Out of Captivity< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Isaiah 5:11-16

All you have been working on is to find a way out of your captivity. You have not done wrong because captivity is not a place where anyone wants to dwell. It is good to take a moment and trace what led to your captivity. Coming out of captivity could be fruitless if the reason why captivity has taken place is not identified. Isaiah 5:12-13, ÒThe harp and the strings, the tambourine and flute, and wine are in their feasts; but they do not regard the work of the LORD, nor consider the operation of His hands. Therefore my people have gone into captivity. Because they have no knowledge; their honorable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.Ó Do you know that without listening, understanding is impossible? When understanding is lacking, there will be no ground for knowledge. In your hearing of the word, there is listening disability. As a result, knowledge availability is zero. You are thinking you have knowledge, but it is not true. You know why? You are so concerned with your own pleasure that you pay no attention to GodÕs direction. That is evidence of lack of knowledge. In your case, you have disregarded the work of God. As a result, it is not possible for you to consider the operations of His hands. That is a highway to captivity right there. You do not have to accept what you are reading here, but you can take time out of your world and dissect what you have read.

Be Right< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Daniel 6

Being taken captive from his home land as a young man was not enough for Daniel to lose his stand with God; he maintained his stand while in captivity. As a believer, situations that you do not call for will show up, and you will end up in places where you do not want to be. Ending up in the least expected place is not enough for you to misplace your identity in the Lord; you have to avoid misrepresentation of your faith. Daniel, a young man taken out of his comfort zone to a foreign land as a captive, kept himself in the Lord. He was known for his belief because he stood up for what he believed. He stood up against man-made law; he could not pass up his God for the law of the land. A new law was passed to implicate Daniel against the law of the land. However, he did not hide from worshiping his God. Daniel fell under the new law because of his belief; Daniel was to face death in the lionÕs den. The king that gave the command was not happy about that decision, but he has no way out. The king prayed for Daniel, that the God whom Daniel served would deliver Daniel from death. While in the den, the lion went to sleep and could not touch Daniel because the Lord whom he was serving was in place for him. It was the King that got to the den first in the morning and found out about DanielÕs well being. He responded to the king in Daniel6:22, ÒMy God sent His angel and shut the lions mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.Ó Daniel was right before God and before man, and that made it impossible for any beast under heaven to touch Him. If you are not right with man, you cannot be right with God.

Set< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Psalm 22:8, 91:14-16

To set is to trust. Whom do you trust? Do you trust God enough to deliver you and to preserve you? If you trust God, you will be able to wait on Him. Isaiah 30:18, ÒTherefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him.Ó The point here is: the LORD will wait for those that wait on Him. Trust is all you need to be able to wait. There is so much to gain in waiting on the LORD. He said again in Psalm91:14, ÒBecause he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known my name.Ó  He is a faithful God: He meant what he said and He will do exactly what He says He will do. It does not matter how long you have been waiting, you will not exceed His divine time for His purpose concerning your reason for waiting. Keep on trusting Him in your waiting. He is the God of the eleventh hour. God will not show early, neither would He show up late. You cannot wait on Him and end up in waste– you will not waste in your waiting. Ignore the intensity of the problem, He is there with you. Keep calling on Him. Psalm91:15, ÒHe shall call upon Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.Ó Did you get that? God meant it then, and still means to do what He said He will do. Keep on in your waiting, the trouble that cannot overcome God will not overcome you. He said He will be with you in trouble. Set your love on Him. That is all it takes.

What should I do?< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

2Kings 6:1-17, Philippians 4:6

Are you thinking of what you can do in response to all the confrontations that are before you? There is a sure and certain answer. However, as a believer, it is not wrong to ask, ÒWhat should I do?Ó Be on a safe side, make sure in your asking, complaint has no place. Also, it does not matter how many strong believers or which of the giants in the Lord are surrounding you. Your asking of Òwhat should I do?Ó may not be avoided. The servant of Elisha has seen great miracles in the hands of his master, a giant in the Lord.  2 Kings < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>6:15, ÒAnd when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, ÔAlas, my master! What shall we do?ÕÓ There is an answer to what can be done. The same answer that was offered by Elisha to his servant is the only answer for a believer. Do you care to know the answer? 2 Kings 6:16, ÒSo he answered, ÔDo not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.ÕÓ As a believer, it can be challenging to deal with our confronting issues without fear. You have heard it clear today that you should bury fear. Elisha said it, and Paul the Apostle encourages it when he said, ÒBe anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanks giving, let your requests be made know to God; and peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6).Ó If only your spiritual eyes can be opened, you will know that you are more than a conqueror. Rejoice in the Lord always!

Doubt< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

2Kings 7:1-20

Doubt will deny and destroy what God has spoken to you if you do not accept it. In the face of severe famine in < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Samaria, Elisha was speaking as an oracle of God. 2 Kings 7:1, ÒThen Elisha said, ÔHear the word of the LORD: ÒTomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.ÓÕÓ To one of the officers around at the time of the word of God, it was an impossible task. How could such breakthrough be possible in the face of severe famine? Are you experiencing famine in any area of life? A famine experience could be in your financial, health, spiritual, or direction in life. God is a miracle working God. You can believe today that nothing happens by accident. The ignorant officer spoke out of his mouth, not his mind, ÒLook, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, could this thing be (2 Kings 7:2)?Ó Can you see the demonstration of doubt from the head of the doubtful officer? Do you doubt what God can do? Can you imagine yourself waking up into plenty? Have you accepted your famine condition? If you know that God is still on the throne, miracle is not beyond your reach. Just as Elisha has said, the officer saw the miracle with his eyes, but could not touch it. 2 Kings 7:20, ÒAnd so it happened to him, for the people trample him in the gate, and he died.Ó God opened the window of plenty. Be careful, your mouth can deny or destroy you. Ask God to deliver you from careless talk and the spirit of doubt in Jesus name.