JUICY JULY DAY 9
THEME: MADE BATTLE-FIT
DATE:9/7/2024
TOPIC: DELIVERANCE FROM TIME-BOMB SNARES
TEXT: PSALMS 124:7
BIBLE STUDY: MATTHEW 18
Welcome to the 9th day of Juicy July 2024. It is a great day to be in the Presence of the Lord again. I trust that the Lord will do something great in your life and mine today in Jesus Name.
PRAYER
Bow your head in prayers and tell the Lord how your feel today. Ask for His mercies as you going into today’s prayers. Ask that He’d fill your mouth with testimonies and gladden your heart according to His Will. Tell Him that you want your testimony to also be shared on the Highlights before the end of this programme. In the Mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.
TESTIMONY HIGHLIGHT
Let us read through this striking testimony that we received yesterday to rouse our spirits before we start to pray. May your own testimony also arrive to the Glory of the Lord alone in Jesus’ Name.
The God of Juicy July has done it again! One of my prayer points for Juicy July 2023 was that God would answer my prayer regarding the lives of my brother and sister, granting them the blessing of children. The faithful God, who never fails, has blessed my brother with a bouncing baby boy yesterday. Thank you, Jesus, for guiding through the stages of pregnancy and childbirth. I trust that the same God who started this blessing for my brother will also bless my sister. Amen.
(Take time to worship the Lord for this testimony. Cover it with the Blood of Jesus. Then continue with the prayer guide.)
ADAKU AND PAPA OKORO
I am Adaku, a brown hen with feathers that glowed like the morning sun. I lived in a coop lovingly built for my siblings and I by our owner- Papa Okoro.
Life in our cozy, warm coop was simple: scratch the earth for bugs, peck at grains, and lay eggs. Oh, those eggs—I believed they were my gift to the world, tokens of my loyalty to Papa Okoro.
Papa Okoro was a stout man with calloused hands. He’d whistle as he approached the coop, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Adaku,” he’d say, “you’re my best layer. Keep those eggs coming, my girl.”
And so, I did. Each morning, I’d find a quiet spot, cluck softly, and lay an egg. I imagined Papa Okoro’s delight as he collected them.
I felt so loved with every little pat on my head by Papa and Mama Okoro. Until one day! I strolled close to the kitchen and overheard Mama Okoro talking to her daughter, Nneka. “The feast is today,” Mama whispered. “We’ll have meat on our plates, thanks to Adaku.”
“Meat?” My feathers fluffed in confusion. I thought I was loved for my clucks, my diligent scratching, and my eggs. But my meat? Doesn’t that mean my death?
Before I could turn from where I was and flee from the compound, the search had begun. I had Emeka running towards me. ‘She’s here, papa’ He announced. I simply just gasped as Papa Okoro and his son walked towards me.
I watched as Papa Okoro lifted me. His hands were no longer gentle; they were firm, purposeful. My heart failed me a thousand times as I swallowed in pain. The butcher’s knife gleamed in the sunlight. I clucked, flapped my wings, but it was futile. Betrayal hung heavy in the air.
And so, Adaku—the faithful layer, the unwitting provider—became the centerpiece of the feast. My feathers adorned the table, and the guests praised Papa Okoro’s generosity. They feasted on my sacrifice, unaware of the trust shattered.
As I fluttered away from this world, I wondered: Did they taste the bitterness of betrayal in every bite?
KEY NOTE: Adaku trusted Papa Okoro’s hands—the same hands that fed her, patted her head, and promised safety—who wouldn’t trust such hands? But beneath the surface, deception lurked! There were hidden motives! The merriment could go on for a while, but just that time when Adaku would be fully relaxed, thinking she was in good hands, the trigger on the time-bomb would be pressed and ‘Paoh!’, all the safety is shattered!
SING THIS SONG IF YOU KNOW IT
Gbogbo ogun (All battles)
To n ja mi ni’koko (Fighting me in the secret)
Ati eyi to n ja mi labe’le (And those fighting me in the hidden places)
Edumare gbe mi leke gbogbo won (Lord, deliver me from them all)
Ko to di pe (Before)
Won o ba mi laye je (They would destroy me)
Sing prayerfully or pray in the lyrics if you do not know the song.
