Praying the Scriptures

[Choir singing "Battle Hymn of the Republic"] Church and fellowships cannot be more spiritual than the individuals and families that constitute them. God greatly desires a godly home for you. These are words of restoration and instruction in righteousness from Family Tent Ministry. May you be blessed as you listen. [Speaker 1] [Singing] Everlasting to everlasting, oh, I will praise Him. Everlasting to everlasting, oh, I will praise Him from everlasting. Everlasting to everlasting, oh, my Elohim from everlasting. Everlasting to everlasting, my Elohim from everlasting. God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Jehovah, the man of war. His mercy endureth forever and ever. Oh, praise His holy name. Oh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Jehovah, the man of war. His mercy endureth forever and ever. Oh, praise His holy name. I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever. I will sing of the mercies of the Lord. Oh, I will sing. I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever. I will sing of the mercies of the Lord. With my mouth, with my mouth, will I make known Thy faithfulness, Thy faithfulness. With my mouth, will I make known, I make known Thy faithfulness to all generations. I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever. I will sing of the mercies of the Lord. Our Father, we thank You. Our God, we bless Your name. We thank You for Your love. We thank You for Your goodness. We bless Your holy name, our Father, for this last day in the month of May. You have kept us through January, February, March, April, May. We bless Your holy name for Your love. Thank You for provisions. Thank You for support. Thank You for assistance. Thank You, oh Lord our God, for deliverances. Thank You for salvation. Thank You, Lord our God, in diverse ways, oh God, that You met our needs. We say Lord our God, be exalted, be lifted high in the name of Jesus Christ. Unto You again we gather this evening to look into scriptures, to pray. Lord, we are asking, let Your Spirit work within us in the name of Jesus. Lord, we are asking for our brethren who are here physically, for our brethren who are joining us online, Lord, we pray. Let there be a definite encounter with each life in the name of Jesus Christ. Lord God Almighty, we pray everyone will meet You in their own way in the name of Jesus. There will be a fresh encounter in the name of Jesus. Thank You, eternal Father. Blessed be Your holy name, our God. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. [Speaker 2] Let's just have our seat briefly. We will look at one or two scriptures and then we will begin to take our prayer points from all that will be considered. Honestly, it has been a long week considering matters on Micah 6:1-8. It was actually a blessed time looking through those scriptures verse after verse, reflecting on those things and learning God's together. And we were able to come to the end of Micah last week Monday. We were able to come to the end of that consideration and then we were able to look at the blessedness of the man that walk in the ways of the Lord, the blessedness of following those paths and how the man will be blessed, how these things were outlined in scriptures. And today, we want to—there are some definite prayer issues at different points of the discussion. There were some definite prayer issues and then I will lead in those prayer issues and then I will also ask for anybody that may have any prayer issue the person wants to raise for us to pray together. But before we come to the matter of praying together before the Lord, I just want us to look at something, to look at something in the life of Jehoshaphat and Ahab, a point of lesson for us to learn from. It's a familiar story in the scripture, 1 Kings 22. Let's look at some things there about the life of Jehoshaphat, Ahab, and the prophets of God. [Background noise as Speaker 2 searches for scripture] First Kings 22, not Second Kings. First Kings 22. [Speaker 3] [Reading 1 Kings 22:1-40] Now three years passed without war between Syria and Israel. And it came to pass in the third year that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went down to visit the king of Israel. And the king of Israel said to his servant, "Do you know that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, but we hesitate to take it out of the hands of the king of Syria?" So he said to Jehoshaphat, "Will you go with me to fight with Ramoth Gilead?" Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses." Also, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Please inquire for the word of the Lord today." Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, "Shall I go against Ramoth Gilead to fight or shall I refrain?" So they said, "Go up, for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king." And Jehoshaphat said, "Is there still not a prophet of the Lord here that we may inquire of him?" And the king of Israel said, "There is still one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the Lord. But I hate him because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil." And Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say such things." Then the king of Israel called an officer and said, "Bring Micaiah the son of Imlah quickly." The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, having put on their robes, sat on his throne at a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets prophesied before them. Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made horns for himself and he said, "Thus says the Lord: With these you shall gore the Syrians until they are destroyed." And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, "Go up to Ramoth Gilead and prosper, for the Lord will deliver it into the king's hand." Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him saying, "Now listen, the words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king. Please, let your word be like the word of one of them and speak encouragement." And Micaiah said, "As the Lord lives, whatever the Lord says to me, that I will speak." Then he came to the king and the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead or shall we refrain?" And he answered him, "Go and prosper, for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king." So the king said to him, "How many times shall I make you swear that you tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?" Then he said, "I see all Israel scattered on the mountains as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, 'These have no master, let each return to his house in peace.'" And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?" Then Micaiah said, "Therefore hear the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting on His throne and all the host of heaven standing by on His right hand and on His left hand. And the Lord said, 'Who will persuade Ahab to go up that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?' So one spoke in this manner, another spoke in that manner. Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord and said, 'I will persuade him.' And the Lord said to him, 'In what way?' So he said, 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' And the Lord said, 'You shall persuade him and also prevail. Go and do so.' Therefore look, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the Lord has declared disaster against you." Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, "Which way did the spirit from the Lord go from me to speak to you?" And Micaiah said, "Indeed you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide." So the king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king's son, and say, 'Thus says the king: Put this fellow in prison and feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction until I come in peace.'" And Micaiah said, "If you ever return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me." And he said, "Take heed, all you people." So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, went up to Ramoth Gilead. And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you put on your robes." So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle. Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots saying, "Fight with no one small or great, but only with the king of Israel." So it was, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, "Surely it is the king of Israel." Therefore they turned aside to fight against him, and Jehoshaphat cried out. And it happened, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned from pursuing him. Now a certain man drew a bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am wounded." The battle increased that day and the king of Israel was propped up in his chariot facing the Syrians until evening. At about sunset he died. The blood ran out from the wound on the floor of the chariot. As the sun was going down, a shout went through the army saying, "Every man to his city, and every man to his own country." So the king died and was brought to Samaria, and they buried him in Samaria. Then someone washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood while the harlots bathed, according to the word of the Lord which He had spoken. Now the rest of the acts of Ahab and all that he did, the ivory house which he built and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? So Ahab rested with his fathers, then Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead. [Speaker 2] Now, what I want to draw your attention to is something again about Jehoshaphat himself, about Jehoshaphat. I'm through with that of Ahab. There's also something about Jehoshaphat I want to call your attention to, something very important. 1 Kings 22:42. Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. And he walked in all the ways of his father Asa. He did not turn aside from them, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord. Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away, for the people offered sacrifice and burned incense in the high places. Also, Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel. Now, you'll be wondering why I'm calling your attention to this peace that Jehoshaphat made with the king of Israel. I want you to appreciate something about that story. Look at 2 Chronicles 18. Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel. 2 Chronicles 18. It is the same story of Micaiah and all of that, but I don't want to—I just want to show you something in addition in 2 Chronicles 18. After the death of Ahab, look at 2 Chronicles 19:1. Then Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned safely to his house in Jerusalem. And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to the king, "King Jehoshaphat, you made peace with Israel. Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Therefore the wrath of God is upon you." Are you getting something? That going to make peace with Ahab, he made peace with Israel, was something that made God angry with him for that alliance. That's what I want to call your attention to. He did what was good and right, but there was something about his life that was not right. That was what? He made peace with Israel. Look at verse 3. "Nevertheless, good things are found in you, in that you have removed the wooden images from the land and have prepared your heart to seek the Lord." Now, I just call our attention to this scripture as a basis for us to just pray some prayers today. Particularly, you'll be asking me why I'm drawing prayers from this place. We will start another series of teaching—having a form of godliness but denying the power. We'll be starting that series of teaching very soon. But in between the last teaching that we had and subsequent teaching that we'll be starting, my mind—I don't know whether you have been following the situation of things, is like today for us as a nation. And when I mean as a nation, I'm looking at two