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.

FAITH CAPSULE: Engage looking up unto Him alone it will cost no money.

Psalm 121, 123

Whatever you pay attention to will give you direction. The more you look up to Him, the better your direction will be, because He that is above is above all, and He will direct you beyond and above all that can derail you.  The Psalmist recorded in Psalm 121:1-2, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.” If you have been lifting your eyes to the one that is above without any expectation there, will be no manifestation. Lifting up without expectation is religion and it is not Jesus reality. God is faithful and God will not forsake His own.

Psalm 123:1-2 stated, “Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens. 2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the LORD our God, Until He has mercy on us.” Many have the word memorized for the purpose of uplifting self or others when need requires. However, memorization without mediation will not produce results. Meditation is what will allow a believer to observe, and live according to the word of God. Joshua 1:8 buttressed “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Take the Word from above seriously, John 3:31 encourage all that will listen by stating, “He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true.” (John 3:31-33)

Evidently, engaging looking up unto Him will cost nothing but a trust in Him. He that is above has all power over all and His name is above every other name. If you will consider looking up to God who has never denied Himself, God will look down to lift you up. He is a faithful God. Turn unto Him, who has been highly exalted, His name is above every name and every situation.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to constantly look up to God alone

FAITH CAPSULE: Settling for convenience in the place of commitment is man’s way.

Numbers 32

The case of the children of Israel being called out of bondage of over four hundred years to a land that flows with milk and honey is a lesson for man not replaces commitment with convenience. God repeatedly gave His word of command to the children of Israel stating, “So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey…” (Exodus 3:8) His command demands a diligent commitment. However, the story changed when the children of Israel, the tribe of Gad and the tribe of Reuben settled for convenience and could not commit to the word that God had committed Himself to perform.
God does not violate His word. Often times when we violate His word then the world violates us. God that promised the land which flows with milk and honey gave His word with expectation for the children of Israel to live by it. Are you finding comfort in going for what the Lord did not promise you instead of His promise for you?

Are you finding comfort in going for what the Lord did not give or promise you? The children of Gad and Reuben were convenient with the land that flows with milk only. God did not promise a land that flows with only milk but the land that flows with milk and honey. As a result, the demanded to stay back and Moses responded to the demand of the children of Gad and the children of Reuben, “…Shall your brethren go to war while you sit here? Now why will you discourage the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the LORD has given them? Thus your fathers did when I sent them away from Kadesh Barnea to see the land. For when they went up to the Valley of Eshcol and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, so that they did not go into the land which the LORD had given them.”” (Numbers 32:6-9) Is it discouragement that is between your commitments to God’s word? In the attempt of not to cross over where God has planned for man’s cross over, challenges will come across man’s way in the journey of life. Are you settling for convenience instead commitment?

Settling for convenience in the place of commitment is taking to the way that seems right to a man. Proverbs 14:12 mentioned the consequence of taking to one’s own way, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Let commitment to God reign.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to be constantly and fully committed in all areas of His command.

FAITH CAPSULE: Trusting God in the beginning and not through to the end is not enough.

1 Kings 12

What God says He will do is a done deal. He does not waste word, He does not lie; He does not exaggerate; He does not deceive and there is no reason to doubt Him. Doubting God is an evidence of lack of faith in His word. Jeroboam, before becoming the king of all Israel, had received the Word of God that he would become king. When it was time for Jeroboam to become king the bible recorded, “…For the turn of events was from the LORD, that He might fulfill His word, which the LORD had spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.” (1 Kings 12:15) The word of God is true and God is true to His word. God said He was going to make Jeroboam a king, but it was left for Jeroboam to receive the word as sent by God and meditate on it to manifest it for the glory of God. Can you confirm that He was speaking to you what will become of you?

When God makes you up He will back you up and not forsake you if you will not doubt Him. Just as he gave His word for making Jeroboam king, Jeroboam became the king. He, however, failed to remind himself that the word that sounded in his direction for him to become a king would back him up. Jeroboam as a king doubted if the Kingdom would return the house of David after God had given it to him. 1 Kings 12:25-27 testifies how he gave himself to doubt against the promise of God in his life. It is written, “Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim, and dwelt there. Also he went out from there and built Penuel. And Jeroboam said in his heart, ‘Now the kingdom may return to the house of David: If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn back to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and go back to Rehoboam king of Judah.’” Doubt is not of God but for the devil. Doubt is an agent of fear and it does not have any good to offer but to steal, kill and destroy. Jeroboam saw the beginning of manifestation of God’s word when he became the king. Doubt set in Jeroboam and could not rest in God. As a result of doubt, he built idols and led the people unto other gods.
It is not enough to trust God in the beginning and not trust Him through to the end. God who has spoken to you will manifest His word if you will rest in His promises.

Prayer for today: Ask God to deliver you from every iota of doubt as you live life.