THE TIME-BOMB SNARES
A Time-Bomb Snare is a life crisis that catches someone off guard. It is a sudden, unexpected challenge or trial that just like a time bomb, it ticks silently until it detonates, disrupting our lives.
Psalms 124:7 (KJV) declares, “Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.”
This scripture clearly illustrates the spiritual traps set by the enemy and our deliverance through God’s intervention. Just as a physical time-bomb is a hidden danger waiting to explode at a critical moment, spiritual time-bombs are latent snares set by the devil to destroy us when we least expect it.
I heard of a sad tale recently of a very young lady who was to have her second baby. A full-term pregnancy of about 40 weeks, I suppose, ended in tears. The ‘water in the pot’ was saved but ‘the pot’ was shattered!
That would never have been her expectations as she happily went shopping for her little one in this serious economic recession. As she felt the kicks in her womb, she must have blushed joyfully, the thought of her inability to mother her beloved baby, probably never crossing her mind. Alas, the wickedness of the wicked went ahead of her to her delivery day and as soon as her joy landed, the trigger was probably pulled- tears burst forth from their young home, the newborn not realizing what sorrow he/she had just been born into! Sad!
Or what do you think of a widow who had struggled to take care of her children? Who worked hard and deep to ensure they were brought up well, were well-fed, well-clothed etc? And as soon as the first child landed an international job that was to put an end to their predicaments, and decided to take her abroad with him, the wickedness of the wicked struck! The trigger was pulled and the two kidneys failed all at once without any single warning beforehand!
What about an amazing sister who had studied so wonderfully, graduated well and who after her NYSC started to pray for a good job? Then on the day she received her letter of appointment, she suddenly pulled off her clothes and started to walk around naked? Ah, the trigger had been pulled. At the point when this one would get a good job, she must run insane!
The wickedness of the wicked! The snare of the fowler! The hidden traps of the enemy! The Time-Bomb Snare!
SING THIS SONG IF YOU KNOW IT
Ibi Esu ba go si (Wherever the Devil is hiding)
Ninu ile mi o (In my life)
Ibi Esu ba go si (Wherever he is hiding)
Ninu ile mi o (In my home)
Agbara ‘No mercy’ (In the power of Your wrath)
Baba fi rojo ina le lori (Father, pour out fire on him)
Sing prayerfully or pray in the lyrics if you do not know the song.
PHYSICAL TIME-BOMBS VS. SPIRITUAL TIME-BOMBS
A physical time-bomb is an explosive device set to detonate at a specific time or under certain conditions. It is hidden, unnoticed, and only reveals its destructive power at the appointed moment.
Similarly, the devil and his agents plant time-bombs in our lives—traps and snares that remain hidden until they explode at strategic moments, causing maximum damage.
The devil often operates covertly, preferring to remain unnoticed until the moment of attack. He sets traps in secret, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. He lurks in the shadows, watching and waiting for the right time to press the trigger.
DELIVERANCE FROM EVERY TIME-BOMB SNARES
The devil sets traps of different kinds for the children of God. From our text, we see the Bible call it a snare. The snare of the fowler. A fowler is a person who catches birds, and in this scripture, the devil is represented as the fowler. The fowler uses various methods to catch a bird, and one of the most potent is the snare. The snare is a trap designed to capture unsuspecting birds. The birds would be moving around and suddenly, it is caught! In this context, the following points should be noted:
1. Vulnerability of the Bird:
– The bird in this scripture is small and vulnerable, unable to deliver itself. This means that deliverance comes from God alone. We must always approach God as helpless little birds, fully dependent on His help. There are birds that escape the fowler’s snare, not because they are wise, but because God has determined it is not their time of death/destruction.
2. The Trap Always Has a Bait:
– A bait is used to lure the bird into the fowler’s snare. The devil uses enticing things to lure people into traps. David was lured into a snare when he lustfully committed adultery with Bathsheba; in this context, Bathsheba was the bait. Baits can be sex, money, power, fame, etc.
3. God Alone is Our Deliverer:
– The scripture says God breaks the fowler’s snare. No bird is powerful enough to break the fowler’s snare on its own. We can escape every trap the enemy sets as long as we do not remain silent but seek help from God. Just like a trapped fowl would never stay quiet in the snare but scream for help, attracting attention, we must raise our voices in prayer, calling to God for mercy and deliverance.
