FAITH CAPSULE: The time of the year is not calling a time out for your miracle to cease.

1 Samuel 1

It is written, “Then He spoke a parable to them that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.  Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’” (Luke 18:1-5) The parable of Jesus points out the need to be persistent in our asking. It does not matter how long you have been trusting God for your miracle but it counts to remain persistent until there is a miracle breakthrough. For a man to stop asking without having received what is being asked for is the evidence of a punctured faith and not a persistent faith.

God does not respond top assumption. Man should never approach God assuming that God knows the need. One thing is certain, God is always waiting for us to ask by calling on Him. Knowing to call on Him will provoke His hand for an undeniable miracle because He is God that is true to His word. Isaiah 58:9, “Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am…’” It takes the heart which trusts to remember and call in the midst of unbearable challenges. Bartimaeus the blind knew that the Healing Healer, the Eternal Surgeon was passing when he cried out for help. Jesus heard his cry and gave him audience by calling for him. Bartimaeus approached Jesus, “So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51) Jesus could have restored his sight without any question however, Jesus was not going to violate His command which calls for us to ask and it shall be given. (Mathew 7:7) Bartimaeus asked for his sight in response to Jesus’ command and his sight was restored.

Hannah did not cut off her miracle but she persists in her going to Shiloh every year. Against all odds such as frustration, provocation and mockery she prevailed because she insisted and remained persistent. Hannah had her miracle breakthrough when the Lord opened her womb for Samuel to come forth. The time of the year is not calling a time out on your miracle to cease; you keep on calling all the time. Do not give up, resist, insist and be persistent for God to show up on your behalf.

Prayer for today: Ask God to help your unbelief.

FAITH CAPSULE: The Word of God will build any who becomes exposed to His revelation and the gates of hades shall not prevail.

Matthew 16:13-28

It is written, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men…” (John 1:1-5) The word of God is here. The book of John went further to point out about the Word which was in the beginning by stating, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) Jesus is the Word of God.
Jesus gave the revelation of the church when He stated in Matthew 16:18, “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”  Jesus’ statement is a living statement that no weapon formed under heaven or under the earth shall prevail against the building His church. Jesus, the living Word of God will build up any man who comes in contact or exposed to His revelation and the gates of hades shall not prevail.

The bible identifies  the church of God (temple of God) in the book of 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? Every identifiable true believer is a church that is under construction by the living word of God. Jesus is set and committed to build up every man with an encounter of His word. Paul also admonished believers of the word (the church) when he stated in Acts 20:32, “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

As a true believing believer and not an unbelieving believer, it is certain that the gates of hades shall fail and not stop you from being built up by Jesus. Jesus knew that gates of hades (not one gate) are set up by the wicked one; the one whose inheritance is not among the sanctified but in hell. Jesus affirmed that the gates of Hades shall not prevail. Gate which is set against your health, finances or your marriage shall not prevail if you will commit to the word of His grace. As a believing believer, be rest assured that as long as you keep eyes on Jesus, none of the gates of hades will trap you from becoming the building which Jesus wants for Himself.

Prayer for today: Ask God to build you up just as it pleases Him so that His name shall be glorified in your life.

FAITH CAPSULE: Excuse will not prevail when lack of understanding contradicts good intention.

2 Samuel 6

Wisdom is the word of God (instruction from God). Knowledge is having a knowing edge in every area of life. Understanding is the ability to listen and hear the word (instruction) from God. Wisdom, knowledge and understanding make way for living life abundantly to the glory of God. The book of Proverbs 14:6 states, “…But knowledge is easy to him who understands.” Proverbs 14:33, “Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding…” Evidently, understand seems to be the anchor for wisdom and knowledge. Jesus buttresses the truth about understanding when He questioned and answered the people around Him, “Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.” (John 8:43) Understanding comes through the ability to listen and hear wisdom. When wisdom is in place, activating wisdom which gives a knowing edge over confronting challenge is what will make a believer of the word to become an overcomer. Truly, the word of Proverbs 4:7 is very true when it commanded, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” In all your getting, above all which you are chasing after, get understanding of God’s instructions and be safe from falling, failing in your walk as commanded in the word of God.

In every area of our relationship it is understanding that enables engaging the word (instructions) of God for our own attainment. A failure to engage God’s instruction without understanding is not enough excuse not to experience the consequence of wrong doing. This is to say, excuse will not prevail when good intentions provoke the violation of God’s command.

