FAITH CAPSULE: Do you know the truth?

John 14

How are you responding to the truth that comes your way daily? Truth will teach and lead when is accepted. Are you claiming to know the truth but not sharing the truth which 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. Jesus introduced Himself, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)
Jesus is the truth, He came for truth and He lived truthfully. He was and He is still the truth that cannot be terminated. Without doubt, if the world makes the choice to stand against His truth, He is more than able to overcome. Living life in truth is not impossible. If living in truth is impossible, God would not have demanded from us to live truthfully in this wicked world. Jesus lived the example and He was constantly facing opposition because of His truth. 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.
It is true that when truth is told it can be threatening.
Truthfully, Jacob’s love for Joseph more than his brothers was truth and it was not a sin. Jacob’s truth about his love for Jacob was not a secret, it was not a liar, it was not for evil agenda 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) When Joseph had a dream about what was going to become of his brothers he told the truth and the way in his dream. The truth about Joseph’s dream was for him to take a position of the head for the whole family with no exception. Joseph revealed the truth about is dream but his brothers responded stating, “…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 truth about Joseph’s dream prompted his brothers to reject Joseph as he was ejected out of the family. Joseph was sold to a company of Ishmaelite.
Joseph’s dream came to pass as he reigned over his family. Truthfully, according to his dream, he became the head above all his family. In this wicked world, any attempt to have truth covered or eliminated will only last for a period before truth takes over. Jesus is speaking to us today as He spoke to 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)
Accept truth, let it teach and lead you.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace of God’s truth to reign and rule your life.

FAITH CAPSULE: Without doubt, faith drives believe to live by the word of God.

Exodus 16

Faith is described as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).
Faith has a source.
The Bible emphasized the source of faith as stated, “…faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17). Take to mind that the word of God which comes can also cease from coming when there is disengagement from hearing the word of God. Are you hearing but not listening? In this loud wicked world, with hearing but not listening to the word shall result to not giving attention to the word of God. Word of God that gains entrance into man is the evidence of faith in man’s life. Will you allow the entrance of God’s word? Psalm 119:130 recorded, “The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.”
Constantly engage the word of God to enter and give you faith so as to be pleasing God. Hebrews 11:6 says it all, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Without doubt, faith drives believe to live by the word of God. Habakkuk 2:4 buttress, “…the just shall live by his faith.” All that pertains to living life is encased in living by the word of God (living by faith). The word states it, we walk by faith not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7); we watch, stand by faith (1 Corinthians 16:13); faith purifies the heart (Acts 15:9); we are saved by faith through grace (Ephesians 2:8). The word of God which is the source of faith answers to all area of living life. Do you have faith? The word of God is proven; the word of God is the source of faith to live life abundantly in the wicked world. Jesus confirmed the need to be living by the word of God when He quoted from Deuteronomy 8:3, “…man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.” (Matthew 4:4)
With challenges, the Israelites came out of the bondage of over four hundred years just by the word of God through Moses. At a point of challenges, they complained for lack of pots of meat and bread to the full. God responded, “…Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you…” (Exodus 16:4) God rained bread by the word of His mouth, not bread from the oven bakery store for the Israelites need.
In your challenges, have faith and not doubt; Live by faith not by sight.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to be living by His word.

FAITH CAPSULE: Prayer is the master key. Consider your prayer session to avoid prayer amiss.

