THE PRAYER STRATEGY THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING | Apostle Joshua Selman

Says prayer has to do with communion, prayer has to do with communication, prayer has to do with fellowship. I taught you here that beyond receiving, beyond making petitions, prayer in its essence has to do with communion, with fellowship, Hallelujah, with worship in fact, and then of course, communicating our thoughts, communicating our needs, communicating our fears, communicating our desires. It is essentially seen as a way of communicating to God.

Now, because we are believers, we don't call him a cosmic power, we don't call him a divine reality, we don't call him a heavenly being, he is God Almighty. The Bible is very clear. The Christian faith is very powerful because it defines God. It doesn't leave God to an abstract concept. There are many religions, with all due respect, their definition of God is not a person, is a concept. But in the Christian faith, the Bible is very clear as to the definition of God. When we worship, we worship Him that sits upon the throne and the Lamb. John 17:3, "This is life eternal, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus whom Thou hast sent." Hallelujah.

Let the wise man not glory in his wisdom, let the rich man not glory in his riches, let the strong man not glory in his strength, but let him that glory at glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me. Hallelujah. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom, the knowledge of the Holy, that is understanding. And so when we deal with the matter of God, uh in the Christian faith, it's not an abstract concept. We are serving a living God with a defined personality who can be known, even though he's eternally magnificent and mysterious, but he has fragmented himself in a way that those he died for can know him. God can be known, as mighty as he is. We cannot know all of God, unfortunately. It will be an eternal journey, an unfolding, one layer after another. Are we? Hallelujah. The Bible says there is no searching of his understanding. However, he has provided a template that can guide us.

We know God by studying his nature. We know God by studying his wisdom. We know God by studying his power. That's the model the Bible gives in learning God. The believer is left with this threefold approach. We know God, again I repeat, digressing for a reason, by studying his nature. To the degree to which you understand the nature of God, you have come into a functional knowledge of God. Number two, we know God by exploring his wisdom. "Thou wilt show me the path of life. It is in Your light we see light." Hallelujah. He's the fountain of wisdom. So, when we learn his works, his wisdom, we access knowledge of him. And then, number three, we study his power. Acts chapter 1 or Ephesians 1:19. Paul was praying over the church in Ephesus, and among the many things he wanted them to know was the exceeding greatness of his power to us who believe. He wanted us not just to know, to have knowledge, the spirit of revelation, but to know the exceeding greatness of his power. The power that was invested when he raised Christ from the dead. Paul himself said that I may know Him. That means God can be known. That I may know Him. And the power of his resurrection, the fellowship of his his suffering. Hallelujah.

So, prayer is communion, prayer is fellowship with God. Second Corinthians 13 and 14. "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God." We we quote it every time, even though largely without understanding. And the fellowship, that's where we get the word koinonia. The fellowship of the Holy Spirit, it says to be with us all. And would you shout amen to that? Hallelujah.

I have um by way of summary and a recap, I have taught us that essentially, even though I will break it down to other layers now, but essentially prayer has a fourfold assignment. Number one, prayer is has the first assignment for the transformation and the growth of the believer. That is a major part of the assignment of prayer for our growth and our transformation. Luke 9:29. "And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered and his raiment became white and glistening." So, the first and major assignment of prayer is for your growth and transformation.

Number two, I'm still going to elaborate on it. Prayer is a platform for obtaining requests and making petitions. According to scripture, the authorized channel for making requests and your petitions, obtaining promises, is through prayer. Mark 11:24. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that thou receiveth them and thou shall have them." Matthew 7:7 and 8. "Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find. Knock," it says, "and the door shall be opened. It says for everyone that asketh receiveth." Are we learning? The Bible says to be anxious for nothing. It says but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. Apostle James taught us, he said, "Ye have not because ye ask not." So, prayer is a platform for making petitions and for obtaining requests.

Number three, the third assignment of prayer according to scripture is for creation and spiritual legislation. In Genesis chapter 1:26-28, man was given what we call the dominion mandate. He was given stewardship over this side of God's kingdom to be a faithful steward. And the Bible says, "Moreover, it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful." And part of our job of faithfully stewarding the earth is to exert dominion over it. And in doing so, he designed man to function like him. So, he created man in his image. The image talks about the nature of Christ, the fruit of the spirit. But the function of God means to speak like him and to have things appear. And then, of course, to do the works of Christ. Are you learning now? When we speak, the Bible says, "Where the word of a king is, there is power." It says, "Declare ye that thou mightest be justified." Our words are not empty. The mouth of the believer is not just for eating, swallowing food. It is for creating, defining, redefining your possibilities. It is true. Hallelujah. Creation and spiritual legislation. You pass decrees in the spirit. You make decrees in the name of Jesus. The centurion said, "Speak the word only." He understood the power of words. He says, "I am a centurion. I have men under me. I am under authority. And by reason of that authority, I say, not just wish, I say to one, 'Go.' And he goeth. I say to one, 'Come.' And he cometh." And he said, "You don't need to come to my house. Speak the word only." And Jesus said, "Wow, I've not found such faith, such understanding, no, not in Israel." Words are powerful. They create possibilities. Curses work through words. Blessings work through words. Limitations come through words. Liberty comes through words. Deliverance comes through words. Bondage comes through words. Hallelujah. The blessing came through words. And God blessed man and said, although he had created man. Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Verse two, "Now the earth was dark, was void, was formless, and the spirit of God hovered around the face of the waters." Verse three, "And God said," "Every creative spirit speaks." And if man is created in the image and the likeness of God, then you must be a talking spirit. I pray for you in the name of Jesus. Understanding the power of prayer, you will never be silent when you should be speaking. The reason why James was beheaded, I believe, is because the church was silent. There's no record of the church praying when James was held. They held James. I'm sure they were just lamenting among themselves, and he was beheaded. And the Bible says when Herod saw that it pleased the Jews, he now captured Peter and kept him waiting to deliver him after the Passover. But the church became angry. The Bible says on the night before his handover, the everything had been in place for his deliverance or his his destruction. The Bible said, "But prayer." Now the church decided to open their mouth to speak. "But prayer was made without ceasing by the church unto God for him." And angels came. When the boat was going to destroy the apostle, I'm sure the people were crying and calling all kinds of people. He subjected himself and began to speak. And an angel appeared and told him, he said, "Be patient. Find rest. There shall be no loss." And he said, "Hey, sirs, gentlemen, I have seen an angel. He has appeared to me and he said there shall be no loss." The Bible says the boat rocked left, right, and center. They lost some properties, but the boat sailed safely and arrived an island called Melita. Words. Words. Words. When Abraham was dismissing his other children, he gave them gifts, but the Bible says to Isaac he gave him everything he had. There was no mention of giving him any physical thing, but he gave him words. And Isaac sowed in that land, but because of the words he carried, he reaped that same year. He increased. He waxed until the Philistines envied him. I pray for you again, you will not be silent when you should be speaking. Hallelujah.

And then number four, prayer according to scripture is a platform provides a platform for warfare and intercession. I'm still going to recap on this. I want to broaden them a bit and elaborate on them, but just doing a recap over the teachings so that those who have not been here can connect and then together we'll just rise to another dimension. It's very important to understand this about prayer. So, when you are praying, you are not just shouting at miss. Idol worshipers pray without understanding because they are praying to an unknown God, but believers must pray with intelligence. Hallelujah. And the first description of spiritual intelligence is an awareness of the God you are praying to and then to understand the assignment of prayer. Prayer does not do everything, but prayer is needed in everything. Write that down. Prayer does not accomplish everything, but prayer is needed in everything. Another way to put it is that prayer is not the only key. In the kingdom we have keys, not a key. However, like you have heard me say, where prayer is not the key, becomes a hand that holds the key. There are many other keys in the kingdom. If the only key you know is prayer, you will be powerful, but you will still be disadvantaged. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom. Prayer being a major part, a foundational key, but not the only key. As seen in the life of Jesus, he prayed, but he did not only pray. He went to the temple. He was not in the temple to pray, he went to learn scripture. When Satan attacked him, he did not say, "I have prayed." He said, "It is written." Is someone learning now? And there are times that even though he prayed, even though it is written, he needed men. He said, "Come, follow me." So, these are the principles that make for victory. In the kingdom, you don't select which one you want. You open up yourself to the entire bunch of keys, because when you stand before the door, the key that opens the door has been defined already, and it's not defined by your convenience, it's an ordinance. If you are learning, say amen.