The case of Uzzah was one with good intention but rooted in lack of understanding and provokes violation of God’s command. When the ark of God was to be brought out of the house of Abinadab, Uzzah and his team drove the new cart but Uzzah’s lack of understanding caused him to die untimely death.
It is written, “When they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God.” (2 Samuel 6:6-7) With good intention Uzzah reached out to prevent the Ark from falling by putting his hand. It was lack of understanding on Uzzah’s part to violate the Ark of God. With death penalty as the consequence, God warned His people (in Numbers 4:15) not to touch the holy object of the tabernacle. Uzzah, with good intention lack understanding not to touch the Ark. Uzzah died an untimely death because of lack of understanding.

Prayer for today: Ask for deliverance and preservation from every act which lacks understanding.

FAITH CAPSULE: Half obedience is worse than no obedience.

Exodus 4

God will not call or send any by accident. He is a purposeful God and He makes no mistake in all of His work. When He calls, there will be no reasonable excuse not to answer fully to the purpose of His calling. Moses repeatedly gave excuses at the point of his calling but none of his excuses were reasonable before God. At a point, he gave an excuse to avoid the calling upon his life by stating, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” (Exodus 4:10) The man Moses attempted to avoid the calling of God but God responded to his excuse, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord?  Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.” (Exodus 4:12) The calling seemed so challenging to Moses but the One who calls is able to back the called up in their journey. After Moses’ excuses, he pleaded that God should send someone else stating, “O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.” (Exodus 4:13) God repeatedly renounced all of Moses excuses.
In answering to God there is no excuse; there is no distraction. Answering to God’s calling demands commitment. It is commitment that will build up to consistency and continuity will have its place. In answering to God, there is no giving up or turning back. Giving up and turning back are the evidence of disobedience. The way to answer is in keeping focus on the leading Master. Some went to Him voluntarily and ended up with excuses. He called some, but they could not commit to Him. It is amazing how He led some through the Red Sea in the face of their enemy. He led them through but they cannot get through to their promise land because they failed to follow Him fully. Obedience should be in full compliance and whenever it is short of full compliance it leads to termination. Thousands of the children of Israel were called out to their Promised Land but only two (Caleb and Joshua) were able to follow through.
It is disobedience in it is own class when there is a failure to fully comply in His word. Half-obedient makes hypocrites out of those that come to the Lord, and do not follow him. The children of Israel could not answer fully; their journey was terminated in the wilderness. To obey and answer to God is to follow His Word. Following the word of God is obeying God. Half obedience is worse than no obedience.

Prayer for today: Ask God to deposit in your life the spirit that makes man to answer Him fully

FAITH CAPSULE: Rendering to God constant and consistent great praise is great grace.

Psalm 48

It is written, “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, In His holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth…” (Psalm 48:1-2) He alone is the joy of the whole earth. For any who understands that He is the joy of the whole earth praising Him greatly should be a thing of active engagement. Are you counting your blessings or engaging act of complain? Having the grace of life is a privilege not a right. Also, having life is not of merit but of mercy. Many are able to count the number of time they have rendered a hearty thanks giving unto God in the period of one day. If that sounds like, you have been exceedingly short of appreciating God greatly.  Psalm 150:6 makes us to realize that the grace of breathing is the evidence of life when it declares, “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!” Great God is worthy of great praise and thanks giving. He is the God of miracle. God deserves a boastful praise and not only a contemplative (thoughtful or reflective) praise. The word of God states, “I am the LORD your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.” (Psalm 81:10) Give great praise, open your mouth wide in praise and allow God to raise you beyond your expectation. Praise Him today, tomorrow and as long as there is breathe.

It is a miracle to be alive. Knowing that the distance between life and death is a step (1 Samuel 20:4) there is great reason to greatly praise God. By virtue of the number of steps taken this day alone, it is time for Him to be greatly lifted up with thanks giving. God is a miracle working God. The miracle of God is not magical but runs deep. His miracles last forever but magic will fail you no matter how it glitters. Waiting on the miracle hand of the Almighty God by rendering great praise and thanks to Him is the only way out of every failure.
The psalmist testifies, “My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to You, and my soul, which You have redeemed.” (Psalm 71:23) “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, And to be held in reverence by all those around Him.” (Psalm 89:7) “For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.” (Psalm 96:4)
Rendering to God constant and consistent great praise is great grace. Engage great praise to the good God in the day; in the night and not only on seasonal basis. He is worthy of our praise!

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to constantly and consistently render to Him great praise.