John 1:50-51
“Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
INSIGHT
-Faith in Greek is written as pistis and it means to be persuaded or come to trust. The Biblical meaning of faith is derived from Hebrews 11:1-2 which states that; faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. In todays text we see Jesus’ encounter with Nathaniel. Jesus’ supernatural insight into Nathaniel’s character convinces this, “true Israelite” that he has been confronted by the Son of God, the King of Israel. Nathaniel only heard about Jesus through the prophetic writings but he could not believe until he saw the Messiah. Jesus spoke into his life and charged his faith, opening the eyes of his understanding. Like Jacob who saw angels ascending and descending to and from the heavens, Nathaniel was now exposed to see in the supernatural through dreams, and visions and would experience true knowledge of God. His faith was also increased and he was charged to do more for the kingdom of God.
PRAYER
Your Kingdom Lord is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. May You open the eyes of our hearts so that we may see You Lord for who You are. May You increase our faith in You dear Jesus and may You enable us to do more for the benefit of Your kingdom. May You guide us in the purposes for which You have called us and broaden our spectrum in every area of our lives. Thank You Jesus for enabling us to see this week in good health, and sound mind. May Your grace and favor accompany us through out this season of Easter that we may do Your will. May You do a new thing in our lives, families, society, ministries, churches, schools and nation for the glory of Your name. May we experience You more and expose our supernatural insights in You. May Your fill our hearts with Your love Holy Spirit that we love You and our neighbors as ourselves. May You teach us to put the interests of others before ourselves. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forevermore. Amen
Further reading: Genesis 28:12, Luke 17:5
Galatians 3:6-9
“So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.”
INSIGHT
–The story of Abraham predisposes us to the power and promises that come through faith. We can pause and ask, what if Abraham heard the voice of God but disobeyed. I’m sure he would not have been credited as the father of faith and therefore he would remain unrighteous. Originally, Abram came from the land of Ur of the Chaldeans (Genesis 11:28). Terah, Abram’s father, took Abram and Lot as far as Haran where they settled. God instructed Abraham to leave Haran and go to the place He would show him. There, God promised to bless Abraham by making of him a great nation, and by blessing the entire world though his seed (Genesis 12:1-3). Abraham charged by faith, believed that he would still become the father of a great nation. He did not consider his old age as good as dead, or the deadness of Sarah’s womb but was fully persuaded that God has power to do what He had promised (Romans 4:19-21). God then tested Abraham’s faith by instructing him to go up mount Moriah and sacrifice his only son Isaac. Abraham again did not hesitate but obeyed, and by this affirmed his trust in God. This was a portrait of the sacrifice that God gave us through His only begotten Son, that we may believe in Him and have eternal life (John 3:16). It is through the death and resurrection of Jesus, that we are celebrating Easter. It is a call to each one of us to have strong faith in God like Abraham our father, and obey His will, that we may obtain our promises here on earth, and the gift of eternal life.
PRAYER
Lord we thank You. We believe in You Jesus Christ, that You died on the cross for our sins, and resurrected so that we may have the gift of salvation. We believe that we are Abrahams seed according to the promise. Thank You for Your promises upon our lives dear Lord. Thank You for Your promise of eternal life upon us and all our generations. Your promises are yes and amen, we worship You are give You praise dear Jesus. You are faithful to keep all Your promises in our lives, we lift up Your banner in all the nations. We shall not be discouraged nor dismayed for You will always go before us, and You will never us nor forsake us Holy Spirit. May every dead situation in our lives come to life in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. May You go before our children and grant them success in their education. May You go before us in our work, businesses, schools, ministries, society, churches and national affairs, and grant us favor. May You go ahead of our plans to make us succeed in everything we do; precious Holy Spirit. May You heal all the sick and comfort all those are weak and discouraged. May Your presence always dwell in us and with us. May Your grace abound in us to guide all our going out and coming in. We thank You and praise Your holy name dear Jesus, now and forever. Amen
Further reading: Hebrews 10:23
Hebrews 11:5-6
“By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
INSIGHT
-Several scriptures have outlined to us ways on how to please God. Some include:- Romans 12:1-2 tells us that we should offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, which is pleasing to God. Hebrews 13:16; reminds us that we should do good and to share what we have, for such sacrifices please God. 1 John 3:22; reminds us that we should keep His commandments and do what pleases Him, and He will give us whatever we ask for from Him. Now the main text discloses to us that without faith it is impossible to please God. Notice that it does not say; it is difficult to please God, but it is impossible to please God. Enoch was charged by faith to walk with God faithfully and with righteousness. He lived for three hundred and sixty five years, and did not taste death but God took him. This reminds us of Jesus’ resurrection, and we are called to have faith in Him, that we may also resurrect and live forever with Him. We are encouraged to walk with God and please Him through faith, and take heed to His word.
