FAITH CAPSULE: Jesus the only righteous judge is here.

John 8:1-12

The world of sin and iniquity is always quick in passing judgment instead of being judged. The world is not qualified to be a judge. The Word is here and He alone is qualified to be a judge after having given all for the world to repent and be forgiven. The story of the woman caught in adultery act (John 8:1-12) is a clear example of the world rushing into pass judgment instead of the world being rushed into facing judgment. The story of the woman caught in adultery depicts the adultery woman facing the Light of the world while the world is attempting to phase out the woman from the Light which came to save the world. Jesus, the Light of the world, stated in John 10:10, “…I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Jesus already came and He is here to give life to all including the woman caught in the very act of adultery.

The scribes and Pharisees attempted to disrupt His teaching in the temple when woman was brought to Jesus. “…And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, ‘Teacher, this woman was caughtin adultery, in the very act.  Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?’ This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him…” (John 8:3-6) In the case of adulteress woman, the world wanted to rush into judgment. As it has often been, the world which supposed to be put under judgment attempted to be the judge. Jesus responded to the world (the scribes and Pharisees) when He, “…stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, ‘He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.’” (John 8:6-7) Jesus drew a line in the sand to identify those who had never been a sinner and those who were sinners. Among the world, none could cross the line of “never had been a sinner”. No man has been assigned to be a judge and Jesus spoke specifically to this when He stated in Mathew 7:1-2, “Judge not, that you be not judged.  For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”” Evidently, since no one could cross the line that was drawn by Jesus, no one was qualified to cast a stone of condemnation on the adulteress woman. Jesus, our Lord and Savior, declared to the woman, “…neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”(John 8:11) Jesus the only righteous judge is here.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace not to assume whatever you are not call to be.

FAITH CAPSULE: Let God be the commander of your battle.

Joshua 6

If you will let go your fight and let God fight your battle you victory shall be permanent for you. Any situation that will not allow you to rise when God says arise and shine is an enemy at your war front. The children of Israel were struggling with a battle which God already won on their behalf. Moses reminded them, “The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” (Exodus 14:14) God is a great warrior. He is mighty in battle, will you consider turning your battle over to Him? As a child of God, there should be no underestimating what God can do on your behalf. The devil has been around over a long time and is cunningly divisive and could make you think that the battle is small. He could also make you think that the battle is too big to fight.

Before the battle of Jericho, the Bible described, “Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out and none came.” (Joshua 6:1) Despite the security at the gate, God gave Joshua detailed directions of how to bring the wall down because the wall was Jericho’s defense. With Joshua’s full obedience, the wall of Jericho fell down. It was in God’s war plan that after the carrying out of all instruction, “…The wall will fall down flat…” Falling down is different from falling down flat. Falling down flat was a final victory; a victory that is permanently settled. Let God be the commander of your battle. Joshua knew what had taken place after the war by stating in Joshua 6:26, “…Cursed be the man before the LORD who rises up and builds this city Jericho; he shall lay its foundation with his firstborn, and with his youngest he shall set up its gates.” Indeed and in truth, just as the curse was released by Joshua so it was when Hiel attempted and failed in his effort to rebuild the wall of Jericho. The bible documents it in 1 Kings 16:34, “In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation with Abiram his firstborn, and with his youngest son Segub he set up its gates, according to the word of the LORD, which He had spoken through Joshua the son of Nun” How else can you be convinced that when God fights the battle your victory is permanent.  Let go your battle and let God settle you permanently.

Prayer for today: Ask God to bring down flat every wall of Jericho in your life.

FAITH CAPSULE: Know that it is well for you because the battle is not yours.

1 Samuel 17:25-49

The journey of everyday life will always encounter every representative of giants from every direction. The purpose of giants is to stop you from getting to your divine location. Why not pray the prayer of David? David was in the direction of becoming what the Lord anointed him to be while the giant was also in place to deny him. David refused to take on any form of weapon from the world to use against Goliath. David considered the weapons before him as burdensome. They were too heavy and they could have aided in making him a victim. As a result, David took with him the heavenly weapons. “Then David said to the Philistines, ‘You have come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defiled’ ” (1 Samuel 17:45) As you have been privileged of God to face a new day, do not go out or continue from where you are now without lifting up your voice unto the Almighty God.  Speak to the giant and let him know that you have come to deal with him in the name of the Lord of hosts: the God of the armies of Israel.

