JUICY JULY 2023
DAY 7
THEME: DEALING WITH THE DEFILEMENTS
TEXT: EZEKIEL 8:1-10
BIBLE READING: LUKE 12:13-21
Today is the seventh day of the seventh month of our seventh year!!!!
Oh, hallelujah!
What a special day!
Perfection raised to power three!
There’s a triple release of power!
Key in, sisters!!!
Key in!
The Lord told us at the beginning of this new year that is will be:
Our year of rest
Our year of juicy perfection
Our year of change of raiment
Our year of light
Our year of gladness
Our year of joy
Our year of honor
Our year of feasts
Our year of good days
Are these things a reality in your life already?
Stop taking this lightly and get everything already!
It is a covenanted day of a covenanted month of a covenanted year, get all that belongs to you!
Take a few minutes now to call these blessings forth. You can listen to this song prayerfully as you pray. Listen to it
MU ILERI RE SE
Mu ileri Re se o (Bring your promise to pass)
Olorun Ileri (Oh God of promise)
Mu ileri Re se o (Bring your promise to pass)
Olorun ododo (God of righteousness)
Ire lo pe mi o (You were the one who called me)
To seleri ayo (And promised me joy)
Mu ileri Re se (Bring your promise to pass)
Oba mimo (Holy King)
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If you are certain that you have touched Heaven very powerfully over all these requests, you can go on with the prayer guide.
We bless God for how far He has brought us through this prayer and fasting encounter this year.
I believe you’ve been squeezing some really juicy juice out of this season.
If you’ve not joined before now, there’s still so much juice on ground. All you need to do is key in right away.
If you have prayer requests or testimonies, you can send here
Today’s focus is on dealing with defilements.
For the sake of our theme for today, defilement is defined as ANYTHING THAT TAMPERS WITH THE ORIGINAL BLUEPRINT OF THE LORD FOR YOUR LIFE!
And while there are many defilements that can stop the Will of the Lord from coming to pass in your life, IDOLS are some easily overlooked ones and which we must powerfully wage war against!
NOW, TAKE SOME TIME TO STUDY THE TEXTS BEFORE YOU PROCEED.
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Before God formed each of us, He had a plan for us. There was an image He desired that we would be shaped and carved into in order to fulfill His purpose here on earth.
He told Jeremiah:
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” (Jer. 1:5)
There was something Jeremiah was ordained to become, and that’s the same with us.
Having this understanding, the ideal thing is to seek Him, the Author of our lives, so that He can show us the design for our lives and subsequently make us into that specific design He had in mind from the beginning of time.
He desires that we will come to Him alone for the manual of this design so that we can work with it, walk in it and ultimately become all that He wants us to be.
This requires giving Him our full dose of attention because who and what we get exposed to shapens our lives and destinies!
Romans 12:2 says,
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…’
This verse is clearly revealing to us that the world can mold us into a particular shape. And that God also has the power to shapen us into a particular shape.
There’s an image the world will shape us into if we continue to give ourselves to its ways. And that image would be everything short of what God desires.
In fact, sisters, the truth is that what we’re shaped into by the principles and patterns of the world may look appealing, but in God’s sight it’s all waste!
If we would be transformed into the image He intends us to be carved into, we must consistently spend time in His presence. We must constantly fix our gaze on Him so that we don’t miss any step of our transformation process.
Unfortunately, instead of gazing upon the One who has the perfect and flawless design for our lives, we are distracted by various side attractions which seek our attention from day to day.
They tug at our dresses here and there, disturbing us from looking at the DIVINE BLUEPRINT for our lives. They give us false ideologies and rules to walk by.
THEY ARE IDOLS!
And you know what?
God hates idols!
God hates to share His glory with anyone!
God wants your all or nothing!
You cannot call God to a side like you would call a child and pacify him with a portion of the bread. He wants the whole loaf!
Anything that takes the place of God in your life is an idol.
Anything that exerts a greater driving force over your life and destiny above God is an idol.
And what’s the place that God should take in your life? FIRST PLACE of course.
Please, read the lyrics of this song before You proceed and pay attention to what God is going to say to you.
