JUICY JULY 2024
THEME: MADE BATTLE-FIT
DATE: 12/07/2024
TOPIC: OH LORD, FOR THE FINISHING OIL!
TEXT: ECCLESIASTES 7:8
BIBLE STUDY: HEBREWS 11
TESTIMONY HIGHLIGHT
Let us read through these testimonies before we start to pray. May your own testimony also arrive to the Glory of the Lord alone in Jesus’ Name
My testimony is that all that the Lord spoke unto me all came to pass. Firstly, I want to thank God that I’m now a graduate. During this last edition of Juicy July, I was still an undergraduate in the final year infact writing my first semester exams and it was my desire that I pass all my exams both in 1st and 2nd semester without any fail. He did it! It was also in my prayer list that God should finance my project. My Dad has not been working for some times then but during the juicy July he got a job that could settle all our financial matters in the family. I got money for my project without borrowing. Praise the Lord! I also had an “A” in both my project defence and IT defence.
Our induction ceremony was conducted this year and it was my prayer that God should glorify Himself. God did it again, sisters! God made it that He chose that day to answer one of my prayer requests for last year. I’ve been praying for scholarship for my sister. It seemed not to come in time but I kept on holding onto God’s word that men will bring unto thee the forces of gentiles and also suck their milk. It happened on that day while the ceremony was going on she received an alert. God also blessed me beyond my imagination. The family I stayed with during the ceremony had their relatives visit them after several years of no contact. It was really overwhelming that even their father said my induction brought good tidings. And I was like what else can be more soothing. I also got monetary gifts.
I had this prayer request too that by this year’s juicy July I want to be in my place of internship. And to God’s glory alone, I am there now. Getting internship placement is a real struggle but God did it for me in His mercies. God used the WIHS classes to give me clarity on where He would have me be. I also want to thank God for my mom. She was due for promotion that last year. It was in my request that God should hasten the process and grant unto her the promotion because she is to retire this year. I’m grateful that God did it again. I’m immensely grateful for His goodness towards me. I know that I’m not worthy of the least of His mercies He has shown me but He’s mercy still did it. Praise the Lord! Hallelujah
PRAYER
Praise the Lord for the testimonies, ask the Lord to take all the glory for them. Ask that the Lord will glorify Himself the more in the life of the testifier. And that the Lord will give everyone heartily participating in the Juicy July Prayer programme great testimonies to the glory of His Name. Ask for your own testimonies also.
Amen! Glory be to God!
If you are done praying, you can proceed in this prayer guide.
THE FINISHING OIL
Finishing Oil refers to the special grace or divine enablement that empowers an individual to complete a task, assignment, or purpose effectively and successfully. It is the grace to finish what was started, to see a project or mission through to its conclusion without falling short.
Dear sisters, today we are going to ask the Lord for the finishing oil. We are here to call upon the Lord for the divine enablement that empowers us not just to start but to finish what we start and see it through to completion.
You see, dear sisters, the journey of life is full of starters, but it is the finishers who make a mark. Ecclesiastes 7:8 says: “The end of a matter is better than its beginning,…’. The successful end of your prayer life, (at the end of your life, that is,) is better than the beginning. The end of your marriage, (at the end of your life) is better than the flashy or modest beginning of such marriage.
BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF FINISHERS:
Jesus Christ:
On the cross, Jesus declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30). This was not just a statement of completion but a declaration of victory.
Apostle Paul:
Towards the end of his life, Paul proclaimed, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).
Joshua:
He led the Israelites into the Promised Land and faithfully carried out God’s commands (Joshua 24:29-31).
David:
David fulfilled God’s purpose for his life and established Israel as a powerful kingdom (Acts 13:36).
Nehemiah:
He successfully rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem despite significant opposition (Nehemiah 6:15-16).
Daniel:
He remained faithful to God throughout his life, even in a foreign land, and saw many of his prophecies fulfilled (Daniel 6:26-28).
BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE WHO STARTED BUT NEVER FINISHED
King Saul:
Saul started as a humble and promising king but ended in disobedience and disgrace (1 Samuel 15:26-28).
Samson:
He had great strength and potential but failed to fully live up to his calling due to personal weaknesses left undealt with (Judges 16:30).
Judas Iscariot:
He started as one of Jesus’ disciples but betrayed Him and ended his life in despair (Matthew 27:3-5).
Demas:
A companion of Paul who deserted him because he loved the world (2 Timothy 4:10).
