FAITH CAPSULE: Pride is what prepares an angry man for self-destruction.

1 Samuel 18

Anger is rooted in pride. Pride is what prepares angry man for self-destruction. In life, if there is any spirit which needs to be constantly prayed against, it is the spirit of anger. It is impossible not to have anger when pride is in place in the life of man. Anger is not of God neither is pride of God. Anger is a silent killer and it will not spare the life of any man that open door for pride. King Saul was chosen by God to be the King over the children of Israel yet, anger and pride refused to spare his life.
After David had killed Goliath, women came “out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments.  So the women sang as they danced, and said: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.””  (1 Samuel 18:7) The song does not settle well inside of Saul as a result, the spirit of anger was activated in Saul. The Bible recorded, “Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?” (1 Samuel 18:8) Clearly, Saul’s response to the song of the women said it all about the combination of anger and pride. Pride was the source of his anger. He was angry about how David was celebrated after killing Goliath.
Are you in a position to celebrate what the Lord has done or what He is doing in the life of anyone that you know directly or indirectly? What the Lord did through David reduced Saul and the spirit of pride took over Saul’s life. With pride over Saul, anger rounded him up for his personal destruction. Saul became threatened about what will become of his position as David’s popularity increased all over the land.  Are you harboring any threat as a result of others elevation? The spirit of anger in Saul was not of God, it is meant to kill and to destroy Saul. The anger in Saul gave a place to the distressing spirit in Saul. It is written, “And it happened on the next day that the distressing spirit from God came upon Saul…” (1 Samuel 18:10) Distressing spirit that came upon Saul provoked him to attempt David’s life. Despite all, David was supposed to be afraid but instead, Saul was the one who was afraid. The Bible states it, “…Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul” (1 Samuel 18:13) Pride took Saul for a ride as anger took over the driver seat.

Prayer for today: Ask God to permanently terminate all that is not of God in your life.

FAITH CAPSULE: In God’s direction there is  no destruction.

Jeremiah 42, 43

It is written, “The Philistines also went and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. So David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” (2 Samuel 5:18-19) The Philistines were set against David and David did not engage them until he inquired of the Lord. It is faith, hope and trust in God to always make a conscious inquire of Him in every step of life. In God’s direction there is life and there is no destruction.
Through Jeremiah, Israelites inquired for direction for a way of escape because of the fear of the Chaldeans attack. They sent Jeremiah the prophet, “Please, let our petition be acceptable to you, and pray for us to the LORD your God, for all this remnant (since we are left but a few of many, as you can see), that the LORD your God may show us the way in which we should walk and the thing we should do.””(Jeremiah 42:2-3)  Jeremiah did as they had requested and the Lord gave the direction, but the remnant made the choice not to go by the direction of God. Has the Lord been speaking direction to you directly or indirectly? When God’s direction is redirected, it leads to nowhere, but destruction. It is one thing to seek God for direction and go by His direction. Also, it is another to seek for His direction and not go by His direction. God’s way (direction) is not man’s direction Isaiah 55:9 testifies to His ways, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” The remnant got direction after sending Jeremiah but they refused to go by Gods direction.
The remnants initially knew what they would do before sending Jeremiah to ask from God. Jeremiah warned them, “Then hear now the word of the LORD, O remnant of Judah! Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘If you wholly set your faces to enter Egypt, and go to dwell there, then it shall be that the sword which you feared shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt; the famine of which you were afraid shall follow close after you there in Egypt; and there you shall die.”(Jeremiah 42:15-16) Jeremiah pointed out the reason for asking, or seeking God, for direction and not taking to God’s direction as “wholly setting of eyes on one’s own direction”. The remnants of Judah were running away from war, and failed to listen to God’s word of direction through Jeremiah, as a result, they ended up in self destruction. It is not possible to follow God’s direction and enter into destruction. Allow God’s direction to see you through.

Prayer for today: Ask God for deliverance from every agent of distraction from God’s direction.

FAITH CAPSULE: Where there is a purpose for God evil proposal will not manifest.

Daniel 6

Daniel resolved in himself to serve God fully and the presence of God rested upon him fully. All through his journey, he could not become a victim of evil agenda. It is written, “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.” (Daniel 1:8-9) Daniel resolved (purposed) in his heart and he acted on it. Any time there is heart-rooted action that glorifies the Almighty God; heaven is provoked to lift one up. Heart-rooted actions which often provoke God to move on behalf of man are steadfast actions. They are consistent action in the life those who sincerely purposed for God. Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself at the beginning of his journey into captivity. As Daniel continued his journey in captivity he encountered evil plotters but the grace of being purposeful for God delivered him through. A plot was set to place him in the den of hungry lions but God made a way of escape for Daniel. Having a purposed heart for God will cause man to prevail over evil agenda.