Confronting any agent of the wicked and destruction such as Goliath, does not require you to go outside of the name of the living God. Call on His name in just the same manner as David did. In your calling, speak by declaring what you want to see become of the confronting giant. After David had called on the name of God, he went further and declared the kind of day he had wanted for the giant (Goliath) by saying, “This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” (1 Samuel 17:46) The same God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is alive and active today. He is still in the business of answering prayer if you will believe and commit all unto Him in prayer. Jehovah God will be moved and fight your battle. Know that it is well for you because the battle is not yours; it is for the Lord to fight on your behalf.

Prayer for today: Ask for a permanent termination of giant that have taken a place of hindrance in the journey of your life.

FAITH CAPSULE: Trusting God is not a mouth act but an act from the heart.

2 Kings 6:8-23

Trusting God is relying on God. Without the fear of God there is no seeking God. One can only seek God when there is trust in God. In the face of confronting challenge, those who fear God also claim trust and love for God. God testifies about Job as one who fears Him when He spoke to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” (Job 1:8) Despite the overwhelming challenges in Job’s life, Job could not be silent nor allowed his trust and love for God be shaken when he stated, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him…” (Job 13:15) Job feared God and placed his trust in God.

To fear God indeed and in truth is truly what it takes to trust in the name of God. The bible makes us to realize it that the name of God is trust worthy; the name of God is a place of refuge and a strong tower for safety. Do you know His name? Psalm 9:10 states, “Those who know your name will put their trust in You; for You have not forsaken those who seek You.” Giving regard to the works of God and the operation of His hand is the way to get to know to fear God and be able to trust His name. It is the fear of His works and the operation of His hand that generated the trust to see a way where there is no way.

Once, the King of Syria was making war against Israel. His horses and chariots surrounded the city and when Elisha’s servant saw Syrian’s army, he reacted as one with no trust but Elisha responded, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw.” (2 Kings 6:16-17)
What you fear will find you. Whenever your fear founds you, you will lose trust in God. Know His name; gain trust in God, gain spiritual sight and begin to see a way where there is no way. Elisha’s servant gained sight and trusted God for making a way where there is no way; getting victory in place of defeat. God does not sleeps nor slumber, He alone knows exactly all those who trust in Him and He is good to those who trusts in Him. Nahum 1:7 testifies, “The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him.” Do you truly trust in God or you only talk your trust in God?

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to be constantly steadfast in trusting Him.

FAITH CAPSULE: Do you truly trust or you only talk your trust in God?

Proverbs 3

Trusting God is relying on God. Trusting God is not a mouth act but an act from the heart. Many claims to trust God with no understanding of the root of what trusting God is about. It is true that what you do not understand will not work for you. Do you trust God? One whose life style does not demonstrate an iota of fear of God claiming to trust God lacks the understanding of what it means to trust God. The book of Isaiah 50:10 clearly points it out, “Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely upon his God.” God cannot be deceived by what we say and not behave. God clearly warned Samuel about the idea of approving man by appearance when Samuel was about to mistake David’s brother for David as the king after Saul. God warned Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)
Do you truly trust in God or you only talk your trust in God?

The Lord spoke in Jeremiah 17:6-7, “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited.” Who do you trust? Have you been placing your trust in a man? Trusting God is not just the word of the mouth. Many claim their trust in God but goes after man for help because they could not trust with all their heart. Some claims to trust in God but constantly lean on their understanding by not acknowledging Him in their ways. Who do you really trust? Just as God declared what happens to those who fail to trust, God also declared the blessings in place for those that trusts in Him, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:8) God is true to His word and He does not waste word. Do you really trust God deep down in your heart? Fear God and your trust in God will glaringly flow.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace for His fear to overtake you.