WICKEDNESS IS SIN

FAITH CAPSULE: Abstain from wickedness to regain and retain godliness.

Isaiah 47

“For you have trusted in your wickedness; you have said, ‘No one sees me’; your wisdom and your knowledge have warped you; and you have said in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no one else besides me.” (Isaiah 47:10) Does that sound like you? Are you embracing wickedness consciously or unconsciously in any way of living life? Isaiah stated what is going to become of those who trust in their wickedness stating, “Therefore evil shall come upon you; you shall not know from where it arises. And trouble shall fall upon you; you will not be able to put it off. And desolation shall come upon you suddenly, which you shall not know.” (Isaiah 47:11) Have you been identified as wicked lately? Do you consider yourself wicked? Who are the wicked? Who the wicked ones are is identifiable in the question of Jeremiah before God when he asked, “…Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously? You have planted them, yes, they have taken root; they grow, yes, they bear fruit. You are near in their mouth but far from their mind.” (Jeremiah 12:1-2)   As indicated in the word of Jeremiah, the wicked are the ones with the word near in their mouth but far from their mind. The wicked profess God but confess the world by all standard of living life. In Jeremiah’s statement, anyone with the word of God in the mouth, but lifestyle is far from the word of God which is professed, is identified as wicked.

Jeremiah’s points out the identity of the wicked by stating that the wicked are well in their standing; they have roots, they grow, and they bear fruit. Does that describe you in anyway? The wicked and the proud are birds of the same feather and they also bud in the same company. It is worthy to take to consideration what the word says concerning the wicked and the proud in Malachi 4:1, “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” Says the LORD of hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch.””

Bible says the day is coming when the wicked and the proud shall face the consequence of their wickedness. God cannot be deceived He will strike at His appointed day and deal with the wicked and the proud. Wicked can pretend before all, wicked can also be eloquent and very conversant in the word of God but the Lord God cannot be deceived. It is wisdom to know that God does not overlook wickedness. Abstain from wickedness, regain and retain godliness and you shall be established.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace not to live the life of a wicked one.

FAITH CAPSULE: Looking wrongly at appearance often lead to judging wrongly.

1 Samuel 16:1-13

Jesus was speaking when He stated, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”(John 7:24) Looking at the appearance to judge people is evidence of a wrong assumption. As an acclaimed believer, on no ground should judging others by virtue of assumption should have place. When a believer gives into assuming rather than taking time to wait and access the presence of God for direction will lead to untimely death. Assumption which often leads to passing judgment is also rooted in engaging a way that seems right to man. Bible warned, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” (Proverbs 14:12) Assuming on what seems right will lead to passing wrong judgment that will lead to untimely death.

Do you frequently engage wrong assumption or ways which seems right to you? Judging others according to appearance is not a right thing to do because Jesus warned against it.

Samuel the prophet, the last judge of Israel was called by God to lead Israel back to serve God. Samuel’s life was characterized by honesty and fairness. The word described him in 1 Samuel 3:19, “…And the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.” Despite the kind of man he was, making a wrong assumption could not elude him. Assuming wrongly which leads to making a wrong judgment can happen to anyone. It does not excuse anyone regardless of title or position. Assuming wrongly happened to Samuel a man with the task to be a judge of Israel.

God commanded Samuel to go and anoint a new king for the children of Israel after Saul violated God’s command. Samuel assumed wrongly when he judge by looking at the appearance. Samuel went, “So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is before Him!” (Samuel 16:6) God told Samuel in his word, “…I will show you what you will do; you shall appoint for Me the one I name to you” (1 Samuel 16:3) Samuel could not wait on God to show him. After Samuel had assumed wrongly, God rightly corrected him stating “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) At home, school or in the church, answering to God’s assignment by looking at the physical is evidence of not allowing the Spirit of God to take charge. Samuel looked wrongly because he looked at appearance. Never look at appearance live as God commanded.

Prayer for today: Ask God to deliver you from taking any step outside of His divine direction by the way of looking wrongly at appearance.

FAITH CAPSULE: No man can force against the hand of God upon your life.

Daniel 3

The Psalmist describes God, “…O Lord my God, You are very great: You are clothed with honor and majesty, Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain. He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters, Who makes the clouds His chariot, Who walks on the wings of the wind.” (Psalm 104:1-3)

God alone is worthy to be magnified above all. He alone knows the beginning from the end, and the end from the beginning. He is the eternal rock of ages, the Almighty God who makes a way where there is no way. It is written, “The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth, and strips the forests bare; And in His temple everyone says, “Glory!” The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood, and the LORD sits as King forever.” (Psalm 29:9-10) God sitting on His throne of grace saw Saul with his evil agenda, running around for power from the right authority to enable him against the Lord’s disciples. He was all out with bad intentions, but God attended to him in His power. Power pass power and the enemy cannot be more powerful. Damascus was Saul’s target, it was his agenda to go and terminate all who were for the Lord Jesus. Saul could not see Damascus as planned because he became a blind man. He was out against God who reverses the irreversible. No man can force against the hand of God upon your life. Is your faith being challenged? Just as Saul was blinded so shall it be to challenges which are militating against your destiny.

