FAITH CAPSULE: God will stir the heart of man to grant your open door.

Exodus 3, Ezra 1

How God is going to favor you is beyond your own expectation. His favor for you can be a unique one; uncommon one or one that is not of this world. As an acclaimed believer why struggle in the place of rest? Why exhausted in the place of engaging the living word? God’s favor or deliverance agenda is what no man can stop.
God’s was set to bring the Israelites out of the bondage of over four hundred years when He spoke to Moses, “But I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not even by a mighty hand. So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he will let you go.  And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be, when you go, that you shall not go empty-handed.  But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, namely, of her who dwells near her house, articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.” (Exodus 3:19-22) His word does not return back to Him void. Are you expecting His favor in the New Year? If yes, begin to see your favor as being there when is yet there. What you see is what you receive and becomes of you.

God will stir the heart of man to grant you open door where there is no way to pass through. Bible mentioned how He stirred heart of Cyrus king of Persia and he made a proclamation throughout his entire, “Thus says Cyrus the King of Persia: ‘All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who is among you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem. ⁴ And whoever is left in any place where he dwells, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, besides the freewill offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.’” (Ezra 1:2-4) Who else can deliver like God? When He defends, He will deliver and when He passes, He will preserve. God stirred the heart of a non-believer to favor His children. Cyrus, the king of Persia, did not just make a way out for the children of Israel; he also made provision for their need and restored back what was taken away by Nebuchadnezzar.

Prayer for today: Ask Him to bring back your captivity as the streams in the south.

FAITH CAPSULE: When worrying takes the place of peace one is set to stumble.

Matthew 6:25-34, Luke 10:38-42

Ephesians 2:14 referred to Jesus, “For He Himself is our peace…” Many know about Him but they are yet to know Him as their peace. It the midst of confronting challenge, where there is lack of knowledge that the peace of God is within, worry will reign within. Imagine an acclaimed believer, singing love for Jesus day and night but not knowing to maintain peace when a challenge shows up? The word of God cannot lie when it states, “Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.” (Luke 119:165) Do you claim to love the Lord? Why are you not holding on to the peace of God? How possible can a man be claiming Jesus and hardly settles in peace in all areas of life? Imagine Martha at the time she invited Jesus into her house. (Luke 10:38)

The Bible records that Martha welcomed Jesus into her house. (Luke 10:38) While Jesus was in the house, Martha was overwhelmingly distracted. Distraction is disengagement, it is an avenue to loss of focus which is an open door to worry and trouble. Martha laid her complaint at the feet of Jesus.  She said, “…Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” (Luke 10:40) Martha welcomed Jesus into the house while forces of worry were also active in her house. Does this sound like you? Jesus, the Lord of all, knows all and He identified the problem of Martha with the response, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.”(Luke 10:41) Martha enjoyed serving the Lord and Savior, while worry and trouble was at work in Martha’s (house) life.

As an acclaimed believer, can you carefully examine yourself, identify and deny the silent agent of the spirit of worry in your life. It does not matter the kind of title you are answering to if worrying takes the place of peace you are set to stumble. Jesus does not want us to worry about our life or about anything because with worrying, peace does not have a chance. Worry and trouble will derail the flow of fellowship at every given time you have given yourself to it. Worry or trouble will not announce itself before or during his visitation because it is the character of the thief that has come to steal, kill and to destroy. Jesus our peace from God is with us always, apostle Paul knows better from his experience and he stated, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

Prayer for today: Ask, make haste O Lord, help and make me to live in the peace of your holly name.

FAITH CAPSULE: The provision of God for us is not bounded by anything.

Exodus 14, John 6:1-14

How can five barley loaves and two small fish add up to feed a multitude of at least five thousand? It is the evidence of the fruit of seeking Him first. It was only by the grace of God that such a provision was made for the numbers at hand.
Do you have a bigger need compare to the need mentioned in the verse above? Jesus provided for five thousand in a place of lack because they cease not seeking Him. Placing our need before God and taking a rest in hope is failure impossibility. At the place of lack, Jesus gave command, “…Make the people sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.”(John 6:10) Sitting down in the face of nothing to show for is the evidence of maintaining calm. It worked for the Israelite when it seemed there was no way out of the arrows of Pharaoh with Red Sea ahead to have them drown, negative confession took over there communication…Moses responded, “And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.  The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” (Exodus 14:13-14) The multitude taking the command of Jesus, thru disciples by sitting down is same as Moses’ command to hold peace. Indeed sitting down and not forcing is holding on to peace.

