FAITH CAPSULE: The fear of God is the love of God.

1John 3

The knowledge of God is to love and know Him. Loving God cannot happen without knowing God. Spending time in the word of God is the major route to knowing Him. To love (fear) God is to constantly dwell in His presence (His presence is His word) and not depart from Him. God spoke, “They shall be My people, and I will be their God; then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me. Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will assuredly plant them in this land, with all My heart and with all My soul.’” (Jeremiah 32:38-41) In the above word of God, it is clear that the fear of God is what qualifies man as God’s people and not what others think of us; it is not one’s title inside or outside of the church. Going by the word of God as written above, anyone that fears God undeniably takes a position to experience the goodness of God. It is also a joyous thing to God when we dwell in His fear. Without doubt, for anyone that is doing what makes God to rejoice over him/her, the strength of God shall never be a thing of lack in the life of such person. Why not do it right by fearing God and allow the joy of the Lord be your strength?

The love of God is what qualifies man to be considered as one that engages righteousness. 1John 3:10, “Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.” It is impossible for anyone that does not love his brother to claim love for God which he/she never met with. The word of God encourages us to truly love in how we live life because love is of God. 1 John 4:8 declares it, “He who does not love does not know God, for God is Love.” It is the will of God for us to know Him and we only know Him when His fear places us to know Him in love.

The fear of God is the love of God. To love God is to know Him and to know Him is to see Him. As mentioned earlier, the fear of God that is, loving and obeying all of His command is the conclusion of all that matters to live life. It is perfectly certain that with the fear of God dwelling in us, He is faithful to establish us and guard us from the evil one.

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

FAITH CAPSULE: To purpose for God is the evidence of trust in God.

Psalm 17         

David purposed for God and God gave testimony and said, ‘I have found Davidthe son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will. (1Samuel 13:14) Like David, Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s delicacies nor with wine and God brought him into the favor and good will with the chief eunuchs. (Daniel 1:8) Both David and Daniel were recorded across the pages of the scripture for great exploits.

David purposed in his heart that his mouth would not disobey God (Psalm 17:3) and he was also moved by the word of God which he heard. (Psalm 17:4) Without doubt, man can only arrive at God’s promise for their life by the word which they speak out of their mouth and by the word they hear. It is the word that upholds our step and helps us not to slip into sin. The children of Israel could not hold onto the word of God even though it promised them the Promised Land. They spoke negative, stating, “Why has the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” (Numbers 14:3) God responded to their negative confession in Numbers 14:28-29, “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.”  The spoken word of the Israelites terminated them in the wilderness.

To have a purpose for God is the evidence of having trust in God. God has never failed to save those who trust in Him. God is always keeping those that trust in Him as the apple of His eyes; He hides them under the shadow of His wings from the wicked who oppress them and from deadly enemies who surround them.

Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself and for God to be glorified in His life. As he rejected the king’s delicacies and wine, God brought favor into his life and he became the envy of governors and satraps. Daniel distinguished himself and was set up to die in the lion’s den. As one that was purposed for God, nothing forced against him could prosper and he excelled in his entire walk. Purpose for God, be steadfast in your walk and you shall excel to the glory of God.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to live for Him in all your days on earth.

FAITH CAPSULE: To fear God is to trust in Him.

Daniel 3

The apostles fear the Lord and they were steadfastly engaged in God’s business. Once, as they continue in their calling, “Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison.  But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.” (Acts 5:17-20) The prison of life could not retain the apostles who were busy doing what is right before God. The most interesting part of the escape documentation states, “But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported,  saying, “Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!” (Acts 5:22-23) The angels who came does not need key to open up the jail but they were the key to every challenge in the life of those who fear God.

Indeed the word of God is perfect to perform; the word of God carries power to deliver when man engages demanding conditions of the word of God. Psalm 34:7 performs and perfects what the word says in the life of the apostles while they were in prison. The word states, “The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.”  The apostles feared God and deliverance answered on their behalf through the angel of God.

Are you in any prison of life? Does it look like there is no way out of the prison? Do you truly and convincingly fear God? One thing is certain, God has not fail, God cannot fail and God will never fail when it comes to honoring His word over the ones who truly live fully by His word. However, His way of delivering or moving on behalf of those who truly live by His word is different and unique. Man must be steadfast and not doubt God in every area of expectation for His intervention.

