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Those of us who were here last year could agree very well with me that the Lord Most High, sounded an alarm to the Church, clearly establishing the fact that Prayer and of course "Travail Prayer" is very "crucial" to fulfilling the cardinal or principal purpose of the Church in the earth realm.
Ephesians 3:7-11 "Wherefore I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by effectual working of His power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose in Christ Jesus our Lord: [note carefully verses 10 and 11].
So now, let's define the word "TRAVAIL" which is pivotal, central and momentous to the Church which is you and me.
The noun travail has two senses [1] concluding state of pregnancy; from the onset of labor to the birth of a child. [2] use of physical or mental energy; hard work.
And the verb travail has [1] sense which is to "work" hard. The word travail is used rarely in both the noun and verb form.
Synonyms of the noun form of travail are: parturiency; lying-in; confinement; childbed; labor; for example: she was in labor for six hours.
Or Meronyms [parts of travail ]: uterine contraction [ a rhythmic tightening in labor of the upper uterine musculature that contracts the size of the uterus and pushes the fetus toward the birth canal ]; effacement [ shortening of the uterine cervix and thinning of its walls as it is dilated during labor ].
SO WHAT DOES TRAVAILING IN THE SPIRIT MEAN SINCE THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE AS THE CHURCH HAS TO DO AND DO SO ALWAYS?
Paul, the Apostle did travail on behalf of others in the Spirit until the Spirit of Christ was formed in those in whom God has placed on his heart. Travailing in the Spirit means to travail or labor as in giving birth just as a woman in the natural travails when she is about to deliver her child. Spiritual travail is a level of intensity marked by a Holy Spirit burden to actually bring to pass, through prayer, a given promise, a prophetic insight or a Holy Spirit illuminated need in a person, church, city or nation.
HAVING NOW ESTABLISHED IN OUR MINDS AND HEARTS WHAT TRAVAIL AND SPIRITUAL TRAVAIL MEANS, LET'S PROCEED TO MY REAL ASSIGNMENT FOR THIS CONFERENCE, WHICH IS THE "APOSTOLIC ORDER AS PERTAINING TO TRAVAIL".
I hope I got it right and if not please, forgive me for I strongly believe that a much needed message or word will emerge from whatever direction the HOLY SPIRIT engages my delivery.
From the two scriptures that I read to you earlier, the Apostle Paul clearly establishes his identity and role in the ministry of Jesus Christ. In fact in almost all of his writings, he opens up by telling the people of who he was, who has made him who he was and the authority behind all that he did.
Paul clearly establishes the fact that for one to be an Apostle, one ought to be called by God. One cannot appoint himself or herself neither could any man or a body of people appoint him or her to that office. You cannot buy it either, as unfortunately it is in some of our modern day churches. It is a divine calling. It's a call from above period.
To be an Apostle means God Himself after assessing you, calls you and sends you out to serve His purposes at places He would appoint. When God called Moses in the wilderness, out of the burning bush, He assured him He has called him for a specific assignment; to a specific people. He gave Moses a sign to that assignment and assured him He would as well give a sign to those he was assigned to, so they could accept him, and importantly, make his assignment accomplishable.
An Apostle is "one sent out", with an outward thrust and a pioneering or restoration cutting edge, the edge that causes revolutionary impact and can either be of a new movement or a work of extensive scale, or even both. The Apostle is a commander with a mandate and an extended vision which is usually cross-cultural or global, but not always. He is one, called, raised and equipped for the job and for the hour. The Apostle usually presides over a council of fellow ministers that has direct calling and anointing for the thrust, covering the 5-fold ministry in varying degrees. The Apostolic government is a patriarchal and theocratic government, where the Word of God reigns supreme, where the leadership is strong and followership intelligent, where revelations from above chart the course and the leader [ Apostle ] is directly accountable first to God. Although the Apostle is accountable to the people under him, it's not in the same way as he reports to his God. Jesus, our Lord and Savior, even though was accountable to His disciples, received His instructions from His Father in heaven. So it was in the case Moses, the great deliver of Israel.
