It Will Not Happen Again by Pastor Jerry Eze: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

The Mandate to Always Pray

Sometimes the freedom and the promises — everything about God's word — seems to be negated by the devil. And sometimes believers seem to be questioning their own identity in Christ: God, am I really who you say I am? Are your promises yea and amen? These are questions that trouble believers every day. God comes in this service to alert someone that the principles of His word remain the same. By two immutable things it is impossible for God to lie.

Every believer must understand that your word from God and the mandate from God is to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has set you free. Stand fast — be unmovable — don't tolerate what God does not recommend. Don't accept what God did not prescribe.

Opening scripture: Luke 18:1-8. He spoke a parable to them to this end — that men ought always to pray and not to faint. He didn't say men should pray, but men ought always to pray. The word "men" here is not about gender — it is about maturity, stamina, stature. It is only children that don't pray. If you don't pray, you will become prey. And the devil will play with you.

The interesting thing is the "always." Men ought always to pray and not to faint. If you are not praying, you are fainting. If you don't want to faint, start praying.

The Problem Is the System, Not Just the Adversary

Beware of men who don't fear God — they will not regard you. The Bible says this judge feared not God, neither did he regard man. Let me say it a second time: beware of men and women who don't fear God, because they will not regard you. The regard they have for you is because they fear God.

Check the fear of God in people around you. The way they fear God will tell you how much they will honor you. Don't be fooled by their sweet words. Don't be fooled by how eloquent they are. Don't be fooled by the register of their words. It is impossible that they will fear God and still be comfortable living in unforgiveness toward you. If they can comfortably live in bitterness, they have no fear of God.

Now, this woman — a widow — came to the judge. You may not understand her desperation until you understand who she was. She had already lost something. And despite what she had lost, the adversary still didn't leave her. Things are going wrong, they still will not leave her. Still blocking favor. Still blocking new seasons.

The problem of this woman is not the judge. The problem is the adversary. However, the woman needs the judge in order to discomfit the adversary. The judge is a system that is in place — supposed to be incorruptible. The adversary uses this system to frustrate the woman. No matter how this woman prays, if she is not in control of this system, every prayer will look like it is a waste.

But what the adversary was not ready for — is a woman who isn't going to give up.

Systems have refused you. Structures that say your time is over. Systems that stood at the gates saying people like you will never break into a new season. At the sound of your amen, let there be a reversal. I decree they work for your good, right now.

Continual Coming

The widow went many times to the judge. The judge did not answer her a word. But she would go back. She continued praying, she continued interceding. The judge said within himself: Though I fear not God, nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her — lest by her continual coming she weary me.

So this widow was not prepared to stop. I will continue to knock on your door. I will continue to influence whatever system stands against me.

There are days you wake up and the Lord says: Three days fast. There are days the Lord says: Speak in tongues for thirty minutes. There are days God tells you: Speak to gates and cities to open. There are days He says: Deal with foundations. There are days He says: Pray, "Oh Lord, show me mercy." Whichever one — don't leave a gap.

You don't know one of the things God did by taking you through what He took you through — He allowed some people to leave your life so that you would know that people are not who they say they are. God let some things happen to reveal the hearts of people toward you.

His Very Elect: Day and Night

And shall not God avenge His own elect which cry day and night unto Him? The word "elect" means chosen — the ones He has set apart, the ones He has preserved. The word "cry" in that scripture is not necessarily weeping — it means pray. His own elect that are praying day and night.

Praying day and night does not mean only morning and night by the clock. It means whether there is joy or not. Whether there is laughter or not. If you reduce your prayer to seasons of pain, you are a transactional Christian. But whether there is joy or whether there is laughter — I keep praying. You are either a transitional Christian moving from one level of glory to another, or you are a transactional one.

His very elect — whether it is day or night — they are talking to their Father. Whether things are working or not. Whether the devil throws guilt on them or not, they still show up. They move from strength to strength. They appear before God in Zion.

Prayer is not because of what you need. Prayer is because you love your Father. Have you ever prayed to the point where you start laughing? You laugh in the Holy Ghost. You started with crying and ended up laughing. You pray in the Holy Ghost and you start smiling. They come and tell you, "Do you know your mother is sick?" His very elect will not panic. They will not miss midweek service. Whether people approve or not — they show up.

The stamina you need for the night, the grace of God you need to deal with things in the night — you gather it in the morning season of your life. That time when there is nothing. This is where you build it.

Faith Produces Speed

God's agenda is: I will answer you speedily. But then He asks another question: When the Son of Man comes, shall He find faith on the earth? The major energy for speed in the kingdom is faith. That is why your faith is under attack. That is why the devil fills your heart with fear — because with one ounce of doubt, you postpone what God wants to do.

Faith is rugged. Faith is stubborn. Faith is not emotional. Faith is not connected to your feelings. Faith does not hear what the environment is saying.

We don't believe in fate when we have faith. Fate paralyzes you to believe that this is your situation. But faith releases energy for you to move even when you are afraid.

By faith, Noah being warned of God of things not yet seen moved with fear and prepared an ark to the saving of his house. Noah didn't really move with confidence — but he was moving. God, I am scared, but I will still move. I don't know what is coming next, but I will still move.

Faith can move mountains — mountains are natural phenomena and faith can move them. If I can move a mountain, there is nothing called fate when I have faith. His very elect pray night and day and they carry faith that produces speed.

Father, we give you all the glory and all the honor. Thank you, Father. Be magnified, oh God.