FAITH CAPSULE: The way of God is His word and His word is His presence.

Exodus 33

Do not allow yourself to be limited by your thoughts but let your thoughts in the word of God reign and rule over your entire situation. Isaiah 55:8-9 documented, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” Encased in His thoughts are His ways. The way of God is the word of God. The word of God is His presence. Take to the word of God, His word is true to perform and to perfect; His word is mighty.

Are you taking to your thoughts or your ways? Taking to your words or your ways is telling God you are in charge and you know more about yourself. God spoke clearly and directly to Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in he womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”(Jeremiah 1:5)   God knows us more than we know ourselves and His always waiting for those who wait on Him to know His ways. Moses, at point in His journey, despite his relationship with God called on God for the way to go. It is written, “Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people.’ But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.’  Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.”  And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:12-14)  The way of God is His word and His word is His presence.

It is important to study; know and to do what is written in the pages of the bible. Knowing and not doing is hindering one’s glorious destiny. Are you willing to commit all to His hand by exchanging your way for His way? God is faithful to lead and guide us in His way if we seek and ask for His way. Let not your thoughts override you and lead you outside of the way of God. The Bible admonished us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to enable you to take to His way in every area of life.

FAITH CAPSULE: To snub the word of God is subbing ones glorious destiny.

Luke 19: 1-10, Acts 16:16-40

Engaging the instructions of God is engaging a glorious destiny. Also, snubbing God’s instruction for one’s life is substituting God’s ordained position for one’s life. The word of God gave a clear instruction to keep His Spirit burning and alive in man’s life when it stated in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Jesus for you Do not quench the Spirit.”  Word of God made us to realize that joy is what gives us access to the presence of God. Psalm 16:11 buttressed, “…in the presence of God is fullness of joy.”  The apostle Paul reiterated in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” God will only survive in a joyful environment. In Zacchaeus’ seeking of Jesus, he gained the attention of Jesus, “…When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”” (Luke 19:5) Just like He offered Zacchaeus so He has made Himself available to every man that will respond the same way Zacchaeus responded.  The Bible recorded Zacchaeus’ response, “So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.” (Luke 19:6)

Can you respond to Him joyfully when He comes to locate you at your sycamore tree? The Bible is not telling us just for the fun of it that Zacchaeus received Him joyfully, but it is telling us so we can observe to do what is written. Prayer, the calling of God’s attention, is to be without ceasing not only when there is need. A prayer-less life is equal to a prevail-less life while a prayerful life provokes prevailing life. Paul and Silas, they prayed, they sang and the Holy Ghost came down. Acts 16: 25-26, “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.” Above all, giving thanks is the ultimate because the word recorded it as the will of God in Christ Jesus. Give God thanks in all things and for all things. Most importantly, thanksgiving will only flow where there is a flow of joy and the Spirit of God will respond to demonstrate the presence of God. The word of God is true to the core if you will incorporate yourself in the word.

Prayer for today: Ask God to fill you with the grace to constantly engage His word as instructed in the pages of the bible.

FAITH CAPSULE: Whenever faith is in place God will attend.

Hebrews 11

The book of Hebrews 11:1 described faith, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Having faith is what pleases God. No one came to this world with, faith it comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17) Having faith is crucial to living a fulfilled life. Faith is the key to obtaining good testimony. A good testimony is God testimony. Also, gaining understand of God’s word is encased in faith. Faith is not just a thing of mouth but an action that is based on hoping and trusting God. Many claims to have faith but few actually live by faith. The bible mentioned that by faith elders obtained good testimony and understand God’s work.

Obtaining Good Testimony is by Faith:
The Bible states, “For by it the elders obtained a good testimony” (Hebrews 11:2) Without doubt, what is good is God and that which is God is good. There are testimonies but there is a good testimony. Any testimony that is rooted in God stays forever and it is often undeniable. Good testimony is always full of faith and fake-proof. Testimonies about the life of Abraham, David, Daniel and many more giants in the hand of God are good life testimonies that cannot be denied. The story of their lives and exploits that were generated through them are evidence of their walk in faith that marked them as good testimonies. Wherever faith is in place God will attend and good testimony becomes a mark in the believer’s life.