Sometimes, because of the huge role that prayer plays in the overall spiritual economy of the believer, we tend to tilt into the bias of trivializing other, maybe not equally, but complemented or what do they call it now? Complementary spiritual principles. And we do that to our detriment.

So, you find believers who are prayerful. Remember, I'm teaching on prayer. They pray very well, but for instance, a man who is prayerful, but does not understand the law of honor, there will be many answers piling in the realm of the spirit, but it will never manifest because of a neglect of one spiritual law. A man can be prayerful and omit the law of diligence. The Bible already tells you without predicting that a lazy man will catch something and not roast it, or he will give an excuse. You see that now? So, your victory as a believer is an interplay of all the spiritual laws needed for your victory. Prayer being a major one, but not the only one. You're following, say amen.

But now we're zooming to prayer, so allow my bias as we stress on a few things concerning prayer. Again, to remind you for our topic tonight, let us pray. We're gaining mastery in prayer. I want to focus on what prayer really achieves in the life of a believer. So, it's going to be an elaborate description of what I just gave you, and to broaden it, I have eight eight points here, and I will run through them very quickly. But like I told us, there will be breaks periodically, and then we'll pray in the spirit. So, when I prompt you to pray, make sure you pray. Let it be from the depth of your heart. We're in the school of prayer tonight, in the name of Jesus Christ. Hallelujah. Have you learned something already? Say, I receive grace to pray. Say it like you're serious. I receive grace to pray.

Now, I tell you this. One of the reasons why we have a lot of struggles in the prayer ministry is not because believers don't have the zeal to pray. Now, there is the spirit of slumber, spiritual slumber, that can come upon a man and attack your prayer life. But you see, the human nature is such that you have to be motivated by intelligence and reason to prime people into doing things. Are we together? As humans, we don't do things blindly. If you tell me, "Just sit down." That's the reason why faith is a treasure in the life of a believer, because faith sometimes does not demand an absolute knowledge of everything, it demands trust in God. So, if you ask me to sit, and you don't tell me any other reason, you just say sit there. I will sit in obedience to you, but it does not deny the fact that I will be frustrated because I don't know why I'm seated. Are we together? But, if you tell me there are robbers outside and I want you to sit in one place. You see, you have given me the basis for a staying power. Even if it's after 1 hour, my body may be tired, but my consciousness will supply strength that keeps me there. So, the reason why many believers are epileptic in their prayer life is because we have sort of guilt-tripped them to pray. You are not praying. You are not a serious Christian. You are going to be defeated. And and out of guilt, they just try to pray, but eventually they slack back. The correct way is to help them understand what really happens when you pray. What is the value? What's the treasure? The riches that are derived from a healthy, consistent, ever-increasing prayer life. And in this series of discussion, that's my goal. To help you understand what really happens. You see, when that comes, you'll begin to pray by yourself. By yourself. Go and wait for me at a junction in Wuse. Apostle, why? Just stay there. Now, you will get there in obedience and be angry at every car and be frowning and insulting me while you are waiting and when you exhaust your obedience, you just leave and say let the worst happen. But, if I say wait there, in 2 hours someone is bringing a million naira for you. You see that now? Already I've given you an idea that it's going to be a long time. So, when you stand there looking as if you are confused and missing, when people say sorry, you need to see the police, what to say, "I'm fine. I'm fine." There is an expectation. Let me tell you this. Don't take for granted that humans are the highest of God's creation. If you want them to connect to spiritual things, you must reveal to them the treasure that is contained in obedience. Even in our walk with God, God does not just tell us to believe him blindly. He gives us incentives. There is victory connected to believing him. There is heaven connected to believing him. He would not just come and say, "Believe in me. Serve me. Worship me." He would sound That would be the same thing. Even idols idols that don't have power, they lure men to worship them by giving them incentives. Hallelujah. If you do not understand the value and the treasure that is in prayer, it will make God and make the faith life look like a selfish manifestation of a wicked and cruel king's desire. And that's not the way God is. Everything prayer is for the profit of the believer. Everything prayer. Including giving God praise and worship is still back to the profit of the believer.

When I was teaching you about the attributes that brand God as God, there are six of them. One of them, in addition to being omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, is that God is self-existent. Remember? God is self-existent. The meaning of that is that God does not need any other agency to maintain himself. Our life is derived from God. We need oxygen. We need, you know, food. We need whatever it is. We need sleep. Do you know you can be healthy and without sleep, you can become sick again? But the keeper of Israel does not sleep. He does not slumber. That's what makes him self-existent. When he became a man, he slept on his way to Gadara. When he became a man, he slept. He woke up. He did all the things that humans do. But as God, he's self-existent. Is someone learning now? Hallelujah.

So, what does prayer achieve in the life of the believer? Are you ready? Pray in the spirit for 1 minute, and then I'll begin to table my submissions, and I hope that it will add to our spiritual understanding and drive us to a place of consistent prayer. Open your mouth and pray in the spirit.

Let us pray. Let us pray. Let us pray. Those following by television, following online, make sure you connect as we pray. In Jesus mighty name we pray.

What does prayer achieve in the life of a believer or a territory? What I'm about to list for you goes beyond the personal benefit of the believer because prayer affects two entities. Number one, it affects the individual, but prayer also affects a territory. Prayer, if done correctly, affects the individual extending to your family, but it also affects communities. The healing of the land is connected to prayer. Are we together? Prayer is not just limited to personal benefits. You benefit as an individual when you submit to prayer accurately, but your territory also benefits.

Number one, what does prayer achieve in the life of a believer or a territory? Number one, prayer creates the platform for communion and fellowship with God. Deepening the believer's relationship with God. I'll take that again and then I'll explain. Prayer creates the platform for communion, for fellowship with God, deepening the believer's relationship with God. Prayer creates the platform for communion and fellowship with God, deepening the believer's relationship with God. Give us James 4 and verse 8 very quickly. Then we'll do Psalm 145 verse 18. James 4 and verse 8 says, "Draw nigh to God." Look at it there. "Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you." Draw nigh to him. When you desire intimacy, he supplies grace, but you initiate the process through your hunger, through your passion, through your consistency, your love for the secret place. It is your It is It's It's like um How How do I call it now? It's like the wooing of the spirit. When God wants to draw you deeper into spiritual things, he will plant the hunger in you, but you have to respond to that hunger. That hunger drives you to the secret place, to the place of communion. When others are sleeping, you are awake in the night, soaking yourself in an atmosphere of worship. What you are saying by your consistency is maranatha, come. I desire your presence. I desire your glory. I desire your power. It will not just come because you want it. There has to be a drawing. A deepened relationship. A.W. Tozer calls it the practice of God's presence. You have to be very intentional. Is someone Is someone learning now? This is very important. Your glory is my one desire. Your glory is my one desire. Your glory is my one desire. Your glory is my one desire. Your presence is my one desire. Ah. Your presence is my one desire. Your presence is my one desire. Your presence is my one desire. Your power is my one desire. Your power is my one desire. Your power is my one desire. Your power is my one desire. Listen to me. When you say a believer is passionate about God, there are a number of indices that measure passion. Number one is that passion always has time to give. You never find scarcity of time in the presence of passion. One of the ways you know passion is dying is the excuse of lack of time. The moment you begin to give an excuse of lack of time, I am busy, they promoted me, your hunger is dying. Immediately, I can tell you it's an attack. Your presence is my one desire. Your presence is my one desire. When the early church began, you see the way the apostles protected the ordinances that preserved the presence of God. With increase came trouble, and they said, "You know what? Do you know the confusion that was happening among the Grecian people?" While it looked like an economic issue, the undertone was an attack to distract the prayer life, to distract the fellowship of the apostles, so that their growth will be stunted. But, it came through the welfare department. It's the reason why leaders in church must be trained, and they must be spiritual. It will look like an ushering issue, but it's an attack on the man of God's anointing, an attack on the prayer life, an attack to create offense, to create a lot of things. It's the reason why when you love the man God has placed before you, create systems that protect his focus. Your glory. Even in heaven, the Seraphims and the Seraphs, they protect the holiness and the glory of God. With eyes all over and with six wings, above, at the sides, under, they are protectors of his glory. You must create that system when you are a leader. Raise people and distribute functions, so that growth does not become a cause to you. So, they left the way the temptation was to leave the matters of ministry and now serve tables. Administration can become a cancer to growth. So, let me teach you something as a leader, particularly if you're a man of God. As you are rising, don't become too full of yourself that it does not affect your prayer life. Raise people and trust them. God trusted you, too. Don't say, "If I trust them, what what happened?" God trusted you while you were growing. Trust them with activities. Train the workers. Let them do the work while you pray. It says, "Raise from among you seven people full of wisdom and the spirit, whom we will put over this business. But, as for us, we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word." Hallelujah. An attack on your contact with God, an attack on your fellowship, an attack on your time of prayer. Let me tell you this, Satan uses both good and evil to destroy men. By now you know that he's called the evil one does not mean his tools must always be evil. No, it is his result that is evil. The tool can even be righteousness. Satan can use good and bring a man down. It is not always that he uses evil. He can use truth and bring a man down. He can use compassion like he wanted to use Peter's compassion. If Satan needs to use scripture to destroy your spiritual life, he will use it. When he came to Jesus, he didn't say the the devil said, he said, "It is written." Who is learning? So, prayer provides a platform for communion. Let me tell you this, no matter how great you become in life, create systems that protect your time of fellowship. I recall a man of God many years ago, I think it was a pastor's conference and he said something he said some visitors just bumped into him and they just wanted his time and he was he was it coincided with when he was spending time with God. And you know, the visitors were quite noble people and they waited for an hour and they were getting angry and all of that and I think the daughter also if I recall walked up to him and said, "Daddy, go out and attend to these people now." And he called her and said, "My daughter, sit here. Let me teach you something." He said, "The reason why these men are coming is because of what I'm doing. If I stop what I'm doing, they will find another person. Men are like that. They don't really love you. They love what you carry that can help them. So, don't say I'm a celebrity, men just like me. No. Gentiles come to your light. That kings come to the brightness. Let me tell you, no man is unnecessarily special by default. It is what is on you that makes you special. And if you lose it and think you will remain special, men will surprise you. This world is is a hub of selfish people. They can say Hosanna today and say crucify him tomorrow. So, protect the grace, protect the power, protect the oil, protect the presence. Your relevance depends on it. Cancel your ministrations if you have to. Protect it. Don't say I'm too busy. I'm going around the world. You're not the first to go around the world. Some died going around the world. Some died with expansion.