HAMAN’S TIME-BOMB SNARE (Esther 3-7):
Haman set a plan in motion to destroy all Jews at a specific time, intending to annihilate them in one fell swoop. He had built the gallow and he convinced King Ahasuerus to issue a decree—an edict that would spell doom for all Jews.
The decree was like a silent time bomb. The Jews went about their lives, unaware of the impending danger. They continued their routines, just as Adaku scratched for bugs and laid eggs, oblivious to her fate.
If not for God’s intervention, dear sisters, as he pulled the trigger, all of them would have perished! Even the king would not have been able to do anything about it. You know why? This Haman actually got the king to sign by the irreversible laws! Can you imagine!
HOW ARE TIME-BOMBS SET?
1. Curses and Spells: Enemies may pronounce curses or cast spells, setting spiritual traps that will activate at key moments.
2. Generational Sins: Sins and curses from previous generations can act as time-bombs, manifesting in critical times of an individual’s life.
3. Demonic Assignments: Demonic forces are assigned to monitor and attack believers at strategic points.
4. Negative Confessions: Speaking negative words over oneself can set spiritual traps that may manifest later.
5. Unresolved Issues: Unaddressed personal sins or issues can act as time-bombs that explode at inopportune moments.
HOW TO DESTROY THESE TIME-BOMBS
1. Persistent Vigilance in Prayer: Regular and intentional prayer helps to detect and neutralize spiritual time-bombs before they can manifest. Jesus said, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation” (Matthew 26:41).
2. Breaking Generational Curses: Through prayer and the power of Jesus’ blood, break any generational curses that may act as time-bombs.
3. Fasting and Prayers: Engaging in fasting and prayer can dismantle the enemy’s plans.
4. Speaking Life: Replace negative confessions with declarations of God’s promises.
5. Holy Spirit Guidance: Rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment to recognize and address hidden time-bombs.
PRAYER TIME
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 PRAY
- Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your grace, mercy, and protection over my life. Thank You for being my deliverer and my shield. I give You all the glory and honor.
- Father, I confess any personal sins that may have set spiritual traps in my life. I ask for Your forgiveness and cleansing. Help me to live a holy and righteous life.
- Holy Spirit, I invite You into this time of prayer. Fill me with Your presence and guide my words as I pray. Give me the discernment to recognize and destroy any hidden time-bombs set against me in the Name of Jesus.
- Lord, open my spiritual eyes to see any hidden traps or snares that the enemy has set for me. Reveal to me any time-bombs lying in wait to cause destruction in my life in the Name of Jesus.
- In the name of Jesus, I break every generational curse and time-bomb that has been set against my family and me. I declare that I am free from any inherited bondage or curse now in the Name of Jesus.
- By the power in the blood of Jesus, I neutralize every hidden time-bomb set by the enemy against my life, health, glory in the Name of Jesus. I cover myself and my family with the precious blood of Jesus.
- Lord, I come against any plot or scheme designed to sabotage my progress in any aspect in the Name of Jesus. I nullify every plan of the enemy to attack me at critical moments in my life in the Name of Jesus.
- I cancel every plan of the enemy to bring discord or destruction to my marriage. I declare peace, unity, and love in my home in the Name of Jesus.
- I rebuke any hidden health time-bomb waiting to manifest at a critical moment. I declare divine health and healing over my body in Jesus’ name.
- In the name of Jesus, I pull down every stronghold and time-bomb that the enemy has set against me. I declare that they are dismantled and destroyed by the power of God.
- I declare that I am blessed, favored, and protected by the Lord. No weapon formed against me shall prosper, and every tongue that rises against me in judgment, I condemn.
- I declare victory over every hidden time-bomb in my life. I proclaim that I am more than a conqueror through Christ who loves me.
- I declare that my soul has escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowler. The snare is broken, and I am free in Jesus’ name.
- My head hear the word of God, come out of every Satanic snare in the name of Jesus (Place your hand on your head)
- Every trap set for my head catch fire in the name of Jesus
- Every Satanic leech used to control my life, catch fire in the name of Jesus (touch your neck as you pray)
- Every Hand of darkness upon my life, for evil manipulations, catch fire now, catch fire now in the name of Jesus
- My life! Oh my life! I declare you immuned in the spirit to the operations of darkness from this day forward in the name of Jesus
- Every intention of darkness to revisit the battles I have won, be destroyed by the fire of the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus
- Father, in the name of Jesus, I command every evil altar set against my life to be destroyed by fire. I dismantle every demonic structure and declare them powerless.
