Month: September 2023

[The Glory Unveiled]

And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. [ Luke 5:5 KJV ]

Peter and his had toiled all night at sea but caught nothing. They were experts in the fishing industry. They understood the terrain very well. But then, on this fateful night, they caught nothing. Experience is good but there is something more advantageous than having mere experience. It is the strategy of having God’s presence. This strategy works in and out of season. And so, what Peter needed that day was the presence of God and not technical knowledge or skills. Not every challenge needs the push and pull of mental strength. Some challenges only need the presence of God to be fixed. When Peter said they had toiled all night, but caught nothing, he meant they had tried every possible combination of ideas and strategies known to fishermen but it didn’t work. They tried every other options they could find. But what they didn’t know was that, the solution was not hidden in different strategies. You see, familiarity with routines creates a sense of dependence on activities and skills alone. The solutions to the challenges you face are not encrypted in the many things you could do. Rather, they are hidden in the instructions received in the presence of God. Like Peter and his colleagues, many of us have toiled all year round but have nothing to show for it. But if we will abandon our expertise and depend on the instructions of God in His presence, we will equally have the kind of testimony that Peter and his colleagues had afterwards. Diligently search for the present revelation and instruction from the Lord and obey them promptly.

Prayer_Bead: Great Monarch of Zion, thank you for the grace to learn this truth. Help me to trust the word of your presence rather than my skills.

Wisdom_Quote: Skills and experience cannot beat the voice of God.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD. [ Joshua 9:14 NIV ]

God had informed Israel not to ally themselves with countries that were close to them, such countries were supposed to be destroyed as they pose a threat to Israel. The Gibeonites who were close neighbours to Israel however, came to form an alliance pretending to have come from a far away country. This was after they heard what the Israelites had done to Jericho and Ai (verses 3 & 4). From fear that they would be destroyed like the other close nations to Israel, they decided to deal craftily with the Israelites. Now, the Israelites were not distracted or deceived because the Gibeonites were more crafty. They were distracted because they did not discern nor seek God’s opinion on the matter (verse 14). The fact that they had been given a template—an instruction on what to do—was not enough to make decisions without the involvement of God when He could be reached. God does not look on the outward [appearance] to make judgements. God looks beyond the exterior to examine motives and hearts. Appearances can be deceptive. And because as humans (mere observers) it is impossible to tell the motives of people, we need to consult God to avoid distractions. The Israelites judged the Gibeonites by their appearances, and they were misled. In making any decisions that matter to your destiny and wellbeing, decisions such as marital decisions, among others, consult God even if you have a pattern or an inkling of what you want. Stay alert and lean not on your own understanding. Lean on the perspective of God through His word and guidance. Be discerning, be willing to listen to God rather than to your eyes and ears, and you will not be distracted.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord, thank you for your truth, help me to stay alert. Keep me from distractions. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Leaning on God kicks deceptions and distractions away.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

But godliness with contentment is great gain. [ 1 Timothy 6:6 NIV ]

In a world of many alternatives, discontentment is the reason why many people don’t live to see the things they chase after. The availability or abundance of something is not a license to abuse them. It is rather a call to manage and protect them from going extinct or harming us. Take for instance, our water bodies or green vegetations. We abuse them because we think we have them in abundance and now, see the struggles we face. Their extinction and destruction is posing as a threat to humanity. If only we were content with what we had and managed it, the story of the world would have been different. The deception of social media and the illusionary lifestyles displayed by many celebrities on these platforms have made some discontent with what they have and could afford or manage. Their appetites are insatiable, their desires like an endless pit. They go on and on, gathering for themselves what they will not live to enjoy. The Bible says “godliness with contentment is great gain.” Godliness without contentment is a great loss and a waste of time. The seed of discontentment is sown by lust and pride, and bears the fruit of instability. This instability has robbed many of privileges reserved for those who are content in God. This is why discontentment has become the shovel that digs the grave of many people and the scissors that cuts short destinies that could revolutionize our world. You can gain or lose, the choice is yours to make, but to gain, you need to be content. The world and everything in it does not satisfy. Only by leaning on Jesus and trusting Him for everything can you find peace; the great gain of contentment.

