of the church where nobody must prosper or will die



4. Uprooting The Seats Of Satan - Rev. 2:17; I Pet. 5:8, 9; Jam. 4:7



Amazingly, Jesus didn‟t ask the church to run but to stay, fight and overcome the enemy



a. There should be no enemy ground in your life - John 14:30

b. Seek the Lord for a battle plan

c. Open repentance and restitution

d. Set up a powerful prayer base

e. Leaders and pastors praying together

f. Rededicate church and land back to God

g. Employ the best prayer strategies such as;



1. Vicinity warfare

2. House to house prayers

3. Street to street warfare

4. Community praise marches

5. Prophetic anointing and pronouncements



When these are prayerfully done under the unmistakable guidance of the Holy Spirit, there

cannot but be a result. However, it cannot be a once and for all event, rather it must be

consistent and continuous until victory is assured.