PILLARS THAT ARE PERTINENT TO APOSTOLIC OFFICE AND FUNCTION.
[1] PRAYER… An Apostle who will be able to fulfill his apostolic calling effectively and productively must wear a very powerful and anointed prayer mantle. Jesus, our chief Apostle maintained a consistent and diligent prayer life that constantly put Him in touch with the Council of heaven. An agent of heaven in the earth realm would not be able know what he or she has to effect on earth by heaven's consensus except he/she knows exactly what such consensus is. And prayer or travail prayer is the only avenue. The true Apostle must war in the spirit realm to birth heavens desire in the earth realm. PRAYER WARFARE IS the seventh and highest level of prevailing prayer. It's the prolonged, intensified form of prevailing prayer focused on defeating and routing Satan so that Christ's will may be done and His Kingdom advanced. Prayer warfare is militant, prevailing intercession. Prayer warfare is fought individually and collectively. It requires constant alertness and readiness and is coordinated by the Holy Spirit. There cannot be a true Apostle without a God-given grace and mantle of Prayer. In Prayer you communicate with God then you make proclamations, decrees, declarations, orders, instructions and directives by God's leading to entities, principalities and powers, forces, domains, governments, authorities above and below, people and objects to adjust, turn and respond to God's divine order and manifestation.
[2] THE HOLY SPIRIT: WHO EMPOWERS US TO PRAY, GIVES US WHAT TO PRAY ABOUT/ FOR AND THEN THE RIGHT AND PRECISE PRAYER LANGUAGE.
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE ONLY SPIRIT AND POWER THAT SATAN AND HIS COHORTS CANNOT RESIST.
Satan deceived man and introduced sin and rebellion against God into our world. He is the tyrant, the usurper of all he can dominate. He is constantly and inveterately antagonistic to God, God's plan, God's people and God's activity. He is anti-Christ, anti-church, and anti-humankind. He will deceive, falsely accuse, and destroy in any way he can. You need a God-called, God-chosen and God-ordained Apostle, with constant infusion of the true Holy Spirit, armed with a well cultivated and lived life of prayer, with an excellent knowledge of God's Word, an agent of God's entire creation, with the grace and ability to rightly divide that pure, unadulterated Word of God, to advance to the domain and territory of Satan and completely dispossess him of man's heritage from God. This is exactly what we have gathered here to do throughout the duration of this Conference. We have so many Apostles in the Body of Christ today. My question is, how many of us are truly called of God. How many of us are neither self-appointed nor Man-appointed? How many of us are filled with the Holy Spirit and operate by the leading of the Spirit. How many of us constantly, intelligently and illuminatingly chart our courses through concentrated prayer and the Word of God.
[3] THE WORD: BY WHICH ALL WAS CREATED. THRONES, DOMINIONS, PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS, KINGDOMS AND AUTHORITIES, VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE THINGS, THINGS ABOVE, THINGS IN THE EARTH REALM AND THE WORD BELOW US.
NO APOSTLE CAN ADVANCE THE CAUSE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD WITHOUT THE WORD. NO APOSTLE HAS ANY ORDER OR COMMAND TO ISSUE AGAINST SATAN AND ALL OF HIS HOSTS AND THEIR WORKS EXCEPT BY THE WORD.
The Apostle, teaches, trains, equips, instructs and orders changes at all levels in the spirit realm as well as the natural or physical realm by the Word, in collaboration with the Holy Spirit and Prayer. None of these three pillars can act or operate effectively independent of the other. The Word of God is the believer's primary contact with God. All that there's to know about God, Prayer, the Holy Spirit, Creation, Salvation, Life etc. is by the Word.
