FAITH CAPSULE: God is a perfect God, whenever He speaks His word remains steadfast.

John 19:17-42

The Bible was talking about Jesus when it stated, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) By the afflictions that He went through we are made righteous when we accept Him has our Lord and savior. The word of God is true and it also testifies to the fact that, God is a great God and He will never fail us as long as we remain faithful to Him. The word also testifies in Psalm 34:19-20, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous; But the LORD delivers him out of them all. He guards all his bones; not one of them is broken.” It is clear that the word of the Psalmist was spoken in the Old Testament, it is also clear the manifestation was in the New Testament. Jesus suffered great affliction at the hands of those who afflicted Him. During His affliction, had it not been documented that His bone was not broken, one would assume or believe that at the time of His death, all His bones must have been broken. When the soldiers broke the legs of the two thieves that were on the cross at the same time with Jesus, an attempt to break Jesus’ bones was made but called off when they saw that He was already dead. Amazingly, despite all that He went through, the word of God did not falter when His bone remained intact. God is a perfect God, whenever He speaks His word remains steadfast. Right from the time Judas gave Jesus up for affliction with a kiss, it was mockery from the lowest ranked officer to the highest ranked officer. In every way mockery can be imagined, Jesus the most gracious one, most blessed one went through without any attempt to make anyone wrong. Pilate also delivered his own mockery on Jesus. It was Pilate that wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was:  JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. (John 19:19) The title was contested against by many of the Jews but failed to stop Pilate. At that time, both Pilate and the Jews thought they were all mocking Jesus but Jesus was being made for His glory. If you will believe today that you are righteous in Christ Jesus, know that many afflictions are set for you and you shall be delivered from them all. Whatever situation you are dealing with, it will make you, when it turns into a miracle. Jesus is our miracle worker; believe in Him and all the challenges that you are faced with, will eventually be converted into a miracle.

Prayer for today: Ask God that every challenge or disappointment in your life be converted into miracle.

FAITH CAPSULE: Evidently when there is no seeing, one will sit where making choices in life is limited.

Mark 10:46-52

It is written about Jesus, “…As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. And 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 1046-47) Blindness will lead to stagnation. With blindness there will be no sight that is needed to see in taking the right direction. With blindness every thing appears to be dark. Evidently when there is no seeing, one will sit where making choices in life is limited. Blind Bartimaeus had his place on the road side begging. Just as a man could be blind in the physical eyes so it is possible for a man to be blind in the spiritual eyes. Bartimaeus was popular enough that his father’s name could be identified (Timaeus) but he could not see. Road side where transportation often leads to transformation is where Bartimaeus was sitting and begging in stagnation due to his blindness. Does your situation sound like that of a stranded one? It could be that it is time for you to call on Jesus for His divine intervention. Thank God for the blood that was shed on Calvary. The shedding of the blood of Jesus is what made Jesus to be everywhere at every time and ready to answer to every call. During the days of Bartimaeus, Jesus was moving from one location to another location and Bartimaeus was in the right location to encounter Jesus when he cried out loud for mercy. It could be that it is time for you to identify and accept your condition that needs a loud cry. When you cry, ignore the multitude that surround you and cry out loud to Jesus for divine intervention. When you cry, call Him like you know Him not like you know about Him. Bartimaeus demonstrated that he did not just know about Jesus when he called out as one that knew all about Him. The ignorance of the crowd that followed Jesus limited there understanding and they attempted to stop Bartimaeus from calling. Bartimaeus knew Jesus’ identity that was not common and he cried out and called, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Do you know Him enough to call Him to a stand still and attend to you? In the calling of Bartimaeus, “…Jesus stood still and commanded Him to be called” (Mark 10:49) The Blind man received his sight and followed Jesus on the road. (Mark 11:52) Instead of being a road side beggar, he became road follower of Jesus. Stop following the crowd, know who you believe and become a true road follower.

Prayer for today: Open the eyes of my heart and let me follow You truly.

FAITH CAPSULE: God wants us to hear when He speaks to us.