IDOLS by KIRK FRANKLIN
Give Me your idols
Every god that you made
You know the things you love more than Me
You’d die if I took them away
Give Me your options
Let Me be the first one you call
Now you must choose what I am to you
God of all or not God at all
And God of all or not God at all
Give Me the mountain
You’re not strong enough to climb
I’ll restore the days that you threw away
I love to return wasted time
Give Me the questions
There’s not one too great or too small
Still, you can’t be free ’til you let Me be
God of all or not God at all
And God of all or not God at all
Tell me who’s the King of glory
And writes every one of our stories
Who knows the end before life begins
And took all our debts to the grave
So, give Me your weapons
Be still while your enemies fall
You’ll never see ’til you let Me be
God of all or not God at all
Oh, tell me who’s the King of glory
And writes every one of our stories
Who knows the end before life begins
And took all our debts to the grave
So, give Me your weapons
Be still while your enemies fall
But you’ll never see ’til you let Me be
God of all or not God at all
God of all or not God at all
And God of all or not God at all
And writes every one of our stories (we serve a God)
Who knows the end (still) before life begins
And took all our debts to the grave (listen)
So, give Me forever
We’ll meet when the last trumpet calls
I gave you My life, so, now, you decide (who will I be?)
A God of all or not God at all
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WELCOME BACK!!!
I intentionally didn’t attach the audio file because I want the lyrics to sink in!
Sister, whatever takes first place in your life is responsible for what you become. Let me explain that.
If you’re someone who is given to fellowship with God, prayers and the study of the Word, you will observe that you become more and more like God. Your life gradually aligns with His divine design and everyday; you become more and more like what He wants to make out of you.
On the other hand, if you give priority to social media, people’s opinions, the world’s view of things etc., those things will definitely be responsible for the image you will ultimately look like.
- When I spend hours scrolling through Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp and can’t even spend 20 minutes in God’s presence, who or what am I asking to make me? Into what image am I asking to be made?
- When the first port of call in making decisions of life is my friends and whatever they say is final, who or what am I asking to mold me? Into what image am I asking to be made?
- When I am so crazy about a celebrity’s lifestyle such that it drives my lifestyle and actions and I use it as a yardstick for my life, am I not turning my back against God’s design for me?
Taking a look at Ezekiel 8, we would see that in the revelation Ezekiel had, the elders who were supposed to be representing God had images and paintings of idols on the walls.
Those were the images of the things they were focused on instead of the picture of who God wanted them to be.
The people of Israel were so locked up in the pursuit of other gods that they practically turned their backs against God’s intentions for their lives. Their thoughts and actions were shaped by these idols.
They took these idols as their guide and guard. How wouldn’t their lives turn out marred as it did when they gave attention to gods that had nothing to offer?
Instead of being carved into something good, they were being deformed.
Dear sister, whatever you keep beholding, you become.
So, what are some of the idols?
Idols can be in the form of people, things, ideologies, mindsets, etc.
I’ll mention some we may be able to relate with.
✓ACADEMICS
Quite a number of us are in school. As much as it is important for us to give attention to our studies, we have to be careful that our academic pursuits are not competing with God for first place in our hearts.
If your fellowship with God during examination tends to dwindle, please check it.
If you find yourself always using your academic pursuit as a reason you don’t have time for God, please check it.
✓FAMILY/MARRIAGE
Yes! This may sound funny but your blood relationships can become idols. It could be your parents, spouse or children.
Now don’t get this mixed up with love. Of course we must love these people, but there’s a point where you can be so *obsessed* with them that you place them above God.
Singles, marriage is a good thing but if you’re so obsessed about it such that even when you’re seeking God’s face, that’s all you’re seeking Him for, it’s an idol.
✓MONEY
For you, it may be that all your conversations and thoughts revolve around money basically. Before you make one or two sentences, you’ve mentioned money. And you go about looking for ways to make that money at the expense of your relationship with God.
✓FAME
For example, some of us here are social media influencers. God has called us to use that platform for Him but if instead of facing the assignment, we begin to push out contents for the sake of likes and followers, we’re embracing idolatry.
✓FOOD
“I cannot fast o. It’s only the living that can serve God.” Hmm… And your mouth never rests. You’re always in and out of the kitchen. Your provisions get consumed before they ought to. You cannot starve yourself a bit to fellowship with God. Maybe food is your own idol.
✓IDEOLOGIES, THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS
Some people have ideologies about life, marriage, success etc. that are not from God. Once you have such and you’re so headstrong that not even God cannot touch those things and take them away from you, those things have become idols.
