FAITH CAPSULE: When affliction persists it becomes oppression.

Exodus 3, 4

Affliction is defined as a condition of great distress, pain or suffering. Affliction comes in different ways and it could be self-inflicted or enemy-inflicted. Most times, conscious or unconscious disobedience to the word of God is the cause of affliction. The bottom line with the issue of affliction is the truth that God in His goodness and mercy has deliverance in place for anyone who will not misplace the word that delivers from affliction. The Bible states, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.”(Psalm 34:19) God delivers from all afflictions. The same word of God that promises deliverance from affliction in Psalm 34:19 does not mention what it requires to be delivered from affliction until Proverb 11:9 where it states, “…But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.” Unmistakably, without knowledge gained in the word of God, claiming deliverance from affliction will be a mere word of the mouth that is not backed with power. It is knowledge to know to look up unto God and not man for deliverance from affliction. When affliction persists it becomes oppression and when oppression is in place the ability to serve God is either replaced or misplaced. In Egypt, the children of Israel experienced affliction and oppression that made God call for their service unto Him. The experience of the Israelites did not happen in just one day–it was a gradual build up. Affliction will not announce itself and will always take its time before it takes your time away from God. The affliction of the Israelites started when a new Pharaoh, who did not know Joseph, took over as head of Egypt. With the new King, came a new rule which attempted to reduce the population of Israel, It is written, “Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh Supply cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were in dread of the children of Israel. So the Egyptians made the children of Israel serve with rigor.” (Exodus 1:11-13) What is taking you away from your service to God? Whatever is distracting you from serving God is a plan of the enemy to deny you from taking possession of your inheritance among the sanctified. In the pursuit of acquiring money a believer may come under affliction. Affliction can show itself in different and often comfortable ways before it becomes painful and uncomfortable. When it was time for God to deliver the children of Israel, He sent Moses to get them out of affliction and into the land of Canaan. Just as God sent Moses, so He has sent His own dear Son to deliver us from every form of affliction.

Prayer for today: Ask God today to deny all that represents affliction in your life.

FAITH CAPSULE: All year long demands prayer but this time of the year calls for prayer to be intensified.

Psalm 28, Matthew 6:5-15

Obeying the command of God is a blessing and not obeying His commands brings forth a curse. Jesus commanded, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you for everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew &:7-8) Are you one that takes time to ask, seek or knock on man for solution or on Jesus for solution? The word of God that commands us to pray will deliver when we pray. God is a prayer answering God. The same God yesterday, today, and tomorrow is still answering prayers. What is wrong with your prayer? Is your prayer getting through or getting shelved? It is written, “He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye shall He not see?” (Psalm 94:9)  God hears us before we ask. Most times, our manner of asking is what needs attention. How you ask and what you ask for has much to with what you get for an answer. It is written, “But when you pray, go into your room; and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do for they think that they will be heard for their many words.” (Matthew 6:6) Among prayer hindering forces, which of the above hinders your prayer? Is it your location that identifies you before everyone as one who knows how to pray? Remember, it is not of determination; it is of grace. Is it the choice of words you use to impress the listener that guides your prayer? Repetition is a sure way to hinder your prayer. Among prayer hindering forces mentioned by David is, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.” (Psalm 66:18) God’s Word is true. Meditate on His word. God does not lie and since He has said He will answer when you call, He will not fail. It is a blessing to, “Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD!” (Psalm 27:14)  The time that you spend in prayer is time spent waiting on the Lord; the time it takes to get answer is also time spent waiting on the Lord. Waiting demands that you wait in faith. All year long demands prayer but this time of the year calls for prayer to be intensified. God will answer you this day in Jesus’ name.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to increase and be consistent in waiting on God.

FAITH CAPSULE: The journey of life does not run straight.

Numbers 20:1-13

Living life from January to December is a journey of life. To be alive all through the year is the mercy of God and not merit of man. The beginning of every journey is important; living through the year is very important but the way it comes to an end summarize the whole course of the journey. The journey of life does not run straight. It has hills and valleys. There are always twists and turns before getting to one’s expected end. Moses was a giant in the hand of God though his journey went through ups and downs. He led the children of Israel through forty years of wandering in the wilderness before coming to the Promised Land. Moses failed; he could not lead them through the crossing over, because he did not follow through with God’s command. Instruction to direct is the word of God, the command of God. Allowing instruction to have its place in our life is likened to having a graceful ornament on our head. (Proverbs 1:9) Moses misrepresents the word of God. God asked him to speak to the rock, but he struck the rock twice with his rod. It is written, “Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.’”(Numbers 20:12) Because of the lack of faith of the children of Israel, Moses was not allowed to get to the end of the journey that he so strongly desired. Are you about to cross over in your journey? Moses pleaded with God, but his plea was not accepted when he stated, “I pray, let me cross over and see the good land beyond the Jordan, those pleasant mountains, and Lebanon.”(Deuteronomy 3:25) Before you get to the point where no pleading or prayer will be accepted, ask God to remove any force or agent that will deny you from getting to the good land. It was because of the faithless Israelites that Moses was denied and Moses stated, “But the Lord was angry with me on your account, and would not listen to me. So the LORD said to me: Enough of that! Speak no more to Me on this matter.”(Deuteronomy 3:26) Your situation might not be because of anyone else’s account, but because of your own actions and the manner in which you are living your life. Ask God for help today and He will answer. 

