POUCH OF PRIDE
 
Those that cannot forgive have a pouch inside of them that is full of pride that generates lies, deception, anger, bitterness, and an unforgiving spirit. Anyone who is identified with any of the above does not necessarily carry any visible identification to point them out in their fellowship among believers. Most of the time, they have a vibrant life; they sing like every other believer; they could be very conversant with the word of God. Sometimes they go from fellowship to fellowship, yet nothing is visible enough that identifies them for who they are. People like this can be tagged as unbelieving-believers.
Unbelieving-believers grow just like believers grow. 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.’” In deed and in truth, in today’s world, all are actually growing. In some cases, the tares have the tendency to grow and flourish better than the wheat. God is not asleep, neither is He being too busy, but there is time for every situation and all that transpire under heaven. It is written in Ecclesiastes 8:11, “Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” The Word of God is true and all will come to pass. The Word of God will catch up with every man in every way and every path of life under heaven. Jesus said, “Let them grow together until the harvest time.” He did not ask for their separation at this time, neither has he proposed for them to be stopped from growing. Man can be deceived but God cannot be deceived. Where are you in the hand of God? Is there a pouch of empty pride inside of you?
It is always worthy for a time of self-evaluation that could honestly and sincerely point every man onto genuine repentance. Are you one of the believers that carry a diary of woes? That is, are you one that is having a well-documented list of all those have faulted you, or that are faulting you for the past several years? With a deep and sincere self-evaluation, what kind of diary are you keeping? Your diary could be at the back of your mind or in a written form. There is a genuine excuse for every reason not to forgive and hold onto grudge, bitterness and other forms of evil, but before God, there is no excuse for not forgive others. He sent His most beloved to the cross for every sinner. Peter, quoting from Psalm 34:12-16, stated in 1 Peter 3:10-12, “…He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.” Just as humility is good, so pride is evil. What the word is saying here is, refrain and turn from evil by seeking and pursuing peace.
Claiming belief in Jesus is not true in anyone who harbors any form of wickedness like the ones that are mentioned above. 1 John 3:23states, “And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us.” Do you love one another, or do you love one that you choose to love or the one that you have been able to forgive? So many good things are being said about you, but you are holding on to so many things, like anger and bitterness of heart. It is not what people around you are seeing or saying that matters, but it is what God is seeing about you. Carrying a pouch full of empty pride that is generating lies, deception, anger, bitterness and an unforgiving spirit from one fellowship to another is like walking in darkness. It is also a conscious or unconscious lifestyle that claims to have been fellowshipping with God. Such claim is contrary to the way of God and it is not in line with the message of God as emphasized in 1 John 1:5-7, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” Will you consider a sincere and honest self-evaluation? Come out of self-deception give it all to God and He will bring you out of all that is wicked and evil.
God is waiting for all who are ready to renounce wickedness, confess and repent.
 
Faith capsule:
Just as humility is good, so pride is evil. 
Claiming belief in Jesus is not true in anyone who harbors any form of wickedness.

