THE GOD WE SERVE

Are you still calling on Him? It is not too late in the year to give up. Keep up with Him in your expectation and know it that He hears.
What a mighty, gracious and merciful God we serve! God was speaking in the book of Isaiah, “It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are speaking, I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24) God is true indeed. King David testifies to the truth when he stated, “I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.” (2 Samuel 22:4) David’s kind of praise is a celebrated praise; a boastful full praise. By virtue of his kind of praise, he was sure that his call had been answered by God who answers before we call on Him. David’s approach is evidence to the truth that God is not only worthy of our contemplative praise (thoughtful or meditative praise). David was rendering a boastful praise knowing that God had done it before asking. A boastful praise is rooted in understanding of God’s character of answering prayer before we call; boastful praise is celebrating what He has done or what He will do.
God also mentioned that “while we speak, He will hear us”. Indeed He heard the children of Israel speaking (not praying) in the face of challenging needs during their journey through the wilderness. It was rebellious speeches rooted in complaints. God responded by stating, “Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the LORD, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you.” (Numbers 14:28) Unfortunately for the Israelites it was negative speech; it was rebellious speech whereby they were rejecting God for His mercy that brought them out of bondage of over four hundred years.
It is very important to always know what we are asking for before opening our mouth or our heart in prayer and speech. There is no safer place in speaking than speaking positive at all times regardless of the negative before us. The same Word of God declares to us, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21) Often time we have no idea who is before us whenever we speak out positive or negative. As a result, the Word of God also warns, “Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands?” (Ecclesiastes 5:6) As a believer, it is important to take every Word of God for truth. It is worth not saying negative than saying it and claiming mistake for excuse. Before God there is no excuse that counts.
Should we keep silent to avoid communicating negative? Absolutely! We should not keep quiet especially when we know that He has delivered us from bondage of sin. The Word that encourages the children of Israel when they came out of the bondage of Egypt encourages us when God stated, “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) Also, in keeping silent we might be silencing our request from God. Are you one who makes mention of the Lord? Here is what Isaiah 62:6-7 says to all, “…you who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent, and give Him no rest till He establishes…” This is talking about a need to be persistent in what we ask for. Jesus buttresses the need to be persistent when He admonished all to be persistent in our asking in His Parable of the Persistent Widow. (Luke 18:1-8)
Knowledge is precious and it increases strength. Know for sure that God’s Word will not return void to Him just as He promised in Isaiah 55:11. The Psalmist also testifies that He is God who magnifies His Word above His entire name (Psalm 138:2).
Having the name of God in our mouth will be complimented by having been carrying His Word in the heart and not just the head. When the Word is in the heart, there will be what it takes to remind Him in our asking. Having the Word in the heart will also give the cause to remind God about His faithfulness to others and it enables us to contend with Him, stating our case because He is not a partial God. (Isaiah 43:26)
He alone is God. He cannot be intimidated and He will do what He pleases to do. Know God in His Word and the world will know that you are in Him. God is not a man that He should lie. Ask for the goodness of God according to His mercy.   

 Faith Capsule:
God answers before we call on Him.
Always know what you are asking for before opening of mouth or heart in prayer.

                                             DO NOT BE FAR BUT FOCUS ON GOD

Those that are far from God consciously or unconsciously have taken the way of death. One cannot be far from God and not far from death. To be far from God is not to trust in God.  
Among what transpires when one is far from God are:
When one is far from God, one’s flesh and heart will fail.
One’s feet will stumble and steps will not stand but slip off.
One that is far from God will be envious of the boastful (seeing and paying attention to the prosperity of the wicked)
Bible points it out in different pages the most glaring identities of the wicked:
The strength of the wicked is firm.
The wicked are not in trouble as other men.
The wicked perverts the way of justice; walks with perverse mouth.
Perversity is in the heart of the wicked and the wicked does evil continually.
Pride is the portion of the wicked and violence serves as the pattern in their walk of life.
The wicked do not acknowledge God but lean on their own understanding.
Often the wicked have more than heart could wish; they increase in riches; they grow.
The wicked one is far from God.
Wickedness is a sin.
Are you one that envies sinners?
It is written, “Do not envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day.” (Proverbs 23:17)
However, it is good to draw near to God. One that trusts in God hopes and rests in God.
Trusting and hoping in God prompts one to declare the works of God.
Knowing to declare the works of God causes man to be decorated with presence of God.
To declare the work of God is to be obedient to God and disobey the gods of this world. The three friends of Daniel (Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego) demonstrated what it means to declare the works of God and be decorated by God. The three friends of Daniel disobeyed King Nebuchadnezzar by not worshiping a gold image. Whoever does not fall down to worship gold image was to be casted into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. Attempts to get them worship did not work and the king questioned: Who is the god who will deliver the three friends from his hands?
The three friends of Daniel, in the face of untimely death declare the wonder-working God stating, “…O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18) It is impossible to declare the wonder-working God in the face of a challenging confrontation like that of the three friends and not have God decorate the declarer of His wonder-working name.
God decorated the three friends immediately in an uncommon way in the history of creation when He came down to deliver them in the fiery burning furnace. They were highly decorated and the king could not resist from announcing the awesomeness of God.
It happened while they are in the burning furnace that God Himself came down instead of sending an angel for their deliverance. When the king saw the God whom he did not know before, he was astonished and he stated, “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”(Daniel 3:25)
The three friends of Daniel, while in captivity, despite their challenging situation consciously took to the way to have life by remaining close to the God of their fathers and they were not far from God. The wicked was not a challenge to them as they remained focused on their God. The three friends of Daniel trusted in God and their hope could not become rusted.
The Bible is written for our learning because God did not speak to waste His word. The same God of yesterday is the same today and forever. Draw nearer to God, ignore the wicked, focus and hold onto God in these days of rising challenges and you will ride above all.

                                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.