GOD’S DESIRE; OUR DESIRE

FAITH CAPSULE: All that we need to desire is the grace to constantly and consistently fear God.

Numbers 14:1-38

It is written, “He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.” (Psalm 145:19) Any man who truly knows to fear God knows what God wants and what God does not want for His children. Knowing what He wants for us will make it impossible for us to ask or have a desire for what does not line up with His desire for us. All that we need to desire is the grace to constantly fear Him. God alone knows all of our desires; He knows those who fear Him and He is more than capable of fulfilling everyone’s desire.
Everything a man can consider as need is obtainable when we live in the fear of God. Proverbs 19:23 buttresses the importance of fearing God when it states, “The fear of God leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.” (Proverbs 19:23) Are you one who desires not to have His desire for your life? A man who presses for his own desires will get it with persistency.
Often time, getting one’s desire which is not of God leads to self-destruction. The children of Israel, coming out of bondage of over four hundred years, seeing the wondrous work of God, strongly press for their own desire that is outside of God’s desire for them. They could not let go of Egypt but pressed in their asking and complaining for all kinds of food they were eating in Egypt despite the truth that Lord did not allow them to experience any lack. God responded and gave them the food they desired. The Bible records, “So they ate and were well filled, for He gave them their own desire. They were not deprived of their craving; but while their food was still in their mouths, the wrath of God came against them, and slew the stoutest of them, and struck down the choice men of Israel.” (Psalm 78:29-31)
Be assured that God wants the best for you and whatever we do not receive could be because it is out of time or out of place for us. Also, whatever we do not receive is evidence that we are still abundant in His provision. To know that we have abundance in His provision is to hold on with satisfaction. Anyone who loves abundance with increase could possibly become vulnerable to dissatisfaction. As stated above, “The fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.” (Proverbs 19:23) Without doubt, if we fear Him and are able to hold on with satisfaction, there shall be no evil visitation. God will not fail in giving us only what leads to life and not to our self-destruction like that of the stoutest of the Israelites who were destroyed as mentioned in the above verse (Psalm 78:29-31).
Among the dangers of having desires of our own over God’s desire is that it leads to temptation. The Bible makes us realize this in James 1:13-15, “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” Wrong desire (desire that is out of place for us before God) and temptation often lead to sin and with sin is destruction. Are you allowing your desires to direct your focus from what God can do for you?
It is worthy to desire the fear of God so we may abide and become satisfied in God’s desire and not end up in life’s dissatisfaction which always bring evil to man. The point of this write up is for us to live a life that brings desirable good things that are encased in the fear of God. Where there is no fear of God, nothing good will move in the direction of man.

Faith Capsule:
All that we need to desire is the grace to constantly and consistently fear God.

Tunde

                                             WAIT PATIENTLY

The Bible describes faith as, “…the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)
Undoubtedly, all that describes faith is evident in the life of Abraham and that made the Word to testify that Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness. (Galatians 3:6)
It is written, “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.  By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11: 8-10) Due to Abraham’s faith that is demonstrated in this verse, he was able to do three distinct things that made him obtain good testimony and to live life with full understanding of God: he obeyed by going as commanded by God; by faith he dwelt in a strange land; and by faith he waited on God’s promise. 
Abraham’s obedience: Abraham did not question God; he did not procrastinate but rather went out of his place to an unknown place. What Abraham did was to leave behind certainty for uncertainty without any iota of doubt or complain. Often, it is a struggle to get out of a comfort zone, but to Abraham, there was no record of any kind of struggle getting out of his comfort zone and into God’s commitment. The Bible records, “So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him…” (Genesis 12:4) Evidently there was no fear but only faith in place at his departure and he had no excuse not to depart as commanded by God. Obeying the Word of God without doubt, without delay, without fear, or without questioning of the outcome of our obedience is doing right before God. Abraham dwelt: Worrying is what breeds fear. Abandoning a dwelling place to dwell in an unknown place will possibly open door for fear which is the opposite of faith. With Abraham, worrying was not evident in his going forward to dwell in the land of promise as in a foreign country. On the journey of life, when worship takes the place of worrying it becomes a reasonable sacrifice. Reasonable sacrifice is the evidence of faith and it all counts for righteousness just as it counts for Abraham. Jesus did not waste word when He stated, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life…” (Matthew 6:25) When worrying about anything in life takes a place in man, doubt will reign, fear will rise and faith will subside and eventual failure becomes one’s portion. Jesus put it right when He stated, “Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” (Matthew 6:27) Why worry? Abraham marched on in faith and it was accounted for righteousness.
Abraham waited: Waiting on God to attain His promise can be destructive when it is not with patience. Waiting without patience is incomplete and it will never deliver any positive result. David testified in Psalm 40:1, “I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, and heard my cry.” It is waiting that goes with patience that gets God’s attention. Waiting without patient is the one that gets man distracted and man becomes terminated. King Saul could not wait patiently for Samuel’s appointed time for sacrificial offering when he was set for war with the Philistines. It is written, “Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.  So Saul said, ‘Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me.’ And he offered the burnt offering.  Now it happened, as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering that Samuel came…” (I Samuel 13:9-10) The end was not well with Saul for violating God by not being able to wait through. Abraham waited patiently in the face of hopelessness and his hope was filled by God. Waiting patiently can be painful but it is always gainful. Abraham waited patiently for God to deliver His promise and it was accounted for righteousness and by it he was able to obtain good testimony.
Believers claiming Abraham’s promise need to fully understand how Abraham obtained his promise. With understanding, believers should be able to live their life in line with Abraham’s testimony and gain the position to be counted for living upright and obtain good testimony. Living righteous is living upright. Why not live upright?  It is written, “…no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” (Psalm 84:11) God is true to perform His Word because His Word does not go back to Him void. When walking uprightly becomes one’s way of life, one can be rest assured of God’s good thing answering in one’s way of life. Walking uprightly is not a one, two or three day walk. Walking uprightly is working the works of God daily. Working the works of God is to believe God (John 6:28-29). Wait patiently in all areas of waiting on God.