You're all I want. You're all I need. I want to hold you close to me. You're all I want. You're all I need to see your kingdom come. My heart's cry. Oh, you're all I want. You're all I need. I want to hold you close to me. You're all I want. You're all I need to see your kingdom's my heart's cry. Your presence is my one desire. Your presence is my one desire. Your presence is my one desire. Your presence is my one desire. I'll tell you this. Whatever the presence of God gives you is the same presence that keeps it. If the presence of God gave you fame, is the presence of God that will keep it. I say this to you with every sense of humility. Our world is full of ex-people. And by ex, I don't mean to insult. Ex-anointed, ex-useful, ex-graceful, ex-worshiper, ex-this. It's not about being evil. It's that the devil occupied them and they started serving tables. And as they served tables, they found out that the oil was stale and faded. Please, whatever you can do in righteousness, protect the presence. Mhm. Protect the presence. Especially because we are in such an unforgiving generation. Once they discern that grace is not functioning on your life, they flip the board. Next. Next. It's a terrible thing. People will place a demand on you. They will join queues from here to outside if they feel you carry grace. But let them perceive that the grace has dried. They will look at you and not even have the mercy to say you once blessed me yesterday. Men for you. Let me tell you this, leadership 101. Both the clap of men and their criticisms still achieve the same thing. Did you hear what I said? When men insult you or say well done, it still achieves the same thing. You will need to know how to manage the applauds of men and manage the critics of the criticisms of men because it can all lead there are few people you will find in your life I can tell you this for free who will love you for who you are and stay with you the out of Jesus there were 5,000 people that Jesus fed but when he was on the cross only his mother and John. Men for you it didn't start today. So when you are rejoicing and saying I'm a celebrity it looks like IT'S MY SEASON. GO and learn the story the the secret to tomorrow is in yesterday. Your presence is my one desire. I I I I'm ministering to someone who is following online. This is the secret. As your hunger goes so your relevance. As your hunger rises so your sustainability in the kingdom and in the affairs of spirit things. Let me speak to co-laborers in the gospel as much as it's wonderful to rise be famous be great. Let me tell you this history is full of the deception of success and the deception of the applause of men. Men will clap for you because in their minds you are a product. They call that product man of God. They call that product apostle but you are simply a product that produces a certain desired outcome and I tell you if you live long enough a day will come either by their own growth or your own decline or the rise of another option they will show you you were not too special. So when you learn this early enough go and listen to my message the law of seasons. The mystery of Pharaoh's dream. The world is full of paint people today who were once standing at the spotlight and they forgot that there are people today who will even if it means to lick your feet, but the day they have an option to what you are providing, they will turn their face and not look back. I'm not saying to not celebrate when people rejoice, but please learn this early. Save yourself heart attack. The only person who will never leave you is the friend that sticketh closer than a brother. But when men say Hosanna, they will even give you a donkey and remove their clothes. A man who can remove his clothes and put it on the ground and say, "Jesus, walk on it." And yet the man, that Galilean, was carrying the cross bleeding for the sake of the same people and they said, "Look at him. He saved others. He could not save himself." I'm sure as Jesus was on his way to Golgotha, he turned and saw the man who collected double portion when they were distributing bread. I know your face. I said, "GO AND DIE." GO AND DIE. TYPICAL WITH MEN. WHERE WAS the woman with the issue of blood when he was going to die? Where was Lazarus who he rose from the dead? You are not the first to bless men and they ignore you. Learn, his presence will be your greatest protection in this wicked world. I can tell you this.

Hallelujah. Number two. So, prayer creates a platform for communion and fellowship with God deepening the believer's relationship with God. And of course, you know that Psalm 145 and verse 18. Let's look at it very quickly. We need to rush. 145:18. The Bible says, "The Lord is nigh unto them that call upon him, more so than that call upon him in truth." Do you know that there is a realm of intimacy with God where you can deepen your relationship with God? You can know that which is in the heart of the Father. John chapter 14 verse 21. It says scripture that changed my life many years ago. "He that keepeth my commandments, it is he that loveth me. And he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father." Read the remaining part. "And I will love him and will manifest myself to him." Verse 23, same scripture. "It says, 'If a man love me, he will keep my words and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him.'"