- I blind every spiritual surveillance monitoring my life. Every evil eye watching my progress, I command you to be blinded in Jesus’ name.
- I call upon the Lord of Hosts to intervene in my situation. Let every plot of the enemy be exposed and destroyed by Your divine power.
- I believe that I will have testimonies of Your deliverance and breakthrough in my life. Thank You, Lord, for hearing and answering my prayers. In Jesus’ mighty name, I pray. Amen.
- Father, I thank You for delivering me from every hidden time-bomb and trap set by the enemy. I praise You for Your faithfulness and love.
- Thank God for his mercies upon your life he is worthy to be praised
- Prophesy upon this day and declare what you want to see in from this day on.
SING THIS SONG AND PRAY ALONG.
(I apologize there is no translation. It is mainly just celebrating our victory- ‘I am free’ is the title by Trmitope Adebola)
PRAYER REQUEST SPOTLIGHTS
Could we please join hands together to raise our voices to the Lord on behalf of these sisters?
1.I’m trusting God for aa nursing job in the UK. I have sat for and passed the required examinations and left with just one exam which i must take in the UK to be fully registered with the Nursing body over there and my results will become invalid by December 3rd, 2024. I want God to help me, grant me favour and enable me secure an offer before it expires in Jesus name.
2. I want the children of God to join me in prayers concerning my relationship and marital life. I was in courtship for over a year with a brother and many times we had misunderstandings, along the line I lost my peace in the relationship and even saw a dream where I removed the ring on my finger and handed it over to his family. Three days ago, I called it a quit and emotionally, I’m not doing well. Please pray for me that God will help my heart and bring his perfect plan to manifestation in my life in Jesus name.
3. I want the children of God to join me in prayers for the fruit of the womb
4. That my prayer life should be ignited and empowered, the grace to do quiet time every day duitfuly, fruitfully and consistently. The grace to study the Bible by myself with commitment and consistency. Honestly most times I want to pray, but, the courage isn’t just there, maybe I need help as well, I really want to change. I was better at a time.
5. The Lord lord should settle me in all aspects, especially maritaly, he should bring to physical manifestation that which he has promised. I have waited for years, that my waiting should be crowned with Testimonies
6. I am 31 years of age, no husband (not even a fiance). Sometimes I feel the mistakes of my past brought up the delay and limitations I’m facing. I really need prayers, that God show me mercy and visit me now. b) I hunger to becoming a true yielded disciple of Jesus Christ, a true spiritual Midwife to generations as He Wills. In Jesus Name
7. I want the house to join me in prayers concerning my wedding celebration that God only will have His way. No plans and attack of the devil and his agent will materialise on those two days. I crown the Lord over the celebration, myself and my fiance and over all the guests and family members in Jesus name. And also financially the Lord will continue to show up for us in Jesus name. b) I also want the house to join me in prayers for my brother’s wife, who’s pregnant and did a scan that showed that her foetus is underweight, that God will do a miracle and fill our mouths with great testimony in Jesus name
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.
SING THIS SONG OF VICTORY
There’s a line that is drawn through the ages
On that line stands an old rugged cross
On that cross, a battle is raging
To gain a man’s soul or its loss
On one side, march the forces of evil
All the demons, all the devils of hell
On the other, the angels of glory
And they meet on Golgotha’s hill
The earth shakes with the force of the conflict
And the sun refuses to shine
For there hangs God’s son in the balance
And then through the darkness He cries
It is finished, the battle is over
It is finished, there’ll be no more war
It is finished, the end of the conflict
It is finished and Jesus is Lord
Yet in my heart, the battle was still raging
Not all prisoners of war had come home
These were battlefields of my own making
I didn’t know that the war had been won
Oh, but then I heard the king of the ages
He had fought all the battles for me
And the victory, victory is mine for the claiming
And now praise His name, I am free
It is finished, the battle is over
It is finished, there’ll be no more war
It is finished, the end of the conflict
It is finished and Jesus is Lord, oh-oh
It is finished and Jesus is Lord
Jesus is Lord
