Empowered Through Prayer: God Is the Divine Shield Against Our Enemies — Rev. Benson Abudu
By Dr. Afolabi Olajuwon
Congregants at the Foursquare Gospel Church, Wuse District Headquarters, Abuja, were charged to remain steadfast in prayer and confident in God’s protection as the church concluded its September Week of Transfiguration.
Following a spirit-filled praise and worship session led by Pastor Adebisi Ademola, Rev. Benson Abudu delivered a fervent ministration titled, “Between You and Your Enemies Is God,” under the broader theme, “Lift Up My Head, O God.”
Rev. Abudu began by expressing gratitude to the Senior Pastor and District Overseer, Rev. Dr. Babatunde Idowu, for the opportunity to minister. He described the Week of Transfiguration as a platform for spiritual renewal, intercession and deliverance.
The Enemy’s Intention and God’s Final Word
Drawing from Exodus 15:9, the minister explained that the enemy often operates with the intention to pursue, overtake, dispossess and destroy:
“The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.”
He observed that this passage reveals the aggressive intentions of the enemy. However, he assured the congregation that the enemy’s declaration does not determine the believer’s destination because God always has the final word.
Rev. Abudu reinforced this assurance with Isaiah 7:6–7:
“Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal: Thus saith the Lord GOD, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.”
He declared that conspiracies, schemes and evil pronouncements against God’s people would neither stand nor come to pass.
“The enemy may make proposals concerning your life, but God stands between you and those proposals,” he said. “No matter the battle before you, always remember this truth: between you and your enemy is God.”
Enemies as a Testing Ground
Rev. Abudu described enemies and opposition as a “testing ground” upon which faith, character and spiritual maturity are examined. He explained that while the devil intends temptation to weaken or destroy the believer, God can transform the same experience into an instrument of growth and promotion.
He referred to Matthew 4:1, where Jesus was “led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.” According to him, trials do not necessarily signify abandonment by God; they may become opportunities for believers to demonstrate faith and emerge stronger.
“Your enemies may be your pursuers, accusers or oppressors, but they cannot cancel God’s purpose for your life,” he said. “The trouble confronting you today may become the stepping stone that lifts you tomorrow. When trouble comes, do not surrender; prepare for promotion.”
He cautioned believers against responding to opposition with fear, hatred or physical confrontation. Their responsibility, he said, is to stand firmly in faith, prayer and obedience to God.
God Is a Specialist in Times of Trouble
Rev. Abudu described God as “a specialist in times of trouble” and an ever-present source of help. His declaration echoed Psalm 46:1:
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
He reminded the congregation that Jesus taught His disciples to approach God as Father, saying in Matthew 6:9, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”
“If God is your Father, you are not alone in the battle,” he declared. “The God who has never failed remains present in your difficulty. He is Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord who provides, and He is able to bring you out of every trouble.”
Referring to Hebrews 10:31, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”, the minister emphasised that God is gentle toward those who trust Him but mighty in judgment and deliverance. He declared that no power could successfully overthrow a person whom God had chosen to defend.
The Word of God Remains Supreme
The minister affirmed the authority of Scripture, describing the Word of God as superior to human philosophies and powerful enough to bring hope where human ability reaches its limit. He nevertheless encouraged believers to act responsibly while trusting God, recognising that prayer and appropriate professional care need not be treated as opposites.
He recounted the testimony of a man who, according to him, experienced recovery after a prolonged hospital admission and spiritual intervention. The testimony, he explained, illustrated the importance of persistent prayer and faith even in seemingly hopeless circumstances.
Rev. Abudu also narrated personal experiences of deliverance. He recalled confronting and removing a longstanding family idol as part of his obedience to God’s call into ministry. He further testified about surviving a dangerous motorcycle incident in which the motorcycle reportedly continued moving uncontrollably even after its ignition had been switched off.
For him, those experiences demonstrated that divine preservation is real and that believers should never underestimate the power of prayer.
Prayer Must Produce Action
Rev. Abudu stressed that divine protection does not excuse spiritual carelessness. Believers must accept responsibility by praying, living righteously, knowing their identity in Christ and remaining committed to God’s assignment.
“Tell the enemy that you belong to God,” he charged the congregation. “Know your role, understand your duty on earth and recognise that the trouble before you cannot overturn God’s purpose.”
He called for dedicated intercessors who would regularly pray and fast for the church, its leadership, members and families. Such service, he explained, requires sacrifice, discipline and a genuine burden for the spiritual well-being of others.
Prayer, he added, should not be driven by hatred for people, for Ephesians 6:12 makes clear:
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
The true battle, therefore, is spiritual, and the believer’s weapons must remain prayer, truth, righteousness, faith and the Word of God.
Declarations of Deliverance
The ministration concluded with an intense prayer session during which Rev. Abudu led worshippers in seeking divine intervention against affliction, oppression and destructive patterns.
He prayed for an end to sudden deaths and chronic illnesses in families and declared that every scheme designed to frustrate the destinies of worshippers would fail. The congregation responded with fervent prayers, asking the Holy Spirit to expose hidden works of darkness and grant deliverance.
“You will not die in the battles of your family, workplace or nation,” he declared. “Every arrow directed against you shall fail, and every trouble assigned to bury your destiny shall become a stepping stone to your elevation.”
The central message of the service was unmistakable: enemies may threaten, pursue and conspire, but they cannot occupy the place reserved for God. For the believer who remains prayerful and faithful, opposition is not the end of the story.
Between the believer and every hostile intention stands the Almighty God, the unfailing shield, the present help in trouble and the One who lifts the bowed head.
Dr. Afolabi Olajuwon is a freelance writer and Christian educator based in Abuja, Nigeria, with a passion for documenting faith-based initiatives and their impact on communities.
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