Global Communion Service with Pastor Chris on 7th of August, 2016.
I will like to welcome you to the Global communion service for the month of August. We have a loaded package for you; we will bring you some of the beautiful programs we had in the month of July, the just concluded Pastoral Refresher Course, International Cell Leaders Conference, and International music concert.
Soul winning is Gods number 1 business. The son of man came to seek and save the lost. That’s why we do all we do. Souls are very important. You can win award from colleagues but the most important is to win in the kingdom of God. We recognize kingdom exploits and success. And one day the lord will reward every one of us for all we have done for his glory. Do more for the lord. Strive to achieve more for the kingdom of God, is worth it.
We will show to you what we had in the healing school in Nigeria. We haven’t had such in a long time. Yesterday we launched the Rhapsody evangelistic outreach network.
We created 2 virtual zones in the US region. There are 2 regions there now.
We have a few changes to Asia churches that include Myanmar, Malaysia; including the group in India under Pastor Isaac Agoha that group will join the region under pastor Akowale.
I got some important things to share with you that will help you this month and all your life. The message of the month is usually the message that God gives to us, it is God’s plan in the direction of the blessing he is giving to us that period and we carry them into the future. Is like receiving knowledge you don’t take knowledge and leave them. You increase in knowledge. The message for June, we carry them into July and into August. We don’t leave them. This month is really special because of what the lord wants to do with us and through us.
Job 9:33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
He said he don’t have anybody to settle the matter between God and him. That’s exactly what Jesus came to do. God sent one, and his name is Jesus. There was a time man needed a daysman. If you sin against a man, anyone can come and intercede for you but when you sin against God nobody will intervene but God sent Jesus for that purpose.
Isaiah 59:16 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.
1 Timothy 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;2:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 6:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 6:20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Galatians 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
The reason I read this portions for you is to stress intercession. In the Old Testament it was necessary and also in New Testament. But we who have come to Christ don’t need God to move on our behalf because we are in Christ. There is a word that comes to my spirit and is Sunantilambanomai is a Greek word.
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Helpeth is a compound word meaning “strive to obtain together with or to take hold together with against”. Is giving you Gods picture of intercession and this is the best explanation of intercession that God expects us to. When we intercede it means we are standing in a gap for another, for one who is not able to help himself. The Holy Spirit is an intercessor and he carry out the ministry of intercession through us. Infirmity is some form of limitation, when there is a requisite capacity. When one is unable to do what he should do, the spirit helpeth Sunantilambanomai. God is not the one who is causing the problem. If you intercede for one who is sick, is not God that makes him sick. We take hold together with him to help the man obtain what belongs to him. There a lot of people who are interceding for another and they have prayed for years. A lot of time they are not getting answer because they are thinking it is God who is holding him back. He saves the man with the blood of Jesus. We are on the lord’s side.
Jesus Christ is our intercessor and our high priest. He is our advocate on the father’s side. He is not arguing with the father but the lawyer appointed on our behalf. Jesus Christ is able to save the uttermost, he is our intercessor. He said to Simon behold, Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. He intercedes for us. When we are interceding we take hold together with the lord against the forces of darkness trying to deny us our rights. We join the lord to enforce his purpose on earth. We are on the lord’s side on his side of blessing, righteousness. He is not the one making people sick. He once prayed thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. How is that going to happen? It is through us and the Holy Spirit take hold with us against the forces of darkness.
We pray for kings and those in authorities because sometimes they make wrong choices and take hold together with the lord. If Christians don’t pray things won’t change by wishing it will change. We have to take hold together with the lord to change things. Imagine one who is dying with cancer and he cannot appropriate the blessings of God because Satan is holding him back we take hold together with the person to rescue him. We can’t just close our eye hoping something will happen, same thing for sinners who God would have all men to be saved. He expects us to do something. Did you know he gave us the power against Satan and authority over sickness? In Acts 26 the bible told us how God spoke to Paul to open their eyes to turn them from darkness to light.
Acts 26:15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.26:16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;26:17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
It wasn’t God who blinded them, he wasn’t the one to open their eyes he sent Paul to open their eyes.
2 Corinthians 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
We are the one to open their eyes. Take your stand this month. We have the name of Jesus and no one else has the right to the name like we do. He gave us that power and only Christians have that power. Is there someone who you want to receive salvation? Write the person’s name down and say in the name of Jesus I claim the salvation of that person. Satan will take his hands off him, angels will lead him through to make sure he walks in and receive salvation. Same way you pray for the sick. Intercede for him; take the place of that person as though you are the one in that situation. You take his place in prayer. Sometimes it goes far more than just the words of breaking the power of Satan. Example in Galatians 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you. This time you not dealing with devil or darkness but there are some level some person need to be and they are not there. You pray for their growth, for them to move to the next level of life. Until Christ be formed in you.
This month is the month of intercession. We take hold with the lord to intercede for the lost, the sick, many of your relatives and friends. Pray for them. Take that information with you praying in the name of Jesus. We are going into the exercise of prayer. When James was killed then the church was not praying but when Peter was ceased, Prayer was made without ceasing, they changed the program. The moment of excitement was put aside because they had business to attend to. How many prayed for their pastor’s and leaders. Learn to pray for your pastors and leaders. You need them because they are helping you in the things of God.
Hebrew 13:17-18 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
Two reasons Paul asked for him to be prayed for to pray for the pastors
1. That utterance may be giving to him to preach the gospel
2. The church needed him.
You have to learn to pray for your pastors and leaders. They are blessed for you. They are gift of God for you. So is a month of intercession and we are going into the exercise of prayer and we will see marvelous result. Your faith is alive and strong and this month we are going to have result. Is an exercise of the human spirit in prayer? There is something that the lord is asking me to do. I want to pray over all of your giving in this past month, is amazing how our brethren are giving all around the world. God is happy with your giving. You are blessed for your giving and your giving has come to the lord as a testimony.