WINNING PRAYER

DAVID OYEDEPO

 Until you know the meaning of prayer and how to pray correctly, you will never be free from
pressures.
 Prayer is not just communication. It is having the correct approach to communicating with
God, because it takes praying aright to be heard. JAMES 4: 2-3

 When you get it right, guesswork stops and you are assured of answers, even before you are
through with praying. MATTHEW 6:9-13
 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it
shall be opened. Matthew 7:8
 There is more to prayer than just praying.
 So, it is not how long you have spent in prayers that matters, but the results you get from it.
 Prayer is also a weapon with which we do battle and contend with oppositions, in order to
possess our possessions in Christ. But it is not just enough to have a weapon in your hand,
you must have a sound understanding of how it operates. That way, you won't become a
victim, but a victor in battle.
 It takes knowledge to have victory in any conflict of life. The first thing you need to know in
the war against the thief of your glorious destiny is that you must arise. PS 68:1
 No matter how great the revelations you have received from God, if you don't build up a
resistance against the enemy, you will never have a breakthrough! JAMES 4:7
 I said, "Light shines in darkness and darkness comprehends it not. In the name of Jesus
Christ, I challenge you force of the enemy, fold up and get out of here."
 A time came in Matthew 17, when the disciples of Jesus could not cast out an evil spirit even
though they had been empowered to do so in chapter 10. Satan was blocking their access to
results in ministry. MATTHEW 17:20-21
 He is called "the wicked", because he has no feelings of sympathy for you. He is out for you,
so you must arise and invoke the forces of heaven to flush him out.
 Being a Christian does not exempt you from warfare; it only gives you an edge over the
opposition. This is graphically illustrated in Isaiah 43:1-2
 1 John 5:4, He says: For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the
victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
 The enemy kept coming back, but Jesus was battle ready, so He beat him at all times.
 Champions are not those who never fall, but those who refuse to remain on the floor (Prov.
24:16).
 One strategy of the enemy is to make you feel you can't handle the issue. That is a lie! God is
committed to your victory, if only you will fight.
 When God becomes your Helper, you enjoy ceaseless breakthroughs and stand out among
your peers.
 For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
Isaiah 41:10-13
 When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.
Psalm 56:9
 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
Lamentations 3:22
 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. James 5:13
 You are not born for afflictions; you are created to reflect the glory of God, and prayer is
what it takes to enforce your manifestations.
 The children of Israel were in bondage in Egypt for over 400 years. God only sent them help
after He heard their cries in prayer.
 So, until you cry out against that affliction in your life, it remains. God only responds to your
voice in prayer, to put a stop to the assault of the devil in your life.
 Psalm 125:3 says: For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest
the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.
 So, it is not God's will that the enemy should afflict you; your prayers can stop him.
 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they
were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Peter 1:19-21
 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before
on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; 1 Timothy 1:18
 You don't watch prophecies, you war with them, until they come into reality.
 1- But to war with prophecies you go to God in prayers with the Word (or the prophecy).
 Reminding Him of His commitment to perform what He has spoken. Then you turn to the
enemy and declare what is written concerning you which forbids his activities around you.
It takes warring a good warfare to see prophecies fulfilled. God is faithful and He cannot
deny Himself. He is committed to do anything He has said ?
 Most people wait almost lifelong to see God's Word fulfilled in their lives. They keep
wondering, "Could that word be true?" Yes, it is true. You only need to war with it to bring it
to pass.
 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of
evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11
 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. Jeremiah
29:12-13
 That means, "When you wait and you don't see the things I told you of, come and ask Me of
them in prayers." It takes intercession and seeking the face of God to see the fulfilment of
the great plans and visions He has told you about.
