FAITH CAPSULE: Why worry when Jesus specifically encouraged man not worry?

Mathew 6:25-34

Jesus the provider of needs came to give life abundantly. Among His coming is to take away worrying but the enemy is in the business for man to be in worry. Jesus warned against worrying when He stated, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin.” (Mathew 6:25-28) Why worry when Jesus specifically encouraged man not to worry? The word of God does not fail but man often takes a place of failing in the word of God. God is true to His word when we are true to living by His word.

Apostle Paul buttressed the word of Jesus when he stated in Philippians 4:19, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” God is more than capable to supply all our needs. He alone is the Almighty God and nothing is impossible for Him to do. Paul did not say ‘your need shall be supplied based on the power and strength in you but he said, according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Very often, the scriptural verse, “My God shall supply all my need…” is often mentioned by believers, but not often meditated on. With meditation the word will become power, and without meditation the word is not packed with power.
Whenever doubt is activated the inability to wait on the promise of the word of God provokes worry. Worry is the reason why man gives a wrong answer or responds to situation. In the place of worrying, Jesus’ admonished his disciples how to respond to challenges of end time, “But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 13:11) Jesus’ admonishment to His disciples also answers to the way of responding to every present challenges of today by not worrying. At all time of challenges let worrying be subsided by trusting the word of God’s intervention.

Prayer for today: Ask God for deliverance from the spirit of doubt and worry.

FAITH CAPSULE: The word of God that enters the heart is the key for deliverance and direction.

1 Samuel 15

Word of deliverance: The word of God that entered into the heart of Moses took Israel out of bondage of over 400 years. When it was time for God to bring the Israelites out of the bondage, Moses was reluctant to lead the Israelites. God spoke to Moses, “Now you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you shall do. So he shall be your spokesman to the people. And he himself shall be as a mouth for you, and you shall be to him as God. And you shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs.” (Exodus 4:15-17) According to the verses above, the word of deliverance that made Moses as God over Aaron eventually gave the Israelites the key of deliverance of over four hundred years of bondage.

Word of direction: Unfailing direction is in the word of God that teaches in the way which leads to expected end of journey. Psalm 32:8 testified instruction of direction, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” With deliverance of the Israelites from bondage of four hundred in Egypt, God gave the word of direction to lead the Israelites to Promised Land. Exodus 13:17-18 recorded the direction word of God, “Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt.”
Are you taking to God’s word of direction in the bible (the manual of life) for your heart? King Saul despised the word of God in his heart and he was destroyed. God sent Samuel to tell Saul, “The Lord sent me to anoint you king over His people, over Israel. Now therefore, heed the voice of the words of the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt.  Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”(1 Samuel 15:1-3) Saul did not heed the words of God in his heart. Saul rejected the word of God as a result, God rejected him. (1 Samuel 15:10-35)

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace for heart to become receptive to the word of God.

FAITH CAPSULE: Is it true of you that deception and telling lies are your character?

Acts 5:1-11

As an acclaimed believer, what is your identity? Man can be deceived but God sees all things and nothing is hidden from God. Just as smoke cannot be separated from burning fire so deceit and telling lies cannot be separated from majority acclaimed believers. Who you are in the presence of God not what the people sees you or assumes you that counts.
The story of Ananias and Sapphira is an evidence of acclaimed believers that are skilled in deception and telling lies. The book of Acts 5:1-2 recorded, “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.” Ananias and Sapphira’s selling of their possession was voluntary without evidence of force on them. Ananias and Sapphira acted good of heart but it was done wrongly when evidence of deception and telling lies were revealed. Both husband and wife entertained the devil and were filled with devil.
Ananias and Sapphira’s deception and telling lies became revelation for Peter to respond by speaking, “…Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” (Acts 5:3-4) Could it be that Ananias and Sapphira had been lying long before it finally caught up with them or was it just their first time? One thing is certain, telling lies can go for a long period or a short period of time but it only takes just one day for truth to prevail. Before God, there is no small or big lie. A lie is a lie and the end therefore is sin. Sin offers nothing but death. Both Ananias and Sapphira died instantly.
Is it true of you that deception and telling lies are your character?
The word of God revealed that deceitful is not accessible to the dwelling of God. Also, regularly attending church is not an evidence of dwelling in the presence of God. Clearly, those whose garment is of telling lies are set to be absent from the presence of God. The book of Psalm 101:7-8 stated, “He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house; He who tells lies shall not continue in my presence. Early I will destroy all the wicked of the land, that I may cut off all the evildoers from the city of the LORD.” Today, come out of deception and telling lies to enter the house of God.

