FAITH CAPSULE: Do not be compelled by the agents of the enemy let God be in charge of your decisions.

1 Kings 22:1-40

What is it that is compelling you, pushing you to be making negative decision over your life? In most cases, the combination of hate and fear can be a compelling force that makes man end up as a victim of enemy. The combination of hate and fear is a branch of pride. Having hate or fear is not of God. Fear is an opposite of faith. When fear strikes faith sink but when faith rises fear sink. It is worthy to settle and search the heart and know if the source of decision making is the evidence of the combination of hate and fear.
Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went to visit Ahab the king of Israel when Ahab requested Jehoshaphat to go with him to fight at Ramoth Gilead. In response to Ahab, Jehoshaphat redirected Ahab to inquire for the word of the Lord. King Ahab could not resolved to suggestion of inquiring for the word of God but responded to Jehoshaphat stating, “So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the Lord; but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say such things!” “Please inquire for the word of the Lord today.”” (1 Kings 22:8) Indeed, hate surfaced in the life of Ahab by avoiding truth from the prophet of God. Ahab settled to inquire from prophet-liars that prophesied lying which propelled Ahab to go for his fight at Ramoth Gilead.
When it was time for Ahab and Jehoshaphat to go and fight at Ramoth Gilead, King Ahab suggested about going to the fight stating, “And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle; but you put on your robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.” (1 Kings 22:30) Fear of King Ahab was rooted in his disguise. A failure for King Ahab by not inquiring the truth because of hate led him to ride on prophet-liars word by going to fight in disguise. Jehoshaphat went along with Ahab to fight without disguise.
Are you truly looking up to God or are you allowing hate and fear take charge over your decision making? King Ahab felt compelled to allow hate as he discharged truth; he put on fear by disguising as he went to fight. Ahab died in the place of hate and fear while Jehoshaphat returned alive as he turned to truth before going to fight.
Hating others, allowing fear is a way of becoming a victim of enemy. Do not be compelled by the agents of the enemy let God be in charge of your decisions.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to trust in Him with all my heart.

FAITH CAPSULE: Be alert to escape coming judgement.

Genesis 6

Wickedness of man in the earth provoked God’s destruction at the time of Noah and at the time of Lot. Deliverance from destruction in the wicked world demands from man to be alert.
Noah’s alert from destruction of his time was identified as his walking with God.
Genesis 6:5-8 recorded, “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.  So the Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”
Noah walked with God in his wicked corrupted world. Bible described him as a just man, perfect in his generation and found grace in the eyes of the Lord. (Genesis 6:8-10)
Lot acted alert by not been quiet to wickedness of his time. Lot was not quiet but acted against the wicked of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. God is of knowledge that weighs our action. (1 Samuel 2:3) Lot embraced men (angels) when he insisted strongly for them not to spend night in the open square.
Lot’s action was an alert that prepared him for the escape of judgement at his time. Lot acted against wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah when he kept the angels in his house. Bible recorded, “Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally. So Lot went out to them through the doorway, shut the door behind him, and said, “Please, my brethren, do not do so wickedly!” (Genesis 19:4-7) As the people forced against Lot to break down his house, supposedly the angels struck the people with blindness. The men (angels) revealed destruction and escape to Lot and his family. Lot’s son-in-law joked over escape; Lot lingered (delay) to engage escape but he had favor that increased mercy for his deliverance. Lot escaped but his wife was destroyed when she despised the word of escape which commanded not to look back.
Lot’s act alert granted him “increased mercy” (Genesis 19:19) Among Lot’s alert for escape from destruction was recorded, “And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt.” (Genesis 19:29) Be alert to escape coming judgement.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace of deliverance to be your portion.

FAITH CAPSULE: God is not going to spare current wicked generation.

