Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 9: 24-29, 10: 10-11)
“So I lay prostrate before the LORD for these forty days and forty nights, because the LORD had said he would destroy you.” (Deut. 9: 25)
It is that time of the year once again when many of us are involved in the corporate prayer and fasting programs of our local Churches – a time to be inspired and motivated to pray and to put demands on the promises of God and to receive prophetic declarations from our men and women of God, but to some people, it is just one of the Church annual programs. So they do not commit themselves to the programs. As matter of fact, many do not continue with the fasting and prayer of their church to the end. Some stop half way, while others lie about their fasting. I like to encourage you to press on in prayer until victory is won and gains are consolidated. Do not stop half way! We have before us this morning the story of Moses waiting on Lord for forty days and night for Him to have mercy and rescind His intention to destroy the children of Israel, Moses said, “I lay prostrate before the LORD for these forty days and forty nights, because the LORD had said he would destroy you.” It was like he had gone to battle with Lord until the judgment and destruction Israel had brought on herself was lifted.
The battle was so intense that Moses could not eat nor drink water. Neither did he change his position. God remained adamant for 39 days and nights, yet Moses pressed on though he was getting weak and his body was sore and full of pain because Israel was about to be disinherited. Finally, God answered on the fortieth day and showed that He had actually pardoned them by telling Moses to “Arise, go on your journey at the head of the people, so that they may go in and possess the land, which I swore to their fathers to give them.” (Deut. 10: 11)
Moses would not have stopped after forty days if God had not answered him even if it had meant sacrificing his life (Exodus 32: 31-32).
Moses persevered in prayer, endured hunger and received what He wanted. According to George Muller (1805-1898), who was the director of the Ashley Down orphanage in Bristol, England; A man of faith known for prayer, “The great fault of the children of God is, they do not continue in prayer; they do not go on praying; they do not persevere. If they desire anything for God’s glory, they should pray until they get it.” We are to continue in prayer until we receive what are asking in prayer from God. But unfortunately, many are not able to continue to end. This is one of the ways satan attacks the Church – makes us to give up quickly and become prayer less because he knows that the prayers of the church is a threat to his kingdom. According to the late Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Yaounde, Cameroun, and founder of Christian Missionary Fellowship International, Brother Zacharias Tanee Fomum (1945-2009), “Anyone who is involved in spiritual warfare knows that it is a must to press through
to victory. It is dangerous to attack the enemy and not press on through to total victory. A wounded but not destroyed enemy is a formidable foe.” According to him, “Those who go into prayer warfare must go into war such that they are prepared to put their all into it. To stop short of victory is to fail completely.”
Press on in prayer until you win the victory over the enemies! May you receive grace to finish and finish well in Jesus’ name!
