FAITH CAPSULE: Disobedience to the Word of God is an avenue to departure from the presence of God.

1 Samuel 28

God gave His command to Saul, ““Go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” (1 Samuel 15: 3) Saul disobeyed God by executing God’s command at his own convenience. Disobedience to the Word of God is an avenue to departure from the presence of God. Saul failed to obey God and he removed himself from the presence of God. If you will do exactly according to His command He will not hesitate to bless you. After the death of Samuel whom the Lord had been using for Saul, there was a need for Saul to hear from God in regard to a confronting war against the Philistines. Saul inquired of the Lord, but there was no answer because his disobedience took away his privilege of accessing God. The war ahead of King Saul made his heart tremble while he could not hear from God. The Bible recorded in 1 Samuel 28:6, “And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by the prophets.” As a result of King Saul’s inability to hear from God, he then turned to another medium through which he could inquire of the Lord about the war. Saul had lost it where he could have been keeping it with God that called him to be the first king over His children. The fact that it was God who called Saul to be the king and not Saul that called himself was not an excuse to escape his act of disobedience to God’s command. Whenever a believer receives a call of from God, there is also a need for grace to keep believer to remain focus on carrying out the command of God just as required by God. Samuel, having been dead was called back from sleep through the medium that did not represent God. Saul was desperate to hear from God through Samuel but it added nothing unto Saul. Going to the medium rather took away from Saul. Samuel awoke from sleep through a medium that was not in line with God and pronounced defeat and the end of Saul when he goes to the war. Disobedience of Saul created distance between him and God that ordained him as king. Disobedience caused distance from God. It also led to Saul’s departure from the presence of God and brought upon him eventual destruction. God is a perfect manager that knows the end from the beginning. Never try to add or take away from His command.  

Prayer for today: Ask God to have mercy on you if there is any way that you are distancing yourself from His presence.

FAIH CAPSULE:You cannot hear from God and doubt what you have heard.

1 Samuel 23:1-5, Philippians 4:1-8

It is written, “The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.” (Proverbs 34:22) “Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.” (Psalm 62:8) Have you really put your trust in the Lord? There is a difference in saying “I trust in the Lord” and in actually putting your trust in the Lord. Many times words are easier said than done. In the face of life challenges, will you still hold on to your trust in God? When David was running away from Saul, with his small band of warriors he was in position to deliver the inhabitants of Keilah from the hands of the Philistines. “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)Just like David inquired, have you inquired from God about your next move? David’s action was a demonstration of his trust in God. David received the permission to go but his men around him could not agree. David’s men responded, ““Look, we are afraid here in Judah, how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” (1 Samuel 23:3) The men of David were very correct. They had been running because they were afraid from where they were coming from and that was impacting where they were going. David knew in whom he had his trust and he could not allow where he was coming from to terminate where he was going. Knowing that God is a God of confirmation, you can always seek Him to confirm His Word in every area of life. David went back to God. “Then David inquired of the LORD once again. 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) You cannot hear from God and doubt what you have heard. When you hear from God, there will be neither debate nor fear. The whole world can say no; but you will say yes. The existence of doubt is the evidence that you have not heard from Him. David went forward and delivered the inhabitants of Keilah. It is all about placing trust in the Lord. Having a perfect peace is having a peace that surpasses all understanding and it is the evidence of trusting in God. Isaiah 26:3-4 encourages us, ““You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind stayed on You, because he trusts in You. 4 Trust in the LORD forever, for in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.”

Prayer for today: Ask the Lord for the grace to be able to trust in Him consistently.

FAITH CAPSULE: It is the secret behind the stories that keeps a believer to dwell in the shadow of the Almighty God.

