JUICY JULY| DAY 25
THEME: LORD, SEND THE RAIN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
TEXT: HOSEA 10:12; MATTHEW 6:10
BIBLE STUDY: JEREMIAH 33
Hello, sisters.
Trust you’ve been enjoying the supercharged Juicy July Experience.
Glory to God for all that He has done, is doing and will still do before the end of this programme and afterwards.
Before we go on into what we are doing today, let’s start with this song.
THE LORD’S PRAYER by Phil Thompson
Our God who art in heaven
Hallowed be your holy name
Give us today our daily bread
Forgive us lord as we forgive
Let your kingdom come
Let your will be done
On earth and in heaven
Let your glory come
Shinning like the sun
Your kingdom reign
Lead us not into temptation
Deliver us from the evil one
Remind our hearts you’re always with us
We shall never be afraid
Let your kingdom come
Let your will be done
On earth and in heaven
Let your glory come
Shinning like the sun
Your kingdom reign
Forever we’ll proclaim
Forever your kingdom reign
For thine is the kingdom
The power and the glory
Forever and ever we’ll see
.
.
.
.
.
Oh yes, Lord!
Let Your Kingdom come in our lives, Lord!
Let Your Will be done on this earth, Father!
Let Your glory come in this place!!
Let Your Kingdom reign in our hearts!
In the Mighty Name of Jesus.
Sisters, when God created man, He created Him in His image and gave Him a dominion mandate (Gen 1:26-28) He wanted man to be His representation on earth, doing all that God would do if He were resident on earth.
Unfortunately, man was deceived. His giving in to this deceit by the serpent led to his fall and this image was distorted. His empowerment to dominate was also lost. Thus, man lost alignment with God’s original design for Him.
All man did to please God from then on was from a place of struggle. Obeying His commands perfectly was difficult because the capacity to do so had been tampered with.
God in His kindness and love, considered offering man a second chance. Despite man’s failings, God still desired that His original intention will not go unaccomplished. So He strategized a redemption and restoration plan.
Many years after, at the set time, God sent Jesus to restore His original design for man. He sent Jesus to realign man with God’s counsel. He sent Him to restore righteousness to the world.
SO WHAT EXACTLY IS RIGHTEOUSNESS?
Righteousness is simply the state of being in right standing with God. It is being aligned with God. So we see that what Jesus came to do was to make us right with God.
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor. 5:21)
So through Jesus, we regained the capacity to live right in God’s sight–a life free of sin. And this is what we attained through the shedding of Jesus’ blood; this is righteousness. It is not of works; it is imputed in us.
As we have established, righteousness is being in right standing with God in the sense of being free from the sinful nature and carrying the nature of God that He put in man in the beginning.
But sisters, there’s a side to righteousness that we often pay little attention to.
We’ve lived all our lives believing that it’s just about living a life free of sin. Yes it is. But it is also living a life in accordance with God’s purpose in every sphere of our lives.
Jesus did not just come to restore our ability to carry God’s nature in us, He restored our dominion mandate. Yes, our dominion over sin and Satan, but also our dominion in terms of multiplying, filling the earth and subduing it.
God has a design for each of our lives and the ultimate end is to establish His Kingdom here on earth and bring glory to His name.
As we live out God’s intention for us, we’re living in righteousness.
*Righteousness is your heart being in synchronisation with God’s heart.
*You know what He’s doing per time.
*You know where He’s going.
*As He takes a step, you follow.
*He works in you to you speak words in season.
Do you see, sisters? It covers every area of our lives.
A life lived outside righteousness is a misaligned life;
It’s a twisted life;
It’s a warped life;
It’s a waste!
Imagine God saying your route is XYZ and you’re travelling on ABC. You expend time, energy and resources and still achieve nothing.
Some people are labouring in assignments that God has not given them because they cannot see what God is doing and where He is going.
Kai!
Can we sing the song below together?