Let's go to number two. What does prayer achieve in the life of a believer or a territory? Ready? Prayer provides a platform for the believer to encounter the refining and transforming power of God. Prayer provides a platform for the believer to encounter the refining and the transforming power of God. There is such a thing as a refiner's fire. Second Corinthians chapter 3 and verse 18. The Bible says, "But we all with unveiled faces beholding him as in a mirror, we are changed." That beholding you see there is in the place of prayer. You encounter the refining and the transforming power of God. I like Psalm 51 and verse 10. Psalm 51 is a Psalm of brokenness. When you really want to be broken before God, go and read Psalm 51:1 to the end. It says, "Create in me a clean heart." You can't have a clean heart by default. It says, "And renew a right spirit." A man can carry a wrong spirit. Amaziah did what was right in the sight of God, but not with a perfect heart. Listen to me. When you get oil or you get a product, you pass it through a refining process. Am I right? The assignment of a refining process is number one to purify that that raw substance, but number two to create other components out of it. So, crude, for instance, as you refine crude, you don't just get petrol or PMS as we know. Diesel comes there, kerosene comes there, gas, and several other things come out of it. Are we together now? That's what happens when we pray. There are many dimensions of the God life that is invested in you, but it's still dormant. When you submit yourself to the refining power of prayer, the first thing it does is to refine your character. I was speaking this morning in Lagos, and was it yesterday night now, and I was charging the people. I said, "Becoming like Jesus Christ is the first assignment of the life of God in you. It empowers you to carry to embody the nature of Christ." There are many Christians who don't look like Christ. Just allow them open their mouth. They pray for hours and still talk like demons. Are we together? So, it's a very important thing. You must become like Christ in experience. Like I was charging the people there, every territory I know in Nigeria and in Africa, we have, with all due respect, certain positive aspects of our culture, but every culture I know has certain negative things connected to it. It's a tree of the knowledge of both good and evil. And it is the assignment of the refining power of God through the platform of prayer to refine away that draws. When you submit your life to the ministry of prayer, the draws that would have followed you and destroyed you after 20 years is settled through that refining power of prayer. Is someone learning now? Everywhere I know in this country has a backlog of certain signature spirits that work in the life of people, from anger to lust to wickedness. Are we together? I can ask you mention one good thing about where you come from. You will mention it quickly. And I'll say mention one challenging thing from where you come from. You will even mention it twice faster. Ah, these are people are angry people. Oh, our people are wicked people. Oh, our people are unserious people. Oh, there's untimely death. Let me tell you where that purification happens. When you submit yourself to the transforming power of prayer, listen, you can submit yourself to prayer, but not allow it transform you. I hope you know that just because you are praying does not mean you have submitted to the refining You can submit to prayer simply to receive from God. So, your consciousness in prayer is tailored towards receiving. You will never ALLOW THE POWER OF GOD CHANGE YOU, and there are people like that. They will pray for years and for decades. They will receive answers, but they are never changed by it. Your consciousness as you get to the place of prayer is what defines the activities that happen during your time of prayer. You can get to the place of prayer, "Lord, I want to receive. I'm just here because I'm looking for my school fees versus I am bringing the raw unrefined state, even though a possessor of your life that draws, let it be drained out." Are we together now? Yes. Like poison is extracted from a wound. And the Holy Spirit begins to lead you. As you submit yourself to prayer, the hand of God comes upon you, and in partnership with the word of God, that anger, that unforgiveness, are we together? That version of you that makes you look like the negative aspect of where you come from, is in his presence, it is settled. Oh, you are Igbo, abi? No wonder they behave a certain way. You are Yoruba, abi? No wonder they behave a certain way. You are from the north, abi? No wonder they behave a certain way. You are from the south south. You are American. You are British. You see that now? You are Caribbean, they behave a certain way. Not when you are refined. When you stay and you are refined, people will keep asking, "Where are you from?" And when you say you are from so so place, they say it's a lie. We cannot find in you the traits, and you tell them, "I submitted to the refining power and the transforming power of prayer." Is someone learning now? I know your people to have a widespread attitude of disrespect. You say you are right. Except that when I met him in the secret place, he refined me. He refined the way dishonor from me. I hear that there's something that happens to your people. They don't live beyond 50. It's true. The Nazarenes have taught YOU HERE. NAZARENES HAD a cancer upon them as a plague. They did not have longevity of impact. An example is Samson. So, when Jesus showed up as a Nazarene, Nathaniel said, "Don't waste Don't call me to go and meet him. He's a waste. Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Jesus said, "Don't insult him. He's an Israelite in whom there is no guile." Meaning he's not lying. What he's saying is true. However, Jesus showed us the possibility of being refined out. Is someone listening now? Yes, sir. The first proof that you have met God is something happens a major alteration to your character. If you remain the same, you are not changed. And it's because you have not met him. Who is learning? Yes. That prayer, purify my heart, is not the prayer for baby Christians. In fact, the older you grow in the faith, the more you need that prayer. The prayer to purify your heart. Remember, when they caught the person in adultery, remember that story? In the very act of it, the Bible says, And I said, "Okay, this woman was caught in the very act." Jesus said, "He who does not have sinned should cast the first stone." The Bible says they were convicted from the oldest. Something happens as you grow old. The anger increases. The frustration increases. The disappointment increases. The consciousness of the wickedness of men increase. By the time you are 50 years, you are more angry and wicked than you were when you were 30. So, you need to submit to the refiner's fire. Is someone learning now? Yes. You refine your character. I've said it to you that one of the greatest need of the church right now, but is not more power, is not more wisdom, is to become more like Christ in experience. There are many, many, many, many people who look like Christians but are not Christians. And what happens in the body of Christ right now is largely selective holiness. Everybody chooses the area where they are free from and that becomes their stress. No, there is a standard. You don't select the part you want. Are we together now? To become like Christ. I said it, I think it was in Lagos. I submit to you some of the most wicked people available in every territory are Christians, nasty and wicked, wicked in ways you cannot imagine. Wicked to the point of maybe even plotting the death of another. I'm not selling the faith like I've wrong, but it's the truth. And yet we there's never been a time in church history when we pray and fast and do whatever it is, it is because we have refused to allow our prayer to take us. You see, there are many chambers in the spirit. There is the prophetic chamber, there is the refinery in the spirit, there is a place where you receive things. Just because you have entered the place of prayer, you must visit every part of that place. You can reject the transforming part of that refinery and every time you enter the place of prayer is just let me receive plus Jesus minus Satan and you finish and you say I prayed. No. Don't tell me you have prayed. Show me the transformation that happened. I must see before and after, then I know prayer has changed you. Is someone learning now? The refining power of prayer. This one is a very serious one. Let me tell you, ladies and gentlemen, I have studied the human nature by the grace of God a bit, and I can tell you this, everybody is looking for God in men. Unbelievers are looking for God in men. They call them employees. Every boss and CEO I know wants his managerial team to be people of excellence character. That is simply a secular way of saying they're looking for God in men. Every wife I know is looking for God in her husband. Every husband I know is looking for God in his wife. Every parent You see, all these things about children, they're looking for God in one another. Others may admit it. Others will not want to say God. They just say a well-behaved husband. What is a well-behaved husband? A young man came to Jesus and said, "Good master." And Jesus said, "You call ME GOOD? NO MAN IS GOOD EXCEPT GOD. SO, WHEN you see the quality of goodness through a man, that man has had contact with God." Are you learning now? Ladies and gentlemen, I don't know about you, but you must give yourself with reckless abandonment to the transforming and the refining power of the spirit. And let me tell you this, there are at least six parts of your life, I think I've taught you, that the refiner's fire must touch. Number one, your mind. Number two, your eyes. Number three, your ears. Number four, your tongue. Number five, your heart. Number six, your hands and even your feet. The refiner's fire must Every part that I mentioned has a prophetic symbolism. When the refiner's fire touches your mind, it affects your thinking and your perception. If the refiner's fire purifies your eyes, it affects the things that you see. Are we together? If the refiner's fire touches your ears, it affects your perception. If the refiner's FIRE TOUCHES YOUR HEART, that one you should even allow it because that one it needs to roast out so many things. The business of your heart is not a is not a quick one that you just leave one day. The fire must stay there because that heart you see is the control room of every man's downfall. The heart. Desperately wicked, the Bible says. Even the possessor cannot know how wicked his heart is. And so you submit your heart. Do a work in me. Purify my motives till you're all they see. Sing it from your heart. Purify my heart. Do a work Purify my motives. Hallelujah. It is my prayer and it's a sincere prayer, first for you Koinonia Global, and then for the body of Christ, that when you stand before men, your life will exude the character of the spirit, the fruit of the spirit. People will ask you and say, "What kind of a believer you are are you? You are kind, you are loving." Someone insults you and you should insult back and you have the power to do it and yet you let go. What kind of human being are you, and you call yourself a refined believer? You went to the place of prayer and left something there, the dross. Apostle, where we come from in our family, we are all pastors, but we are angry. We can even fight ourselves. We can tear ourselves into pieces and go for a miracle service. No, sir. Allow the refiner's fire. Who is learning tonight? Do you know how refining happens? There is no gold or silver that is refined still having the same shape. The first thing that happens is a melting away of the current. Then, when it is malleable enough, it is purified and remolded back, even if it's to the same shape. That's what we call brokenness. Brokenness. You don't go before God as emoji and say, "Lord, I'm a man of God. Just check if there are one or two things." You go and lie down flat and say, "Father, let your refiner's fire. I don't care what they call me, but let that fire blow." Is someone learning now? Blow. Ah. I'm praying for you from my heart. Tonight's message is a serious one. Listen, I'm tired of the body of Christ praying.

But there are no results in prayer. I tell you why there are no results, because a major part of our prayer is about receiving. Don't get me wrong, there is a place for receiving, but most of the receiving is because we are not changed. When you are changed, there are things you don't need to receive. Your changed nature comes with what you are looking for by default. Are we learning?

>> Oh.

[music] [singing] [music] [music] [singing] [music] [singing] [music]

>> means fix me.

