FAITH CAPSULE:Doing right without a loyal heart will be impossible to please God.

2 Chronicles 25

The Bible described Amaziah king of Judah, “And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a loyal heart.” (2 Chronicles 25:2) Doing what is right in the sight of God without a loyal heart will be impossible to please God. The Bible makes us to realize that without faith it is impossible to please God. (Hebrew 11:6) In the case of Amaziah, he did what was right when he executed those who killed his father and not execute their children. Amaziah’s was obeying the Law of Moses as documented in Deuteronomy 24:16, “The father shall be put to death for their children, nor shall the children be put to death for their fathers; but a person shall die for his own sin.” It was the same Amaziah that experienced the hand of God, defeating the Edomites. Amaziah’s loyalty to God became altered when he gave into the God of the people he defeated. The Bible recorded, “Now it was so, after Amaziah came from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the people of Seir, set them up to be his gods, and bowed down before them and burned incense to them. Therefore the anger of the LORD was aroused against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of the people, which could not rescue their own people from your hand?” (2 Chronicles 25:14-15) It is clearly mentioned in the above scriptural verses that after he brought the gods, he set and sought the gods of his enemy. Indeed, whatever you set you will seek and that was the case of Amaziah. It qualified him as doing right but not with a loyal heart. As a believer that has given life to Christ Jesus, which position have you taken? The apostle Paul pointed out in Colossians 3:1-2, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” As a believer, what you seek and set your mind on is what will make you up in the journey of life. In all your seeking, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”  (Matthew 6:33) The word of God is true and never fails. When you seek the kingdom of heaven first, not second nor jointly with any other agenda, the result will be true to God’s word. Deuteronomy 4:29, “…seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

Prayer for today: Ask God to enable you to do what is right with a loyal heart all the days that He has given you.

FAITH CAPSULE: It is true that building process is a process of breaking and molding.

Ezra 4

When God is set to build you up for His glory, be prepared for challenges that will come your way during the building process. It is true that building process is a process of breaking and molding before a desired expectation becomes established. God is an Outstanding builder and every outstanding building will face outstanding challenges. It does not matter how, where and when the building is going to start, all that God is going to be getting out of His building project is glory to His name. When God is set to build you for a great assignment or for His glory, the pattern of challenges can be traced. First, there will be discouragement, different kinds of unexpected trouble will show up and lastly frustration will reign so that you can resign. God made a way for His house to be built in Jerusalem when He stirred up the spirit of Cyrus the king of Persia, “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah.” (Ezra 1:2) In this kind of building project that was called for by God, there should have been expectation for a hitch free construction, but it was not so. Opposition an agent of all kinds of trouble showed up. Ezra and the Jews who volunteered to go and build the house of the Lord did not escape the opposition that was against the project that was for God. “Then the people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled them in building, 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.” (Ezra 4:4-5) The pattern of oppositions in bringing challenges to every building construction is consistent in: discouragement, trouble, and frustration. You can, however, continue to count on God for whatever situation you are going through. He is building or rebuilding you and you should pay attention for correction. Pay attention for the purpose of what you will be attending to and taking care of after you have been built. You will become a beautiful building; a building that will always bring glory to His name. God alone is the Building Builder that builds to perfection for His name to be glorified. He will see you through in all your oppositional challenges. Is God building you up in any way or you are being used by Him as an agent for His building construction? When challenges come, they will not be announced to you but will rather just impose themselves in your life. He will see you through in all your oppositional challenges in Jesus name.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to remain focus for His purpose.

FAITH CAPSULE: The more you elevate your approach the more it gets to Him.