God on His throne caused Saul to be blinded, “…But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.” (Acts 9:8-9) Who would have thought that a man with all the power from man against the disciples of the Lord could lose his sight at the time he was set to strike? Every wicked plan and purpose against you will meet its termination in Jesus’ name. Daniel’s three friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, were sentenced to die by burning in a furnace because they refused to bow to another God. They were sure their God would deliver them. They made a statement, “But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”(Daniel 3:18) The challenge could not change their belief. The three friends of Daniel glorified God and they overcame. Let not your situation dictate expectations. Allow God to be the center of your expectation. He will not fail because He has never failed.

Prayer for today: Ask God to deliver you just like he delivered Daniel’s three friends from the furnace of fire.

FAITH CAPSULE: Let Jesus know that you value Him today by living for His glory.

Job2, Mark 6:1-6

God gave testimony about Job when Satan approached God for Job’s life, “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? And still he holds fast to his integrity…” (Job 2:3) Despite God’s testimony, Job’s wife could not spare Job when she reacted to Job’s adversity by stating, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die’”. (Job 2:9) A man identified by God as upright, blameless and none like him on the earth, does not deserve such approach from any man not to talk of his wife. Evidently, the wife failed to place value on God’s hand upon Job; she could not see who he was in the hand of God. Like Job, Jesus must have experienced a challenge which prompted Him to respond to the people when He said to the people, “A Prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.’” (Mark 6:4) Jesus, despite all His miracles on every ground which He stepped on, despite having crowds and disciples who were following Him, He was rejected at His own city of Nazareth. The people questioned the source of His wisdom and the work of His hand. His people failed to see who He was but only saw Him as the son of a carpenter; the son of Joseph and Mary. Only God knows all that was thrown at Him in words which were not documented. It must have been so much and the Bible testifies that, “… He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.”(Mark 6:5)  If there was to be a place for Him in regard to greater work being manifested, it should have been at His home and among His people. Have you been encountering people who are putting you down and not place value on how God is using you to touch lives? Are you being rewarded in any discouraging way?

Can your situation be as bad like that of Job? Today, be encouraged in the Lord knowing fully well that you know your God and your God knows you. It hurts to be rejected. Think of it, is there any way your lifestyle, the life you live in the absence of fellow believers is rejecting Christ? Doing things that cannot be approved or done in the midst of your fellow brethren is an indication that you are also rejecting Jesus by not placing value on Him just as you have been rejected. The people of Nazareth failed to value the anointing upon the life of the Anointed One (Jesus). Let Jesus know that you value Him today by living for His glory.

Prayer for today: Ask God to enable you to live for His glory.

FAITH CAPSULE: His name will not change and His name will continue to make changes

Exodus 3:13-19 ACTS 19:1-20

Anyone who does not know the name of the Lord will not receive the benefits or privileges of whoever calls on Him. Many people know about His name but very few know His name.  There is a significant difference. Knowing about the name of Jesus will not qualify one to be saved. Knowing about the name of Jesus is different from knowing the name of Jesus. Knowing the name of Jesus is not enough and it will not do if the one who claims to know Him is not known in Him. The case of the itinerant Jewish’s exorcist is a good case of ones that only about Jesus. They do not know Him (no relationship with Him) and they were not known in Him. It is written, “Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” (Acts 19:11-14)

The itinerant Jewish exorcists do not know Jesus; they only know Him as one whom Paul preaches. It was not funny for them when the evil spirit responded stating, “And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” (Acts 19:15) They were not known in Him. After the evil response was reaction which states, “Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.´(Acts 19:16) Truly the itinerant Jewish had no relationship but they wanted to experience what those in relationship with Jesus always experience. Instead, they were overpowered and were naked. Do you know Him and known in Him? Paul was known in Him and the evil force could not touch Paul when He ministered deliverance.

Which of His Names do you know? He answers name which no any other god shares with Him. Moses inquired from Him about His name and He responded, “Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.” (Exodus 3: 14-15) His Name has not changed. His name will not change and His name will continue to make changes because His Name is for all generation. Get to know Him and be known in Him.

Prayer for today: Ask God to guide and lead you into knowing Him and to be known in Him.