✓SELF
Many people seek to do only those things that please them. As long as it feels good, it’s fine. We’re not called to feel good or make ourselves happy. Once we shift our attention from pleasing God to pleasing ourselves, we’ve become our own idols.
✓CAREER
“I love my career. I must get to the peak of my career.” Great desire! But I hope it’s not at the expense of God’s will. I hope you’re not dipping your hands in anything that will not glorify God.
Sisters, the list is not exhaustive. I’m sure you even know some which I did not mention. Your idol may not even be on this list.
Today, God is asking us to clear the stages of our lives of all defilements so He can operate uninterrupted.
Let us sing this song together:
‘Affect My Life’ by The Abu’s
Don’t be through with me yet Lord,
Break and mold me thoroughly.
Affect my life with your fingerprints
As I look to you for life.
Affect my life, breathe on me
As I look to you for life
Affect my life, breathe on me
I look to you for life
Affect my life breath on me
As I look to you for life
Affect my life breath on me
I look to you for life.
VERSE 2
Give me an unswerving devotion
it is you alone I want
please breath on me and
make my desire a living one
Affect my life, breathe on me
As I look to you for life
Affect my life, breathe on me
I look to you for life
Affect my life breath on me
As I look to you for life
Affect my life breath on me
I look to you for life.
VERSE 3
“Don’t be through with me yet Lord,
Break and mold me thoroughly.
Affect my life with your fingerprints
As I look to you for life.
Affect my life, breathe on me
As I look to you for life
Affect my life, breathe on me
I look to you for life
Affect my life breath on me
As I look to you for life
Affect my life breath on me
I look to you for life.
VERSE 4
Give me an unswerving devotion
it is u alone I want
please breath on me and
make my desire a living one
Affect my life breath on me
As I look to you for life.
Affect my life breath on me
I look to you for life.
Affect my life breath on me
As I look to you for life.
Affect my life breath on me
I look to you for life.
I look to you for life. (Repeat 6×)
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Can you take your notebook quickly and let us do an assessment?
I will ask some questions below, you write their answers that in your notes.
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Who is your god today?
Who do you pay homage to when you wake up every day?
Who do you kneel to?
Who do you adore or admire?
Who do you listen to?
Who do you spend the bulk of your time with daily?
Who takes the most of your thoughts every day?
Whose images do you hang around your home?
Who are you trying to pattern your life after?
Who motivates you?
What gives you the most happiness?
Your phone?
Your social media following?
The likes, comments, shares on the social media?
Your physique?
Your long hair?
Your husband?
Books?
Movies?
Sermons?
Self-help articles?
Your ministry?
Your children?
A celebrity?
Your fans?
Your academics?
Career?
Money?
‘Oh, my husband o’
‘I am taking care of my children, so, I can’t even pray or study God’s Word now!’
But you can watch African Magic or Telemundo?
You can watch Korean movies?
You can sit down and talk for hours with unhelpful friends?
Those don’t bore you but you are only bored in the Presence of God?
There’s something else occupying your heart!!!!!
See, something is an idol when —
- It causes me to disobey God.
- It gives me greater joy than Christ.
- It gives me the most excitement about the future.
- It is what I daydream about the most.
- It is what I most enjoy talking about.
- I is what I fear losing the most.
- It is what I most enjoy reading about.
- It is what I most love spending money on.
- It is what I look to for heart-rejuvenation.
It is what I most enjoy spending time on.
Dear child of God, God wants to be FIRST!
He wants to have the first place!
And I tell you to trust Him!
Oh, trust Him!
Give Him first place!
Spend time with Him!
Call Him!
Visit Him!
Spend on Him!
Gist with Him!
Read His love notes to you! (Bible)
Talk about Him to others!
Think about Him!
Relate with people that love Him!
PRIORTIZE doing these EVERY DAY- and slowly and steadily, you will see your form being changed into His!
Let’s Read Exodus 34:29-34 together before we go to pray.
29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.
30 Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him.
31 But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them.
32 Afterward all the people of Israel came near, and he commanded them all that the Lord had spoken with him in Mount Sinai.
33 And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.
34 Whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded,
35 the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
Ah, c’mon, sisters!
Do I need to go any further?
