Matthew 17:20 NKJV
”So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.“
INSIGHT
–Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Mark 11:23 reminds us that, whoever says to this mountain, ‘be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Mountain here is symbolic to great difficulties that we might encounter in our lives, communities, nation and other nations. Including:- drought, floods, war, insecurity, corruption, poverty, pandemics, lawlessness etc. The gift of faith is accompanied by love for God and one another, for if one claims to have faith and has the ability to move mountains but without love, he is nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2). Sometimes we are faced with diverse obstacles but with faith nothing will be impossible to us. Let us then hold fast our faith in God and He will grant us victory in all areas of our lives.
PRAYER
Dear Lord Jesus we thank You for love and mercy upon us. You have loved us with so much great love that You died on the cross for our sins, and resurrected so that we may have life eternal. Thank You for Your love and mercy upon us. Thank You for You have enabled us to see this day in good health and peace. May You heal all those who are sick and suffering among us and grant them good health. Thank You for the gift of faith that You have bestowed upon us. May You fill us with Your fruit of love that we may effectively respond to Your call. We believe in You dear Lord Jesus and trust in You. We believe that You are removing every obstacle that we might be faced with. We believe that we can do all things through You Christ Who gives us strength. May Your favor and grace be upon us this week and forever more. Amen
Further reading: Isaiah 54:10, Philippians 4:13
Psalms 20:7 NIV
”Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.“
INSIGHT
–The Psalmist instrumentally employs the words horses and chariots to express the importance and significance of weaponry in war during the Biblical times. Those nations that had advanced chariots and well trained and fed horses, and in multitudes were considered superior to others. Psalms 118:8-9 emphasizes us that, “it is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.“ The Psalmist then considers the victory that God gives to those who have faith in Him as way greater and incomparable to any sophisticated weapon.
PRAYER
May You save us Lord our God and answer us from Your holy heaven. May You save us with Your power and strength at Your right hand. Lord we put all our hope and trust in You and declare Your holiness in all the nations. Some trust in horses others trust in chariots but we put all our trust in You Lord our God. May You help us and teach us to totally rely and depend on You in everything. May You help us and enable us to do Your will always. May You fight for us every battle and shield us from all the plans and schemes of the enemy. May You send help from Your holy mountain and save us. May You forgive us all our sins, iniquities and wash us with Your precious blood. May You open the flood gates of heaven and provide an overflow in every schere of our lives.
Further reading: Psalms 56:3–4, Psalms 20:1-2
James 1:5-8 NKJV
”If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.“
INSIGHT
–Faith and obedience are inseparable. Abraham obeyed God’s instructions when he was ordered to move away from his fathers house (Genesis 12:1-8) and to sacrifice his son Isaac (Genesis 12:1-19). He submitted to God’s call and it was accounted to him for righteousness, and he was called the father of faith. Wisdom that comes from God requires one to fear the Lord and obey His will. We are called to emulate Abraham in faith and application of wisdom through following the word of God.
PRAYER
We will praise You Lord with all our lives. We will sing praise to my God as long as we live. How majestic is Your name in all the earth. How powerful is Your name Oh Lord. How marvelous is Your name in all the heavens and the earth. Lord You have called to live by faith for through Your righteousness You have made us righteous. Through faith You have imputed unto us righteousness. We declare then that we have been crucified with You Christ, and it is no longer us who live, but You Christ who lives in us. May You fill us with wisdom and help us to always obey Your will. We thank You dear Lord Jesus and praise Your name, now and forever. Amen
Further reading: Matthew 7:21-27, Proverbs 16:16
Mark 10:52
“And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.”
INSIGHT
–The story of blind Bartimaeus is a tale of sure faith in God. When he had heard the news about Jesus of Nazareth and that He had come to Jericho, Bartimaeus could not hold his peace. He kept calling “Jesus Son of David, have mercy on me” (Mark 10:47). He allowed nothing to stand in his way from accessing Jesus, even when he was dissuaded by the multitudes, he called the more. Jesus responded and Bartimaeus was called to meet Him. His immediate reaction was to throw away his garment which identified him as a blind man. He believed that his situation was about to change forever and had no doubt. Jesus responded to his request and he was able to see. He then followed Jesus. Jesus calls us to have faith in Him and not to doubt, for if we doubt we become like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind (James 1:6). We are called to follow Jesus unrelentingly and we will have all our requests.
PRAYER
Dear Lord Jesus You are Righteous in all Your ways and gracious in all Your works. Lord You are near all who call on You, who call on You in truth. Lord You are faithful to fulfil the desire of those who fear You, You hear our cry and save us. Dear Lord Jesus Son of David have mercy on us we humbly implore You. May You heal us, save us, and rescue us from every evil, plan of the enemy, disease, lack, delay, pain, shame and defeat. Jesus Son of David have mercy on all the orphans, widows, widowers, street families, and all those who are suffering. Jesus Son of David have mercy on us, our government, churches, communities, nation and all nations of the world. May You open the eyes of our hearts that we may see You, seek You and follow You always. May You preserves us all Lord in Your mercy and grace for we put all our hope and faith in You. Amen
Further reading: Mark 11:24, Psalm 145:17-20
1 John 5:4-5 NKJV
”For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?“
INSIGHT
–Those who are born again have victory in the Lord through the assurance of eternal life. Since they have overcome the world through gaining victory over its sinful pattern of life, which describes obedience to God. Such obedience is made possible through the power of the Holy Spirit Who lives in us once we have faith in Jesus Christ.
SUMMARY
Faith is the substance of things hoped for and evidence of things not see. Faith is believing in the unseen God that He exists and lives in our hearts. Some trust in created gods in form of idols. Others trust in horses and chariots (Psalms 20:7), but we are called to trust in God in everything. Blind Bartimaeus trusted in Jesus even when he had not met Him. When he heard Jesus had visited the city, he kept calling, “Jesus Son of David have mercy on me”. Jesus said your faith has made you well (Mark 10:52). Let our faith in Jesus cause healing, deliverance, breakthroughs and elevation for the glory of God. Faith as little as a mustard seed enables one to move mountains and situations that look like so (Matthew 17:20). Trusting is God gives us a foundation to cast away all doubt from our hearts. Faith in God activates obedience to God and His will yields the fruits of wisdom. If anyone lacks wisdom let them ask from the Lord who gives to all liberally and without reproach (James 1:5-8). We are called to apply faith like Abraham through obedience and the Lord will do a new thing in our lives.
PRAYER
Dear Lord Jesus we thank You for Your divine power and enabling that You have released unto each one us through Your grace. You have justified us through faith and not by works lest we should boast, we exult Your holy name. Lord Jesus You have protected us and shielded us from the schemes of the enemy, may You protect all our school going children and everyone from road accidents and incidents. May You settle the hearts of those who have lost their loved ones and grant them comfort and strength. May You increase our faith so that we may trust You more each day and serve You and one another better. Lord You have called us to be watchful, to stand firm in the faith, act like men and be strong, may You help us. May You bless us and keep us dear Lord Jesus. May You shine Your face towards us and be gracious unto us. May You show Your countenance unto us and give us peace. 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: 1 Corinthians 16:13, 1 Corinthians 2:5