FAITH CAPSULE: Multitude is the agent of discouragement, denial and delay.

Mark 10:46-52

The challenges that are keeping you down also want to keep you quiet. When you remain quiet where there is a need to cry out for help, stagnation will become your identity. Blind Bartimaeus the son of Timaeus was an example of not to be quiet where there is a need to call out loud. Blind Bartimaeus was at the right location to receive his sight when multitude attempted to keep him quiet. Bartimaeus was at the juncture where Jesus was passing by, but a great multitude was also in place. Multitude is the agent of discouragement, denial and delay. Bartimaeus refused to be quiet, “When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me.” (Mark 10:47)The crying out of Blind Bartimaeus was an example of what persistency can do against every agent of the wicked, which is set to destroy and deny breakthrough. The more he cried out, the more the attempt was made to get him quiet. In life, there are times of need that calls for us to be quiet in waiting for God to move. Also, there are times of need that calls for us to cry out loud to God. When a believer remains quiet at the time for a need to cry out, the multitude will take such believer for a ride and deny breakthrough in the life of believer. Bartimaeus must have been very loud. The noise of Bartimaeus made Jesus to stand still and commanded him to be called up by Jesus (Mark 11:49). The multitude that was out to keep him quiet was the same multitude that eventually called the blind man out for Jesus. The multitude did not just call on him; they recognized what was about to take place by calling him and saying, “…be of good cheer. Rise He is calling you.” (Mark: 10:49)Have you been exposed to any agent of delay that is attempting to keep you quiet where there is a need to cry out? What you can do is to ignore the multitude and keep on crying out to Jesus. Crying out to Jesus will give you a good cheer. Just like Bartimaeus, calling unto Jesus will cause you to rise above every blind challenges and every force that is in place to keep you grounded. When his crying out could not be dismissed by the multitude, his garment of blindness was thrown away and he rose and went to Jesus. It is never too late to cry out and have the garment of shame, the mark of stagnation, give up in your life. When Jesus hears your cry, you will rise and move out of shame and stagnation.

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

FAITH CAPSULE: A true believer is one that does not only memorize the word of God but also behave the word.

1Kings 17: 1-7

The word of God is powerful, and it was given to us for our deliverance. When we have a clear understanding of the word of God, it will answer in time of challenges. We need to have a clear understanding of the word, because knowing about the word is not enough but to be known in the word. A true believer is one that does not only memorize the word of God but also behave the word. Elijah demonstrated what it means to be a believer that behaves the word of God. The declaration of Elijah was not empty when he approached king Ahab of Israel, “…as the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.”(1 Kings 17:1) Indeed, Elijah’s declaration fully accomplished its purpose when rain ceased for three and half years. The God that answered Elijah is not a partial God; he will answer all those who take a stand in his word.
God will always respond on behalf of every word behaving believer like Elijah. Elijah understood the word and demonstrated a knowing edge when he declared, “As the Lord lives” Elijah knew the word enough by operating Jeremiah 4:1-2 which states, “If you will return, O Israel,” says the LORD, “Return to Me; and if you will put away your abominations out of My sight, Then you shall not be moved. And you shall swear, ‘The LORD lives.’” Elijah did not only quote God but he declares his stand. What is Elijah’s stand? Psalm 24:3-4 asked the same question and gave the answer when it states, “Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully.” Every believer that can answer yes to having a stand that is right before God will no doubt operate the kind of Elijah declaration. Elijah’s exploit is not what we can not do because the Bible made us to realize that, “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.” (James 5:17-18) Elijah’s sincere zealousness for God was evidence when he prayed earnestly. As a believer, is your stand right in the Lord? Knowing to quote the word of God will not produce the same result like living and behaving the word God.

Prayer for today: My Father and my God let your word have its place in my life. 

Faith Capsule: God is looking to see if there are any who seeks Him.

