FAITH CAPSULE: Disallow worry but only worship Him.

Job 1-2

Thank God for God. Forever, God shall be God. The Bible described Job as a blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. (Job1:1) Job was blessed with seven sons and three daughters. His blessings were also extended to material possessions. Job at his time possessed, “…seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East.” (Job 1:3) In one day, without warning, a man that feared God and shunned evil, the greatest man of all the people of the east lost all of his material possessions and his children. Job plunged from the height of prosperity to the pit of poverty. Four rapid disasters struck him alternatively from earth and heaven. From earth, his livestock and servants were raided and killed by the Sabeans. On the same day heaven went against him when fire of heaven fell and burned up the sheep and servants. Again the earth forced against him when the Chaldeans raided the camels and killed the servants. The fourth disaster was climatic blow from heaven. It was a great wind that destroyed his house and killed his children…all disaster in one day. Job must have felt that all heaven and earth pitched against him to destroy him. Despite all, there was no iota of complain or blaming God for his tragedies.

How are we to react in the face of confronting challenges?
In Job’s case, as if the lost of property and children was not enough his health became a victim of unexpected attack. Job was struck, “…with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself while he sat in the midst of the ashes.” (Job 2:7-8) In the midst of it all, Job did not despise his God. Job’s wife was the first to spite him when she reacted, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” (Job 2:9-10) Your challenges have taken a new twist; it is going deeper than earlier thought. In the midst of it all you still have the breath of life and it is worth praising God for. Without the Bible documentation of the cause of Job’s affliction it is easy to conclude that Job must have sinned. In your light affliction (compare to Job’s) are you being judge as sinner? Leave it all for God; worry not but worship Him.

Prayer for today: Ask God for strength to persevere in every area of challenge.

FAITH CAPSULE: God is beautiful in showing on deliverance.

2Samuel 9:1-13

The Psalmist identifies God as God that only do wondrous things. (Psalm 72:18) Among the identities of God is, “beautiful for situation”. He is beautiful for situation because of the way He often reverses irreversible situation. God is the only God that makes a perfect way out of no way. Are you experiencing a road block where there should be a breakthrough? It does not matter how long you have been experiencing it. When God visit your situation at His appointed time, it shall be like dream and your mouth will no longer be filled with tears but laughter. Also, your tongue will definitely have songs of praise to offer God.
The case of Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the grandson of King Saul can be encouraging. Mephibosheth was lame and that calls for a limited mobility. He was five years when his father, Jonathan died. As a lame, the hope of moving forward in all areas of life must have been out of place. Mephibosheth’s title as the grandson of the former king of Israel was history and could not get Mephibosheth anywhere. As God would have it for Mephibosheth, favor located him when King David woke up one day and requested in 2Samuel 9:1, “Now David said, ‘Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?’ ” The favor that located him was kindness from King David who was a soul mate and the best of friend to Jonathan, the father of Mephibosheth. Are you thinking or are you experiencing any sign that there is no way out of your current miry clay of life?
Take time and find out the story of Mephibosheth and then you will understand that God has not finished with you. Regardless of your present predicament, God will not sleep over your situation. He will bring you out in His own way at His own time. God brought out Mephibosheth from stagnation, shame, crawling and hopelessness. Also, he received more than he could imagine when King David commanded in 2 Samuel 9:9, “And the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “I have given to your master’s son all that belonged to Saul and to all his house.” Mephibosheth received allocation of all that belonged to his grandfather. King David did not stop at the allocation of all King Saul’s property, but he went even further and added more to Mephibosheth in 2Samuel 9:13, “So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. And he was lame in both his feet.” Behold, it is not over yet. You will overcome in Jesus name.

Prayer for today: Concerning your situation, ask for God’s visitation in beautiful.

FAITH CAPSULE: Do you believe that the Lord is with you?

