Paul said Timothy, “Timothy, my son, here are my instructions for you, based on the prophetic words spoken about you earlier, you should wage the good warfare by them…” (1Tim. 1:18)
By Michael Adekoya – Dear Reader, may I quickly say this, “The word of prophecy means much more than just a prediction of the future. It means the announcing of a special word or revelation from God, through His Spirit, on any subject.” Paul highly valued the gift of prophecies through which important messages of encouragement, strengthening, comfort and warning came to the church. (1 Cor 14:1-3).
When Timothy was set apart for ministry, lots of prophecies were spoken over his life. But Paul, his spiritual father, reminded him to wage the good warfare by them. My friend, do you know that you can’t just walk into testimonies? You war into them. Prophecies are not fulfilled on their own because of the contention in the spiritual realm. You have to contend for their fulfillments. In effect, Paul was telling Timothy to reposition himself for battle before manifestation or fulfillment of the prophecies can come. No advancement without adjustment!
My friend, has any man or woman ever prophesied over your life? I’m sure that at the beginning of 2024 or even long time ago, there must have been prophetic words spoken over your life, destiny, marriage, family, career, church, ministry or business? God is not a liar. Whatever He says will come to pass! Have they all been fulfilled? If no, it is now time to reposition yourself and start waging the good warfare by them. If you don’t like the way your life is going, redesign it. Redeem the years you lost. Restore your vision, renew your mind, revive your passion for living, and reclaim what was dormant inside of you. Listen! Minor adjustments make a big difference. Jesus couldn’t walk into His mission until He repositioned Himself. He left the traditions of the Pharisees to be baptized of John and a voice from heaven came and announced: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3:17)
He didn’t stop there. Again, He left the traditions of the Pharisees and repositioned Himself for empowerment. The Bible says, “He was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.” (Matt. 4:1-2) He was there for 40 days and 40 nights fasting and praying and He returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee. My friend, nothing valuable comes free, except salvation. Even, our salvation was paid for with the Blood of Jesus. The fulfillment of prophecy spoken concerning Jesus’ ministry began after His 40 days and nights of fasting and prayers. Yes, He received the prophetic words but He repositioned Himself to see the fulfillment.
Every change of position demands a repositioning. My friend, no matter how intelligent you are, you don’t stand a chance of passing an examination which you are not prepared for. True or False? The nearer the examination day, the more intense your preparation should be in order to make the mark you desire. You never come across a sport star who didn’t pay a high price to become a star. There can be no advancement without adjustment. There can be no change around you without change in you. It is insanity to keep doing the same thing the same way and expect a different result. If you want to see what you’ve never seen, then commit yourself and be ready to do what you’ve never done. Do you want manifestations or performances of what the Lord has said concerning your life, marital status, family, business, assignment or church? Then pay the price! Fight a good fight! Contend against every opposition in the spirit realm in fasting and prayers. Refuse anything or anyone to break your focus and forsake sin.
David said, “He (God) trains my hands for battle.” (Psa 18:34) David said, “am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.” (Psa 120:1) “Our battle is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and power, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places.” (Eph 6:12) My friend, your city has principalities and powers attached to them and everybody in that city is under such demonic powers unless we war against them. There are “gates of hell” – house of assembly of hell where demonic powers gather to take decisions and launch their attacks on the Body of Christ. There are prayers collectors, prayer consumers and demonic fire extinguishers around you, even in the church. If you desire answers to your prayers, you have to pay the price in fasting and serious spiritual warfare prayers; and of course in faith, trust and obedience to God.
There is no price for failure. My friend, you don’t have to pay any price to fail. All you have to do is doing nothing. Doing nothing automatically equals failure. You don’t have to struggle to fail. Just release yourself and watch your life passing bye equals failure. Why would the aircraft be flying and passengers refuse to board the flight but instead just hanging around the airport? In Africa, there are people who hang around major airports day and night. Some of them come just for coming sake or just to spectate. They see aircraft everyday landing and taking off but they have never boarded one because there is a price to pay to board a flight and they are not ready to pay it.
My friend, many Christians today just come to the church, get used to their Pastors to the extent that what he or she says has no print in their hearts anymore. They just come and seat there every Sunday from 10 to 12 wasting away. There are many churches who are allergic to fervent prayers, the ministry of the Word of God and spiritual warfare yet they wonder why no miracles, healing, restoration, and manifestations or fulfillment of prophecies. Listen! If you are not ready to pay the price, you are not entitled to the goods. Anything you are not willing to pay for, you are not entiltled to carry – that includes the anointing and power of God. In fact, it includes your spouse if you are single or your baby if you are looking for the fruit of the womb. It includes the restoration of your health, marriage, finance etc.
Manifestations carry a heavy price tag. That you receive any prophetic word in the past doesn’t mean the manifestation or fulfillment is automatic. My friend, just as you have to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, you have to work the prophetic word out. You have to reposition yourself for manifestations. You have to fast and pray for the manifestation or fulfillment of the prophetic word. Nothing of value is duly free! Not even a wife, a husband, a marriage relationship, a child, a job, a house, a car, a business, a ministry or place of worship. Even this weekly article comes with a price – time, prayers, study, meditation, fasting, writing mostly at night and so on. Everything of value carries a valuable cost. Please hear me! As you are about, certain things must go in before those valuable things can come up. No positive change without a cost. You must step up your faith and fight, your praise and prayer, your intimacy and listening, your obedience and discernment. Are you ready? Remain blessed!