Holy Ghost, I am tired of this blindness
Holy Ghost, come and open my eyes
Holy Ghost, let me see things eternal
Holy Ghost let me see you so bright
Open eyes, shine so bright
Let me see crystal clear
AMEN!!!
Remember I said earlier that the image of God and the mandate God gave to man at the beginning was distorted.
God did not intend that man would know what sin is. So man was made in God’s image without any form of sin. In the beginning, he was righteous (aligned with God’s image). Sin made him lose this righteousness. Through Jesus, it was restored.
Scripture says Jesus is the express image of God. So anyone who receives Jesus has the capacity to become like Jesus IN CONTENT, that is, what we carry on the inside.
The second place man fell out of alignment was in his dominion mandate, that is, establishing God’s authority on earth. Jesus’ redemptive work covers that too.
At this point, it is important for us to understand that this other dimension stems from the first. So a person cannot be living in sin and expect to exert kingdom dominion. It is a life with the correct image that can operate in kingdom dominion.
In the different facets of our lives, God desires certain expressions that are in alignment with His counsel–expressions that will establish His kingship upon the earth.
*There’s a way God wants your finances to run
*There’s a way He wants you to talk
*There’s a way He wants you to relate with others
*There’s a way He wants you to navigate your career path
*There’s a way He wants you to run Your business.
*There’s a place He wants You to serve
*There’s a way He wants you to run your home
*There’s a way He wants you to raise you kids
*There’s a ways He wants our nation to be run
*There’s a way He wants world systems to operate
He wants to use you to reclaim the territories that enemy has polluted like:
*Academics
*Government and Politics
*The Creative Industry
*The entertainment industry
*The family
And more.
But there’s a divine pattern;
A divine roadmap;
A divine blueprint;
A divine structure;
A divine architectural design.
You have to discover it!
When you are able to catch it and walk in it, sister you are walking in righteousness.
Kai!
If we can all live in this kind of accuracy, life will be sweet and the fulfilment of purpose will be easier.
Now that we have seen the need to continually remain in tune with God’s intention for our lives so that we can live it out, how do we go about it?
*Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.* Hosea 10:12
Here, prophet Hosea was speaking to the Israelites. They had turned away from God. They had pursued other gods and their alignment with God had been warped. They had been disconnected from God’s intention for their lives.
“Break up you fallow ground” was the prophet’s charge to them. A fallow ground is a land that has been left unploughed and unproductive for a long time.
So today, God is saying if your life has not been fulfilling the purpose for which I created you, it is time to turn the soil and allow God’s counsel to prosper in your life. In our lives, families and nation, it is time for a:
Restructuring,
Realignment,
Reordering,
Rearrangement,
Reworking,
Restoration!
We can only achieve this through seeking the Lord in prayers–prayers that show that we understand the need to be in right standing with God and express our our desire to be in tune with His counsel for our lives. And we will receive His mercy today.
Jabez understood the power of prayer in resetting ones destiny and when He realised that his life was out of line with God’s original design, he wasted no time and cried,
“Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested. (1 Chronicles 4:10).
Jabez wasn’t the one who gave himself a name that was in dissonance with God’s plan for him but he had to fight the battle for the reclamation of his alignment with God’s purpose for him. He had to war in prayer.
Little wonder when Jesus’ was teaching his disciples to pray, one of the items on the prayer was:
“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
(Matth. 6:10)
The Message version puts it this way:
“Set the world right; Do what’s best – as above, so below.”
That prayer is the prayer for righteousness to rain!
God has signed and sealed our destinies from the beginning of time but there are things that could hinder His plans. We have to pull these barriers down by prayer!
Sister, are you ready for a rain of righteousness?
Are you ready to seek God and sow seeds of prayer for a realignment of your life and destiny to what God desires?
IF YOU ARE, LET US PRAY!
Worship God for His word that has come to you today.
Appreciate Him for all the blessings you’ve received so far this Juicy July.