[music] [music]

>> The weight of glory you seek requires a refined you. The level of the healing anointing you are looking for is available, but not on this kind of vessel. The level of wealth you are looking for, many people do not know wealth is a spiritual affair. You know, sometimes I watch with with with sincerity. I hear people talk about money and they downplay the spirituality of it. You are joking. I'm not talking of the realm of tea and bread. There are dimensions in wealth where it is spirituality that defines your state, not buying and selling, sir.

>> [music]

Not buying and selling. When you come from a background of poverty, anything better than it looks like wealth. We're talking of a realm of wealth where you will to something, not just buying and selling. Satan did not say transact this. He said, "Give me your soul and I will give you this." At that point, ladies and gentlemen, it is a matter of allegiance, not just transaction. Koinonia, are you learning? I'm going to give everybody the next 2 minutes. Wherever we stop, even if we can't finish, for these 2 minutes, I don't know how you are going to cry before God, but we're going to raise that song, "Fix Me, Oh God." There are no emojis tonight.

[music]

Cry on to the God of heaven. And those of you who are following online, just one sincere cry.

>> There's nothing like your presence, Lord. All I want to be with you. There's nothing like

>> Hallelujah. That song just came [music] into my spirit. We're going back to fix me. Fix me is the song now. That's what we need to sing. For the next 2 minutes, please cry before God [music] and say, "Lord, I desire greater weights of glory, but I'm asking you, let the dross Let the dross drain it like poison comes out of a wound." Someone lift your voice and pray. Those following online, we're in a serious business of brokenness, stretching ourselves in the spirit.

>> [music] [music] [music]

>> Fix me. Fix me.

>> [music]

>> Fix my mind. Fix me. Someone pray. Fix lust, [music] fix unforgiveness, fix anger. Fix bitterness, [music] fix competitive jealousy. I show you the refining power of prayer. Not just give me, [music] leave give me, fix me. That's the prayer. Fix me, >> [music] >> fix my mind, fix my life, fix my heart, fix my motive. When the fixing is done, the giving becomes easy. When the fixing is done, the giving becomes [music] easy. When the fixing is done, the giving becomes easy. I tell you this, when the fixing [music] is done, your motives fixed, your tendencies fixed, your heart fixed.

>> [music] [singing] [music]

All over the world, join us as we cry, "Fix [music] me, oh God." I'm a man of God, but fix me. I'm a woman of [music] God, but fix me. I'm a prophet, but fix me. I'm an evangelist, but fix me. I'm a father, [music] but fix me. I'm a CEO, but fix me.

>> [music] [singing] [music] [music and singing] [music] [music and singing]

The psalmist prayed a very powerful prayer. He says, "Search my heart and try my thoughts." Let me tell you this. Until God marks the script of your life, if you allow pride to mark the script of your life, you will always get A. If you allow pride to mark the script of your life, if you allow self-righteousness to always mark the script of your life, it will give you A even when you are dying. A as a man of God, A as a preacher. Are we together? A as a wicked person, A even in anger, A even in unforgiveness, A even in rejoicing over the downfall of others. When pride marks the script of your life, it will always make you pass the exam. But when the mighty hand of God marks your life, even when you are scoring 80, he will still say, "Let's press for the remaining 20." 1 minute. We'll be seated shortly.

>> [music] [music] [music]