Daniel’s three friends (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego) were sentenced to die by fire. Daniel’s friends could not doubt God when there was no way of escape. Despite no way of escape, they declared, “But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” (Daniel 3:18) They were fearful of God and God answered with uncommon miracle. King Nebuchadnezzar saw and spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him…” (Daniel 3:28) To fear God is to trust in Him.

Prayer for today: Ask in Jesus’ name that the fear of God should overtake and rule your life.

FAITH CAPSULE: Fear God, work righteousness and be accepted by Him.

Luke 13:22-35

Peter was preaching to the gentiles when he stated, “But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him” (Acts 10:35) It is clear that without the fear of God, it is not possible to work righteously, and without the works of righteousness no one can be accepted by Jesus. Which work are you working? Are you working the works of iniquity or works of righteousness? There is no middle ground in obeying God. There is nothing like half obedience, one is either obedient or disobedient. Fear God and work the works of righteousness. Becoming qualified and acceptable by Jesus is all that matters when it is time to stand before Him. If living in church and not working the works of righteousness is what a man knows to do, it will not count for one to be acceptable by Jesus. Jesus was speaking in Luke 13:26, Then you will begin to say, ‘we ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.”

Are you one that is doing all the running around but not working the works? It is important that we are also positioned in the word to impact on us the fear it takes to work the works of righteousness. At the time Martha welcomed Jesus to her house, her sister, Mary, “…Sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.”(Luke 10:39) While Martha was doing the serving, Mary remained at the feet of Jesus. Martha approached Jesus and protested about not getting help from Mary. The protest of Martha prompted Jesus’ response, “And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”(Luke 10:41-42) This not to say working in the church building and helping to keep ministry going is not worthy. However, it is important to know to live by the word of God.

Jesus was asked in John 6:28, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God? And He responded by stating, “…this is the work of God that you believe in Him whom He sent.” (John 6:29) Jesus clearly states believing God is working the works. Believing God is behaving the word of God. Behaving the word of God is the identity of those who fear God. Do not fear God just by the word of the mouth but by the way you live life.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to be steadfast in working the works of God so that you will be acceptable before Jesus when it counts.

 FAITH CAPSULE: Reasons for God’s presence in Jesus was in His pleasing God steadfastly.

John 6: 1-14

Placing faith in God is the avenue to please God. Hebrew 11:6 declares, “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 diligently seek Him.” The Bible describes God as a jealous God. One that is jealous demands attention. We give God attention by placing our faith in Him. Without doubt, with due attention to God, God shall be pleased to attend fully to us. The Word of God makes it clear that it is not possible to please God without faith. If without faith it is impossible to please God, evidently with faith pleasing God is a certainty. Do you have the faith that takes to please God or claiming faith is just the word of mouth? What does it take for faith to be built up? Romans 10:17, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Spending time in the word of God will no doubt build up faith in the life of a believer. As the word increases, faith will also increase and pleasing Him will become a reality.

The word of God is a way to walk. How we walk determines where we sit and what we stand for. The same word of God is the source of faith. Man that walks in the word walks in the command (wisdom) of God which is able to deliver and preserve man from evil occurrence. Truly, our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases. (Psalm 115:3) Despite the truth that He is God and a doer of what He pleases, when a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. (Proverbs 16:7)

Jesus, our Lord and savior did great miracles. He knew so much and nothing catches Him by surprise. His words were constantly backed with power. In His walk with all, the bible testifies that Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men. (John 2:24) Jesus’s walk on the face of earth was backed with power. The reason for His power was the steadfast presence of God in Him. The source of God’s presence in Him was rooted in Him pleasing God steadfastly. It is written, “And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”(John 8:29) Jesus was pleasing the Father, and the Father’s presence was always with Him. When God’s presence becomes steadfast in the life of a believer, knowing what to do, and what not to do, will become the believer’s portion. Pleasing God is what makes the difference in the life one believer from another believer.

Prayer for today: Ask God to enable you not to fail in walking, standing, and living in His word.