Ask Him to cleanse you of everything that may hinder you from receiving from Him today.
Ask Him to strengthen you to pray through.
LET’S SING THIS SONG:
I RECOVER IT ALL by Jennifer Lewin
I recover it all
Everything God promised me
I recover it all
Lost time and energy
I recover it all
Purpose and destiny
I recover it all
I recover it all
–
Verse 1:
Behold I’m doing anew thing
In exchange for disappointment and songs of joy You sing yea
It not too late for You
You haven’t miss Your moment
The point and time is here to recover it all
–
Chorus:
Everything God promised me
I recover it all
Lost times and energy
I recover it all
Purpose and destiny
I recover it all
I recover it all
–
Verse 2:
Step to the righteous day are order by God
Nothing just happen
It working out for Your good yea
It not too late for You
You haven’t miss Your moment
Your appointed time is here
I recover it all
–
Chorus:
Everything God promised me
I recover it all
Lost time and energy
I recover it all
–
Purpose and destiny
I recover it all
I recover it all
Everything God promised me
I recover it all
–
Lost time and energy
I recover it all
Purpose and destiny
I recover it all
I recover it all
I recover it all
Everything God promised me
I recover it all
.
.
.
.
NOW LET’S PRAY
Father, glorify me with the glory with which you have glorified me from the beginning. Whatever glory sin and Satan have stripped me of, I take it back in the mighty name of Jesus.
Father, in any way Your design for my life has been tampered with, begin a repair now in Jesus’ name.
Lord, restructure and rearrange my life to serve Your purposes in Jesus’ name.
Father, like You turned Jabez life around, please have mercy on me and turn my life around for Your glory in Jesus’ name.
Father, in any way I’ve gone off track with respect to your plans and purposes for my life, bring me back on track in the name of Jesus’.
If my journey in life has been twisted or distorted in anyway, I receive grace for a realignment in the mighty name of Jesus’.
Dear Lord, You shed Your blood on the cross so that the image of God in which He made me in the beginning can be fully restored to me. I tap into that provision You have made in Jesus’ name.
In the name of Jesus, I declare that I am Imago Dei(God’s image). I walk in alignment with God’s will for my life. What is not in Him cannot be found in me.
Father, let every alteration that has been made to Your original design for my life and destiny be reversed now in the name of Jesus.
Father, there’s a path you ordained for me to walk in here on earth. Open my eyes and let me see it. Enough of meandering. Enough of trial and error. The capacity of my spiritual senses are enlarged to be accurate in the name of Jesus’.
I receive the anointing of the sons of Isacchar. Henceforth, I begin to understand times and seasons with accuracy in Jesus’ name.
Father, every distraction on my path that is making lose focus of You and Your divine purpose for my life, let them lose their hold over me now in the name of Jesus’.
Father, let Your kingdom come in my life and family. Rule and reign in the affairs of my life and family in Jesus’ name.
Lord Jesus, let Your will prosper and find room for maximum and unhindered expression in my life in the mighty name of Jesus.
The author of my life and destiny, all my days are before You. You mapped them out even before I was born. Please cause me to walk in the path You have laid out for me in the name of Jesus.
My Creator, help me to stay on course with Your divine blueprint for my life in Jesus’ name. I don’t want to swerve to the left or right. Keep my gaze upon You in the name of Jesus’.
Every power tampering with the original intention of God for my life and destiny, lose your hold over me in Jesus’ name.
Every enchantment of the wicked ones detouring me from the path that God mapped out for me from the beginning of time, lose Your potency in the mighty name of Jesus.
Lord, the Bible tells me that not one of the words You speak will go unaccomplished. I declare that every word you have spoken over my life finds room for expression in Jesus’ name.
Every embargo upon my alignment with God’s plans and purposes for my life, be displaced in the name of Jesus.
Lord, send Your angels to roll away every stone that has been used to seal up my alignment with Your divine agenda for my life in the name of Jesus.