things. I'm looking at a nation in terms of Nigeria, the political situation of Nigeria, and then two, the church of God in Nigeria. The church of God in Nigeria. You must understand that the church is the conscience of the nation. The church is the conscience of the nation. As with the church, so with the nation. The church is the representative of God in any nation. And once the church does not stand well with God, then it becomes a matter for the nation. And the reason why we are trying to raise some prayers about some of the things that we have discussed and this scripture that I've read, is this matter—if you look at this scripture in 1 Timothy 4:1, "Now the Spirit expressly says that in the latter days some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving for those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. But reject profane and old wives' fables and exercise yourself towards godliness. For bodily exercise profits little, but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is and that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach because we trust in the living God who is the Savior of all men, especially of those that believe." What do you see next in verse 11? It says, "These things command and teach." If you look at where we are coming from, it was a case of two kings. We're entering to the prayer gradually. Picking prayer points from these things, particularly as it relates to our reflection on the book of Micah chapter 6. Two kings came together. Of course, you will notice that it was Jehoshaphat that said, "Is there no prophet that we can inquire from?" It was not Ahab. Telling you that Jehoshaphat is which kind of a man? Somebody that will commit everything to God in prayer. So when he said let us go, he said of course let us go. But let us ask God. And then you will notice again, when all the prophets gathered, what did they say? "Go up. God is with you. You'll win the battle." Not four prophets, four hundred. Imagine in our fellowship, four hundred of our brethren are speaking in one particular line. I want you to look at it. four hundred of our brethren, four hundred among our brethren are saying something affirmatively. Then one of them even took a horn of iron. He said, "This is the symbol. With this iron horn, you will crush down the Syrians." Others too joined the voice with all that symbolic representation. I want to ask you, what made Jehoshaphat to say, "Is there still no prophet of God?" Are you understanding me? What made Jehoshaphat to say that? I want you to look at—now, the question is, those prophets, were they not prophets of God? I was first thinking that they were false prophets. But they were not false prophets. They were not false prophets. One thing was that you could see that one of them slapped Micaiah. That let us talk about it, which day did the spirit leave me and begin to speak through you? That kind of audacity was not a prophet of Baal. They were not prophets of Baal. They were prophets of God. But you know something had happened. Look at that scripture that we read again. First Kings 22. Look at what the Bible says. Look at verse 6. It says, "Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together." So note, they were not prophets of Baal. You get it? But move down to when Micaiah was speaking. Now, look at what he said in verse 19. "Then Micaiah said, 'Therefore hear the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting on His throne and all the host of heaven standing by on His right hand and on His left hand. And the Lord said, "Who will persuade Ahab to go up that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?" So one spoke in this manner, another spoke in that manner. Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord and said, "I will persuade him." The Lord said in what way? So he said, "I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets."'" Is it the prophets or all his prophets? What do you notice now? So the prophets had become what? They had become his prophets. Do you understand? The prophets had become his prophets. They had become people—if you look at where we were reading from, it says speaking lies in hypocrisy in that Timothy that we were reading from. What the Bible is trying to make you see here is that it's not as if these prophets were not prophets of God. But along the line, in a bid to be at peace with the king of the land, they began to subject their spiritual operation and prophecy to suit what the king wants to hear. So they became his prophets. We're going to take the first prayer point. Is how was Jehoshaphat able to know? In our own time too, many will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines taught by devils. You want to pray: Lord, this time that we are in, no matter the number, Lord grant me a discerning spirit. No matter the number of the multitude that may be in error. Four hundred men were speaking, and one man could still say, "Is there no prophet of God here?" So the man was able to see that these prophets, they were prophets of Ahab. I hope you are understanding me. He was able to discern that these are just prophets of Ahab. And Jehoshaphat said, "Please, can we not still have a prophet of God?" How was he able to know that these prophets of God were no more prophets of God, they are now prophets of the king? That's discernment. Can you pray for your life, this end time that we are in, that God, no matter the number, He said many shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines taught by demons. Oh God Almighty, no matter the number, Lord grant me discernment. Lord grant me to have different operations that become very difficult. four hundred men were saying something, yet a man, a man, Jehoshaphat, he was able to discern that these are just prophets of Ahab. And Jehoshaphat says please, can we still get a prophet of God? Oh, can you pray brethren? Can you pray? That discernment. That God Almighty, no matter the level of the confusion, no matter