Now, listen to me. Listen to me. I can tell you this. After praying for many years, I can tell you why people are not changing prayer. Please write it. You belong to a prayer ministry, you belong to a prayer group. This is the part to go and fix. A major part of our prayer life stems from [music] self-righteousness. A major part of our our prayer life is need-driven, not communion-driven, not intimacy-driven, not consecration-driven. And even where it is consecration-driven, it is selective holiness. Our idea of consecration is based on the terms we have defined. It is only God who can define how far he needs to stretch you. That's the reason why people don't grow. And I feel sad for many young ministers who are rising because most of them are people of prayer, but they have not explored the riches in prayer. Go and read your Bible. Go and read history and see how prayer refined men. Our definition of refining is the arrival of power. No, sir. If your theology about the refining power of prayer is the arrival of power, then you have missed it a major part. It is the change of heart. That a man becomes a better husband because you prayed, a better wife because you prayed, a CEO who knows by the mercy of God that he will not touch one naira because you prayed. The energy came from there. Transformation first before power. Transformation first. People fast for days, fast for weeks, and all they are looking for is give me power, connect me to a destiny helper so that men will know that I went to the place of prayer and I came back powerful. You won't amount to much. But the character of the Christ, that when men look at you, you are the clearest example of Jesus Christ that they can see. Not pretentiously. Your kindness is genuine. Your love is genuine. Your regard for men is genuine. Let me tell you, I say it again. The body of Christ must continue praying. But I'm opening us up by the power of the Holy Spirit that a major part of our prayer in the body of Christ is largely need-driven. And that is not wrong. But that prayer was designed by God to be a refiner's fire. Not selective refinement. Not refinement based on the dictates of self-righteousness. Refinement that breaks a man and brings you to a point of humility. Prayer. Let us pray. When we say, "Let us pray," it's not just a call to blind Pentecostal fanaticism where we build [music and singing] empires around our hours of stretching the spirit. Nothing wrong with that. But we're creating a monster that will destroy the body of Christ. The goal of prayer is its refining power. It changes you. That men ask you, not just how many hours you pray. Don't get me wrong. There's nothing wrong with investing. In fact, if you're a serious prayer person, you must invest time, dedicated time in prayer, even if not every day. But I'm saying, I don't value your prayer life so much if I don't see it refining you. If the pride is still there. If the lust is still there. If the anger is still there. And yet you are submitting yourself for a long time, it's because you are choosing the department of the refinery you want to go to. When you get there, you allow the Lord to be the Lord of your refining. He will take you to whatever chamber. For 3 months, he will say, "Let's not talk about anointing. I am changing you." Lord, but I need powerful signs and wonders. He said, "Leave the issue of power. Let me change you first. Because the kind of wealth that will enter your hand, if you are not refined There are some of you if 10 billion, 1 billion, 100 billion enters your hand now. God will just ask the angels, "Withdraw it quietly. Use anything. Withdraw it. Let the person We'll send it back, but withdraw it. We'll send it after 1 year. Let's work on his heart first." There are people today if they get half of the things they are praying for. Lord, give me 100,000 members. Give me 10,000 members. Make me a global figure. The way they will criticize you in 1 day, you will curse them using the name of God. And God will say, "No, no, no, no, no. Let me refine you first." Ha! That was the refiner's fire that Joseph passed through. All those things that look like orchestrations, like mistakes, it was his version of the refiner's fire. By the time he would become a king, the prime minister, he had been a refined believer. My brothers and my sisters, it is beautiful to see a man God has worked on. It is beautiful to see a man who has allowed God to work on thoroughly. Thoroughly. Thoroughly. Not selectively. Not selectively. Thoroughly. God is raising a people who are holistically refined. Not just free from lust, but still having anger and unforgiveness and competitiveness. Or free from jealousy and still having lust and anger. God wants to touch every area, and we must allow him. Don't select the parts you like. Allow him to refine you. And don't feel embarrassed when he tells you we need to work in an area. Don't say, "Oh God, no, no, no." This is God we're talking about. Please sit down. Please sit down. I'm not sure we can reach eight. I will just do maybe three and four, and then we'll pray. We'll sit here for a long time. We'll revisit it again. But this night's teaching is a serious business. Are we together? Very serious business. If you love God and you want to be relevant in his prophetic scheme of things, this is the secret. So, number one, prayer creates a platform for communion and fellowship, deepening the believer's relationship with God. Number two, prayer provides a platform for the believer to encounter the refining and the transforming power of God. This is where surrender happens. This is where brokenness happens. When you submit yourself here, you become like Christ in experience and holistically. Number three, prayer builds the believer's capacity to trust God. Prayer builds the believer's capacity to trust God. Bible faith, this is where the spirit of faith comes from. Prayer builds the believer's capacity to trust God. Generally speaking, encounters create conviction. When you encounter the God of the Bible, it creates conviction. He said, "But I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he's able to keep that which is committed unto him against that day." Prayer builds the the believer's capacity to trust God. Let me tell you this, ladies and gentlemen, when you find out that your trust in God is shaking, it's difficult for you to stand on the promises of God. What you need is to submit yourself to prayer until the spirit of faith rests upon you. When the spirit of faith comes upon you, you become unshakable, immovable. Is someone learning now? You can do big things for the kingdom when your faith is dwindling. [music] There are five levels of faith in the Bible. There is no faith, there is little faith, there is much faith, there is great faith, there is exceedingly great faith. When you see people audacious, almost arrogant, it is because of the God they have encountered. The Bible says, "But the people that do know their God, they shall be strong, and they shall do exploits." Moses cried. Until we get to verse 14 of Exodus 14, he calmed the people down, and then verse 15, he goes to God, and he says, God says, "Why are you crying to me?" He said, "Tell the children of Israel that they go forward." His encounter with God planted faith in him. He returned back and said, "You know what? Let's march forward." And the Red Sea parted hither and thither. There are things you will not be able to do in your life and for the kingdom except you have faith. Let me tell you something. Especially in this side of God's kingdom, this side of the nation, you are going to need to understand faith if things will work for you. Because abroad, down west, with all due respect, they have a system that has been created that easily enhances growth. Even though it's largely an antichrist system, but it enhances growth. They have credit systems. Are we together? They have all kinds of um packages that they give to people. You can be lazy for 1 year, your children are still eating. But in Nigeria here, once there's nobody is giving you credit for anything. If your faith cannot produce it, you will feel the weight in immediately. You see now. The mortgage system for housing is at its infancy in Nigeria. We pay cash here. If the house is 100,000, you will pay 100,000. Even if you do an instrumental payment, they say after 2 years. That's not really a favor. 2 years is just 24 months. But abroad, they can spread it to 15 years, 26 years, for instance. So, I'm saying that you need faith. You need to trust God. The days that we live in right now require men who know God. Not just men who know about God. Life will bully you until you know the God who sent you. Life will bully you. You will be bullied because of the color of your skin. You will be bullied because of where you come from. You will be bullied because of who your father is or is not. You will be bullied because people just feel you don't qualify to be where you are. The stabilizer in your destiny will be your knowledge of God. Someone looks at you and says, "You? You are not supposed to be that CEO. Kai, life is unfair. Why should this lady be the person to be running this bank or to be running the Well, it does not matter. The people that do know their God. Life is full of all kinds of unfair sentiments. People rate you and just feel it's not your children that should be in this school. You should not be the one living in that house. You should not be the one God is using. Unfortunately, they are not God. Is someone learning now? Prayer increases your capacity to trust God. Number four, blessed be the name of the Lord. What does prayer achieve in the life of a believer or a territory? Number four, prayer is the authorized channel, listen, to involve God and call for divine assistance in the life of any man. Prayer is the authorized channel to involve God and to call for divine assistance in the life of any man. Whenever you want to involve God officially in the affairs of your life and to call for divine assistance, the channel is prayer. Philippians chapter 4:6 and 7. Prayer is the authorized channel to involve God and to call for divine assistance in or over the life of any man. It says, "Be anxious." The word anxious there is a very correct rendition. NKJV, "Be anxious for nothing." It says, "But in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God." Then verse 7 says, "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will garrison will guard your hearts and your minds through Christ Jesus. In Jeremiah chapter 29 and verse 12, 29 and verse 12 of Jeremiah, 29 and verse 12, it says, "Then shall you call upon me, and you shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you." Ladies and gentlemen, I've taught you here that one of the highest proof of pride is prayerlessness. Prayerlessness is not just sin, it is pride. It is proof of independence that you are so sufficient you do not need the assistance of heaven. Prayer being prayerful is a sign of humility and is a sign of honor to God. Recognizing that you are limited, recognizing that you are incapacitated, that no matter how prepared you are in life all by yourself, you do not have the intellectual, the spiritual wherewithal to run your life unassisted. So, you submit to prayer. Is someone learning now? Call on to me and I will answer. Jeremiah 33 and verse 3. I will show you great and mighty things which thou knowest not. Prayer is the authorized channel to involve God and to call for divine assistance >> [music] >> in the life of a man. I don't know about you, ladies and gentlemen, but I have learned and I learned this early in life. Take God away from my life and I may risk even to myself. Take God from my life and I may risk even to myself. I'm not afraid to call on assistance every time. Many times when I go to God in the place of prayer, I say, "Father, your boy is here." You have given me this enormous work. I don't have the intellectual wherewithal. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path. Be not wise in your own understanding, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. That's what the Bible says. Let me tell you this, ladies and gentlemen, as you sojourn your life and destiny, learn it and learn it early. Without God, you will not amount to much. The Bible says, "Except the Lord builds a house, they labor in vain that build it. Except the Lord watches over a city, the watchman watches but in vain. It says it is vain to wake up early in the morning and to sleep late at night only to eat the bread of sorrow. It is God that gives his beloved sleep." It is by you we run through a troop. It is by my God we leap over a wall. I can fail alone, but me and God cannot fail together. It's true. It's true. And don't be ashamed to let the world see that. We live in a celebrity age where we like to credit results to ourselves. Minus me. When they see me, may they see him first. And then after they see the mighty God, they now see a frail man who is a product of mercy and grace standing behind that mighty God. Unfortunately, the world cannot see him because he's invisible. So, they will now give the credit to this man. Look at me, this is all of me. When you see what God is doing and you see the man standing, isn't it foolish for you to imagine that it is all by myself? And I'll be I'll be twice foolish to believe that it is all by my strength. Let the world know. Let them know it again that Joshua Selman minus God is just a puppet doomed to fail. Koinonia minus God is doomed to fail. We are a ministry that has been marvelously helped. We called on the master and he came. He came with his [music] jealousy and his terribleness and stood in front of us, but mysteriously behind us directing and still pushing at the same time. That is the reason for the results. So, the next time, ladies and gentlemen, you see God doing exploits through Koinonia, thank God for the man of God, but please thank God more for the God of the man. This is not patronizing you. I'm not a politician. It's the truth. It's the truth. I know this. Take away God from Koinonia, will not last 1 month. I tell you that.

>> [music]

Take away God from my life, I will not last 1 month.

>> Jehovah Nissi [singing] You surround me with many victories. [music] Jehovah Nissi, you're >> [singing] >> my banner. You go before [music] me and fight my battles. You're Jehovah [music] Nissi.

That's the secret, ladies and gentlemen.

>> Jehovah Nissi >> [music] [singing]

When they cannot explain your result, tell them

>> Jehovah Nissi >> [singing]

the Lord my banner, the one who fights [music] for me.

>> Jehovah Nissi >> When your results look mysterious [music] and a subject of discussion, tell them

>> Jehovah Nissi >> [singing]

Jehovah Nissi >> [music]

I know that much. >> That he surrounds me with many victories. Jehovah [music] Nissi You're my banner.

>> [music and singing]

You go before me and fight my battles. [music] Jehovah >> [singing]

Nissi. >> [music]

Listen. When you understand how to call on heaven's assistance, your [music] life will be a sign and a wonder. First to you and then to everybody. It is true that you will not add up, but your results will not stop surprising men. I tell you that. When men think they have exhausted you, they will see another layer of performance. And they'll say, "How is this thing happening?" I've taught you the secret. You will shout Jehovah Nissi and say, "This is a secret. My banner. My defender. He brands his success on me and it looks like I'm the one producing it." Jehovah Nissi. He's Jehovah Nissi.

>> [music]

I hope God is ministering to someone tonight. I'm speaking to some of you because this year you will soar on the wings of eagles. I'm telling you. I'm saying it to you prophetically. Men will look at your life and say, "Ah, it How did you get into this dimension?" When they are saying it, don't start bragging. Remember the message. Step back and tell them, "Look at me. Look at me. An ordinary man like this is not condemnation. An ordinary man like this cannot amount to much."

>> [music]

Jehovah Nissi. Jehovah Nissi. [music] Jehovah >> [music]

Nissi. When God lifts you as a worshiper, when God lifts you as a businessman, that you registered a real estate company by February and by April you are doing business to the billions [music] and they say who did you know? Who did you sleep with? You say, "No, sir. He surrounds me with many victories.

>> [music]

He's Jehovah Nissi. He's my banner.

>> [music]

You go before me and fight my battles.

