FAITH CAPSULE: How are you celebrating His journey to Calvary on this day?

Luke 23

Affliction can be sickness, it can be condition or situation which denies man’s freedom from being well. Bible mentioned about affliction stating, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” (Psalm 34:19) Without doubt, affliction shall bow to God’s deliverance for man with understanding of God’s plan. Being righteous is the plan for man’s assurance for deliverance. Jesus our righteousness is the plan of God for our deliverance from all affliction. It is written, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (1 Corinthians 5:20) Jesus is our righteousness if we abide in Him. He is God’s beloved as God testified, “…My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11)
Are you celebrating Jesus’ Journey to Calvary with understanding?
Jesus, the living Word of God is the reason for man’s deliverance when He went through the Calvary journey if man will abide in Him. Reason of Jesus’ journey to the Calvary is identified in His word as stated, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Deliverance from affliction is to be free.
The bible recorded Jesus’ Calvary journey which is the price for our deliverance stating, “Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, ^“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.” (Matthew 20:17-19) Exactly what He said in the verse happened to Him. Jesus knew beforehand that all His disciples were going to stumble and scatter at His arrest. Indeed, and in truth all His disciples forsook Him as recorded in Matthew 26:56, “…Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.” He was betrayed by His disciples and today nothing has changed especially among his acclaimed believers. How are you betraying Jesus? How are you celebrating His journey to Calvary on this day?
Disciples of Jesus scattered, Peter betrayed Him by denying Him. Celebrating with no understanding is the avenue of failure. Such failure avenue will lead to denying Jesus by lying, deception and manipulation. Lying, deception and manipulation should not be for one celebrating the journey of Jesus with understanding. Are you acclaimed believer with no understanding of Calvary celebration? Every acclaimed believer wants to be identified with Jesus but none wants to suffer with Him or suffer just like He did. Are you making noise as a believer but living as a deceiver? Today, celebrate Jesus, remain focus, disallow His Calvary journey be a waste concerning His plan over your life.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace not to be a failure in the plan of Jesus for life.

FAITH CAPSULE: Prayer is power for self-deliverance.

2 Kings 20

Prayer is seeking God. Prayer can be described as a power force that is in place for man to vigorously engage for self-deliverance. Prayer demands persistent to get result. Are you experiencing challenge that is resisting continuous prayer? According to Jesus, prayer demands, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7) In the pages of bible it is evident that prayer is the key for self-deliverance. Hezekiah was among those with testimony of self-deliverance through prayer. It is recorded concerning Hezekiah, “In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.’”( 2Kings 20:1) Hezekiah did not seek deliverance from no man but engaged prayer before God for his self-deliverance from sudden death. Hezekiah prayed to God reminding God about his walk and loyal heart before God; he wept before God. God responded to Hezekiah’s prayer and sent Isaiah to Hezekiah stating, “…I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord.  And I will add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake, and for the sake of My servant David.” (2Kings 20:5-6) Truly, Hezekiah prayed before God to gain self-deliverance from sudden death.
Hannah vigorously prayed in time of her barrenness. Hannah was praying when Eli mistook her for drunkenness. It is written, “ And it happened, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth.  Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk.  So Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!” (1Samuel 1:12-14) Hannah responded to Eli saying she was not drunk but poured out her soul before God. As a result, Eli answered to her, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.” (1 Samuel 1:17) Hannah prayed vigorously and she conceived and bore Samuel.
Are you praying? Jesus emphasized the need for prayer and He demonstrated prayer as He prayed for Peter’s deliverance from faith failure in Luke 22:32, “But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail…”  Through prayer, Paul experienced self-deliverance from prison and death trap journey. Paul was constant prayer as stated, “And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!” (2 Timothy 4:18) Prayer is power for self-deliverance if man will vigorously engage praying to God in the name of Jesus.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace of strength in praying.

FAITH CAPSULE: See and hear in His word for self-deliverance.

Joshua 8

When it was time for the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, God sent angels for deliverance of Lot. Lot was urged to hurry not to be consumed in the punishment of the city. While he lingered, he was taken out by the angels which was the mercy of the Lord. Lot was reluctant to escape to assigned city of his escape. (Genesis 19:19-20) The angel responded to Lot for his deliverance saying, “…See, I have favored you concerning this thing also, in that I will not overthrow this city for which you have spoken. Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there.” (Genesis 19:21-22) It was Lot’s able to see in the word that delivered Lot from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot’s route for deliverance failed for the wife of Lot’s deliverance because she looked back against the word of God. Lot’s wife became a pillar of salt because she could not see in the word of God. (Genesis 19:26) The word of God is sent for man to see and gain self-deliverance in the ground of destruction.
Word of God is the source of faith and with work it delivers assured self-deliverance. Are you seeing, hearing in the word of God to gain your deliverance with failure?
The children of Israel under the leadership of Joshua encountered challenge of stagnation in attempt to pass through Jericho to God’s Promise Land. It is written, “Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in.” (Joshua 6:1) The children of Israel needed deliverance to move through the shut-up gate. Without doubt, gaining self-deliverance against challenge will take charge when man sees in the word of God to obey the word of God. It is written, “Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.” (Joshua 6:2) Joshua heard and saw in the word of God as he took position of self-deliverance for the Israelites’ journey to the Promised Land.
In another challenging situation for the Israelites in the hand of Ai people there was a need for self-deliverance. The bible recorded, “Now the Lord said to Joshua: “Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.” (Joshua 8:1) Repeatedly, Joshua could see and he was able to hear the word of God for self-deliverance for the Israelites at Jericho and in the hand of the Ai people. Obviously, hearing and seeing in the word of God for obedience is an assurance for self-deliverance from challenges of life.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to be seeing and hearing in the word of God.