the manipulation of the enemy, no matter the manipulation of the devil in this last days, no matter the manipulation of hell, no matter the confusion, no matter the confusion in the land, honestly there's so much confusion in the land today. There's so much confusion in the land. There's so much confusion. People are taking this way in Nigeria, that way, this way. About the church, this way, is it that way? There is much confusion in the land. We need men that can discern, men that can say this is where the Lord is. Can you pray this evening and say God Almighty, no matter the level of confusion, no matter the number, grant me discernment. Lord grant me that I might be discerning, that I will be discerning, that I will be discerning, that I will be discerning. Lord give me giving heed to seducing spirit, doctrine taught by demons. Seducing spirit, doctrine taught by demons. Oh Almighty, no matter the number, may I discern, may I discern, may I discern, may I see between the lines, see between the lines. He saw between the lines. He saw between the lines. He saw between the lines. Oh precious Father, our eyes on You, our eyes on You, our eyes on You, grant us discernment. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. What is the key to discernment in the life of Jehoshaphat? You will notice what the Bible says about Jehoshaphat. There is something about Jehoshaphat that the Bible talks about Jehoshaphat. The Bible says that he walked in all the ways of his father Asa. You remember Asa? You know Asa started very well. It was at the end that prosperity took Asa off the line. We will come to that prayer later. But we're looking at something about Jehoshaphat. The Bible says he walked in all the ways of his father. He was following the ways of the Lord. Last week we were talking about blessed is the man that fears the Lord, that does what? That walks in his ways. You see one thing, let me tell you, one thing about discernment is the diligency to fear God and walk in his ways. When you don't personally fear God and walk in God's ways, the spirit of discernment can't operate in your life. If you're not somebody who fears God, if you're not somebody who fears God and walks in his ways, you will not be able to discern. You will not be able to discern. You will say ah, how is it so? How is it so? Brethren, look at Proverbs 11. I'm just trying to show you things about our prayer today. But I want us to pray prayers. Because what—our focus today is praying the scriptures. That's the theme for what we are doing. Praying the scriptures. We are actually praying the scriptures. These things they are written for our learning. Praying the scriptures. Look at Proverbs 11. Are you there please? It says, "The integrity of the upright will guide them." Do you see that? The integrity of the upright will guide them. But what? "The perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them." We will not be destroyed in the name of Jesus. But watch how this thing is happening. The integrity of the upright will guide them. There is discernment in integrity. Once you don't have integrity, you will lose discernment. And just look at Jehoshaphat, listening at the way those prophets were prophesying. [Speaking foreign language] It's like these ones, it is because of what they can get from this king, that's why they are talking like this. You get the point I'm making? It's like these ones, it is the what they can get from this king. The way I'm seeing this thing, I'm not—even though they were four hundred. Discernment. Look at what the Bible says again. Verse 5. "The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way." The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way. But the wicked will fall by their own wickedness. So if you're not somebody that is upright, that is not godly in the things you do, if you're not godly, the first one, it guides them. Number two, it directs them. Look at the next one, 6. "The righteousness of the upright will deliver them." You see it again? It will guide them, number one. It will direct them, number two. It will do what again? It will deliver them, number three. Integrity. Fear of God. Walking in his ways. You are just. You love mercy. You walk humbly before the Lord. Walking in his ways. He says that thing will do what? It will guide, it will direct, it will deliver. I want you to pray. One thing making the church, making that will make men to depart from the faith today, is lack of integrity. Is lack of the fear of God and walking in his ways. That is how they will give in to seducing spirit and doctrines taught by demons. That is why they will not be able to discern because they themselves don't have integrity. They themselves don't fear God, they don't walk in his ways. They want to make it in ungodly way. They are not just. They are not merciful. They don't walk humbly before the Lord. Where discernment? It's not possible. I want you to pray this evening. Oh Lord, direct my heart into Your fear. Incline my heart into Your path. Direct my heart into Your fear. Incline my heart into Your path. Direct my heart into Your fear. Oh God Almighty, direct my heart into Your fear. Incline my heart into Your path. Direct my heart into Your fear. Oh God, can you pray that prayer? That in my secret heart, no rival throne will survive. In my heart of hearts, no rival throne will survive. No other love will compete with You. No other love will compete with the love for God. No rival throne, no rival throne, no rival throne, no rival throne, no rival throne will survive in the name of Jesus. Thank You, Father. In Jesus' name, we pray. What is the key to discernment in the life of Jehoshaphat? What is the king to discernment in the life of Jehoshaphat? You will notice what the Bible says about Jehoshaphat. There is something about Jehoshaphat that the Bible talks about Jehoshaphat. The Bible says that he walked in all the ways of his father Asa. You remember Asa? You know Asa started very well. It was at