>> [music]

Listen. There are not there are not many answers. [music] You know one of the reasons why you hardly find me around interviews and all of that? Because I don't have too many answers in my life. For most of the questions you will ask me, my answers is God. So, I will sound foolish in the presence of many interviews and I will look silly, but the answers will be sincere. What is the reason for this result? I will tell you God. What of this one? I will say God. What of the next one? God. "Hey, oh yeah, be real." I will now say God. You see, it doesn't make sense. But, that's my answer. God, sir. God, sir. When he stands behind a man, when he stands [music] behind a man, woe betide the person who stands in front of him. I have tasted of the backing of God. I know what happens when God backs a man. Mysteriously, you will make progress in a way that can only be termed indomitable. The talks of men notwithstanding, [music] the desires of men notwithstanding, listen to me. Let me give you a secret. [music] Hold on to his hands and ask him to hold on to your hand. Go on the journey. I can guarantee you you will arrive. It doesn't matter what storms, you will arrive. Tonight is a prophetic meeting. If we stop here, I'm still fulfilled. I'm teaching you deep secrets in prayer. When you go to prayer, don't just chant as if you are rapping. No, let it be a real communication with a living God. I am incapacitated. He said, "Blessed are they that hunger and thirst." When you understand your insufficiency, he told Paul, "My grace is sufficient in your weakness." If you do not acknowledge that you are limited, you cannot invite his power. How can I run this great ministry just by human intellect? It will not work, sir. It cannot work, sir. How can you run a global business [music] by human intellect with the sentiments of men? Someone can get up and hate you and hate your children. Who now defends you?

>> [music]

Let me sing it one time and then maybe I'll just give you one [music] more. Listen. You surround me with many victories. [music] Jehovah Nissi, you're my banner. You go before me. You fight [music] my battles. Jehovah Nissi. Hear me, ladies [music] and gentlemen, this year those who hate you will give up finally. They will conclude that the campaign of hatred is a waste of time. Because as far as you are concerned, God has decided to stand behind you as a mighty terrible one. Believe me.

>> [music]

Oh, this year prepare hear many I am sorrys. I am sorry. I am sorry. I was part of those who caused your pain. I am sorry. I I I You would have been promoted, but I am part of those who stood behind you. For mysteriously, the more we fought you, the more an invisible hand took you again. Jehovah Nissi.

>> [music]

That is the hand that takes a man from a well and takes that man to Egypt and takes that man through a prison and leaves him finally on the throne. That is the hand that takes a man as a eunuch to Babylon and exalts him to become one of the six presidents, keeping him relevant through the dispensation of six kings. That is the hand that took a village girl in Shushan called Hadassah and shifted every other woman and placed beside the throne and said, "Let me see who removes you." That is the hand that took a young boy called Gideon and exalted him. That is the hand that lifts any man you see who has risen in righteousness. Listen. Believers, let me encourage you. Do not fear the bully of men. God is with you. Did you hear what I said? No, don't apologize for [music] his hand on your life. Uh-uh. Uh-uh. Uh-uh. There are things to apologize about, not that one. You don't owe anybody an explanation for doing exploits. It is the finger of God, sir. The testimony of his mercy on your life. This is Koinonia. Jehovah Nissi.

>> [music]

You go before me and fight my battles.

>> [music]

Jehovah Anybody waiting for your anointing to go down is wasting their time. Waiting to hear you have gone down financially, wasting their time. I'm telling you, waiting to hear that ministry is going down, wasting their time. Waiting to find a reason to dance and pop up wine and say we finally got him, wasting their time. Your destiny is more and more in righteousness, more and more by the spirit. You you keep smashing the records you have set by the spirit of God. I tell you this prophetically, nobody will see the end of you. They will waste their time and their conspiracies will fall to naught. After discussing you in the office, God will wait till they are done discussing, then he will lift you in a way that will surprise everyone.

>> [music]

Listen. Hear me. Body of Christ, hear me, believers. I believe that God is about to make a statement in Nigeria. I can lift anybody I want to lift. I can bless anyone I want to bless. The reign of human empires and the pride that has come from those empires have touched the heart of God, and God is about to make a statement. Every once in a while he does it. He picks ordinary men and says, "Let me see who brings them down." It is by the hand of God. Mark my word, you will see this happen. Men whose rising will be mysterious, inexplicable, but undeniable. You will know this one was the finger of God. Men will rise in wealth. They will handle resources in a way that government will call them and say we [laughter] checked everything about you. There's no corruption, but we cannot deny his finger. Men will rise with the anointing. You will praise your [music] spiritual history and you will even be afraid because somewhere along the line his hand came upon them.

>> [music]

We're going to pray. Listen, I will continue next week. Call tonight's teaching part one. Let us pray part one. Rise up on your feet. Hold someone's hand. Let's do some prayers in a few minutes. The waters have been stirred. Come [music] on, someone pray. Say season of victory for you. Shake away unbelief. Shake away fear. [music] God is on your side. Ah, it will take a lot to fail when God is with you. It will take a whole lot to fail when God is with you. [music] Pray in the spirit like the lion that you are. It will take [music] a lot to fail when my God is with you. It will take a lot to fail when my God is with you.

>> [music]

You surround me with many victories.

>> [music]

Jehovah Nissi, you're my banner.

>> [music]

You go before me. You fight my battles.

>> [music]

Jehovah Nissi >> [music]

Please pray. Please pray. Please pray. Body of Christ, [music] let Body of Christ, let There is a God that answers prayer. Let us pray. [music] There is a God that helps men. Let us pray. There is a God that defends men. Let us pray. There is a God that can empower a man. Let us [music] pray. There is a God who lifts men. Let us pray. There is a God who vetoes the expectation of the wicked. [music] Pray.

>> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music]

Now, open your mouth and begin to pray. I am victorious in Christ. My prayer life is potent. Potent. Potent. No empty prayers. No unfruitful prayers. First, I'm praying to the living God, the God of all flesh, the one who says, "Is anything impossible for me [music] to do?" Let faith rise tonight in the name of Jesus. The prayer that deepens your relationship, deepens your fellowship, deepens your intimacy, [music] strengthens your knowledge of God. Someone lift your voice and pray.

>> [music]

The prayer that refines you, transforms you, drains out the dross in your life, leaving you a better presentation and a better representation of the Christ. Come on Koinonia, pray. I'm showing you a pattern that will bring a greater weight of glory [music] upon your life. Go ahead and pray. Pray. Let us pray. Because in the place of prayer, you will build trust. The spirit of faith will come upon you as you pray. Capacity to believe God for great things, [music] for mighty things, for great things, for destiny-defining things, for nation-shifting exploits.

>> [music]

Pray. >> [music]

Let us pray. It's a channel for calling for divine assistance. In Jesus' name we pray. Hallelujah. Unfortunately, we didn't get there today, but we'll get there next week. I'm going to be teaching you prayer and the ministry of angels. I will show you what happens when we pray. When believers pray, the Bible calls them ministering spirits. They're not careless spirits just doing anything. Oh, they are accomplishing specific things. And I show you how to activate the ministry of angels in your life. From today, many of you will pray like never before. I'll give you one more prayer, and then we're done. You're going to pray every battle against my prayer life, every battle against my intimacy, every battle against my love for the prayer altar. I come against it now. Open your mouth and war that warfare. Now you know what you are what you are depriving yourself [music] of in not praying consistently. Now you know that an attack on your prayer life using the guise of business The hymn writer says, "Oh, what needless pain we bear. Oh, what needless pain we bear." And it's all because we cannot carry everything to God in prayer. The man who can pray, the man who can call for divine assistance will always have hope. Come on, pray online, PRAY. FRESH FIRE UPON MY PRAYER ALTAR, FRESH FIRE. LET us pray because God answers prayer. Let us pray because when we call upon him to assist us, [music] we are not alone. LET US PRAY because when God is involved in your life, the outcome changes.

>> [music]

One minute, Koinonia, pray. Let the spirit of prayer and supplication rest upon the man of God, rest upon a prophet of God, >> [music] >> rest upon an apostle, rest upon an evangelist, rest upon a businessman, [music] rest upon a mother, rest upon an intercessor, rest upon a watchman. [music]

>> [music]

One more minute we are praying. One [music] more minute we are praying. Let this be a generation that prays, but prays right. That prays, but prays with understanding. [music] That prays, but prays with power. That prays, but prays with intelligence. That prays, but [music] prays delivering results.

>> [music]

20 more seconds. Stretch for these few more seconds. A restoration of fire upon my prayer altar.

>> [music]

Satan, you will not rob me of an opportunity to call for assistance. I am not helpless. I am [music] not needless. I am not helpless. I am not without value. I can call on heaven to assist me.