Genesis 19:1-29, Matthew 24:36-44

Alert can be defined as: to be fully aware, attentive or be wide-awake. Alert is an attitude of vigilance or readiness as before an expected attack. Alert is the period during which such a warning or alarm is in effect. As a believer, are you alert? Today, are you expecting the arrival of God’s judgement over this wicked world? To work the works of God is to prepare and not be a victim of judgement hour of God.
How exactly do we work the works of God?
Jesus was asked about how to work the works of God in response to question, “Then they said to Him, “What we shall do, that we may work the works of God?” (John 6:28) Jesus answered how to work the works of God as stated, “This is the work of God that you believe in Him whom He sent.” (John 6:29)
Truly, believing whom He sent means to live life as a believer. That is to be living the word of God, by observing to do as the word of God required in the pages of bible. In this world, be alert by enabling self by studying to know what the word says, meditating word, stop deceiving self or others, truly seek word to know the truth. The bible said it all, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)
Enabling by watching and praying is another way to be alert. Jesus emphasized the need to watch and pray. Watching and not praying or praying and not watching makes incomplete and not enough to keep man alert. Among ways a believer should watch and pray are, “…walk not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful…” (Psalm 1:1). The wisdom of The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins is an example of learning to be alert for the hour of judgement. Ten Virgins went to meet with the bridegroom but only five prepared not to miss but were alert. (Matthew 25:1-13)
God is not partial and will not spare the generation of today
Take note of the Sodom and Gomorrah, a wicked generation which God destroyed with fire. God is not partial; God is not going to spare current wicked generation. Today, be living by the word of God and not be a victim of destruction just as Lot was not a victim of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Importantly, be aware to be alert as living in the days of Noah. Matthew 24:36-37 stated,
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Work the works of God, be living the word and not miss the hour of judgement.

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

FAITH CAPSULE: Get understanding to live life for the glory of God.

Psalm 8

It can be agreed that one that does not understand God cannot possibly know God. One that does not know God cannot seek God. The bible recorded, “Romans 3:11, “There is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God.” A man with understanding of what the Lord God has done for man and what God is doing for man is enough to seek God truly. However, lack of understanding reduces man from God. Psalm 49:20 stated, “A man who is in honor, yet does not understand, is like the beasts that perish.” God added honor to man but lack of understanding reduces man. Do you know the honor of God in your life? Psalm 8:4-5 stated, “What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor.” It is time to gain understand of God’s doing in the life of man and seek God truly. God sincerely loves Man while man is reducing self from the love of God by virtue of lack of understanding. Today, care to know what is about understanding.
About understanding:
Understanding is crucial for man to navigate the journey of life to expected end.
Understanding is what causes man to make mark on earth for the glory of God.
Understanding is the root of seeking God just as praising God with understanding. Psalm 47:7 identified, “For God is the king of all the earth; sing praises with understanding.”
“Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it. But the correction of fools is folly.” (Proverbs 16:22)
Man with understanding carries a calm spirit Proverb 17:27
Do not overwork to be rich; because of your own understanding, cease! Proverbs 23:4
Understanding is what will keep us. Proverbs 2:11
“Good understanding gains favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard.” Proverbs 13:15
“…But knowledge is easy to him who understands.” Proverbs 14:6
“Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding…” Proverbs 14:33
The word of God made it known that understanding cannot be separated from wisdom as it is written, “Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.” (Proverbs 4:5) “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:7) Get understanding to live life for the glory of God.

Prayer for today: Ask God for an understanding heart to live life for the glory of God.

FAITH CAPSULE: Understanding is the way to know God.

1 Kings 3

When understanding is not in man, wisdom shall not be in place for man while knowledge to have edge over challenges becomes short in the journey of life. Concerning understanding, the word of God speaks to all stating, “For My people are foolish, they have not known Me. They are silly children, and they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.”(Jeremiah 4:22) Obviously, lack of understanding is the evidence of foolishness and not knowing God. Foolishness is like a garment over the life of one with no understanding. Psalmist 14:1-3 said it better, “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, no, not one.” Understanding is crucial for man to navigate the journey of life to the expected end.
Jesus realized the issue of understanding when He questioned and He answered stating, “Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.” (John 8:43) The word of Jesus pointed it out that listening disability is the key of lack of understanding. Are you listening to the word of God to gain understanding? Are you one that spends time in the word of God instead of skimming through the word of God in the bible?
What are you asking from God? Is it the challenges in your journey of life that occupies the center of your request from God?  Jesus is able to meet our need when He told us not to worry about our life. Jesus made us to know that worrying cannot add one cubit to our stature. (Matthew 6:25-34) In life, we should ask God for understanding more than other things.
Solomon specifically asked for understanding when he spoke to God in 1 Kings 3:9 stating, “Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge…” Solomon’s request for understanding from God provoked God to add more than expectation to Solomon as stated, “…because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.” (1 Kings 3:11-12) In your asking, let God know that understanding is your desire and He will deposit more than your expectation.

Prayer for today: Ask God for understanding.