 Any Word of God or prophecy that you have received and believed will surely bring forth
when you apply the relevant force of prayer to it. That Word is a seed (Lk. 8:11); but no
matter how precious any seed may be, without rain it will die in the ground. What do you do
to bring down the rain? You ask. Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the
 Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the
field. Zechariah 10:1
 Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there
are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:11
 Divine direction is the heritage of the redeemed. But you must seek it in order to enjoy it.
When you locate the path of life, you enjoy fullness of joy and pleasures for evermore. But
they are only obtainable in God's presence, which is our ultimate goal in prayer.
 When God leads you, you can't but become outstanding in life.
 Isaiah [Link] Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy
God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.
 When you ask, God is committed to answer; He knows that without His direction your
destiny is not secured. But until you ask Him, you will just keep doing what seems right, not
what is right; and until you do what is right, you cannot be marked right in life.
 When God leads you, He makes a leader out of you. But one wrong step can lead to a 40-
year setback in life, as was the case with Moses.
 Direction was what rescued the disciples from an all-night futile toiling on the sea. Jesus
came and said to them, "Cast your net on the right side of the ship and ye shall find." They
did, and were not able to draw in the net, for the multitude of fishes (John 21:3-8).
 He is a loving Father, so be relaxed in His presence and ask as many questions as you need, to
be clear on every vital issue of your life.
 2- Direction can be obtained through prayers of enquiry. Matthew 7:7, If any of you lack
wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall
be given him. James 1:5
 2 Samuel 5:18-20, 22-25 The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of
Rephaim. And David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines?
 Prayer is one of the spiritual forces needed to live a consecrated life. This is because the
forces of desecration are equally spiritual. Consider what the Bible says in Zechariah 3:1-3
And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan
standing at his right hand to resist him.
 This illustration reveals that most of the habits that destroy people are remotely controlled
by spiritual forces.
 The angel of the Lord before whom Joshua the high priest stood said: ...Take away the filthy
garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from
thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. Zechariah 3:4 It took the intervention of
the angel to stop the activities of Satan, and to put a change of raiment on Joshua. You know
we release the angels through prayers (Matt. 26:53).
 No matter how genuine your desire to please God is, or how sincere you are in your longing
to live right, you must understand that it is not possible by power or by might. You need
divine help.
 Thus saith the Lord God; I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for
them... Ezekiel 36:37 You have to ask Him to consecrate you.
 There are certain things in your life that you need to be helped out of, and except you are
helped of God, you may die in them.
 Any time Jesus took some of His disciples apart to a mountain top, it was usually to pray. You
can pray your life into purity, just as Jesus did on the mount of transfiguration. As you
 establish a place for yourself in this righteous walk with God, your victory on the earth will be
established.

 There is no manifestation without preparation. Every encounter with God is born out of
adequate preparations.
 ...The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power
available [dynamic in its working]. James 5:16 (AMP)
 Prayer has its root in the heart. The Bible says in 1 Samuel 16:7, "...For the Lord seeth not as
man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."
The heart is what matters most to God. That is the place of communion between Him and
man. It is the altar upon which the sacrifices of praise and the incense of prayers are offered.
 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard:
therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. 1 Samuel 1:13
 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord.
Proverbs 16:1
 Preparing your heart in purity is the first step to establishing a viable communication link
with God, because prayer can only flow when sin is absent. It takes a pure heart and pure
hands to approach the presence of God. Whatever pollutes or corrupts your heart blocks
your access to heaven's hotline.
 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: Psalm 66:18
 As long as you remain in sin, you are out of touch with God. The only prayer of a sinner that
gets to God is the prayer of repentance. Every unrepented sin blocks your communication
line with God. It is only after God has heard your cry of repentance that He can hear your cry
of affliction, because it is only after He has saved you from your sin that He is committed to
save you from your troubles.
 Prayer is a two-way communication between a Christian and his heavenly Father. So, until He
becomes your heavenly Father, you have no access to Him in prayers. But salvation grants
you this privilege.
 With that in place, you can't miss Him. Every blessing in Scriptures is reserved for the
righteous and that includes the blessing of answered prayers.