The Church of Jesus Christ, the world over, at this very moment is in a very serious confused, disorganized, disorderly and disoriented state. It's not funny at all. The Church is steadily losing its authority, power and influence over the world outside her and principally, the Devil, who's unarguably the arch -enemy of the Church. When I talk about the Church, I mean, "YOU AND ME". Let's be honest with ourselves. See how confused, disoriented, frustrated, disorderly and disorganized you have been. And many of us have been in that horrible state for years. Most us could have been better off calling it quits except that we dread the trauma that we would bear from what other people will say about us. The Church today values more the opinions of men and the world rather than what God says and how He sees us. We pattern our lives, shape our ideas, build our strategies, handle our issues and dress ourselves after the spirit and manner of the world. The world is converting us rather than we converting the church. WHAT A BIG SHAME!
WHY? Because the Church has failed to recognize and respect the Word, The Holy Spirit and Prayer upon which she was built, and the cardinal roles they all play in our lives and Christianity. The Psalmist asked a question. "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do"? OF COURSE NOTHING. Nothing in this world can stand without a foundation.
None of these pillars are vigorously, consistently and faithfully applied in our lives and in handling of Christian duties, responsibilities, methods and obligations in the modern day Church.
I STAND TO PROPHESY TO THE CHURCH HERE WITH ME NOW AND THE CHURCH AT LARGE THAT WE ARE GETTING NOWHERE UNTIL WE HUMBLE OUSELVES TO WHOLLY ACCEPT, OBEY AND LIVE THE WORD. THE CHURCH WILL DAILY TALK ABOUT POWER, AND AUTHORITY OVER SATAN, DELIVERANCE FROM DISEASE AND SICKNESS, POVERTY AND FAILURE, SALVATION OF THE WORLD AND INHERITING THE WEALTH OF THE WICKED, AND HOLD HIGH EXPECTATIONS, WITHOUT REAL MANIFESTATION, UNTIL OUR TALK, WALK AND LIFE LINE UP WITH THE WORD, WHICH FOUNDED THE CHURCH.
Any time Israel went into captivity or experienced lack and impoverishment was when she turned away from the God who delivered them from bondage and captivity. Check Judges Chapter 6. The church of the Lord Jesus Christ has turned away from the Word of God, the Holy Spirit and Prayer. As a result, any time the church gathers we resort to gimmickry, fantasy and entertainment. I challenge all of us here at the conference, from leaders to congregation, to use this moment to completely turn back to God in obedience, purity, holiness, love and unity in order to maintain our effectiveness in the earth realm. THE WORLD MUST FEEL OUR PRESENCE. THE WORLD MUST BEAR OUR LIGHT AND USE OUR SALT.
In order to destroy a person, family, or group, Satan tries to deceive, falsely accuse, divide, and divert from what is best. He deceives by masquerading as an angel of light where that disguise is most likely to accomplish his deceptive purpose [ 2 Cor. 11:14 ], and roars like a lion where fear is most likely to succeed [ 1 Peter 5:8 ]. I f Satan cannot stop you from becoming a Christian, he will focus on defeating you, slowing your spiritual growth, discouraging you and trying to make you passive and inactive. If that tactic does not work, he will try to get you so busy in daily activities or even Christian activities that you have no time to pray down the power to make your activity successful. Satan, the destroyer, will destroy you in any way he can. If he cannot destroy you spiritually, he will seek to destroy your fellowship with other Christians and the unity and effectiveness of your church. He knows disunity, disagreement and doubt can tragically destroy any Christian's effectiveness and therefore delights to accuse one Christian to another [Rev. 12:10 ]. The amazing thing is that he tricks Christians to do his work by inciting them to repeat and circulate his accusations in the form of rumors, criticism, and divisive statements. He even gives morbid enjoyment in telling the latest accusation, rumor, or scandal.
Many greatly used by God in their later lives had miraculous deliverances or healings in childhood or youth. If Satan cannot destroy you by accident, he may try fear, worry, pressure, or wrong eating habits. If Satan cannot tempt you with sin, he will gladly tempt you with food to shorten your life and stop your prayer.
