DIVINE WAR AGAINST CHURCH/MINISTERS’ DESTROYERS

SCRIPTURES

Psalm 2:1-end Matthew 16:13-19; 17:14-21 Chant powerfully in the name of Jesus: Psalms 24, 20, 23, 27, 35, 121, 140 Job 18:5-end 2 Chronicles 20:1-end Psalm 42:13 Isaiah 43:1-7
Jeremiah 51:1-end (Please note vv. 20-25, 39 & 57) 2 Kings 1:1-17; 6:8-23

CONFESSION

Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the RAGE of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded (Psalm 7:6, emphasis added).

Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee (Psalm 5:10).

The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; He shall prevail against his enemies (Isaiah 42:13).

But the LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten (Jeremiah 20:11).

Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate me and my ministry flee before me. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so
let the wicked perish at the presence of my God. But let me the righteous be glad; I shall rejoice before God and rejoice exceedingly (Psalm 68:1-3).
Amen.

EXHORTATION

Our Lord says in John 10:10, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” And the great Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 16:9, “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.”
My beloved, it is very obvious: Anything good, anything succeeding, anything progressing is a potential target of attack for the devil. He doesn’t want anything good to happen to anyone, let alone God’s children and His ministers; he is ever ready to plunder, to steal, to kill and to destroy. But thank God for Jesus and the Holy Spirit. They are united in one accord and battle-ready to defend their divine investments—the Church, the Body of Christ on Earth. And Jesus, the Head of the Church, it was who said, “…I will build my Church; and THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT” (Matthew 16:18b, emphasis added).
However, in waging war against the dark powers raging against the Church and its ministers, we must understand some divine principles, wholeheartedly appropriate them and begin to walk in them.

1. Clean hearts and hands

Psalm 24:3-4
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He that hath CLEAN HANDS, and a PURE HEART… (emphasis added).

We must operate on a high level of the Spirit of Holiness (Romans 1:4) so the hordes of HELL will not prevail over us. Therefore we must not have in our possession any abominable, accursed material of Egypt, both in our hearts and in the physical. We must live just like our Master and be always at the ready to say with Him, “…For the PRINCE OF THIS WORLD cometh, and hath nothing in me” (John 14:30, emphasis added). Remember also Proverbs 26:2, “As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.” BELOVED, DON’T GIVE THE DEVIL ANY ROOM TO STRIKE. Receive grace to deal the death blow to every besetting and secret sin and earthly vice that may remove the garment of protection from you and your ministry.

2. Shun the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:16-26; Ephesians 3:20-32; Colossians 3:1-15). We must deal with the works of the flesh and grow the fruit of the Spirit. Otherwise the destroyer will be having a field day because he has been given a beachhead to operate from. So nothing in our lives must attract the enemy. Remember: “He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an HEDGE, a serpent shall bite him” (Ecclesiastes 10:8).
We must be disciplined; and the more God lifts us up, the more humble and grateful we must be. Reject PRIDE, ANGER, BRAWLING, ENVY, INORDINATE AFFECTION, HERESIES, AND UNFORGIVENESS. Many ministers of God find it hard to forgive those who leave their congregation for another. Brethren, this should not be so. The One who founded the Church says, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him… (John 6:44).
Now here are truths to hold dearly to heart from this Scripture:

a. It is only God who draws people to your church or ministry.
b. The selfsame God can equally move them elsewhere—as He wills.
c. They are God’s inheritance—not yours.
d. You are an under-shepherd reporting to God.
e. If you are not relevant to their destinies, they will move. Sheep naturally gravitates towards greener pastures. So, examine yourself as a pastor and improve on your messages and character instead of being hurt and cursing people needlessly.
f. Bitterness in your heart will hinder the flow of the Spirit of God and this itself is a great destroyer. Beware!
g. Update yourself spiritually: pray, study, listen to tapes, go for training and seminars and be refreshed with fresh oil, fresh ideas and insights.

3. Be firm (1Timothy 6:17-end)

Verse 17
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not HIGH-MINDED, not trust in uncertain riches, but in the LIVING GOD, who giveth us richly ALL THINGS TO ENJOY (emphasis added).

Many ministries and pastors have been destroyed because of the inability of pastors to put to check those who claim to be rich and want everyone to know it by flaunting their wealth all over the place.

