FAITH CAPSULE: On the journey of life, challenges will not be over.

Exodus 13:17-22, Psalm 34

Are you on a journey that seems there is no end in sight? To the Israelites, it must have been as if the journey would never come to an end. Are you experiencing a journey that seems to be endless? Do you question when all the confronting challenges will be over? On the journey of life, challenges will not be over but the grace in Christ Jesus is more than enough to see one through in the face of any challenge on the journey of life. Challenges often come in the form of affliction. However, the word encourages, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.” (Psalm 34:19) God never fail to honor His word, He is consistent to perform and perfect according to His word.
For the children of Israel, the Lord led them through the safest route. It was a route that avoided war with the forces of the enemy when they were not yet ready for war. It was a route that took them from going back for the worst. Does that speak of your present route? Above all, God led them through a route where there would have been no reason for them to go back into the captivity of Egypt. Exodus 13: 17-18, “Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt. So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt.”
In their deliverance from entering a war route, they turned on to war of complaint and disobedience against the One that led them from bondage. The children of Israel could have taken the worst route, but they did not recognize it. As a result, they were unable to acknowledge what God had done as they turned to complaining and disobedience. Your situation could be much worse right now, consider yourself blessed and keep on trusting God. As you face the challenges on your journey, rest in the word of God as stated in 1Samuel 2:9, “He will guard the feet of His saints, but the wicked shall be silent in darkness…” Know that the wicked, the agent of affliction has been put to place by the guidance of God which is available in His word. Today, encourage yourself in the Lord; let it be clear to you that God will get you to where He is taking you if you do not step out of His command.
 

Prayer for today:Ask God to guard every step you take in the course of your life journey.

FAITH CAPSULE: Everything we do in the Lord with a lack of understanding will result to a lack of transformation.

Isaiah 54

What it brings to be established in righteousness like Daniel is:

God is consistent honoring His word. Psalm138:2 testify, “…For You have magnified your word above all Your name.” He has not change and He will remain same forever and what He promises to do is a done deal. Indeed and in truth, any one that is steadfast walking in His word is bound to be established in God. It is written in Isaiah 54:14, “In righteousness you shall be established…” In addition to engaging the required command becoming established in Him are His blessings which makes one an overcomer. Among such blessings are, “…You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me. whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake. (Isaiah 54:14-15) “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn…” (Isaiah 54:17)The blessing that is packaged in being established in righteousness cannot be denied. Jesus Christ is our righteousness (2Corinthians 5:21). He came for each and every one, but not all will accept Him. Accepting Him is to believe Him and believing Him is behaving Him. Any one that believes (behaves) Him is the one that is set to overcome any weapon formed against him as promised by the word of God. Not having being established is taking a risk by standing to claim, “No weapon formed against me shall prosper.”
The documentation of Daniel against weapon formed is a true and clear example for the need to be established before engaging weapons formed. The itinerant Jewish exorcists must have ignorantly assumed the position of established ones, when they took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” (Acts 19:13) The Bible recorded, “…the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”” (Acts 19:15-17) By studying and gaining understanding knowledge will grow. Growth in knowledge cannot be separated from growth in grace. With steadfastness, grace will grow and knowledge will not fail. To be established in righteousness is the evidence of ones steadfastness in the Lord. Loving God with all our heart and our soul is the route to living as an effective believer.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to constantly regard the word of God as it sounds in your direction.

FAITH CAPSULE: Growth in the grace of God will come with steadfastness of one’s faith.

Daniel 1

It is written,“In righteousness you shall be established…” (Isaiah 54:14) Reading through the word of God can be compared to skimming through the surface of a ground that is treasure inhabited. While studying the word of God can be compared to engaging all that it takes to discover inhabited treasure in the word of God. It is also an understanding to engage in studying the word. However, to unearth the treasure that is inhabited also demands understanding. Understanding is the key, everything we do in the Lord with a lack of understanding will result to a lack of transformation. Psalm 47:7 stated, “For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with understanding.” If praise worship requires understanding, every other area such as studying the word of God surely requires understanding.
The Bible states, “…but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory now and forever…” (2Peter 3:18) Clearly, through studying the word of God there will be growth in the knowledge of God. However, growth in the grace of God will come with steadfastness of one’s faith. Just by studying alone will not help directly in the growth of grace. The book of 2 Peter 3:17-18 statesbetter, “You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…” Clearly, among ways that growth in grace increase is to be Steadfast in the Lord.
Describing steadfastness: Steadfastness is to be fixed in direction; firm in purpose, unwavering, firmly established or firmly fixed in faith. When you have a purpose in life then you will be fixed in taking a deliberate walk in the direction of your purpose. Daniel a young captive in the hand of king Nebuchadnezzar had a purpose to live for God. When he was offered the best food and wine which the king had, he declined and requested to eat vegetables and drink water instead, so that it would not defy his purpose. It was recorded of him, “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.” (Daniel 1:8) Daniel’s steadfastness could not be compromised with the king’s offer. The chief of eunuchs granted Daniel’s request and he prevailed. Daniel was steadfast and the grace of God upon his life had no bounds or limitation. With steadfastness Daniel was established in righteousness to the glory of God. Purpose for God and be established for God.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to be steadfast walking in the word of God.

