FAITH CAPSULE: See and hear in His word for self-deliverance.

Joshua 8

When it was time for the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, God sent angels for deliverance of Lot. Lot was urged to hurry not to be consumed in the punishment of the city. While he lingered, he was taken out by the angels which was the mercy of the Lord. Lot was reluctant to escape to assigned city of his escape. (Genesis 19:19-20) The angel responded to Lot for his deliverance saying, “…See, I have favored you concerning this thing also, in that I will not overthrow this city for which you have spoken. Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there.” (Genesis 19:21-22) It was Lot’s able to see in the word that delivered Lot from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot’s route for deliverance failed for the wife of Lot’s deliverance because she looked back against the word of God. Lot’s wife became a pillar of salt because she could not see in the word of God. (Genesis 19:26) The word of God is sent for man to see and gain self-deliverance in the ground of destruction.
Word of God is the source of faith and with work it delivers assured self-deliverance. Are you seeing, hearing in the word of God to gain your deliverance with failure?
The children of Israel under the leadership of Joshua encountered challenge of stagnation in attempt to pass through Jericho to God’s Promise Land. It is written, “Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in.” (Joshua 6:1) The children of Israel needed deliverance to move through the shut-up gate. Without doubt, gaining self-deliverance against challenge will take charge when man sees in the word of God to obey the word of God. It is written, “Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.” (Joshua 6:2) Joshua heard and saw in the word of God as he took position of self-deliverance for the Israelites’ journey to the Promised Land.
In another challenging situation for the Israelites in the hand of Ai people there was a need for self-deliverance. The bible recorded, “Now the Lord said to Joshua: “Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.” (Joshua 8:1) Repeatedly, Joshua could see and he was able to hear the word of God for self-deliverance for the Israelites at Jericho and in the hand of the Ai people. Obviously, hearing and seeing in the word of God for obedience is an assurance for self-deliverance from challenges of life.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to be seeing and hearing in the word of God.

FAITH CAPSULE: Are you paying attention not to be a victim of multitude/crowd?

2 Kings 4

Elisha wanted to bless the Shunammite woman when Gehazi revealed to Elisha, “…she has no son, and her husband is old.” (2 Kings 4:14) In response to Gehazi, Elisha spoke into the life of the Shunammite woman, “About this time next year you shall embrace a son.” (2 Kings 4:16) As it was spoken into the life of the Shunammite woman so it happened to be. The Shunammite woman had a son but the son later fell sick and died. The Shunammite woman went back to Elisha for his intervention to bring her son back from death to life. When Elisha approached the dead son, he shut door to keep the mother and Gehazi out as he engaged prayer to the Lord. Obviously, two is a multitude.
With multitude as your company, are you going to advance in the plans to give glory to God? In life, among the major hindrances of man is multitude. It is important to take note in the bible that a failure to disengage multitude is an engagement to failure which will disallow giving testimony to the glory of God. Elisha’s shutting door on the two is a lesson for man to know that two is a multitude and it deserves denial from hindering man’s attempt to give God glory.
Multitude or crowd will take charge as hindrance where man allows. Jesus disallowed crowd in His attempt to restore the dead of leader’s daughter. The bible recorded, “When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.  And the report of this went out into all that land.” (Matthew 9:23-26) The lesson from Jesus for us is to know and understand the need for putting out multitude/crowd. Be warned in the journey of life, we are to constantly put out multitude where our assignment for the glory of God calls for. Putting out multitude/crowd is crucial to carry through for God’s glory.
Life is a journey and multitude is an agent against man for reaching to expected end in the journey of life. Wisdom, knowledge and understanding is rooted in the written word of God. Are you paying attention to attain the wisdom, knowledge and understanding not to be a victim of multitude/crowd?
Prophet Elisha avoided multitude when he shut out multitude on his way. Jesus our Lord and savior evaded multitude on His way by putting out multitude. What is stopping you from shutting or putting out the multitude in your life? Do not accommodate multitude/crowd in your journey of life for the glory of God.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the boldness and character not to accommodate multitude in life.

FAITH CAPSULE: Engage self in the truth of God for self deliverance in time of challenge.

