FAITH CAPSULE: Paying attention by listening to the word will deposit the word inside of a man for use.

Proverbs 4

It is written,“He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalm 107:20-21) God, in His word has made every provision for our deliverance. The same word of God that was in the beginning is the same word that was sent to heal and to deliver us from every form of destructions. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:1-4) In the Word of God there is a solution for solving every challenge known to man kind. The word of God is wisdom and it is not forceful; it is always available for anyone that will take time to get deep into it for own use. The word that He sent is already here for anyone that cares to take on the word for their deliverance. Listening to the word will deposit the word inside of a man for use. Without listening and understanding of the word, knowledge will fail. Applying knowledge is crucial in having edge in the world of challenges. The Bible gives insight that “…through knowledge the righteous are delivered.” (Proverb 11:9) Who are the righteous? Our righteousness is when we believe in Jesus as the Lord and savior. “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe…” (Romans 3:21-22) Believing in Christ Jesus or how righteous we may claim to be is not enough for our deliverance if there is lack of knowledge and this is why the word says, the righteous (that is the believer) through knowledge are delivered. Know it and be clear with it that your deliverance from challenge is in knowing what it takes to face such challenge as it is documented in His word (wisdom) of God. Remember, Knowledge is the application of wisdom. Psalm 34:19, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” It could be true that you are an acclaimed believer of Christ (you are righteous) but also know that your deliverance is inhabited in the application of knowledge not only in knowing and memorizing the word of God.

Prayer for today: Ask God to open the ears of your heart and the eyes of your hear.

FAITH CAPSULE: What the Lord said He will do is a done deal.

Exodus 5, 6:1-9

When the sight for breakthrough suddenly looks like a break-down, do not let any aguish spirit have a place in you. Anguish is a great suffering from worry, grief or pain. Keep up hope. What the Lord said He will do is a done deal. God was set to bring the children of Israel out of bondage of over four hundred years. Moses was the vessel in the hand of God to carry out the mission. God met with him and gave him His word. In Moses’ hand was the rod that has been branded with the power of God. All that Moses needed to do was to deliver the message of deliverance. Moses approached Egypt and Pharaoh the first time since he ran away from Egypt because of his murderous act. Moses was not just returning to a new Egypt but he was returning with a great assurance from God when the Lord told him, “Now the LORD said to Moses in Midian, Go, return to Egypt; for all the men who sought your life are dead.”” (Exodus 4:19) The Old Pharaoh and all that could stand against Moses are no longer in place. Moses, having laid down the message of deliverance for the children of Israel, provoked high expectation for freedom for the children of Israel. However, Pharaoh did not accept Moses’ package because he did not know the God that sent Moses for the deliverance of the children of Israel. When breakthrough and deliverance supposed to be nearer it turned out to become far and bleak with no hope but more difficulty. Pharaoh rejected Moses’ first approach and increased the labor of the children of Israel. What seems to be coming to an end suddenly turned around and appears to be impossible. Does that sound like your case? As a result of what seemed to be a failed attempt to the children of Israel, the children of Israel does not want to entertain Moses any longer, “So Moses spoke thus to the children of Israel; but they did not heed Moses because of the anguish of spirit and cruel bondage.”(Exodus 6:9) As one that believes in God’s power let it be registered in you this day that the Lord is still on the throne and He will not leave you nor forsake you. Be encouraged by His word that never fails. Let your mind stay on Him just as it is written, “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”(Isaiah 26:3) Hold on to His promises and by the time you know it this season shall pass. It passed for the children of Israel and deliverance had its way. Your deliverance is nearer more than ever.

Prayer for today:  Ask for the grace that causes mind to stay on God.

FAITH CAPSULE: The truth about the word of God is to truthfully demonstrate the knowledge of His word.

