FAITH CAPSULE: As a result of Moses’ disobedience act, God reacted…

Numbers 20:1-13

Jesus was approached by one of His disciples asking, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven,Hallowed be Your name…”” (Luke 11:1-2) Out of every word that came from the mouth of Jesus, there weren’t any that can be considered as a careless talk or meaningless word. In Jesus’ attempt to teach His disciples how to pray,   in the first part of the prayer was the line “hallowed be thy name”. What is important hallowing the name of the Lord? Identifying the meaning of Hallow will give us a good understanding about the importance of hallowing the name of the Lord. The word hallowed is defined as: to honor as holy; consider sacred; sanctify; consecrate. Evidently, assessing the good and might God calls for hallowing His name. His name is His presence and His name is power. His name cannot be violated. As great as Moses was in the hand of God, his sin that deprived him from stepping on the Promised Land was the result of his failure to hallow the name of God. When God commanded Moses to speak to the rock so that the children of Israel could get water to quench their thirst, Moses went and struck the rock. (Numbers 20:7-9) Moses’ act does not settle well before God. As a result of Moses’ disobedience act, God reacted and spoke to Moses and Aaron, “…Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”(Numbers 20:12)It can be considered that, not hallowing God is evidence of lack of belief. In our walk with the Lord God that manifests, God does have expectation for how we respond to His command. Moses, by virtue of all that has been invested into his life by God must have fall short the level of believe that is expected from him by God. Not to hallow God is also considered as an act of rebellion. Numbers 27:14, “For in the Wilderness of Zin, during the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against My command to hallow Me at the waters before their eyes…”Not hallowing God is trespassing against God, “because you trespassed against Me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin, because you did not hallow Me in the midst of the children of Israel.” (Deuteronomy 32:51) Clearly in Moses act of not Hallowing God we see unbelief, rebellion and trespassing. Isaiah 8:13, “The Lord of Hosts, Him you shall hallow; let Him be your fear.” In your walk let God know you fear Him and when you come before Him in prayer don’t forget to hallow his name.

Prayer for today: Let Your fear overwhelm me in every walk of life.

FAITH CAPSULE: With repentance, forgiveness will reign but consequence remains.

2 Samuel 15:7-37

God is a merciful God and He will always forgive when there is repentance. However, for every sin with repentance, forgiveness will reign but consequence remains. After king David had set up the death of Uriah and took over his wife, he received forgiveness for his repentance but the consequence lasted in his life. At certain time during his reign, he had a need to run for his life after his son Absalom, had gained the sympathy and support of the Israelites. During the escape for his life, the Bible recorded, “So David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went up.”(2 Samuel 15:30)  Obviously, the challenges of David were the consequences of despising God and the death of Uriah in attempt to cover the sin of adultery. David, with his entourage left in shame with their heads covered. In addition to that, David left his throne and the city when he went barefoot. It could not have been worse than that for a man who was described as a man after God’s own heart. Sin can be appealing but its course is destructive. Also, the consequences of sin can be exceedingly painful and emotional draining. Indeed the word of God is true to the fact that obedience is better than sacrifice. Can you trace to your present challenge to a consequence of your iniquity against God? In the midst of all, David’s heart remained focused on God, as he would not stop worshiping God either on the mountain or in the valley. “Now it happened when David had come to the top of the mountain, where he worshiped God-there was Hushai the Archite coming to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head.” (2 Samuel 15:32) The point being made here is that David would not abstain from worshiping God despite his agonizing situation. David set himself up for the situation and he was able to deal with it, without any recorded complain or neglecting his God. There was no one to be blame but David himself for giving a “Great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme.” (2 Samuel 12:14) Let it be known to you that not all confronting challenge is a pointer to consequence of sin. However, it is a point for you to be able look back and trace your past. As much as God is a merciful and forgiving God, it is important that we constantly recognize that there are consequences for every sin. God is not to be blamed or to be responsible for any sin. Be responsible. Responsibility is the price of accomplished great exploit.

Prayer for today: Ask God to lead and guide you from every trap of sin and iniquity.

FAITH CAPSULE: Sin is like a disease that will not stop itself when there is a failure in stopping it.

