FAITH CAPSULE: Constantly ask God for his grace of deliverance and preservation.

Job 1, Psalm 140

The Bible described Job as a blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. (Job1:1) Job was blessed with material possessions. The bible accounted for his possessions, “…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) He was also blessed with seven sons and three daughters. In one day, without warning, he lost all of his blessings despite his standing in the Lord. Job lurched from the pinnacle of prosperity to the pit of poverty. Disasters located Job from earth and heaven. From earth, his livestock and servants were raided and killed by the Sabeans. From heaven, fire fell and burned up the sheep and servants and great wind destroyed his house and killed his children. As if the loss 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. As a result of Job’s challenges, his world (three friends) questioned his standing in the Lord and concluded it was the result of Job’s sin to God.
Job’s affliction was the request of Satan. At the time  Satan went before God he asked, “But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” (Job 1:11)  God did not deny the request of Satan but responded, “…Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.”” (Job 1:12) True indeed, the devil is always on the move going about searching for whom to devour. As a believer, regardless of your assumed title in the name of God, it is not carelessness to constantly ask God for his grace of deliverance and preservation. David prayed it, “Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men; preserve me from violent men, who plan evil things in their hearts…” (Psalm 140:1-2) Paul knew to pray it in his letter 2Timothy4:18, “And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!” Are you considering yourself too righteous and one with blameless and upright record before God and need not to be asking for deliverance and preservation from God? David prayed, Paul prayed you too watch out and pray.

Prayer for today: Just like David asked, you ask for yourself, “Do not grant, O Lord, the desires of the wicked concerning your life.”

FAITH CAPSULE: Meditate and think of His hand coming upon you.

Ezekiel 37

God testified about His hand in Isaiah 50:2 stating, “Why, when I came, was there no man? Why, when I called, was there none to answer? Is My hand shortened at all that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver…?” Again, Isaiah 59:1 testified about the hand of God, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save…” Without any doubt, the longest hand of man is not enough to deny what can be considered the shortest hand of God in operation. The hand of God is mighty in battle and great in deliverance. Who can deny the hand of God? There has been none in all history and there will be none in ages to come. Pharaoh the king of Egypt failed to deny the hand of God from bringing the children of Israel out of the bondage of over four hundred years. It is written, “But I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not even by a mighty hand.  So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he will let you go. ²¹ And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be, when you go, that you shall not go empty-handed.” (Exodus 3:19-21) In the hand of God there is great deliverance. In the hand of God there is uncommon favor that answers in man’s life. Are you a believer that constantly desires the hand of God to come upon you? Meditate and think of His hand coming upon you, know it that what you desire will be deposited in you.
Ezekiel testified, “The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones.  Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.””(Ezekiel 1:1-3) When His hand comes upon you, it will set you up in a position to see miracle in the place of mockery; you will see life in the place of death. When the hand of God comes upon you, it will make you to have the right answer for every question in life. With right answer you will gain access and be position for God’s glory upon your life. It is not a one-time prayer to ask for the hand of God upon your life but a constant and consistent prayer.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the same hand upon Ezekiel to locate you and come upon you that you may testify His hand of greatness like Ezekiel did.

FAITH CAPSULE: Express your expectation to provoke manifestation.  

2 Kings 4:8-37

Jesus’ parable of the Persistent Widow was meant to identify that faith demands persistence also to hope in the place of lack or in the place hopelessness. The persistent widow remained hopeful and patiently pursued her expectation. In the parable, the persistent widow eventually had a breakthrough with her expectation. At the end of the parable, Jesus asked, “When the Son of Man comes; will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8) Indeed and in truth, for any that is claiming the kind of Abraham’s blessing, is there anyone who is really living out their faith? Anyone who is so committed to a life of faith that they just won’t give up no matter how hard life becomes? An example of such was the Shunammite woman where stubborn faith was demonstrated (2 Kings 4:8-37). When in the place of lack you call abundance by virtue of your faith, it will answer as abundance. Such act is a clear demonstration of stubborn faith (being stubbornly-faithful).
To be stubbornly faithful is an expression of expectation that bring forth manifestation. The Shunammite woman was barren at an old age when Elisha prayed for her. Her bareness ceased and she had a son. To the Shunammite woman, it was a miracle and an unforgettable move of God’s hand. When Abraham was at a juncture of lack, he was able to see provision. God provided for Abraham when a ram was made available for a sacrificial offering instead of Isaac. Abraham saw provision in the place of no provision, and the Shunammite woman saw life where there was death when her miracle son was pronounced dead. She refused to see the son dead and rather went and searched for Elisha. The woman repeatedly claimed that all was well until Elisha realized that the son was actually dead. The Bible recorded that the son was brought back to life by Elisha. The Shunammite woman’s miracle was all about seeing provision where there was none, and seeing life where there was death. Abraham saw a provision where there was none and God responded to his confession of provision by making available a ram for the sacrificial offering.
As a believer, making a claim that Abraham’s blessings are your is not true until you begin to exercise stubborn faith like that of Abraham. As one that believes and hopeful that God will provide in the place of a pressing need, what do you see? What you see will determine what you receive and what you receive will become of you. The hand of God is everywhere and evident in every living and non-living creature, the awesomeness of His miracle cannot be disregarded. To be stubbornly faithful will provoke the hand of God on your behalf.

