Faith Capsule: Why not adapt to positive communication instead of complaining?

Numbers 14

After the report of the spies, that went to spy out the Promised land, the children of Israel complained, and God responded to their complain stating, “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me.  Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the LORD, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you: The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above.” (Numbers 14:27-28)
By virtue of God’s response in the verses above, it is clear that:
–God is a longsuffering God. He is a God that bears long with our iniquities. 2 Peter 3:9 buttressed, “but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” Complaining instead of complementing God is evil. It does not settle well with God. Just as He hears complain so He hears every of our communication. Why not adapt to positive communication instead of complaining? Pharaoh and his men could not stop the Israelites from coming out of bondage; the Red Sea failed to deny them passage; wall of Jericho crumbled for them to pass through but complain was able to terminate them from getting to the Promised Land.
–We must know and be very much aware that God hears every of our conversation. He claimed to have heard the complaints of the Israelites. God hears us more than we know it. The word of God warned, “Understand, you senseless among the people; and you fools, when will you be wise? He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see? He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct, He who teaches man knowledge? The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile.” (Psalm 94:8-11) This should make us to know that we cannot afford to be careless in our communications (thought, word, actions) towards God.
–Also, it is proven that God is ever consistent with His word. Whatever He says He will do is a done deal. He laid out consequences of their foolishness (complaint) and it all came to pass. Indeed, as He promised, all that complained, from twenty years old and above could not get to the Promised Land.
When we complain against God, it sends a clear message that we do not trust God. As a result of our lack of trust, suffering the consequences of lack of trust prevails. Complain will cause major delay or deny man from the blessings of breakthrough. The children of Israel constantly complained, both directly and indirectly, against God. The result was their stagnation and termination in the wilderness.

Prayer for today: Ask God for total deliverance from conscious and unconscious deliverance complaining against God.

Faith Capsule: Desire to seek the Lord and dwell in the house of the Lord.

Psalm 27

In the journey of life it is the Spirit of God that will see man through and not miss it when is time to be counted before God. No matter what man determines, it only become established when it is backed by the Spirit of God. The book of 1 Samuel 2:9 buttressed, “He will guard the feet of His saints, but the wicked shall be silent in darkness. “For by strength no man shall prevail.”
It is good to desire because when man’s desire genuinely focuses on God, God will deposit and make desire become a manifestation. David stated, “One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple.” (Psalm 27:4) Desire and do not just determine so that the Lord will deposit what it takes for your determination to be manifested.
Is it your desire to seek the Lord and be able to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of your life to behold the beauty of the Lord all the days of your life, it is not impossible. The word of God commands us, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)
Through the pages of the scripture, there are evidences of where men have taken to determination but the end result was a failure. However, this is not a suggestion that man should not have determination but to make it clear that man’s desire by looking up to God will always prevail. Peter was too determined to reject the Lord’s revelation concerning his denying Jesus. Mark 14: 29-31, “Peter said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be.” 30 Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” 31 But he spoke more vehemently, “If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And they all said likewise.” Peter was determined that He will not stumble but it was clear to Jesus what was going to happen. Peter stumbled and he denied Jesus. Are you facing challenging reasons that calls for God’s outstretch hand? Do not forget that it is not by determination but by the Spirit of God.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to know and to dwell in His house.

Faith Capsule: What people say He is matters not but who do you say He is?

Matthew 16: 13-20, Mark 10:46-52

The bible recorded Jesus’ conversation with His disciples, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:13-16)
Who do you say He is?
It does not matter what people say He is but it does count for you to know who He is to you. Who do you say He is? When you know who He is to you, it will determine what you call Him or how you call on Him. Knowing who He is to you will determine how you identify Him.
The Psalmist knows who He is and was able to identify with Him stating, “I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” (Psalm 91:2)
In Matthew 9:27, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!”  Matthew 15:22 recorded, “a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! …” Knowing who He is will determine how you call on Him.
Blind Bartimaeus, a road side beggar heard that Jesus was passing his way, when he cried out, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” and Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called.” (Mark 10:48-49) When the blind Bartimaeus was crying out to Jesus, every attempt to keep him quiet was in vain. He refused to remain quiet because he was sure of whom he knew. Challenges will try to keep you quiet but knowing who He is shall also the strength of your salvation. Who you say He is will set you up for a great encounter and it will cause you to gain uncommon attention, attention that will cause Him to stand still for you to access Him.
Peter’s response opened up for Jesus to teach the disciples about the church. Peter stated, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.  And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:17-18)
Bible identify us as the temple of God (His church 1 Corinthians 3:16) Ephesians 2:20 confirmed Christ as our cornerstone, “having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone.” Allow the word to enter so that you may become His building.