 Anything that moves you to murmur against God is moving you against your destiny.
 "If you have lost anything, God is the reason you didn't lose everything." May be the enemy's
intention was to take your life, but God stepped in and you only lost your car. But here you
are, offended and complaining against Him in prayer. If He withdraws His hand from your life,
can you imagine what will become of you?
 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and
toward men. Acts 24:16
 Your expression of love for your fellowmen is the authentic proof of your salvation.
 Without the Word, every in prayer ends in utter frustration. It is nothing but a worthless
religious exercise. But 1 John 5:14 says: And this is the confidence that we have in him, that,
if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
 There is no point saying prayers that God does not hear. It's like somebody who picks up his
telephone handset and just starts talking into it, even though the line hasn't gone through.
 You can't connect heaven's throne and not be sure, because anytime you get through to
God, the impact will be evident.

 When you consider that prayer is seeking justification against the accusations of hell, then
you will understand that the reason many don't get answers is because they are not
prepared for what they are doing.
 Don't rush at God, first set yourself (2 Chron. 20:17). If you take enough time to prepare in
the Word, you will spend less time in prayers and get more results eventually.
 When your heart is stuffed with the relevant Scriptures that help you communicate your
desires effectively, your prayer becomes effectual, and makes tremendous power available.
 Before you engage in any prayer session, sit down and prepare, like one going to court.
Organize, and if possible, write down your prayer points and the Scriptures that commit God
to grant your desires. Sometimes, I write down my prayers like a case, then I read them aloud
to God, who is the Judge of the whole earth. He said, "Come, let us plead together..." (Isa.
43:26).
 I say to Him, "This, this and this are what are happening, but according to this and this in your
Word, they ought not to be happening. Because You abide faithful and cannot deny Yourself,
and You change not, this is what I want to be done." I use His Word to commit Him as much
as possible and it is done.
 Prayer is communication, not emotional displays. God is not moved by your tears; He is only
moved when you ask according to His will. So, all you need is the right Words and your
communication with Him will be through.
 In Isaiah 43:26, He said, "...Declare thou, that thou mayest be justified." What do you
declare? His Word, which is the only language He understands and permits Him to intervene
in your case. ...For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. Psalm 138:2
 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will
grind him to powder. Matthew 21:42-44
 The stone Jesus is talking about here is Himself. He is the lively stone (1 Cor. 10:1-4), and
John 1:1,14 says: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the
glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
 The stone is Jesus and He is the Word of God. That means the stone that must first be
gathered is the Word of God. If any opposition falls on it, that opposition will be broken; and
when it falls upon any opposition, it grinds it to powder.
 You know the Bible says, "...The scriptures cannot be broken..." (Jn. 10:35). So, the Word of
God cannot be stopped; it is irresistible and always gets its way.
 Rather than spend time doing some religious exercises that won't profit you, spend it in the
Word, to gather the appropriate stones that will bring down your Goliath. Go by the River of
Life (the Bible), carefully choose and pick up those lively stones (Scriptures), put them in your
bag (your heart) and then move out against the opposition and you are sure to bring down
his head.
 If you are an ardent student of the Word, it becomes cheap to scout round from Genesis to
Revelation, by the help of the Holy Spirit, Who brings to your remembrance whatsoever
things you have learnt of Him. He helps you locate the appropriate stones you need for
 whatever battle facing you. When you rest on Scriptures and you build an altar unto God
with them, you have committed heaven in your favour, and an answer is guaranteed.
 When like Elijah, you locate and carefully arrange twelve stones from the Word, you can't
miss your target. The Word of God is your rock of defence and offence, and if your faith is
hooked to it, it never fails. It is your only guarantee for victory over your Goliath. I see that
Goliath that has been reproaching you over the years, fall down flat before you, as you haul
the stones of the Word of God against him.
