Faith Capsule: The combination of worrying and being troubled will elevate man to the state of fear.

Exodus 14

To become worried and troubled in the face of challenge is the evidence of not looking up to God’s help. Any time man keeps eyes on confronting challenge man is set to misplace focus on God. Are you beholding your challenge or you are looking up to God? Exodus 14:10-12 documented, “And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord.  Then they said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt?  Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.” Does that sound like you? The Israelites knowing fully well that God is able gave into fear when they failed to lift up their eyes unto God for help. The Israelites were worried and troubled as a result they gave to negative confession.
Solution to challenges demands focusing on God and the word of His promise. Despite all the powerful teachings of Jesus against fear and worrying, the disciples went ahead and locked themselves up in fear of the Jews. “Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19) While they were being locked up in the state of fear, Jesus showed up and declared peace. Jesus the Word of God is the Prince of peace. If you will look up to Jesus as Lord and savior He is always around to uphold you.
Faith in Jesus will cause peace to reign.  After Jesus had spoken peace into His disciple’s life, the eyes of their mind were opened to see the mark of crucifixion. “When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.” (John 20:20) Seeing the mark opened up the disciples to come out of fear. If you will begin to see the marks of crucifixion and believe that the marks were registered on Jesus for us to be able to have life abundantly, the fear about all that is going on around the world will not have its place in your life.

Prayer for today: Ask in for the grace of boldness and character to have a place in your life.

FAITH CAPSULE: Does it seem like your waiting is taking forever without answer?

Psalm 37

Waiting on God for answer to one’s question is exercising faith. Waiting on God is a way out of shame. When man truly waits on God by not looking outside of God without any iota doubt shame shall not have a place in man’s life. The psalmist buttressed, “Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed; Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause.” (Psalm 25:3) Waiting on God leads to right direction where expectation yields to manifestation. Waiting on Lord demands boldness and character which is a winning combination in the race of life.
The bible makes us to realize that waiting extends to looking up to God for intervention against wicked ones. Are you one that is constantly questioning how the wicked ones are excelling? Psalm 37:7 stated, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.” Waiting on God is keeping His word and not fret in the face of any wickedness. Waiting on God is keeping hope in Him as Great Defender. Does it seem like your waiting is taking forever without answer? Is your crying wearing you out? Listen to the testimony of Psalmist, “I am weary with my crying; My throat is dry; My eyes fail while I wait for my God.” (Psalm 69:3) God has never fail and He shall not fail concerning your waiting on Him. Waiting is not a sign of weakness, keep on waiting.
Wait on God silently and patiently. David testified in Psalm 40: 1-2, “I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry.  He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth- praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the LORD.” Waiting for God will grant the grace to walk firmly on any ground and not fall. Passing through the trial of waiting will no doubt put a new song in the mouth of one that knows to wait. David stated in his testimony, “He makes my feet like the feet of the deer and sets me on my high places.”(2 Samuel 22:34) Waiting on God took David to his high places. Every man has a low place in the journey of life, but waiting on God is an avenue to come out of low places high places, a place that is above and beyond every painful situation that keeps man down. “Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14)

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to know and to wait when challenges presents itself.

FAITH CAPSULE: Turning away from following Him will always lead to emptiness.

John 21

Prior to the time Peter and some of the disciples gave up all and followed Jesus, they were professional fishermen. Matthew 4:18-20 recorded, “And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him.” Peter and his fellow fishermen followed Jesus till the time Jesus went to the cross.
After the death and resurrection of Jesus new development came into play when, “Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.” (John 21:2-3) Have you received and believed in the death and resurrection of Jesus? For everyone that have received and believed in Jesus, there should be no going back to the past. In order for God to have first priority in our life, we have to put the past behind us and allow Him to lead and direct us. The disciples’ returned to their occupation and toiled all night with nothing to show for. The disciples caught no fish all night. It is written, “But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.”(John21:4-5)  The disciples returned to business as usual and did not recognize Jesus. Turning away from following Him will always lead to emptiness. Just like the disciples, Jesus is all that we need to be full and not be empty. Turning away after having been following Him will throw man to becoming a waste in life.
Jesus intervened into their situation and made it a great testimony when He commanded, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.” (John 21:6) After accepting the story of the resurrection, returning to your former lifestyle is a choice that will complicate destiny. Before Jesus came with them on the boat, the disciples did not have a testimony, but when Jesus showed up they had a great testimony. “Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.” (John 21:11) If you have received and believed the report of His resurrection, it is not right for you to return to your former lifestyle. Jesus is alive and He will be glorified in your life.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to remain and not turn back from Him.

FAITH CAPSULE: The woman with no good reputation was the first to deliver the good news of Jesus’ resurrection.

John 20

The bible identified the woman Mary of Magdala, “Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons…” (Luke 8:1-2) Mary Magdalene was healed of evil spirits and infirmities. The Mary that was healed was the last at the cross and the first one at the grave. Mary had testimony. As a result of her testimony she sought Jesus. The word of Psalm 119:2 was true in the life of Mary. The Psalmist stated, “Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart.”
Today, many with testimony about Jesus resolved to only seeking Him by mouth and not from heart. It is written, “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 love Jesus and she demonstrated it more after Jesus was crucified.
Does Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection mean anything to you like that of Mary Magdalene?  After Mary reported the rising of Jesus from the grave, the disciples found it difficult to believe her report. Mary had testimony and she sought Jesus. The bible recorded, “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) Are you seeking Him? 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 was the first to deliver the good news of Jesus’ resurrection. Have you truly accepted Him as your Lord and savior? In this season of Easter celebration, let the testimony of His resurrection occupy you. Jesus is alive!

Prayer for today: Ask that the love of Christ will occupy your heart.

Faith Capsule: It is a day of rejoicing not a day  of living like one that needed to be pitied.

Mark 15:1-41

Easter celebration is a moment of celebrating the One that came to elevate us. In Him there was no fault but He was faulted when He was arrested and bounded. He was excessively beaten. The bible stated that they all forsook Him and fled. Peter one of His closest denied Him. Mark 14:55, “But Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire.” Peter denied Jesus by all standards. At a point he cursed and swore that he did not know Jesus. (Mark 14:71) We are talking about Peter denying Him. How are you denying Him?
He was disrespected. Mark 14:65 gave account about how He was disrespected, “Then some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, and to say to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers struck Him with the palms of their hands.” Pilate scourged Him, the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they struck Him with their hands. (John 19:1-3) Jesus could have avoided all kinds of humiliation but he wants for us to be positioned at the juncture where humiliation will not have its way over our life.
Jesus carried the cross so we would be enabled to cross over. “And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. (John 19:17-18)
The account of His humiliation is not to provoke emotional sobering but invoke engaging Christ reality. From the time of His birth in a manger where sheep reside, to the point of death in place of a criminal, He demonstrated humility. Jesus had a set mind and it was a mind of humility. Are you mindful of Him? Philippians 2:5-9 admonished us, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,  who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,  but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name.” Without humility there is no way one can become obedient to the word of God.
Let us celebrate our Lord with clear understanding knowing that, “…He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace of understanding.