The Indubitable Battle: Christian Lifestyle

By Chinyere Echefu

There is one thing that the devil and his cohorts do not want every child of God to do. He does not want us to have a perfect relationship with God. He divides and rules us. However, God desires personal intimate relationship with Him. The only way we can achieve this is through prayer. He wants everyone to come to Him directly in the name of Jesus Christ. The whole extent of Christianity is to have an intimate relationship with God. Unfortunately, many of us are distracted in the church by a lot of serving and wording. The Lord wants to see us at the battle well protected. Do you know that Christians are living in the front line of spiritual and physical warfare? Yes, we are. What are you doing about it? Are you praying? You should. Do you think you do not know how to pray? Do you think God will not answer your prayer because of your sins? It is all lies. May be you are having difficult stabilizing yourself in faith. These are no problems for a willing child of God. In this book, God used the author to expose the loopholes in attaining intimate relationship with God, and outline how to close up such holes. There are Biblical expositions on sin, forgiveness, restitution, right attitude to prayer and praying right with authority. This book equally addresses church relationship and corporate prayer. It is to help you fight against the spiritual warfare, which is inevitably against every believer. If you are a new believer or you have been long in the faith, yet find it difficult to pray effectively or keep up with your decision to pray and fast, this book will help. It also Biblically points you to Jesus your prayer mentor. Remember, this book is not written recital prayer book. It is a book on the complete prayer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Yorkshire Publishing
• Release date: Dec 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9781954095069

Chinyere Echefu

Chinyere is an entrepreneur; she single-handedly owned and operated a household articles and fashion boutique in Igando, Lagos Nigeria before relocating to America. In America she started a women-clothing business in Montclair California (2013-2015). She holds an Associate Degree in Health Information Technology from American Career College (2016-2018). Holds an Associate degree in Ministry from International School of Ministry, a Bachelors degree in Science Education, University of Lagos, Masters in Divinity and Doctorate in Ministry from Next Dimension University, Inland Empire California Chinyere is not a slug when it comes to change and new technology because she loves to blog @ https://www.christianliving.life, Tweet @ miracle244, reach out to her fans @ Facebook pagehttps://www.facebook.com/mercy.grace.unity/; Mercycea @ Intagram.com and an amazon author page, Chinyere is a great Bible teacher and dramatist. A great Mistress of ceremonies She has enormous ability in delivering simple, well-organized speeches, sermons and poetry. She has gifts of easily connecting with audience and bringing them along by relaying and telling compelling and convincing stories that resonate with her audience. She has the ability to listen to associates and superiors then using information gathered to brainstorm for solutions concerning the matter at hand. She is quick to analyze subtle points during meetings and conferences and strives to send concrete messages and interpretations that are easily understood by the audience.Her cultural heritage has given her a foundation where she can relate and understand her audiences' needs across domestic and international arenas. Chinyere oversees the Youth Ministry of her church and assist in the woman Ministry as the President.

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Acknowledgement

God, I thank you for teaching me daily to put my trust and hope in you. Through the commotions of my life, you taught me to pray without season. You taught me that I should not give up the struggle in the storm because you are also the God of tempest and storm. You opened my eyes to see you in my storm, though I felt very awkward to have you there, you assured me that you are in the midst of my storm. You asked me to work on this. However, it took more years than anticipated, but you are God who is in control of everything. Were this book published during the storm, I would not be the rightful testimony. Now, the deadly storm is over and you have made provision for your children to have this book in their homes. I am grateful my Father and God through Your Son Jesus Christ.

Daddy, Peter Adeleke, I thank God for making our path to cross. I would not have been able to search this deep or made prayer a lifestyle if you did not come into my life. Honestly, God used you to bring out the hidden gifts in me. God will continue to bless you and everything that concerns you including me your wife and our children. Although it took forever to proof read this book but at the long run, you did great job. Thank you for critiques, disagreements and agreements as we reasoned and edited the manuscript. I love you; you are my best, I cannot exchange you for any other man.

