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.

FAITH CAPSULE: Good courage is God’s courage.

Numbers13

Courage is the quality of mind which enables a person to face any kind of difficulty, danger without fear. Courage is what we need to access God’s blessings that are already in place for our life. In the absence of courage it is discouragement that will take place. Every blessing which God put in place for us the enemy wants to replace. It takes courage that is rooted in trusting in God to deny the enemy from denying our access ability to God’s blessing for us.
When it was time for the children of Israel to access God’s promise, Moses directed the children of Israel to go and spy the Promised Land. It is written, “Then Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, “Go up this way into the South, and go up to the mountains, and see what the land is like: whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, few or many; whether the land they dwell in is good or bad; whether the cities they inhabit are like camps or strongholds;whether the land is rich or poor; and whether there are forests there or not. Be of good courage. And bring some of the fruit of the land.” Now the time was the season of the first ripe grapes.”(Numbers 13:17-20) Moses knew what it takes to access God’s promise as a result he attempted to discourage them from becoming discouraged regardless of what they see when they spy the land. He commanded the spy to be of good courage. Good courage is God’s courage. Good (God’s) courage is what will allow us to see and receive what God has packaged for our life. It is good courage that will allow us to hear and to have what God has promised. Good courage is the vehicle that will bring forth results in every pursuit in our life. Moses knew that without good courage, the children of Israel would not be able to get to where God was taking them. Good courage is seeing positive in the face of negative. As a child of God, Moses knew that God would not promise good and give bad. It is important for us also to see the good in the journey of life where others may see nothing but the bad; to be able to be positive where others are negative. How do you see God’s promises manifested in your life? Based on Moses understanding and knowledge of God, he was able to face danger with bravery. After the death of Moses, God commissioned Joshua. Joshua 1:7, “Only be strong and very courageous…” God commanded Joshua to be courageous and we have to be of good courage.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to be constantly and consistently be of good courage.