Occupying In Prayer And Warfare Series

Introduction

In Luke 19:13, the King of Glory gave us a guideline to follow until Christ returns. This verse tells us what to engage in or spend our time on until we meet with the Lord. We are told to occupy till Jesus comes, to put what God has given us to work, to make profitable divine investments, to do Kingdom business. Occupying till He comes simply means give full attention to God’s will and work until Christ returns or stay busy doing God’s business.

One thing that is part of God’s will for our lives and forms part of the work God wants us to engage in until Christ returns is PRAYER and WARFARE.

Several Bible passages tell us to be committed to and give our attention to prayer.

Romans 12:12 tells us to be “faithful in prayer.”

1 Thessalonians 5:17 encourages us to “pray continually” or without ceasing.”

Colossians 4:2 tells us “devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”

Ephesians 6:18 says “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and request. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”

Anything God emphasises should be taken very seriously. God’s word lays special emphasis on the need to be devoted to prayer. It therefore follows that prayer should be taken very seriously. Prayer should be a major thing we are occupying our time with.

Prayer is not a mere routine or ritual. Prayer is actually a spiritual confrontation with the kingdom of darkness.

When we pray, we are wrestling; we are engaging in a fight, a battle or warfare with forces and powers of darkness. Paul spoke about this in Colossians 4:12. In this verse, we are told of a man called Epaphras who was always wrestling in prayer. Epaphras wrestled in prayers to ensure the believers stood firm in the will of God and became fully mature in the Lord. Ephesians 6:12 makes it clear to us that we are engaged in a spiritual battle, a battle that can be won by employing God’s weapons of warfare one of which is prayer.

Keys to Effective Warfare

As we fight the good fight of faith and become instruments in the hands of God to uproot, tear down destroy and overthrow every planting and plan of the devil, there are certain things we must apply to our daily living to be fruitful, fervent and effective in prayer and warfare.

SEEK DIVINE INSTRUCTION

This is so important in spiritual warfare where we are not fighting flesh and blood; we have unseen enemies (Ephesians 6:12), the battle is round the clock; every moment of the day, every season of life the devil is on the move (1 Peters 5:8, Job 1:7, Psalm 91:5-6). Furthermore, you are not meant to fight the way the world fights (2 Corinthians 10:3-5), and you can’t rely on your own human understanding of the situation (Proverbs 3:5-6). This is because what you consider to be the way to victory may actually be what can give your enemies an upper hand.

Whenever there is a battle, there are many options before you. You can face the enemy headlong, you can run away from the enemy, ignore the enemy, or rely on someone else to help you fight the enemy. How do you know which option will give you victory? This is why you certainly need clear and specific instructions from God on how to handle any battle that comes your way.

Prayer and seeking direction from God is a pathway to victory. In 2 Samuel 5:17, when David was anointed King of Israel, the Philistines came in full force against him. When David heard his enemies were coming at him, he inquired of the Lord about what to do; how to handle the situation and God told David what to do (2 Samuel 5:18-21). Concerning those enemies that have come in full force against God’s plan and purpose for your life, God will tell you what to do. But you have to inquire of the Lord, you need a divine instruction.

PRAY THIS PRAYER: O LORD PLEASE DIRECT ME AND SHOW ME WHAT TO DO. SHOW ME WHAT TO DO ABOUT THAT BATTLE IN MY FAMILY; THAT BATTLE AGAINST MY MARRIAGE AND MY CHILDREN. SHOW ME WHAT TO DO ABOUT EVERY ENEMY THAT HAS RISEN UP AGAINST YOUR PLAN AND PURPOSE FOR MY LIFE, EVERY ENEMY AGAINST MY PROGRESS, EVERY ENEMY FIGHTING AND RESISTING YOUR PLAN FOR MY MINISTRY, FINANCES, BUSINESS AND CAREER.

PRAY THIS SAME PRAYER FOR YOUR CHURCH AND NATION. O LORD SHOW US WHAT TO DO ABOUT EVERY ENEMY THAT IS DETERMINED TO BRING DOWN OUR CHURCH AND NATION.

We continually need to go to the presence of God to seek and receive divine direction because the devil will never give up (Luke 4:13). After David defeated the Philistines in 2 Samuel 5: 17-21, the Philistines came up against him a second time. The devil is a very determined and resilient enemy. This is why we too must be persistent, determined and tenacious soldiers of Christ.