Solomon:
He began his reign with great wisdom and favor from God but later turned to idolatry (1 Kings 11:1-11).
THE ANTI-FINISHING SPIRIT
Many sisters commit to walking in sexual purity, but before you know it, the pressures of the world and temptations have come. The purity that they were able to keep for 30 years for instance is suddenly lost in the twinkling of an eye, with one very unserious guy they would never have imagined!
What about churches, individuals and ministries? We all experience spiritual revivals, but sustaining that fire is the challenge. You will see a church that once dwelt on righteousness giving up for serious compromises at the end. Or someone who had always been a ‘modesty lady’ suddenly just loses the convictions and when you set your eyes on them, you would wonder if they had gone to Jezebel to take a course! What starts as a fervent pursuit of God can wane without the finishing oil, sisters.
Some start an academic or professional course with great enthusiasm but before you know it, the initial excitement fades, and challenges overwhelm them. They drop out before completing it!
Many begin the journey of pregnancy successfully but face serious complications that prevent them from carrying to term. The finishing oil is necessary even for a healthy delivery.
Entrepreneurs often launch businesses with high hopes, but before you know it, the whole establishment is eaten up and there is no finishing.
Many people enter into relationships, courtships or friendship but soon, the ‘ship’ sinks. They are just unable to finish well.
If you have seen the movie “Happily Ever After,” you will understand this better. Beulah and Eddie were prevented by the powers of darkness from coming together as husband and wife for years but thank God, they broke through the siege! But even when they finally broke through, the kingdom of darkness continued to attack the process to marital bliss by trying to prevent them from reaching their expected end. The Devil is not as scared of your starting well as he is of your finishing strong! That finishing line is his target, and he plans your failure from the very start!
THE DEVIL’S STRATEGY AGAINST FINISHING
The enemy is strategic in his attacks. He knows that starting well does not equate to continuing well or ending strong, so, he uses this tactic so well, my dear sister. Don’t just see all the incompletions around you as coincidences or okay. You need to pray your way out of that cycle!
A person may start responding well to treatment, but the enemy disrupts the process, leading to a relapse. They would say, “Oh, she’s no longer responding to treatment.”
Someone decides to be a good person, but external pressures and internal weaknesses cause them to falter. The enemies ensure they don’t get to their expected end. They perpetually remain the ‘bad’ person.
Many are able to stay off an addiction for a while, but without the finishing oil, they fall back into old habits. These are battles against the plans of the Lord!
REASONS WHY THE DEVIL DOESN’T WANT US TO FINISH WELL
Testimony: A finished work glorifies God and serves as a powerful testimony to others. The Devil doesn’t want this!
Impact: Finishing well often has a greater impact on others than merely starting well, so he’d rather fill everywhere with people who are not able to push through to the end so that people are not moved to aspire for greatness. You see this in the way he’s painted marriage these days!
Victory: The completion of God’s assignments represents a victory over the enemy- and oh, no! The Devil does not want you trampling over his head!
Faith Growth: Finishing strengthens our faith and prepares us for greater challenges. If you are able to finish up that book that God inspired you to write, you have a stronger faith next time He asks you to go for even a bigger thing, isn’t it?
Fulfillment of God’s Plan: The enemy wants to thwart God’s plans and purposes for our lives, so, if he couldn’t stop us, he’d allow us start but never taste the satisfaction of completion!
Reward: Finishing well brings eternal rewards and blessings.
Joy: Completing God’s work brings joy and fulfillment to our lives and oh no, the devil doesn’t want to see your heart full of joy and gladness!
Can you see what the Devil is fighting so hard? It is more than just you! He wants to stop God’s plan, God’s glory, your testimony, others attached to your life and so much more! We can’t sit still!
HOW THE DEVIL SAPS US OF THE FINISHING OIL
- Distractions: The enemy uses distractions to divert our attention from our goals.
- Temptations: Sinful temptations can lead us astray and hinder our progress.
- Discouragement: Negative thoughts and feelings can cause us to lose hope and give up.
- Procrastination: The habit of delaying important tasks can prevent us from finishing.
- Fear: Fear of failure or success can paralyze us and stop us from moving forward.
- Conflict: Personal and relational conflicts can drain our energy and focus.
- Fatigue: Physical and mental exhaustion can sap our strength and motivation.
- Negative Influences: Negative people and environments can undermine our efforts.
- Doubt: The enemy plants seeds of doubt about our abilities and God’s promises.
