FAITH CAPSULE: The truth about the word of God is to truthfully demonstrate the knowledge of His word.

Acts 4:32-37, 5:1-11

As much as lack of knowledge can be devastating, so is half knowledge. The case of Nadab and Abihu is a sure testimony that ignorance is not an excuse before God. Also, in every operation of lack of knowledge or half knowledge concerning the word of God, there is a risk that devastating consequences will take place. Leviticus 10:1-2, “Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.” There was no time for both sons of Aaron to give an excuse of their grave operation. Nadab and Abihu had witnessed the offering many times but that did not qualify them to carry out the offering. Many are witnessing, many are participating or operating certain responsibilities in the church, but it is not a demonstration or confirmation of knowledge required. The business of God is not a toy and God will not overlook sin. If you are operating without a full knowledge, it is time to learn, understand and avoid painful consequence. Ananias and Sapphira exposed themselves to the danger of losing their lives when they operated what could be considered as half knowledge. The Bible recorded in Acts 4:36-37, “And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”It is evident that Joses and Barnabas knew well enough to deliver exactly what they received from selling their property. They could not lie to the apostles because they knew the consequences. “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”(Acts 5:1-2) Ananias and Sapphira had witnessed what the process was, but they lack the knowledge of the consequence not to be truthful. The truth about the word of God is to truthfully demonstrate the knowledge of His word. Avoid being ignorant in the things of God because ignorance makes a destitute of a believer. Take time to study the things of the Lord, observe, meditate, and participate before you activate. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, there is no evidence that God ever overlooked sin except that He forgives sin. In every operation of no-knowledge there is a costly price to pay because it leads to sin. 

Prayer for today: Ask God for the knowledge of His word to have a place in your life.

FAITH CAPSULE: Task is what matters the most not the title.

Acts 3

The church in the days of the apostle and the disciples of Jesus are completely different from the church of the apostles and disciples of today. The ones in the old days were carrying in their life, a task to be completed to the glory of God and not just a title. Most of the apostles and disciples of today are only carrying titles that do not carry enough weight for delivering the assignments before them. Are you positioning yourself for the Lord to ordain you as an apostle in His hand, or are you making yourself an apostle? There is a difference when God calls you and ordains you from, when man calls you and positions you. The point here is that task is what matters most and not the title. Today people are taking sickness and diseases from the church to the hospital, instead from hospital to the church for healing. What has become of the church today? When Peter and John encountered a certain lame man at the gate and not in the temple something happened, “And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple of which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.”(Acts 3:2-3) Instead of the lame man getting what he asked for, he received a healing visitation to the glory of God because he encountered the apostles /disciples that were on a task not just answering to a title. Are you answering the title that the Lord did not ordain you to be? Answering to any title in the name of God and in the service for God is a great privilege. Also it is a great attainment to be called into the service of the Lord. However, if the Lord has not called on you to be ordained for what you are answering to, it can be a situation of giving great occasion to the enemies for blaspheming the name of the Lord. Did God call you what the world is calling you? If He has called you to be, the signs will follow and if He had not, ask Him for His divine visitation. As a result of healing manifestation in the life of the lame man at the gate, only God knows what could have become of the worship in the temple on that day. As there were miracles then, there are still miracles today that are having its way in rare places where there is no news coverage. It is time for us to seek God for a genuine relationship not a cheap relationship that is void of His presence. His presence is power.

Prayer for today: Ask the Lord God to send His light and His truth to lead you.

FAITH CAPSULE:When answering to His calling commitment takes the place of convenience.