Jeremiah 1:1-16

The Bible makes it clear to us that the word of God is alive. By virtue of the fact that the word of God is alive, the producer of the movie Passion of Christ was able to see clearly what Jesus went through. After he read the word, he produced the movie as if he was present at the time of Jesus. Evidently, it is not enough to hear the word when the picture of what you heard does not take root in your heart. God wants us to hear when He speaks to us. Have you been reading but not understanding the word of God? Remember the testimony of creation? During the time of creation, “…God said, “let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good…” (Genesis 1:3-4) If God can see in His spoken word, He sure expects us to see when He speaks to us. Until there is understanding in His living word one will not be able to receive what He has in place to carry out great exploits for His glory. All that Jeremiah needed to resume his divine assignment was to see; otherwise he would have missed the calling for his life. “Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the Kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant.” (Jeremiah 1:9-10) The Lord put His word in Jeremiah’s mouth but Jeremiah needed an enablement to see what was put in His mouth for him to move in God’s purpose and plan for his life. We have the Word in our hand and we have it in our heart, but seeing it as power to bring about manifestation is what the Lord God is waiting for. Moses did not move in the direction of God’s plan for His life until he was able to turn aside and see, “Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.” So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” (Exodus 3:3-4) After Moses had turned and saw what was in place for him to move in the direction of God’s plan, the story of His life changed forever and for the best to the glory of God.

Prayer for today: Call and ask for enablement to begin to see whenever the word of God sound in your direction.

FAITH CAPSULE: “Having accepted the story of the resurrection, returning to your former lifestyle is not a choice but a compromise.”

John 21

Before following Jesus, Peter and some of the disciples were professional fishermen by trade. They left their occupation to follow Jesus. However, right 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, they should deny themselves and take up the cross and follow Him. In order for God to have first priority in our life, we have to put our life on hold and let Him lead and direct us. When we are directed by God pertaining to anything concerning His will, it will constantly bring glory to His name when we share and keep His testimonies. The Psalmist declares, “Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!” (Psalm 119:2) The disciples’ returned to their occupation and although they toiled all night, they did not catch any fish.  “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. Jesus is all that the disciples needed in their walk of life for them to remain focused on Him. Just as it applies to the disciples so it applies to us. 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 not a choice but a compromise. 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 but fulfill your purpose in His name. Jesus is alive and He will be glorified in your life.

Prayer for today: Ask Him to instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.

FAITH CAOSULE: There is always a way out for every child of God whose righteousness is in Christ Jesus

GENESIS 40

When Pharaoh became angry with his two officers, the chief butler and the chief baker, he sent them to prison (Genesis 40:2). The two chiefs went from the palace to the prison. The two chiefs lost their positions where they were highly regarded. Have you at anytime felt that it is over? You have lost a ground that has held you high in the community or among colleagues. It is clear that there will be no way for you to get back to your lost position. Prison is the least expected place in your journey of life because your entire walk has been in abiding with the law of the land. Prison, confinement, hindrance or denial could come in a way or any form to deny and reduce you where you have been elevated. A butler in Pharaoh’s palace descended from the position of chief to prisoner. The story is easy to read but not easy to live. There is always a way out for every child of God whose righteousness is in Christ Jesus. The only way out is through prayer. Psalmist stated, “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry.” (Psalm 34:15) The Bible also declared that the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16). Besides the fact that it was mentioned that Pharaoh was angry, there was no indication of the offense of the chief butler and the chief baker. When the third day of the chief butler arrived, prison became history while deliverance had its way. It does not matter what, how long, or where you have been kept down, it is certain that when your third day comes, you will rise. Pray for your third day and it will prevail. It is written, “Now it came to pass on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and chief baker among his servants. Then he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.”(Genesis 40:20). God will restore you and you shall regain all that has been lost in multiple folds in Jesus name. Jesus our Lord and savior rose on the third when the devil thought it was over for Him. It is not over for you if you have Christ as your Lord and savior. Do you receive and believe in the story of His death and resurrection? Remember, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”(Psalm 34:19) Have you received Jesus as your Lord and savior? He is alive accept Him as your Lord and savior.

Prayer for today: Restore me O Lord; cause your face to shine on me so I may have life.