Tony Rapu

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The Courageous Fast

The Courageous Fast

A NEW WAVE OF THE PROPHETIC                               

I hear the Spirit of God say that the events in the natural that prevail around you have the propensity to pull you away from the voice of My Spirit. Now is the time to set your mind on things above. I desire to pour out My Spirit and bring you into My dreams, visions and prophecies. Be strong and refuse to allow fear and panic take you out of the flow of My Spirit. Let Me guide you into accurate action in every situation. The times you live in will require you hear My specific direction and guidance. I possess knowledge and all understanding to help you navigate through the complexities that seek to overwhelm you. Seek My face and spend time with Me that I might reveal my heart to you.

 

WHO KNOWS?

“Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape…And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:13-14

 

Esther was placed in the palace according to God’s plan to stop a genocide planned against the Jews. She was in the palace for a purpose. Many times we agonise about what God wants us to do and we spend too long trying to figure out where He wants us to be. We tend to live in the future, instead of allowing God to do something with our lives where we are now.

 

Even though it was not lawful for her to approach the king without permission, Esther said “if I perish, I perish.” Approaching the king without summons attracted a death penalty. Esther could have remained silent to protect herself from the impending genocide. Instead, she took a radical step of faith that took her out of obscurity into national prominence.

 

Sometimes, God’s will for our lives makes perfect sense and we have a clear picture and direction of what to do. Other times, His will for our lives unfolds as we take a risk. That we contend with difficulties does not mean God is not in the situation. On the contrary, the will of God may take us through serious challenges. God is searching for those who are willing to take a risk in order to fulfill His purposes and bring destruction to the cause of the enemy.

 

When Mordecai sent a message to Esther, he said. Who knows?’ It was a question. He knew as queen, Esther had an opportunity to petition the king. He knew God wanted to save the people. But he was not sure what Esther was supposed to do.

 

There will be times when you’ve gathered all the information, you’ve fasted and prayed and sought counsel, but you’re still not sure. Despite her preparation, Esther had to muster tremendous courage, break all protocol and approach the king. This was the beginning of deliverance for Israel.

 

YOUR NEXT BOLD STEP

Sometimes you have to go against common sense, against the advice of others, even against what you want to do, in order to follow God’s plan. Don’t be afraid to allow God determine the outcome of your next bold step.

 

SONG

♬I Give Myself Away by William McDowell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha3JbND1Sqg

 

FURTHER STUDY

Proverbs 3:5-6 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+3%3A5-6&version=NIV

1Peter 1:6-7 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+1+%3A6-7&version=NLT

Daniel 3:16-18 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+3%3A16-18&version=NIV

 

The Courageous Fast

WALK ON BY!                                                                           

But when David’s oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking to the men, he was angry. “What are you doing around here anyway?” he demanded. “What about those few sheep you’re supposed to be taking care of? I know about your pride and deceit. You just want to see the battle!” I Samuel 17:28

Eliab, David’s older brother was there the day the prophet Samuel paid a visit to their home in Bethlehem. He had come to inform Jesse, Eliab’s father, that God had sent him to anoint one of his sons as the next king of Israel. Jesse did not even consider David should at all be present. His oldest son, Eliab was an officer in Saul’s army and had the carriage and physical stature of a king. If God wanted a new king, then surely Eliab would be the man. Eliab himself as the first born son, was expecting Samuel to anoint him as the new king.

 

One look at Eliab, Samuel thought this must be the one, but God stopped Samuel. Do not look at his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the Lord does not see as man does.” Eliab faced rejection that day. The prophet passed him over, along with his younger brothers. Then Samuel discovered that Jesse had one more son and a messenger was sent to fetch David from the field. David was just a teenager and not old enough to join the army. He spent all his time singing songs and caring for their father’s sheep. Samuel then anointed David in the presence of his father and brothers.