Acts 4:32-37, 5:1-11

As much as lack of knowledge can be devastating, so is half knowledge. The case of Nadab and Abihu is a sure testimony that ignorance is not an excuse before God. Also, in every operation of lack of knowledge or half knowledge concerning the word of God, there is a risk that devastating consequences will take place. Leviticus 10:1-2, “Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.” There was no time for both sons of Aaron to give an excuse of their grave operation. Nadab and Abihu had witnessed the offering many times but that did not qualify them to carry out the offering. Many are witnessing, many are participating or operating certain responsibilities in the church, but it is not a demonstration or confirmation of knowledge required. The business of God is not a toy and God will not overlook sin. If you are operating without a full knowledge, it is time to learn, understand and avoid painful consequence. Ananias and Sapphira exposed themselves to the danger of losing their lives when they operated what could be considered as half knowledge. The Bible recorded in Acts 4:36-37, “And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”It is evident that Joses and Barnabas knew well enough to deliver exactly what they received from selling their property. They could not lie to the apostles because they knew the consequences. “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”(Acts 5:1-2) Ananias and Sapphira had witnessed what the process was, but they lack the knowledge of the consequence not to be truthful. The truth about the word of God is to truthfully demonstrate the knowledge of His word. Avoid being ignorant in the things of God because ignorance makes a destitute of a believer. Take time to study the things of the Lord, observe, meditate, and participate before you activate. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, there is no evidence that God ever overlooked sin except that He forgives sin. In every operation of no-knowledge there is a costly price to pay because it leads to sin. 

Prayer for today: Ask God for the knowledge of His word to have a place in your life.

FAITH CAPSULE: Task is what matters the most not the title.

Acts 3

The church in the days of the apostle and the disciples of Jesus are completely different from the church of the apostles and disciples of today. The ones in the old days were carrying in their life, a task to be completed to the glory of God and not just a title. Most of the apostles and disciples of today are only carrying titles that do not carry enough weight for delivering the assignments before them. Are you positioning yourself for the Lord to ordain you as an apostle in His hand, or are you making yourself an apostle? There is a difference when God calls you and ordains you from, when man calls you and positions you. The point here is that task is what matters most and not the title. Today people are taking sickness and diseases from the church to the hospital, instead from hospital to the church for healing. What has become of the church today? When Peter and John encountered a certain lame man at the gate and not in the temple something happened, “And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple of which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.”(Acts 3:2-3) Instead of the lame man getting what he asked for, he received a healing visitation to the glory of God because he encountered the apostles /disciples that were on a task not just answering to a title. Are you answering the title that the Lord did not ordain you to be? Answering to any title in the name of God and in the service for God is a great privilege. Also it is a great attainment to be called into the service of the Lord. However, if the Lord has not called on you to be ordained for what you are answering to, it can be a situation of giving great occasion to the enemies for blaspheming the name of the Lord. Did God call you what the world is calling you? If He has called you to be, the signs will follow and if He had not, ask Him for His divine visitation. As a result of healing manifestation in the life of the lame man at the gate, only God knows what could have become of the worship in the temple on that day. As there were miracles then, there are still miracles today that are having its way in rare places where there is no news coverage. It is time for us to seek God for a genuine relationship not a cheap relationship that is void of His presence. His presence is power.

Prayer for today: Ask the Lord God to send His light and His truth to lead you.

FAITH CAPSULE:When answering to His calling commitment takes the place of convenience.

Mark 6:7-13

The Bible recorded that, Jesus, “…called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts—but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics.” (Mark 6:7-9) Obviously, the calling of a believer is to follow, but not just to flow with the crowd. In His calling there is a time to be trained and ready to be sent out for the purpose of calling. Among the disciples of Jesus, none called himself, but Jesus called each and everyone. It is written, “And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him.”” His calling requires leaving all behind and giving Him all the attention. Has He called you and yet the old baggage is still hanging around you? In His calling, old things must be left behind otherwise new things will not have a place to stay in you. The one that calls you will not be able to move you forward until you are able to move away from your past. The one that calls you did not call you into religion but into Jesus reality. In His calling there is a time to be sent out. He that calls you will not send you until after you have been equipped with all that it takes to carry His power. Are you called by Jesus or you have placed a call on yourself? When answering to His calling commitment takes the place of convenience. His calling is a journey but not a jolly ride. Without calling and answering, sending out will not come forth. Do you know your stand? If you have answered to His calling then you have a need to make yourself available to be sent out. The disciples could not be sent out until He called them to Himself and not to material. In sending out of His disciples, He commanded that no material should come between His disciples and the journey of their calling. In His calling He gave power and not material because with power in hand every other thing should follow. What is holding you down from turning aside and making yourself available to be called and sent out? Give up all unto Jesus by answering to His call. “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to answer fully.