FAITH CAPSULE: Saying there is God and expressing there is no God is being a fool

2 Kings 5

It is written, “A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart.” (Proverbs 18:2) The Bible points out that a fool is one that says in his heart that there is no God. (Psalm 14:1) Most times what is being said in the heart is the actual expression in the physical. Verbal communication can testify there is a God but when expression and acts violate God, it condemns one to a fool. The point being communicated here is that, no matter how much we carry God in our words, if our world does not demonstrate the fear of God, we are saying there is no God. It is important for one to identify self, determine and deny every trace of foolishness to avoid self destruction in the journey of life. Are you one that always want only your story to be heard without listening to others? In every confronting or embracing situation, is it your own story that must be heard rather than others? Is it your own reason that has to be appreciated without giving others a chance? Are you one that is only concerned all about own self? Truly there is nothing wrong with paying attention to one’s own, but when the whole identity of one becomes that of self centeredness, the word ‘own’ becomes a pride issue. Pride, the evidence of foolishness, can also be defined as a personal ride into self destruction. Pride is not of God; it is saying there is no God. Naaman, a commander of the army of the King of Syria, was described as a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master. However, he was foolish in his first approach to the prophet of God Elisha. As a leper, he needed cleansing and healing when he approached Elisha. Elisha directed him to go and wash for restoration at the Jordan River seven times but responded without understanding by expressing himself when he, “…became furious, and went away and said, “Indeed, I said to myself, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.’ Are not the Abanahand the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.” (2 Kings 5:11-12) Naaman has no delight in the understanding that was in place to deliver him. As a result of lack of understanding he activated anger, the expression of foolishness and the evidence of pride. Later, Naaman gained understanding, he went to wash as commanded; he received cleansing and testified, “Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel…” (2 Kings 5:15) Allow His word to rest in you.

Prayer for today: Ask God to open up your understanding.

FAITH CAPSULE: Be Zealous and not be sinful before God. 

Numbers 25, John 2:2-25

To be zealous for God demands to rise above congregation by condemning what is not in line with the word of God. While the children of Israel were in Acacia Grove, during their journey to the Promised Land, they engaged in all kinds of sin such as committing harlotry with the women of Moab. They were also engaged in sacrificing other gods. The action of the children of Israel angered God and God commanded Moses, “Take all the leaders of the people and hang the offenders before the LORD, out in the sun that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Israel.” (Numbers 25:4) It was a sin that claimed life and weeping among the children of Israel. In the midst of it all, one of the children of Israel came into the congregation to present to his brethren a Midianite in violation of God’s command. Phinehas the son of Eleazar reacted, “Now when Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he arose from among the congregation and took a javelin in his hand; and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stopped among the children of Israel.” The Word says Phinehas saw it and he rose from among the congregation. We should refrain from being a part of what is not right in our congregation or fellowship. If we look the other way from wrong because of what others may think, we become part of the problem, and in God’s sight culpable. We are called, as Christians, to discern right from wrong with great conviction from God. It is our duty to arise and act to correct wrongdoing. When we arise and act for the sake of righteousness, God reward us. Phinehas acted on behalf of God and God reacted with blessing. The plague was thwarted and God sent Moses to him. Numbers25:12-13, “Therefore say, ‘Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace; and it shall be to him and his descendants after him a covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel.’” When we are overtaken by His zeal, we will stand for God. Standing for God will deny plague from crossing our path. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil.(Proverbs 8:13)The zeal of God ate Jesus up and it moved Jesus to cleanse the temple with whip of chord, driving out the wicked from the temple. Be Zealous and not be sinful before God. 

Prayer for today: Ask for the zeal of God to overwhelm you.

FAITH CAPSULE: What matters is to fear God and not just fly in the direction of an evil errand.

