FAITH CAPSULE: The Christian faith is all about pressing and seeking to gain the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 6

Among so many that claims to have received Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior, very few are believers of their claim. To believe in Jesus Christ is to be living the word of God. Are you one that sincerely receive and believe Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior?
If you have received Him, it is worthy to begin to desire a higher calling in every walk of God’s assignment. The Christian faith is not to be misconstrued as entertainment neither is it about living life in a state of worry. Jesus warned, “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” (Matthew 6:31-32) Why not engage worshiping instead of worrying? Jesus went further in His conversation to identify what the Christian faith is about, “But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) The Christian faith is all about pressing and seeking to gain the Kingdom of God.
By virtue of the signs today, the time in God’s calendar demands that we should come out of religion and begin to live in Christ-reality. As an acclaimed believer, it is important for one to focus his/her strength on getting to God’s expected end for those that live to seek Him. The expected end is the goal of one’s journey. On the way to the expected end, fear will always rise against one with every step toward that expected end but with faith, fear must sink. Jesus once led His disciples to go ahead on a boat, over the sea toward Capernaum. On their way, a storm took over and fear showed up powerfully that they could not recognize their Savior. In all that you are facing, are you turning your face to the Lord for intervention? Jesus responded to the fear in His disciples, “But He said to them, it is I; do not be afraid. Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.” (John 6:20) Will you receive Him into your boat of life? When you receive Him in every situation, He will take you to the expected end. However, fear has to be terminated for faith to rise. Fear will sink you; faith will raise you.

Prayer for today: In your prayer, know that the grace of God is available for all to enter into the Kingdom of God. Know to ask God to deliver you from every agent that causes fear in your life.

FAITH CAPSULE: Are you being prideful, like Naaman, in any way?

2Kings 5:1-19

Whatever man says you are might not be what God sees in you. The bible states, “Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper.”(2Kings 5:1) God is the creator and the choice to use or not use any of His creatures to convey His message fully belong to Him. God used a donkey to communicate to Balaam when he decided to go the way that seemed right to him and not to God. Balaam was on the way to pronounce curse on the Israelites, has requested by Balak, against the will of God. Balaam struggled to direct and redirect his donkey on the way to his assignment for Balak. It is written, “Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” (Numbers 22:28) God is an awesome God and if there is a need to use stone in raising up children for Abraham God would have done so without any one questioning Him why. (Matthew 3:9)
God’s decision to use Naaman a leper, in giving Syria victory was not evidence that Naaman knew God. Naaman’s middle name should have been “Empty Pride”. He was sent to Elisha for healing.Naaman was looked upon as great and honorable in the eyes of his master, but he had a great affliction (leprosy). Naaman’s rank, however, did not impress Elisha. All that the empty commander needed to do to be healed was to go and dip seven times in the Jordan River, and wipe out the arrogance in his life. 2Kings5:1,1 “Naaman became furious, and went away and said, ‘indeed, I said to myself, He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.’’’ Being a leper, he could very well have been a beggar on the street. A wise saying states, “Beggars are not choosers.” His status was a cloud to him, because he could not see beyond his prideful nose. What about you? Are you being prideful, like Naaman, in any way? When your shoulder is beginning to rise above your head, it is an indication that you have moved to a ground of self-destruction. Pride is a terrible cancer that will deny you your deliverance and let destruction have reign over your life. Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Watch out, for you have not yet arrived until the King of kings arrives to take over and bring you into everlasting life.

Prayer for today: Ask God to deliver you from every spirit that does not line up with the word of God.

FAITH CAPSULE: Walk wisely; be above the enemy and not below.

1 Samuel 18:1-7, Proverbs 2

It is normal for one to enter a new realm after having hindrances become totally disassembled and one becomes the champion over one’s hindrances. Are you experiencing gaining access to a new realm? Celebrate by giving God all the glory. Let the celebration elevate you to place of greater accountability. David, a man after God’s own heart, accessed a new realm after having destroyed the chief enemy of the Israelites (Goliath). Israel celebrated David and, therefore, Saul elevated him to a position of greater responsibility. Have you recently been elevated after having disassembled any hindrance? It is worth to study and identify what David did to engage new assignments after his elevation. David’s new assignment required that he resign himself to a new way of approaching life. Is your situation like that of David? You have been elevated and have moved onto a new ground where a new force will rise up against you in an attempt to hinder you from going further. From the time you have knocked down your Goliath you are bound to progress if you will take to the Word which gives wisdom, like David did.
The word of wisdom is the Word of God and it is able to keep one safe from one’s enemies. The word of wisdom kept David as long as he was able to remain in the Word. It is written, “So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved wisely. And Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.” (1Samuel 18:5) The secret in the story of David is “David’s wise behavior” Wisdom is crucial to maintain elevation gained in every area of life. Proverbs 2:10 points out the importance of wisdom, “When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you, to deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things…” (Proverbs 2: 10-12) Wisdom is precious to prevail in all area of life including maintaining elevation in life.
When you begin to walk wisely, you will be above the enemy; you will not be below and you will be accepted by men on your way. Heaven will answer on your behalf and earth will not be able to stop you from where He is taking you. With God, nothing is impossible. Ask and it shall be given to you for the glory of the Almighty God.