Understanding God’s Work is by Faith:
“By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” (Hebrews11:3) It takes only faith to understand and believe that God communicated and all was created. One will wonder where the understanding comes from. Jesus pointed it out when He asked a rhetorical question about the reason for lack of understanding. “Why do you not understand my speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.” (John 8:43) Without doubt, the understanding that is needed to believe that the world is framed by the word of God is in listening to the word of God. We cannot hear God and doubt Him. If indeed one is able to listen enough and understand the word of God, then faith will be established. The Psalmist also points out the source of understanding, “…the meditation of my heart shall give understanding” (Psalm 49:3) The word you receive and meditate on in the morning, afternoon and night will no doubt build up faith that the worlds were framed by the word of God.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to increase in faith.

FAITH CAPSULE: offering without faith is giving in fear of nothing to show for giving.

Genesis 4

The Bible talked about offering by faith using the story of Abel as an example when it states that, “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain…” (Hebrews 11:4) Giving offering without faith is giving in fear of nothing to show for giving. Offering without faith is an evidence of offering in fear. Fear is what displeases God. Offering that is given in fear is without expectation of a manifestation of a worthy reward. When Abel and Cain gave offering to God, Abel’s offering gained so much attention from God. Evidently Cain’s offering did not gain attention from God. In their offering, “…Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering.” (Genesis 4:3-5) Clearly they both brought what they had to God as an offering but the difference is Abel brought everything that was added (Fat) to his offering. Abel separated nothing from what he brought as an offering to God. Abel brought his very first best and did not offer what is termed as “just an offering.” Giving unto God or giving because of the name of God demands that we give all without holding back or without fear.

When a stranger (Elijah) approached the widow of Zarephath, he did not only ask for water but also asked for bread (a fat offering request). The widow was living in a land where drought had been on for years and not knowing how long it would continue. Also, she had no knowledge about who Elijah was. The woman only had enough for herself and her son when Elijah’s request came to her in the name of God. The woman responded with fear and that prompted Elijah to respond, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. For thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth.” So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days.” (1Kings 17:13-15) Fear is what Elijah required the women to disallow between her and her giving to God as he had requested. He requested her to not to allow her own need to become a priority right now. Giving offering by faith, should never make room for fear which builds discouragement. Giving in the name of God like the woman of Zarephath did will deliver uncommon blessing.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace that eliminates fear in time of your giving.

FAITH CAPSULE: When the grace of God rests with man, man is positioned for great exploit.

The grace of is worth of one’s every moment desire and constant meditation. Turning to God is positioning self for His grace because God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn His face from any who return to Him. The psalmist described God, “But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.” (Psalm 86:15) “The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.” (Psalm 103:8)

Saul became the first king for the Israelites, because grace was upon him. When Samuel about to reveal what God was going to do with his life, Saul confessed, “And Saul answered and said, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak like this to me…” (1 Samuel 9:21) The confession of Saul was a testimony of God’s grace upon him to become king.

It is a wonderful thing to be riding on the grace of the Lord, but it can also be a great disaster to abuse and be placed outside of the great grace of God. The same King Saul that enjoyed the great grace of God did not fair well when he ended up at the opposite side of His great grace. It was not long after he became the king that he put on the garment of disobedience toward the word of God. Saul, having repeatedly disobeyed the word of God, God sent Samuel to him, “I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments…” (1 Samuel 15:11) The grace of God is great, and He is worthy to be greatly feared. The apostle Paul testified in 1 Corinthians 15:10, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” Just like the apostle Paul, you are what you are by the grace of God, and not because you know how to labor and that make it possible for the grace of God toward you not to be in vain. Unlike the apostle Paul, the grace of God toward King Saul was in vain and he became lost the in presence of God. The word of God is written for our learning. Learn today and not be missing in His gracious provision for your deliverance and preservation.

Prayer for today: Ask that the spirit that causes the grace of God to be in vain in the life of man shall not locate you.