Month: April 2021

[The Glory Unveiled]

This is the account of Noah and his family.
Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. ( Genesis 6:9 )

In a world where everyone wants to be like everyone, it is difficult to encourage anyone to stand out. Distinctiveness is a hard currency that separates great people from ordinary people. There is no great man on earth who is not distinguished by a virtue or something they do. Sodom was a very immoral town but even in Sodom a man [Lot] decided to set himself apart for God. No matter how crooked a generation is, we can choose by the grace of God, the life that will glorify God. Regardless of how the people of Noah’s time were, the Bible gives a good account of Noah. The account suggests that the people of Noah’s time were not blameless, they were immoral and wicked. In all of Sodom and Gomorrah, it was only Lot who received angelic visitation; in all of the land where Noah dwelled, he was the only person who was spoken to by God. Setting ourselves apart guarantees supernatural encounters and visitations. It was only when Moses was separated on mount Horeb that He encountered God in the burning bush, not in the house of his father-in-law, Jethro. Like all the men we looked at, we need to be set apart in a community or society where the norm is against God’s laws and then even in that place we will live with God on a daily basis.

Prayer_Bead: The Great I Am, Father and Lord, thank you for the grace to be set apart. Help me through the knowledge of your word not to be distracted by the ways of the world.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

By faith he [Moses] left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. (Hebrews 11:27 )

Faith is the reality in the Kingdom of God that gives mortals the opportunity and ability to fraternize with immortals and translate those immortal realities and dimensions into time. It is a currency that is recognized as the only legal tender in our Kingdom. This reality transcends the Old Testament into the New Testament. This is why our verse of Scripture says, Moses, an Old Testament prophet left Egypt by faith. Faith is not only a New Testament reality but a Kingdom lifestyle. Faith drives away fear and exposes falsehood overtime. Faith also opens our spiritual eyes and understanding. So that we can see what the ordinary eyes cannot see. The Bible says by faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God (Hebrews 11:3). Nobody in practice or reality was in the beginning with the Father when He created the world. But faith gives us that grace and advantage to peep into the invisible realm. And from that vantage point of faith, Moses saw God. We can like, Moses, see the invisible and do the impossible by faith.

Prayer_Bead: Author and Finisher of my faith, thank you for the opportunity to participate in the God kind of life. I share in the inheritance of Christ by faith in Christ.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. ( 1 Thessalonians 2:13 )

Whenever we engage the word of God, a number of things happen that will make or unmake our expectations. The word of God is not the word of humans, as our verse of scripture rightly said, and so it must be regarded and treated as such. Unless we come to terms with that reality that God’s word is His word, we will not as much benefit from it. The people of Thessalonica received the word of God as God’s word and not the word of humans even though it came through human vessels. The reason why the word of God, according to apostle Paul, worked in the Thessalonians is the fact that they received it as it should be received; God’s word. Their reception was right so the promise of God’s word is delivered on account of that honour they gave the word. The word of God does not just work for those who are Believers. It works actually for only those who believe and receive the word of God as God’s word. You know, receiving God’s word as His express word helps us to attach that level of seriousness and reverence to it as it were. Now, we understand that if the word of God seem not to be working in us and for us then we must check how we believe and whether we receive the word as man’s word or God’s word.

Prayer_Bead: He who was in the beginning and was the word of God and was with God and is God, thank you for the grace to receive your word as it were. May the word work in me to the praise of your name.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. ( Proverbs 31:30 )

Manners maketh a man. Anything that will stand the test of time must be carried on the shoulders of enviable virtues. Virtues are the solid template/background upon which life’s true deeds are etched. Our theme scripture narrows down the attributes of the proverbs 31 woman to deeds (what she does). Charm conceals what a person really is. It does not tell the true nature of the inward man except that it, packages the outward appearance in a case of charm. Beauty like a flower does not last. It is fleeting. Depending on anything that will not last is a surety for heartbreak and disappointment. And so the woman who is to be praised will be praised on the merits of her deeds. Unfortunately, many today wouldn’t want to do anything, they just want to be “someone”; idle desires. But the scripture says that the one who fears God will be praised. The reason is that, the fear of God will translate in our actions and words. Our deeds will mirror our fear of God and holiness. This way, our actions will be consistent with God’s will for us. The fear of God is that inner beauty that will not fade nor evaporate into thin air. It is what makes the proverbs 31 woman and any woman a virtuous woman. May the spirit of the fear of God come upon us in our relational walk with God and others.