Susan, you are the one who encouraged me to proceed to the publishing house with this book after you read it. Your corrections and the overview of the book are in order and very helpful. Thank you so much. This is the beginning of great things between you and me as God wills. God will take care of you and all that concerns you just as you took care of this assignment for me. I Love you, sister.

Keith and Diane, the two of you are encouragement to me. Your suggestions helped me to shape the book so that anyone could read it. Thank you for sparing time out of your tight schedules at the school to read it. God bless you and your entire family. Peace!

Thank you, Pastor Craig Lawrence of New Life Community Church. Each time I listen to you talk about the need for believers to pray together, I get encouraged to go ahead and publish this book. Thank you also for making the Encounter house of prayer available to all who wishes to connect with God. One day your desire to have a full house of worshippers, prayer warriors and prophets will come true. Love you, pastor.

Reverend/Pastor John Collins of Joyful Nations Ministry, Ontario, I am grateful to you for making time out of your crowded schedule to conceptually, read and edited this book. I always trust your full knowledge of the scripture and the dispensation of the word. Thank you, for considering reading my work. I am blessed and God will continue to bless you and your family. I love you real man of God!

I will not forget to thank you Maggie of Staples, La Verne for rescuing this manuscript twice. Finally, it made it to the press. God bless you and your co-workers at the staples office.

Dedication

To the prayer warriors who influenced my prayer life I say, ‘This is for you Daddy Basil Oddiah and Brother Damien Meme. We hope to meet in heaven at the appointed time. Thank you for the endless prayer lessons. I love you Daddy Basil. Sometimes I cry when I remember how I needed you but I am comforted because I obey you when you said trust God. I still trust Him. Hope you are happy to see this work. Thank you. I dedicate this book also to my sons Alexander and Peter Udeogaranya, and my stepsons Peter Gabriel and Daisy Yemisi Adeleke. Boys, hard work does not kill or rob you of the present pleasures of life rather it adds to life’s growth and causes future increase in everything. The thought of you making Christ the center of your life makes me work hard. My beloved daddy, always a loving and caring husband, you made this book possible for others to see and behold. Thank you.

Thank you my prayer collaborators here in America and all over the world. Thank you for still in the race. You will wear the crown of Glory. I Love you all.

Introduction

The entire world recognizes that the world is about to fall off the cliff. The leaders and heads of states of the countries of the world realize they cannot help their subjects but they do not want to say it. Many churches are just standing but very disjointed and lacking, hence the effort is to make money enough to pay mortgage on the church properties and to pay bills. Families feel this pinch of the society on their shoulders. The world is going crazy trying to install democracy in all the states as though it is the way to survive the off cliff of economy. I have been through many deprivations and I know how it feels to suffer deprivation of what you honestly crave. The entire world lacks peace and many make promises to give peace, but it is not possible without the Lord. The world is in disarray. Peace is the offshoot of unity. The super powers make conceded effort night and day making bargains for peace talks. They manipulate enemies to come together for peace talk; they forgot that where there is no unity there is no peace. There may be ceasefire, but it is for a while, and the war continues. Man cannot give lasting peace but God gives real and lasting peace. The peace God gives springs up from the heart of individuals because they trust in God. If every one would give God the required attention, peace would be in every one’s heart and spills over. There would be family peace, community peace, society peace and national peace. Then the entire World would erupt with peace. This is what this book is about, seeking the Lord to learn how to fight the unavoidable battle already won. Everybody is working hard to

make ends meet

stay healthy

eat right

stay debt free or pay accumulated bills

overcome sin

expose sinners and punish the criminals

make and unmake laws

prevent evil and recover souls

These are necessary efforts but at long run, it is all confusion. Husbands and wives are cheating one another, separation and divorce are ruining families, and children are going astray. Politics have become deadly and compatriots turn against one another, while their children suffer. Everyone wants to be on top, no one wants to be at the bottom, yet there would be a big hollow if there is no one to occupy it. How possible would it be, to stay on top without support? The after effect is all would plunge into the hollow. It is useless if we continue to go the same way without a change. Philosophy, ideology, religion and unexpected paradigms block the right way. The entire world would stunt or trend backward as technology becomes harmful. The same tech that gives money life and power becomes the same tech that will destroy humanity. The only way to escape all the impending catastrophe of the apocalypse is to turn to God. The totality of it all is to seek and establish individual and corporate relationship with the Maker. Perhaps He would make all things new and we start seeing with our spiritual eyes.