2Samuel 11

The Bible recorded in 2 Samuel 11:1, “It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.”(2 Samuel 11:1) King David misplaced his priority as a king that supposed to be leading at war when he remained in Jerusalem at the time kings go out to battle. At every time you are to be at the battlefront instead of being at home you have invited the battle to your home. King David invited battle to his home when he used his rightful power to unrightfully take possession of Uriah’s wife. Uriah the Hittite was at the battle ground when David made his move. It is written, “Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house. And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, “I am with child.” (2 Samuel 11:4-5)David was supposed to be at the battlefront, but chose to be at home. David’s absence from the battlefront generated devises that are outside of God. He committed adultery and also extended it to murder. Sin is like a disease that will not stop itself when there is a failure in stopping it. Whatever wickedness you have engaged yourself into; it is always good to go back to God before the enemies use you as a ground to expand your sin. David’s attempt to control his sinful act instead of confesses, made him to take his sin to another level. 2Samuel 11:14-15, “In the morning it happened that David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah.  And he wrote in the letter, saying, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die.” David’s morning could be his time in the presence of God; his prayer hour but turned out to be time to device his evil agenda. Uriah died in the battle as was set up by David. God rightfully positioned David as a king but he took his rightful position to commit unrightfully act. However, the child died and David paid a great deal for his sinful act as he experienced disruption in every area of his life. When there is a misplaced priority a displacement in position will lead to a disrupted life. Regardless of your position or title inside or outside of church, always remember, “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.” (Proverbs 15:3)

Prayer for today: Ask God to take your moments and your days to be concentrated unto Him.

FAITH CAPSULE: Disobedience to the Word of God is an avenue to departure from the presence of God.

1 Samuel 28

God gave His command to Saul, ““Go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” (1 Samuel 15: 3) Saul disobeyed God by executing God’s command at his own convenience. Disobedience to the Word of God is an avenue to departure from the presence of God. Saul failed to obey God and he removed himself from the presence of God. If you will do exactly according to His command He will not hesitate to bless you. After the death of Samuel whom the Lord had been using for Saul, there was a need for Saul to hear from God in regard to a confronting war against the Philistines. Saul inquired of the Lord, but there was no answer because his disobedience took away his privilege of accessing God. The war ahead of King Saul made his heart tremble while he could not hear from God. The Bible recorded in 1 Samuel 28:6, “And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by the prophets.” As a result of King Saul’s inability to hear from God, he then turned to another medium through which he could inquire of the Lord about the war. Saul had lost it where he could have been keeping it with God that called him to be the first king over His children. The fact that it was God who called Saul to be the king and not Saul that called himself was not an excuse to escape his act of disobedience to God’s command. Whenever a believer receives a call of from God, there is also a need for grace to keep believer to remain focus on carrying out the command of God just as required by God. Samuel, having been dead was called back from sleep through the medium that did not represent God. Saul was desperate to hear from God through Samuel but it added nothing unto Saul. Going to the medium rather took away from Saul. Samuel awoke from sleep through a medium that was not in line with God and pronounced defeat and the end of Saul when he goes to the war. Disobedience of Saul created distance between him and God that ordained him as king. Disobedience caused distance from God. It also led to Saul’s departure from the presence of God and brought upon him eventual destruction. God is a perfect manager that knows the end from the beginning. Never try to add or take away from His command.  

Prayer for today: Ask God to have mercy on you if there is any way that you are distancing yourself from His presence.

FAIH CAPSULE:You cannot hear from God and doubt what you have heard.

1 Samuel 23:1-5, Philippians 4:1-8

It is written, “The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.” (Proverbs 34:22) “Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.” (Psalm 62:8) Have you really put your trust in the Lord? There is a difference in saying “I trust in the Lord” and in actually putting your trust in the Lord. Many times words are easier said than done. In the face of life challenges, will you still hold on to your trust in God? When David was running away from Saul, with his small band of warriors he was in position to deliver the inhabitants of Keilah from the hands of the Philistines. “Therefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines, and save Keilah.”” (1 Samuel 23:2)Just like David inquired, have you inquired from God about your next move? David’s action was a demonstration of his trust in God. David received the permission to go but his men around him could not agree. David’s men responded, ““Look, we are afraid here in Judah, how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” (1 Samuel 23:3) The men of David were very correct. They had been running because they were afraid from where they were coming from and that was impacting where they were going. David knew in whom he had his trust and he could not allow where he was coming from to terminate where he was going. Knowing that God is a God of confirmation, you can always seek Him to confirm His Word in every area of life. David went back to God. “Then David inquired of the LORD once again. And the LORD answered him and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.”” (1 Samuel 23:4) You cannot hear from God and doubt what you have heard. When you hear from God, there will be neither debate nor fear. The whole world can say no; but you will say yes. The existence of doubt is the evidence that you have not heard from Him. David went forward and delivered the inhabitants of Keilah. It is all about placing trust in the Lord. Having a perfect peace is having a peace that surpasses all understanding and it is the evidence of trusting in God. Isaiah 26:3-4 encourages us, ““You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind stayed on You, because he trusts in You. 4 Trust in the LORD forever, for in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.”

Prayer for today: Ask the Lord for the grace to be able to trust in Him consistently.