the end that prosperity took Asa off the line. We will come to that prayer later. But we're looking at something about Jehoshaphat. The Bible says he walked in all the ways of his father. He was following the ways of the Lord. Last week we were talking about blessed is the man that fears the Lord, that does what? That walks in his ways. You see one thing, let me tell you, one thing about discernment is the diligency to fear God and walk in his ways. When you don't personally fear God and walk in God's ways, the spirit of discernment can't operate in your life. If you're not somebody who fears God, if you're not somebody who fears God and walks in his ways, you will not be able to discern. You will not be able to discern. [Speaking foreign language] You will not know. Till you will be destroyed, till you will be taken, you will not discern. The basis of being able to discern is to fear God and walk in his ways. To fear God. Look at Proverbs 11. I'm just trying to show you things about our prayer today. But I want us to pray prayers. Because our focus today is praying the scriptures. We are actually praying the scriptures. These things they are written for our learning. We are actually praying the scriptures. Look at Proverbs 11. Are you there please? It says, "The integrity of the upright will guide them." Do you see that? "But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them." We will not be destroyed in the name of Jesus. But watch how this thing is happening. The integrity of the upright will guide them. There is discernment in integrity. Once you don't have integrity, you will lose discernment. And just look at Jehoshaphat, listening at the way those prophets were prophesying. [Speaking foreign language] It's like these ones, it is because of what they can get from this king, that's why they are talking like this. You get the point I'm making? It's like these ones, it is what they can get from this king. The way I'm seeing this thing—even though they were four hundred. Discernment. Look at what the Bible says again. Verse 5. "The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way." The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way. But the wicked will fall by their own wickedness. So if you're not somebody that is upright, that is not godly in the things you do, if you're not godly, the first one, it guides them. Number two, it directs them. Look at the next one, 6. "The righteousness of the upright will deliver them." You see it again? It will guide them, number one. It will direct them, number two. It will do what again? It will deliver them, number three. Integrity. Fear of God. Walking in his ways. You are just. You love mercy. You walk humbly before the Lord. Walking in his ways. He says that thing will do what? It will guide, it will direct, it will deliver. I want you to pray. One thing making the church, that will make men to depart from the faith today, is lack of integrity. Is lack of the fear of God and walking in his ways. That is how they will give in to seducing spirit and doctrines taught by demons. That is why they will not be able to discern because they themselves don't have integrity. They themselves don't fear God, they don't walk in his ways. They want to make it in ungodly way. They are not just. They are not merciful. They don't walk humbly before the Lord. Where discernment? It's not possible. I want you to pray this evening. Oh Lord, direct my heart into Your fear. Incline my heart into Your path. Direct my heart into Your fear. Incline my heart into Your path. Direct my heart into Your fear. Oh God Almighty, direct my heart into Your fear. Incline my heart into Your path. Direct my heart into Your fear. Oh God, can you pray that prayer? That in my secret heart, no rival throne will survive. In my heart of hearts, no rival throne will survive. No other love will compete with You. No other love will compete with the love for God. No rival throne, no rival throne, no rival throne, no rival throne, no rival throne will survive in the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. Oh, be Thou my guardian and my guide and hear me when I call. Let not my slipful steps slide and hold me lest I fall. Lord, be Thou my guardian and my guide. Lord God Almighty, Lord God, Lord God, for the integrity of the upright will direct their path. The righteousness of the blameless will guide them. The integrity of the upright will deliver them. I will be guided. I will be directed. I will be delivered. I will not fall when men fall. I will not fall into the error. I will not fall into error. He say many will depart from the faith. Look at that place, look at the story we are reading. four hundred prophets have become prophets of Ahab. Only one prophet remained telling the truth. We are still praying. We look at something that is similar in the life of Asa that we have studied. When he became successful, he became arrogant. When he became successful, he became arrogant. Instead of him to still depend on God and say, "God, how do I go about this?" He just took of his riches, gave that man fifty thousand, give that man and then give him and then everything will be well. I want you to notice something. Do you see the same mistake again in Jehoshaphat? Jehoshaphat feared God. He walked in the ways of God. After God has given him peace and rest, that was when he traveled to Israel to go and make alliance with somebody he should not make alliance with. [Speaking foreign language] If it was God has not given him rest and prosperity, will he have time to be going around for useless alliance? Sometimes, brethren, it is easier to manage poverty than riches. Brethren, I'm just trying to make you see these things in scriptures. Sometimes, it is more difficult to manage success than to manage failure. When people have not truly succeed, sometimes it's easier for them to manage their life. I'm showing you a similar thing in the path of those who have correct walk with God. And that is our fourth