Prayer for today: Ask God for deliverance from the spirit of lie and deception.

FAITH CAPSULE: Are you an acclaimed Christ-like that lie cannot be separated from?

John 4:1-45

Are you having hatred for some or your hatred is focused particular one? The identity of one with hatred rooted in heart is mentioned in the book of Proverbs 10:18, “Whoever hides hatred has lying lips…” Are you a celebrated liar? Are you a liar that claims to be a believer of the word of God? A believer or unbeliever that harbors hatred hinders their progress. The bible clearly stated that anyone with lying lips hides hatred. Jesus Christ, the Truth could not hide hatred or told lies in every step of His ministry. Are you an acclaimed Christ like but lie cannot be separated from your behavior?
It was truthfulness of Jesus that made Him to go through Samaria on His way from Judea to Galilee. Going through Samaria is often forbidden by the Jew because of hatred for the Samaritans. Jesus came in love and could not walk outside of love. Are you an acclaimed Christ like with hatred rooted in your heart? Is it the influence of hatred over you that is causing you to side track from the way of assignment? It was in the hate polluted route that Jesus was able to plant one of the most effective testimonies of salvation. Jesus bypassed hatred to allow the revelation of living water to come to life and become more distinct. In this route of hatred He encountered a Samaritan woman and He asked for water to drink. Jesus introduced the living water to the Samaritan woman because hatred had no influence on Jesus. Jesus knew quite well that she does not have what it takes to draw living water for Him to drink. In this route, Jesus made it known to the Samaria woman, “…Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:13-14) In the hatred route of sin, the Samaritan woman received Jesus’ message with joy and went to testified Jesus. The Samaritan woman, through her encounter with Jesus, gained salvation, strength and song of salvation. The hatred route of sin could not derail nor deny Jesus from the business of the kingdom.
Are you on the right track of your calling but trapped by hatred? Without doubt, hatred is the portion of pride while pride is a personal ride to self-destruction. Deny self; deny untruthfulness and do not allow hatred come your way of calling to serve as Christ alike. Jesus could not be derailed by hatred.

Prayer for today: Ask God to help you so as not become a vessel of hatred.

FAITH CAPSULE: Regard the works of God’s hand so as to maintain the fear of God.

Isaiah 5

Evidently, the lack of knowledge is an assurance way to captivity. (Isaiah 5:13) However, having knowledge is the way out of captivity. For example, when man regards the work of the Lord knowledge cannot be misplaced is man. The book of Isaiah 5:12 clearly stated the reason why the lack of knowledge drives man to captivity, “…But they do not regard the work of the LORD, nor consider the operation of His hands.” Indeed, the lack of knowledge drives man into captivity. (Isaiah 5:13). Psalmist also confirmed that a failure not to regard the work of God shall destroy stating, “Because they do not regard the works of the LORD, nor the operation of His hands, He shall destroy them and not build them up.” (Psalm 28:5) Do you consciously pay attention to the operation of the hand of God? Meditating on the work of God is same as meditating the creating the word of God. Meditation is not memorizing but working word of God laboriously in the heart day and night. As a desire for the knowledge to be regarding the work of God and not be a victim of captivity, allow mediation of the word of God to become your way of living life.
Regarding the word of God is looking closely or attentively to observe steadily, to hold in respect, to look upon or consider in a specified way. It is important to know that the wondrous works of God’s hand is what declares His name as near to us. (Psalm 75:1) Why not begin to regard the works of His hand so as to maintain the fear of God that keeps one from any form of captivity? In life, not to regard the works of God is a way of turning back on God.
There is no excuse not to regard the work of God. The book of Romans stated, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” (Romans 1:20-21) Sodom and Gomorrah did not regard the works of God and they received judgment of God. If Sodom and Gomorrah could not escape judgment, the present generation will not escape God’s judgment either. Regard and retain God in your knowledge, abstain from ungodly and careless life. It is knowledge to constantly regard the works of God.

Prayer for today: Ask for the lovingkindness and truth of God to continually preserve you.