Exodus 15

It is written, “Then the children of Israel moved, and camped in the plains of Moab on the side of the Jordan across from Jericho. Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. And Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people because they were many, and Moab was sick with dread because of the children of Israel. So Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this company will lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.  Then he sent messengers to Balaam…” (Numbers 22:1-5) Balak’s fear about the presence of the children of Israel prompted him to seek for Balaam as the agent to curse the children of Israel. Despite all the promises in place for Balaam; despite all Balaam’s attempt to execute the assignment, God intervene and the assignment failed. The word of God is true when it says; a curse without cause shall not alight. (Proverbs 26:2)
Have you been sent to deliver an assignment which does not glorify God? It does not matter who sent you, or what your reward will be. What matters is to fear God and not just fly in the direction of an evil errand. When you fly under the direction of an evil minded service, you will crash land and you will fail woefully. However, when you acquiesce to the fear of God before delivering an evil message, God will not ignore your move, but will acknowledge you beyond and above whatever reward that is set for you. It does not matter where you are today or what position you are holding. Let it be established in your heart that today you have abstained from delivering any message that is meant to hurt others, or that does not glorify God. Pharaoh entered into shrewdness because of the increase in number of the children of Israel. He ordered the midwives to kill all male children at birth. The fear of God arrested the midwives. Exodus 1:17, “But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive.” If you ask God to endue you with the fear of His name, He will do it for you. He is the One that said when we ask, it shall be given. Exodus 1:20-21, “Therefore God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and grew very mighty. And so it was, because the midwives feared God, that He provided households for them.” Let all your actions be based on the fear of God, and He will establish you in all areas of life.

Prayer for today: O Lord, instruct me and teach me in the way I should go; guide me with Your eye.

FAITH CAPSULE: The word of God is true to perform when one attend to His word.

Isaiah 64

The Psalmist described God, “For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.” (Psalm 86:5) He is a covenant keeping God. He is God that never fails in responding to those who seek Him, “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.” (Psalm 9:10) Waiting on God is patience; waiting on God is painful but overall it is gainful. Without knowing God one cannot trust in Him. It is those that put their trust in Him that waits on Him. It is written, “But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31) The word of God is true to perform when one attend to His word.
Is there any area of life where you are trusting God for a miracle? If not, there will be a time coming when you will have a need to wait on Him with patience. Patience is what it takes to wait on God. It is one thing to know there is a need for patience in waiting, it is another to actually experience waiting on God for a remedy. You that have a need for waiting, trust God and He will deliver; He is also the God of the eleventh hour. That is, He will show up when it seems that there is no way out so that you can appreciate Him enough to elevate His Holy name at the top of your heart. God knows you have a need to bring before Him, and He will wait for you to take it to Him. Submitting your need to Him is demonstrating that you recognize you serve a living God. Isaiah 30:18, “Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; and therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are those who wait for Him.” What do you expect of a jealous God? The answer is, give Him unfailing attention. He gets your attention in your waiting because where there is jealousy, there will be love. He is a loving God. Wait on Him, do not give up. Have patience and He will attend to your need at the best possible hour. The Prophet Isaiah testifies, “For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him.” (Isaiah 64:4) Wait on Him.

Prayer for today: Ask like the Psalmist asked: “Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.” (Psalm 86:6)

FAITH CAPSULE: He that remembers how God delivered him from a small confrontation will be delivered from an even bigger one.

1 Samuel 17

In the face of evil challenges that terminate life, considering the testimonies of God is enough to deny evil challenges over one’s life. The Psalmist testifies, “The wicked wait for me to destroy me, but I will consider Your testimonies.” (Psalm 119:95) The testimonies of God are the evidence of His work. The testimonies of God are the wondrous works of His hands. The Bible testifies, “…Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near.” (Psalm 75:1) What else could be better than having God nearer to one in the face of evil challenges? Considering thetestimonies of God is gaining access into the power of God that is mighty to deliver. Considering the testimonies of God is an expression that you are counting on God for greater testimonies. Above all, when one reminds God concerning the work of His hand, He will react concerning the war that confronts one. Once, Goliath stood a ground of war against the Children of Israel and he rained all kinds of verbal insult and harassment against Israel but none of the children of Israel could consider the testimonies of God that is power enough to deliver. 1 Samuel 17:8-9, “Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, “Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” In response to Goliath, David took it upon himself to confront Goliath.David’s first offensive weapon of attack was remembering and reminding all agents of opposition about what God had done in his life. What God has done is what will provoke what God will do. 1 Samuel 17:34, “But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it.” David was asked not to go after the giant Goliath while he was talking about how God had helped him in killing a lion and a bear. David’s response was perfect because he that remembers how God delivered him from a small confrontation will be delivered from an even bigger one. It is a weapon to hold on to the testimonies of God when a challenge shows up like a storm.

Prayer for today: Ask God for help in remembering to consider His testimonies.