FAITH CAPSULE: Being a believer is not a license of escape from the wickedness of the world.

Romans 12:1-12, James 4:4-6

The word of God warned in Proverbs 4:23 “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.” This warning also applies to the mind. How we keep our minds will determine the level of our conformity to the wickedness of the wicked world of today. It can hardly be discharged as inconsistent that the world today is getting darker. Being a believer is not a license of escape from the wickedness of the world. However, being a believer that behaves the word of God is the only way to God’s expected end for each and every of His creation. How easily do you get conformed the things of the world? The sound and clear warning by Paul the Apostle, in Romans 12:2 states, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”. Conformity is defined as an action or behavior in correspondence with current customs, rules, or styles. The warning is not to be conformed to this world, but unfortunately the warning is clearly falling onto deaf ears. Conformity to this world is thriving even among the believers of the Word. What is it about this world? The ruler of this world is the wicked one; the liar and the destroyer, the devil himself. He engineered the falling of man when he led Adam and Eve into the disobedient that kicked them out of where God had placed them: the Garden of Eden. The same skill that the enemy used in transforming Adam and Eve is still very much in operation today and that is more the reason why we have to yield our mind to constant renewal by the Word of God. The Word that you received yesterday is to meet the challenges of yesterday and it might not apply to the challenges of today. Believers of the Word are called not to be conformed to this world and the refusal not to conform to this world is rooted in the mind. The mind is to be constantly renewed or the world will remove the mind from where the Lord wants it to be. The mind is the battle ground where the enemy wants to take over. It is a serious warning that will carry any believer who takes to the warning through in the journey of life. Get your mind busy in constant and consistent renewal because “For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world (1 John 2:16)” It is a sound and clear warning: do not be conformed to this world.

Prayer for today: Ask God to enable you with all that it takes not to be conformed to the wicked world.

FAITH CAPSULE: To be able to seek, there has to be a desire or a purposeful heart in place because desire is what drives home seeking.

Psalm 24

Why not wait on God rather than waste away? The world is getting darker and it only takes light to navigate darkness. The word of God reveals to us in John 1:1 “…light shines in darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” In these days that the world is getting darker, why not take to the light instead of worry and get sick? The light that you need is the word of God. Psalm 119:130 says, “The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” Are you sick and tired of all that is going on around this world or in your own world today? Waiting on God is seeking God. If you are sick of it, it is time to begin to seek Him who has the power to take away and add all that will make the difference in your world. Jesus, in His word, said in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” As a believer, an acclaimed born-again Christian, it is not enough to just go to church if this is all that you consider as seeking God. What makes the difference is seeking Him indeed and in truth; not just going or serving in the church on Sundays. To be able to seek, there has to be a desire or a purposeful heart in place because desire is what drives home seeking. Desire is the engine while seeking is the motor. The Psalmist pointed out in Psalm 27:4, “One thing I have desired of the LORD that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple.” When desire comes into play, then seeking will resume motion. Determination will not do, but the grace of God will do. If your world has gotten to the point that a change is what will bring the difference, today should be the beginning of a new day. Today should be the day that you want to begin to look up for His enablement in your life. An enablement that will bring forth a burning desire that generates seeking God and ending up in His presence. In the presence of God, every other thing that comes from Him, that glorifies His name will be added onto you.

Prayer for today: Ask the Lord for His grace and He will pave the way to resume in your journey.

FAITH CAPSULE: In the opposite direction of evil agenda is the package for God’s deliverance.

Joshua 5:13-15, 6:1-21

When it was time for the children of Israel to pass through Jericho on their way to the Promised Land, resistance showed up. Joshua 6:1-2, “Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in.  And the LORD said to Joshua: “See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor.” Does that sound like your situation? Are you facing any direct resistance as you proceed on to your Promised Land? To the children of Israel, The wall of Jericho represented hindrance; delay, denial and frustration. The wall of Jericho also represented an agent of failure to the children of Israel at the point of clearing the entire hurdle that led to their Promised Land. The responsibility of crossing Jericho was laid on Joshua who took over the leadership after Moses. Joshua has the responsibility to go over the Wall of Jericho that is described as impenetrable. While Joshua was standing beside Jericho, he refused to look at Jericho but rather looked in the opposite direction. Are you looking to what is standing in your way of breakthrough or are you looking away from it and towards help from above? Joshua 5:13 mentioned how Joshua received the package of breaking through the Jericho of hindrance, “And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?” Joshua did not look at the hindrance, but he rather lifted his eyes and looked in the opposite direction. He did this with the understanding that in the opposite direction of evil agenda is the package for God’s deliverance. Joshua encountered with the Commander of the Lord’s army because he was able to look in the opposite direction of the representative of hindrance (Jericho). You can breakthrough if you will trust and know to look away from where you have been told there is no way. Where man says there is no way the Most High God is more than able to make a way. God remains the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) The wall of Jericho did not just fall but it fell down flat.