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

Faith Capsule: God is good and doing good is godly.

Psalm 34

God is good and is identity is good. The word of God is God; His work is His word; His work is good. The bible buttressed, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw the light that it was good…” (Genesis1:1-4) God saw His work (His word) that it was good. Is doing good your identity? Are you being identified as evil one? Evil ones are wicked ones. Among the identity of the wicked is having the word in the mouth but far from the mind. (Jeremiah 12:1-2) Do you not know that God is good and doing good is godly? What is good is God. The word testifies to the truth that God is good:
Good and upright is the Lord; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way. (Psalm 25:8)
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! (Psalm 34:8) For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You. Psalm 86:5) I will praise You forever, Because You have done it; And in the presence of Your saints I will wait on Your name, for it is good.” (Psalm 52:9) Indeed, God is good and doing good is godly.
Think about it, no one is immune from seeing his/her good work turned to worse. However, a good deed that is true and genuine before God cannot be altered for worse. Do not be weary of doing good because God will not look away from your doing good. God is faithful to reward. In sincerity of heart, embark and engage yourself in doing good and not evil. It can never be too much in doing what is good; neither can it be too late to reap the fruit of doing good. Be encouraged by His word in Jeremiah 17:9-10, “…I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.”
God is true to His word and he will give everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings. (Jeremiah 32:19) The word admonished, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. (James 3:13) “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17) According to the word of God, to know good and not do is evil therefore, “Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. (Psalm 34:8)

Prayer for today: Ask God to open your understand not to walk away from doing good.

Faith Capsule: A committed Christ soldier cannot escape hardship in this world of wickedness.

2 Timothy 2

A soldier is defined as a person who serves in an army or anenlistedmanorwoman. Going by definition of soldier, a soldier for Christ can be described as one who serves Christ. To be Serving God demands serving Him diligently. Serving God is seeking God. Seeking God diligently is packed with rewards from God to those who seek Him diligently. Hebrews 11:6 buttressed, “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 diligentlyseek Him.” Are you an acclaimed soldier of Jesus Christ? Do you seek Him first in all that you are seeking? Many seek Him by the word of the mouth but how do you seek Him? It is written, “But seekfirst the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)
Serving (seeking) Him is not a funfair because it comes with pain and challenges. However, with endurance the pain shall yield to unending gain.
An eligible and qualified soldier for Christ has to be a sold out soul for the cause of the cross. Paul, the apostle, admonished Timothy, “You therefore must endurehardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.” (2 Timothy 2:3-4) The first notable statement in Paul’s illustration for faithfulness is that a soldier (follower of Christ) must endure hardship. Unfortunately, Christian soldiers today do not want to endure hardship, but rather want to engage funfair and worldly pleasures. Endurance can be painful and can possibly generate unwanted suffering. However, enduring hardship is what qualifies a Christian soldier as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Every Christian soldier will have to know how to endure because a committed one cannot escape hardship in this world of wickedness.
Clearly, Christian soldiers who will not have to endure or face any of the challenges of this world are the ones that often entangle themselves with the affairs of this life. The apostle Paul emphasized that no one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life because it is not possible to serve two masters. Are you a Christian soldier by mouth or by act? A Christian soldier need not to be introduced as a soldier because his warlike disposition will always point him out as one who is operating as a sold-out soul for the cause of the Lord Jesus Christ. Are you a soldier who will always need constant introduction as a soldier? It is worthy to live life as good soldier of Jesus Christ that needs no introduction.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to be protected from fleshly lust that you may please One that enlisted you.