If you want to be who God wants you to be;
If you want to do what He wants you to be;
If His glory must rest on you;
If you must shine;
If you must last;
If you must walk in light;
If you must be preserved from errors;
Those idols, those defilements, those glory-remakers must go!
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Shall we pray?
Are you ready to surrender?
Are you ready to get deeper into the Lord?
Are you ready to walk in alignment with Him?
Let us sing our next song for the day:
TAKE OVER by Theophilus Sunday
(Sing prayerfully and humbly till the Lord does His thing in you! Till you give them all up to Him! Don’t let this Juicy July go again without your face being altered gloriously into His!)
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Worship God for the privilege to speak to Him and hear from Him.
Appreciate Him for all He has done for you.
Ask Him to take charge of this prayer session.
Ask Him to open your heart and eyes
Ask the Holy Spirit to move unhindered in this prayer session.
SOUL SEARCH
This moment requires some stillness and patience before God. You may not get all the answers right away but you will get some now and others as you keep opening yourself up to the surgery of the Spirit.
Say this to the Holy Spirit:
Father, please convict me of every form of idolatry I’ve been embracing in the name of Jesus. Convict me Lord! Reveal them to me!
(Repeat this prayer over and over again. Then, be still and open to the Holy Spirit as He opens your eyes. Once you feel a release, move on)
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I’d like you to dethrone every idol in your life using the scriptures below.
- 2 CORINTHIANS 10:4-5
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,.casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
- In the name of Jesus, I cast down everything that I’ve given myself to that is in opposition to the knowledge of God.
- In the name of Jesus, all my affections and obsessions are made captive to the obedience of Christ. He rules over my heart and is my greatest obsession and addiction henceforth!!!
- PSALM 24:7-10
Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory.
- Father, let every gate hindering You from taking Your rightful place in my life be uprooted in Jesus’ name!
- I pull down everything contending for space with You in my life in Jesus’ name!
- EZEKIEL 36:25
Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.
- Father, cleanse me from every form of idolatry in Jesus’ name.
NOW PRAY:
- Father, I come before the throne of grace today. I admit that (mention them) have taken first place in my life. Please, have mercy on me and forgive me.
- Today, I rub off their (the things you mentioned) images from the topmost chamber of my heart and I erect your throne there in the name of Jesus!
- Father, I receive grace to focus on You and Your design for my life in the name of Jesus.
- Father, I break every bond between me and everything that is hindering me from staying in the place where I would be carved by You in the Mighty Name of Jesus.
- Lord, please, cleanse me from every form of idolatry by Your blood in Jesus’ name. Purify me from everything that draws my attention away from You.
- Lord, You are my potter; mould me into what You will in the name of Jesus.
- I break away from every strange affection or obsession that has become a stronghold in my heart in the name of Jesus’.
- Father, I refuse to be controlled by the flesh from this day onward. Holy Spirit, the one who knows the shape my destiny should take, I yield myself to you today. Take over!
- Father, I refuse to fashion myself according to the lusts of my heart. Please, fashion me after Your desires.
- Lord I offer my entire life to you as a living sacrifice. Let my entire being glorify you.
- Father, I plead that by your mercy you’ll repair every damage that has been done to my life and destiny due to the idols I’ve entertained in my life. Please, correct every deformity in the name of Jesus.
- Father, please bind my heart to you in love and let my heart not wander away from You anymore.
- Lord, let a fierce hunger and thirst for You well up within me so that I would lose interest in all the the things that draw me away from You.
- Lord, come and take the centre stage in my life and destiny in Jesus’ name.
Keep praying as led.
Don’t forget to table your written prayer request to the Lord also.
When you are done, wrap up the session with the song below:
TAKE THE STAGE, LORD by Nathaniel Bassey
Take the stage lord
And have your way
I’m just a vessel
And nothing more
And when you’re done
Please take the glory
I’m satisfied just to see you glorified
Take the stage lord
And have your way
I’m your vessel lord
A a a nd nothing mo o re
And when you’re done
Please take the glory
I’m satisfied just to see you glorified
Oooh dear lord
I ask you to take you place
Sing through me
Speak through me
Blow through me
And preach through me
That your name be glorified
Let the name of Jesus
Alone be lifted high
Amen amen
Speaking in tongues amen
And when you’re done
Please take your glory
I’m satisfied just to see you glorified
That’s all I want
I’m satisfied to see Jesus glorified
See you in the house at 9pm for the Bible Study.
