Faith Capsule: Indeed, to despise God’s command is the evidence of lack of fear for God.

Romans 6

God is a God of order. Every of His command must be obeyed and they are not negotiable. Have you been commanded but not obey? It does not matter who you are, but it does matter not to despise the word of God. To despise His word is to be destroyed. Proverbs 13:13 buttressed, “He who despises the word will be destroyed, but he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.” Evidently, to despise God’s word is lack of fear for God. Moses, as great as he was in the hand of God could not step on the Promised Land because he despised God’s command and there was no excuse to deliver him from not to miss stepping on the Promised Land. Moses experienced the consequence of his error when he despised the word of God.
It is written, “Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals.” (Numbers 20:7-8) Moses was to respond to the request of the children of Israel for water when God commanded him to speak to the rock. Moses did not speak as God commanded by God, but he engaged God’s command in his own way. The bible recorded in Numbers 20:11, “Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank.” Before he struck the rock, he called the children of Israel name which was not in God’s command that was given to him. The move of Moses did not settle well with God. As a result, God responded 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) Life time journey ended up in the wilderness for Moses when he struck the rock instead of speaking as commanded by God. A simple disobedience denied Moses from getting to the Promised Land. Moses pleaded to God, but God did not reverse His judgment towards Moses. Indeed, to despise God’s command is the evidence of lack of fear for God.
It is true that we are living in the time of dispensation of grace, but it is not a reason to despise His command. It is true that Jesus paid it all for us on the Calvary. However, the word questioned us, “…Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?  Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”(Romans 6:1-2) The sin of Moses was serious enough for us to learn not to despise God’s command.

Prayer for today: Ask God to deliver you from the spirit not to fear God.

FAITH CAPSULE: Dwelling in God is to know God.

1 John 3

Do you desire to dwell in the presence of the Lord? If you are one with desires to dwell in His presence there is a need to amend your ways and your doings. One who is able to amend his/her way will walk in the knowledge of His will. In Colossians 1:9-11 Paul prayed, “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy.” Paul’s prayer is worth of constant meditation for all that desire to dwell in the presence of God. Walking in the word of God is doing the will of God. To know God is to be in Him and Him in you.
Having been in the church for long or having the ability to memorize and be conversant in quoting the word is not an evidence of knowing God. Many know about God but do not know God. It is written, “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.” (1 John 2:3) Talking about the commandment of God is not an evidence of knowing God but keeping His commandment is the evidence of knowing Him. Many talks about the commandments of God but few are demonstrating the life of one who keeps His commandments. 1 John 2:4-6, “He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” The word of God is true. God does not lie, and He will not look away from the manifestation of His word. In this world of challenge there is no better place to abide but in the word of God. Determination is not what will make man to dwell in the word. Peter determined not to deny Jesus, but he eventually denied Christ three times. It was the prayer of Jesus that uphold Peter to become a victim of denying Christ. Jesus’ prayer that kept Peter was recorded: “But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” (Luke 22:32) When there is desire to dwell in God, God will deposit what it takes to dwell in Him. Word buttressed, “Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in Him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.” (1 John 3:24)

Prayer for today: Ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.

FAITH CAPSULE: What is it that you are giving self to in this wicked world?

John 1:1-18, Luke 19:1-10

It is written, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1) “But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.” (John 5:38) “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63)
Above verses in the bible is more than enough for man to give self to seeking the word of God as unfailing source for encouragement in this wicked world of darkness. Jesus is the living word of God. Giving self to the word of God is getting rid of darkness. John 1:4-5 encouraged, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”
What is it that you are giving self to in this wicked world? All that a man need is to give self to the word of God which is the truth for freedom. John 8:32 buttressed, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Jesus, the word of God is the truth and he confirmed as stated, “…I am the way, the truth, and the life…” It is important to seek the truth; to know the truth and give self to truth.
Allow the word to be your motivator as you seek Him diligently because those who seek Him will find Him. Zacchaeus is the evidence that when man seek Him diligently, He is faithful to answer us. Zacchaeus sought Jesus and Jesus located him and He ended up visiting Zacchaeus in his house. Zacchaeus had everything in place not to have a need to seek Jesus. He was a tax collector, a rich man; the crowd was a great factor to deny him because he was short in stature. Despite all the factors that could deny him, he was encouraged to seek Jesus. Zacchaeus was encouraged to run ahead of the crowd. After running ahead of the crowd, he was encouraged to climb the tree. Jesus who sees all saw Zacchaeus. It is written, “And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” (Luke 19:5). Be encouraged!
Are you experiencing invincible hindrances? Unexpected challenges? Be encouraged in the word of God. God has not forgotten you, He never sleeps nor slumbers, but He will gain honor in His deliverance plan for your life. Allow His word to enter and you shall not be disallowed from your breakthrough miracle. Above all you shall possess your possession.  Allow the word to be your motivator as you seek Him diligently because those who seek Him will find Him.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to know and be encouraged in the word.

