FAITH CAPSULE: Knowing Him prompts one to know self.   

Matthew 16: 13-20, Mark 10:46-52

What people say He is matters not, but who do you say He is? 
In Matthew 16:13-16, Jesus asks His disciples, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  
Who do you say He is? 
It does not matter what people say He is, but it does count for you to know who He is to you. 
Who do you say He is? 
Knowing Him will determine how you will call Him.
Knowing who He is to you will determine how you identify and relate with Him.
The Psalmist knows his God, “I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” (Psalm 91:2)
In Matthew 9:27, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” Matthew 15:22 recorded, “A woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! …” 
Knowing who He is will determine how you call on Him.
Blind Bartimaeus, a roadside beggar, heard that Jesus was passing his way when he cried out, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” and Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called.” (Mark 10:48-49) 
When the blind Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus, the people who attempted to keep him quiet were in vain. 
Challenges will try to keep one quiet while knowing Him shall also be strengthened to gain salvation. 
One who knows who He is shall gain uncommon attention, attention that will cause Him to stand still for such to access Him.
On one occasion, Peter opened up for Jesus to teach the disciples about the church. 
In the teaching was an opening to knowing self.
Peter stated, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:17-18)
Peter learned to know the assignment of the rock.
The Bible identifies His church will be built, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail.. 1 Corinthians 3:16) 
Ephesians 2:20 confirmed Christ as the cornerstone, “having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone.” 
Knowing who the people He is shall provoke knowing self.
Allow the word to enter so that you may become His building.

Prayer for today: Ask for the word of God to take over your life.

Faith Capsule: It can never be too much in doing what is good.

Psalm 34

God is good, and doing good is godly.
God is good, and His character is good. 
The word of God is God; His work is His word; His work is good. 
Genesis1:1-4 states, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light” and there was light. And God saw the light that it was good…”  
God spoke to creation, “Let there be light”.
The creation of God was His word.
The creation by God was pronounced good. 
God created man in His image. 
Are you doing good? 
Is your character good or being identified as an evil one?
Evil ones are wicked ones. 
Among the characters of the wicked is having the word in the mouth but far from the mind. (Jeremiah 12:1-2) 
Do you not know that God is good and doing good is godly? 
What is good is God. 
The word testifies to the truth that God is good:
Good and upright is the Lord; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way. (Psalm 25:8) 
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! (Psalm 34:8) 
For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You. Psalm 86:5) 
I will praise You forever Because You have done it; And in the presence of Your saints I will wait on Your name, for it is good.” (Psalm 52:9) 
God is good, and doing good is godly.
Doing good cannot be altered.
Do not be weary of doing good because God will not look away from you doing good. 
God is faithful to reward. 
In sincerity of heart, embark and engage yourself in doing good and not evil. 
It can never be too much in doing what is good; neither can it be too late to reap the fruit of doing good. 
Be encouraged by His word in Jeremiah 17:9-10, “…I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” 
God is truth to His word and will give every one according to the fruit of doings. (Jeremiah 32:19)
The word admonished, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. (James 3:13) “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17)
According to the word of God, to know good and not do evil. 
Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. (Psalm 34:8)

Prayer for today: Ask God to open your understanding and not to be walking away from doing good.

FAITH CAPSULE: Know that faith is a tangible (concrete, real, noticeable) force, not a theory. 

Hebrews 11

Faith is a spiritual channel that connects to divine virtue. 
Faith is the discovery of the right in God.
Every provision in redemption is only accessible by faith. 
Everyone was touching Him while only one was tapping on Him.
Faith taps into divine virtue. 
The documentation of the woman with the issue of blood testifies that “Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, 26 and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” (Mark 25:28)  
The woman received instant healing. 
Jesus knew power had gone out of Him when He responded by wanting to know who touched Him in a thronging crowd. 
After the woman showed up, Jesus responded, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.” (Mark 5:34)
Crowds were thronging while a blind man was gaining through to Him without any aid but aided by the faith deep in his heart when he faithfully cried out to Him by calling uncommon names. 
Mark 10:47, “And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 
Many attempted to keep the blind man quiet, but the more he cried out.
Jesus responded when He stood still and commanded the blind man to Himself. (Mark 10:49)
Faith is of the heart, not of the face. 
God searches the heart to see faith (Jeremiah 17:10)
Faith is not a principle but a weapon. 
Faith is a spiritual force that is, a take-able force that you hold onto. 
The book of Ephesians 6:16 buttressed, “Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.”
Faith is a tangible (concrete, real, noticeable) force, not a theory (philosophy, system). 
Jesus saw the faith of men that tore the roof where there was no way to enter to seek healing for the paralytic man. (Mark 2:1-6) 
Believing God by the mouth is not faith, but engaging God is faith 
that works and involves engaging the word of God. 
Faith is an inner conviction that faith cannot fail. 
The woman with the issue of blood did not allow the crowd to deny her stretching out to tap on Jesus. 
The blind man insisted on calling Jesus by an uncommon name.
Jesus stood still and responded to the blind man as the crowd became onlookers. 
The faith of the woman and blind Bartimaeus elevated them.

Prayer for today: Ask for the spirit of faith to have a place in you.

FAITH CAPSULE: Deny distraction not to become your portion.

Judges 16

Without any doubt, distraction will derail or deny focus on the calling of God to arrive at the divine center assignment.
Distraction can be a disruption or disturbance.
Distraction can also be an indefinable force that will derail not experiencing the presence of God.
For example, Samson was the calling of God to be a deliverer of his people by the hand of God. 
When he was to become conceived, God sent an angel that said to his mother that she shall conceive and bear a son with instruction not to drink wine or similar drinks and not to eat anything unclean.
The angel also instructed her that no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines. (Judges 13:3-5) 
BEFORE THE BIRTH OF SAMSON, WAS DESTINED TO DELIVER HIS PEOPLE, BUT DISTRACTION PROVOKED HIS DISOBEDIENCE BEFORE GOD. 
SAMSON LOOKED AWAY FROM THE WORD OF DIRECTION INTO THE WORLD.
Distraction will lead to looking away from God.
Samson FAILED to hide under the word of God (the word of God is a place to dwell and abide for obedient one) to become exposed to the evil devices of his wife (Delilah) and made him become a victim in the hand of his enemy. (God knows all before one is born.)
Watching and praying will deny distraction. 
The book of Judges 16 records,  “When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up once more, for he has told me all his heart.” 
The source of distraction for one not to live life for the glory of God can be from the closest one as an agent of evil.
Samson failed to deny distraction over his life.
However, distraction is deniable.
Are you avoiding the patterns of distraction in your way of life?
Know and understand how to deny distractions from close ones or ones from a distance.
Deny distraction, remain focused on God, and not become a victim of the evil of this world.
Many have received Jesus as Lord and Savior, but distraction denies focusing on God.
Does that sound like you?
Distraction is a weapon of the enemy.
For example, Martha welcomed Jesus into her life, her house, but she could not avoid distraction from denying her to gain a position in the presence of Jesus. 
Martha welcomed Him into her house, “But Martha was distracted with much serving…”
Jesus identifies the distraction of Martha:
Martha was worried and troubled about many things.
Martha welcomed Jesus into her house, but distraction prevented her from Jesus.  
Who or what is your distraction? 
Deny distraction and focus on God alone. 
From this moment, do not become a victim of distraction to experience evil occurrences over your life.

Prayer for today: Pray against having distraction over your life.