The realization that every Christian knows that prayer is important but does not pray is the beginning of the questions:

Why don’t Christians pray?

What is prayer anyway?

Does God answer Prayer?

How can I pray and receive answers?

Does God answer the prayers of one better than others?

How can I have a good relationship with God?

This book gives answers to these legitimate questions about prayer and more. What this book does not do is to teach you to recite or memorize any written prayer; rather it helps you to communicate with your God in your own words and manner. It points you though to the right attitude to prayer and to emulate Jesus our prayer model and mentor. The essence of this is in the word of Jesus as He speaks to us from the mountaintop:

But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matt 6: 33 (KJV)

I pray that we hear and do as Jesus asked us to do as we meditate on this book. I have prayed over every line of this book for miraculous turn around for everyone who would read it, from those who proof-read, edited, printed, and consumed in the name of Jesus. Amen

CHAPTER ONE

Call for Prayer

A Weapon The Devil Cannot Withstand

When my entire world was crumbling upon me, my immediate response was to blame God and those around me. I asked God so many questions without waiting for His response. I cried out questions like, ‘God where are you? Are you really God, the Omniscience, Omnipotent and Omnipresence? God, what did I do to you that you couldn’t forgive me? Did the Bible not say that you forgive sins, so why is my sin catching up with me after I have forsaken it? One day in our bible study, we talked about sin and punishment. The conclusion was that when you sin and repent, God will forgive you, but it does not mean that you will not suffer the consequence of the sin you committed. I concluded that my life was falling apart because of the sins I committed in the past. I was angry with myself, but I asked God to reduce my punishment and have mercy on me. In another meeting with some sisters, I made a prayer request concerning my pressing need. Before they could pray for me, a sister asked me whether I consulted God before I did what put me into jeopardy. I wondered about the question because she herself did exactly what I did, which was not a sin, but she seemed to be prospering in it. I did not think it was important to answer such questions. We prayed and left. Later on I started thinking about it.

Did I actually pray before I embarked on this journey? I did not pray particularly about it, but when the opportunity came, I embraced it as a miracle. I thought it was a way God wanted to help me from the problem I was experiencing. I still believe it was God’s intervention. I realized that there was commotion everywhere I went and in everything I did. I stopped from going to places or fellowshipping with certain people. It continued until I became isolated and reproach set in upon me. However, in all of this, I did not lose my faith and hope. My love for fellow brethren dwindled to selective love because I presumed that some were my problems. My love for God nevertheless became obsession. I clung to Him. I started studying and desired to be a good Christian, but I could not reach that standard of my perception of a good Christian. I started praying for God to help me to attain His standard.

From our human observation, a Christian turns other cheek when punched on one cheek. He professes his faith without fear of rejection or death. A Christian is ready to die for what he believes. He is poor in spirit hence he is not conceited. He mourns with those who mourn and he is meek where no one is meek. A Christian hungers and thirsts for righteousness. He is merciful and pure in spirit. He craves for peace and restores peace to others. Though constantly persecuted for doing the right thing, he never gives up. A Christian may suffer revile and libels because of his believe in Jesus the Christ. In all, he is hopeful to be a partaker in the kingdom of heaven. He is comfortable because he will inherit the earth. His natural and spiritual foods are by the mercy and grace of God. His spirit is pure and he sees God always, as the child of God. He is happy with the success of others and he is exceedingly glad because he knows heaven is his reward. (Matt 5:3-12). These are all part of the abstract understanding of what Christianity is about but in practicality, it is very difficult to find such a Christian who exhibits the above virtues or beatitude as Jesus prescribed for His followers. Christianity is more than what you wish it to be if you abide longer with the Lord of all things. I realized that many of us become Christians expecting to leave the challenges of life behind and start living in the earthly heaven, where there are no trouble and people who can challenge us. As I started, studying and praying more the Lord started revealing Himself to me. He sends me to go out and make peace with everyone. In the process, I realized that no one was having any problem with me. I was the problem. I was expecting too much from everyone and I paid no attention to what God wanted me to do. I thank God who rescued me. It was this and other experiences I had as a believer that led me to start this book. This is to help the church to maintain acceptable relationship with God and with one another through committing to prayer.

