Ephesians 6:12 ‘For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.’

DAILY READING Revelation 12; Esther 2; Psalm 105:26-45

John Alexander Dowie was a 19th century minister of the Gospel who made very profound impact on the lives of many people. However, in the course of his ministry, Alexander Dowie faced a lot of persecutions, especially from the media.

As his ministry expanded in Chicago and thousands flocked from other cities, Dowie opened several large lodging houses called “Healing Homes” to accommodate some of the sick who came from far places. But the newspapers greatly criticized him, and called the homes “Lunatic Asylums”.

In 1895, he was arrested on the charge of not having a license to “practice medicine.” And though he won the case, the city officials decided on the tactic of getting him discouraged by constantly arresting him and fining him on other charges. He was arrested so many times that before that year was over, he had been arrested one hundred times. However, while they severely persecuted him, Dowie resorted to prayer to deal with the oppositions. And God indeed fought his battles. While his ministry continued to wax stronger, his enemies began to grow weaker.

By the following year, 1896, one of Dowie’s greatest persecutors, a prominent Newspaper editor, was put in prison and made a public spectacle. And by the end of that year, Dowie’s congregation had so multiplied that his ministry now had great influence over the city of Chicago. In fact the political officials, including the mayor, were all voted in by Dowie’s people.

Soon many of his former enemies now either turned to become his friends or became silent. Even the local police, who had once arrested him a hundred times, now supported him. And divine healing, which they had formerly opposed, was now allowed to be preached on every street corner. Indeed God had given Dowie rest all around.

As believers, we are all called to preach the Gospel and promote God’s kingdom. However, in the course of carrying out this assignment, the enemy will often wedge his greatest battles to hinder our progress;

Therefore achieving success in life and ministry requires spiritual militancy. To fulfill your calling, you must be prepared to do Spiritual battle on your knees.

And while you can sometimes physically identify the people who oppose you, always understand that the real opposition against your assignment is spiritual.

Ephesians 6:12 tells us that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in high places.

And this is why we must engage spiritual weapons of warfare to silence the opposition. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.

In this warfare, our crucial spiritual weapon is prayer. Prayer is one of the greatest assets of any child of God. To enter your rest and be free from harassment, you must learn how to wield the weapon of prayer.

Indeed we must be prepared to labour in prayer if we are to enjoy the rest God has promised us.

With prayer, we contend with the oppositions, in order to possess our possessions in Christ. Through prayer we subdue the forces of wickedness and exercise spiritual authority in our environment.

Prayer will lead to victory in our battles, while lack of prayer will lead to defeat. When Moses prayed, Israel won the battle, when he stopped, Israel lost. Through prayer, you choose to become the victor or the victim.

Understand that the enemy would not let you rest until you begin to exercise power and authority over him. According to James 4:7, it is when you resist the devil, that he will flee.

Therefore, let us be prepared to labor in prayers in order to be free from pressures and enjoy all round victory.

And never forget, that prayer is most effective when it is backed by God’s Word and saturated with praise and thanksgiving.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for granting me the grace to always pray effectively, so as to silence every opposition against my progress. Indeed through the greatness of Your power all my enemies are today subdued in Jesus Name.

QUOTE :

Illuminate your world for you are a star destined to shine. WORDBITE 222.