 

Sometime later, Israel is facing the giant called Goliath. David arrives on the battle field with food for his brothers and hears Goliath’s taunts. He begins to publicly question why no one was taking up the challenge of fighting Goliath. This was when Eliab exploded in anger and lashed out with hurtful words.

 

We often have to deal with attacks from those closest to us. Eliab was still angry that it was David who was picked as king and not him. Attacking David publicly, he made it seem like David was being irresponsible, leaving their fathers’ sheep unattended. It was obviously a false accusation. Had David allowed fear and intimidation from Eliab to get the better of him, he would have backed down, run back home and never faced Goliath.

 

 

David would have loved to hear his brother say “I believe in you David. Go after Goliath”. What he got instead were his brother’s harsh words. But he didn’t let that deter him. He turned to someone else and asked the same question as to what would be given to the man who killed Goliath. He got the same answer. David was not looking for a different answer, he already knew the answer. He was asking to let Eliab know he was not intimidated by his outburst.

 

As David ignored his brother and moved on, so must we. We have to learn to move beyond the negative opinion of others.

 

TO DO

Never let the voice of your critics prevent you from doing what God has asked you to do.

 

 

SONG

♬I Know Who I Am by Sinach https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frtZ4XfoXxM

 

 

FURTHER STUDY

I Sam. 17:20-37 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Samuel+17%3A20-37&version=NIV

Psalm 118:6-9 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+118%3A6-9&version=NLT

Proverbs 29:25 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+29%3A25&version=NLT

 

 

 

The Courageous Fast
The Courageous Fast

The Courageous Fast

WHOSE REPORT WILL YOU BELIEVE?                                

 

“See what the land is like, and find out whether the people living there are strong or weak, few or many. See what kind of land they live in. Is it good or bad? Do their towns have walls, or are they unprotected like open camps? Is the soil fertile or poor? Are there many trees…?” Numbers 13:18-20.

 

As the Israelites approached the borders of the Promised Land, they were unaware that God was setting their qualifying exams for them. And the examination was to separate the overcomers from the under-achievers. The Lord was about to make a separation between those who would languish in the wilderness and those who would move in to possess the Promised Land.

 

Moses sent out twelve of Israel’s men to do the assessment of the land. They were to assess the obstacles that would confront them when they finally entered the land. The point was that they were not to ignore the realities on ground, but appraise the actual situation as they saw it. They were to assess the quality of life in Canaan.

 

The men spent almost 6 weeks exploring the land. All of Israel, waited at the edge of the wilderness as the men did their reconnaissance. There was great anticipation of what God had in store for them. 40 days later, they returned and compiled their report. It was in two volumes. ‘Volume 1’ represented the facts and ‘Volume 2’ was their interpretations of the facts.

 

As far as the facts were concerned, all the spies were in agreement. The facts represented the reality. But when it came to interpretation, Joshua and Caleb, two of the spies, had their own take. They said, “Let us go immediately and take possession of the land. We can do it”. The other ten men said, Oh no, that would be suicidal. We saw giants in the land. We won’t be able to take them on. It would pose too much of a fatal risk”.

 

To further buttress their argument, they volunteered another piece of information. They said, We really felt small during the exploration. We felt like grasshoppers and even the inhabitants of the land also thought we were grasshoppers!”

 

It is one thing to have a perception of your own situation. But who told them the giants in Canaan thought they were grasshoppers? Did they ask them? Spies were sent out secretly. Did they conduct an opinion poll?

 

When the two versions were presented to the congregation, Joshua and Caleb were possibly waiting for the people to ask each party to defend their own interpretation. They were expecting a discussion on the basis for arriving at two different conclusions. Instead the congregation immediately took sides with the ten and adopted a negative and faulty report.

 

WHOSE REPORT WILL YOU BELIEVE?

Joshua and Caleb called the analysis of the ten men a rebellion. The crowd in turn wanted to stone Joshua and Caleb for their different perspective. It was at this point God decided that the entire nation would roam around the wilderness until they all dropped dead, as their punishment for believing the negative interpretation of the facts.