PRAYER is the greatest means of spiritual power and spiritual victory to you as a Christian. So Satan fears it more than all else you can do. Apart from God Himself and His heavenly beings, prayer is the greatest danger to Satan's purposes, plans and activities.
Before I proceed further to talk about the need and importance of Prayer, let me talk about APOSTOLIC ORDER AND DIMENSIONS OF APOSTOLIC ORDER.
First of all it's worth noting and noting with understanding that the Apostle is the only person among the five-fold that is able to operate in all the ascension gifts.
Why? Because of the nature of
the calling and the work that is associated with that particular rank and
office. The Apostle is a ground-breaker and a pioneer.
APOSTOLIC ORDER- the order of first things first.
1 Corinthians 11:33-34 "Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. And if any hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come".
SET IN ORDER. "DIATASSO" from two Greek words meaning, "to arrange thoroughly i.e. [spec.] institute, prescribe.
COLOSSIANS 2:5 "For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ".
ORDER, Greek, Taxis; meaning regular arrangement, i.e. [ in time ] fixed succession [ of rank or character ], official dignity.
TITUS 1:5 "For this cause I left thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee".
ORDER:" epidiorthoo" in Greek meaning to straighten further, i.e. [fig.] arrange additionally.
Epi, ep-ee; means,
superimposition [ of time, place, order, etc.] as a relation of distribution
[with the gen.], i.e. over, upon, etc.
Orthos probably from the base of another Greek word meaning; right [as rising], i.e. [perpendicularly] erect [fig. honest], or [horizontally] level or direct
1 Thessalonians 3:10 "Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith"
Romans 1:11 "For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established".
Isaiah 9:6-7. "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace,. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
WHAT IS " ORDER"
A condition of methodical or prescribed arrangement among component parts such that proper functioning or appearance is achieved.
a. The established system of social organization:
b. A condition in which freedom from disorder or disruption is maintained through respect for established authority
Order: kuwn in Greek, to be erect [i.e. stand perpendicular]; hence [casual] to set up, in a great variety of applications, whether lit. [establish, fix, prepare, apply], or fig. [appoint, render sure, proper or prosperous].
ESTABLISH: Greek..saw-ad' meaning to SUPPORT [most fig:--comfort, establish, hold up, refresh self, strengthen, be upholden.
JUDGMENT: Greek mishpat meaning "a verdict [favorable or unfavorable] pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree [human or [particularly] divine law, individual or collect.
JUSTICE… Tsedaqah in Greek, meaning, Rightness, subj. [rectitude], obj. [justice], mor. [virtue] or fig. [prosperity] tsadaq prim. Root; to be [causat] right.
DIMENSIONS OF APOSTOLIC FOUNDATIONS.
1. DOCTRINE----- True doctrine
2. AUTHORITY ---You cannot go into areas without authority
3. STRUCTURE [S] Structure is very important to the success of any establishment
4. STRATEGIES
ROLES OF APOSTOLIC FOUNDATIONS.
1. To bring about revelation.
2. To bring about deliverance
3. To bring about healing
4. To bring about removal of demonic spirits and influence.
5. To release the captives.
6. To release the unfolding of mysteries.
7. To initiate and bring about open heavens.
The Apostle has the power to break witchcraft. Witchcraft works with rebellion. Any time you have a rebellious anarchical spirit, it is because witchcraft is present
Having now established clearly the Apostolic Order, let us now move swiftly against Satan with Prayer as the fiercest weapon that can route him and all his demons and demonic establishments, in the spirit realm as well as in the physical realm.
FIRST OF ALL KNOW THAT:
1. Satan is limited in knowledge
2. Satan is limited in power
3. Satan is limited in presence.
PRAYER IS THE NEMESIS OF SATAN.