Psalm 53, Matthew 21:1-11

Seeking God to serve God is the reason God created man. Among ways of serving God is praising Him. Psalmist buttressed, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” (Psalm 150:6) The word of the psalmist testifies to the truth that as long as we live life, praising God shall be a continuous engagement. Think of it, are you praising God enough? Ones that does not praise does not serve, not serving God is not seeking God. God is a jealous God. God identified Himself, “…For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God…”  (Exodus 20:5) A jealous God desires and expect a full and constant attention from His creation. Giving God attention is seeking God. Seeking and serving God is the evidence of faith in God. With faith God is pleased with man and without faith He is not please. Are you living life to please God?
It is important to search self and identify what is it that is holding man down from seeking and serving God. One that is tied down consciously or consciously cannot possibly serve God to meet God’s need for one’s life. Jesus’ need of the service of a tied down colt and donkey depicts how man is being tied down from not meeting God’s need. As a jealous God, He does have a need for us to seek and serve Him. Before Jesus could get the service of colt/donkey for His ride to fulfill God’s divine agenda, there was a need for the colt/donkey to be loosed from being tied down. Matthew 21:2-3 recorded, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me.  And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” Evidently, just as there was a command for the colt/donkey to be loosed, so there is a need for those who are tied down consciously or unconsciously from meeting God’s need to be loose and serve God.
Jesus knew that His command would be questioned when He stated, “if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” Beware that the enemy is all out for man not to seek and serve God. There will be attempt for man to be stopped because it is the enemy’s agenda for man not to live for the glory of God. Are you being tied by drive for material gain? Are you aware that you are tied and not seeking and serving God? It is important to be asking God for the grace to serve and meet God’s need for one’s life. Remember, God is looking to see if there are any who seeks Him. (Psalm 53:2)

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace not to fail from seeking and serving God.

Faith Capsule: The one you seek is the one you serve.

2 Chronicles 14, Matthew 6

It is written, “Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God, for he removed the altars of the foreign gods and the high places, and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the wooden images. He commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandment.  He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and the kingdom was quiet under him.” (2 Chronicles 14:1-5) Asa sought God and it was accounted for him as doing what was right in the eyes of God. Seeking God is doing right and God is always looking for those who are seeking Him. Psalmist testified, “God looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.” (Psalm 53:2) Jesus commanded, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) Asa sought God and God was pleased. Are you living life to please God or to seal off God out of your life? The consequences of seeking God is rewarding beyond imagination.
At the time Asa was seeking God and committing his people to seek God, the bible identified that the Kingdom was quiet under him. Have you been placed in any position of influence or authority? Regardless of the time we are living, it is not impossible to influence others surrounding you or under your authority to seek God. Asa had rest all around him when he placed God and all that pleases God first in his position as king of Judah. Seeking God is being with God always. God is always with those who seek Him. A failure to seek God is forsaking God. When man forsake God it is certain that God will forsake man.
Who are you seeking? The one you seek is the one you serve. Jesus pointed out, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24) There is no middle ground or excuse in serving God. Man can be at work and be serving God by the conduct which others are observing or by the meditation of the heart. One cannot claim serving God when nothing about one’s conduct testifies of God throughout of one’s working day. In your working place or daily engagement, seek God in your heart and it will be written all over you for others to see and follow you to seek Him.

Prayer for today: Ask God to take charge over your life that you live to seek Him all the days He has given you.

Faith capsule: When there is understanding of His word there shall be the fear of God.

Proverbs 14

It is written, “The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one. (Psalm 14:2-3) When there is no understanding of God the lack of His fear reigns. To fear God is in studying Him. How do you know the one you do not study? With understanding comes the fear of God. It is worthy to study and gain understanding to fear God.
With understanding of God, two things can never be denied in the life of one with understanding:
1. “…But knowledge is easy to him who understands.” (Proverbs 14:6) One with the understanding of God will always have a knowing edge easily over what is befalling man; one will have edge over what man cannot get over easily. One with understanding will know to have edge over challenges by engaging peace that surpasses all understanding.
2.  “Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding…” (Proverbs 14:33) Wisdom is the instruction of God. 1Corinthians 1:24 stated, “…Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:30 “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God…” Wisdom of God in the heart of man is Jesus in the life of man. The only way to have Him in our heart day and night is to meditate on Him and He will never leave us nor forsake us. (Joshua 1:5-8)
King David a man identified by God as one after God’s own heart volunteered to teach the fear of the Lord when he stated, “Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.” (Psalm 34:11) David knew what he was up to when he made his statement to the ones who has ear to hear. The fear of God kept him; the fear of God saw him through life’s terminating challenges; the fear of God in him is what God saw while looking down from Heaven and He was able to identify as one after His own heart.
Without doubt, to know and to fear God is encased in knowing Him through His testimony, His testimony is His word. Psalmist stated, “Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!” (Psalm 119:2)Ones that know to keep His testimonies are ones that clings to His testimonies. Clinging to His testimonies is the way out never to be ashamed. Psalm 119:31 buttressed, “I cling to your testimonies; O Lord, do not put me to shame.” To be hearing and knowing His word is having Faith. Having faith is the evidence of knowing and having the fear of God.

Prayer for today: Ask God to fill you with understanding of His word.