 

JOSHUA’S REPORT

Numbers 14: 6-10 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+14%3A6-10&version=NIV

 

REFLECTION 

How am I interpreting the facts around me? My interpretation will determine the outcome of the examination.

 

SONG

♬ While I am waiting by Travis Greene https://youtu.be/E_6pQj3UOT0

 

FURTHER STUDY

Numbers 14:26-35 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+14%3A26-35&version=NLT

Hebrews 10:38 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+10%3A38&version=NIV

1 John 5:4 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+5%3A4&version=NIV

 

 

The Courageous Fast

HOW SHOULD I VOTE?

“Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds…” Exodus 18:21

One of the biggest concerns of Christians today, is who to vote for. Some are frustrated that God has not lined up the candidates they had hoped for. Others feel that the candidates of their choice do not really have a chance. Many feel that they will be forced to choose between the lesser of two evils. While some are “not just interested in politics”, others ask, “Will my vote really make a difference?” “Will it not be rigged?” “Might as well stay home”. Going by the sometimes palpable tension during the campaigns, a significant number have election anxiety, afraid of the outcome of the elections and violent reactions to the results. Yet some ask, “Where is God in this equation?” “Has he abandoned the nation to the rule of evil, corrupt men?”

We cannot deny that Government plays a significant role in the affairs of life. The actions of our leaders and the decisions made by Government, have a significant impact on the conditions we live in and will impact our families, churches, work place and policies in the nation. So as Christians, we should care about, and participate in the political process. Jesus said to give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, which in a democracy includes voting.  So how do I vote?

Moses’ father-in-law, in giving him direction, gives us a pattern of who we should choose as leaders. Choose candidates with a proven track record. Those who maintain a position that affirms freedom, righteousness, justice, truth and integrity. Look for those whose policies will promote the spread of the gospel.

While exercising our right to participate in the elections, as important as this is, it is not the most important election in our life time. God’s election of us by grace is much more important. Our choice to become Christians is more important. Let us not look too much to politicians to do what only God can do.

And what if our candidate does not win? Should we lose hope in the future of the country? As believers, it’s not our job to worry or yield to despair, nor should we become angry and spread hatred towards political figures.

Rather, we should focus our energies in praying for God’s will to be accomplished, regardless of who is elected. God is sovereign, still on His throne and in complete control of the election process. The Bible assures us that God has a plan and a purpose for all things. We must put our trust in God and not in human politicians. We vote and we pray for the leaders who emerge and trust God to use them for His own Glory.

What we do know is that no matter the outcome of the elections, the gates of hell would not prevail against the Church. God’s call and purpose for our lives will still unfold. Is it not such a wonderful thing; that no matter the outcome of the elections, Jesus will win!

 

PRAYER THOUGHT
Lord our ears cry out for Your mercy and a longing to see You heal our land.

 

SONG
♬You Are God by Nathaniel Bassey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJMNagqzDVM

FURTHER STUDY

Isaiah 46:10 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+46%3A10&version=NIV
Daniel 2:21-22 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+2%3A20-21&version=NIV
1Tim.2:1-4 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Tim.2%3A1-4&version=NIV
Romans 13:1 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+13%3A1&version=NIV

 

The Courageous Fast
The Courageous Fast

The Courageous Fast

FEARLESS DECISIONS                                            

 

“Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.” Genesis12:13(NIV)

 

God told Abraham (then Abram) to get out of his country and promised to bless him with numerous descendants, with land, wealth and protection from his enemies. Abraham’s name would be great and through him the whole world will be blessed. Abraham departed Ur of the Chaldeans with his wife Sarah (then Sarai), and his initial journey took him to an area experiencing a famine. To escape the famine, he then migrated to Egypt. As he approached Egypt, Abraham began to have fears for his life. He suspected they would see Sarah’s beauty and kill him and take her. To protect himself, he concocted a plan with Sarah. She was to say she was his sister.