Satan truly exists as an active force in the world. He is alive and evil. He is a dark enemy agent; a terrible, mysterious, fearsome reality, a live spirit, perverted and enemy number one. The devil is a being of malignity, sophistication, and treachery; a spirit who is seducing modern men and women and the youth with drugs, pornography, sexual promiscuity, immorality, rebellion, materialism and the occult. Whole nations, cities, towns, villages, hamlets, communities, neighborhoods, environments, families, homes, churches, governments and establishments of diverse kinds have fallen under Satan's grip. Modern man relies too much on psychology, psychiatry, and sociology to explain the phenomenon of evil. And because of it, he loses his conception of a supernatural power of evil and wickedness.
But there is nothing on earth that Satan so fears as prayer. He does not know how to cope with prayer, especially the prayers of obedient, faithful, holy and righteous Christians, so he concentrates on keeping you from prayer or getting you give up before you get the answer to your prayers. He can often manipulate persons and circumstances so as to delay prayer's answers, but he cannot stop the angels from bringing God's answers. PRAYER IS SATAN'S NEMESIS! He cannot triumph over prevailing prayer. Satan is more afraid of your praying than of your pure life or zealous witness without prayer. One's life may be a beautiful witness that cannot be silenced, but prayer is a militant force that has the potential of defeating Satan, destroying his works, and driving him out of places and lives he claims for his own.
WE ARE AT WAR.
The throne of Christ today and until the end of the age is an intercessory throne. Christ is ruling by intercession. In prayer we contend, wrestle, agonize, fight and are in very serious warfare. The whole Christian life and service is seen as warfare.
WE ARE THE CHURCH MILITANT, THE CHURCH ALIVE ON EARTH'S BATTLEFIELD AND AT WAR. THIS SITUATION WILL CONTINUE TILL CHRIST RETURNS. THE HEART OF THE WHOLE CHRISTIAN WARFARE, THE STRATEGY FOR ALL CHRISTIAN VICTORY, AND THE BATTLEGROUND FOR ALL CHRISTIAN ADVANCE IS PRAYER. PRAYER, PRAYER AND MORE PRAYER!
THE EARLY CHURCH ADVANCED THROUGH PRAYER. THEY DROVE BACK SATAN, BATTLE BY BATTLE THROUGH PRAYER.
THEIR PRAYERS AND THEIR FAITH CARRIED ALL BEFORE THEM. THEY WERE LIKE INVINCIBLE WARRIORS. NOTHING COULD STAND BEFORE THEM…. THE CHURCH, SAYS ONE, IS RESISTLESS FOR THE PURPOSE OF HER GREAT MISSION WHEN ARMED WITH THE POWER OF PRAYER. THE WHOLE POWER OF IMPERIAL ROME, THE MISTRESS OF THE WORLD, PROVED UNABLE TO RESIST THE POWER AND INFLUENCE OF THEIR INTENSIFIED PRAYERS.
PRAYER WAS THEIR WEAPON IN EVERY SITUATION. THEY WERE USING IT NOT PRIMARILY FOR DEFENCE BUT AS AN OFFENSIVE ATTACK ON SATAN AND HIS STRONGHOLDS.
OUR STRATEGIC ROLE:
THE PRAYER WARRIOR STANDS BETWEEN THE AUTHORITY AND POWER OF HEAVEN AND THE DARKNESS AND POWER OF HELL, BETWEEN THE LAMB ON THE THRONE AND SATAN, THE GREAT DRAGON.
THE SECRET PRAYER CHAMBER IS A BLOODY BATTLEGROUND. HERE VIOLENT AND DECISIVE BATTLES ARE FOUGHT OUT. HERE THE FATE FOR SOULS FOR TIME AND ETERNITY IS DETERMINED, IN QUIETUDE AND SOLITUDE. THROUGH THE PRAYER WARFARE OF THE INTECEDING BELIEVER, CHRIST TAKES HIS STAND ON EARTH'S SPIRITUAL BATTLEFIELDS.