Prayer for today: Ask God today to endue you with all that it takes to become one that behaves wisely in all walks of your life.

FAITH CAPSULE: Gossip Christ and a book of remembrance will be opened on your behalf.

Luke 24

Gossiping is also a way of conversing and reasoning positively. After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Bible documented what a considerable positive gossiping is about. It is written, “Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.” (Luke 24:13-16) A positive gossiping is one that will get the attention of God. A positive gossiping will cause God to acknowledge one. Also, a positive gossiping will draw God to man. The two men that were travelling to Emmaus had nothing negative to gossip but positive when Jesus drew near to them. The two men on the way to Emmaus passionately engaged gossiping and could not recognized Jesus’s visitation. Whenever He visits at the ground of positive gossiping, He will give understanding that terminates foolishness and He will quicken the slow at heart just like He did to the two men on the way to Emmaus. 
At work, school and at home you have claimed to be a born again believer. How often have you engaged in “gossip” about Christ with the ones who have crossed your way? For a change, gossip Christ and let a book of remembrance be opened on your behalf. When positive gossiping becomes centered on God, it demonstrates the fear of God in the life of the gossipers. The book of Malachi 3:16 states, “Then those who fear the LORD spoke to one another and the LORD listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who meditate on His name. Anytime people gather in His name, it is an invitation for the presence of the Omnipotent, Omnipresent God. He will listen and He will hear and a book of remembrance will be opened on gossiper’s behalf. Can you see why your gossiping should be changed and focused on what will add blessings to you? Encourage yourself in the Word of God. The Word is alive and the Word of God is true to perform.  Allow a book of remembrance to be opened on your behalf. When God remembers you, He will add to you goodness and mercy, truth and blessings. Get yourself into gossiping Christ and a book of remembrance will be opened on your behalf.

Prayer for today: Pray to God and ask for the grace to permanently disengage every kind of negative gossiping.

FAITH CAPSULE: It is impossible for one not to imitate the Word of God that is being meditated.

Acts 19                                                            
The wording of a song states, “I want to be like Jesus.” Who do you want to be like? It is not enough to sing it, but to live daily by His Word which will make you like Jesus. Living by the Word will make one to imitate Jesus. To live life by the Word of God is work. Jesus was asked, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” (John 6:28) Jesus did not hesitate when responded to the people’s question by stating, “…this is the work of God that you believe in Him whom He sent.” (John 6:29) One that truly believes the Word of God meditates day and night on the Word of God. With Meditation in place imitating the Word takes charge of one’s life. 
Evidently, meditation is what will bring forth imitation. Joshua 1:8, “This book of 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 a good success.” It is impossible for one not to imitate the Word of God that is being meditated. The Word points out that, with meditation you will be observing every step you take so you can do according to what the Word says. When doing what the Word says becomes constant and consistent, your behavior and actions will be as that of the Word Himself.
Today, ones that truly meditate and become imitator of the Word of God are hard to be found because to be-living (believe) the Word of God is work. Working the Word of God is commitment and commitment is not often convenient. Many acclaimed believers wants to work miracles like Paul but do not want to work the work like Paul. The Bible records that the apostle Paul worked miracles. It is written, “Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.” (Acts 19:11-12) Paul was imitating Jesus, because he was absorbed in His Word. Paul walked the walk and also worked His works. Paul was speaking from a depth of understanding when he requested in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” As a believer, pastor, teacher of the Word, are you bold enough, by virtue of your walk or work to ask anyone to imitate you just as you imitate Christ? It is only possible to imitate Him if you are walking His walk and working His works. Meditate His Word and you will imitate Him in His walk.    

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to constantly and consistently engage meditating His Word.