18/02/2023
*ROYAL BANQUET Vol. 2:11*
( *Daily Encounter with Jesus Christ* )
*Saturday, February 18, 2023*
About four minutes reading
*Topic: Faith: and the Story of Water Turned Wine*
*Text:Heb 11:1 UDB*
*1. Faith is when people trust God and they are sure they will receive the things they confidently expect him to give them. Faith is when people are certain they will see those things happen, though, for now, those things cannot be seen*
In the story of provision of wine in John 2, there are several individuals involved. We have the couples, the family members, including Mummy Mary, the wedding planners, the director or master of the ceremony, certain servants and guests. These people participated in different ways before and during the program. However, to say it mildly preparation proved inadequate. Thus, help was needed to, forestall embarrassment.
As right thinking people, there were consultation as to what to do. One options to taking care of the mess as we learn from the master of the ceremony, was to offer the guest cheap wine. But in this case, everything was gone and the ceremony was not near its end. What was obvious was shame staring the couple in the face. Thank God for Savior Jesus Christ was also invited. *The story changed by just two sentences Jesus made.* I can't overstate the truth that God works by speaking. True to His, way of doing things Jesus simply x calmly spoke:
*1. "Fill the pots with water,"* (Jon. 2:7) and *they did
2. " *Draw out now, and bear unto the steward of the feast."** (Jon.2:8). And they bore it. The truth is that they had been told, whatever he asks you to do, do it. I must say to you too, whatever God says concerning your case is what you are act on, however you case might seem difficult.
At a closer consideration of this story, one could see it may be easier to carry out Jesus' call to fill pots with water than to deliver water or is it wine, to the party MC. *All eyes of those who knew what was going on would be on the one who drew water from the pot to give to the MC.* If you are the one on whom this task fell, how would you have felt or behave as, you go to meet the MC? Until the MC's commendation of the new supply of wine, the cup bearer would face the challenge of what would the outcome of his efforts be.
Certain question would be on his mind as he/she goes, to the MC, was he carrying water or wine? At what point will or did the water turned wine? Which one turned wine, the one in the cup being taken to the MC or all the pots? Did the water turned to wine one after the other or at the same time? *At what point did water turned wine?* Could it be the moment the cup bearer fetched and or on His way? Or could, it be when the cup of water reached the MC's tongue? *Was the cup bearer certain the water will turned to wine* ? Was he sure as he fetched water that it will turn wine? So many question you will say!
When acting on God's word, these question are not necessary at all. The most important thing is doing what God asks you to do. *Your step of faith is obedience to the instructions you were given.* Every step of obedience is faith in action, whatever God wants to do you have to do it. We should note that what God would do to bring our miracle will demand you do or act in certain way. When we chose to do whatever God asks us to do, we are already acting in faith for we have not yet seen the reality of God's word.
*Obedience to God's instruction is faith in action.* When Elijah told the widow with an only child to make food fo him first...the most important part of getting her miracle is to obey the prophet. In her acting on the prophet's word is her faith concealed. To begin to question God's word is not right way to walk in the miraculous that God is, known for. It is best to avoid further question once we understand what we are to do. *We have to know what we are told to do and do it. Besides this, nothing else suffices.* Therefore, whatever God asks you to do, you just have do it, how it will turn out is not your headache. When you hear God and you act on His instruction, you throw the ball back into His court. You do what is expected of you and stand to watch if He will fail to make a reality wine from water. Always remember, God watches over His word to perform it.
To solve the challenge we face between hearing what God says and seen the reality of what God meant is Mummy Mary description of faith: Do whatever you are told to do. *When you decide to obey God's word, the crisis of will it or will it not be, will shutdown.* Of course, take this to, heart and take it seriously, if it is God who has spoken, there will be performance of His word.
From water turned into wine story, it is interesting to note that God never produces substandard product unsatisfactory solution. He makes things beautiful and beautifies things in His own time. When dealing with God's word, best thing to do is find out what you are to and do it, however foolish it might seem. Faith is total trust in God that what He says to you on any matter is true and it worthy of correct response. *Faith means you are sure to receive exactly what God has told you. This confidence makes you to act on or what your instructed to do* . Faith confidently expect to see in real time, what God has promised. What God says is the basis of faith, when you find God's word, you have something to bank of life to, draw the miraculous that follows obedience to God's word.
*Prayer Points*
*Lord, I believe you watch over your word to perform it. Let me find grace to trust you as you resolve issues of my life by speaking your word of truth to my life and situations. Thank you for hearing me.*
Written by Dr Femi Olajide
Chapel of Christ the Glorious King Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Complex, Abeokuta