                                   DO NOT BE FAR BUT FOCUS ON GOD

 
Those that are far from God consciously or unconsciously have taken the way of death. One cannot be far from God and not far from death. To be far from God is not to trust in God.  
Among what transpires when one is far from God are:
When one is far from God, one’s flesh and heart will fail.
One’s feet will stumble and steps will not stand but slip off.
One that is far from God will be envious of the boastful (seeing and paying attention to the prosperity of the wicked)
Among the things that are glaring about the wicked are:
The strength of the wicked is firm.
The wicked are not in trouble as other men.
The wicked perverts the way of justice; walks with perverse mouth.
Perversity is in the heart of the wicked and the wicked does evil continually.
Pride is the portion of the wicked and violence serves as the pattern in their walk of life.
The wicked do not acknowledge God but lean on their own understanding.
Often the wicked have more than heart could wish; they increase in riches; they grow.
The wicked one is far from God.
Wickedness is a sin.
Are you one that envies sinners?
It is written, “Do not envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day.” (Proverbs 23:17)
However, it is good to draw near to God. One that trusts in God hopes and rests in God.
Trusting and hoping in God prompts one to declare the works of God.
Knowing to declare the works of God causes man to be decorated with presence of God.
To declare the work of God is to be obedient to God and disobey the gods of this world. The three friends of Daniel (Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego) demonstrated what it means to declare the works of God and be decorated by God. The three friends of Daniel disobeyed King Nebuchadnezzar by not worshiping a gold image. Whoever does not fall down to worship gold image was to be casted into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. Attempts to get them worship did not work and the king questioned:Who is the god who will deliver the three friends from his hands?
The three friends of Daniel, in the face of untimely death declare the wonder-working God stating, “…O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18) It is impossible to declare the wonder-working God in the face of a challenging confrontation like that of the three friends and not have God decorate the declarer of His wonder-working name.
God decorated the three friends immediately in an uncommon way in the history of creation when He came down to deliver them in the fiery burning furnace. They were highly decorated and the king could not resist from announcing the awesomeness of God.
It happened while they are in the burning furnace that God Himself came down instead of sending an angel for their deliverance. When the king saw the God whom he did not know before, he was astonished and he stated, “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”(Daniel 3:25)
The three friends of Daniel, while in captivity, despite their challenging situation consciously took to the way of life by remaining close to the God of their fathers and they were not far from God. The wicked was not a challenge to them as they remained focused on their God. The three friends of Daniel trusted in God and their hope could not become rusted.
The Bible is written for our learning because God did not speak to waste His word. The same God of yesterday is the same today and forever. Draw nearer to God, ignore the wicked, focus and hold onto God in these days of rising challenges and you will ride above all.

                                            MAINTAIN YOUR VICTORY IDENTITY

As a child of God, when you begin to fail in a battle that God has already delivered into your hand, there is a need for self-checkup. Also, when you are on a victory lane in every area of your battle, be conscious of forces that could derail you from the winner’s lane.         
For the Israelites after having gained victory by walking through the Red Sea, the wall of Jericho was supposed to be another giant confrontation to stop them from getting to their Promised Land. The Lord gave them victory when they were able to faithfully follow God’s command that called for shouting, trumpeting and marching around their wall of hindrance. The wall that was securely shut in attempt to deny them a passage to the Promised Land did not only fall, but fell down flat. As they progressed in their journey they were commanded in Joshua 6:18 “And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed. Having brought down the wall of Jericho, victory became their identity. Victory is the evidence of sincere obedience to God’s commandment. However, where there is a failure to identify with the commandment of God, one is bound to misplace victory identity. Just like the children of Israel’s journey, the journey of life is like that of going to the Promised Land. On the way to the Promised Land, engaging war is inevitable, but a full compliance with the Word of God is the only successful vessel of transportation to our Canaan Land. After bringing down the wall of Jericho, the children of Israel moved against the people of Ai. Having consistently been victorious, they assumed victory because the people of Ai were few in number. Wrong assumptions can be a deadly deception that disregards truth and reality in any step of life. The Israelites failed to realize that their preceding victories were based on the ability to obey God’s commands and not on their enemies’ number or strength. The war against the people of Ai that were few in number turned out to be a thorn in their flesh. One of the children of Israel named Achan violated the Lord’s commandment and the whole population paid the price by suffering defeat. Have you violated any of His commandments consciously or unconsciously in any area of your life? Your past victory will not compliment for your present battle. Every battle demands a different approach and unceasing obedience to God’s command. Past victory could not compliment for the children of Israel’s future victory. They were struck; they were chased; the heart of the people melted. Joshua, the leader, turned to God for directions to get back on the victory lane. God said to Joshua “Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which Icommanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived;andthey have also put it among their own stuff (Joshua7:11).
 It does not matter how long ago you have taken the accursed; it could be the cause for your current failures. Set yourself unto God, wait on Him and ask for His light in your current dark avenue. God will enable you to see and destroy the accursed thing that is causing failure and victory shall be restored as your identity.
Achan, the one that took the accursed thing, confessed by stating, “…Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and this is what I have done: When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. And there they are, hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, with the silver under it.” (Joshua 7:20-21)Covetousness is the root of accursed. God said in His ten commandments; thou shall not covet. Cry unto God and ask for covetousness to die in all areas of your life. The children of Israel under the leadership of Joshua identified the cause of their defeat and the covetous Achan was terminated. God in His goodness and mercy delivered the people of Ai into their hand and they recovered from their failure. When you discover yourself, you will recover all that has wasted away in your life.
It is impossible to wait on God regarding seeking solution for failure where victory is supposed to be place and not hear from Him. Godwill be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you (Isaiah 30:19) Do not hold back from crying to Him, He is waiting for the sound of your cry and you will rediscover the victory identity.
Faith capsule:
Wrong assumptions can be a deadly deception that disregards truth and reality in any step of life. 
When you discover yourself, you will recover all that has wasted away in your life.