Beware of false prophets, apostles, leaders and sly people. They may be highly skilled and extremely persuasive. But it is the undergirding of supernatural forces that makes them as deceptive as the underworld can make them. Human wit and wisdom are ready tools of subversive powers. Only in Christ Jesus and His shed Blood, kept by the Holy Spirit, can man, the Church and our world be delivered from Satan's final thrust. Let the preacher, let the believer influence himself; let him reach his own heart, if he would reach the hearts of others; if he would have others feel, he must feel himself. Remember this, that you cannot commit some loved sin in private, and perform the work of the ministry in public, with facility and acceptance. Facility here means skill, talent, or ability, proficiency and gift that God, the Omnipotent, endorses.
"Let us look above names, titles and parties, let us abstain from coterie spirit and mentality, let JESUS alone be our all in all……… I care not about who is uppermost, I know my place, know your place………. Even to be the servant of all.
We need to, on daily basis test our beliefs and doctrines, not by our human or intellectual reasonings, but by God's inspired Word, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We need to examine our views prayerfully, correcting anything that conflicts with Bible prophecies or New Testament doctrine.
I BOLDLY ANNOUNCE TO YOU TODAY THAT SATAN'S WEAPONS ARE BLUNTED, VAPORIZED, AND EVAPORATED BY THE DIVINE LASER BEAMS OF PRAYER. DEMONIC SCHEMINGS OF PEOPLE AND SATAN ARE CONFRONTED AND FRUSTRATED AS GOD'S WARRIOR-SAINTS PREVAIL ON AND ON IN PRAYER. OUTER DEFENSES OF THE BASTIONS OF SATAN ARE BREACHED, FORTRESSES ARE PULVERIZED AND LEVELED, AND CAPTIVES OF SIN AND SATAN ARE SET FREE BY THE POWER OF JESUS AS THE WARRIOR-SAINTS PRAY. HATREDS ARE CALMED, ANGERS AND DETERMINED EVIL AND VIOLENCE ARE BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL, AND THE CAPTIVES OF SATAN'S FORCES ARE FORCIBLY FREED BY INVINCIBLE POWER OF THE LOVE OF CALVARY. SATAN'S DEMONS ARE MADE EITHER TO SURRENDER TO THE LORD, AGAINST WHOM THEY HAVE FOUGHT SO LONG AND HARD, OR ELSE TO RETREAT.
"Finally, God wants me to declare to you, and you have to believe it with every fiber of your being that, the dominion, supremacy and governance of Satan and his forces over you, your health, finances, business, marriage, education, ministry, family, present and future and your destiny, from this very moment IS OVER! You are going to leave this conference no more as a debtor but as a creditor, not as a borrower but as a lender, not as a failure but as a winner, not as the tail but as the head. He says I should tell you not to "strive to be a success, but rather to be of value".
Bothers and Sisters, until you find something worth dying
for, you are not really living. "DARE TO BE GREAT, DARE TO OVERCOME AND DARE TO
BE A POSITIVE INFLUENCE TO YOUR NATIONS AND GENERATION". For everything you've
lost, God is going to give you double for it. God says, as from this day, He
has given you power in the spirit to slay all your enemies without anyone of
them escaping; and besides He has given you all their silver, gold, wealth and precious
and costly possessions just like He did for Gideon against the Midianites
[Judges chapter 8]. BUT ON ONE CONDITION: TURN AWAY COMPLETELY FROM ANYTHING WHICH IS NOT OF HIM, AND NOT IN LINE
WITH HIS WORD; AND WHOLLY EMBRACE HIM AND HIS WAYS AND METHODS. THEN YOU WILL
LIVE, AND HE WILL PROSPER YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN, AS YOUR GOD".
Lord God of heaven and earth, thou who has created all things for Your glory, including man [Isaiah 43:7] save, heal, deliver, bless and empower for greater service to you and humankind, anyone who would read this message and commit it to heart. IN JESUS' NAME AND HIS BLOOD! AMEN AND AMEN!
This message was delivered by Bishop Peter Morgan, Founder and President of Vision International Ministries, at the 2010 Women of Vision Annual International Women's Conference, at the Irvine Marriott Hotel in California, USA.
www.visionintlm.com