 

As Abraham became more fearful, he began to rely more on his wife for protection than on God. As soon as they arrived in Egypt, his fears materialized. The Egyptians saw Sarah’s great beauty and the king’s officials informed the king they had seen a beautiful woman he could have as wife. So the king sent a lavish gift to Abraham and took Sarah into the palace. Abraham accepted the gift of sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels, silver and gold but lost his wife. Shortly after, God judged the king and his household and plagued the palace with terrible diseases. The king, somehow suspected it was because of Sarah, and summoned Abraham.

 

Why did you not tell us Sarah was your wife, you told me she was your sister”, he queried. He sent Abraham away, who took the gifts and fled Egypt with Sarah. Was this God’s perfect method in blessing Abraham? He endured the trauma of losing his wife for a season. Sarah herself was forced into a marriage she didn’t want and the king’s household was plagued with terrible diseases; all because Abraham made a foolish decision to call his wife his sister.

 

Life is really the sum total of the decisions we make. These decisions, whether good or bad, will often affect those around us. When we are led by the Spirit of God, and our decisions are motivated by faith, we open the door for God to work out His blessings and His promises in our lives. But when our decisions are fueled by fear and unbelief, the outcome opens the door to negative influences in our lives and may give the devil a foothold. The decisions borne out of fear make us live far beneath the best God has in store for us.

 

What are you contemplating today? What is fueling your decision? Fear of circumstance or faith in God? The future outcome will depend on one or the other.

 

 

 

 

 

PRAYER THOUGHT

My ears shall hear a word behind me, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever I turn to the right or whenever to the left.[1]

 

SONG

♬God I look to You by Jenn Johnson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR5IoWH9OiI

 

FURTHER STUDY

Gen. 12:10-20 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+12%3A10-20&version=NLT

Prov. 10:22 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+10%3A22&version=NKJV

Psalm 32:8-9 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+32%3A8-9&version=NLT

 

[1] Isaiah 30:21 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+30%3A21&version=NKJV

The Courageous Fast

WALK THROUGH!                                                          

 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff,

they comfort me.

Psalm 23:4(NKJV)

 

David wrote the most cherished Psalm 23. He was once a shepherd boy and saw his relationship with God through the eyes of a shepherd. The shepherd had to provide food and water for the flock. He provided rest and protected the flock from wild animals, from wolves, bears, lions and even other humans. There were always dangers lurking, but the abiding presence of the shepherd brought comfort to the sheep.

 

At the time David wrote Psalm 23, he was probably going through a valley of death experience. Maybe he was feeling death was near or was experiencing the gloom and doom of life in the valley. David went through hardship, difficulty, pain and suffering. He spoke often about these experiences.

 

At some point, we all walk through the valley of the shadow of death as well. The valley represents times of economic hardship, worry and anxiety about a loved one, enemies from within and without, or betrayal, which can be a very dark valley.

 

Maybe you’re in the valley right now. A negative report from your doctors, a separation from a spouse, a broken relationship, a teenage pregnancy or a child on drugs. Maybe your dark valley is a problem on your job, some financial loss or even your reputation. You may find yourself in the valley of the shadow of discouragement or the valley of the shadow of debt, or the valley of the shadow of depression. It could be the valley of the shadow of conflict.

 

The most frustrating thing about the valley of the shadow of death is the uncertainty. You have no way of knowing how long the walk will be, what is lurking unseen and who else is waiting in ambush. But the point about the valley of these shadows is that shadows should not hurt. As someone has said, the shadow of a dog cannot bite nor can the shadow of a truck knock you down. The shadow of a sword cannot pierce through you nor can a shadow stop your advancement.

 

Whenever there’s a shadow, it’s only because there’s light somewhere. You cannot have a shadow where there’s no light. The secret of valley times is to locate the light. Jesus said “I am the Light of the world’. This is the Light that walks with us through the darkest of valleys. We never walk alone. The Lord Himself, the Great Shepherd is with us. Just to have His Presence and trust Him to lead us through the valley is our greatest need.