 And he put the wood in order... 1 Kings 18:33 "The wood" is another word for the Word of
God. In Luke 23:31, Jesus said: For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done
in the dry?
 Here again, He was talking of Himself. He is the green tree, and it is established in John
chapter 1, that He is also the Word of God. So, the Word of God is the wood, and you can't
start or sustain a fire without the Word. The Bible says in Proverbs [Link] Where no wood is,
there the fire goeth out...
 ...Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. And he
said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time.
And they did it the third time. And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the
trench also with water. 1 Kings 18:33-35 Water here also represents the Word of God.
 ..Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it
with the washing of water by the word. Ephesians 5:25-26
 That can be likened to the multitude of waters in Ezekiel 31:3-4
 As I earlier said, faith in God is your major access in prayer. But it's a seed that must be
nurtured with as much water of the Word as possible, if it must produce effectively. So, when
you get into the multitude of water level in the Word, you not only boost your faith, you also
generate a flood against the enemy, which he can't resist.
 Nothing can stand in the way of a flood. Everything gives way to it. There are fire fighters, but
have you ever heard of flood fighters? There are none, because you can't fight a flood; you
simply get out of its way, otherwise it will carry you along. When you enter the flood stage of
the Word, you are on a frequency that cannot be resisted.
 There is what I call Word-fired prayer. That is, prayer born out of the fire of the Word. In
Jeremiah 23:29, God asked, "Is not my word as fire... that breaketh the rock in pieces?"
 It is the Word of God that ignites a fire in your heart and pushes you into fervent and
effectual prayers. That is why you find that after hearing a powerful, Wordpacked message,
people are fired up to pray heaven-touching prayers.
 When you pray Word-fired prayers, you can't miss drawing fire from heaven. Meditation is
one of the ways of fanning up the fire in your heart. As you spend time brooding over the
Word, the Holy Spirit sparks off a fire in your soul, which enhances a hotline communication
with heaven, to ensure your victory. 1 Kings 18:38 . Acts 4:31
 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh
the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4
 Gathering the stones, laying the wood in order, pouring the water and starting off the fire are
all Word preparation efforts which make prayer effectual. That is how to stay prepared for
continuous encounters with God in prayer. I see the fire of the Lord falling for you from
henceforth! You will no longer miss your target, in Jesus' name.
 Until faith is in place, prayer will only end up in frustration. As powerful as the Word of God
is, it can only produce when faith is present. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as
unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them
that heard it. Hebrews 4:2
 Every conflict in life is a direct attack from the forces of darkness and the Word of God is the
light that shatters darkness (Jn. 1:5). Psalm 119:130 tells us that it is the entrance of the
Word that gives light. Until the Word gains entrance into the heart and generates faith, it
does not become light; and until it becomes light, it cannot shatter darkness.
 You don't pray for faith, you cultivate it by staying with the Word until the assurance of its
reality is established in your heart. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word
of God. Romans 10:17
 James 1:6-7 says: But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a
wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall
receive any thing of the Lord.
 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
Jeremiah 29:12
 The Bible also says God has not called the sons of Jacob to seek Him in vain (Isa. 45:19).
These should assure you that God is committed to answer, when you call upon Him
according to the dictates of Scriptures. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if
we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 1 John 5:14
 But your confidence in God must first be in place before you ask Him for anything, because
though the Word grants you audience before Him, your faith is what motivates Him to act on
your behalf.
 So, it is you, not God, who determines whether your prayer gets answered or not. As for
God, His side is settled. He is constant, man is the variable. But without faith it is impossible
to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of
them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6
 After Elijah fixed the altar and put everything in place, the Bible says, "...He cut the bull in
pieces and laid it on the wood..." That is the sacrifice of praise. Praise is the cheapest way to
attract God's attention, because He dwells in the midst of praise (Ps. 22:3).