Prayer for today: Ask God to remove any obstacle that would prohibit you from crossing over to your promised land.

FAITH CAPSULE: When God sends you He will back you up.

Joshua 1

Celebration of the birth of Jesus is good but not understanding the reason for His birth is bad. Jesus stated the reason for His coming, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) Where there is lack of understanding of His coming there will be no reason to believe. The grace to believe is to work the works of God. Once, Jesus responded to a question about what it means to work the works of God, “Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God that you believe in Him whom He sent.” (John 6:28-29) Believing whom He sent is the only way to abundant life that Jesus brought. To work the works of God demands responding to God’s command without looking back or holding back. Abraham responded to God’s command when he moved out from his family and his country. It is written, “Now the LORD had said to Abram; ‘Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house to a land I will show you.’” (Genesis 12:1) For Abraham to work the works of God he had to get out of his comfort zone. For Joshua to lead the children of Israel to the Promised Land he had to rise up and cross the Jordan. The word of God states, “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.”(Joshua 1:2) Whatever God says He will do is already done by the time He calls you. There was a need for Abraham to get out before entering into the promise of God. Similarly, there was a need for Joshua to arise and go in order for the manifestation of God’s promise to be fulfilled. What is keeping you grounded from arising and getting into His calling for your life? God has a plan and purpose for our life. Jesus is the plan and purpose of God’s salvation for our life. When God sends you He will back you up and He will bring into fruition the plans for which He sends you. Before Joshua answered God’s calling, God had already completed the mission on behalf of Joshua. The book of Joshua 1:3 states, “Every place that the sole of your feet will tread upon I have given you as I said to Moses.” If He has called you, get out, arise and go, and He will back you up. The birth of Jesus already brought abundant life to whoever will work the works of God.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to work His works.

FAITH CAPSULE: This day, who do you say He is in your life?

Luke 9:18-22, John 1

It will be very difficult to find anyone in the Bible that does not live the meaning of their name. Here are few names that can be identified: Joshua–God is Salvation; Samson–Strong; Delilah–Delicate; Josiah–Jehovah supports; and Samuel–Asked of God; Emmanuel—God with us. Among all names Immanuel (Jesus) is the only name that carries power. The name and meaning as they relate to the bearer goes on through the Bible. When the twelve were sent to preach, at their return Jesus wanted to know from his disciples whom the crowds say He was. The disciples responded and gave the name of Elijah and the names of the old prophets. Then He went further to inquire again in Luke 9:20, “He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered and said, ‘The Christ of God.’”  This day, who do you say He is in your life? Do you actually understand the name that you call on? Christ is the anointed one. It is possible to know about Him and not know Him. The Bible described Naaman, “Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper.” (2 Kings 5:1) The point here is, despite all that God did for Naaman, Naaman did not know God until he was healed and he testified after his healing, “…Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel…” (2 Kings 5:15) Just like Naaman, there are so many that are enjoying the goodness and mercy of God in Christ Jesus and does not know Jesus. Many know about Him and many celebrate His birth. However, not knowing Him is not having life. Many have confused knowing about Him with knowing Him. The point is, the ones that actually know Him are also known in Him. In this season of celebration, celebrate Him as the Lord and savior and not as Santa from the North Pole. Jesus is the reason for the season. Know Him today as Jesus–Yahweh saves, Immanuel–God with us, Light of the World–One who brings hope and gives guidance, Son of David–One who brings in the Kingdom, Chief Shepherd–Gives guidance and protection, Chief Cornerstone–A sure foundation of life, Firstborn from the Dead–Leads us into resurrection, and Word–Eternal God who ultimately reveals God. Choose any of the few of His names listed, use it and apply it to any area that you have need for, and owe no man or force any apology for calling or claiming the name above all names. He alone is a faithful God and He will answer His name.

Prayer for today: Ask the grace to keep you from running out of God’s mercy.