- Spiritual Weakness: Lack of spiritual discipline and connection with God weakens our resolve.
- Spiritual attacks
- Generational Sins/Curses
BIBLICAL PROMISES OF FINISHING OIL
The Bible assures us that God’s plans for us will stand if we fight for it:
Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”. If you take this scripture a little bit further, in verse 13, you would see that it is not just on the Lord’s part. It says: ‘You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’
Our Father has a plan, right? Great! But we must seek it out to completion in PRAYERS, sis!
Psalm 138:8:says “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.”
Despite the assurance that the psalmist had about the Lord’s power to see him through, he still had to finish it up with PRAYERS!
Dear sisters, we can be confident that our God is interested in our finishing well and strong. In fact, the Lord loves finishers. Ah, He loves finishers a whole lot. Those are the people He can use for His glorious purposes. The people who He has marked to be procrastinators, lazy, indisciplined people, He won’t really use, I tell you! And this is why if you have seen this trait at work in your life or in your family, you must kill it!
You people start a powerful family altar and along the line, the passion dropped. You started training your kids in discipleship but you just couldn’t maintain the tempo, it died! All the good things of your life get to start but never finish but all the bad things and habits, you get to start and continue well, ah, can’t you see it, sis? All you need is the oil. The grace. The Holy Spirit!
Are there spiritual attacks that are behind these uncompletions in your life? 2 Timothy 4:18:says: “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Do you believe that? Oh yes, I believe! The Lord will deliver me from every eviol attack against my successful completion and I will safely land in the expected end of His for my life- to His glory alone! Amen!
THE FINISHING OIL: THE HOLY SPIRIT
The concept of the “finishing oil” or “finishing grace” can be understood as the empowerment provided by the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who equips, strengthens, and sustains us to finish the work God has assigned to us.
Zechariah 4:6 (NIV): “So he said to me, ‘This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.” This verse emphasizes that it is not by our own strength or power that we accomplish God’s work, but by His Spirit. The Spirit is the oil! He is the finishing oil we need!
Acts 1:8 says:: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Jesus promised the disciples that the Holy Spirit would empower them to fulfill their mission because without Him, they would never be able to finish! Peter is a prime example of someone who was transformed by the Holy Spirit. Before receiving the Holy Spirit, Peter often acted impulsively and even denied Jesus three times (Luke 22:54-62). However, after the Holy Spirit came upon him at Pentecost, Peter boldly preached the gospel and became a pillar of the early church (Acts 2:14-41). Oh yes There was such a transformation because of the finishing oil!
Jesus had to instruct the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they were endowed with the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49). This waiting was crucial because Jesus knew that their own strength was insufficient to fulfill the great commission. It was the Holy Spirit who empowered them to finish the work that Jesus had begun. If the Holy Spirit had not come, there wouldn’t have been any serious Apostle Peter contending for the faith and finishing well. If we must finish well, we need the Holy Spirit desperately!
John 14:26 (NIV) says: “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” The Holy Spirit is our teacher and guide, the One who ensures that we stay on the right path to complete our goals in life.
WHAT CAN KEEP THE HOLY SPIRIT AWAY
- Not Being in God’s Plan: Engaging in activities that are not aligned with God’s purpose.
- Not Asking for Guidance: Failing to seek the Holy Spirit’s direction in our endeavors.
- Using the Holy Spirit for Personal Gain: Treating the Holy Spirit as a tool for selfish ambitions rather than for God’s glory.
- Disobedience: Ignoring or defying the promptings and commands of the Holy Spirit.
- Zeal Without a Prayerful Life: Having enthusiasm without maintaining a consistent prayer life.
- Not Knowing God’s Will: Lacking the desire to understand and follow God’s will.
- Lack of Faith: Doubting the Holy Spirit’s power and presence in our lives.
- Unrepented Sin: Allowing sin to create a barrier between us and the Holy Spirit.
- Pride: Relying on our own abilities and not humbling ourselves before God.
ROUNDING OFF
Are you surrounded by many uncompleted tasks? Do you start projects and abandon them midway? This could be a sign that you lack the finishing oil.
Is this a common trait in your family? For instance, your dad starts building a house, and years pass without it reaching completion. You see the building every now and then, covered in bushes. This is a sign of a generational battle against finishing.
