FAITH CAPSULE: The kind of business that transpires in you testifies to the kind of temple you are.
John 2
 
It is written, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17) Which kind of temple are you? The kind of business that transpires in you testifies to the kind of temple you are. The bible recorded when the Passover of the Jews was at hand, Jesus took time to visit Jerusalem. He does not make a careless move and He must have headed to Jerusalem to make a point clear about keeping the temple clean.  It is written, “…and He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business.” (John 2:14) Jesus found businesses in the temple that were not of God. What is He going to find in you when He shows up without warning? Jesus reacted to all which He saw in the temple, “When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” (John 2:15-16) Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Jesus has not change and he will not change as a result, expect same rejection from Him if the business you conduct in your temple is not right.
As a temple of God, what transpires in your temple and what needs to be cleansed? After kicking out all that needed to be kicked out of the temple, the disciples “…Remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.” (John 2:17).By virtue of the disciples’ response, it is evident that, until the zeal of God eats up a believer, then the possibility of having a clean temple is almost impossible. When there is zeal for God, He will move into our life; He will have His place in us and it becomes impossible to live without His zeal burning in us. To be zealous for the temple of God will require a non-compromising stand for God. Why not take a stand and demonstrate what you are using the Father’s temple for. It is possible for brethren to mistake you for keeping the temple clean while your temple is awful and unreasonably out of line with God’s expectation. Clean up your God given temple and not get whip of chords.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace which enables man to keep temple clean for God’s glory. 

FAITH CAPSULE: it is your choice to depart from self-imprisonment in the prison of fear.

John 20:19-30

When Jesus walked back and forth on the face of earth with His disciples, there were number of times His disciples demonstrated fear because they could not give to worship but fear in the face of confronting challenges. After the resurrection of Jesus, the disciples could not stop from demonstrating fear. It is written, “Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19) Disciples of Jesus engage self-imprisonment because fear took over worship from them. Jesus knew that fear replaced faith in them when He said to them, “Peace be with you” Jesus, the living Word of God is the Prince of peace and He visited them with peace because they could not hold on to His word. Where there is fear there is worrying and it is the indication of the absence of the Word. Is there any fear or worrying as a result of your confronting challenge? Jesus, the Word of God is the one that you need to attend to your fear.
The devil is never careless but always careful and on time to take advantage when a believer slips from letting the word has its place in every confronting situation.Inregards to the disciples there was no better solution to free them from their self-imprisonment of fear but the living word of God.
The antidote of fear is faith. Faith in Jesus will cause peace to reign. After Jesus had spoken peace into His disciple’s life, the eyes of their mind were opened to see the mark of crucifixion. The bible recorded, “When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.” (John 20:20) The mark on Jesus registered gladness into the life of the disciples and the spirit of fear departed. If you will begin to see the mark of crucifixion and believe that the marks were registered on Jesus for us to be able to have life abundantly, then the fear about all that is going on around the world will not have its place in your life. As a believer of the living word of God, it is your choice to depart from self-imprisonment in the prison of fear by rejoicing. Receive and believe that Jesus went to the cross for you. The disciples came out of fear and they were able to testify the visitation of Jesus.

Prayer for today: Ask in the name of Jesus that fear will no longer have you locked in any way of living life. Also ask for the word of God which terminates fear shall never cease from sounding in your direction.

FAITH CAPSULE: Allowing fear to reign instead of faith is the evidence of not focusing on God.