 

The greatest school of faith is located in the depths of the valley of shadows, not on the mountain top. It’s in the walk through the valley that life’s best lessons are learnt and to walk speaks of moving in a certain direction; calm and confident. Notice that David said he was walking through the valley and not walking in the valley. Maybe it’s time to turn your back on the fearful shadows and look to Him who is the Light of the world.

 

POSTSCRIPT

The God of the mountain is still God in the valley. Walk Through!

 

SONG

♬I Am Not Alone by Kari Jobe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow4OfW4DP9s

 

FURTHER STUDY

John10:11-15 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+10%3A11%2C+14-15&version=NIV

Psalm 121 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+121&version=NIV

Psalm 46:1-3 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+46%3A1-3&version=NIV

The Courageous Fast
The Courageous Fast

The Courageous Fast

QUENCH THAT FIERY DART!                                                              

Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”  Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. I Kings 19:1-3(NIV)

 

Elijah was one of the most powerful prophets in Old Testament times. He stood and confronted Ahab, the king of Israel and his evil wife, Jezebel. Elijah pronounced a famine over the land and it did not rain for 3 years. He single-handedly confronted 850 false prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. Then he called on God to answer him by fire. Miraculously, fire fell from heaven. Elijah arrested all the false prophets and personally supervised their execution. All of Israel rejoiced. There was revival in the land. One man had turned the whole nation back to God overnight.

 

When Jezebel, the witch, heard of all the things Elijah had done, she was furious and sent him a message; “You have killed my prophets, wait and see what I will do to you within the next 24 hours. May my own gods destroy me if I don’t personally bury you“. Her message was like a ballistic missile aimed at Elijah. He had a 24-hour death sentence from the queen witch.

 

Elijah’s response to Jezebel however was strangely out of character. The man who had called down fire, held back the rain and brought it down again, the man who had boldly confronted the wicked king Ahab, and had single-handedly eliminated all the false prophets, now reacted in fear. Though Elijah’s words were backed with power from God, he panicked. Jezebel’s message was like a flaming arrow from hell. It struck a mortal blow. Elijah became afraid for his life. God’s warrior fled in terror from Jezebel, sat under a tree, depressed and suicidal. And that was where God met him.

 

LESSONS FROM ELIJAH

  1. No one is immune from the attacks of the enemy. Elijah was under an attack. The demonic arrow penetrated a chink in his armour. Elijah had dealt a major blow to the kingdom of darkness and they retaliated. Past success does not mean the future is guaranteed. We always have to be on guard from the arrows of the enemy.

 

  1. In his weariness, Elijah allowed fear to break through to him. Fear is one of the greatest weapons of the enemy. For Elijah, it was fear of death. For others, it may be the fear of the future, of war, of violence or of poverty. Some are afraid they won’t ever marry. Elijah allowed his fear and discouragement to get the better of him. Exhausted and frustrated, he slipped into disillusionment.

 

 

DECISION

Never allow fear, doubt or unbelief to dictate your responses.  If you do, you will lose your confidence, and like Elijah find yourself retreating and running from Jezebel and her witchcraft, instead of sustaining your victories in Christ.

 

PRAYER

Give me strength to hold up my shield of faith and stop every attack of the enemy. Let Your presence become an impenetrable wall of defense around me. Empower me to stand against every assault of the enemy and quench every flaming arrow shot in my direction.

 

SONG

♬Victor’s Crown by Darlene Zschech https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g84C902JFYM&pbjreload=10

 

FURTHER STUDY

2Tim.1:7 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2Tim.1%3A7&version=NKJV

1John5:4 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+5%3A4&version=NIV

Eph. 6:16 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+6%3A16&version=NKJV

The courageous Fast

PREPARING THE ATMOSPHERE                                                      

 

‘He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James’. Mark 5: 37 (NIV)

 

Jesus had just healed the woman with the ‘issue of blood’ and was now heading to Jairus’ home to pray for his daughter who was ill. While taking His time to address the woman’s situation, news came that Jairus’ daughter had died. The last message Jairus heard was, “Why bother the Teacher? Your daughter is dead.” Jesus overhead what they said and told Jairus to keep believing and continued heading for his home. The crowd followed as well, to see a miracle.

