Faith Capsule: Doing all kinds of good work in His name is not enough to be identified with Him.

Matthew 7

It is written, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21) Are you a doer of His will? What does it mean to do His will? The will of God is that we should fear Him. To fear God is to be full of Him. The book of Ecclesiastes 12:13 admonishes us stating, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandment, for this is man’s all.” Evidently to know to fear God is to know and be consistent in obeying his commandments. Obeying the command of God demands full obedience and not half obedience. One that fully obeys Him is one that is full of the fear of God. To be full of His fear is to be full of His love. God is love and love is also the presence of God.

Doing the will of God is taking a position to gaining entrance into the Kingdom of heaven. It is right to conclude that not everyone that calls on His name does His will. It can also be concluded that not everyone that is prophesying in His name are set to make it to heaven. Jesus said, “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’(Matthew 7:22-23) Jesus was referring those that were doing miracles and all kind of wonders in His name. Jesus did not deny their work; neither did He deny the fact that they knew His name. Are you doing His will? As a believer, it is possible to be occupied by doing all kinds of good work in His name but far from doing the will of the father.

Jesus will come for a spotless church as it is written in 1Timothy 6:14, “that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing.” God gave man all that makes it possible to live up to the word, but man is offering all that it takes not to live up to the word of God. If God’s expectation from man is not what can be done, God would not have asked us to do. He is not coming for the ones that blow hot and cold, obeying God requires doing all. It is very possible for man to gather the world by the word of God but if man is yet to gather self by doing the word of God, man is set to miss heaven.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace of enablement to live to his fulfillment in Christ Jesus.

Faith Capsule: Promises of God are not for decoration but declaration that is meant for manifestation.

Joshua 1

Trust in God does not time God but takes time to wait on God. Trust in God is trusting in the Word of God that is, trust in God is encased in faith. Trust in God is pleasing to God because faith is what pleases God.
“After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, it came to pass that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.” (Joshua 1:1-3) God spoke to the children of Israel through Joshua about what He was going to do. God’s plan is to bless only if they were able to trust in God’s promise. Promises of God are not for decoration but declaration that is meant for manifestation for those who trust with expectation. Expectation is rooted in how much trust we have in God for whom He is and what He can do. All of the promises of God will come to pass when the trust invested is making man live by the Word of God.
Often, believer’s way of waiting testifies to how trust is being exercised. To trust in God without rest violates what it means to wait on God.
Psalmist word described what it means to trust and wait on God, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.” (Psalm 37:7) In your waiting do you trust enough to rest and not be looking to the north, south, east or west for answer to your waiting? Trust in God is to rest and wait patiently. Isaiah 57:13 buttressed, “…But he who puts his trust in Me shall possess the land, and shall inherit My holy mountain.” God spoke again to confirm only those whose trust will rest in His promises. Has the Lord spoken and you have heard Him but didn’t trust Him enough to rest in your waiting? There is nothing to lose in trusting God except to gain beyond imagination. Joshua’s experience after spying on the land was enough for him not to falter but to rest in trusting and abiding by the promise of God. Joshua and Caleb survived among all the generations that failed to rest in their waiting to get through to the Promised Land. God has so many promises for us but they are only achievable by resting in our waiting on Him.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to live life resting in the trust that is encased in waiting on God.

Faith Capsule: Have you cast all your cares and concerns on Him?

Luke 8:40-56

In seeking Jesus, delay cannot be denied from playing a role, discouragement will show up and ridicule is possible to be in position but persistent to see Him shall always prevail. Jesus cannot fail, He has never failed. Are you waiting to see Jesus in any area of your life? It is important to ignore every form hindrances, be persistent and remain focus in your waiting.
Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, sought Jesus’ intervention for his only daughter that was dying, “…And he fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to come to his house, 42 for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him.” (Luke 8:41-42) In the process of getting to Jairus’ daughter before it was too late, delay was on time, discouragement showed up and ridicule was positioned to play a role. Jesus getting to Jairus’ daughter on time narrowed when a call of discouragement was delivered, “…Someone came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.” (Luke 8:49)
Rest in your waiting knowing that Jesus is on your case; He will get to you on His time. When the news of discouragement came, Jesus responded with a word of encouragement by saying, “…Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.” (Luke 8:50) Discouragement will always lead to fear and fear is what will sink faith. Jesus said; only believe that it is well.  Calling and giving it all unto Jesus is resting in hope, regardless of delay, or discouragement. Have you cast all your cares and concerns on Him? He will not fail you.
At Jairus home, “Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, “Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping.”  And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead.” (Luke 8:52-53) Jesus’ word quenched the fire of discouragement before getting to Jairus’ house. At the time of His getting to Jairus’ house the agents of ridicule were already in place. The enemy was at work to take away what the Lord had for Jairus’ daughter, but the Lord is the one in control and power belong to Hm. There is no documentation of Jesus failing at any time in every situation He attended to while on the face of earth. At Jairus’ house, Jesus did not hesitate to deal with the forces of delay, “But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Little girl, arise.””(Luke 8:54) Concerning your challenge, if you will commit all to Him, delay; discouragement, and ridicule shall not stand but fail.