PRAYER
Lord You are faithful. You remain faithful even when we become faithless, may You increase our faith in You. Like Enoch faithfully walked with You and pleased You in his generation, and escaped the corruption of the world for he did not face death, may Your abundant life dwell in us Holy Spirit. We humbly ask You to teach us Your ways and cover us with Your precious blood, and hedge of fire. Teach us seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness, and all other things You will add unto us. You are greater than the one who lives in the world Holy Spirit, may we experience Your power and live by faith and not by sight. Help us to radiate Your light and goodness in the world. May You cause our enemies to have make peace with us according to Your word. Cause us to be kind to them and feed them. May Your peace reign in our hearts, minds, families, churches, society and the entire world. Give us hearts of compassion that we may feed, clothe, educate, rehabilitate, and train the needy in Your ways dear Jesus. Thank You dear Jesus for loving us first, we love You. All our hope and trust is in You Lord. We believe that we shall see You as You are, and glory in You. All glory, honor, power, wealth and praise belongs to You dear Jesus now and forever. Amen
Further reading: Genesis 5:21-24, Proverbs 16:7, Hebrew 10:38
Mark 5:34
“And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”
INSIGHT
-The above scripture wraps us the story of the woman with the issue of blood. This disease was a chronic hemorrhage, for which she had found no relief from the physicians, but suffered for twelve years. According to the law, her condition she was considered unclean (Leviticus 15:25–33), and if exposed, the couple would be separate from their people (Leviticus 20:18). Even though these laws applied, she had hope of getting better. She spent all her resources but could not get better but worse. She got charged by her faith when she heard about Jesus, and pursued Him, with the hope of receiving healing. She trusted that by only a touching the hem of Jesus’ garment, she would be healed. Jesus discloses that it is her faith that made her well, and He granted her peace. We know that this was not a natural occurrence but supernatural having knowledge that faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit, and we cannot acquire it on our own. Jesus called her daughter for it is through faith that we become children of God (Galatians 3:26). We are reminded to put our trust in God in every situation however difficult, for nothing is impossible with God.
PRAYER
We come at Your feet dear Jesus asking for mercy. Have mercy on us Jesus and show us Your grace. Heal our hearts merciful Savior and help us to hold fast our faith in You. May You heal all those who are sick in our families and all over the world, and comfort them in Your peace. Jesus You are the Prince of peace, may we experience Your peace that surpasses all understanding in our hearts, minds, homes, families, churches, society and the world at large. May the joy of Your salvation accompany us wherever we go. We are Your children Abba Father, may You grant us Your peace and grace. Have mercy on us and on the whole world. May You heal our physical, emotional, psychological, financial, political and economic wounds, and grant us Your favor before You and before men. May You grant us the gift of healing that we may do more for the glory of Your name. Our Father who art in heaven; hallowed be Your name; Your Kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptations but deliver us from evil; for thine is the Kingdom the power and the glory; forever and ever. Amen
Further reading: John 1:12, 1 Corinthians 12:7-11
Acts 8:32-33
“The place in the Scripture which he read was this: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth. In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.””
INSIGHT
Prophet Isaiah prophesied about the death of Jesus who was like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, oppressed and judged, he was cut off from the land of the living, assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death (Isaiah 53:7-9). Just as the Ethiopian Eunuch was charged by faith and convicted to be baptized when they found water and his whole household received the gift of salvation; we are called to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ who paid the price for our Salvation. Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice offered for our sins and our reconciliation to God. He took all the punishment, oppression and judgement we were meant to take. Now we can rejoice in the evident, ultimate love of God shown when He sacrificed His only son and broke the power of sin in our lives and won the victory for us. What a undeserved privilege we received to become sons of God and co-heirs with Christ in the blessings God has kept for us. Therefore we should have faith in Christ and add to our faith virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love.” For we have seen true love displayed which gives us confidence in Christ thus strengthening our faith in the Lord for we know that He is faithful to fulfill all He has promised to do in our lives.
SUMMARY
Faith is confidence in God. It is the name given to the action you take in who God is and the integrity of His word. From the definition of faith given in Hebrews 11:1-2, we find that there is a difference between hope and faith. Faith is in the present, hope is in the future. Faith is in the heart and not the mind. Paul says that with the heart, we believe unto salvation. By faith we believe unto salvation. 1 Thessalonians 5:8, faith is the breastplate that protects the heart and hope is the helmet that protects the mind. Faith is invisible not what is seen. 2 Corinthians 5:7, we walk by faith and not by sight. Faith and sight are alternatives, when you see you don’t need to believe, and the reverse is true. Jesus said to His disciples, you are the ones who have continued with me in trials. Faith is commitment to Jesus Christ, as our High Priest to who we confess (Hebrews 10:21-23). You must believe in Your heart that the things you say, they will come to pass. When you pray, you must believe that you receive it, and you shall have it. In the faith equation there is speech, prayer, word of God, believing, receiving, having. The woman with the issue of blood was charged by faith when she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment and received her healing. Nathaniel was charged by faith and promised greater things (John 1:50-51). Abraham was charged by faith and believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness (Galatians 3:6-9). He obeyed God even when he was instructed to go to mount Moriah and sacrifice his only son. This was a reflection of God the Father sacrificing His only begotten Son for the sake of our salvation. During this Easter we are called to have faith in Christ as a response to the love He has shown us for he gave up his life and throneship for us. It is through this faith that our families will also be drawn to salvation and righteousness. Faith impacts the household, generations, society and transforms our lives, convicting and leading us to true righteousness in Christ. Thanks be to God and our Lord Jesus for this precious gift of Salvation! Hallelujah!
PRAYER
Jesus we love You and we thank You loving us first and for dying on the cross for our redemption. Thank You for You redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. Thank You for defeating the power of death and now You have the keys of death and hades. Thank You for the mercy You showed us and the grace You have given us. Dear Lord, may You increase our faith in You and let us shine Your light upon all our household, generations and society. Let them see Your great works and praise You. May You release Your healing to all who are sick and cleanse them from all their infirmities by Your precious blood Jesus. We pray that You will provide for the needy and strengthen all Your people. We honor and bless Your name. We pray all this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Further reading: Matthew 27