FULFILLING YOUR DIVINE PURPOSE THROUGH PROPHETIC PRAYING
Message Text: Ecclesiastes. 3:1-15, 2 Chronicles 28:8-11, Is 14:24-28, Ezra 1-5
Our God is a God of purpose. He created the earth and the heaven for a purpose. And He has a purpose for all things that He created, and times are attached to these purposes.
God says in Ex. 9:16 that He raised up Pharaoh for two purposes.
  • Exo 9:16 And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to show in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.
God raised up Pharaoh for the purpose of:
  • Showing in him His power.
  • That His name may be declared throughout all the earth
  • So, our God is a God of purpose. But, what is purpose?
  • Purpose is the object toward which one strives
  • Purpose is the object for which something exists
  • Purpose is goal, aim, or intention
  • Purpose is a result that is intended or desired
  • Purpose is resolution
  • Purpose is a valuable thing desired
  • What is time? Time is the period or moment in which something happens.
  • As you sit down in this auditorium this morning, I can tell you through the word of God, that He has a purpose for you.
  • Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 
  • God will give to you, your desired end. But when God’s purpose is in collision with man’s purpose, there will be problems, there will be crises and there will be conflicts.
Please take note of these statements:
  • There are certain secrets (divine or canal) revealed to certain people at certain period for certain reason or purpose
  • There are certain events that occurred at certain time because of certain people for certain reason or purpose
  • There are certain events that occurred to certain people at certain time for certain reason or purpose
  • There are certain people that meet at certain time or period for certain reason or purpose
  • The bible talks of a day in the book of Job 1:6, 13; 2:1. These bible passages are making references to a time, a period in which the events mentioned happened.
  • There was a day when Saul of Tarsus had a divine encounter with Christ on the way to Damascus - Acts 9: 1-8
  • There was a day of Pentecost – Acts 2:1-4
  • The glory of Jesus manifested in a day – John 2:11
All these events, which occurred because God purposed in heaven, had times attached to them. There were no crises in the mentioned events because there was harmony between the purpose of God and the purpose of man. By this I mean man cooperated with the purpose of God
In 2 Chronicles 28: 8-15, the children of Israel purposed to keep the children of Judah in the bondage of slavery when they were carried as captives to Samaria. But that purpose was in collision with the purpose of God. And God used prophet Oded to warn the people of Israel of the consequences of enslaving their fellow Jews. Crisis was averted here because certain elders of the children of Israel prevailed on the military wing of the people of Israel not to do so. 

God in His mercy will speak to man through prophets, and other men of God to warn, in order to avoid crisis. God also will speak to man through dreams. Why will God speak to man through dreams?
  • Job 33:17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
When there is crisis, we seek for solution. There is only one solution and that is to yield to the purpose of God. The bible says in Isa 45:9 Woe unto him that strives with his Maker! It is not possible to strive with God. Anyone that strives with God is sure of losing in the end.
Now we shall examine a unique occasion when men yielded to the purpose of God, and yet there was crisis.
Ezra 1-5
  • Ezra 1:1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, 
  • Ezra 1:2 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
God purposed to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, when the Jews in captivity were released to return back to Jerusalem. He stirred up the spirit of Cyrus the king of Persia to initiate the construction of the temple. One would like to generate two questions from the passage above.
Why did God stir up the spirit of Cyrus the king of Persia to make the proclamation and document the proclamation in writing?
I will give an answer this way. I believe that God is proving His name known as the God that knows the end from the beginning to us. He knows the end from the beginning. He knew from the beginning that the adversaries will rise up against the rebuilding. He knew from the beginning that the adversaries will attempt to frustrate the effort and purpose of the people involved in the rebuilding. He knew from the beginning that the construction will be delayed until the reign of Darius the king of Persia. He knew from the beginning that Darius king of Persia will request for the records of Cyrus the king of Persia for the rebuilding to be completed. And that was what happened.

