FAITH CAPSULE: In your celebration, understanding and to know it that celebrating the birth of Jesus is seeking Jesus.

Mark 11:12-14, 1 Peter 1:13-21

A fig tree perhaps was the only the one of its kind at a time and in the region when it’s Creator was passing bye. At the appearance of the tree, it was mouthwatering and its leaves were indication that its fruit was delicious and pleasant. Jesus created the fig tree for a purpose. The fig tree was not only created to be pleasing to the eye nor to be the best looking among the many trees in the area. It is written, “And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the seasons for figs.” (Mark 11:13) The fig tree was very attractive with its decoration but not able to deliver its purpose to its creator. Are you one that celebrates with all kinds of decoration but God cannot see in you that you are not living according to the purpose of your being?
In your celebration, it is important to understanding and to know it that celebrating the birth of Jesus is seeking Jesus. The words of God demands, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”(Matthew 6:33) “…seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Deuteronomy 4:29) Keep in mind to seek God in celebration and not be of mere attraction. Attraction we display in the name of celebrating God is like a fig tree that attracts its creator without anything to show for.
All of Jesus’ actions, reactions and words were meant to communicate to the people both during His time on earth and after His ascension. How much attention are you devoting to the Word of God? It is the level of attention devoted that will determine the understanding gained. Also the level of understanding will lead to having a knowing edge over challenges of the world. Jesus was not only displaying His power when He approached the unfruitful fig tree by virtue of the inviting leaves it displayed. Jesus was communicating a message through the demonstration of power. Christianity or Christmas celebration is not just about adornment and Sunday-noise-making. Christianity is about Jesus reality, and Jesus reality is fruitfulness. Do not let your adornment be merely outward by the arrangement that is putting on fine apparel or beautifying your surroundings with Christmas lights. Avoid being a side attraction. Whenever your attractiveness is used for purposes other than having communion with the Creator, God may deal with you by showing you the futility of your vanity. All that Jesus wants is to see your fruitfulness.

Prayer for today: Ask Him to deliver you from religion into Jesus reality.

FAITH CAPSULE: The inn that matters to Him is our inn.

Luke 2:1-40

It is written, “So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:6-7) Jesus the King of kings was born in a manger. The Eternal Shepherd of all shepherds could have declared the inn to be open-up for His arrival while He was still in the womb. He came silently, and wrapped in swaddling cloth. The inn was filled up when Joseph and Mary got to the inn. The inn that matters to Him is our inn. It does not matter the kind of gift that occupies your inn waiting to be delivered, if you do not have a place for Him in your inn it becomes a meaning less gift. He spoke in Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Jesus came to have a place in our inn so that we overcome and be granted a seat with Him on His throne.” To deny Him access into our inn is the evidence of having been filled with self. He who is full of self is one with lying, deception, manipulation and all sorts of selfish behavior that should never be identified with acclaimed believers. Jesus is knocking at the door of your inn. Will you grant Him a full access and have yourself engaged the privileges of having Jesus in your inn? 
When the knock came at the door of the inn, the imminent birth of the Lord was met with a lock-out. Many are filled with things that will deprive them of eternal happiness when the trumpet sounds. Some are filled with desires that will not bring salvation. The opportunity for the inn to become the most well-known inn in all of creation came knocking, but it was too full to be used for the Lord’s birth. What are you filled with? Giving gifts without a place for the Lord in your inn is same as lying, deceiving and manipulating. As time and the seasons continue to reveal things to you, you should begin to make arrangements to be ready for what is coming. It is about time for you to prepare your inn for His coming back. Send off lying, deception and manipulation which will keep Him from coming to your inn and create room for Him. He is coming back again so be ready for Him.

Prayer for today: Ask God to open you up and let His living word begin to have a place more than ever before in your life.

FAITH CAPSULE: Celebration of His birth should also be the preparation for His coming back.

