FAITH CAPSULE: A reasonable sacrifice unto God will deliver a reasonable response from God.

1 Kings 3:3-15

Sacrificing unto God is worshiping God. Worshiping God is an on going as along there is breath of life. Sacrificing unto God can be convenient or inconvenient at times but commitment is what matters and counts before God. It is written, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1)It is important to understand that our sacrifices unto God should always be acceptable and reasonable to God. The Bible describes God, “…For the Lord is the God of knowledge; and by Him actions are weighed.” (1 Samuel 2:3) The action behind our sacrifice is clear unto God and only God determines the acceptability of our sacrifice. A reasonable and acceptable sacrifice unto God will no doubt provoke the hand of God to favor. God demands a reasonable sacrifice. A reasonable sacrifice unto God will deliver a reasonable response from God. When His hand is deposited reasonably upon your life, every reason to stand out becomes undeniable. King Solomon was such a King that the world never stopped reasoning about the kind of wisdom he demonstrated in his life. David made us aware that Solomon had always been a wise man before God’s hand was provoked in adding a wise and understanding heart to Solomon. David said to Solomon, “Now therefore, do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man and know what you ought to do to him; but bring his gray hair down to the grave with blood.” (1 Kings2:9)This verse points out that Solomon had always been a wise man. However, when King Solomon offered a reasonable sacrifice, his story turned around forever. It is recorded about Solomon, “Now the King went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place: Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, ‘Ask what shall I give you?’”(1 Kings 3:4-5) Solomon worshiped God with reasonable sacrifice and his sacrifice provoked the hand of God. Is your sacrifice provoking the hand of God or is it revoking it? Do you remember Cain’s sacrifice? Your sacrifice matters; it will deposit an uncharacteristic power of God that is unparalleled in your life. 1 Kings 3:12, “Behold I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.” A reasonable sacrifice will provoke a reasonable God-investment in your life. God deposited a wise and understanding heart in King Solomon. 

Prayer for today: O Lord, instruct me and teach me in the way to go that I shall live for your glory.

FAITH CAPSULE: Let yesterday be yesterday in your journey. Do not complain.

Exodus 16:1-7

Looking back into all that happened in the past without the heart of praising and thanking God should be considered as an act of non verbal way of complaining to God. Complain is nothing but an act of rebellion. The Bible recorded that when it was time for God to destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for their sin, Lot lingered and his wife and children were virtually hand held for their removal by the angels of God. (Genesis 19:16) Evidently, they were reluctant to leave and move forward. The angels that brought them out turned to them stating, “…Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.” (Genesis 19:17) The instruction for total deliverance was not to look behind. To Lot’s wife, doing the opposite was the ideal because she could not let the past be in the past. Lot’s wife looked back not to thank God but because she could not let go. Lot’s wife demonstrated a non-verbal complain as she became a pillar of salt. Just as Lot’s wife demonstrated a non-verbal complain, the children of Israel demonstrated a verbal complain. The children of Israel left Egypt and Egypt could not leave them. The Israelites continued to look back complaining, instead of looking back in thanksgiving and praising God. With every step they took forward, they turned to look back on the life they were leaving while in Egypt. The children of Israel constantly engaged in verbal complain at every ground of lack. Complaining was a major breakdown that denied them from reaching their destination. Are you looking back into the past months or years to compare? The Red Sea had not yet granted passage to the huge number of the Israelites before the complaining started. The Israelites began to complain and they also confessed negativity that eventually trapped them in the wilderness. The Bible recorded, “And the children of Israel said to them, oh that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”(Exodus 16:3) Complementing God instead of complaining to God for His goodness and mercy for all years past is an avenue to total deliverance. What are your confessions in your focusing on the past months and years? The Bible clearly warned, “You are snared by the words of your mouth; you are taken by the words of your mouth.” (Proverbs 6:2) “He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.”(Proverbs 13:3)Let yesterday be yesterday in your journey. Do not complain. Turn from complaining to praising Him with a heart of thanksgiving.

Prayer for today: Bless the name of God for His goodness and mercy.  

FAITH CAPSULE: Steadfastness and undivided in one’s belief defines integrity.

