FAITH CAPSULE: Keeping distance from the Word of God increases your closeness to Satan.

Luke 22:31-62
 
Living in denying God is evidence of faith-failure. Jesus spoke to Peter, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail.” (Luke 22:31-32) By speaking to Peter about faith-failure, Jesus knew exactly what was ahead. Peter had the warning how his faith was going to fail when Jesus told him, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.” (Luke 22:34) Just as spoken by Jesus, Peter’s denial of Jesus was his faith-failure. The Word of God that sounded for Peter came to pass after the arrest of Jesus. It is written, “Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed at a distance. Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, ‘This man was also with Him.’ But he denied Him,saying, ‘Woman, I do not know Him.’” (Luke 22:54-57) The failure of Peter is clear to every believer of the Word that cares to study. Peter denied Jesus, the living Word of God, at the time when he began to keep distance from Jesus. Peter had a great desire and determination not to deny Jesus, but he fell short of his desire and determination when the distance between him and the Word of God increased. 
Peter keeping distance was because of challenges surrounding the arrest of Jesus. The arrest of Jesus was not convenient and it was painful. Peter was not ready to undergo such pain. In Peter’s following at distance, the Bible records in Luke 22:55-56 how Peter went and joined those that kindled fire in the midst of the courtyard. Peter wanted warmth and comfort while his master had been arrested in the middle of a cold night. Peter sought and gained a place of comfort in place of commitment. Evidently, seeking comfort in the place of commitment will keep a believer at distance from the living Word of God. While he was in his comfort zone, Peter was repeatedly confronted in regard to his relationship with Jesus. With the consistent requests to know of Peter’s relationship in relation to Jesus, Peter graduated from denying Jesus to rejecting Him by responding, “Man, I do not know what you are saying!” (Luke 22:60) Peter, after his third denial of Jesus as predicted by Jesus, he then remembered the word of Jesus that stated, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” (Luke 22:61) A believer that keeps distance from the Word of God narrows their distance from the Satan and becomes closer to the deceiver of man. Determination will fail, but prayer will prevail.
 
Prayer for today:Ask for the grace for your faith not to fail.

FAITH CAPSULE: Pride is a personal ride to self-destruction.

Philippians 2
 
Jesus’ humility was testified of in Philippians 2:5-8, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
The mind of Christ is that of a little child; that of a humble one. The effect of being humble:
The scriptural verse above points it out that, Jesus “humbled Himself and became obedient…” Clearly, without humility, it can be impossible to be obedient to the commands of God. Meaning, humility and obedience cannot be separated. Pride, the opposite of humility, is not of God; it is of the evil one and if it is in place in one’s life, humility will be out of place in that person’s life. As a result, where pride reigns, disobedience is active and death looms.
Pride is a personal ride to self-destruction. It is an indirect or sometimes direct way of rejecting God’s command. For example, pride is what terminated the destiny of the Israelites from getting to their Promised Land. The Israelites complained in response to the report of those that went to spy the land, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! 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?” So they said to one another, “Let us select a leader and return to Egypt” (Numbers 14:2-4). God regarded the response as a way of rejecting Him when He spoke to Moses: “…How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me…” (Numbers 14:11) Evidently, rejecting God is same as not believing God. Not believing God is disobeying God. Not obeying God is pride, the opposite of humility. God cannot overlook sin when there is no repentance. God declared what He was going to do to all that rejected Him when He stated, “They certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it. But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it” (Numbers 14:23-24). All the ones that rejected God by act of disobedience did not see the land except for Joshua and Caleb. Following God fully is only possible when there is mind of Christ in place in one’s life.
 
Prayer for today: Ask God for a heart that serves Him fully.

FAITH CAPSULE: Many claim to have been converted but need to be re-converted and become as little children.