Daniel 6

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1) There are so many stories in the Bible that are encouraging; but it is the secret behind the stories that keeps believers dwelling in the shadow of the Almighty God. Knowing the story and not paying attention to the secrets is not enough to can keep a believer to be dwelling in the shadow of the almighty. The story of Daniel in the lion’s den shows is a testimony that under the shadow of the almighty, nothing formed against us shall prosper. Attempt to terminate Daniel was the result of his distinguished performance above governors and satraps. When king Darius gave the thought of setting Daniel up over the whole realms, the governors and satraps decided to set Daniel up for failure. The only way he could be set up was against his God. In effort to set him up against his God, a law that calls for no one to serve any other god for thirty days was enacted. Despite the law, Daniel went into his room and opened his windows toward Jerusalem; he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God as was his customs since early days. (Daniel 6:10) Daniel was reported to the king and he became a candidate for Lions dinner. The king, having signed an irreversible law had no choice but to send Daniel into the den of lions. The law could not be reversed but the God, the Alpha and Omega; the One that Daniel serves will reverse whatever law was meant to terminate or trap you in life’s journey. Among the secret of Daniel’s story of deliverance were: Daniel had a custom approach to God that is, a prayer schedule that is constant and consistent. He does not have to wait for trouble before spending time in prayer. Are you one that waits for challenges to show up face before engaging in prayer sessions? Daniel was serving God continually just as was testified by the King, “…Your God who you serve continually will deliver you” (Daniel 6:16) Are you serving God at your convenience or with commitment to serve continually? Daniel testifies his third reasons for his deliverance when he responded to the king, “My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.” (Daniel 6:22) Daniel was innocent before God and he was obedient to the law of the land that does not compromise his faith. Daniel could not be touched by any law or force because he lined himself up pleasing God.

Prayer for today: O Lord, I ask that You instruct, teach and make me walk in Your way.  

FAITH CAPSULE: Doing good does not make anyone immune to challenges of the evil one.

Numbers 20:1-13, Psalm 37

Absolutely and without any doubt, nothing can be hidden from the eyes of God. He alone is the Almighty creator and He sees every act of good or bad. 2 Chronicles 16:9, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”Every time there is act of evil God sees it and there is no escape for the consequence of evil acts, but there is forgiveness after repentance. Also, when there are acts of good, it does not escape the eyes of God but exalts the name of God. For good or bad there are consequences. The Bible recorded in Psalm 37:23-24, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand.” Have you been making sure that your steps are in line with God’s orders/commands? Clearly, in the quotation above, doing good does not make anyone immune to challenges of the evil one. Doing good will not stop you from falling. The word refers to the one that is doing good stating, “…though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down.”Have you been falling down in any area of life despite your doing good? Take note that you shall not be utterly cast down and it will soon pass and your stand shall be established to the glory of God. In the case of Job, “…the LORD said to Satan, “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?”” (Job 1:8)   Job was one of God’s most faithful servant and all of his steps were lined up in accordance to the commands of God; but despite all he fell and lost everything that he had but he was not utterly cast down. Due to his faithfulness in the Lord, Job’s down word spiral ended when the Lord replenished him with everything that he had lost during the time that he was down. Have you taken a step outside of his order? Are you in the process of taking step out of His order? Consider aligning your steps in line with the word of God. If God gives you an order and you fail to take to it, He will take you out of His good land. He gave Moses order to speak to the rock but he struck the rock. (Moses was taken out and could not get to the promised good land) Get in line with the word of God; do good, He shall delight in the ways you are taking your steps.

Prayer for today: Help me Lord that I will not step out of Your word.

FAITH CAPSULE:Truth is threatening and it cannot be terminated.

Genesis 37

The truth is threatening. It is true that when the truth is told it can be threatening. It is true that Jacob loved Joseph more than his brothers, but the brothers could not accommodate the truth. It is written, “… when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.” (Genesis 37:4) The love of Jacob was the beginning of the hatred towards Joseph by his brothers. When Joseph had a dream about what was going to become of his brothers he was only telling it the way he saw it in his dream. Joseph’s dream was a vision not an intention to take position away from his brothers. Joseph’s dream was about him taking a position where brothers will be bowing to him. After his dream he told his brothers all about the dream and they responded “… “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.”(Genesis 37:8)The word of Joseph to his brothers was not only rejected, but it led to him to be ejected out of the family when his brothers sold him to a company of Ishmaelite. Truth is threatening and it cannot be terminated. Attempts to have the truth covered or terminate will only last for a period before the truth takes over. Joseph’s dream came to pass when he eventually reigned over his family as it was in his dream. A truth that is truth indeed will come to pass even if the whole world attempt to stand against it. Jesus, our Lord and savior told the truth, He introduced Himself but they could not accommodate His revelation because the truth is threatening. John 14:6, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Jesus lived the example and He was constantly facing opposition. His ways are not our ways, but He has come to lead us into His ways. The truth of the matter is that truth is threatening, Jesus was a threat and He could not be terminated from fulfilling the truth. How are you responding to the truth that comes your way daily? Also, how are you sharing the truth that you know? If you have not been sharing what you know about the truth it could be that you have not known the truth enough. “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”(John 8:31-32) Do not take the truth as a threat, but as your teacher.

Prayer for today: O Lord I ask that You let Your truth reign and rule my life.