FAITH CAPSULE: Are you paying attention not to be a victim of multitude/crowd?

2 Kings 4

Elisha wanted to bless the Shunammite woman when Gehazi revealed to Elisha, “…she has no son, and her husband is old.” (2 Kings 4:14) In response to Gehazi, Elisha spoke into the life of the Shunammite woman, “About this time next year you shall embrace a son.” (2 Kings 4:16) As it was spoken into the life of the Shunammite woman so it happened to be. The Shunammite woman had a son but the son later fell sick and died. The Shunammite woman went back to Elisha for his intervention to bring her son back from death to life. When Elisha approached the dead son, he shut door to keep the mother and Gehazi out as he engaged prayer to the Lord. Obviously, two is a multitude.
With multitude as your company, are you going to advance in the plans to give glory to God? In life, among the major hindrances of man is multitude. It is important to take note in the bible that a failure to disengage multitude is an engagement to failure which will disallow giving testimony to the glory of God. Elisha’s shutting door on the two is a lesson for man to know that two is a multitude and it deserves denial from hindering man’s attempt to give God glory.
Multitude or crowd will take charge as hindrance where man allows. Jesus disallowed crowd in His attempt to restore the dead of leader’s daughter. The bible recorded, “When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.  And the report of this went out into all that land.” (Matthew 9:23-26) The lesson from Jesus for us is to know and understand the need for putting out multitude/crowd. Be warned in the journey of life, we are to constantly put out multitude where our assignment for the glory of God calls for. Putting out multitude/crowd is crucial to carry through for God’s glory.
Life is a journey and multitude is an agent against man for reaching to expected end in the journey of life. Wisdom, knowledge and understanding is rooted in the written word of God. Are you paying attention to attain the wisdom, knowledge and understanding not to be a victim of multitude/crowd?
Prophet Elisha avoided multitude when he shut out multitude on his way. Jesus our Lord and savior evaded multitude on His way by putting out multitude. What is stopping you from shutting or putting out the multitude in your life? Do not accommodate multitude/crowd in your journey of life for the glory of God.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the boldness and character not to accommodate multitude in life.

FAITH CAPSULE: Engage self in the truth of God for self deliverance in time of challenge.

1 Samuel 30

Deliverance is to have freedom from challenges of life. God alone is the author of deliverance if man will seek Him by waiting on Him for self deliverance. In life, there is no any deliverance that can be compared to self deliverance. In time of challenge, as a believer, are you seeking or looking to man for deliverance or seeking God? Engage self in the truth of God for self deliverance in time of challenge. Jesus declared about the source of freedom as stated, “…If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32) Jesus the word of God is the truth. (John 14:6) According to the word of Jesus, as a believer that abides in the word of Jesus, such believer shall know the truth which makes freedom becomes possibility from challenge.
In the place of looking for deliverance from man, get to know the truth to become self-delivered from challenges.
King David is an example with challenge but turned to the truth of God for self deliverance.
David’s challenge was the attack from the Amalekites. In the attack, David’s people were taken as captives which provoked his followers to lift their voices and wept. The bible recorded effect of the Amalekites attack, “Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” (1 Samuel 30:6) David became a target of rejection by his followers as he became discouraged and distressed.
The challenge of David demanded deliverance as a result, he turned to self deliverance through the hand of God. The above verse pointed out David’s deliverance: First, David strengthened himself in the Lord his God; Second self deliverance was David’s self move to inquire of the Lord. David did not take to the position of self-pity before man. It is written concerning David’s self deliverance, “…David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” God responded to David, “Pursue, for you shall overtake them and without fail recover all.” (1 Samuel 30:8) Self deliverance of David was in the truth (word) of God which he received when he inquired from God. David, in time of challenge of distress, discouragement, lonely, he strengthened himself in the Lord. David inquired from God and he was reassured by God to go after his enemy.
God is true to deliver man that will abide in Him to know the truth and the truth shall give deliverance (freedom) from challenge

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace of deliverance in the name of Jesus.