FAITH CAPSULE:  Shouting and trumpeting to the Lord will bring down wall of hindrance.

Joshua 6

The God is mighty. His super-nature demands attention. Giving Him His due attention calls for shouting and trumpeting His name. It is always worthy to give a loud shout which demonstrates caller’s trust in unfailing God. A secret or gentleman’s approach of God, Who matters to us in our considerations, may not always suffice in glorifying our glorious God whose super-nature is jealousy. The Psalmist stated, “But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy…” (Psalm 5:11); “Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph!” (Psalm 47:1)
The dictionary defines ‘shout’ as making a loud cry, especially to convey emotion or a command. Besides the understanding of the fact that there’ is a music instrument called trumpet; ‘trumpet’ is also defined as to proclaim loudly or widely. Evidently, shout and trumpet are closely related. Also, in looking at the definition and biblical use of shout and trumpet, it can be concluded that the combination of shouting and trumpeting is a way of getting heaven’s attention. At every time of shouting and trumpeting to the Lord, bringing down the wall of hindrances and striking down enemies that threatens our peace are a done deal and undeniable victory.
There are numbers of instances in the scripture where shouting and trumpeting were engaged to make a way where there is no way and to be victorious over imaginable or unimaginable enemy of peace.
The Bible recorded how shouting and trumpeting denied the Wall of Jericho’s attempt to hinder the Israelites’ breakthrough. Coming out of bondage of over four hundred years and passing through the Red Sea are enough not to expect any more hindrances before getting to the Promised Land. However, it was a different story when they encountered the Wall of Jericho, threatening to deny them of their progress. It is written, “Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in” (Joshua 6:1). The shut-up Wall of Jericho was representative of hindrance to the children of Israel. God, in His goodness and mercy, revealed to Joshua what it would take to break through the shut-up Wall of Jericho. As commanded by God, under the leadership of Joshua, “…the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city” (Joshua 6:20). By shouting and trumpeting, the Wall fell flat and the Israelites progressed. Are you too quiet to be victorious against the forces hindering your life? Understanding and know it is in the word of God to shout out against your shut-up doors.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace not to be quiet where challenges demand shouting and trumpeting.

FAITH CAPSULE: Continue and God will see you through.

2 Timothy 4

It is written, “Blessed are those who keep justice, and he who does righteousness at all times! Remember me, O LORD, with the favor You have toward Your people. Oh, visit me with Your salvation.” (Psalm 106:3-4) It can be concluded that to be remembered by God and to be visited by God is undoubtedly a great blessing from God. As indicated in the above scriptural quotation, keeping justice and doing righteousness at all times (not at our convenient times) will trigger the blessing to be remembered with the favor of God and to be visited with God’s salvation. The requirement for righteousness at all times buttresses the notion that: consistency; persistency; continuity are the condition which will provoke the blessing of God remembering with favor and visiting with salvation. The apostle Paul in his illustration of what it takes to faithfully complete the Christian life (which is like running a race) states, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day…” (2 Timothy 4:7-8) To run a race and be able to get a prize (blessing) is to continue running according to the rules and not give up. To run a race with continuity, consistency and persistency demands that one deny every form of distraction such as sin. Often when sin comes into play, getting back into the race can be challenging.
It is important for man to always keep in mind that God is a good God and ready to forgive. (Psalm 86:5) In His forgiveness there is the privilege to get back and continue in the race. It is always good to keep in mind that forgiveness from God is not a liberty to continue sinning and living in sin. The Apostle Paul buttress, “…Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it…?”(Romans 6:1-2) Understand the need to stay focus will allow God to bless you as you continue keeping justice and doing righteousness at all times. Have you fallen short in your race? It is time to get back in the race by asking for forgiveness from good God who is ready to forgive. Throughout the Bible, many stories are documented as regard of those who fell and were not able to continue because of lack of understanding to ask for forgiveness. Also, there are accounts of those who fell into sin, but by virtue of understanding, they regained continuity by asking for forgiveness and were able to complete the race. Do not give up it is not time to give up. Continue and God will see you through.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to remain focus and continue to remain focus on God.