 First, Be relaxed. "Be anxious for nothing..." Until you are relaxed, you cannot get through on
the prayer line. This first step can be described as the area code number of heaven, without
which your call will never get through.
 Supplication is basically praying with Scriptures — producing your cause and bringing forth
your strong reasons to remind God of His commandment and promises.
 So, effectual prayer is not in many words. Only meaningful words grant you audience before
God. You are heard by target words; words that are shot as arrows that cannot miss their
targets.
 Prayer is not just saying something, it is saying the right thing. Elijah's prayer in 1 Kings 18:36-
37 was short, sharp and straight to the point. The result? Instant answer! This is what God
commands: Produce your cause, saith the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the
King of Jacob. Isaiah 41:21
 Nothing moves God like His Word. So, if you are in need of a job, you can reinforce your
request to Him like this: "Lord, Your Word says, ‘Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well
with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings’ (Isa. 3:10), not the fruit of his uncle's
 labour or the fruit of his senior brother's labour. Also, Your Word says, ‘no good thing will he
withhold from them that walk uprightly’ (Ps. 84:11). Lord, You know I walk with You. Your
Word also says, ‘I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous
forsaken, nor his seed begging bread’ (Ps. 37:25).I don't want to beg, because it is not part of
Your covenant package for me.
 In Matthew 20, You went out to the market place at different hours of the day and all those
You found standing idle due to unemployment, You hired. So, Lord hire me now. I know You
hate idleness; neither do I want to remain idle. Therefore, I thank You for my miracle job
now, in Jesus' name."
 With this, you are justified before Him and are sure to get a job. The Bible says: The young
lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.
Psalm 34:10 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of
thine hand to do it. Proverbs 3:27
 That means by covenant, your life is not permitted to lack any good thing.
 It is not the will of God for you to lack any good thing. So, you can say to Him, "Lord, I serve
You, and You said in Your Word that no man can serve two masters (Matt. 6:24). I have
yielded myself to serve You the Almighty God, therefore I am not permitted to serve lack and
want, hunger, suffering and nakedness. Since You have said that those who seek You shall
not lack any good thing, I open up for a flow of Your abundance into my life now, in the name
of Jesus. Lord, watch over Your Word to perform it, in Jesus' name."
 If you have been plagued with sickness, remember God said, "I am the Lord that healeth
thee." (Ex. 15:26). He told the Church in the wilderness this, and He says, "I am the Lord, I
change not." So He is still the Healer today as He was in times past.
 When He sent His Son, Jesus, the Bible says, "Himself took our infirmities, and bare our
sicknesses" (Matt. 8:17). Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8). He is still
doing all the miracles of healings He performed in the Bible days today. He abides faithful, He
cannot deny Himself. Therefore, you can say to that disease or pain, "In the name of Jesus,
you have no legal hold over my being, because Jesus took my diseases and pains the same
day He took my sins. Let God be true and all men liars! I take my liberty now, in the name of
Jesus."
 He was out for an answer, he was not doing guesswork. He was ready to stay out there and
hang on, until His answer came and he did. His servant went to check for the cloud seven
times before he eventually saw it, and then the rain came. And when rain comes, the earth
yields her increase. I see you enter into your season of abundance, as you engage in heart-
felt prayers, in the name of Jesus!
 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are
gone over me. Psalm 42:7 The Bible says, the heart of man is deep (Jer. 17:9). Since it is deep
that calls unto deep, if you must enjoy deep communications with God, you must engage
your heart in prayer. Let no ordinary statement come out of your mouth. It is not much
speaking, but "heart-speaking" that makes for effectual prayer. It is not how loud, but how
genuinely we call from the deep that matters.
 Zechariah 12:10, God said: And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants
of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications... There is what is called the spirit of
grace and supplication, which enables a man stand strong on the prayer tower, praying from
the depth of his soul, as though travailing for his only son.
 Many people are dying in their prayer rooms because they are self-oriented in their prayers.
They are the "needy-stars" of the kingdom.