1 Samuel 30

Deliverance is to have freedom from challenges of life. God alone is the author of deliverance if man will seek Him by waiting on Him for self deliverance. In life, there is no any deliverance that can be compared to self deliverance. In time of challenge, as a believer, are you seeking or looking to man for deliverance or seeking God? Engage self in the truth of God for self deliverance in time of challenge. Jesus declared about the source of freedom as stated, “…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) Jesus the word of God is the truth. (John 14:6) According to the word of Jesus, as a believer that abides in the word of Jesus, such believer shall know the truth which makes freedom becomes possibility from challenge.
In the place of looking for deliverance from man, get to know the truth to become self-delivered from challenges.
King David is an example with challenge but turned to the truth of God for self deliverance.
David’s challenge was the attack from the Amalekites. In the attack, David’s people were taken as captives which provoked his followers to lift their voices and wept. The bible recorded effect of the Amalekites attack, “Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” (1 Samuel 30:6) David became a target of rejection by his followers as he became discouraged and distressed.
The challenge of David demanded deliverance as a result, he turned to self deliverance through the hand of God. The above verse pointed out David’s deliverance: First, David strengthened himself in the Lord his God; Second self deliverance was David’s self move to inquire of the Lord. David did not take to the position of self-pity before man. It is written concerning David’s self deliverance, “…David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” God responded to David, “Pursue, for you shall overtake them and without fail recover all.” (1 Samuel 30:8) Self deliverance of David was in the truth (word) of God which he received when he inquired from God. David, in time of challenge of distress, discouragement, lonely, he strengthened himself in the Lord. David inquired from God and he was reassured by God to go after his enemy.
God is true to deliver man that will abide in Him to know the truth and the truth shall give deliverance (freedom) from challenge

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace of deliverance in the name of Jesus.

FAITH CAPSULE: Experience the power of God.

Ezekiel 37:1-14

The Lord God is the Commander, He alone is the only Commanding commander. Power belongs to God alone. The word of God is the source of God’s power to give life and to take life. Psalm 138:2 recorded about the word of God, “I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your word above all Your name.”
The word of God is the Commanding commander, His name is magnified above all His name. The hand of God located Ezekiel and set him amid valley which was full of bones. The bones were very dry and lifeless. God asked Ezekiel if the bones could have life again and Ezekiel responded to “…O Lord God, You know.” (Ezekiel 37:3) In deed and in truth, only God knows and there is none that knows like Him. In His word, there is power to bring back life for whatever the enemy has taken away in the life of man. Can you believe in the power of God to return life? Are you having challenge which is written off as hopeless? The same God which gave life to dead bone is still the same with power to give life where there is death.
Ezekiel’s response to God provoked God’s reaction as He gave Ezekiel His command to speak life back into dry bones. Ezekiel spoke as command by God; Ezekiel prophesied and the dry bones regained life. Ezekiel 37:10 recorded, “So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.” Just as Ezekiel received His command, so Jesus has given His word of command to every man that will believe today. It is written, “And these signs will follow those who believe: In my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark16:17) The power in His word remains today except but the world of today is not engaging the command of God.
What is missing in the life of believers today?
Ezekiel allowed the Spirit of God to set him up where God wanted Him. Are you going to allow the Spirit of God set you up? Take to the position of God for your life to experience the same power of God which gave life to dead bone before Ezekiel in the amid of dead bones. God is true and faithful to deliver by His word. Ezekiel knew better by confessing that “…O Lord God, You know.” Consistent confession that only God knows will make the difference in the life of true believer.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace of positive confession in your way of life.

FAITH CAPSULE: Obey the word of God which is His presence to take charge in your life.

Isaiah 55

Isaiah 55:11 recorded, “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”
The word of God is God. The way of God is in His word. The way of God is His presence. God is truth to His word. Psalmist testified the word of God, “…For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.” Moses in His journey asked God for His way and God responded in His word saying “…My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14) Obviously, the word of God is His way; His way is His presence.
When God speaks, His word cannot be denied.
Obeying the word of God is what delivers the promises of God in His word. However, turning away from the word of God that sounds in man’s direction is an act of disobedience that sets man up for self-destruction. Interestingly, man is constantly violating the word of God consciously or unconsciously. Violating the word of God is disobeying the word of God which denies man from God’s presence. Are you in disobedient to the word of God? Are you in the process of walking away from His presence?
There is no excuse to turn away from where God is turning man to. Walking in the word of God which is His presence does not result to pain but gain. Jonah received the word of God but turned away for His presence and pain answered to him. The book of Jonah 1:2-3 recorded, “Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.”  But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so, he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.” Jonah disobeyed God when he rose as commanded by God but his rising was in disobedience to the presence of God. Are you rising in opposite direction to the word of God?
In the presence of God there is deliverance and preservation in the journey of life. God promised Moses with rest in His presence. Obey the word of God to let His presence take charge in your life.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace of obeying His word in all your journey all the days He has given you.