Jesus backed up His command when He responded to the obedience of the people, “And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.” (John 6:11) The provoking point for heaven’s provision was obedience of the people, and Jesus giving thanks while provision is yet at hand. Thanking God in all things for all things is power to deliver and to preserve. It is written, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”(1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Have you been waiting for too long? At this time of the year, begin to thank God for your expectation because it is the will of God for you. Jesus gave thanks to God and provision became adequate in the place of inadequacy. Abundance reigned in and leftovers abounded. With thanks giving unto God, obey all His command and your lack will become history.

Prayer for today: Ask God the providing provider to make a way for your need in Jesus’ name.

FAITH CAPSULE: The provision of God for us is not bounded by anything.

John 6:1-14

It sounds lazy when an able man opens his mouth and states that seeking after your provision first should be replaced with seeking God first. Interestingly, it is actually the word of Jesus which states, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) Seeking after God should never be an avenue for any man to engage covenant laziness by having a paid job at the tip of hand and not accept such job. The provision of God for us is not bounded by what we have or what we do not have. His provision is not bounded by how much we need, neither is it bounded by how long we have been waiting for manifestation. And this is the reason more why seeking the provider first and foremost rather than provisions.
How can a man be going after creation for help when the creator is available round the clock?
Why should we focus more on the blessings rather than the one who blesses? Where have you found yourself at this juncture in your life?

What is lacking in your life?

Imagine Jesus had the multitudes following Him wherever He went…mountain, sea and valley. Following Jesus is seeking Jesus and it can never be convenient because it will take you out of location or comfort zone. In your following Him, remain focused on gaining heaven. Truly, they followed Him because they witnessed the signs and wonders He performed. (Is that not enough to provoke following Him around?) In one instance, they followed Him to a place where there was not enough food to eat or purchase (of course they must have the realization of where they are going but yet kept following Him).
Jesus knew there was a need for food, and that there was no place to buy when He asked Philip, “…Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” (John 6:5). Always and forever, the foolishness of God is wiser than man. Imagine Jesus asking for a place to buy bread in the midst of nowhere? Seeking for provision where there is none.
In the course of looking for food, “One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, ‘There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?’”(John 6:8-9) Andrew definitely had no understanding that regardless of situation, whatever is at hand does not count when you seek Him first. When you seek Him first what comes from the hand of Him whom you seek first matters most. To be continued.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace not to look back in seeking Him first.

FAITH CAPSULE: Sowing good is rooted in compassionate heart.

Luke 10:25-37

It is worthy to ask self, what have I done for Jesus lately? What have you been giving back to Jesus? The main reason why Jesus was given to us is for us to inherit eternal life. Every step taken to inherit eternal life is exactly what we are doing or giving back to Jesus. In life, giving is sowing, sowing is serving. When there is no understanding in place to give, it is better than to have the understanding to give and not give.
The bible recorded about a certain lawyer asking Jesus what need to be done and gain eternal life. Jesus redirected the lawyer’s question to the book of law. The lawyer answered, “…You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27) Evidently, the lawyer was conversant with book of the law but could not convey the message of the book of law to how he lives life. Does that sound like you? Are you one that does not miss church activities but yet missing out in all that counts before God? The certain lawyer could not keep quiet and accept his lack of knowledge but wanting to justify himself asked Jesus, “…who is my neighbor” (Luke 10:29) Jesus responded with the parable of the Good Samaritan.

The parable clearly connotes the mind of God concerning sowing good which is rooted in having a compassionate heart. It takes one with compassion to walk into the chance of doing good and actually do what is good. Jesus stated how a certain man fell among thieves who stripped him of his belongings and left him behind half dead. Jesus stated how a priest and a Levite walked by chance to the wounded man but only looked and passed on the other side. Knowing to do good and not do good does not count. James 4:17 warned, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” The Priest and the Levite had the chance to do good but missed out. Their title was not enough to motivate them in doing what is right before God.
Jesus pointed out in the parable how a certain Samaritan (supposedly a bad one) came to the spot, saw and had compassion.
Evidently, a compassionate heart is a good heart. Compassion is Jesus’ character, compassion is exactly what Jesus gave and it is all Jesus is expecting from us. One who constantly demonstrates compassion is one with pure heart, good conscience, and sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:5 buttress, “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith.”  Engage the word of God with understanding and do exactly as the word demands. Man can be deceived but God cannot be deceived. Give back to Jesus by sowing that which counts for good.

Prayer for today: Ask God to impact you and be a compassionate believer.