Prayer_Bead: Immortal God, Invincible King, thank you for the Spirit of the fear of God. I walk in the ambience of your glory and grace. I am empowered to do what will bring you glory.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. ( Hebrews 6:12 )

On the lonely road of faith, it is possible to be distracted by the cunning call of laziness and despair. There are people ahead of us who started out in faith but got sidetracked by unwillingness to wait when they must. Patience is a good virtue and on the journey of faith, it cannot be ignored. It is an important and a mandatory requirement for reaching that destination of faith. At the end of faith is the fulfillment of a promise. But in between is a long path of determination and abandonment. Faith brings us to that conclusion that, it does not depend on us or what we can sees and hear but on another and what that other can see, hear and do. Our absolute trust leans on the strength of that other. On the journey of faith, one of two unapologetic outcomes are certain. It is either we are sidetracked by laziness out of despair and impatience or we keep forging forward in hope that God will deliver whatever His word promised. Faith alone may seem enough until what is promised lingers; does not come immediately in the heat of our hopes. It is then that patience is needed to keep faith awake in hope. God’s promise will not change but will you change along the way?

Prayer_Bead: Author and Finisher of my faith, the Lord in whom consist all virtues, thank you for the grace to keep walking in faith as I patiently wait for the redemption of your promises. Glory be to your name.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” (Exodus 33:13 )

If we had the opportunity to make any request in the presence of God, we must be careful what we ask for. Often than not, when we come to the presence of God, we sometimes drag the flesh along. And since it is only by faith we please God, the flesh misleads us. Moses, the prophet and leader of the Israelites during their Exodus, had the opportunity to make a request in the presence of God. Of all that he could ask for, including the material blessings which any of us will gladly jump at, he did not ask for a physical thing. Instead, he asked God to teach him His ways. His reason for this request even makes it desirable. He wanted to know the ways of God so that he will know God and also continue to find favour with Him. He was looking for something that will not be spent within a short time. He asked for the continuous favour of God. For with God’s favour, he could have access to other things. This is why the Bible records that the Israelites knew the acts/deeds of God but Moses knew the ways of God (Psalms 103:7). While the Israelites asked for material (physical) things such as food and water, Moses was asking God for His ways and favour. In this time of “technological captivity”, we need to know the ways of God for ourselves which will translate into the favour of God for us. Let us tarry to know the ways of God by paying whatever price; laying aside every weight.

Prayer_Bead: Father of all souls, Spirit of Truth, teach us your ways and guide us to walk in that revelation of who you are. Favour us in all our endeavors that your name may be glorified.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. ( 1 Corinthians 15:19 )

Life stretches beyond this frame of existence whether we are aware or not and whether we believe it or not. But unfortunately, many people think all there is to life is all they can see and interact with. Life is not confined to the space of time that we are allotted to on earth. It goes beyond this reality or existence. The reason why many people’s hopes are short circuited is the fact that their hope is limited to this earth. Our verse of Scripture shows us otherwise, life is not only encased by this earth. As a result of that, our hope should not be limited to this physical scope of reference. Such myopic view of life truncates ones hope. The scripture says if our hope is limited to this life, like the people of this earth, then we are most to be pitied. The person whose hope does not extend beyond this earth is to be pitied but the believer who limits their hope in Christ to this earth is most pitiful. Our hope in Christ extends into eternity. For in Christ and through Him do all things consist. Life extends into eternity and this is why our hope in Christ and our love for Him must go beyond this life. This truth must be our consciousness on daily basis.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for the wonderful blessing of hoping in you. Your presence in me is the hope of glory. I believe that there is life after this life and my hope is tied to that consciousness of eternity.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. ( Jonah 1:15 )