                                         WITHERNESS

Having a withered hand is occupying a situation that cannot be unnoticed; it calls for attention. Once on a Sabbath day, in a synagogue, the Pharisees knew quite well that a man who had withered hand was going to catch Jesus’ attention when they asked Jesus, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him. (Matthew 12:9), Jesus’ answer demonstrated the importance of doing that which is good and the placement of good deeds above the law. He points out that law is not a reason to be excused from caring for others. Most importantly, He pointed out how valuable is man when He stated, “Of how much more value than is a man than a sheep?” (Matthew 12:12). Jesus the tenderhearted shepherd, the caring and compassionate master, after answering the Pharisees now turned His attention to the man with withered hand, “Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other.” (Matthew 12:13). Just a word from Jesus terminated the mark of shame and mockery and put restored glory to the withered vessel.
What is it that is withered in your life? Among the words synonymous with “withered” are shrivel, fade, decay, wrinkle, shrink, dry, decline, languish, droop, waste, etc. Is there any area of life that you are experiencing any of the synonyms of wither in your life? To be withered in any area of life is not what can be hidden but what a man can be healed and be delivered from, just as the man with the withered hand got his healing and deliverance from Jesus’s word.
It was the healing power in the word of God that healed the man with withered hand. Jesus spoke to him, “Stretch out your hand.” The power to heal comes with the power to believe and receive. When the healing word of Jesus found the man with withered hands, there was no doubt in his heart as he stretched out his hands as commanded by Jesus. Self-recognition and acceptance is a very important step and so pivotal to getting delivered. If you will behold Him in His word of healing and say to yourself, “I am coming out in Jesus name” you have loosened yourself from whatever tie you down and lay claim to deliverance by confession. Remember, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21). Also, the power to get satisfied with good is through the mouth. Proverbs 12:14, “A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth.” Jesus buttresses the power of self-deliverance by stating, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34) He went further to let us know that with good treasure of the heart one is able to bring forth good things. (Matthew 12:35) Treasure the word of God; allow the word of God a place inside you and the word that you carry inside you will bring forth your satisfaction in place of dis-satisfaction when you speak it in faith. The word of God is consistently true when it is constantly engaged with expectation for manifestation.
Are you experiencing the challenges of what it means to be withered in one hand? One that is short in one hand will be short everywhere he/she put his/her hands on. It takes two whole hands to maintain balance in all endeavors as designed by our maker.
To be withered in life is a sympathetic and sorrowful situation that calls for God’s attention. The situation of a withered can be compared to that of a sheep that falls in a pit. One that falls in a pit is set for stagnation; one in the pit has been replaced from his ground; one in the pit is reduced and not in place for increase and one in the pit with no way out is set to waste. It does not matter what the status of a man is or the kind of title a man answers to, Jesus will not shy away from delivering any that his/her situation calls for Jesus’ attention and welcomes the Savior’s hand that is always ready to give us rest (Matthew 11:28). Treasure the word of God, meditate upon it and be assured of good success (Joshua 1:8). Speak the word from abundance of heart and the word of God which you treasure will satisfy.