Daniel 6, Luke 22:39-53

How is your prayer life? In this wicked world, prayer is all that it takes to be delivered from temptation. When disciples of Jesus followed Him to Mount of Olives, He told them, “…Pray that you may not enter into temptation…” (Luke 22:40) Prayer is a master key to shut out temptation and deny evil’s entrance. Prayer, being a master key to shut, it will also open up closed door for one to gain entrance to receive from God.
Prayer is not a fun fair; it is a laborious–fair. Jesus’ prayer time in the garden was a demonstration that prayer is work, a laborious assignment. Jesus’ prayer demonstrated as it is written, “And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (Luke 22:44) Jesus, our Lord and savior demonstrated to us about knowing and getting the understanding of prayer as crucial means to sail through in this wicked world.
Are you counting on someone’s prayer on your behalf? Take note that a prayer of labor demands your personal prayer engagement more than counting on someone praying on your behalf. In the wicked world of Daniel, when he realized that written was set against him in judgement, the bible recorded his reaction, “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.” (Daniel 6:10-11) Daniel could not count on man’s prayer session but engaged prayer time. Daniel’s prayer master key shut down the judgement, while in the lion’s den, lion’s mouth was shut up as Daniel came out of lion’s den unscratched. (Daniel 6:19-22)
The prayer of Jesus on Mount Olives was not a fun fair; it was laborious prayer time that was fueled by agony of Jesus. Also, laborious prayer of Jesus was earnestly engaged. Earnest prayer is a serious intended prayer; a purposeful prayer engagement; a sincere prayer that is zealous. Earnestly prayer session of Jesus on Mount Olives was labor with addition of the testimony of His sweat like great drops of blood. Is your prayer labor or casual?
Claiming Jesus is not by mouth but to be living like Jesus. Prayer is a must. Prayer is not a loud making; prayer is not a demonstration of pleasing man; prayer is not to be arousing empty emotion. Seek God laboriously; engage prayer as the master key. Believe it that God which no eye has seen will act for the one who waits for Him. Prayer is the master key. Consider your prayer session to avoid prayer amiss.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace of strength on the altar of prayer.

FAITH CAPSULE: God’s sight is always set to spot and reward ones with humble spirit.

James 4

In this wicked world, one with the spirit of humility shall possibly live on earth as if it is living in heaven. Living heaven on earth shall be as living in position of overcoming challenges of wicked world. One with spirit of humility is set to be lifted above where no wickedness exists.  Word of God admonished us, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” (James 4:10) With spirit of humility, while in this wicked world, one is bound to be in the high and holy where God is as Isaiah 57:15 stated, “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…”
God does not lie; God shall not ignore to look down not to lift humble ones up to Him. God alone pays attention to every affair under heaven. It is written, He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see? (Psalm 94:9) God sees, hear and not look away to draw humble up that is loyal and obey His command. 2 Chronicles 16:9 buttressed, “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…” Indeed, God will lift humble ones in His sight above all wickedness of the wicked world.
Word of God encourages us today as stated, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:5-8)  Today, desire and strive for His grace to have the mind of Christ which is humble to become obedient to God’s command.
God’s sight is always ready, He is set to spot and reward those with humble spirit.
Among the blessings of having humble mind in the pages of bible are:
2Chronicles 7:14 stated, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Humility before God is a catalyst that drive’s prayer and seeking God to get answer from God.
Psalm 25:9, “The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way.” Be humble to take position under His guidance and teaching.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace of humility.

FAITH CAPSULE: Abraham’s careful and diligent heart for God secured his destiny.

Genesis 22

In life, man that keeps heart (carefully, attentively) diligently will eliminate troubling issues of life. Proverbs 4:23 reinforced, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”
How are you keeping your heart in the face of troubling issues of life?
Among ways of keeping heart diligent from troubling issues of life is to avoid pride in the heart. Action that is rooted in pride often shows lack of fear for God. The bible recorded, “No one is holy like the Lord, for there is none besides You, nor is there any rock like our God. “Talk no more so very proudly; Let no arrogance come from your mouth, For the Lord is the God of knowledge; and by Him actions are weighed.” (1 Samuel 2:2-3) In life, action that is rooted in pride will demonstrate lack of fear of God. Abraham’s documentation of life story demonstrated evidence of heart that was kept with all diligence while God identified him as one with fear of God.
Abraham’s action was answering to God’s calling for him to leave behind his family as stated, “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1)
Abraham departed without questioning God, he obeyed God. Abraham knew not where he was going and he had no idea where he was going to live. God asked him to offer his son for burnt offering. Without questioning God, he laid down Isaac with knife to slay his son. In attempt to slay Isaac for burnt offering, “…the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.” And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”” (Genesis 22:11-12)
Abraham’s careful and diligent heart for God secured his destiny. There was no pride in his heart as a result; fear of God was his identity. God identified Abraham’s obedience at the point of slaying his only son Isaac for offering as commanded by God. Abraham’s fear for God made him not to withhold his only loving son from God.
What are you holding from God?
In every way of living, actions speak louder than voice. Our actions weigh up before God or weighs man down before God. Abraham’s action was not hidden from God but it weighed up before God. God is the God of knowledge and by Him actions are weighed. In the face of wicked world, keep heart diligently; allow the fear of God rule in your life.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace of God to be your garment in all God’s given life to you.