Mark 6:7-13

The Bible recorded that, Jesus, “…called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts—but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics.” (Mark 6:7-9) Obviously, the calling of a believer is to follow, but not just to flow with the crowd. In His calling there is a time to be trained and ready to be sent out for the purpose of calling. Among the disciples of Jesus, none called himself, but Jesus called each and everyone. It is written, “And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him.”” His calling requires leaving all behind and giving Him all the attention. Has He called you and yet the old baggage is still hanging around you? In His calling, old things must be left behind otherwise new things will not have a place to stay in you. The one that calls you will not be able to move you forward until you are able to move away from your past. The one that calls you did not call you into religion but into Jesus reality. In His calling there is a time to be sent out. He that calls you will not send you until after you have been equipped with all that it takes to carry His power. Are you called by Jesus or you have placed a call on yourself? When answering to His calling commitment takes the place of convenience. His calling is a journey but not a jolly ride. Without calling and answering, sending out will not come forth. Do you know your stand? If you have answered to His calling then you have a need to make yourself available to be sent out. The disciples could not be sent out until He called them to Himself and not to material. In sending out of His disciples, He commanded that no material should come between His disciples and the journey of their calling. In His calling He gave power and not material because with power in hand every other thing should follow. What is holding you down from turning aside and making yourself available to be called and sent out? Give up all unto Jesus by answering to His call. “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to answer fully.

FAITH CAPSULE: God’s testimonies are more than enough to transport believers to the Promised Land.

Numbers 14

The testimonies of God will transport you if you will mediate on it. All that the children needed for their transportation through their wilderness journey was the testimonies of God but not complain against God.The children of Israel were to travel through the wilderness to their Promised Land for eleven days, but the journey went on for forty years. Are you experiencing a time of wandering around in a wilderness situation? At times it is good to have a wilderness journey, but it is not good to live in the wilderness. The generation that came out of Egypt did not only journey in the wilderness, but they wandered around until the wilderness passed them unto death and they were unable to see or step on the Promised Land. The children of Israel did not just become wanders in the wilderness by accident, but by their acts of complaints against God trapped them in the wilderness. Act of complaining is the act of termination. Due to their incessant complaining against what God was doing in their life, God responded in Numbers 14:22-23, “Because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice, they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it.”God promised to take them to the Promised Land. He showed them great and mighty signs in Egypt, and on their way out of Egypt. The signs and wonders of God are His testimonies. God’s testimonies are more than enough to transport believers to the Promised Land. Are you constantly meditating on His testimonies? The Psalmist knew confessed in Psalm 119:2, “Blessed are those who keep His testimonies…” Psalm 119:14, I have rejoiced in the way of your testimonies, As much as in all riches.” Psalm 119: 24, “Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors.” Psalm 119:46, I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed. The testimonies of God are all the things that He has done, and the things that He is doing, and the evidence of what He can do. His testimonies are worthy of mediation. What are the testimonies that you are carrying? Meditate on His testimonies and provoke your faith in Him. Hebrew 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Meditate on the testimonies of God; fear God and you will not fail. Please God and your journey will be a pleasant one in life.

Prayer for today: Deliver me in Your righteousness and let me not fail in the journey of life.

FAITH CAPSULE: Growing is not the measure of getting to the expected end.

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

When the children of Israel came out of the bondage of over four hundred years for their journey to the Promised Land, they all passed through the Red Sea. In the same journey, all of the children of Israel were able to drink from the rock. Above all, they journeyed under the cloud of protection during the day and light from fire to give direction during the night. All of them both sinners and non-sinners were exposed to what the Lord was doing to keep them on a good footing in their journey. However, when it was time, in the eyes of God, to separate those that were obeying His commands, from those that were not, He did without any struggle. Until the time of separation they all experienced the blessings of God and nothing separated them but it was sin that made the difference. Jesus said in Matthew 13:30, “Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”Growing is not the measure of getting to the expected end. They were all growing together in the wilderness, but not all made it to the expected end. Jesus said it and the apostle Paul also stated in 1 Corinthians 10:12 “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”So many think they are standing, when they are in the midst of a standing congregation, but not all are actually standing. When you are in the right footing with the commands of God you have taken a righteous stand. However, if you are in the wrong footing in the commands of God you might want to seek for His mercy not to fall into the judgment of God. It matters and it also counts to know that God is the only judge and no man is in the position to judge. Each and every man knows how he stands and it can be measured in the word of God as stated in 1Corinthians 10:6-10, “…we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.”” Against all of the above, every believer can measure their stand, to determine their stand in their journey to the expected end.

Prayer for today: Have mercy on me O Lord and let me not miss it in the journey of life.