Matthew 14:22-33

Engaging fear will disengage faith in the life of a man. It is not possible for fear and faith to be in place at the same time. In any case where fear is allowed, faith will have no choice but to vacate itself. Whenever fear invades, confusion and making wrong destructive decisions prevails. Clearly, fear is not of God fear is an agent of the oldest liar; the chief thief, who is only interested in killing and destroying what the Lord has made. Jesus identifies the  difference between Him and the thief stating, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) Jesus has come, He brought all that gives life abundantly but ignorant has trapped so many by not taking to what Jesus brought. Are you an acclaimed believer who often subjects self to fear when faith should be in place? In the face of most challenge, allowing fear to reign instead of faith is the evidence of not focusing on God. However, not focusing on God is assuming the responsibility of confronting challenge. It is an indirect way of asking God to take off His hand of support; it is a state of lack of peace.
The Israelite’s attempt to cross the Red Sea was a terrifying situation. After having been free from the bondage of over four hundred years, Pharaoh and his men chased and close the Israelites up before the Red Sea. Fear took over the Israelites; there was no peace in their camp and they became restless. Evidently, the Israelites demonstrated lack of faith. Moses responded to the Israelites stating, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” (Exodus 14:13-14) Entertaining fear is terminating faith. Whenever fear occupies man’s heart, battle is shifted from getting help from God. Are you engaging fear in the face of insurmountable challenge? Give regard to God by engaging your heart in the testimonies of God’s goodness and mercy; know it that the enemy cannot be more powerful. Also, the same God who saw the Israelite through on a dry land in the middle of the Red Sea is always in place to deliver. In life, it does not matter the level of faith in the life of a believer, when fear is allowed to invade, faith will always fail to prevail.
As close as Peter was to Jesus, he allowed faith to sink when fear rose in him in the middle of storm. (Matthew 14:29-32)Have you given a place to fear inside of you? Is there any sign that you are sinking in the face of your challenges?

Prayer for today: Ask that every generating forces of fear be permanently denied in your life for the glory of God.

FAITH CAPSULE: He that remembers how God delivered him from a small confrontation will be delivered from an even bigger one.

1 Samuel 17

Considering the testimonies of God is enough to deny evil challenges over one’s life. The Psalmist testifies, “The wicked wait for me to destroy me, but I will consider Your testimonies.” (Psalm 119:95) The testimonies of God are the evidence of His work. The testimonies of God are the wondrous works of His hands. The Bible testifies, “…Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near.” (Psalm 75:1) What else could be better than having God nearer to one in the face of evil challenges? Considering thetestimonies of God is gaining access into the power of God which delivers. Considering the testimonies of God is an expression that you are counting on God for greater testimonies. Above all, when one reminds God concerning the work of His hand, He will react concerning the war that confronts one. Once, Goliath stood a ground of war against the Children of Israel and he rained all kinds of verbal insult and harassment against Israel but none of the children of Israel could consider the testimonies of God that is power enough to deliver. 1 Samuel 17:8-9, “Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, “Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” In response to Goliath, David took it upon himself to confront Goliath.
David’s first offensive weapon of attack was remembering and reminding all agents of opposition about what God had done in his life. What God has done is what will provoke what God will do. 1 Samuel 17:34, “But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it.” David was asked not to go after the giant Goliath while he was talking about how God had helped him in killing a lion and a bear. David’s response was perfect because he that remembers how God delivered him from a small confrontation will be delivered from an even bigger one. It is a weapon to hold on to the testimonies of God when a challenge shows up like a storm.

Prayer for today: Ask God for help in remembering to consider His testimonies.

FAITH CAPSULE: It is not possible to truly meditate the word and not be able to fully observe the word of God.  

Joshua 1, Philippians 4

Meditating on the word of God can be compared to circulation of blood in the body system. Any believer, who wants to live a victorious life; who wants to carry the presence of God day and night must constantly meditate on the word of God day and night. It is impossible for a believer to do according to the word of God without meditating as commanded by God. After the death of Moses, God’s commissioning of Joshua could not be completed without God highlighting to Joshua the importance of meditation. God repeatedly pointed out to Joshua the need to be able to observe His word. God told Joshua that meditating His word is what Joshua needed in order to be able to observe and do according to His word. Joshua 1:8, “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.” It is not possible to truly meditate the word and not be able to fully observe the word of God.
Are you one that is memorizing the word instead of meditating the word of god? Memorizing will not help the ability to observe and it is not what God is asking from us. The ability to be able to observe and do what is written in the pages of Bible will bring the blessing of prosperity and good success. With the blessings of prosperity and good success comes the peace of God which knows no sorrow.
As a believer, do you wonder what exactly to meditate on in the pages of Bible? The book of Philippians 4:8 identifies what to meditate on for those who are willing to engage the blessings of good success, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” The word of God is good and it covers all the pages of the Bible. The works of God which surrounds us also testifies to God’s good word of creation.  It is worthy to constantly meditate on the word of God which we learn from the pages of the Bible. Meditate without ceasing and gain the peace of God just as it is written in Philippians 4:9, “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”
 

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to meditate more on His word and on every of His good testimonies.