 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is
come. For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof. Psalm
102:13-14 God even answers me before I call, because I pray sincere and heart-felt prayers
for the kingdom and His people. So, He can't but surround me with favour. As you begin to
seek His kingdom in your prayers, I see every concern of your life become a testimony.
 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will
say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. Habakkuk 2:1
 To truly win in prayer requires your being alert in the spirit, listening in meditation and
keeping your heart open to receive what He has to say to you. You also have to engage in
intense worship, in order to maintain the communication channel. When you ask a question
and there doesn't seem to be an immediate response, you begin to worship and call God by
His names. Then you ask again, "Lord, what are You saying?" You are sure to get an answer,
because He assures us: Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty
things, which thou knowest not. Jeremiah 33:3
 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and
might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made
known unto us the king's matter. Daniel 2:17-19,23
 Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the
good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls... Jeremiah 6:16
 It is sonship that attracts the glory, and responsibility is what makes a son (Isa. 9:6).
 In prayer of enquiry, God shows you what you need to do, in order to get what you are
looking for. It then becomes your responsibility to put to work what has been revealed to
you.
 David was a man of enquiries, so he never suffered any defeat or injuries as a warrior. He had
access to divine instructions by prayers of enquiry, and it made a world of difference in his
life. One instruction from heaven can deliver from a lifetime of struggles. You will no longer
suffer injuries in your life.
 Jesus is anointed without measure, telling you how powerful His name is. If, for instance, the
President of your nation gives you a note, with his name and signature on it, that note carries
as much power and authority as his physical presence with you. With it in your hand, you
have equal access to the places and things that the President has access to. In the same way,
the authority and power in the name of Jesus is what you release when you pray in His name.
Philippians 2:9-11 tells us: Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a
name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of
things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue
should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. That name answers
both in heaven, on the earth, and everywhere. That means no authority in heaven, or on
the earth can resist it. Peter's prayer for the lame man at the gate Beautiful, though very
brief, but because it was wrapped up in the name of Jesus, the result was instant.
 Moreover, the name of Jesus is your heritage in God. You have every right to use the name,
as Jesus' Himself commands us: Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall
receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:24
 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. Matthew 17:21 No matter the
kind of opposition standing against you, it is not higher than the one Jesus is referring to
here. A combination of faith, prayer and fasting will bring it into submission.
 The purpose of fasting is for the release of power. It is not to beg God to act, neither is it to
impress Him or force Him to grant your request. Rather, it is a spiritual device that empowers
you with the unction needed to deal with the issues facing you.
 When we are in a fast, we are not begging or struggling with the devil to leave; we are
connecting with heaven, for the release of power to send the devil packing from our
environment. That is why during a fast, you must have periods of separation to study and
fellowship with the Word of God.
 So, when you are faced with an opposition that seems not to be yielding to faith and prayer,
organize a fast, to help generate a fresh supply of power to deal with it. What happens when
you fast is that your spiritual perception is increased, so that you are able to receive direct
instructions and strategies on how to deal with situations.
 Fasting, therefore is not a religious exercise, or one of those things we do in Christianity; it is
a vital kingdom force which empowers the believer to loose the bands of wickedness, undo
heavy burdens and break every yoke. Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the
bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that
ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor
that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that
thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning,
and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the
glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward. Isaiah 58:6-8
 Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If
thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking
vanity. Isaiah 58:9 These should be the outcome of fasting, not loss of weight, or famished
haggard looks.
 Until you are able to engage the help of the Holy Spirit in prayer, you may never experience
true breakthrough in your Christian life.