I realized that the church had built a high spiritual standard for the followers to attain, while at the same time, she is not helping them to attain it. Many people get frustrated and leave, while others hang around without salvation. I met Agnes in 2004. We worked together and often worked in the same shift. She watched me every night as I start my work with a short prayer. During lunch, I took time to read the scripture and prayed. I did not bother her to pray or join me to study the bible because it is against the work policy to preach to a co-worker without his or her consent. One day she asked me to help her to help a dying patient. As we worked, I asked her whether or not she believe in the power of God to heal. She told me she believed. I asked her to pray with me for the dying woman and she agreed. We held our hands and prayed for the woman before the paramedics took her away to the hospital. From that day, we started praying together and started opening up a little to each other. When I asked her to join fellowship with me in my local church, she vehemently refused with such veracity. Cea, I know it will come to this. I do not want to be a Christian. I have tried it before and it was not easy for me, please leave me out of it. I am a Catholic and I am okay the way I am. I was shocked. I did not know that Catholics are not Christians. I was a Catholic and I never thought of myself as a non-Christian. I apologized and excused myself.

The following night, she apologized for the way she responded to me. She lived with her ex-husband for ten years with three children. He divorced her. She did not know what to do but a very good Christian woman spoke to her about the love of God and putting her trust in God. This made her to give her life to Jesus Christ. She said that the woman told her that once she gave her life to Jesus, her problems would be over. Unfortunately, when Agnes finally gave her life to Jesus Christ, her problems became worst. Before she became a Christian, she had a boyfriend who supported her financially. More importantly, he helped her to pick her children from school while she busied herself working two jobs to make ends meet. When she heard the word of God, she told her boyfriend that she would like to be his friend without intimacy. Her boyfriend did not agree to her conditions and they separated. She managed to work but was not able to keep the two jobs and still take care of her children. She was not making enough money to hire someone to take care of her children. Even when she sees someone to bring them home, they were too young to be on their own when she goes to work. Her friend advised her to ask help from the church. The church was not able to help her because there was no baby sitting program in the church. Her problem was so confounded that she started doubting her convictions to become a Christian. With nowhere to get help, she fell back into the waiting hands of her ex-boyfriend. He was ready and willing to help her with the children and take care of her bills as before. She continued to attend the church services, but when some of the sisters noticed that she had gone back to her boyfriend, they chastised her. They started telling her why she must not be with the boyfriend. Some encouraged her to bring him to the church. She tried to take him to church one or two times but he did not like it. He was a Catholic and could not agree with the service procedure. When the disagreement was too much for her, she decided to follow him to the Catholic Church. She said that nobody disturbed her in that place. From that period, she had been doing well with her children and job. I guess those mattered most to her at that time. She asked me whether God would prefer her children to suffer. She concluded that when she was a Christian her entire world fell apart. God did not help her through the church and only one person was willing to help her. She does not want anyone to preach to her about living holy because she does not want to live holy at the expense of her children. She told me to never try to convince her to become a Christian again. She left me with nothing to say to her. I sympathized with her, and said after her ‘God loves you no matter what.’

I did not ask her to leave her boyfriend. I continue to share the word of God with her until she started asking questions that ministered conviction. We prayed more asking for God’s help. One day, she told me that she started praying with her boyfriend and her children. I was happy for her. Agnes is a Christian because she gave her life to Christ. The problems in her life do not suggest that she lost her Christianity or salvation. Responding to her physical needs never mean that God would forsake her. One thing that was lacking is a real relationship with God. The moment she started praying, she started committing herself to it and she developed a relationship with God. In effect, the relationship passed on to her entire family. The church has to encourage members to commit to prayer it helps.

