FAITH CAPSULE: If you will allow the testimony of His resurrection to rule your heart and you shall be blessed.

John20:1-18

The Bible described Mary Magdalene as the one that was healed of evil spirits and infirmities (Luke 8:1). Mary Magdalene was the last at the cross and the first one at the grave. She was a close follower of Jesus. It is written about Mary Magdalene, “Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” (John 20:1-2) She was the first to announce the disappearance of the Jesus’ body from the grave. Mary could have been looking to the disciples for an answer for the disappearance of the body of Jesus from the grave. This was the Mary who Jesus healed from the possession of evil spirits. The crucifixion of Jesus meant a great deal to her. Mary Magdalene was not operating based on any hidden agenda of material gain. Mary Magdalene love Jesus and she demonstrated it more after Jesus was crucified. Does Jesus’ crucifixion mean anything to you like that of Mary Magdalene?  After Mary reported the rising of Jesus from the grave, the disciples at first did not believe her report. The same Mary Magdalene could not leave the grave side. It is written, “Mary stood outside of the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb.”  Eventually, Jesus who was raised from the dead showed up to Mary Magdalene and spoke, “Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” (John 20:15) Can you also answer to Jesus, why you are weeping today? Whom are you seeking? If you have accepted Him and know that indeed He is alive it is time to begin to seek Him and only Him. Mary Magdalene might have been a woman with no good reputation but she became the first messenger of the resurrection of Jesus. What is holding you from accepting Him as your Lord and savior? Is Jesus living in your heart? Keeping the testimony will enable you to seek Him like Mary did. The book of psalm stated, “Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart.” (Psalm 119:2) In this season of Easter celebration, allow the testimony of His resurrection to rule your heart and you shall be blessed. Jesus is alive!
 
Prayer for today: Ask God to circumcise your heart with His love.

FAITH CAPSULE: If they had not lifted their eyes, they would not have been able to see the need of lifting their voices.

1Samuel 1, Luke 17:11-37

The ten lepers that had an encounter with Jesus took a unique and different way of approaching Him due to their condition. “Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.” (Luke 17:12-14) As a leper, law restricted their movement. The restriction of movement prompted them to stand afar and call out with loud voices. Until they were loud, they could not become a showcase for His glory. Could it be that it is time for you to take a different approach in order for you to receive your healing miracle? The Psalmist suggested and encouraged us how to receive from Him, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills from whence comes my help.” (Psalm 121:1) The ten lepers injected their own way of receiving healing by lifting up their voices, not because the Lord is deaf and cannot hear. How have you adapted to calling on Him in every step of His passing moment? Just like the lepers who were seeking their miracles, Hannah was also seeking her miracle while going to Shiloh every year. She must have been quiet to herself in her prayers while she enjoyed fellowshipping with her husband. One year, however, she took a different approach 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 fellowship she took a different approach by weeping and not eating. Heaven immediately acted on her behalf and brought forth her miracle. The lepers added to the Psalmist’s approach when they lifted their voices to get Heaven’s attention. The lifting of voices could not have been possible until they lifted their eyes and saw Jesus passing by. If they had not lifted up their eyes, they would not have been able to see the need of lifting their voices. Lift up your eyes, lift your voice, cry out to Him, abstain from eating; you can take a different approach by combining all of these result oriented moves and more because, it can never be too much to elevate your approach of receiving from Him. He is a faithful God.

Prayer for today: Hear my prayer and let my cry come unto You O Lord.

FAITH CAPSULE: Self gain but not gaining soul for the kingdom has taken the center stage in the life of many believers.

John 18:1-11

If you have never been betrayed before, there will surely come a time when you will be; possibly from those who are closest to you and even at a time when you least expect it. For Jesus to be crucified Judas was destined to betray Jesus. John 18:1-2 stated, “When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples.”Judas knew Jesus well enough and also knew the place to sell him for money that could not last for eternity. Today, many among the body of believers are doing what Judas did. Selling out the name of Jesus for materials that will not last for an eternity is all over the world. Self gain but not gaining soul for the kingdom has taken the center stage in the life of many believers. Jesus was betrayed because He wanted to give us eternal life and life more abundantly. What is the world offering you to betray Jesus? Are you betraying Him consciously or are you betraying Him unconsciously? Judas’ was conscious and deliberate at the time of betraying Jesus. When it was time to arrest Jesus, “Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.” (John 18:3) The troop of offense that was led by Judas came prepared to arrest the Son of God. Even though they had lanterns and torches, they were unable to recognize Jesus. The Bible recorded that Jesus went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking” (John 18:4) After He introduced Himself they drew back and fell to the ground; because their intentions were wicked and evil, it blinded their eyes. The book of Matthew stated, “Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.”” (Matthew 26:48-49) In the name of love many are betraying Him and giving Him up because of their selfish gain. How are you betraying Him? As much as there are some that are betraying Him, some will remain faithful to Him. Peter was an example in attempt to defend Jesus when he drew out his sword and struck one of the crowds that came to arrest Jesus. (John 18:11) You will reap what you sow. In this time of season, search your heart and see if there is any wicked way in you and make amend. Jesus is Lord. 

Prayer for today: Ask God to see if there is any wickedway in you. Also ask God to lead you in the way everlasting.

FAITH CAPSULE: “…joy and rejoicing are the only ways to keep in the way of God because it lands you in the presence of God.” 

Habakkuk 3:16-19

You cannot praise Him without rejoicing, likewise you cannot rejoice without praising Him. Rejoicing in the Lord is the joy of the One that requires our rejoicing in Him. The Joy of the Lord is your strength because it is His joy that will give access to the Light, and with Light revelation flows. Habakkuk 3:17, “Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls.” This is not a situation that anyone would like to be in but, it is not a situation that anyone wants to experience. It is a place in the depth of a valley where there seems to be no way out, and no end in sight as to when the time of rising and climbing out of the depth of valley. There is no one that wants to plant a tree and wants to see it fruitless, neither is it pleasant to have no fruit where the vines should be bringing forth fruit as the crown of labor. When your hard labor seems to be producing a result that matches that of a person who does not work hard, when all that needs to be adding to a better result begins to be cut off, and then you know that something is wrong that could be beyond your comprehension. Habakkuk does have a word for you, if you will receive it and live by it, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” (Habakkuk 3:18) Once again, joy and rejoicing are the only ways to keep in the way of God because it lands you in the presence of God. Jesus was in the midst of the family of Lazarus during the time of their mourning for Lazarus’ passing. As they were lifting their voices in wailing, crying, and gnashing of teeth, the Bible recorded that, “… Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father I thank You that you have heard Me.” (John 11:41)  Try thanking Him with a heart full of joy in the face of adversity or challenges, and then wait to see if He will act on your behalf or not. If you will receive all that the Lord has put down in the pages of scripture for our learning, all the miracles that were testified will not escape you. Try God and see that He alone is faithful and true to His word of deliverance and life. If you will continue to put your trust in Him, He will allow you to walk on high places.

Prayer for today:Ask God to enable you with the spirit of rejoicing in every area of your life.