 Since these forces of opposition operate from the spirit realm, which most times are beyond
our human comprehension, God has also given us a weapon that grants us access to the
throne room of heaven, which they also do not understand. For he that speaketh in an
unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him;
howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. 1 Corinthians 14:2
 When you engage the Spirit in prayer, He takes you into heaven's frequency, enabling you to
pray with precision the express will of God for that situation (1 Cor. 2:11). The Holy Spirit
Himself intercedes on your behalf. He picks up what is in your heart, presents it to God and in
turn delivers the answer from God to you. ...For the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep
things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in
him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 1 Corinthians 2:10-
11 ...When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard
against him. Isaiah 59:19
 ...With my spirit within me will I seek thee early... Isaiah 26:9
 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.
Jude 20
 It's time to lean on the help of the Spirit, to kindle an unquenchable fire on your prayer altar.
Call on Him to help you. "Spirit of God, Helper of the Church, help me! Put a new fire on my
prayer altar. Help me to maintain a winnings prayer life."
 Until you realize your helplessness without the Holy Spirit, you may die in struggles. But
when you lean on the Spirit, you keep on leaping through life.
 Then came the word of the Lord to Isaiah, saying, Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the
Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will
add unto thy days fifteen years. Isaiah 38:1-5 Hezekiah would have died cheaply, were it not
for his personal testimony.
 Kenneth Copeland asked the man if he pays his tithes. The farmer said, "Yes". Copeland then
asked for the farmer's cheque book with which he had been paying his tithe. They both went
out to the farm and Copeland lifted up the cheque book and said, "Lord, remember now, that
this is a tither and the devourer has no hold on tithers. Hear now and answer." On getting
back to his field the following day, the farmer saw that all the cotton buds had opened!
 And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will
take sickness away from the midst of thee. There shall nothing cast their young, nor be
barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfil. Exodus 23:25-26
 Without a personal testimony before God, you don't have a future of liberty; but with it you
can always connect heaven and secure automatic triumph in prayer. The personal testimony
prayer line is a miracle line, which is sure to deliver to you, as long as you serve God, for He
has not asked the seed of Jacob to seek Him in vain. ...But godliness is profitable unto all
things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. 1 Timothy 4:8

 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking,
I will hear. Isaiah 65:24
 If you do whatever He tells you to do, the devil cannot undo you (1 Pet. 3:13). You can live a
hurt-free life through obedience, because it renders your enemies helpless and endears you
to God for divine favours.
 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God,
to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord
thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall
come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.
Deuteronomy 28:1-2 I have been on that frequency for so many years and it has never failed
me.
 Value is a function of cost. If Christianity does not cost you anything, it will deliver no value
to you. Obedience is the price for divine value. God keeps on enhancing your value in the
kingdom as you build up your obedience to Him. When your obedience in any area is
fulfilled, you will naturally and automatically avenge all disobedience, and enjoy rest in that
area.
 God responds to your thoughts as much as He does to your speech. That means your words
and thoughts weigh the same in His sight. That is why you find many places in Scripture
where Jesus responded to the thoughts of some people. And, behold, certain of the scribes
said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. And Jesus knowing their thoughts said,
Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? Matthew 9:3-4
 Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you,
or among your cattle. Deuteronomy 7:14 It means that until you are blessed as a child of
God, all the people who don't know God shouldn't see blessing. So when you see sinners and
animals reproducing, you should never imagine yourself childless or destitute, because
blessings and fruitfulness are primarily for God's children. Healing is bread for the children of
the kingdom (Matt. 15:22-27). Since what drops from the table is what sinners take to keep
healthy, none of them should be healthy on the street, while you lie down sick in bed. Why
must you, who has direct access to the table, be sick and the sinner is healthy?
 So, the effect of what you say with your mouth is determined by what goes on in your heart.
When you doubt in your heart, what you have said with your mouth is rendered ineffective.
You can cry from now till eternity, if your imagination does not fall in line with what you are
saying, it will not produce results. The Psalmist said: Let the words of my mouth, and the
meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:14
 Affection is another avenue of reaching God without speaking a word. Somebody came to
Jesus and asked Him: Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto
him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy
mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love
thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Matthew 22:36-40
 When God is in love with you, the best He has is made available to you, even if it is the only
one He has. Remember He gave His only begotten son because He so loved the world (Jn.