Just as evil plotters prepare their case to eliminate Daniel, Daniel resolved to maintain his custom approach to God. When every attempt to charge him wrongfully failed, they went against him concerning his God. A decree was made against anyone one who petitioned any god or man besides king Darius. Daniel reacted to evil decree, “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.” (Daniel 6:10)
Man with purposeful heart for God is the one with custom approach to God in the way of living life. Have you been an acclaimed believer with no custom way of worshipping God in your way of living life? There is a need for every believer to have a custom way of worshiping God in their way of living life. With custom approach in place, when the need to worry in the face of challenge knocks, one will stand his ground to the glory of God. When wicked decree was put in place, Daniel stood his ground as one with a purposeful heart for God. Daniel’s purposeful heart prevailed for him as the hungry lions failed to be hungry while he was in the company of hungry lions. Daniel’s case is not just a story but a secret to embrace.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to be purposeful in your worship unto Him.

FAITH CAPSULE: Many are followers, but their hearts are not after Jesus.

Acts 8: 5-25

After Jesus’ ascended to heaven, persecution caused His disciples to be scattered to different parts of the world. Philip went to the city of Samaria and began to witness Christ. As Philip was witnessing, many were converted when they saw the miracles by the hand of Philip. The witnessing of Philip brought healing over paralysis and deliverance from unclean spirits. While Philip was in Samaria, Simon who had previously practiced sorcery in the city gave his life to Christ. Before the arrival of Philip, Simon was regarded as a great man with the great power of God. It is written, “Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.” (Acts 8:13) The message of Philip and the manifestation of miracles brought Simon to believe and followed Philip. As Simon continued to follow Philip, his kind of heart was exposed when he encountered Peter. Although he was converted but the kind of heart which Simon carried was not revealed. Which kind of heart do you carry in following the Lord Jesus? Time will tell regardless of how long you have been carrying a different mind from that of true followers; one day it will come to light.

This passage is a testimony to the fact that today, many are followers, but their hearts are not after Jesus. In the process of time, Peter was in location to expose Simon. Simon witnessed the apostles giving the Holy Spirit to people by the laying of hands and he desired such power demonstration. His desire prompted him to offer money for the manifestation of such power in his life, “Saying, ‘Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’”  (Acts 8:19) The power of God cannot be purchased by money, but is only receivable if you make yourself available for Him. Peter exposed Simon by saying; “You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” (Acts 8:21-23) Simon was a believer just like many but his heart was poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity. Simon’s true heart was not revealed until he had an encounter with Peter. How is your heart? Can you give yourself a reality heart checkup to identify where your heart belong? It will not take forever before the truth reveals itself. Are you a modern day Simon the sorcerer? Deception, lying and manipulation can only last for a moment because God cannot be deceived.

Prayer for today: Ask God to give you a clean heart and a steadfast spirit to follow truly.

FAITH CAPSULE: It is not enough to be known as a church goer and not be known by God.

Romans 12

The Bible describes what a temple is, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16) Going by this description of what a temple is, every believer should consciously consider him/herself to be a temple. As a temple, we are supposed to be a building for God’s presence, meaning a building occupied by God. A building occupied by God is a building that is built by the word of God. Apostle Paul admonished us 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 you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” A temple should not only be seen as a building where man gathers to worship God. Believer should be identified as a believing body.

Is your temple for God alone? Revelation 15:4, “Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested.”” God is holy and by that virtue, He can only be found in a holy temple. Being an acclaimed believer does not make man a temple where God dwells. God is holy and no sin can have a place with Him. In your temple, is there any defilement (pollution, profanity, or unclean activity) that is denying God’s presence in you?

It is not enough to be known as a church goer and not be known for having God. Defilement is a way of destruction; it is not a way of life, it is against the will of God. It is written, “If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.” (1 Corinthians 3:17) Is God in your temple? God cannot survive unholy environment and it takes holiness for Him to dwell in your temple. In the temple (church) of today (that is you); it will be a miracle not to find one or more defying factors that need not be in your temple. Every acclaimed believer who is yet to empty self so that Christ may fill him/her, are denying God his/her temple. Going to a place of worship (church) is not evidence that one is a temple of God. It is time to take some time out for yourself, identify and begin to pray against defying factors in your temple. Man can be deceived but God who sees through the heart cannot be deceived. Engage the word of God and become the building of God.

Prayer for today: Ask God to open your understanding so that defiling God shall not have a place in your life.