FAITH CAPSULE: Have you turned away from God?

Numbers 16

Turning away from God is rejecting God. In life, there is no reasonable excuse for turning away from God. Almighty God is in position for man not to turn away from His hand. Are you turning away from the hand of God?
Moses represented the hand of God to deliver the Israelites from the bondage of over four hundred years but the Israelites repeatedly turned away from God.
All the writing was clear on the wall that Moses was not operating on his own power when Korah and his entourage turned against the hand of God upon Moses. It is written, “Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men; and they rose up before Moses with some of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, representatives of the congregation, men of renown. They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?”  (Numbers 16:1-3)
It is hard to believe that some could ever thought of rising against Moses despite the demonstration of God’s hand upon Moses. Renowned men were among two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation and representatives of congregation which took part in the uprising against Moses. The Israelites turned against the hand of God. Moses responded to Korah and his team to let them know that God sent him. The bible recorded, ”…as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with all their goods.”(Numbers 16:31-32) They were all buried and died before God’s hand on Moses.
Have you turned away from God? In the parable of the lost son, Jesus made us to see that returning is never too late after turning away from God. The lost son left home too early when he received the portion of goods that fell to him. The lost son left for a new land and he finished his portion of goods. It is written, Luke 15:17, “And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father; I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.” Father is always waiting for our return after turning away from Him.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace that keeps man not to turn away from God.

FAITH CAPSULE: Fear is the absence of faith and the source of faith is the word of God.

Exodus 14

Fear and faith does not compromise. When fear rises, faith sinks. Fear encourages impossibility but faith encourages possibility. Faith is what pleases God but not fear that pleases God. The book of Hebrews 11:6 mentioned, “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.” Faith is an evidence of true believer of God. When faith is not in place, there is no way to please God.
In life, looking upon God is an antidote of looking down for help where God does not reside. God promises in His word because His word does not return back to Him void. (Isaiah 55:11) Whatever God says is a done deal. When it was time for God to bring the children of Israel out of the bondage of over four hundred, he gave the word of promise through Moses stating, “Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.” (Exodus 6:6)
The word of God’s deliverance is up for man to look upon God instead of looking down to the world where fear is evident. The Israelites were rescued from their bondage; the Israelites were testimonies of God’s hand which brought them out of Egypt but fear had them on their way to God’s Promised Land. At the time of their journey forward they could not overcome looking backward. Are you enabling the spirit of fear by looking backward rather than looking forward to the promise of God?
At the approach of the Red Sea by the children of Israel, fear approached the children of Israel but Moses took a step of faith, “And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” (Exodus 14:13-14) The same word of God which sounded to the children of Israel is speaking to you today. Do not be afraid.
Get understanding and know that fear is the absence of faith and the source of faith is the word of God. It is written, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17) The apostle Paul laid emphasis on the hearing of the word because without hearing the word, there shall be no faith. Spend time on the word of God.

Prayer for today: Ask God to bestow upon you with the grace to be faithful and not fear-full.

FAITH CAPSULE: See your delay as your deliverance on the way.

Exodus 32

When delay begins to have a place in the journey of life; in any area of moving forward, it is not time to accept possibility of becoming denied. In life, there are some places you have started, but delay has made it look like you are wasting out. The fact is, when you wait on God you can never be wasted. In any face of challenging, ignore delay otherwise doubt shall come into place. The Israelites entertained delay as it is written in Exodus 32:1 “Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” Despite the Israelite’s exposure to different miracles of God possibility as God did not abandoned them, yet they gave into an unnecessary worry which was rooted in challenging delay.
As a result of Moses’ delay from coming down from the mountain, an unholy gathering took over from where there was supposed to be holy gathering. When the children of Israel behold delay they began to look for another god. As a result of Moses’ delay, the Israelite sought for a god to take over from God that cannot be substituted, a God that will not accept any compromise. A failure not to ignore delay can turn man quickly out of the way of God’s command. Do you know God to be looking upon as fortress; the rock of ages? It is important to understand that there are some delays that are meant for God to measure our faithfulness. Some delays are not of failure, but to actually make a way of getting to the expected end.
Are you experiencing any kind of delay? In life, looking upon God alone will change delay to deliverance. The possible God will reverse the irreversible; He alone turns mockery to miracle. In the name of Jesus, shame is convertible to glorious fame.
Anxiousness is an agent of delay. Is anxiousness your compassion in your delay situation? It is worthy to take to the word of Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Take your delay that is rooted in your concern to God in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving.
Today, allow the peace of God take over you.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace of God to remain focus on His possibility instead of delay.