Matthew 18: 1-14
 
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6).The word of God is true to the core. In every area of life, one can only pretend and never prevail in what is not known. What one does not know will never work for one. It can also be concluded that what the word of Hosea is also saying is, when there is knowledge in place for people of God, being destroyed becomes impossible.
Going by the word of God, it is safe to say, knowing the mind of Christ is a perfect assurance for making heaven. It is one thing to know and it is another to know–about. The difference between knowing and knowing about is that, one that knows will practice what is known to Him.One that only know-about lacks the understanding to practice nothing. Today many claim to be full of knowledge of Jesus not many are actually operating the mind of Christ Not operating the mind of Christ is lack of knowledge of Christ. One that knows Jesus will behave Jesus. Behaving like Jesus is evidence of knowing the mind of Jesus.
The mind of Jesus can be identified in His word:
“…Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me” (Matthew 18:3-5)
The statement of Jesus to His disciples that were trying to know who the greatest is in the kingdom of God clearly opened up without any further interpretation what the mind of Christ is about.
Many claim to have been converted but need to be re-converted and become as little children. Also many claim to have been converted as children but until the conversion is like that of little children it is not complete and it grants no ticket to the kingdom of heaven. When one becomes as little children it is then that every mark of humility is evident in one’s life. Little children that are still little indeed (many little children today are actually not little) will not do anything through selfish ambition but in lowliness of heart. And that is why they are little children.
Becoming and operating as little children can be identified as the height of humility in one’s life. Jesus firmly demanded becoming as little children because whatever we become is what we behave. He did not only ask for it but He lived life as a little child by virtue of the humility that was evident in His life.
 
Prayer for today :Ask Him for the mind of Christ to become of you.

FAITH CAPSULE: Abraham’s love gained heaven’s attention.

Genesis 22
 
Abraham was seventy five years old when he left home because he chose to love and serve God by fulfilling God’s call for his life. Abraham demonstrated his love when he moved in obedience to an unknown location. Through the journey of Abraham’s life, his love for God was constantly by God. However, the strongest demonstration of his love for God emerged after the birth of his son Isaac. God said to Abraham, “…take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” (Genesis 22:2) God’s repeated emphasis on Isaac’s status to Abraham before mentioning Isaac for sacrifice was not enough for Abraham to deny God. Abraham demonstrated what it means to love with all our heart when he followed through and obeyed the instructions of God. Abraham resumed the journey of obedience at the early hour.
“Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off.” (Genesis 22:4) It took Abraham three days to get to the ground of sacrifice. Abraham’s taking of his one and only son that he loved, on a three days journey must have been exhausting. Also, knowing fully well that the son was to die should have taken away all his strength as he went on for three days. Despite all, he continued because he loved God with all his strength.
Abraham also demonstrated his love with all his soul when he carried out the sacrifice in his heart. “Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.” (Genesis 22:10) Abraham’s attempt called for heaven’s attention and the angel called on Abraham, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”(Genesis 22:12) By not withholding and being so willing to sacrifice his one and only son, Abraham clearly demonstrated how much he loved God with all his heart, strength and soul. Oftentimes we withhold from God by not letting go where there is a need to let go for His glory. Many believers proclaim that they love God, but it is easier said than done because actions speak louder than words. Loving God by demonstration rather than by word of mouth should be constantly seen in the life of every believer. Nowadays, it seems as though believers are often found to be identified with lying, deception and manipulation instead of demonstrating more of God’s love. It is impossible to love God and not constantly demonstrate loving others. Do you love God? Think about your love for God.

Prayer for today:Ask God for the grace to love Him and only in every area of life.

FAITH CAPSULE: Though our times are in His hand, every time we violate Him we allow the hand of enemies to operate.

2 Samuel 11
 
King David is a vivid example of one that maintained stability when wisdom and knowledge was his associate. Also, he is a good example of one that maintained instability when he parted with wisdom and knowledge.
King David was a man after God’s own heart. (1 Samuel 13:14) David was a man that sought God with all his heart because he would not make moves without seeking God for wisdom. David repeatedly behaved wisely because he was seeking God and it was constantly mentioned, “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.” (1 Samuel 18:5) David’s life was constantly stable when operating wisdom. Also as king, David regularly inquired from God before making any of his moves. Many times, he repeatedly went before God for re-confirmation of the word of direction before making moves against his enemy. (1 Samuel 23:2) All the time that he was operating wisdom, stability of time was his portion. The moment David failed and entered into instability of times was when he failed to inquire the wisdom of God.
Once during his stable times, he saw a beautiful woman bathing, but inquired outside of God. It is written that, “David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, ‘Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?’ Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her…” (2 Samuel 11:3-4) God was not his source of his enquiry, but ‘someone’ else was. The result of his move made a lifetime mark of instability in King David’s life. David’s action did not settle well with God and God made it known to David through Prophet Nathan, “…if that had been too little, I also would have given much more…” (2 Samuel 12:8) God never runs out of mercy except when we choose to run out of His mercy by failure to operate wisdom and knowledge. Truly our times are in the hand of God. God will not deny you regarding how you choose to use your time that is deposited in His hand because He is not a slave master but rather is a Saving Master. Also, God is not a dictator but our Deliverer. He has put in place what it takes to live a stable life. His word of wisdom and knowledge is all we have to take to ourselves.
 
Prayer for today: Ask for the grace of making moves only in the word of God.