1 Samuel 1, Mark 10:46-52

Jesus and His disciples with a large crowd were on their way out of Jericho when Bartimaeus the blind man encountered his healing. The Bible recorded, “When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" (Mark 10:47-48) Bartimaeus’ blindness restricted his movement and he could not flow with the crowd. Bartimaeus limitation prompted him not to be quiet but to call out by shouting on top of his voice. Until he became loud, he could not become a showcase for His glory.Could it be that it is time for you to approach Jesus differently in order to receive your healing miracle? The Psalmist encouraged us in the way he was receiving from Him by saying, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills from whence comes my help.” (Psalm 121:1) The crowd’s attempt to keep Bartimaeus quiet kept him louder. As a result of his persistence to be heard, “Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you."Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.” (Mark 10:49-50)How have you adapted to calling on Him in every of His passing moment? Just like the blind seeking miracle, Hannah was also seeking her miracle while going to Shiloh every year. In her going, she must have been quiet to herself in her prayers while enjoying fellowshipping with her husband. One year, however, she did differently when she was provoked of her barrenness by Peninnah, her husband’s wife. “And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the LORD had closed her womb. So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat. (1 Samuel1:7) Instead of the regular fellowshipping that Hannah had always been having in her trip to Shiloh, she did it differently by weeping and not eating. Heaven was provoked on behalf of Hannah and her doing it differently brought forth her miracle. The blind shouted, the Psalmist lifted his eyes and they both gained heaven’s attention. Shouting out loud could not have been possible until they lifted their eyes and saw Jesus passing. How can you gain His attention differently from the way you have been getting it in order to provoke Heaven for your miracle? Lift eyes, lift voice, cry unto Him, abstain from eating, combine all or add more. The more you elevate your approach the more it gets to Him.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace not to be quiet where you need to be loud and heard.

FAITH CAPSULE: Stay awake stray from sleeping.

Mark 14:32-50

Sleep can only sink a believer once its seeds are planted in the life of a believer. In this world of wickedness there is a need to be awake and be spiritually alert. To be awake and be alert is to be on guard watching and praying. Few scriptural verses emphasized on the need to watch and pray stating, “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:36) It is written in Ephesians 6:18, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” The first book of Peter could not be completed without stating, “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.” (1 Peter 4:7) The only agent that can take a man away from watching and praying is sleep. Jesus warned his disciples of this very problem when they gave into sleep instead of watching as He prayed. This took place while Jesus was praying in the garden when His time of arrest was near. Evidently, a non praying believer is a sleeping believer. The Bible recorded, “Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mark 14:37-38) The disciples could not stay up in prayer. The going back and forth of Jesus to keep them awake reveals the importance why believer should constantly engage in watching and praying. Twice, Jesus could not keep them awake, “Then He came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.” (Mark 14:41-42) The words of the Bible are not a mere story but a life sustaining dosage for anyone that will take and use. Many are loosing their battle in the sleep and many are set to loose their battle because they lack control over sleeping. Are you awake watching and praying? If you have given your life to Jesus, know that not watching and praying is not your portion. The world is getting darker and we are to get conversant waiting on the Lord in prayer. As a believer, you have a roll to play because the wicked one’s road leads to you. Jesus played His role for all on the Calvary to give life abundantly. Stay awake stray from sleeping.  

Prayer for today: Deliver me from sorrow sleep and let me not be a victim of the wicked one.

FAITH CAPSULE: God is able to see you through and He will never fail. 

Genesis 48:1-14

Life can be difficult and everything can seem to be impossible, but “with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) Jacob’s most beloved wife died a painful death during a journey. “Then they journeyed from Bethel. And when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel labored in childbirth, and she had hard labor. Now it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, “Do not fear; you will have this son also.” And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin.So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). (Genesis 35:16-19)Rachel was the favorite wife of Jacob; she was the mother of Joseph, the most beloved of all the children of Jacob. Joseph was sold to slavery and later framed by brothers as if wild animals devoured him. It was pain and agony to Jacob thinking and accepting there would be no way of seeing Joseph again. Jacob was a first hand witness to how life is full of ups and downs. Have you lost anything or anyone so dear and you have thought there is no hope? It is important that we be careful of negative confession. In the midst of all kinds of agonizing challenges in our way, we can always and it is better to be confessing positives. Jacob thought it was over until he was able to see Joseph. He then testified, “And Israel said to Joseph, “I had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring!” (Genesis 48:11) Have you been giving up to all that has been giving you up to pain, groaning, and mockery? It is not time for you to give up, but it is rather time for you not to give up because when there is life there is hope. God is not a partial God, but a faithful and merciful God. Jacob did not only see Joseph, but he eventually saw Joseph and the children of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh). The word of God encourages, “…and concerning the works of My hands, you command Me.”(Isaiah 45:11) God is true to His word if you will remind Him about Jacob prevailing, you will be able to command Him concerning the need for your miracle. Again, if you will cast your entire care and burden on Him, He is able to see you through and He will never fail. Jacob saw through by seeing Joseph and you will also see-through in Jesus name.

Prayer for today: Ask God, Remember me, O Lord, with the favor You have towards your people. Oh, visit me with Your salvation that I may see the benefit of the chosen ones.