By Ighomuaye Lucky. O
The general overseer and founder of God’s Greater Grace General Assembly Intl Incorporated, Benin, Rev Sunny Akenbor has urged believers in Christ to leverage on the prophet, prayers, praises and worship and sacrifice to subdue battles and satanic strongholds.
He made the appeal while speaking on the topic: “Keys to break satanic strongholds” during the Sunday church service in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
Taking his bible reading from the book of Hosea 12:13, Rev. Akenbor said the importance of prophets should not be underestimated because of the significant roles they play in the lives of believers as they have been very instrumental right from the time immemorial.
“God used a prophet to deliver Israel from Egypt and another prophet to preserve them”, Hosea 12:13
Akenbor said through Moses, God delivered the children of Israelites from captivity having spent 430 years in Egypt with hard labour.
He said a prophet, which is akin to a pastor, intercedes for his members all the time just like Moses stood in the gap for the children of Israelites back then.
The man of God who took turn to explain each points bit by bit, said the powers and efficacies of prayers have been tested and proven beyond reasonable doubt that it can break every satanic strongholds no matter how strong it might be.
He said it requires an effective prayers to break free from the satanic forces.
The vibrant man of God said Herod succeeded in killing James the brother of John because the church refuses to pray but when it realizes its mistake and decided to correct it through prayers, Peter was freed.
“So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
“Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison.
“And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands.
“And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me”, Acts 12:5-8.
The general overseer of the church said some persons are living in cages and bondages without them knowing it adding that, one of the characteristics of the person in a cage is an absence of progress despite his efforts.
While speaking on the praises and worship, he said God inhabits the praises of His people, pointing out that just like a man tends to do more when being eulogized by a musician, so also God proves Himself to be God by meeting all our needs when He is being praised.
He said through praises and worship, God can cause an ambushment for ones enemies just like He did in the past where He caused the enemies of Judah to turn on each other after the men of Judah began to sing “2 Chronicles 20:22.
On sacrifice, he said severe battle has been brought to a halt after a King in the bible made sacrifice to God.
He described sacrifice as a painful gift or offering made to either atone for an offense or to seek for a favour from a spiritual being.
“Then (Mesha, the Moabite king), took his eldest son who would have reigned in his place, and offered him as a burnt offering upon the wall; and there was great indignation against Israel. So they departed from him and returned to their own land”, 2 Kings 3:27.
He said christian should emulate King David who chose not to offer what will cost him nothing to God if they really want to see the mighty hands of God in their lives and situations.
“And the king said unto Araunah, “Nay; but I will surely buy it from thee at a price; neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing.”
“So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver”, 2 Samuel 24:24.
The founder of the church however prayed for everyone present and asked God to cause His face to shine on them henceforth.