New believers need to hear that Christians do have difficulties as they walk the path to heaven. The whole problems I had, as a struggling Christian was an attack from the devil. He did not want me to be a real Christian. He wanted me to be a counterfeit Christian, which regrettably many are today. The planting of many scrupulous as well as gossip brethren helped me to trust God day by day. Satan meant to use them to discourage me but God is with me; and what the devil meant for evil turned out to be good. Through it, I learned to have a true relationship with God. The problem is that we are living out our natural selves more than we live in the spirit. The enemy of salvation uses every weapon available to him to shoot at believers. To give your life to Jesus is to enroll in the spiritual warfare. It is like deploying one into the battlefield where there is never a cease-fire. Most of the time, we miss it by making a temporary bargain with the enemy, whose bargain is to keep us away from our own side of the battlefield. For the cease-fire to take effect, you have to sign the contract to remain in the middle. That is the worst place for a soldier to stay, because once the firing begins; he would die in crossfire. Jesus taught us about the blessings that await those who follow the rules and remain on the trail, even when it is rocking their lives. They are Christ-like because they never quit, they have purpose, they have mission to accomplish and they are wise.

We know that it is not very easy for one to live a pure Christian life. Many chose to live their lives 50% as Christians and the other 50% as compromisers to the worldly dictates. The truth is, it is not easy to live half-and-half, and it is uncertainty, unstable and torturous. The best is to live a 100% Christian life and receive the rewards. Consequently, one can live a 100% the worldly life and damn the consequences. Many of us want to receive heavenly reward, yet we compromise the challenges of life. We wish and hope all these challenges would go away so we can live and enjoy our salvation in Jesus Christ. The truth is that these obstacles, trials and temptations will not go away. They are stages to help us grow and mature into strong and better warriors. Our lord Jesus Christ suffered challenges as human, yet the Bible recorded that He did not sin. He remained faithful. Those who walked physically with Jesus experienced the heat and the scourge of the journey too. Those who walked after his temporary departure; it was not easy for them either. It is not easy and we do not expect it to be easier for the modern Christians. Many of us today expect the Christian journey to be lighter than and more comforting than in the past. It is not going to be. From the beginning of this Kingdom journey, the King of kings, Jesus Christ told us that it will not be easy in these blessings recorded by the Gospel writer:

Blessed are those who are persecuted for doing what God approves of. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, lie, and say all kinds of evil things about you because of me."

Matt 5:10-11 (GW)

The above quote reveals that if you do what God approves, the enemy will persecute you, but God will bless you. He also tells you that people will sin against you by what they say, insult, libel, lie. They will say all kinds of evil things against you. They will say these things because you are a Christian. In other words, if you become a Christian, you must be prepared to receive insult and other kinds of persecution. Once you realize this as a Christian, you will know how to run your race with fewer casualties. Self-pity sets in during times of trials. Self-pity belittles you and makes you an inferior person. It brings retractions, withdrawals, isolation and depression. It builds up anger, frustrations, unhealthy expectations to be treated better, which is, most of the time, meet with rejections and disappointment. This is the end of the immature or foolish believer. A wise believer who understands the word of God will silence self-pity with Jesus’ statements above and below.

I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as snakes but as innocent as doves. Watch out for people who will hand you over to the Jewish courts and whip you in their synagogues. Because of me you will even be brought in front of governors and kings to testify to them and to everyone in the world.

Matt 10:16-18 (GW)

Jesus tells us our position, character and judgment. You may struggle to be righteous in all things because you want the world to accept you as a good person. You may want to exemplify yourself as a good Christian in the midst of sinners. Although you do not like the binding laws on you, so you obey them rigorously. You cannot tell someone you love and respect about his or her sinful life because you do not want to offend him. This is not being very wise because no matter how self-righteous you tend to be, God knows who you are. As His child and Jesus’ follower, He is sending you out to meet the world and give the testimony of your faith. Many do not understand this, but it is very important that every believer knows that we are to share our testimonies. This is who we are. You are a sheep. A sheep is humble. A sheep does not walk very far from its owner. A sheep hears the voice of the owner/keeper. A sheep cannot and does not harm anyone though others harm it. It is a sacrifice to serve others. A sheep stays where his pasture is. A sheep, which wanders away, exposes itself to the wild beasts. As sheep, we must endeavor to be where our master tells us to be. We must not allow any condition to cut us off from the vine since we are also his branches. The trials are huge and may come from the least expected places and persons but with the Lord, you will triumph.

"Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father the child: and children will rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye will be hated by all for my name’s sake: but he who endures to the end will be saved."

Matt 10: 21-22 (NKJV)

It is enough for a disciple that he be like his master, and the servant like his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household?

Matt 10:25; John15: 20 (KJV)

Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.

Matt 10: 26 (KJV)

If Jesus our Lord was tempted and challenged for doing what is right, who are we to expect the world to treat us better? Satan controls the affairs of the entire world. He made his temple in the hearts of many. Many who are after the things of this world for mere gratification, are suffering deception. He makes many not to believe in God because of the counter products he offers them. Satan is the cause of all the problems we go through today.

My heart breaks to see how the young generation of Christians cannot distinguish what is godly and acceptable to God from what is abomination in the eyes of God. They are after things that make them feel good, and accepted by their peers. The Devil is a counterfeit manufacturer. He cannot make or initiate anything truly good or pleasant. He knows how to imitate the perfect creation of God. Satan makes copies of everything, packaging it as though it were original. I have come to know that there is a great difference between the original and the fake. The original and the fake at a first glance look the same. A closer look reveals the differences even from the packaging, colors and the handwritings on the cover pages. Sometimes the packages can pass the test because the deceiver is perfect in his craftiness. He knows that the critical minded person would read the fine prints, comparing the print size, color and even detecting the machine that printed and manufactured the product. The devil makes sure that the cover, which is the attractor and inducer, appears flawless. It is very difficult to discover his counterfeit when viewing it with the human eyes. There are some, who know how to detect the counterfeit productions. Only a few have personal relationship with the original manufacturer. They have an intimate relationship with the one and only manufacturer. They are his wife, children, friends, brothers, and workers. They are committed and loyal to him. They are in his presence day and night. They see and know how to do the work, how the mixing, molding, filling and usage go. It is easy for them to detect a fake product because they know the original product. The devil knows them; he digs pits and set nets to catch them because he does not want them in the position they are occupying. They fight the devil back with every weapon their master gives them. They defend themselves so that they will continue to enjoy the presence of their master whom they owe allegiance.

It is also important to note that their master is a perfect designer. He is the maker of all things. He says and does whatever He says he will do. He blesses whomever He wills and curses whomever He wills. He treats them how they individually want to be treated, that is how He is (Psalm 18:24-27). Sometimes He seems very hard to please though He is not a taskmaster. Nothing corrupt can stand in His presence. He hates sin and cannot tolerate sin of disobedience and unbelief. He gives His people rules and regulations that would lead them through right judgment. He is loving and patient. He is always forgiving and his mercy last forever. He gives his people rules that would lead them back to Him in repentance. He is very jealous because He does not rejoice in double standard. He cannot share His glory with anyone. This is why many who do not know Him lodge complaints against Him. They despise Him even though they do not know Him. In rebellion, they fall into the open hands of the devil. The devil provides them with the counterfeit relieve, temporary love, short-lived joy and fake happiness. They never rest because the devil never rests and cannot give rest. No one in his court, can be restful, he lacks real rest. The devil uses them to flourish in his industry to produce fake productions that would eventually lead to death. The devil is a user and a dumper; his agenda is a hidden agenda!

The devil has learned to turn the things created by God into weapons of destruction. His aim is to cause man to displease God. Our God is the manufacturer that the devil tends to imitate and compete. Satan is working his way to take full dominion of the entire world. He uses power, politics and democracy money, sex, drugs and alcohol as his powerful micro agents. It is not that he has the power to take over, but God has fashioned it this way. God