Numbers 14:1-38

An act of complaint is an act to rebel. When there is rebellion in place it becomes a rejection of the word of God. To reject the word of God is also an act of disobedience, and this can be compared to setting a date with death. King Saul rejected the command of God, and God rejected him. The act of King Saul was accounted to him as rebellion. It is an act of rebellion to hear from God and not do as commanded. Rebellion does have its root in complaint. The children of Israel, during the journey through the wilderness, were constantly complaining before it was accounted to them as rebellion. During the investigation of the Promised Land, the spy came back with a negative report. Based on the report given, the children of Israel lifted up their voice of complaint against Moses and Aaron. At that juncture, Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb responded with a positive report and tried to disregard the negative report by saying “Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us.” (Numbers 14:9) Do you believe that the Lord is with you?
Whenever one allows fear, rebellion, rejection of the word of God, or complaint, to have a place in your life, you are set in the way of destruction. Noah received a command to build against destruction when God commanded him to build an ark. Noah moved without doubt or question. Noah built an ark in the most unlikely area — he built an ark where it hardly rains in a period of a year. In his obedience, the word testified, “Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.” (Genesis 6:22) Are you as a believer finding it difficult to obey by building yourself up in the word of God? In the Old Testament time, Noah received the command to build against destruction that was eminent. Also in the New Testament a command to build has been released through the mouth of the Apostle Paul. In Acts 20:32, “So now brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace which is able to build you up and give your inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” Believers are to be built up by the word of God against destruction just as Noah built for himself and his household an ark by the command of the word of God. The word of God that’s released is what will build every believer who cares to hear and obey. Believers that want to be built up have to be constant and consistent in obeying the word of God.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the word of God to rule your life.

YOUR PHARAOH

FAITH CAPSULE: In life, there are vessels of honor and vessels of dishonor.

Exodus 14

When a man insists and persists on taking to his own way, it is evident that he is resisting the hand of God. Pharaoh insisted, persisted and resisted not to let go the children of Israel when God sent Moses for their release. The Bible recorded, “Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’” And Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, nor will I let Israel go.” (Exodus 5:1-2)
Indeed, any time you are resisting God’s word like Pharaoh did, you are also saying, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice…” Pharaoh undermine the word of God by operating a stubborn heart, he was set to be a vessel of dishonor.
In life, there are vessels of honor and vessels of dishonor. Are you a modern day Pharaoh? Pharaoh’s response to the request of Moses caused more pain for the children of Israel when, “…Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers, saying, “You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. And you shall lay on them the quota of bricks, which they made before. You shall not reduce it. For they are idle; therefore they cry out, saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ Let more work be laid on the men, that they may labor in it, and let them not regard false words.”(Exodus 5:6-9) Pharaoh repeatedly stood his ground rejecting the word of God. After he had finally let them go, he went further and pursued the children of Israel. As a vessel with hardness of heart when it was time for the children of Israel to cross the Red Sea, he could not let them go according to God’s command through Moses. Is there any situation that has insisted, persisted, and resisted your let go for God to have His way in your life? Through Moses, God responded on behalf of the children of Israel at the crossing of red sea when, “…Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and when the morning appeared, the sea returned to its full depth, while the Egyptians were fleeing into it. So the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. Then the waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them. Not so much as one of them remained…” (Exodus 14: 27-29) This also shall be the portion of your enemy in Jesus name.

Prayer for today: Ask that just it happened for Pharaoh at the Red Sea, so shall it be to Pharaoh in your life.

FAITH CAPSULE: know that He is true to His word, live life according to His command.

Haggai 2

God spoke to Joshua after the he took over from Moses, “…I will not leave you nor forsake you.” (Joshua 1:5) The word that sounded to Joshua speaks to all that walks in line with the word of God. However, when there is lack of understanding that God is with you, the power of Him being there for you will not be activated. It is written in Hosea 4:6 that the lack of knowledge is what destroyed the people of God. It is important to constantly keep in mind that He is with us just as we walk in line with His word. God is always available for His children and the Psalmist described Him, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
The completion of the latter temple was nothing to be compared with the one that was built by Solomon. All those who lived to witness both temples do have enough reason to develop a sense of discouragement. However, there was a reason for them to be encouraged and move forward and not dwell on the past but to continue in their work for the Lord. The reason not to be discouraged was God’s word of encouragement through Haggai in Haggai 2:4, “Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel, says the LORD; and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land, says the LORD, and work; for I am with you, says the LORD of hosts”. Are you experiencing any form of discouragement?
Take to the living Word of God that was and that will always be. The word of God speaks encouragement and power in place of discouragement. It is time to disallow the past from counting you out but continue to count on Him that is abundantly able to accept us from where we stand in Him. God’s words through Haggai, “I am with you” (Exodus 3:12) was the same that was spoken to encourage Moses in the assignment for bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt. God has not ceased from backing His children up with His word. Hebrews 13:5 identifies what it takes to have the word answer on our behalf, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” To be living according to His command and to know that He is true to His word is encouraging. With our knowing, “…we can boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6) Know that the Lord is with you. Be encouraged by the Word of God today and He will see you through.

 Prayer for today: Ask Him to help you not to depart from His word.