FAITH CAPSULE: Regardless of your challenge, rejoice to gain His attention.

Psalm 9

Waiting on God is failure impossibility as Isaiah 64:4 described God stating, “For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him. You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, who remembers You in Your ways…” God is rich in mercy because of His great love. It is blessing as God responses with action to those who wait on. However, the blessings of God demands condition. Among conditions of God to act is for one to wait with rejoices.
The important of Joy and rejoicing before God is identified through pages of the bible. Among verses are, Psalm 9:2, “I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to your name, O most High.” Psalm 16:11, “In Your presence is fullness of joy…”  Proverbs 8:30, “…I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him.” Verses affirms the truth that with joy, man is accessible to God that acts for ones who wait on Him. The Apostle Paul articulates this perfectly when he stated, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4)
Waiting with rejoices before God to act for one is trusting on God. The book of Psalm 33:21 buttressed, “For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name.”
The word of God is true as Psalm 70:4 also emphasized the need of seeking God with rejoices, “Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You…” Going by words in the bible, it is true that there is no assess-able way of gaining His presence without rejoicing.   Isaiah 25:9 also confirmed the importance of rejoicing before God stating, “And it will be said in that day: “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”” Rejoicing before God is the condition that will provoke answer from God by acting when He is sought.
Gain and retain joy in the word of Jesus as it is written, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11) “And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.” (1 John 1:4) Paul the apostle buttressed, “…Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.” (Philippians 1:18) Ones that believe in the living word of God shall be full of joy. Rejoice as you wait on God and God shall not look away from waiting on Him.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace of God’s word to become established in your life.

FAITH CAPSULE: Desist wickedness and know that the righteous will live with God forever.

Psalm 73

Do you know if you are wicked one? Jeremiah identified the wicked by stating, “Righteous are You, O Lord, when I plead with You; Yet let me talk with You about Your judgments. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously? You have planted them, yes, they have taken the root; they grow, yes, they bear fruit. You are near in their mouth but far from their mind.” (Jeremiah 12:1-2) The identity of wicked in Jeremiah’s word is those with the word of God in their mouth but not in their heart. In the church, among acclaimed believers, the word of God is very conversant in the mouth but word of God is not evident in way of living.
The Psalmist pointed out several characters of the wicked in Psalm 73 stating that: The wicked are not in trouble as other men, pride serves as their necklace, violence covers them like a garment, their eyes bulge in abundance, and they have more than eyes could wish. Psalmist further identified that the wicked scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression, they speak loftily, they set their mouth against heaven and their tongue walks through the earth. The psalmist called the wicked ungodly. According to the psalmist, wicked are always at ease and they increase in riches.
The psalmist could not hide his feelings as regard to wicked ones when he stated, “But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” (Psalm 73:2-3) Wicked ones in the days of the psalmist are still same of today. Nothing has changed in the characters of the wicked ones. However, God sees all and He is neither slumber nor sleep. Just like the psalmist, are you weary about seeing how the wicked prosper? God is in total control of all and it does not matter how much the population increases, He is still in control. True believers who want to see the end of the wicked reigns should only remain focus on God and not be partaker the acts of wickedness. True believer should rest on God knowing that the prosperity of the wicked shall not last; the pleasure of the wicked shall surely vanish and it will not be recognized before God. In the ways of life, desist from wickedness and know that the righteous will live with God forever. Do not be envious of the wicked, take heed to the word of Psalm 73:28 as stated, “But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all Your works.” (Psalm 73:28)

Prayer for today: Ask God for the heart that lives in the fear of God.