FAITH CAPSULE: It is worthy to stop complaining and start counting God’s blessing.

Numbers 14

Blessings of God is rooted in His faithfulness. Psalm 89:1 recorded, “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations.” Are you counting or are you complaining? Counting blessings is praising Him for what He has done to provoke more of His doing. Complaining will complicate man’s journey.  Regardless of what your challenges are, it is important to see it in the word of God that the Lord is more than able to see you through. Begin to see it that the One who turned the rock into a pool of water and the flint into a fountain of waters (Psalm 114:8) is more than able to turn around your story above and beyond your expectation. See it that God does not slumber nor sleep but He is awake and mindful of you in your challenging situation.
It is important to know that complaining does not settle well before God. Complaining is sin and God will not overlook sin. God did not overlook the complaint of the children of Israel against Him. Assuredly, your complaint against God shall get His attention. Complaining of the Israelites complicated their journey. For the Israelites, their journey of eleven days turned to the journey of forty years. The Israelites complaint caused them to wander in the   wilderness when they supposed to be a wonder to their world.
If you will see the wonders of God in the word of God, you will do exploit to God’s glory. The time of the year is not evidence that God’s visitation for your breakthrough has expired.
Have you been complaining in any way you have taken to? The Israelites took to the way of wilderness which supposed to be a passage for them to pass through, but they ended up living their life in the wilderness. The complaining of the generation that came out of Egypt caused them to live life in the wilderness and to wandered and died in their wilderness journey. Wonder of God was meant to be the journey from bondage to promised land but not to wander and wasted in the wilderness.
Have you seen or experienced any of His acts in your life? The book of Numbers 14:22-23 documented, “Because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice, they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it.” It is worthy to stop complaining and start counting God’s blessing by identifying each of His blessings. See what God has done and it will enable you to see through what He will do.  Can you count and see your blessings this year?

Prayer for today: Ask God to deliver you from the spirit of complain.

FAITH CAPSULE: Praying to God is evident of faith. With faith God is pleased with man.

John 3

The word of God is true and, “All the scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)
It is profitable to know and engage the truth in the word that prayer opens heaven. The combination of asking, seeking, and knocking will bring about open heaven. Jesus was teaching when He stated, in Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Jesus was teaching from experience, and from what He knows will undoubtedly happen.
Jesus, by example proved that the key for opening heaven is in prayer. Jesus went to where John was baptizing people so that He may be baptized also. The Bible recorded “When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened.” (John 3:21) Among all that were baptized before Jesus, none was recorded to have prayed. Jesus prayed, and heaven was opened. In your prayer is there any conscious expectation for manifestation? When prayer opens heaven there is no force on earth that will be able to stop or deny heaven’s response package. After Jesus’ prayer, “…the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22) Praying to God is coming to God; believing God and seeking God diligently. Praying to God is evident of faith. With faith God is pleased with man. (Hebrew 11:6)
When Jesus prayed, it was declared that God was pleased, and heaven opened over Jesus. Right after the open heaven’s manifestation, Jesus went straight into the center of His assignment on earth. Luke 3:23 pointed out, “…Jesus Himself began His ministry…” By this word, if you have prayed, and there is no experience of an open heaven on your behalf, it is time to take prayer to another level. Are you experiencing a shut-up heaven or open heaven? Your open heaven will grant your access into the center of your divine assignment if prayer will become your constant engagement. Jesus proved to us that prayer opens heaven, and the Bible enables us to know that adversaries’ forces against open heaven. Apostle Paul testified, “For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.” (1 Corinthians 16:9) Regardless of adversaries’ activity, it is important to know that effective, fervent prayer will deny any adversary of hindrance to great and effective open heaven.

Prayer for today: Ask God that all adversaries at door of open heaven shall be a failure.