                                      IN THE BEGINNING

The Bible makes us realize how it was in the beginning stating, “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.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1: 1-5) The book of John went further to identify the Word which was with God in the beginning, the Word through whom all things were made stating, “…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 the glory of God is the grace of our Lord God, the truth that came from heaven. Jesus gave a self-introduction stating, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) Jesus, the One who was in the beginning shall also be beyond the end of all things.
In every beginning such as a New Year, it is worthy to engage the Word of God that holds the whole world in His hands. To truly engage the Word is the avenue to living a fulfilled life to the glory of God. Without doubt, it is true that the Word of God is God and the Word is power to create; to deliver; to preserve and to heal. When one becomes full of the Word one will be filled by His presence to live a fulfilled life. Having the presence of God in one’s life is all that matters and all that makes the difference living life. However, living a fulfilled life is not a ticket to exemption from the challenges of life but a lifting that is certain to make man prevail in the face of any challenge of this wicked world. For example, Joseph could not be derailed. He was full of the Word and the presence of God in him was all that made him live a fulfilled life.
The presence of God (Word of God) that is fearful with power to deliver answered in the life of Joseph. He refused to answer to his master’s wife’s sinful request to lie with her. Joseph feared God and he responded to his master’s wife’s sinful approach by stating, “…How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9) Truly, Joseph was full of His presence and he lived from one challenge to another but yet he could not be derailed from God’s fulfillment in his life. Know that in the eyes of man, when a situation is bad, it yields good for one who is full of His presence. Joseph, because of the fear of God (presence of God) in him was sent to the prison for a sin he did not commit. While Joseph was in prison, he had the whole prison (world) in His hand because he was carrying the presence of God. It is written, “…And he was there in the prison. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing.The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority,because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.” (Genesis 39:20-23) Joseph was identified with the favor of God; the mercy of God; deliverance and preservation from God because of the presence of God which was consistently inside of him. The life of Joseph depicts what could be an experience for anyone who makes the choice to live a fulfilled life in Christ Jesus.
For one who desires the Word to be full in their life so that they may live a fulfilled life, the Lord will deposit all that it takes to be full by the Word. Man should understand that no one is born filled with the Word; it is one who seeks the Word of God that shall get it by God’s grace. Reading or skimming through the pages of the Bible will not have the Word deposited in one’s life. However, studying and gaining understanding is what will cause man to be filled with the Word of God.
In addition to studying the Word, giving oneself to meditating on the Word will enable man to be established and live a fulfilled life. In line with the importance of meditating the word, Apostle Paul was speaking in 1Timothy 4:15, “Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.” The Apostle Paul could not minimize the importance of meditation in his message. Meditating on the Word of God will fill man and bring to life God’s promise which says that God will not leave us nor forsake us. (Joshua 1:5-6)

Faith Capsule:
Living a fulfilled life is not a ticket to exemption from the challenges of life.

                    GET UNDERSTANDING TO FEAR OF GOD

Without the fear of God there is no seeking God. Do you know what it is to fear God? Is it in you to fear God? It is written, “The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, No, not one. (Psalm 14:2-3) Get the understanding and allow it to be rooted in your being that, the fear of God is the key to living abundantly as delivered by Jesus Christ. Get the understanding to fear God. Ecclesiastes 12:13, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandment, for this is man’s all.” The understanding that is needed in getting the fear of God is the ability to listen to the word of God. The wisdom to fear God rest in the heart of one who has understanding and the knowledge to fear God is easy to one who understands.
King David a man identified by God as one after God’s own heart volunteered to teach the fear of the Lord by stating, “Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.” (Psalm 34:11) David knew what he was up to when he made his statement to the ones who has ear to hear. His fear of God has kept him and saw him through life’s terminating challenges. He wanted to know if we desire life and love many days that we may see good. (Psalm 34:12) Indeed, the words of God are secrets and they are not revealing to those who do not have time studying them. However, to those who spend time studying, and do not approach it as mere story or letter it serves as a dwelling place. In truth, those that dwell in the secret place of God (Word of God) shall abide under the shadow of God. To know and to fear God is inhabited in knowing Him through His word. Evidently, the fear of God is all that settles man for living life abundantly and living life to the glory of God. Psalm 34 pointed out four points to identify one that fear God stating: Keep your tongue from evil, keep your lips from speaking deceit, depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. (Psalm 34:13-14) Digesting the four points into one’s life will no doubt mark one as a God fearing one.
Unlike every other book of the Bible, Proverbs gave many brief of what the fear of God is all about. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. (Proverbs 1:7)
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil. (Proverbs 8:13)
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. (Proverbs 9:10)
The fear of the Lord prolong days. (Proverbs 10:27)
He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord, but he who is perverse in his ways despises Him. (Proverbs 14:2)
In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence. (Proverbs 14:26)
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death. (Proverbs 14:27)
The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom. (Proverbs 15:33)
By the fear of the Lord one departs from evil. (Proverbs 16:6)
The fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil. (Proverbs 19:23)
By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life. (Proverbs 22:4)
The Bible allows us to realize that fearing the LORD God is a Spirit of the Lord, “The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. (Isaiah 11:2)
God also said in Jeremiah 32:40, “And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me.” Having the grace of living life year after year without knowing the fear of God is not God’s will for us. To fear God is for our own good because it keeps us from departing from God. When we are able to obey fully by fearing God, He will preserve us fully. Whatever that is in line with God’s plan and we are able to desire, God will deposit it. Be zealous for the fear of the Lord and it will become of you.

Prayer for today: Ask God to deposit His fear in your life that you may live for His glory.
FAITH CAPSULE:
The fear of God is all that settles man for living life abundantly and living life to the glory of God.
His fear keeps us from departing from Him.