3:16).
 When you win His love, He will personally keep calculating and working out things for your
good(Rom. 8:28). He won't wait for you to cry to Him for anything. The depth of your love for
God determines your ultimate height in the kingdom. When the love of God is enthroned in
your heart, He sees to your enthronement on the earth.
 Now, I will never need to buy a motor-bike any more. In fact, God has blessed me to the
point that I will never require more than 1per cent of my financial income to satisfy my
needs. I'm sold out to God and He keeps manifesting Himself to me. You can't give God first
place in your life and He give you the last place.
 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogance come out of your mouth: for the Lord
is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 1 Samuel 2:3 Your actions can reach
God, just as your words. Your dispositions can move Him, just as your utterances.
 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put
sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. And the word of
the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before
me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his
son's days will I bring the evil upon his house. 1 Kings 21:27-29
 If you really believe that when you pray according to His will God hears you, and that if He
hears, you have received your petition, then act it.
 So, if you need a baby, buy your baby cot and put it in your sitting room. When you openly
take steps of faith, you commit God to favour you openly.
 You should get up every morning, dress up faster than those who have jobs and be on your
way out. If anybody asks where you are going, say, "I'm going to work." You have prayed to
God for a job and He has heard you, but the job won't come to you on your bed, you have to
go for it.
 You want to get married? Locate your chief bridesmaid or bestman and print the wedding
programme. You have committed God to bring your spouse. Your actions speak in heaven, so
act well and you will live well.
 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest
the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 2 Corinthians 2:14
 God told the people, "You will not need to fight nor struggle to get your desires, but you will
need to do something; you will need to go out against the enemy, set yourself." This is where
a lot of people miss it. You will notice that the enemies that arrayed themselves against
Judah didn't disappear the moment they prayed. In fact, the enemies were very much
present while they were fasting and praying. Even after God had answered their prayers, the
enemies were still organizing a siege around the city and threatened to kill them and take
their land.

 God performs in prayers, but He perfects in praise. He takes over in prayer, but He
demonstrates His intervention in praise. So, after every powerful prayer, it takes powerful
praise to experience perfection.
 As you enter into hot and fearful praises, God will establish your dominion over all the
roarings of your enemies. Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee,
glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? Exodus 15:11
 To win the prayer battle, you start with praise — "Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed
be thy name..." Then you wrap up your requests in Scriptures, receive the answer from
heaven and then take delivery of your desires in praise. You start with praise and end with
praise — "...For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen" (Matt.
6:13).
 When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.
Psalm 56:9 Prayer stops your enemies, but praise sets ambushment against them for
complete destruction.
 had been arrested, but the stigma of their past was still on them. Their fingers were still
stunted and their faces deformed. But even with that, one of them came back, glorifying God
with a loud voice. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the
nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said
unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. Luke 17:17-19
 There is a difference between being healed and being made whole. When the lepers were
healed, the itching and discomforting condition stopped. But when the grateful one was
made whole, every trace of leprosy left him. His deformed fingers and face became normal.
There were no more traces of scar to show that he was once a leper. His skin was perfectly
restored. That is what praise does. It perfects your miracle and retains the hand of God upon
your life.
 You have prayed, God has answered, but what are you saying? Every word you speak is a
seed and the Bible says, "Whatsoever a man sows that shall he also reap."
 I am not talking about playing psychological games with words; I am talking about saying
what you believe, on the basis of the truth you have discovered from God's Word.
 I called my neighbours and told them to join me in praising God. We praised God for over
twenty minutes and then prayed. During the prayer session, I remembered Psalm 23:4,
which says, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no
evil." I also remembered Hosea 13:14 (He ransomed us from the power of the grave), and
Psalm 91:16 ("With long life will I satisfy thee").