 

Jairus led the way, although those words must have been ringing in his head; “Why bother the Teacher?” It was an attempt by the enemy to stop Jesus from coming to Jairus’ house. There was actually a battle going on in Jairus’ home and Jesus was preparing for it. There was a war raging between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of God. Demonic powers had struck a fatal blow and a young girl was dead. Jesus’ plan was to release the power of the kingdom of God over the little girl and raise her back to life. This was not the time to be surrounded by fearful, doubting and unbelieving people. So what did Jesus do?

 

He only permitted those He knew were strong in faith to come along with Him. He stopped the crowd. And notice that out of the twelve disciples nine of them did not make it either. Only the girl’s parents along with Jesus’ core group; Peter, James and John, were allowed in. We have to carefully screen the people we surround ourselves with and listen to in the days ahead. Life is a battle that has to be fought constantly with the weapon of faith. Fear, doubt and unbelief are contagious and quickly spread.

 

Jairus’ house was full of pretenders and people mourning and crying loudly. Jesus sent them all out before He raised the girl back to life. It might have seemed insensitive to stop the crowd. It might have seemed a little embarrassing to stop the disciples, and certainly, it was not politically correct to throw out those who had come to mourn with the bereaved. But Jesus was on a mission. And so are we!

 

We cannot walk by faith and walk by feelings at the same time. Jesus’ determined plan was to do everything required to surround Jairus with people of faith and courage.

 

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR US?

  1. Surround yourself with people of faith and courage.
  2. Do your best to avoid people who only see problems and never the solutions.
  3. Make every effort to create an environment of faith for the miraculous.
  4. Refuse to allow negative influences from social media, television or any other source, to deter your faith.
  5. Speak words of faith.

 

PRAYER DIRECTION

Lord, send the right people into my life, men and women of courage who will strengthen my faith and provoke an atmosphere for the miraculous.

 

SONG

♬I Stand Amazed by Sinach https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEOFjFzXGK4

 

FURTHER STUDY

Mark 5:35-43 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+5%3A35-43&version=NIV

James 1:5-8 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1%3A5-8&version=NIV

Habakkuk 2:4 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Habakkuk+2%3A4&version=NKJV

 

 

The courageous Fast
The Courageous Fast

The Courageous Fast

WALK ON WATER!                                                                   

When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Matthew 14:26-27(NIV)

Shortly after feeding the multitude who had gathered, Jesus dismissed the crowd, then told His disciples to get into a boat and go ahead of him to the other side of the lake. Then He went up to the mountain to pray. Half way across the sea, the disciples encounter a problem; a terrible storm arises. They battle the raging storm without any respite until about 3am. It was at this time, Jesus planned to join the disciples, and since He did not have a boat, He just walked on water to get to them.

Jesus did not only come to show us the way to salvation, He also lived His life to show us what is possible in our walk with God. We often think that Jesus did the things He did simply because He was the Son of God. But as children of God, we are also called to walk in the realm of the supernatural, to see the miraculous as a way of life and to believe God for extraordinary breakthroughs. The disciples, exhausted from battling the storm are now in a panic and at a loss for what to do. This is when they see Jesus walking on water towards them. Terror struck their hearts. They thought it was a ghost!

As Christians we will, in our walk with God, encounter the storms of life from time to time. Like the disciples, it could be while doing what He has asked us to do. Jesus is not a security from encountering the storms of life; He is our security inside the storms of life.  We can ride through the storms, standing on the promises of God. Jesus then called out to them “Take courage, it is I”. This was when Peter decided to do something radical. He asked Jesus to tell him to come on the water. Jesus said “Come”. Just one word, no long sermon, no enticing words, no fancy message, just one word; “Come”.