A woman once cried to someone I was living with at a time, lamenting that her husband had forsaken his PhD program for ten years. After a serious prayer session, she was told that in seven days, her husband would resume the program. Indeed, before the seven days were completed, the woman saw her husband cleaning his files and all. Wow! The man began preparing to restart his PhD, and he eventually completed it. Oh prayer! Oh spirit-empowered prayers! Oh how prayer moves mountains and changes the atmosphere!
Sisters, let us labour in prayers till those uncompleted programmes receive the revival of completion in the Mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.
PRAYER TIME
“HOLY SPIRIT” BY FRANCESCA BATTISTELLI
[Verse 1]
There’s nothing worth more
That could ever come close
No thing can compare
You’re our living hope
Your presence, Lord
I’ve tasted and seen
Of the sweetest of loves
Where my heart becomes free
And my shame is undone
Your presence, Lord
[Chorus]
Holy Spirit, You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for
To be overcome, by Your presence, Lord
Your presence, Lord
[Verse 2]
There’s nothing worth more
That could ever come close
No thing can compare
You’re our living hope
Your presence, Lord
I’ve tasted and seen
Of the sweetest of loves
Where my heart becomes free
And my shame is undone
Your presence, Lord
[Chorus]
Holy Spirit, You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence, Lord
Your presence, Lord
[Bridge]
Let us become more aware of Your presence
Let us experience the glory of Your goodness
Let us become more aware of Your presence
Let us experience the glory of Your goodness
|2x|
[Outro]
Holy Spirit, You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence, Lord
WORSHIP
Let us take some quality time to worship the Lord for His Word that we have just gone through. Thank Him for the specific revelations that He has given you today. When you are done, move on.
SPIRITUAL SANITATION
Begin to sanitize your life right now. Rid your life of every sins and iniquities with the Blood of Jesus. The Lord does not hear the prayers coming from the mouth of a sinner, but if such confesses and forsakes the sins, the Lord will have mercy, hear and forgive.
ATMOSPHERIC SANITATION
Now, take charge of your environment. Begin to cover where you are now with the Blood of Jesus. Cover yourself with the fire of the Holy Ghost.
LET US NOW PRAY!
- Heavenly Father, break every curse of starting and not finishing that has been placed upon my life. I declare that I am free from these curses by the power of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name.
- Lord Jesus, I come against every jinx that hinders my progress and completion of tasks. I nullify their effects over my life in the mighty name of Jesus.
- By the blood of Jesus, I destroy every spell cast to prevent me from finishing well. I declare that these spells are rendered powerless and void in Jesus’ name.
- Father, I release myself from every ancestral bondage that causes me to start and not finish. I decree that these bondages are broken by the anointing of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name.
- In the name of Jesus, I break every evil covenant that has been made to hinder my progress. I renounce these covenants and declare that they have no power over me.
- Lord, cancel every evil plan of the enemy designed to stop me from finishing well. I declare that these plans are thwarted by the power of God, in Jesus’ name.
- Father, I pray for divine strength to overcome every obstacle that stands in my way. Let every hindrance be removed by the power of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name.
- In the name of Jesus, I reverse every evil pronouncement that has been made against my success and completion. I declare that I am blessed and highly favored to finish every good work.
- Lord, break every chain that holds me back from completing my assignments. I declare freedom and victory over these chains, in Jesus’ name.
- Father, uproot every evil seed planted in my life that causes stagnation and unfinished projects. I declare that these seeds are destroyed by fire, in Jesus’ name.
- Oh Lord, release Your divine assistance to help me finish well. Send Your angels to guide and support me in every endeavor, in Jesus’ name.
- Holy Spirit, empower me with the grace and strength to finish every task and assignment given to me. Let me run my race with endurance and finish strong, in Jesus’ name.
- Lord, deliver me from every spirit of discouragement that tries to make me give up. Fill me with Your courage and determination to keep going until the end, in Jesus’ name.
- In the name of Jesus, I bind the spirit of incompletion that hinders my progress. I declare that I will complete every task and achieve my goals by the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Father, anoint me with the oil of success and completion. Let Your anointing break every yoke of failure and propel me to finish well, in Jesus’ name.
- I declare that I am more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus. I will start and finish every good work assigned to me, in Jesus’ name.
- Lord, renew my strength daily. Let me not grow weary in doing good, but let me persevere and complete every task, in Jesus’ name.
- By the power in the name of Jesus, I destroy every monitoring spirit that watches and hinders my progress. I declare that their schemes are nullified and void.
- Father, deliver me from the spirit of procrastination that delays my progress. Help me to be diligent and timely in all my endeavors, in Jesus’ name.
