FAITH CAPSULE: Be upgraded; remain upgraded consistently!

Genesis 6

Living in this wicked world of today demands constant and consistent upgrading by seeking God. 
Seeking God is pleasing God. 
Pleasing God is living by the word of God. 
In a wicked world, Enoch upgraded himself by walking with God, he demonstrated a life of fellowship with obedience to God. The Bible records, “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.” (Hebrews 11:5-6) In this wicked world, self-upgrading is living a life of fellowship with obedience to God. 
Just like Enoch, Noah lived a life of self-upgrading. The Bible records the result of Noah’s upgraded life: “Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. And Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So, God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.” (Genesis 6:9-12)
Elijah lived a life of upgrading by taking a stand for God against false religious leaders and kings. Elijah did not align himself with wicked kings and leaders. Elijah’s life of taking stand kept him upgraded in the wicked world. Elijah did not die but went up to heaven in a whirlwind. (2 Kings 2:11) 
Walking and standing in fellowship with obedience to God in this wicked world is not impossible but possible for one with a purposed heart for God. Elijah stood for God, “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.” (James 5:17) Today, it is possible to be upgraded as Elijah was upgraded in his journey of life. 
Matthew 6:19-21 admonishes what it takes to remain upgraded, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” 
Does the word of God speak to you in this wicked world?
In the wicked world, get upgraded today; be built up in the word of God. Apostle Paul identifies the need to be built up in Acts 20:32, “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” It is worthy to commit self to the word of God and be upgraded with continual prayer and to the ministry of the word. 

Prayer for today: Ask from God that you want to be upgraded by living a life of pleasing Him.

FAITH CAPSULE: Do not be intimidated to be doing wrong, but be motivated doing good.

Genesis 8

Under heaven, all should know and be discouraged from doing evil as Ecclesiastes 8:11 says, “Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.”
Doing evil is nothing but wickedness. 
At the time wickedness multiplied on the face of the earth, God’s judgment over the wicked one was inevitable before God.
For example, during the days of Noah, when wickedness became increasingly unacceptable before God, Noah was the only one in his generation that was kept for salvation. The Bible records, “…Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” 
In the time of Noah, all the people on the face of the earth could not escape God’s judgment. If you are the only one that is doing right in the midst of all that is doing wrong before God, do not be intimidated to be doing wrong, but be motivated doing good.
Noah could not be intimidated to stop doing right but gained attention before God for God’s grace of salvation. 
Today Jesus, the grace of God, has already come and He is here for those that will come out of wickedness, to receive and believe Him as Lord and Savior. 
To receive and believe Him is like gaining entrance into the ark that delivered Noah from God’s judgment. 
Receiving and believing in Jesus will also deliver in the time of God’s judgment of the world. 
Noah found grace, and salvation was his portion. 
Also, God’s salvation is to be remembered by God.
Noah gained the grace of salvation with the need to be remembered by God, Genesis 8:1 records, “Then God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the animals that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters subsided.” (Genesis 8:1) 
The Grace of God, the Lord Jesus, is already here and all should walk with God, to be remembered by Lord God just as Noah was remembered. 
How then can all be remembered? 
Among ways to be remembered is to be consistent with the Word of God. 
Malachi 3:16 testifies, “Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard them; So, a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His name.” (Malachi 3:16) 
Living life in the fear of God will grant access to the ark of salvation, not to become a victim that is set for the wicked ones.
Allow the fear of God, His testimonies to always be the center of your conversation and meditation. Malachi 3:16 points out that God will listen; He will hear every meditation. 
Care to be remembered by God, study the word of God by meditating on the word of God. Fear God! 

Prayer for today: Ask for your heart to be constantly engaged with the word of God.

FAITH CAPSULE: Disallow your concern to obey God’s direction.

Jonah 1, 2

All should avoid disobeying God’s commandment because disobedient will cause a painful consequence in life.
The carelessness of any man is not keeping the word of God.
Proverbs 19:16 warns, “He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is careless of his ways will die.” (Proverbs 19:16)
Are you keeping yourself in the word of God for His direction over your life?
The book of Jonah 1:1-3 states, “Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.”
Jonah was careless not to keep God’s direction over his life.
When God calls and sends you out with His direction, He will back you up not to fail.
In God’s commandment to direct, He is available to keep but disobedient will lead to self-destruction. 
Jonah supposed to obey as commanded by God regardless of what seemed right to him.
Have you received the calling of God in a specific direction?
God called Moses out to lead the children of Israel out of the bondage of over four hundred years. 
Moses, out of his concern for God, reacted to the rebellious act of the children of Israel towards God. 
Moses took it upon himself to strike the rock, not to speak to the rock for water. God responded to Moses’ reaction, “Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” (Numbers 20:12)
The same God sent Samuel to go and anoint David as king while Saul was still living as the King. Samuel was concerned about God’s command when he asked, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” (1 Samuel 16:2) Out of concern, Samuel could have responded by going his own way but gave himself to God’s command. God responded to Samuel’s question, “…Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; you shall anoint for Me the one I name to you.”1 Samuel 16:2-3) Samuel’s concern could not disobey God’s command. 
God alone knows the end from the beginning, He knew us before we were born. Disallow your concern by allowing His command to be established in your life.

Prayer for today: Ask that God’s direction be established over your life.

FAITH CAPSULE: Are you mindful of God that is mindful of man?

Daniel 6:1-10, Luke 17:11-19

Mindful thanksgiving will always appreciate God’s doing in one’s life. 
Thanksgiving to God should not be limited to uttering words but giving thanks by living life to please God for His goodness.
Thanksgiving before God is not an act of thinking thanks but should be thanksgiving to God from one with mindful of God.
Thanksgiving with praising God is worshiping God.
Worshipping God is seeking God diligently.
Giving thanks to God or praising God must be with understanding.
Psalm 47:7 admonishes all, “For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding.”
With thanksgiving and praising God, worship God with the understanding that is reasonable and acceptable before God.
The Bible records how thanksgiving is the way to move forward and not become a victim of the wickedness of this world.
For example, Daniel, with his thanksgiving before God he escaped and not died by the evil agenda of wicked ones that placed him in the den of Lions. Daniel 6:10 records, “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.” Daniel gave thanks to God to escape from the evil agenda over his life. With thanksgiving, Daniel could not die an untimely death. 
Thanksgiving before God gave Jonah an escape from sudden death. Jonah disobeyed God when he found himself in the belly of fish. The Bible records Jonah’s testimony, “But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.” (Jonah 2:9) Jonah’s thanksgiving before God was his deliverance from the belly of fish.
Are you giving thanks to God with understanding?
Thanksgiving before God demands consistency.
Thanksgiving before God for all things will make all things work together for good, to the glory of God.
God that is jealous expects all to be giving thanks before Him.
When Jesus healed ten lepers, only one returned to give thanks to Jesus for his healing. The response of Jesus to the only one testifies to the truth that God waits for all’s return for thanksgiving. The word records, “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:15-19)
Are you with the understanding of knowing to be returning to God for thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving before God should be rooted in the mind of man but not just in the head.
A man that is mindful of God will be giving God all His glory and honor for the reason why God creates all man.

Prayer for today: Ask for a heart of giving thanks before God.