                                                       REMEMBERING GOD

Remembering God is giving thanks and praises to God. Remembering God for who He is will grant one an entrance into His gate and accessing into His court. In approaching God, taking a stop at the gate will not be enough and can never be satisfying without getting into His court. Entering His court requires praising Him. Praising Him should not be a mouth exercise but devotion from the heart. The Psalmist knew what it takes to pass through the gate and gain an entrance into His court. Psalm 100:4, “Enter into His gate with thinks giving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And is truth endures to all generations.” Are you praising Him with understanding? There have to be meaning and understanding in every route of connecting with God or else it could be a race against the wind, The Psalmist talked about it when he says in Psalm 47:7, “God is the King of all earth; Sing praises with understanding.” Remembering Him should not be limited only to the time of need; it should be a consistent engagement at every given place by privilege that is in place through His grace. Psalm 105, “Oh give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name: Make known His deeds among the people.” Those that know how to remember Him in thanks giving will know how to receive from Him with praise. God will respond when you pray but to remember to thank and praise will add perfection to what He gives. It is impossible to remember Him and not be lightened up with joy from inside to outside. When one remembers Him one will glory in His name because His name is glorious in holiness and fearful in praises. When one remembers God seeking and finding Him becomes undeniable. When God is remembered it is impossible to miss in the journey of life because one cannot remember Him and not meditate on His works of old that will guide in the of journey of life today. Remembering God is trusting in God and trusting in Him is what will keep one standing and not falling where tens, hundreds, and thousands are falling. Psalm 20:7-8, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They have bowed down and fallen; but we have risen and stand upright.” Constantly remembering Him will bring constant joy in your heart because He is a covenant keeping God. God cannot forget to remember His own especially when His own refuses not to forget Him for all that He has done, for all that He is doing and all that He will do. He is faithful in His word and He will not fail to remember when we remind Him concerning the works of His hand. “Then God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the animals that were with him in the ark. And God Made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters subsided.” (Genesis 8:1) God does not sleep and He will not sleep concerning His children. The fact that He remembered is not a demonstration of a forgetful mind but it is an indication that God moves at His own pace and His timing is better. God will always remember with favor and visits with salvation. God commanded Noah to build an ark of salvation before the time of the flood and when it was time for Noah to land on dry land, He remembered Noah and made a way for him on the dry land. Have you ever considered the need for you to maintain trust and know that He has not forgotten you? The children of Israel were in bondage for over four hundred years. Salvation was not activated for the children of Israel until God remembered them. What do you need for God to remember you? God is able to remember you and dry every tear of lack; He is able to remember in moving you forward from every ground of stagnation. In bareness Sarah was going to Shiloh yearly with her husband and Peninnah and she had nothing to show for it until she encountered favor when Eli the priest prayed the prayer of favor for Sarah. “So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.” (1 Samuel 1:20) At the process of time God remembered Sarah. If you have been waiting on God for long it will not be long for Him to remember you because He is a merciful God and no situation is hidden from God. Pray in the name of Jesus and the same God that visited Noah, the children of Israel and Sarah will not forget you; He will remember you with favor and He will visit you with salvation.
 