But, beloved pastor, do please note the following:

a. There is no one who can sponsor God’s work and all your needs but God Himself (Job 22:23-end).
b. Look unto Him for everything; He is the foundation of your ministry (Psalm 21).
c. Guard the OIL on your head against ABUSES from those fraudulent moneybags who have invaded the church (Jeremiah 17:9-11).
d. Stand firm against these rich folks and put them where they belong. There is a way to go about this:

 Invest in their lives spiritual things.
 Treat them as your spiritual sons and daughters in the Lord, irrespective of their age or
status.
 Ensure to caution their excesses.

If you don’t do this, you will lose your oil, or your oil will be desecrated—and the destroyer will mess up your calling!
Please guard against the Jezebel spirit in the Church. And I advise you seek counsel from experienced senior pastors in this regard.

4. Consistent spiritual exercises
a. Your study life must improve daily (2 Timothy 2:15).
b. PRAYER and FASTING (Luke 18:1)
c. Regular retreat (Luke 5:15). Don’t be lost in the rough and tumble of the workaday life.
d. Understand how God speaks to you (John 14:26).
e. Be organised (Luke.14:28-30).
f. Covet and nurture spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12).
g. Giving. Most ministers don’t give. That’s why many struggle financially. So be an addicted giver and the very things you preach will manifest in your life and ministry (Isaiah 32:8).
h. Speak the truth always. Don’t water down your Message—for whatever reason. Truth has the power to defend itself (2 Corinthians 13:8). And remember that truth is a Person.
i. Develop a healthy family life (Genesis 2:21-25).
j. Wisdom is the key to a life of beauty, fulfillment and purpose. Therefore seek after wisdom from above (Luke. 2:52; Proverbs 2:6; James 3:17).
k. Networking (1 Corinthians 15:33). You will need others and others will need you. So don’t be an island. You will need others for more knowledge and insights.
l. Serve God with all your heart (John 12:24-26).
m. Be eternity-conscious (Hebrews 12:2). We are pilgrims here; Heaven is our true home and where the action is.
n. Reject discouragement, for it is of the devil (2 Samuel 30:1-end).
o. DO WARFARE REGULARLY (Matthew 11:12; 1 Corinthians 16:9). The enemy will contend with you every inch of the way. Be strong.

Beloved, earnestly taking to heart these principles will empower you and your ministry against the destroyers of goodness. Receive grace today to operate in them in the name of Jesus.

PRAYERS

1. Thank God for the wonderful opportunity given you to work in His vineyard (Galatians 1:11-end).
2. Repent and ask for God’s mercy.
3. Plead the blood of Jesus over yourself, your ministry and your marriage.

Sing this song:
We are able to go up to take the country
From the land of Jordan to the sea.
Though the giants may be on our way to hinder
God will surely give us victory…

4. Every foundational strong man attacking my calling, be destroyed by fire, in the name of Jesus.
5. Character deficiencies in me wasting my calling and anointing, be removed by fire, in the name of Jesus.
6. Every work of darkness affecting my life and calling, be destroyed by fire, in Jesus’ name.
7. Resistance to my manifestation in ministry, be scattered by fire, in Jesus’ name.
8. Battles against my calling and ministry through dreams, be scattered by fire, in Jesus’ name.
9. Every door of progress shut against my calling and ministry, open by fire, in Jesus’ name.
10. Areas of my calling and ministry not well coordinated, O Lord, by Your power, coordinate them for me, in Jesus’ name.
11. Every yoke of . . . . . . . . . . . . (Pick from a-z below.), scatter, in the name of Jesus.
a. …failure in ministry
b. …stagnation in ministry
c. …repeated problems
d. …unexplainable difficulty in ministry
e. …spiritual dryness in ministry
f. …witchcraft attack
g. …lack of help and helpers
h. …labouring without results
i. …giving my reward to another while I am the one labouring
j. …rising and falling in ministry
k. …troubled marriage/home
l. …barrenness in ministry and personal life
m. …not hearing God, not receiving vision from Heaven, not discerning
n. …seducing power and immorality
o. …prayerlessness and carelessness
p. …slumbering and filthy thought
q. …fear of the unknown
r. …prolonged suffering without solution
s. …inability to depend on God
t. …trial and error
u. …praying without testimonies
v. …negative predictions and hidden curses and covenants
w. …evil monitoring
x. …scattering each time I am gathering
y. …disgrace, reproach and mockery
z. …filthy garment and inordinate affection
12. Lord, empower me to meet the demands of my generation, in the name of Jesus.
13. Lord, overshadow my ministry and calling with Your glory, in Jesus’ name.
14. Every internal and external bondage against my calling and ministry, be scattered to pieces, in Jesus’ name.
15. Lord, bring me out of the valley of labouring without results, in the name of Jesus

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