Job 1, 2:1-10,

David recorded, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.” (Psalm 51:10-11) Steadfastness is the key word here. Every believer that is filled with the spirit of God will need to be steadfast and undivided in the spirit to remain or maintain the presence of God. Steadfastness and undivided in one’s belief defines integrity. The word of God states, “The integrity of the upright will guide them…” (Proverbs 11:3) The life of Job is one that describes and deliver the understanding of how integrity is a character that guides in the face of sever adversity and prevent one from violating God. Job stands out as one that God declared as a man of integrity (steadfast and undivided). It is written, “Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.” (Job 2:3) Job’s integrity was the secret of being guided from failing God during Satan’s assault on him. The assault on Job was not enough to derail Job from his walk with the Lord. From the first assault to the second, and throughout his life, it was clear that Job was a man who would not digress from integrity. From the period of wellness to the time of severe affliction Job, maintained steadfastness and undivided service unto God. The Bible describes him like no any other character stating, “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.”(Job 1:1) Job received the devastating news about the loss of his property and the deaths of his children on the same day, yet he did not withdraw to complain or be angry with God, It is written, “Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped.”(Job 1:20) As if the first assault was not enough, Satan struck the second time with boils from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. To add more to Job’s adversity, the wife also despised him saying, “…Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” It is clear that Job’s integrity kept him in the presence of God. Obviously, maintaining integrity will no doubt cause a believer to regain all that the enemy has stolen.

Prayer for today: Ask God to create in you a clean heart and to renew a steadfast spirit within you.

FAITH CAPSULE: When you are no longer standing still, you are not far from falling down.

Exodus 14:10-31

The word of God encourages, “Let God arise, Let His enemies be scattered…” (Psalm 68:1) What are the challenges that are troubling in your life? If one will let God, challenges will let go. In the face of every confronting challenge, the more you take away your battle from God, the more you give way to defeat. Why not try God? We know that we have never seen or heard of God losing a battle on behalf of His children. We also know assuredly that any battle that is lost is the result of not letting God arises and do our behalf. Calling on the name of God in face of any confronting challenge is defeat impossibility. The Bible describes the name of God, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” (Proverbs 18:10) The righteous, the ones that have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior do have tower that is strong enough to deliver. When trouble comes your way and you begin to lose your rest, it is an indication that you are taking your battle away from God. When you lose your rest you fail in being able to stand still. When you are no longer standing still, you are not far from falling down. Many have fallen, many are falling and many are in the process of falling regarding battles of life and challenging issues such as finances, health, and marriage because they have decided not to let God fight the fight. The children of Israel, after the bondage of over four hundred years came out of Egypt with favorable recovery. The Israelites had just experienced what God can do when He fights on behalf of His children, but in difficulty after difficulty they could not stand or let God take control. With Pharaoh behind them at the crossing of the Red Sea, they turn their back to faith and hold on in fear. With fear complain and negative confession came to place. Moses operating under God’s direction responded to the children of Israel, ““And Moses said to the people, ‘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 your battle and you shall hold your peace.’”(Exodus 14:13-14)  Does it sound like this verse is addressing you? Step out of fear so that you can stand in faith. In your stand, you will then be able to see victory that is yet there as being there then it will become accomplished. Let God arise on your behalf and the enemy will be permanently and eternally terminated by being scattered.

Prayer for today: Ask that the mercy of God will not expire over your life as the year runs out.

FAITH CAPSULE: There are direction, deliverance and breakthrough in His commandment.

John 9:1-23

The book of Isaiah chapter 9 was talking about the government of the promised Son of God when it stated in, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shinned.”(Isaiah 9:3)  Jesus is the light of the world and the only reason for the season. He declared in, “…I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life.”(John 8:12) He came two thousand years ago and ever since then He has been here. The same Jesus continues to pass by for those that make the choice of accepting Him as Lord and Savior. A man who was blind from his mother’s womb was at his usual position of begging and being mocked when Jesus’ passing by brought him out of his blindness. Many times Jesus has passed by you and He is still passing by, but you cannot receive your deliverance because of the thing that has kept you bound for years. Your inability to receive is not because Jesus has ceased to pass by, but because you have failed to enter into His commandment. Most times, His commandment sounds foolish to you. It may make you look stupid, but the bottom line is there are direction, deliverance and breakthrough in His commandment. Jesus saw the blind man from birth. He approached him. He spat on the ground and mixing His saliva with the dirt, made clay and anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay (John 9:6). Jesus commanded the blind man stating, “And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.”(John 9:7) This blind man was unlike the Syrian army commander, Naaman, whom Elisha sent to wash at the Jordan. Naaman was reluctant and furious for having to go to such a low standard river. He delayed his going and his miracle was delayed. The blind man, however, did not question Jesus. He went and washed and he gained sight. Stagnation ceased in his life and he saw where he had not seen since birth. His neighbors questioned his healing. Ridicule ceased and above all, direction became clear because there was sight in place. The secret of the blind man’s miracle was submission to Jesus’ command that gave healing. Jesus is the light of all men. Be wise in your wisdom and know that, “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.”(1 Corinthians 1:27)

Prayer for today:The Lord will give the grace for obedience that is needed to receive sight for breakthrough.