FAITH CAPSULE: Determination will not help, but it is only by the Spirit of God.

Psalm 91

Reading and not studying the word of God can be compared to going into the presence of God and coming out without spending any reasonable time. Studying and living life by the word of God is an evidence of dwelling in the presence of God. The word of God is not just a story but in it are the secrets that keep one to dwell under shadow of the Almighty God. “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1). Without any doubt, there is no other place where a believer should desire to abide but under the shadow that will not give up; a shadow that will always be constant and consistent and a shadow that will overshadow all forces of the wicked from getting to a believer. In order to abide, there has to be a step into His dwelling place. The key to His dwelling place is a secret but not to a believer who carries the Word for a purpose and not to play church. God is not a liar and what He said He will do has already been done. He mentioned by Himself in the book of Isaiah 57:15, “For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.’” The high place belongs to the High and Lofty One and it is also the place of believers with a contrite (a repentant) and humble (one whose shoulders are not rising above his head) spirit. Psalm 34:18 also confirms that, “the LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.” This is an awesome promise only by a God whose awesomeness is beyond any man’s imagination. He is the only God that gives promises that will never fail. Have you, as a believer, thought of entering into His secret place as a dwelling place and not as a passing by place? One that is having a contrite and humble spirit is the one that the word of God refers to as having a simple heart, the heart that accommodates the word of God that gives life. It is recorded in Psalm 119:130, “The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” If you will desire to enter and begin to dwell in His secret place, abiding under His shadow will not elude you. Determination will not help, but it is only by the Spirit of God. Begin to desire entering into the secret place with a simple heart and it shall become of you.

Prayer for today: Ask for the goodness and mercy of God that will deposit grace to dwell in His secret place. 

FAITH CAPSULE:A captured mind is a trapped mind in the things that are not of God.

Colossians 3:1-17

Jesus said in one of His teaching, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) Seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness is taking a position in walking in line with the word of God. Apostle Paul wrote in Colossians to make us understand that there is a position to be taken by every believer. He emphasized in Colossians 3:1, “If you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.” The Apostle Paul is saying the same thing that Jesus said while He was alive. How do we seek with effectiveness? Further down in the same chapter 3 of Colossians, Apostle Paul gave a clear understanding to show that the only way to be able to seek with effectiveness is to set our minds on things that are above and not on things that are on the earth. This is an indication that indeed, the battle ground that the enemy wants to capture is our mind. A captured mind is a trapped mind in the things that are not of God. When we begin to effectively set our minds on those things which are above, those things which are on the earth will begin to be offset in our lives and no longer have its way. The idea of setting is to purpose to go. It is also to purposely be fixed against any distraction. A mind that is set will not be found without constant meditation during the day and night. Are you willing to set your mind on things that are above where Christ is? If yes, then there will be a need to “…put to death your members which are on earth such as fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5). This is not all of your old man that needs to be put off, but anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of our mouth is also included. In the place of putting off of the members that are of this earth (the old man), there will be a putting on of the things that are of God; characteristics that represent He that is above. Apostle Paul called these tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering (Colossians 3:12). Above all of this is love and allowing forgiveness to reign and to rule in the heart and life of every believer of the Word. Be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day and consistency in the place or position that is above with Christ will deliver you from becoming a waste when He comes back again.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to fear Him all the days of your life.

FAITH CAPSULE: God is not moved by man’s title but by man’s task.

1 Samuel 2

What anyone calls you is not what matters as compared to what you call yourself or what you answer to. It is written concerning Elizabeth, “Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.” (Luke 1:36)After Jesus, there is none like John in the days of Bible. Yet, his mother, Elizabeth was called barren because people did not know that God was working according to His time. What are you being called? Barren, poor…? Answer to what you want to be and not what they see in you. The Barren eventually became the mother of a giant man of God. It is written in, “Now the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.” (1 Samuel 3:1)At a time when Prophets, priests, Bishops, pastors and every other kind of title holders in the land of Israel were not hearing from God, a little boy called, “The Boy Samuel” heard from God. God is not a respecter of man. With God, nothing is impossible. God does not move by man’s title but man’s task. The Boy Samuel, as a child his task was that of a household name minister and he was putting on what prophets, bishops and pastor were supposed to be putting on. As a child nothing counts before him but his ministration before the Lord. As child he was not overwhelmed by man’s given title neither was he being carried away by programs all over the land and the Bible recorded that, “But Samuel ministered before the LORD, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod. Moreover his mother used to make him a little robe, and bring it to him year by year when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.” (1 Samuel 2:18-19)What people called Samuel could have denied him but God device His own way to deny name calling. God knows what we are to be and He will place us in the right location that will deny every denying agent from us. The Bible testifies, “Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7)Let them say or call you what they see in you by the limitation of what they can see. But it is important to know who you are and who you answer to. The Boy Samuel was yet to be identified as a prophet before he started hearing from God. Encourage yourself in the Lord and you shall live to the fulfillment of your destiny in Christ Jesus.

