TRAVAILING TO PREVAIL

ISAIAH 66:7-9, JAMES 5:16-18

INTRODUCTION

The Lord calls us to fervent prayers over any difficult situation in our lives. Prayer will open closed doors, pull down satanic oppositions and barriers and give victory on every side. The greatest tragedy in life is not unanswered prayers but unoffered prayers. It is those who travail in prayer that will prevail in life. God is calling us to prayer. Prayer is a spiritual exercise that can impact our families, communities and has reaching effects in heaven and hell.

Everyone is born with a glorious destiny, but not everyone ends up gloriously. This is because there are oppositions in our journey of life. Those who overcome get the prize (I Cor. 16:9)

Life in its essence is an adventure in battles. We must travail in prayer to receive the crown. Man cannot prevail unless he travails.

Just like a woman must need labour and push hard to bring forth her joy, we must P.U.S.H (Pray Until Something Happens) to birth your destiny (Luke 18:1-8)

The best teacher in prayer is to pray, you cannot learn to pray until you pray.

Jesus prayed, Elijah, Paul, Daniel, Moses, Hannah, Esther etc prayed

Hell is not moved by our plan but by our prayers

Let us learn:-

I.  THE POWER OF PERSISTENCY (GEN 32:24-29)

• When you pray for something and you never let God go you will see the answer to your prayer (P.U.S.H)
• Jacob was left alone and a man wrestled with him.
• When you alone begin to pray, praise and worship, the presence of God will come to you.
• When you grab hold of God’s leg and wrestle in prayer you will see your prayers being answered.
• Miracles only happen for those who travail in prayer and believe for a miracle. (P.U.S.H)
• The Greek meaning for ISRAEL is “He shall be a prince of God” the Hebrew meaning is “My God prevails or he struggled with God”
• When you struggle or wrestle with God in prayer you shall receive your miracle. Jacob became a prince of God
• When you prevail, the crown of victory is waiting for you.

II.  THE PRINCIPLES OF TRAVAILING

• If there is a situation in your life that you are not happy with, you have the power to change it.
• Are you struggling to meet your financial commitments-Travail.
• Are you having a health failure, pray (Exodus 32:26)
• Are people fighting against you, they shall not prevail (Jer. 1:19)
• Jesus gave His disciples power and authority over all demons and cure for all diseases (Luke 9:1)
• We have the power to trample over serpents and scorpions. The power to decree a thing and heaven establishing such things, the power to ask and receive (Matt 7:7-8)

1. There can be no sanctification without separation- Jacob was left alone.

• Jesus went alone, Elijah went alone, and Moses on Sanai was alone.

2. God’s touch may sometimes be painful, Elijah placed his face between his knees (I Kings 18:42)

• To prevail means “to prove superior in strength, power or influence, to succeed, become dominant” (James 5:16)

3. Pain is not always your enemy.

• It is painful to be confronted with our sin
• It is painful to humble ourselves under God.
• It is painful to go through times of difficulties
• It is painful to see your peer progress when you stagnate
• Jacob broke his hip in the encounter- but the encounter changes him forever.
• The greater the pain, the greater the gain

4. Perseverance in prayer yields profits. (Pro 24:16)

• Jacob wrestled all night in spite of a broken hip.
• The poor widow, before the unjust judge got her prayers answered (Luke 16:1)

5. An encounter with God changes your name.

• A new name means a new beginning “Abraham, Sarah, Paul etc.

III.  THE PRAYER OF PREVAILING

1. Abraham’s servant prayed to God. He was directed (Gen 24:10-20)
2. Samson prayed, he was shown a well (Judges 15:18-20)
3. David prayed and God defeated the counsel of Ahithophel (2 Sam 15:31, 16:20-23, 17:14-23)
4. Daniel prayed, he got an answer and interpretation for Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Daniel 2:16-23)
5. Nehemiah prayed and God inclined the heart of the King of Persia (Neh 1:11, 2:1-6)
6. Esther and Mordecai prayed and God defeated the purpose of Haman (Esther 4:15-17)
7. The believers in Jerusalem prayed, the prison doors were opened and Peter was set free (Acts 12:1-12)

• If you travail, you will prevail and accomplish the impossible.

CONCLUSION

• “As soon as Zion travailed, he brought forth his children”
• Before prevailing there is travailing
• Giving birth supersedes the pain of labour
• If you desire to be productive, you will need to prune out some areas of your life.
• If you wish to remain relevant to your generation, you must consistently cut off every negative act, attitude or behaviour.

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Rev, DR. Willy Mutiso

Rev, Dr. Willy Mutiso is the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Athiriver. He is widely known for his practical and dynamic teaching style which helps people apply the timeless truths of Scripture to their everyday lives.

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