>> [music] [music]

Mantles of prayer, mantles of fire.

>> [music]

I see them resting in this place. Mantles [music] of prayer, and mantles of fire. Hey, I see them resting in this >> [music]

Oh, say. >> [music]

I see them resting in in place. Oh. >> [music]

I see that blessing in this place. >> [music] [music]

I see that blessing in this place. >> He speak a parable to the end that men ought always to pray. To pray because in prayer they can fellowship with him. To pray because in prayer they can access the refiner's fire >> [music] >> that purifies the dross in the heart. To pray because in the place of [music] prayer they can access divine assistance. To pray in the place because in the place of prayer they can build their [music] trust in God. Hallelujah. Look forward to part two. This is Let Us Pray part one. It's sad I cannot show you the other things, but I wanted I trusted to be able to show you something tonight, but we'll leave it for next week. Please invite everybody you know, prayer warriors, watchmen, prayer groups. Tell them connect and learn. We don't know everything, but there's something that can enhance your prayer life. And this is what we are learning. Wave your hands and give Jesus praise tonight. Father, we bless you and thank you and honor you. We thank you for your good hand upon our lives. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Please everybody stand. Everybody stand. The only prayer that a non-believer prays that is guaranteed answer is the prayer of mercy and the prayer of repentance. Prayer primarily is a family affair. It says, "When you pray, say our father." Not God our father. It's a family affair. The prodigal son was conscious of the fatherhood of his father, and that was the basis of the reconnection. I'm saying this because I want to make the altar call. In every gathering like this, there must be men and women. Oh my God, I still sense such such a strong anointing in this place. But there are men and women in this place tonight. You're saying, "Apostle, number one, I am ready to be serious with my spiritual life." For some you're saying, "I'm ready to be serious with God." No one condemns you, my beloved brothers and sisters. But use this prayer series as an opportunity to begin a journey in the spirit that produces a man and a woman of power. You've never made Jesus Lord of your life. Or perhaps you're saying, "Apostle, I want to rededicate my life." I stand here representing the mercy of God and the love of Jesus. I want to give you an opportunity to run out here right now. Tonight's meeting is not a meeting for cajoling. You need to make it right with Jesus. As I count one to five, please leave your seat and in a hurry, like your life depends on it, make your way to the front. I begin my counting now. One. Let's celebrate them as they come. Run quickly like there's fire on the mountain and make your way to the front. Two. Koinonia, we're celebrating them. Let's encourage them as they come. Those across the overflows >> [music] >> and those following online, here's your chance to genuinely connect to this Jesus. Three. No one condemns you, my dear brother and sisters. This is home for you. Come. You can find restoration tonight. You can find genuine love tonight. You can start afresh again. Doesn't matter what you have done or not done. Doesn't matter what has happened or not happened. Doesn't matter who is looking at you or not looking at you. Jesus calls tonight. Come. Come. He'll [music] give you a new beginning. Yes, you can start. For someone, you can start again. >> [music] >> Again is a powerful word. It's a word that captures the mercy of God. >> [music] >> Five. Let's give them one last round of applause. >> [music] >> If you're still joining them, join quickly. I'm about to pray. Those who are not able to make it, you can stand in front of your LED screens and that will suffice for the prayer. And for those who are following online, here's your chance to make it right with Jesus. I may not see you, but the Lord sees you at the end of this camera. And as I lead these ones in prayer, please I like you to join. Let it be from the depth of your heart. You're not reciting a poem. You're making a declaration of faith that will lead you to salvation. For the Bible says with the heart man believes onto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made onto salvation. To you, my brothers and sisters, who are here in front, I salute you in the name of Jesus. Thank you for the courage to show up and to respond to this call. May I request that you lift your right hand, make it high above your head as a sign of surrender, and then pray this prayer. Now, those who are online, you are praying this prayer, please join us. Say, "Lord Jesus, again, loud and clear, Lord Jesus, I love you with all my heart. Tonight, [music] I have heard your word. I believe you are the son of God. I believe you died [music] for my sin. The power of God is coming on one of you who is in front here. I just saw light coming on one of you. We are still praying. [music] I believe you are the son of God. I believe you died for my sins. I believe you rose again for my justification. Right now, I receive Jesus into my heart as my savior, my lord, and my king. Something is leaving you, my sister. Something is leaving your stomach. That lady wearing white. I don't know God I know you are praying the salvation prayer, but I'm seeing God taking something out of your stomach. I cast it, let it go because if any man is in Christ, he's a new creature. Let it leave never to return to you again in the name of Jesus. Say after me, I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, the grace to live the victorious Christian life. I receive now. I'm a child of God. I go forward ever and backward never. Amen. Keep your beautiful hands lifted. Let me pray for you. Father, thank you for these our brothers and sisters. Your word declares that as many who will come to you, you will in no wise cast away. These ones have come declaring your lordship. By the authority of scripture, I declare their sins forgiven and I pray imparting upon them the grace to live the victorious Christian life. That from hence you live for Jesus, knowing him, loving him, and serving him all the days of your life. I declare you blessed in Jesus mighty name we pray. Amen. May God bless you, beloved brothers and sisters. Let me request that you move to my right, that will be your left. Please be mindful of those who are under the anointing so you don't step on them. There are counselors who are going to have a word and a quick prayer with you. Thereafter, you return back to your seat. Let's honor them as they go. Koinonia, this is not the best. God bless you. Celebrate them. >> [music] >> Hallelujah. Amen. Amen and amen. God bless you. I'm about to speak the final blessing over your life. Thank you for your patience. Please let me encourage everyone, as we always do, um the messages will be ready You see, it's even ready online. Please let me encourage everyone. Go back and listen. We have a culture. When we give instructions like this, it's for our edification. Everyone, go back, listen to this message at least twice. Listen to it again in prayer. Listen to it again in worship. Let the riches of this world drain into your spirit. Hallelujah. And then, you'll be able to walk in the reality of it and brace up, be prepared for part two tomorrow or next week. Invite everybody to connect by faith and let it be a glorious time in the name of Jesus. Archbishop Zondo, honor again to have you. Thank you so much for your presence. We truly, sincerely honor you. Our father, Bishop Makamu, we thank you. And happy birthday in advance, sir. By the way, may God bless you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Are you ready for the blessing? I decree and declare in the name of Jesus Christ, may your week be blessed. This week you will see the power of prayer visibly in your life. You will pray the kind of prayer that produces results in your life. In the name of Jesus. The help that you call for in the place of prayer, may it manifest speedily this week. May God raise men to bless you. May God raise men to help you. May God raise men to lift you. May God raise men to assist you. We activate the ministry of angels over your life, over your children, over your job, over the works of your hands. No failure this week. It is progress from glory to glory. This week your relationship with God is deepened in the place of prayer. In the name of Jesus. This week like never before you will encounter the spirit of faith. The capacity to believe God for mighty things. I release you as a sign and a wonder. Experience and record victories this week. I say it again, experience and record victories this week. No weapon fashioned against you will prosper. Every tongue that rises up against you, let it fall in judgment. You condemn it already by faith in Jesus name. Everything that is good may it follow you. Everything that represents favor may it follow you. Everything that represents good news, let it follow you. Your ears will only hear good things this week. Your eyes will only see good things this week. Your hands will only handle good things this week. In the name of Jesus. Every gang go by hell to make you cry, we reverse it in the name of Jesus. As you travel, you are safe in the air. As you travel, you are safe on land. As you travel, you are safe by sea. The road of the wicked will not fall upon your lot. The person ordained by God to recognize you and lift you this week, they will finally find you. In the name of Jesus Christ, I place a mark of exemption on your head. Every evil this week minus you. Tragedy this week minus you. Weeping and mourning this week minus you. You are called Beulah and Hephzibah. Your Christian experience will draw many to Jesus. Your life will produce undeniable results. In the name of Jesus Christ, fresh fire on your prayer altar. Fresh fire on your word study altar. You are an exceptional believer. Go from glory to glory. The works of your hands blessed. Your Monday blessed. Tuesday blessed. Wednesday blessed. Thursday blessed. Friday blessed. Saturday blessed. Sunday blessed. Return with testimonies. In the name of Jesus, shout a sevenfold thunderous amen. Two. Three. FOUR. FIVE. SIX. [screaming] SEVEN. GIVE Jesus a loud shout of praise. Hallelujah.