FAITH CAPSULE: Wisdom is profitable for all things and every decision making.

1 Samuel 23:1-5, Proverbs 4
 
The application of wisdom in every area of life brings forth good and enviable result. There are different kinds of wisdom but the only wisdom that is certain to deliver good and enviable result is the wisdom of God. However, the wisdom of this age and of the rulers of this age is the one that will come to nothing. Apostle Paul was speaking in 1 Corinthians 2:6-8, “…we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” In your world, which wisdom are you operating? In a world of lying, deception and manipulation wisdom of God is what it takes to prevail and that demands the need to pay attention to the word of Proverbs 4: 7, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom…” No man was born with wisdom but man does have a need to seek for wisdom before getting it and that is why the word commanded, “…therefore get wisdom.” Giving attention to knowing the instructions in the pages of scripture is a sure and undeniable source of getting wisdom. Clearly, it is wisdom in the word of God that builds the fear of God in man’s heart. It cannot be well stated than Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the Lordis the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” King David’s understanding of God must have been rooted in his wisdom. God also testified of him as a man after His own heart. (1 Samuel 13:14) The Bible repeatedly mentioned how David going out wherever Saul sent him and behaved wisely. Wisdom must have been the main reason why he was also able to escape every trap of death in his life.Once he was set for war against the Philistines and the Bible recorded, “Therefore David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?”And the Lord said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines, and save Keilah.”” (1 Samuel 23:2) Right after getting a go ahead response from God, his men reacted saying, “Look, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more than if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?”” (1 Samuel 23:3) Without wisdom, it would have been easier for David to listen to man’s wisdom. However, he went back once again to the Lord and the Lord answered him and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.” (1 Samuel 23:4) Wisdom is profitable for all things and every decision making. Get wisdom.
 
Prayer for today:Ask for the grace to keep your heart with all diligence.

FAITH CAPSULE: The word of God is fire and it cannot be played with neither should it be disregarded. 

Psalm 33         
 
It is written, “By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deep in storehouses.” (Psalm 33:6-7) The word of God is true and consistently right. Looking around and seeing all things He created testify to the truth that the word of God is right and also true. His word is not just a letter but life. It is certain that God has not changed and He will never change. God alone is the unchanging Changer; the only One that makes a way here there is no way. Psalm 33:4, “For the word of the LORD is right, and all His work is done in truth.” The word of God is true and right and we are to hold on to the truth of His word. The word of God is fire and it cannot be played with neither should it be disregarded. God declared in Jeremiah 23:29, “Is not My word like a fire?” says the LORD, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?”” Indeed, His word is like fire, but how you have received determines how it works for you. When the word is replaced with the world, the power in it cannot be activated. One that replaces the word with the world is like a man carrying a loaded handgun and running away from an enemy with no weapon. How have you received the word of God? The word worked for Jeremiah after he allowed the word to burn in him. “Then I said, ‘I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name.’ But His word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not. For I heard many mocking: ’Fear on every side!’ ’Report,’ they say, ‘and we will report it!’ All my acquaintances watched for my stumbling, saying, ’Perhaps he can be induced; then we will prevail against him, and we will take our revenge on him.’ But the LORD is with me as a mighty, awesome One. Therefore my persecutors will stumble, and will not prevail. They will be greatly ashamed, for they will not prosper. Their everlasting confusion will never be forgotten.” (Jeremiah 20:9-11) The above passage documents how the word worked as a fire for Jeremiah in a challenging situation. The same word is working the same power today for ones that allows the word an entrance into their life. Always remember the word of Hebrews 12:29, “For our God is a consuming fire.”

Prayer for today:Ask that the fire nature of His word will burn off all that does not represent God in your life.

FAITH CAPSULE: Always remember that in midst of every Godly celebration, Satan wants to gain attention.

