SEEING WITH THE EYES OF FAITH!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY JANUARY 26, 2023.

SUBJECT : SEEING WITH THE EYES OF FAITH!

Memory verse: "And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.” (Exodus 14 vs 13.)

READ: Second Chronicles 32 vs 7 - 8:

32:7: Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him:

32:8: With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

INTIMATION:

Faith is a firm persuasion; a strong conviction based upon hearing. It combines assurance and anticipation. Faith in God starts with the believe in Him rooted in the conviction of His character—He is who He says He is, and it ends with the believe in the assurance of God’s promises—He will do what He says He will do. 

When you see with the eyes of faith, you primarily is convinced of the promises of God to come through for you in any circumstances. God is our Guardian, Shield, and Defender from everything that could try to harm us. The Bible states, "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I trust; my shield and my horn of salvation, my stronghold" (Psalm 18 vs 2). When circumstances go against us, it is tempting to think that God also is against us. When facing problems, trials, suffering and even death, we may feel like giving up in despair. But His thoughts for us is of good, and not of evil (Jeremiah 29 vs 11). For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” (Romans 10 vs 11.)

However, when we feel seriously let down by life, we should remember that we still have one hope and our only hope. God is all the hope we need because He promises to be a shield to protect us. God is for us and we should focus our thoughts on Him, knowing that He will restore our confidence in Him, and in the future He has planned for us. If circumstances turn against you don't blame God but rather seek Him. 

God promises great blessings to His people, but many of these blessings require our active participation. He will deliver us from fear, save us out of our troubles, guard and deliver us, show us goodness, supply our needs, listen when we talk to Him, and redeem us, but we must do our part. We can appropriate these blessings to ourselves when we seek Him, cry out to Him, trust Him, fear Him, refrain from lying, turn from evil, do good and seek peace, humble ourselves and serve Him.  

In our memory verse, Moses saw with the eyes of faith when the Israelites were pursued by Pharaoh and his army. He was convinced of God’s protection for His people, even when he didn’t know how it will happen, but believed that He will rescue them. Eventually, what he believed happened; the Egyptians they saw that day, they never saw again forever. God fought for them; made a dry ground on the bed of the sea, formed two great water walls, and allowed the children of Israel to pass through the dry ground, and subsequently drowned Pharaoh and his army in the sea (see Exodus 14).

Moses encouraged the Israelites to watch the wonderful way God would rescue them. Moses had a positive attitude! When it looked as if they were trapped, Moses called upon God to intervene. We may not be chased by an army, but we may still feel trapped. Instead of giving in to despair, we should adopt Moses’ attitude to “stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord.”

Also, in the passage we read today, King Hezekiah could see with eyes of faith when Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, threatened Jerusalem, boasted against the Lord, laid siege against the city. Hezekiah wasn’t intimidated; the number of his opponents meant nothing as long as he was on the Lord’s side. Victory is “not by might not by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts” (Zechariah 4 vs 6). Hezekiah could confidently encourage his men because he had no doubt about where he stood with God. Eventually, God showed up for him; an angel of the Lord went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty five thousand of their soldiers in one night (Second Kings 19 vs 35). 

God said to Abram, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” (Genesis 15 vs 1.) He promised to protect Abram and be his exceedingly great reward. When you fear what lies ahead, remember that God will stay with you through difficult times and that He has promised you great blessings.

Are you on the Lord’s side? Are you seeing with the eyes of faith? You may never face an enemy army, but the battles you face every day can be won with God’s strength. With faith in God nothing can be impossible with you. No matter the circumstances, anchor your genuine faith in God, and He will definitely show up for you at His appointed time. Kindly, hold fast to your confession of faith, without wavering, for God who promised is faithful, and will do it. 

Jesus said to His disciples, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, 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. Therefore I say to you, Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” (Mark 11 vs 22 - 24.)

Prayer: Abba Father, I know that because I put my trust in you I will never be put to shame. In You, O Lord, I live, and move, and have my being. You are on my side; I will not fear: what can man do to me? My faith is rooted in You forever, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!