FAITH CAPSULE:
God is a God of order not blunder. When one reorder what He ordered, one would end up in blunder. If you have been waiting on God for long it will not be long for Him to remember you.

                                     CONTIUNITY IS THE RULE OF THE RACE

“…Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it…?” (Romans 6:2)

It is written, “Blessed are those who keep justice, and he who does righteousness at all times! Remember me, O LORD, with the favor You have toward Your people. Oh, visit me with Your salvation.” (Psalm 106:3-4) It can be concluded that to be remembered by God and to be visited by God is undoubtedly God’s blessing. As indicated in the above scriptural quotation, keeping justice and doing righteousness at all times (not at our convenient times) will trigger the blessing to be remembered and to be visited with God’s salvation. The requirement for righteousness at all times buttresses the notion that: consistency; persistency; continuity are the rules of the race. The apostle Paul in his illustration of what it takes to faithfully complete the Christian life (which is like running a race) stated, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day…” (2 Timothy 4:7-8) To run a race and be able to get a prize (blessing) is to continue running according to the rules and not give up. To run a race with continuity, consistency and persistency demands that one deny every form of distraction such as sin. Often when sin comes into play, getting back into the race can be challenging. One should always keep in mind that God is a good God who is ready to forgive. (Psalm 86:5) In His forgiveness there is the privilege to get back and continue in the race. It is always good to keep in mind that forgiveness from God is not a liberty to continue sinning and living in sin. The Apostle Paul elaborated further on not continuing in sin despite the forgiveness in place when he stated, “…Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it…?” Understand the need to stay focused in your race, allow God to bless you when you are able to continue in keeping justice and doing righteousness at all times. Have you fallen short in your race? It is time to get back in the race by asking for forgiveness from a good God who is ready to forgive. Throughout the Bible, many stories are documented of those who fell and were not able to continue because of lack of understanding to ask for forgiveness. Also, there are accounts of those who fell into sin, but by virtue of understanding, they regained continuity by asking for forgiveness and were able to complete the race.
The case of Adam:
After the violation of God’s command not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-18) Adam sinned. Adam did not ask for forgiveness when God confronted his doing but he reduced himself by giving an excuse (excuse is an agent of pride) Adam’s response states that, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” (Genesis 3:12) Ponder and consider Adam’s excuse if you are a man with the self-given gift of excuse before God. There will never be a better excuse in the history of man like that of Adam. However, the best excuse failed. Do you have any legitimate excuse before God? Who knows what would have happened if the man Adam had realized his sin and cried out for forgiveness? Many other cases like Adam’s are found all through  the pages of the Bible but all suffered physically or spiritually untimely death.
The case of David:
It is written about David, “…The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be commander over His people…” (1 Samuel 13:14) David was a man after God’s own heart and it was evident in how he ran the race of faith. He committed a great act of sin when he committed adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah. After finding out that Bathsheba was carrying a child from his affair with her, he set Uriah up to die at the warfront. When David was confronted for his sinful act, he gave no excuse but rescued himself with instant repentance. David’s blessing was retained but the consequence remained. God is a good God without an iota of doubt but it is good to know that with repentance, forgiveness will come our way and the consequence will stay in our way.
The Bible says, “For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.”(Psalm 86:5) The word of God is true and cannot be broken. God is ready to forgive and bless. If one will understand and know to keep justice and do righteousness at all times the blessing of God will constantly be in place. God will remember with favor and visit with salvation. Remember, continuity is the rule of the race. Do not give up; disallow sin from having the last say.

Faith Capsule: The requirement for righteousness at all times buttresses the notion that: consistency; persistency; continuity are the rules of the race.
Tunde