Prayer for today: In the name of Jesus, all the representative of the wall of Jericho in your journey will fall down flat.

FAITH CAPUSLE: The power to move from sickness to serving the Master is in the hand of the Master.

Luke 4:38-39, 5:12-15

The purpose of the Lord’s calling for us is to serve Him with all that He has given us. Are you serving God as required by God? Any situation that keeps a believer grounded from serving God will also deny believer from serving God in the area of calling. The Bible records about Simon’s wife’s mother’s victory over agent of denial. Luke 4:38-39, “Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them.” The sickness that kept Simon’s wife’s mother grounded intended to deny her from getting the blessing of serving the Lord. As a believer, are you leaving up to the expectation of your service in the Lord? Simon’s wife’s mother received healing touch of Jesus and she was up on time to serve the Lord. The power to move from sickness to serving the Master is in the hand of the Master. As it was requested on behalf of Simon’s wife’s mother, will you request for His presence to bring you out of all that have been keeping you from serving Him? Just as He carries the power to heal, He also carries the power to cleanse. Have you been deny from serving Him because of enemy’s stain? A man that was full of leprosy fell on his face to ask for his cleansing and he received his cleansing. Leprosy was the agent of shame, embarrassment and mockery that kept the man grounded. Is there any way or anyhow you have been experiencing shame, mockery or any kind of situation that is causing you from not being able to present yourself where you have a need? Luke 5:12-13, “And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him.”” The man with leprosy did not only receive his cleansing but went and serve as commanded by Jesus, “…But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded.” (Luke 5:14) Sickness attempted to deny Simon’s mother’s wife from serving. Shame, mockery and embarrassment were also in place to deny the man with leprosy from serving. What is denying your service unto the Lord?

Prayer for today: Deliver me from situations that refute one from serving You. Let me live to serve you.   

FAITH CAPSULE: Keeping quiet and not sharing the testimonies of God is same as shutting your miracle door.

Psalm 91

What do you have to say about God? What you have to say about God is your testimony of God. Psalm 119:2, “Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!” Psalm 119:22 “Remove from me reproach and contempt, for I have kept Your testimonies.” What do you have to say about God? What you have heard people say is not the question. Also what you have joined others in saying is not what you need to answer. What is it that you can say of God? The Psalmist says, I will say of the Lord “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” (Psalm 91:2) What the Psalmist is saying here is that God, is his shelter and protection from danger and difficulty. Before the Psalmist could say what he said, he must have known something about Him. If you do not know Him you will have nothing to say to yourself about Him. It is not enough to know God through what others know about God. The Psalmist knows the Lord as the author and finisher of His life, the beginning and the end. The One and only that can fight his battles for him without him raising hand for a moment. Above all else, he knew Him as the one that is worthy to be trusted, the One to count on in every moment and every situation, the One to wait on for direction and deliverance also for provision and preservation. The Psalmist knew Him well enough to personalize Him by stating, “My God in Him I will trust.”  Personalizing God is a demonstration of understanding God and having knowledge about Him. By virtue of knowledge and understanding of the Lord, the Psalmist declared a statement of certainty saying; “Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.” (Psalm 91:3-4) When the covering of God is upon our life, provision and every other area of need, such as protection from danger, will not cease to flow in our life. Keeping quiet and not sharing the testimonies of God is same as shutting your miracle door. Speak of His testimonies even when your miracle is yet at hand. Psalm 119:46, “I will speak of your testimonies also before kings.” There should be no limitation declaring His testimonies. God is a faithful God; declare His testimonies and He will not deny your transformation.  

Prayer for today: Look upon me and be merciful to me as Your custom is. Lord, make me to love declaring your testimonies.