Rhapathon With Pastor Chris - Evening Session by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

The Mandate to Watch and Pray

Take more interest in your country and in the nations of the world. When a man healed of leprosy returned home, God instructed him to wash everything in the house — not because his body wasn't healed, but because God did not want anything in the environment to reinfect him. The principle is the same: there are things happening in our nations that believers must be spiritually alert to address.

There are things that men do from the corruption of their own hearts — and they will answer to God for those actions. But there are other things inspired by demonic influence beyond the person's natural self. We must be able to discern those.

In the Old Testament, Satan moved David to number Israel — even Joab the captain could not stop him. The king went ahead, yet the impulse was not from David himself. Similarly, Peter was rebuked by Jesus — not because Peter was possessed, but because Satan had put words in his mouth, just as he had put thoughts in David's mind. Peter was not even fully possessed; Satan simply influenced him.

If believers are not watchful, they will allow things to be done that should not be done. There are policies in different cities and nations that are not of God and are inspired by Satan. If not watchful, a person might assume it is merely a political party and their ideology — not seeing the spirit behind it.

When policies are being drafted and you become aware of them, pray in the Spirit. The Lord will tell you, inspire you, guide you, and show you what stand to take.

God's People as History-Makers

Ezekiel 22:30 — God sought for a man among them that should make up the hedge and stand in the gap before him for the land, that he should not destroy it. But he found none.

How many was he looking for? Not a congregation, not all the pastors, not all the prophets — just one person. May God find you.

Daniel understood from the scriptures that the desolations of Jerusalem would last 70 years. Yet as the time drew near, there was no sign of change among the people. Daniel chose to pray — to make sure it happened. Daniel 9 — he turned to the Lord in prayer and petition, in fasting and in sackcloth and ashes. He interceded for the people. While he was still praying, an angel appeared and said: "When you began to pray, your voice was heard, and I brought you an answer."

There are prophecies that — unless someone prays to bring them to pass — will not happen. This is not because God changes, but because God works through people on the earth.

Framing Your World with the Word

Hebrews 11:3 — through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the rhema of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

The word translated "worlds" here is the Greek word for ages, eras, and life-seasons. The men and women of faith listed in Hebrews 11 did not merely observe their times — they framed their times. The word "framed" means to give shape to, to construct, to mend, to repair.

The rhema used here in the New Testament is never used for when God speaks by himself — it is always the spoken word of God as uttered by men. So what Hebrews 11:3 is telling us is: the seasons and times of faithful men were constructed by those men speaking God's word.

The world the enemy tries to hand over is not acceptable. As the seed of Abraham, as joint heirs with Christ, as those registered in the heavenly assembly of the firstborn — we decide what happens in our cities, our nations, and in the world. We are not ordinary people.

Be Filled Continually with the Holy Spirit

When churches invent ways to get people interested — offering refreshments or entertainments — something has gone wrong. The most important thing is the Holy Ghost. Ensure the church is filled with the Holy Ghost. Pastors must continually be filled. The fire in the altar must not go out.

Continually filled with the spirit — that is what the word instructs. When you are always filled with the spirit, you are guaranteed God's perfect guidance, because you always know the voice of God and always know the will of God.

Each one of us is important in God's scheme of things. You are important for your city, your country, the world. Do not think somebody else is doing it — you might just be the only one God is waiting for.