Prayer for today: Ask God the grace to know and be able to remain persistent in your waiting on Him.

FAITH CAPSULE: The people of God are destroyed because they lack knowledge.

Hosea 4

It is written, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” (Hosea 4:6) The people of God, the acclaimed believers got destroyed when they should not. People of God lack knowledge because they rejected it. Meaning knowledge was made available but was rejected. To reject knowledge is same as to disregard knowledge. His people did not embrace knowledge; God’s people did not give regard to knowledge.
Psalm 28:5 stated, “Because they do not regard the works of the Lord, nor the operation of His hands, He shall destroy them and not build them up. Apart from becoming a vessel set for destruction, lack of knowledge also qualifies one as a candidate for captivity.
Isaiah 5:13 stated, “Therefore my people have gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge; their honorable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.” Evidently, lack of knowledge will make man to be destroyed or go into captivity.
What is knowledge?
Knowledge can be described as having a knowing-edge in every area of life challenges by applying wisdom. God has made available wisdom that is His word. The wisdom of God is full of conditions and promises that will enable His children to have edge over challenges and not be destroyed or go into captivity if His children give regard to His wisdom.
For example, having a way where there is no way; standing on ground where others are falling can be described as having a knowing edge over challenges of life.
As a child of God, to know and engage the promises of God is what identifies one as having knowledge.
Psalm 136:5 identified wisdom as what God used when He made heavens. Without doubt, wisdom is the word of God. It is the same wisdom that is made available for the children of God to avoid lack of knowledge and end up in destruction or in captivity.
Imagine true engagement to the same wisdom (word of God) that made the heavens? Then there shall be undoubtedly a knowing edge and no captivity or destruction.
1Corinthians 1:30, made us to know it that Jesus (the living word of God) is the wisdom from God…if you have Him indeed and in truth you are set for having a knowing edge over your challenges of this world.
What is it that denies man from lack of Knowledge?
Wisdom without understanding will always lead to lack of knowledge. Pay attention to gain understanding and no become a vessel set to perish; set for destruction or set to become captive of the wicked world.

Prayer for today: Ask God to fill you with the knowledge that shall keep you from destruction. 

FAITH CAPSULE: Are you saying there is no God by your verbal communication?

I Samuel 13

It takes a foolish minded one to take a position as a speaker for a forum which claims there is no God. Psalm 14:1 buttressed, “The fool has said in his heart that “there is no God” They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good.” Ones that say in the heart that there is no God are the ones that speak it from the mouth that there is no God. Jesus buttressed, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  A good man out of the good treasure of his heartbrings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.” (Matthew 12:34-35) It is always evil to say there is no God. Often time people say it that there is no God in their action and not only by speaking it out of their mouth. Are you saying there is no God by your verbal communication, body language or in your relationship with others?
Psalm 14:1 identified the foolish ones:
Those who are corrupt (That is dishonest practices like bribery and lack of integrity)
Those who do abominable work (engaging revolting and miserable work)
Those who does not do good (they are evil in approach)
Does any of the above sound like you? As a believer, you cannot afford to live life foolishly. To be living life in the wicked world of today demands constant answer to foolish question. As a believer, answering to foolishness word must not be with a foolish answer otherwise, one is also counted as foolish. Proverbs 26:4 warned “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.” This is to say, every ungodly acts that demands answer from one must be engaged with wisdom. Every challenging situation that calls for your response must be approached with a godly act to avoid being marked as a foolish one. Foolishness is a sin and sin does nothing but destroys man.

Saul was foolish in his act when he offered the burnt offering which does not belong to his office as a King but belongs to a priest. Saul could not wait for Samuel’s arrival as commanded by Samuel. At Samuel’s arrival, he asked from Saul why he offered the burnt offering. Saul’s reasonable excuse for burnt offering was because of Samuel’s late arrival and the impending danger provoked his violation of God’s command (carrying out burnt offering). Samuel responded to Saul’s foolish act, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you.” (I Samuel 13:13) Regardless of any reasonable excuse, it is a foolish act to violate God’s command when responding to the challenges of the wicked world.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace not to become a foolish one.