Prayer for today: Ask God to enable you in all that He created you for.

FAITH CAPSULE: It is one thing to confess faith; it is another to take a stand on the confession of faith.

Daniel 3

Whatever you behold or look that generates fear in you will lock your faith down from rising up. The children of Israel were pursued by the Egyptians after their freedom from bondage. As the Egyptians drew near, with no way of escape, “…the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptian marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord.” (Exodus 14:10) When they behold their enemy, fear took over. What are you beholding or looking up to? One of the best weapons against the enemy or threat that attempts to bring down a believer is not to behold or look at the face of the enemy or threat before us. Daniel’s three friends in captivity, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego already violated the law of King Nebuchadnezzar by not worshiping his golden image. The three friends knew that judgment was already in place and they were confident that they would not look away from their God. It is one thing to confess faith; it is another to take a stand on the confession of faith in the face of a cruel death, such as being delivered into a furnace of fire. They were brought face to face with Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel 3:19, “Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.” The fullness of fury in the eyes of Nebuchadnezzar and the command that described how the furnace was to be kept burning was not enough for the bulging of the three friends of Daniel. Have you been looking too much into the face of your confrontation, health and financial challenges? What you need to be doing is keeping on a standstill position. A position and a ground that is based on the awesomeness power of God. The Bible records that the three friends fell down in the midst of the burning fire (Daniel 3:23) yet they could not be buried by the fire because they stood on a ground of faith that could not fail. The flame and the flame generators were consumed by their flame while the three friends of Daniel walked out neat without any stain or smell of the fire. God is still in the business of undeniable miracles if we will take an undeniable stand in the power of His Word. Moses’ response to the children of Israel speaks to all in the face of confronting challenge, “…do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.” (Exodus 14:13)   

Prayer for today: Ask for the termination of all that represents Egyptians in your life.

FAITH CAPSULE: From Genesis to Revelation, the message remains the same

John 3

It is written, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4) The Bible also states in 2Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Many came out and many are still coming out to suggest to us how the Bible was written, how the documents in the pages of Bible has been tampered with by adding or by subtracting. Interestingly the message of the Bible remains clear and can never be broken. From Genesis to Revelation, the message remains the same. It does not matter whether you are reading the story of Adam, Moses, David, Paul the Apostle or Mary the mother of Jesus the message is one. The message of the Bible remains clear for whoever has ear to hear. The message is about the Gospel. The message of the Bible discloses the blemish of sin in our lives. It is the same message that offers us a way to become spotless. For anyone who wants to hear, God does have a standard of expectation which he will not lower for anyone. Micah 6:8 points it out, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” He expects us to love Him with all of our heart, all of our soul, and with all of our strength. (Deuteronomy 6:5). The word expects us to be spotless when time for judgment is and that is why Jesus mentioned in His teaching, “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) The sins that prevailed among us as mentioned through the pages of the Bible are: Idolatry, evil plans, coveting, violence, oppression, hating good and loving evil, greed, deceit, unfaithfulness and family friction. Inside of this embedded three major sins that stand out as identity of self acclaimed Christians: lying, deception and manipulation. The Bible is true to its word when it states in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” God’s salvation plan is Christ Jesus whom He sent to shed His blood for our redemption. God is a good God. Jonah, despite the consequence of his wickedness realized and testifies to His goodness, “…for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.” (Jonah 4:2)Indeed and in truth, through out ages, it is evident in the Bible that there is none like God. Do not be deceived, the word of God is true and cannot be broken.

Prayer for today: Ask God to enable you to live to the fulfillment of His word.