Prayer for the day: Ask for mercy to be delivered from all that the enemy has put in place to deny your miracle.

Faith Capsule: Get understanding and progress as a believer of the word of God.

Proverbs 3

Understanding is crucial for man to cruise without crashing in the world that is full of darkness and wickedness in the high places. Proverbs 3:7 declared, “…in all your getting, get understanding.” In life journey, it does not matter what you get, if understanding is yet your portion you will miss your position in God. For example, when a man fail to understand that he/she is one that God made with honor, one will perish. A man with honor and does not know will run where walking is called for; man with honor and does not know will crawl where running is called for and will fail and not gain strength. King David questioned, “What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels,and You have crowned him with glory and honor.” (Psalm8:5) King David’s question demonstrated his understanding. Evidently, it is understanding that made David to walk and not run in the valley of the shadow of death as testified in Psalm 23:4 stating, “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.” It takes understanding to have a knowing edge where tens, hundreds and thousands are falling.
Truly, understanding which man get in the word will give place to wisdom and knowledge to prevail in the world of evil occurrence. In life, understand you get that will make knowledge to become easy for one to apply. (Proverbs 14:6) Also, it is the understanding gained that will make wisdom be part of a man’s heart. Proverbs 14:33 buttressed, “wisdom rest in the heart of him who has understanding…”
Getting understanding is not impossible for anyone that makes self-available to listen and hear what the word of God have to say. Many claims or acts like they hear but when what is claimed to have heard is not backed with their life-style, it becomes evident that they did not listen to hear the word. Jesus could not have said it wrong when He asked and also answered stating, “Why do you not understand my speech? Because you are not able to listen to my word.” (John 8:43) Listening should always be continuous engagement. One that continually listens is one that hears, does the word and excels in understanding.
Another source of getting understanding is through meditation. Psalmist testified, “My mouth shall speak wisdom and the meditation of my heart shall give understanding.” (Psalm 49:3) Give yourself entirely to meditation so that your progress may be evident to all. (1Timothy 4:15)
In all your getting, get understanding and progress as a believer of the word of God.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace of understanding.

Faith Capsule: Be filled and live by the word to retain His presence.

John 6:1-14

As an acclaimed believer, do you retain the presence of God? Many claim to have given their life to God but do not retain His presence in living life. Retaining the presence of God is encased in pleasing Him. Jesus stated in John 8:29, “And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” Indeed, man needs to retain the presence of God in living life. Going by the word of Jesus, retaining the presence of God is in pleasing God. Is your walk in life pleasing to God? What does it mean to please God? Hebrew 11:6, “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.” Pleasing God is by living a faithful life. That is a life that is full of the word of God. The word says faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17) Are you a faithful believer or a faithful unbelieving believer (believer that is conversant with the word and not live by the word)?
Jesus was doing what pleased the Father, and the Father’s presence was always there with Him. When God’s presence becomes constant and consistent in the life of a believer, knowing what to do, and what not to do, will become the believer’s portion.
When Jesus got himself and His disciples to the place that called for the feeding of five thousand, there was no food physically in place. John 6:5-6, “Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” 6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.” How could Jesus, the One that is in charge of meeting needs in the presence of lack, not know what He would do? Jesus knows the end from the beginning, and the beginning from the end. Jesus knew what He would do and He had answer in His hand before questioning the disciples. As a believer that claims the grace of salvation, do you know what to do to come out of a dead end position? There were five thousand and Jesus was asking what could be done. Without any hesitation, Philip answered Jesus, “…Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.”(John 6:7) Philip was responding based on the physical, and he could not see the way Jesus was seeing. Jesus knew what He would do because He retains the presence of the Father. It is worthy for man to be filled by the word and live life by the word so that man should constantly retain His presence.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace that enables man to become full of the word and to live by the word of God.