MATTHEW 1:18-24

God the only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, which no man has seen or can see, is perfect beyond any man’s imagination. All that were in place at the time of Jesus’ birth speaks volume as regard to how God is interested with our being humble. The road and condition that led to the time of His birth was not flamboyant but purposeful. 
When Joseph and Mary left Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, it was to be registered with Mary. Joseph was walking in line of the prophecy of Isaiah. While Joseph and Mary were there, the time of birth came to be. At the time of the Lord’s birth, there was no room at the inn for the Lord to be delivered. At the time of His birth, people did not understand that Christ was about to be born into the world. At the time of His birth, no hospital was alerted. It is written, “And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7) At the time of His birth He was placed in a manger and there was no fine cloth in which to swaddle the Lord of lords. The Lord was wrapped in strips of cloth. He came at an appointed time and to an appointed location. God is perfectly perfect. The King of kings was delivered at a ground where the kings will not pass through.
It is written concerning Jesus, “…though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” (Hebrews 5:8-9) Ever before His birth and at the time of His birth, engaging all kinds of suffering has been in place. Jesus’ life before He was born to the time of His persecution demonstrated to us that humility is suffering and it only makes man to be obedient. His coming is the reason for hope; His coming is the reason for joy. Jesus came despite all kinds of obstacles such as discouragement and destruction and there is no record of complaint by Joseph or Mary. The celebration of His birth should also be the preparation for His coming back. Do you have hope and joy because of the name of Jesus? Romans12-12 prescribes that we should rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation and be continually steadfast in prayer.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace of understanding to live for His glory.

FAITH CAPSULE: Having a death sentence carried out by the enemy is not the time for sleeping.

Luke 22:1-46

After the institution of the Lord’s Supper; after the disciples contend about Greatness (attempting to know which of them should be considered the greatest); after Jesus’ prediction of Peter’s denial, Jesus’ disciples followed Him to Mount of Olives. “When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” (Luke 22:40)  By virtue of the disciples’ experiences with Jesus, one would have expected a vigorous prayer from the disciples but they fell asleep instead of praying. It is written, “When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow.” (Luke 22:45) In the face of wickedness of this world, a believer that replaces prayer time for sleeping is sleeping for sorrow. Does that sound like you?
Paul the apostle and Silas were locked up under a well secured prison. While it was midnight, they resulted to praying and singing hymns to God. They did not sleep from sorrow and heaven attended to them for their deliverance. As a believer, when praying becomes your custom, sleeping from sorrow sleep shall have no place in your life. Peter had a sorrowful sleep. Having a death sentence carried out by the enemy is not the time for sleeping. Peter slumbered and slept when he was supposed to be praying. Thank God he had people praying for him. He could not afford to sleep It is not good to be sleeping while you are still in battle. How long have you been sleeping? Have you been sleeping too long? Now that you have the privilege to be awake before the trumpet sounds, do you know where to go or how to move? You need to always be awake so you can be well placed in your escape route. Acts 12:11, “And when Peter had come to himself, he said, ‘now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectations of the Jewish people.’ So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying.” If by grace you have come to life from sleep, you need to identify, with serious consideration, your new direction. Peter knew where to go after his sorrowful sleep. He went to a house of prayer before he could think of any other place to go. It is after-sleep for you. Do not go back to the sleeping ground again. After sleeping, Peter went to a place of prayer so he could be well placed in his escape route.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to be awake and consistent in praying.

FAITH CAPSULE: When God calls you, He will back you up.

Acts 9:1-22

The Bible recorded how Saul (before he became Paul the apostle) was breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord before he encountered his calling from the Lord. Saul was set to go for his destructive act against the disciples at the synagogues of Damascus, with permission from the high priest (Acts 9:1-2). It is written, “As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” (Acts 9:3-6) Paul the apostle received his calling trembling and astonished. Jesus backed him with direction to go in his calling and his story was changed for great.
When God calls you, He will back you up. God is always looking for someone whose heart is ready to receive His calling. Are you looking forward to His calling in your life? Wait on the Lord, His calling is coming. In God’s calling, there is a growing process. Every growing process is the time of training for where His calling will send you. When God calls you and are able to answer, He will establish you. Before He establishes you, stay focused and be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. In your training, give Him all the attention; do not force anything that He did not deposit in you. Do not fake it, and do not fight a war that is not yours. You have been doing the work of the Lord for quite a while and it seems that he is not going to establish you. It is the level of your focus that will bring forth His hand to establish you. It is written concerning Samuel in 1 Samuel 3:20, “And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the LORD.” Man did not announce Samuel’s establishment, it was God’s divine schedule that announced Samuel. When God establishes you, there will be no campaign, business card or advertisement. Be patient in the Lord, let Him see you through your training and He will establish you in what He called you for. So many could not wait and fell before they went very far in where they were going. Do not allow failure to have its way.

Prayer for today: Over your life, ask for the same grace that prevented Peter’s faith from failing.