Father, let my life bring praise and glory to your name in the mighty name of Jesus.
Lord, let Your righteousness rain in my life in Jesus’ mighty name.
Lord, let Your righteousness rain in my family in Jesus’ mighty name.
Lord, let Your righteousness rain in my career pursuit in Jesus’ mighty name.
Lord, let Your righteousness rain in my business in Jesus’ mighty name.
Lord, let Your righteousness rain in my marriage in Jesus’ mighty name.
Lord, let Your righteousness rain in my home in Jesus’ mighty name.
NOW DECLARE:
Father, according to Your word, the truth is that none shall lack her mate. This is my reality and I key into it in Jesus’ mighty name. I subdue every power contesting with the fulfillment of my marital destiny in Jesus’ name.
Father, according to Your word, the truth is that I am seated with Christ in heavenly places, far above principalities and powers. This is my reality and I key into it in Jesus’ mighty name. I subdue every power contesting with my dominion mandate in Jesus’ name.
Father, according to Your word, the truth is that the righteous shall flourish like a palm tree. You are my righteousness, Lord Jesus’. So this is my reality and I key into it in Jesus’ mighty name. I subdue every power contesting with my fruitfulness and flourishing in Jesus’ name.
Father, according to Your word, the truth is that none shall be barren in the land. This is my reality and I key into it in Jesus’ mighty name. I subdue every power contesting with you plan as an agent to raise my children as end time soldiers for You in Jesus’ name.
**Continue declaring in this pattern as the Lord lays it on your heart.
NOW LET’S PRAY FOR NIGERIA:
Father have mercy upon us as a nation and forgive our sins. Cleanse us of all unrighteousness in Jesus’ name.
Father, deliver Nigeria from every form if captivity that is hindering her from becoming all that You would have her be in the name of Jesus.
Lord, rebuild our nation to the glorious land You intended it to be.
Father, let Nigeria bring praise and honour to Your name in the mighty name of Jesus.
Lord, restore righteousness to our nation, Nigeria, in the name of Jesus. Let there be showers of righteousness upon our land.
Nigeria, God’s intention is that you’re a land filled with milk and honey. We command a restoration of God’s design for you in Jesus’ name.
Lord, please restore the dignity and strength of this nation in Jesus’ name.
Father, please restore the lost fortunes of this nation in Jesus’ name.
Father, let the sound of rejoicing be heard once again in the land of Nigeria. Turn our mourning to dancing by Your mercy oh Lord.
Lord, cause Nigeria to be fruitful once again. Cause her to flourish. Realign this nation with your plan for her.
Father, choose leaders for us, who will lead us aright and lead us to walk in righteousness in the name of Jesus.
Father, make Nigeria a safe and secure place to live once again. Restore our nation to health in the name of Jesus.
CONTINUE TO PRAY AS LED:
PRAY ON THE REQUESTS IN YOUR PRAYER JOURNAL AS LED.
When you are done, with deep assurance in your heart, sing this song;
RESTORED by J.Moss
I’m restored
And I’ve been rewarded
I’m redeemed
From guilt and shame
Never rejected
Just reconnected
Now I’m exalted
Because I know his name
It’s done (it’s all over)
It’s done (You’ve gotta believe it)
It’s done (God said it)
It’s done
Whoa oh
I’m healed
And rebuilt
And restored
Yes I am (Yes I am)
Yes I am (Yes I am)
Yes I am (Yes I am)
I know I am
Restored
Rebuilt
I’m healed
And delivered
I’m changed
And rearranged
Anointed
Appointed
I’m free
From the rumors
From bondage
Yes I am
Released
From cycles
And loose
From chains
I’m bigger
And I’m smarter
And I’m covered
Under the blood
I’m ready
I’m ready
For new levels
To do harder
Victorious
Victorious
Victorious
Yeah
Recommitted
Rededicated
Reconnected
And protected
From danger
From danger
I’m a winner
I’m a winner