  • Ezr 6:1 Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. 
  • Ezr 6:2 And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written:
Why was God able to use a heathen king to rebuild His temple? This is because He has the means to do so.
Hear what the bible says in
  • Pro 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. 
God does whatever He wants with the heart of men. Hallelujah! Our God is in control of everything, anywhere and anytime.

  • Ezr 1:5 Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.
Men rose up to carry out God’s purpose of rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. They gathered together to pray by setting up altar to offer burnt offerings to the Lord-Ezra 3:1-2
At the laying of the foundation of the temple, the people sang praises and worshiped the God of Israel.
  • Ezr 3:10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel. 
  • Ezr 3:11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth forever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.
The Jews in Judah and Jerusalem did what they should do spiritually to ensure that the rebuilding of the temple encountered no delay or hindrance. But the events that followed show this not to be true, as the construction works were hindered and delayed.
  • Ezra 4:1-2
  • Ezr 4:1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity built the temple unto the LORD God of Israel; 
  • Ezr 4:2 Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.
The adversaries disguised as friends to infiltrate into the midst of the Jews of Judah and Jerusalem to hinder the constructions. But this did not happen as they were bluntly rejected. Still the adversaries used other means to weaken the hands of the people and troubled them.
  • Ezr 4:4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, 
  • Ezr 4:5 And hired counselors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

One may ask a question whether the rebuilding was really their purpose. No, it was the purpose of God. Yet these adversaries prevailed for a time.
  • Ezr 4:23 Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power. 
  • Ezr 4:24 Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
What God initiated was stalled by force of arm and power. What kind of power? It could be the power of witchcraft or power of familiar spirit or the power of occult or any other evil power. But the temple was rebuilt. How did this happen? Let us see:
Ezra 5:1-5
  • Ezr 5:1 Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them. 
  • Ezr 5:2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them. 
  • Ezr 5:3 At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall? 
  • Ezr 5:4 Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building? 
  • Ezr 5:5 But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.
Two prophets, prophets Haggai and Zechariah prayed prophetic prayers upon the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of God of Israel and something happened. With the prophetic pronouncements by prophets Haggai and Zechariah upon the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem two things happened.
Some men rose up to continue the construction of the temple. How did this happen? The prophetic prayers scattered demonic powers holding the minds of Jews of Judah and Jerusalem captive. The prophetic prayers scattered the demonic powers of dejection, frustration, and irritation, in-fighting among them. The prophetic prayers brought back to them the spirits of cooperation with the prophets and prayer warriors, courage, determination, faith in God, perseverance, and lastly boldness. 
The eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease. What does this imply? It implies that God set in motion a divine order (this includes angelic ministrations and assignments) to support the construction works and not to be able to stop it. This spiritual backup happened as a result of prophetic prayers of Prophets Haggai and Zechariah. The eye of God was upon the elders of the Jews by the reason of the prophetic prayers.
There is spiritual warfare lesson to learn in verse 3. 
The bible has it written like this: “At the same time” This implies that simultaneously as some Jews rose up to continue the construction works, some adversaries also rose up to stop it. The rising up against is equal or even surpassed the enthusiasm of the Jews that continued the construction works. But because the spirit of boldness has possessed them, they stood their ground and were not moved at all. A writer once said “be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid”
The eye of the Lord was also upon them.
The adversaries reported the renewed efforts at completing the temple in Jerusalem to Darius the king of Persia. The Jews referred the king to the proclamation and the documentation of the proclamation by Cyrus the King of Persia. Darius the king of Persia found the records at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of Medes, and gave a strong instruction to leave the Jews alone to finish the temple.
EZRA 6:6-8
  • Ezra 6:6 Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shethar-boznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far from thence: 
  • Ezra 6:7 Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place. 
  • Ezra 6:8 Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered.
  • They must not be hindered.
No power can nullify the purpose of God
Ezra 6:13-15
  • Ezr 6:13 Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shethar-boznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily. 
  • Ezr 6:14 And the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they built, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. 
  • Ezr 6:15 And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.