prayer point that I want us to pray about. We want to ask the Lord. We want to pray to the Lord. Oh Lord, save my soul from wrong. Lord, save my soul from wrong. Lord, save my soul from wrong. I don't know what happened to Asa. It was success. Look at Jehoshaphat again. He said, "Look, why do you go and make alliance with those you should not make alliance with?" [Speaking foreign language] Sometimes because you have peace and prosperity, you begin to do nonsense. You begin to use—look at what some people use their money to buy. After God grant them success in riches. Instead of them using money to put money into mission, to help the poor and help the helpless, they will start doing they will start doing all kinds of nonsense. That's when they will buy a blue car with a blue shirt and a blue car and a blue phone with a blue shoe and a blue sauce with a blue wristwatch. I'm trying to make you see the nonsense. They will now have one car for Monday, another car for Tuesday, a different one for Saturday, a different one for Sunday. Why? It is because there was no direction. What I'm trying to make you understand is that, I want you to pray. I want you to pray. Oh, that God Almighty, God Almighty, oh Lord Jesus, keep watch with me. Save my soul from wrong. Be Thou my guardian and my guide. Hear me when I call. Don't let my sleepy step, don't let it slide. My soul is prone, my soul is prone to wander from You. We are prone to wander. We are prone to wander. We are prone to step into error. We are prone to misbehave. Is something we are prone to do. But we are praying this evening. Lord, keep our soul from wrong. Lord God Almighty, keep my soul from wrong. Lord, Lord, for the integrity of the upright will direct their path. The righteousness of the blameless will guide them. The righteousness of the blameless will guide them. The integrity of the upright will deliver them. I will be guided. I will be directed. I will be delivered. I will not fall when men fall. I will not fall into the error. I will not fall into error. He say many will depart from the faith. Look at that place, look at the story we are reading. four hundred prophets have become prophets of Ahab. Only one prophet remained telling the truth. four hundred of the prophets in the land, they have become prophets of Ahab. And the king could say there is only one, there is only one prophet. There is only one. Remember the word of our Lord Jesus Christ, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction. Many are those that will walk in it. Because narrow is the gate and straight is the way that leads to life. Few will find it. Don't forget the word of our Lord Jesus Christ, that many will seek to enter but they will not be able. He says strive to enter through the narrow door. For many will seek to enter but they will not be able. You see many, many, you can see in that place. It was just one prophet. Only one prophet that could discern correctly. four hundred were saying nonsense. Only one prophet could discern correctly. Imagine four hundred and one brothers. four hundred and one brothers in a fellowship. And four hundred were taken. That brother will look very odd. That brother will look very old school, unconventional. Don't mind him. [Speaking foreign language] But you can discover when they were calling him, they said, "Look oh, every other person has talked like this oh. Make sure you talk like that." The brother answered them again, "I will only say what God asked me to say. I will not say what God did not ask me to say." He was not ready to please anybody. He was ready to please God. And that is our third prayer point. Oh God Almighty, may You alone be my fear. Baba, may You alone be my fear. May You alone be my fear. The fear I have in life, may it be just You. Baba, may You alone be my fear. May You alone be my fear. You alone my fear. You alone my fear. You alone my fear. You alone my fear. You alone my fear. You alone my fear. You alone my fear. No rival throne will survive. No rival throne will survive in the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. Oh, be Thou my guardian and my guide. You alone my fear. You alone my fear. You alone my fear. You alone my fear. You alone my fear. Oh, Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who walks in His way. But we are saying, may God alone be our fear. Look at how that our Lord Jesus Christ put it. He say, "Fear not, fear not them who can kill the body. Don't fear those who can kill the body, but yet they cannot do anything to the soul. I will tell you who to fear. Fear Him who after He has killed the body can cast the soul into hell. Him I tell you, fear." Can you pray in this evening? God, God, may You alone be my fear. May I not fear men who can kill the body. Men who can only kill the body. Men, may they not make me look at four hundred brothers. four hundred brothers. They gradually shifted from being prophet of God to prophet of Ahab. Ah, four hundred brothers in the land. four hundred brothers. They shifted. They shifted. From being the prophet of God to becoming prophet of Ahab. four hundred brothers. Out of four hundred and one brothers in that scenario. In that scenario. We don't know whether there are other brothers. But we are looking at that scenario. That scenario. Can you imagine? Can you imagine? Can you imagine? And the Lord Jesus keep hammering on this thing. He say make effort. Look at the days of Noah. He say like the days of the Son of Man. So it shall be in the days of the Son of Man. If you look at the days of Noah, all the whole earth, only eight people entered the ark. You can see this pattern. It has always been like that. It has always been like that. It is few that get it right. Majority don't get it right. Majority don't get it right. It is always few. And we are praying this evening. Lord God Almighty, I will be in the category of Micaiah. I will be in the category of the few. I will be in the category of the exception. Oh God, it doesn't matter. Men will be departing from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirit and doctrines taught by the devil. Look at the different gospel flying around in the churches today. Look at different gospel around in the churches today. Look at the decadence in the church. Look at the decadence around there. Look at how things stand. Look at where we are. Look at the kind of, you know, backbiting that we are hearing today. Can you talk to the Lord? Can you beg the Lord? That God Almighty, God Almighty, oh Lord, that few people, that class of men who fear the Lord, men who walk in His way, men who are granted discernment, men who can discern, men whose only fear is the Lord. My only fear, may it be the Lord. My actual fear, may it be the Lord. My true fear be the Lord. My fear be the Lord. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. Thank You, Father. Thank You, Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. We still want to pray one more, one more prayer point. One more prayer point I still want us to pray. We have been looking at this reflection of the book of Micah, so many things that we have said. But I want to show us something in New Testament. Romans 1. Romans 1. One thing that stay people from walking in the ways of God, something that make the—particularly for us who already know God. I want to show you something that God said in Romans. Something very, very crucial for us that we must pray about. Romans 1. Look at what the Bible says in verse 18. Let me read the New KJV. I will read other translation just for you to get that prayer point. "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness." NLT: "But God shows His anger from heaven against all sinful wicked people who push the truth away from themselves." Who push the truth away from themselves. NIV: "Who suppress the truth by their wickedness." The Message: "But God's angry displeasure erupts as acts of human injustice and undoing and lying accumulate as people try to shroud over truth." Speaking lies in hypocrisy. Amplified: "Who suppress and hinder the truth and make it inoperative." You see there is one thing that make people not to be just, not to love mercy, and not to walk humbly before God. That thing is this tendency to suppress truth. And I want you to pray that in all you think, in all you say, in all you do, may I not hinder truth. May I not suppress truth. May I submit to truth. May I be at peace with truth. May I be at liberty with truth. Some people they fight truth. Don't forget what happened to Ahab. What happened to Asa. They spoke the truth to him and he fought against the truth. It was the truth but he fought against it. That God Almighty, I will not hinder truth. I will not suppress truth. I will not fight truth. I will be at peace with truth. I will always submit to truth. I will always agree with truth. Oh Lord God Almighty, Lord, Lord. I will always discern truth. I will always—you know, I will always be at peace. You see one secret that I've discovered, brethren. He say he that has, more will be given to him that he may have more. But he who have not, even what he has will be taken away from him. You know one thing I've discovered? The more you suppress truth, the more truth will be taken away from you. But the more you begin to submit to truth, the more God help you to discern truth. The more God help you to know truth. The more God help you to walk in the truth. Can you pray this evening, brethren? Can you pray this evening? That God, help me that I will submit to truth. Help me that I will I will agree with truth. Give me a heart, oh God, that submit to truth. Give me a heart that discern the truth. Give me a heart that fellowship with the truth. Give me a heart that walks with the truth. Give me a heart that does not fight truth. Lord, don't let me be speaking lies in hypocrisy. [Speaking foreign language] You see the same one thing. You will know something is correct, from what the person says you know it. But somehow you because you just want to have your way, you begin to—I want you to pray. God help me. Help me. No matter how the truth sounds, no matter how the truth may be, no matter how the truth may come, help me to submit to truth. Help me to agree with truth. Help me to walk with truth. Help me to fellowship with truth. Help me, oh God, to be a life, a life, a life that does not fight truth, that does not exclude truth in the name of Jesus. And by extension, I want you to pray for the church of God in Nigeria. God Almighty, oh Lord, oh Lord, Baba, Your church, teach us the way of truth. Oh Lord, Your church, establish us in the truth. Oh Lord, Your church, Baba bring us into the truth. There is so much confusion in the land. four hundred prophet have become prophet of Baal, prophet of the kings of the land. Only one prophet remains telling the truth. Ah, how truth had become so scarce. How truth had become so scarce in our own time too. four hundred brothers have joined the—have become prophet of the kings of the land. Prophet of the politicians. Prophet for money sake. Prophet for prosperity. Prophet for riches. Prophet for false doctrine. Prophet for lies. They have become different kinds of prophet. Only one brother remains. Ah, how will this brother be believed? You can—I'm just trying to make you see how truth has become scarce in our time. Truth has become so scarce. Truth has become something that is not general. Truth has become something in the corner. It is in one corner. You know what they told him? They said go and bring him, he's in one corner. Go and bring him from that place. They went to hide the truth in one corner. Our generation have hidden the truth in one corner. The truth is not everywhere again. You need to go and call for truth to know where truth is. Truth is not everywhere. Truth is not common. Truth is not available. What is easily available are the lies. "Go up, you will conquer, you will prosper, all will be well. There is no problem." Men are committing fornication, you