Philippians 4
 
 
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4)  
Psalm 9:2, “I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to your name, O most High.” Psalm 16:11, “In Your presence is fullness of joy…” Proverbs 8:30, “…I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him.” All of the above quotations testifies to the truth, without joy no man is accessible to God. The Apostle Paul articulates this perfectly when he states, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4) The Apostle Paul’s call for joy was expressed with clarity, emphasis and with a shout!
Children of God must always go before God with joy. Going before God with joy regardless of challenging situation is a demonstration of faith in Unfailing God. It should be noted that the evil one never shy away from where there is joy. His agenda is to convert joy to sadness. However, our calling is to maintain our joy regardless of challenges. Remember Job? Job 1:6-7, “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” (Job 1:6-7) Satan’s interruption was and is always with bad intention. He is empowered to go to and fro looking for one to devour. He was able to secure his wish against Job. He initiated pain for Job where the sons of God are gathering in His presence. It is written in Job 1:11-12, “But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.”” It is hard to imagine how in the place of celebration, joy is being tampered with? The wicked one, at his coming out of the place of joy and celebration delivered every form of affliction on Job. In between and through it all, Job did not complain nor did he condemn God. Job cried to God and he eventually received more blessings after his time of testing, than when he first started to enjoy the blessings of God. Constantly maintain joy and retain your presence before God. Always remember that in midst of every Godly celebration, Satan wants to gain attention. Fail to attend to Satan and he will flee. Do not forget too soon, cry unto Him and prayer will turn bitterness into sweetness.
 
Prayer for today:Ask for the word of God to have a place and rule your heart..

FAITH CAPSULE: Have you actually taken some time out to search your heart if indeed you love God?

1 John 4:7-21, 1 John 5:1-5
 
Jesus was crucified, went to the grave and has risen for us to have life. How much love do you have for Him? Many songs have been written about love among the believers and non-believers. Among such is the song that says, “Oh how I love Jesus 3x, because He died for me.” Have you actually taken some time out to search your heart if indeed you love God? Do you love God? It is time for every one that confesses their love for God to begin to question every area of their step in life and determine if they love God. What does it mean to love God?
LOVING GOD
1 John 5:3, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.” Keeping God’s commandment is either doing His will or being obedient to His will. It takes sacrificial commitment to obey God’s commandment. Loving God is a sacrifice. Sacrifice is not cheap but it is giving unto God what is costly. King David once stated in 2 Samuel 24:24, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God with that which costs me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.”” King David was responding to Araunah who had offered him a free land to make a sacrifice to God. The sacrifice was meant to deliver the children of Israel from death that was caused by David’s census. At that time, David’s census was against the command of God. David’s rejection of free land was a clear demonstration of what a costly sacrifice before God should be. A consciously engaging a costly sacrifice is a proven mark of love for God. Also, a sacrifice to God is to worship God. Worshiping God is supposed to be a non-stop engagement as long as there is breath within us.
With God, there is a set standard for every area of His expectation for us. God did not just ask for love rather He gave us a standard of acceptable love when He stated in Deuteronomy 6:5, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” To love God means to give Him our all. Through the pages of the Bible, men and women that gave Him all were able to live a fulfilled life and accomplish great exploits to the glory of God. Men like Abraham, Joseph, Daniel and other giants loved God and were able to do great exploits. The giants in the hand of God’s approach to the issues of life clearly depict what it is to love God with all of their heart, soul and strength.
 
Prayer for today:Ask for the grace that enables man to love God with all heart, soul and strength.

FAITH CAPSULE: Pleasing the Father will keep one to be constant in His presence.

1 Samuel 15, 16
 
Jesus was speaking, “Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.” (John 8:43) Evidently, listening is the key to understanding. With understanding, the heart will retain the word. Also, it is the heart that retains the word of God that will be able to keep the commands of God and live constantly with the Father’s presence. The importance of getting understanding cannot be emphasized enough as it was in the book of Proverbs. “Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; Love her, and she will keep you.” (Proverbs 4:5-6) The purpose of understanding the word of faith is to be obedient to God. Where there is word, there will be light and the evidence of the fruit of the Spirit cannot be denied. Once the word is truly in the life of a believer, it becomes impossible for a believer to engage in ways of life that does not glorify God. Saul was king when the presence of God departed from him because he continuously disobeyed the word of God. As a result, he became occupied by a troubling spirit, “But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the LORD troubled him.” (1 Samuel 16:14)
Obeying the word of God is rooted in having the heart retain the word of His command. When there is disobedient, it is evident the word has been turned away in the heart as a result of listening disability. One that does not listen lacks understanding. The word of God should not only be for quotation; that is, it should not only lie in the mouth, but should also have center place in the heart. Many are conversant quoting the word but few lives and abide in the word. It is written in Deuteronomy 30:14, “But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.” Just as it is stated in Deuteronomy, Romans 10:8-10 records, “…the word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Having the word in the mouth and not having it through to the heart is like receiving but not believing in Him. Many are conversant and fluent with quoting the word of God, but are far from living the word. Receive and believe and you will please the Father. Pleasing the Father will keep one to be constant in His presence.

Prayer for today: Ask that listening disability will not have a place in any area of your life.