The evangelist Jonah was sent on an evangelistic mission to proclaim the counsel of God to a nation that had drifted from the path of God. Jonah reasoned out the mission statement as given to him by God. And in his reasoning, he thought that there was no need for him to go on that mission because God was going to turn the heart of the people in the end and save them nonetheless. And to him that was almost illogical and empty stress. He expressed his furious displeasure at God in chapter 4. The point is this, even though Jonah was a mighty evangelist, very gifted of God with oratory grace to turn the heart of people with the word of God, he was not having love for the people he was sent to. He went to them out of compulsion and not out of love. Jonah had always clinged to himself. He was only concerned about himself. And so he was thrown into the sea to be carried away by the waves of the sea into his place of destiny. We must not toe the path of Jonah to understand that love is what the world needs in this time. Love is selfless, let us go all out to the hearts of the people around us wherever God leads us to preach the good news of God’s grace.

Prayer_Bead: Omnipotent Father, Omniscient Lord, thank you for the grace to be numbered among those who will carry the news of your love to others. Thank you for helping me to let go of myself.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” ( John 12:32 )

The Lord Jesus our example in faith, says He will draw all people to himself. But we see that He didn’t just say He will draw all people to Himself while He was on earth. Instead He will draw all people to Himself when He is lifted up from the earth. One can only effectively influence a place or a people only when he/she is not himself/herself pinned by the people or the culture of that place. In that same light, one of two people standing under a tree cannot tell the other person that he will pull him (the other person) up to himself on the tree. The logic [reason] is that they are both under the tree so one cannot help the other. Jesus, though God also followed this principle of influence that you must be above to draw people to yourself. In His earthly life, the Lord Jesus lived an impeccable life. A life that was distinct from those of his disciples and people of His day. That way He could influence them even through open rebukes. If we want to follow the way of Jesus to bring His kingdom into the earth, we must live the life of the Kingdom of God here on earth. We must live on earth as if we are in heaven, then the earth will be drawn to the beauty of God’s glory they see in us. Let us draw people to God now that we have been lifted and seated with Jesus in Heavenly places.

Prayer_Bead: My Father who art in heaven, reigning on earth through me. May your kingdom come on earth and let your will be done here as it is done in heaven. And use me this day to declare your manifold wisdom.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. ( Romans 7:25 )

Many times, once a person becomes born again, it is assumed that their minds as well as their spirits become new. And so, much attention is not given to the mind. But that is not true, the mind is not made new instantly. This is why Romans 12:1, says we should renew (make new) our minds to be consistent with the mind of Christ. From the earthly perspective, both the believer as well as the unbeliever is identified by the state of their mind. The Apostle Paul had been advancing an argument about the law of sin and the law of the spirit of life from verse 1 of Romans 7, down to this last verse of the chapter. In this last verse which is actually not the last of the discourse, is a summary of what he was advancing so far. He asked a question of how he would be delivered from the law of sin and death. And then this verse of Scripture explains how that deliverance will come about; he says it is through Jesus Christ. But even though he admits that deliverance from sin is through Jesus, he shows us that a conscious effort has to be made by the individual who accepts the deliverance of Jesus. That effort is to be made by the mind. He said, “so then, I myself in my mind…..” In our minds as believers, we need to become slaves of God’s word. We need to make God’s word out light and lamp. We need to consciously live our lives around the word of God. We need to set our minds on God’s word and then our lives will mirror that word. So it is not enough to put off one’s mind after salvation. Awaken your consciousness to live the word of God.

Prayer_Bead: Father in my heart, your Kingdom come and your will be done. Help me to adhere to your word in all things. By the Spirit of God, I myself enlist to be a slave to Your law.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.