say no problem. Men are rebelling against God, you say no problem. Men are lying, you say no problem. Men are immoral, you say no problem. There is lust all over the land, you say no problem. Men are—men are doing all kinds of things that promote immorality, we say no problem. Men are—men are preferred money to human life, we say no problem. Pray, brethren, all will be well. Let's move up. Men are—men are cheating against their spouse, we say no problem. Men are telling lies, men are keeping malice, we say no problem. Oh, brethren, there is problem. There is problem. There is problem, there is problem. There is problem. But you see, Brother Micaiah is in a corner. Brother Micaiah is in a corner. The four hundred they are over the land. The four hundred they are over the land. I want you to pray for the church. Oh Lord our God, oh Lord our God, oh Lord our God, Baba bring Brother Micaiah to the center stage. Lord, bring Brother Micaiah to the center stage. Bring him to the center. Lord, we beg You in our own generation. Lord, let the voice of Brother Micaiah become louder than the voice of the four hundred prophet. Oh Lord, help us in our own generation. Lord help us in our own time. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. Lord, revive Your church. Lord, revive Your church. Thank You, eternal Father. Blessed be Your holy name. Blessed be Your holy name, Father. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. And Lord, as You as You send help to the church, we also pray finally, Lord send help to our nation. Lord, send help to our nation. Send help to our nation. Deliver this nation from the hand of the oppressors. Deliver Nigeria from the hand of the the mighty, the mighty wicked. Deliver this nation from the hand of the the oppressors, of the wicked. Men—there are wicked men in power. There are wicked men in power. And when I say in power, don't only think of politician. Think of in power in politics, in power in the civil service, in power, in power all around. Think of wicked wicked men, they are in power in every sphere of life. I want you to pray: Lord, displace the wicked. Lord God Almighty, have mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us. Thank You, Father. Blessed be Your holy name. Blessed be Your holy name. Blessed be Your holy name, Father. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen. Let me ask Sister Comfort to close the meeting. [Speaker 4] Our dear Lord, we are grateful to You for giving us this opportunity this evening. Thank You for all we have learned in this month of May and the faith You have imparted in us, the transformation You have done in our heart. Father, we are grateful. Accept our thanks in Jesus' name. Thank You for this hour of prayer. Oh Lord our God, our souls are prone into slippery. We can easily be swayed except by Your grace. And You expressly said it to us today that the reason You are sounding like this is because we are men that will be great. You have greatness in in stock for us so that when we get there, we will take caution. Oh Lord, we commit the keeping of our soul into Your hands. Lord, please keep us from falling. Keep us from swaying. Keep us from straying in the name of Jesus. Keep our soul fixed on You, oh Lord. Asa could not keep himself because of wealth. The young prophet could not keep himself in the purpose of God because he was having respect to age and seniority. He was intimidated by the number of years that old prophet has been prophet. He never knew that You have departed. And even if He had not departed, he would have just stood by what God was dealing with him over. But Lord, he missed it. He was destroyed because he had respect, he was intimidated. Micaiah would have been intimidated by by the four hundred men. But he chose to stand for You even though he suffered for it. Oh Lord, we pray, our strength is only in You. Please strengthen us. To stand firm even in the face of intimidation in the name of Jesus. Even when, oh Lord, wherever we are, we are the only one to stand. Please stand with us. Strengthen us. Help us to know that one with You is a majority in the name of Jesus Christ. Oh Lord our God, I pray that as we move on as we go higher, we still ask of You, oh God, help our heart, oh God, to be loyal to You, to be fixed on You in the name of Jesus Christ. Thank You, Father. Thank You for Your son that You have used again tonight. We are asking the Lord You will perfect everything that concern him in the name of Jesus. Lord, You will cause him, oh God, to be to be to be a vessel that You can easily pass through in the name of Jesus Christ. He will not be blocked. He will not be clogged in the name of Jesus. Thank You, Lord, for hearing us pray. For it is in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. The grace together. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us now and forever more. Amen. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives and we shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever and ever. Amen. Praise the Lord! Hallelujah! [Speaker 5] This message is coming to you from Family Tent Ministry, a Christian ministry involved in enriching the lives of singles and married through preaching and teaching of God's word, discipleship, family life enrichment, social and community development, and mission hit. Our regular activities are: Discipleship class every Monday, 5:00 PM; Adolescents and Singles Club every first Saturday of every month at 10:00 AM; Marriage Forum, second Saturday of every month at 10:00 AM; Family Life Seminars, regular school outreaches, and everyday counseling. For further counsel, you can reach us at our location: Life Camp by the first bridge, Ilere community, opposite The Rejoice filling station along Ije Road, Akure, Ondo state, Nigeria. You can also reach us through our social media handles: familytent@yahoo.co.uk, familytentministry01@gmail.com, www.familytentministry.org. Our phone numbers are 08033861136, 07033613848. God bless you.