 

Peter had walked with Jesus long enough to know that if Jesus said something, it would happen. Peter also knew that if Jesus said something, the person He spoke it to, had to have faith to respond. Peter believed the word enough to put his feet in the water and walked on it. No one had ever walked on water in the history of humanity. Jesus became the first person to do it, then followed by Peter.

Do not allow fear to keep you from getting out of your boat. Remember there were 12 fearful disciples and only one walked on water.

REFLECTION
1. Never face your challenges in fear.

  1. Fear will keep you from believing for the best from God.
  2. God’s response to us every time when we’re afraid is: “Do not be afraid”.
  3. Believe God for the miraculous.
  4. Step out in faith and confidence based on the truth of God’s word.

 

PRAYER THOUGHT 

Lord, thank You for helping me expand my capacity to believe You for more.

SONG

♬Oceans by Hillsong https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBJJJkiRukY

FURTHER STUDY

Isaiah 50:7 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+50%3A7&version=NIV

Mark 6:17-18 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+16%3A17-18&version=NIV

Acts 4:13 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+4%3A13&version=NIV

1John5:14-15 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1John5%3A14-15&version=NIV

 

The Courageous Fast

IT’S TIME TO BLESS THE LORD!                                             


1
I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.

I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears
. Psalm 34:1-4 (NKJV)

4 QUICK POINTS

  1. ‘I WILL’ BLESS THE LORD

It’s not every time one actually feels like praising God. But David was such a remarkable man. He said “I will”. It was a choice he made. That means whether we bless the Lord or not is a decision that we have to make. You either chose to bless the Lord or choose not to. But your choice in this very simple matter can affect your future. The reason is because when you do take time to bless the Lord in spite of your feelings, you have made a powerful choice to operate in the realm of faith. Faith pleases God and opens you up to the miraculous. What a privilege!

 

  1. MY SOUL WILL MAKE ITS BOAST:

David was determined that he would boast in the Lord.  He was constantly speaking about the great things God had done for him. The victories he had won; the breakthroughs he had experienced and the testimonies of his deliverance from the enemy. He was determined to speak consistently and lavishly about the things God had done, such that those who heard him were themselves encouraged and strengthened.

 

  1. LET US MAGNIFY THE LORD:

David was a man who encountered many issues in life. He constantly went from one problem to another. But notice here that David was not magnifying his challenges and problems, but was magnifying the name of the Lord. It’s easy to focus on the difficulties of life and miss God’s strategies for our breakthroughs. When we magnify God above the situations and problems of life, they dwindle in comparison. Our hearts are then strengthened and we’re better equipped to face our problems.  Constantly magnifying the problems of life, only opens the door to fear and unbelief.

 

  1. I SOUGHT THE LORD:

David faced real issues in a real way. The way he dealt with all of his fears was to constantly seek the Lord. That was the secret to his many successes. It was the source of his courage. His courage was derived from the times he spent seeking God. And the consequence was that God delivered David from all his fears. The lions and bears held no power over him. Goliath had no power over him, neither did Saul nor the Philistines have any power over David. This was the secret to David’s breakthroughs. It was his relationship with God from constantly waiting on God that got him all his victories.

 

MY TO DO LIST!

  1. Choose to bless the Lord.
  2. Regularly put songs of praise in my mouth
  3. Make a boast of the goodness of God today
  4. Make it a habit to ask others to praise God with me
  5. Avoid people with negative vibes.
  6. Refuse to throw a pity party.
  7. Maintain an attitude of thanksgiving every day.

 

SONG 
♬10000 Reasons By Matt Redman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXDGE_lRI0E

 

FURTHER STUDY

Ps 119:164 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+119%3A164&version=NKJV

Lk 17:11-19 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+17%3A11-19&version=NIV

Jonah 2:7-10 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jonah+2%3A7-10&version=NIV

Ps 149:5-9 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+149%3A5-9&version=NLT

 

The Courageous Fast