- Lord, let Your favor surround me like a shield. Let Your favor open doors and create opportunities for me to finish well, in Jesus’ name.
- Oh Lord, fill me with the Holy Spirit. Empower me to finish the work You have given me, in Jesus’ name.
- Holy Spirit, lead me in all my ways. Let Your will be done in my life, in Jesus’ name.”
- Father, I rely on Your Spirit for strength. Enable me to persevere and finish strong, in Jesus’ name.
- Lord, grant me the discernment to know Your will and to follow it faithfully, in Jesus’ name.
- Increase my faith, O Lord, to trust in Your Spirit’s power to accomplish all that You have set before me, in Jesus’ name.
- Cleanse me from all sin and create in me a pure heart, O God, so that Your Spirit may dwell in me, in Jesus’ name.
- Humble my heart, Lord, so that I may always depend on You and not on my own understanding, in Jesus’ name.
- Holy Spirit, give me the boldness to proclaim Your word and to stand firm in my faith until the end, in Jesus’ name.
- Help me, Lord, to overcome every obstacle and to remain steadfast in my walk with You, in Jesus’ name.
- Heavenly Father, by Your Spirit, help me to complete every good work You have started in me. Let me finish well and strong, in Jesus’ name.
Continue to pray as the Lord leads you.
PRAYER REQUEST SPOTLIGHTS
Could we please join hands together to raise our voices to the Lord on behalf of these sisters
My Father in heaven, by this time next year I want to be married to the will of God. By this time next year I want to be counted among the working class with a well paid Job according to his will.
I want the children of God to join me in prayer for career path direction, and that the Lord should reveal to me who my husband is and give me clarity about my purpose/ calling.
I pray the lord heal my sister frm diabetics. I pray for breakthrough frm poverty. I pray the lord should silent every negative voice frm my life and family. I pray the lord should settle me maritally. I pray that my result comes out beyond my expectations
Please I want my sisters to join me in prayers for my dad, that God will heal him and grant him perfect health and soundness in Jesus name, Amen.
I need the help and strength of God because I’m weak😫
I want God to help me in this Examination period, I don’t want to carry over any course this semester. And I also want to provide for my needs
I want the people of God to join me in prayers concerning my family, my dad is backslidden and it seems the Devil is using him to torment the family, and for the past 25 years plus he’s been behaving in a way that we don’t even understand. I want God to touch his life and destroy every works of Demonic Re-creator in his life and family in Jesus name. I also want God to help me discover purpose, I don’t know or understand what I’m doing anymore.
Please help me pray for complete restoration of my sight and healing of my hands.
In 2021 I had an experience in a dream in which I was failing to wake up and I heard a voice saying you’re having a seizure.I could hear everyone in the room but couldn’t wake up although I could see but struggled to wake up for about 3 attempts. From that time,my hands especially the right hand and feet experience pain with heat, tingling,pins and needles with numbness; especially when I lie down or hold my phone. I now understand it’s a spiritual matter because I have been to neurologist and taken drugs without help, currently taking B12 supplements incase of nerve damage because the doctor I saw said it’s better I try treatment because the other investigations are invasive and costly. I believe God will heal me.
I want the BUD family to join me in prayers for my brothers. One of them listens to and believes some wrong doctrines, kindly pray that only the true interpretation of God’s word will be revealed to him henceforth. My second brother has not been doing well in his academics at all, he had gone to a polytechnic and graduated with very low grades and extra year. My parents sent him to a university, he’s in his second year now and the same pattern is repeating itself. He’s trying his best to do well but it’s not just working. Kindly join me in praying for the Spirit of excellence over his life.
Sister please pray for my dad for a good paying job and my parent for supernatural financial miracles, blessings and breakthroughs so that they can cater for me and my siblings in terms of our education and needs. Please pray for my nursing council exams I wrote last month that the Lord will give me and my colleague distinction and excellent results and the Lord should see me through my final year and the Lord should give me settlement in accommodation and meet me at the very point of my needs, settle me in all areas of my life.
NOW TO OUR PRAYER JOURNALS
Let us raise our prayer list to the Lord and tell Him all about our requests. Let us ask the Father in the Name of Jesus to turn those requests into testimonies for us according to His Will in Jesus’ Name. Let us pray fervently on them before we move on.
PRAISES
Take time to sing praises to the Name of the Lord for all He has done for you during the course of this prayer today.