WHAT ARE THE SPIRITUAL LESSONS TO BE LEARNED HERE?
  • The purpose of God and God backed purpose of man cannot be nullified. The bible says in Isa 14:24 The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:
  • The purpose may be hindered, delayed or frustrated for a period of time. But when such happens, it is that the glory of God and His power might be seen and known. And it is also that His patience, compassion and love might be appreciated.
  • God can use any means to achieve His purpose. He stirred up the spirit of a heathen king to initiate the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem.
  • The purpose of man without God’s backing, can be nullified, delayed, or frustrated by the contrary powers.
  • When someone is in partnership with God for the fulfillment of his divine destiny, every obstacle will be an opportunity for God to be glorified in his life.
  • Powers can be employed to frustrate your divine purpose. Such power as witchcraft, occult, familiar spirit, demons etc.
  • You have a role to play in the fulfillment of your divine purpose in life. Ezra 6:14 “And the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo”
  • Prophetic pronouncements (prayers) upon the Jews of Judah and Jerusalem changed the course of things to resume the construction of the temple again.
  • Prophetic prayers are needed to dismantle satanic hindrances in our lives.
  • Prophetic prayers will dismantle evil check points established against your breakthrough.
  • Prophetic prayers will restore your marriage that the contrary powers have dissolved in the spirit.
  • Prophetic prayers will open the doors of great opportunity unto you.
  • Prophetic prayers will connect you to divine husband or wife.
  • Prophetic prayers will bring together your fragmented soul.
  • Prophetic prayers will undo the works of Satan in your life.
  • Prophetic prayers will move your life forward and cause you to fulfill your divine purpose in life
WHAT ARE THE PROPHETIC PRAYERS?
  • They are the prayers of faith that is only as small as a grain of mustard seed.
  • They are the prayers prayed in desperation for an answer after the order of prophet Elijah, “O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this child’s soul come into him again - 1 kings17:21
  • They are the prayers tied to time and season after the order of Elisha to the Shunnammite woman, “about this season, according to the time of life, thou shall embrace a son”- 2 kings 4:16
  • They are the prayers of “thus saith the Lord God of Israel” after the order of prophet Elijah to the widow of Zarephath, “The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruise of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth – 2 kings 17:14 
  • They are faith filled targeted prayers at dismantling evil blockages.
  • They are faith filled, focused prayers at restoring damaged relationships.
  • Please pray the following prophetic prayers:
  1. You my life, receive the anointing to prosper physically and spiritually, in the name of Jesus.
  2. You my body, receive the fire of divine healing and be made whole, in the name of Jesus.
  3. You my life (career, business, marriage) hear the word of the Lord, come out of the valley of demonic oppression, in the name of Jesus.
  4. You my glory, break forth, out of every demonic detention, in the name of Jesus.
  5. You my destiny hear the word of the Lord, come out of the shadow of death, in the name of Jesus.
  6. You my calling and ministry, begin to excel, in the name of Jesus.
  7. You the work of my hand, begin to prosper, in the name of Jesus.
  8. You my womb, receive the power to conceive, in the name of Jesus.
  9. Every hindrance to my conception, give way now, in the name of Jesus.
  10. Thou God of time and season, arise in Your glory and beautify my life, in the name of Jesus.
  11. Thou God of time and season, connect me to the one that will add to my life, in the name of Jesus.
  12. Thou God of time and season connect me to the one that will help me spiritually to fulfill my divine purpose in life, in the name of Jesus.
  13. Thou God of time and season, stir up the spirit of my divine helpers to begin to look for me, in the name of Jesus.
  14. O Lord, frustrate the agenda of the power assigned to delay my divine purpose, in the name of Jesus.
  15. Every dark garment forcefully put on me to delay my breakthrough, catch fire, in the name of Jesus.
  16. Powers assigned to arrest my glory, be confused and rendered powerless, in the name of Jesus.
  17. Thou God of time and purpose, let your eye of mercy behold the situation of my life and cause my situation to change for Your glory, in the name of Jesus.
  18. Begin to thank the Lord for answering your prayers.