PRAYER FESTIVAL

OCTOBER 2018
THEME: BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD
(Psalm 46 : 10, Exodus 14 : 13 -15, John 15 : 7)

Introduction

The emphasis of this theme is in four facets – “ be still’, “ know”, “I AM”, “ God”.

In Psalm 46:10 the Psalmist seemed to address the people of God on the battle field. He
recounts the challenging times and the faith assurance of God as well as His help in times of
trouble. This was perhaps written during the time of Jehoshaphat when the enemies of Moab,
Ammon and Edom battled with Israel. It praises God for his sovereignty and victory over the
enemies ( 2 chron. 20:1-30).

Exodus 14 : 13-15 tells the miraculous story of Israelites in which God saved them from the
hands of the Egyptians with the crossing of the Red Sea on dry land and destruction of the
Egyptian army when they attempted to pursue Israel through the water. In line with the
church’s theme for 2018, Christ demonstrates His provident nature in John 15:7 by
encouraging us to remain in Him and allow His word to remain in us, so that whatever we ask
(in His name), he will do it (in his will).

Brief exposition on the theme

Be Still

To “be still” in Hebrew literary means to ‘let go’ or ‘to release’ ‘hold your peace’ and lastly ‘to
hold back’ and not necessarily surrender or accept defeat.

In a battle or on the battle field, there are times when the soldiers go forth to face their
enemies with the captains behind. When things get tough, the Captain would usually shout
from behind, retreat! And all the soldiers will immediately stop and make way for the captain
to come to the front usually with a new strategy, command, or to lead the fighters himself. In
this scenario, his command to retreat is therefore neither to accept defeat nor to surrender.
It is rather a call for his men to BE STILL and give way for his intervention, in which the
approach to take is not known to the fighters but at least they trust in his capacity and power
to lead and bring them victory – be still!

Be still in the context of our chosen scriptures is to pause and trust God. It is in fact the point
where:

 you realize that in what you are doing or going through, your current situation will not
bring you victory.
  the threats of what is facing or surrounding you is weakening your hopes to be
victorious
 your strength and zeal to forge ahead is diminishing
 you come to a sudden realization that there is already a more than able one with you
and you freeze- not to surrender, to your enemies but to give way for the supreme
person to take over with a unilateral trust (dicey) that you will win.

Be still does not mean to be quiet or stop the fight completely but you stand by and be alert
in expectation of what the Captain (God) will command you to do or what he would do
himself. All you do is to empty yourself, stop your ways completely and look unto the Captain
(God).

Be still therefore is trust in the Lord; wait upon God or remain in God as a result of your
doubtless knowledge, faith and experience that HE CAN DO IT.

Be still is the point where one’s effort ends and the point where God’s unfailing victorious
intervention begins.

Be still is the point to see and experience the saving power of our God. We give up trusting in
our strength and our own designs in order to experience the glory of God’s superior and
sustainable intervention.

Know

A concurrent act of being still is to know.

To know is to trust, get settled, be satisfied or totally convinced that there is a great and more
than able one with you. This in fact goes beyond just having knowledge of something. To
know in our context is a state of having utmost convincement, acceptance and expectation
of a desired end, as a result of the Master’s sure intervention.

When the children of God gets to the point of knowing in being still, they empty their minds
and heart – 0% thought of what we can do; 0% fear of the intimidating and threatening
environment; No complaints and cry outs in pain, but a faith-full state and step (auto pilot
mode) under God’s sole direction.

While being still is the point of realization, knowing is the latent period between being still
and the point of victory. Within the point of knowing our efforts is zero, our understanding
cannot be well defined, our efforts is hidden in that of God, there are no questions – its all
about faith and faith-steps. Thus to know is to act in full faith and trust in God who is in full
control.

Let us remember a remarkable thing God did prior to the knowing period during the crossing
of the Red Sea in Exo. 14 : 19. The bible says that the angel of God who had been leading the
Israel’s army withdrew and went behind them and also the pillar of cloud moved from in front
and stood behind them.
After God had commanded them to be still, they had to give way for Him to come in between
them since the Egyptians were coming from behind so He can face them Himself. Israel was
about to enter the auto pilot mode – i.e. God was taking over and did not want even one
soldier to look back let alone attempting to fight the Egyptians from behind. So both the
leading angel and the pillar of cloud came behind them. They actually needn’t question the
sudden change of the position of the angel and the pillar of cloud. The sight of the threatening
Egyptians from behind were covered by the cloud and there was no time for the people to
complain. All that they needed to do in the knowing period was to take a faith step into the
water and go according to God’s (Elyon) command.

To know, is to take a step with faith under the direction of God.

I AM

I AM is the all encompassing name of the most high God. It describes and includes all
attributes of God which He has made known and available to man.

Being still and knowing that ‘I AM’ is about taking a faith step in the Almighty, Omnipresent,
Omnipotent and Omniscient God. In your stillness you do not only take faith steps but in the
fullness of God. This makes all faith-full steps taken in stillness, a must-win step because its
done in the fullness of God.

The presence of I AM demands no questions or doubt as to what, when and how our good
expectations will be met.

God ( El )

The everlasting God (YHWH) makes all the good things He brings to us suitable, permanent,
sustainable and peaceful. By His merciful and caring nature, He’s always ready to help us in
our trials and troubles.

His presence in our lives gives us the promise and assurance that He will save us all the time.
He is not just God for our difficult times, but the one who brings us all goodness, kindness and
all provisions. He is lovely and ever ready to meet our needs and ensure our safety. All we
have to do is to remain in Him and let His word remain in us (John 15:7). Give yourself to
prayer with faith and when you pray believe that God will answer. Do not fight your own fight
or put your trust in another man, but fully trust in the Lord with prayer for victory is of/from
the Lord, our God.

Conclusion

When you are faced by the troubles of this world; when we are challenged beyond our
strength and all our efforts seem failing, do not faint, just be still and know that I AM (is) God.
PROPOSED PRAYER LINES

1. Prayer for God’s intervention in any life situation and condition that intimidates and
threatens of life. Prayer for those who have got to the shore of the red sea. (Exodus
14: 14)
2. As the year comes to an end if there are any unfulfilled plans we pray for God’s
intervention to remove all barriers and make way for greater achievements.
3. Prayer for the Lord’s intervention in our work for profitability
4. Prayer for our children and wards who have just started school at different levels –
Basic, SHS, University, Others.
5. Special prayer for healing, marriage, child-bearing
6. Prayer for the church and nation
7. Others