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, our Redeemer and strength, thank you for all the things you have entrusted to me. Help me to be content. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Godliness with contentment is great gain.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. [ John 16:24 NIV ]

The name of Jesus is the signatory to the believer’s blessings and every need. The provisions for our every need is encoded with the name of Jesus, so that without His name, the believer, cannot have what is theirs. As a result, it is very possible to walk with Jesus for many years but never ask Him anything, just because we have not asked in His name. Asking in the name of Jesus means asking with the revelation knowledge of Jesus. The theatrics of religion does not guarantee that God hears us, even though He can hear us through the art and the noise. The indicator that we have been heard is joy; a sense of inner peace regardless of the surrounding situations. It is possible to have challenges around you, yet have complete joy borne from asking Jesus. While on a raging sea, when the disciples called on Jesus, He invited peace into the storm. (Mark 4:35-39). It is not enough to say that you have prayed. When people say they have prayed, many times, they mean they have spoken their minds, usually out loud or they have spoken about what troubles them. But as to whether someone heard them from the other side, they don’t know. Many of us are content with our prayers even when there is no guarantee that it had crossed over to the side of God because many times, we are too lazy to do the hard work of finding out the will of God. As humans, we try to manage our problems by ourselves so well that we sometimes think it is the doing of the Lord. Instead, of asking the Lord to deal with them, we manage them ourselves with the deception that we have strength. Whereas, this act is actually the pseudonym for the foolishness of the prodigal son. Too many Christians are still paying for their own meals and needs when Jesus had paid for it all. Don’t pay for yours, enjoy the provisions of God in Jesus’ name.

Prayer_Bead: Heavenly Father, thank you for your divine provisions. I cash out on what you have made available in Jesus name.

Wisdom_Quote: The name of Jesus is the signature to the account of the commonwealth of heaven.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Like clouds and wind without rain
is one who boasts of gifts never given. [ Proverbs 25:14 TPT ]

Claiming to have something we do not have may be a ploy to please people and make them think highly of us than we really are. But actually, it makes us lose people’s trust in us. We become like a cloud without water which advertised rain but cannot deliver it. Boasting ensures that. The world is full of gullible men and women who chase after nothing but profit for self. They go any length to deceive people just to fill their pockets. Their motives are merely for self gain and nothing more. The second book written by Peter in the New Testament also describes people who boast of gifts never given to them in similar words as our anchor text above. “These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them” (2 Peter 2:17). Their end is foretold as destruction. People who are empty of God’s word—the substance of our faith—and bear false testimonies are like clouds without water. They have nothing substantial to give. Such people have gone so far from the grace of God that all the warnings and promptings of God seems not to teach them any lessons. Balaam, son of Beor is the example from the Old Testament who was disobedient to the warnings and promptings of God. Eventually, a donkey without speech rebuked him with human voice to restrain his madness. (see Numbers 22-24). Whenever we give ourselves permission to do what God has not commanded or not to do what He has commanded, we are indicating a rebellion to the will of God. It is a sign that we are not submitted to Jesus as our Lord. Instead of going around in an empty shell, let us tarry in the presence of God until we have a message; a substance to share with our world. A waterless cloud is a premature cloud, allow time to supply everything that is lacking. And the world will come to you for a rain.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord, thank you for the privilege to know this truth. Help me to tarry with you so that I may carry real substance for the nations too.

Wisdom_Quote: A waterless cloud advertises rain but delivers nothing.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord: [ Genesis 19:18 KJV ]

The Hebrew concept of Lord means “master, controller, owner.” If someone is Lord over you, it means they own you. They decide and dictate what you do and how you do it. Where there is Lord, the subject or servant has only one responsibility, to obey. When we come under the lordship of Jesus, we are declaring that we have relinquished our rights and freedom to Him. It means our lives will be controlled and micromanaged by Him. Our lives become a shadow of His life. Unfortunately, many of us who claim to have Jesus as our Lord are not subjected to Him wholly. As such it is very confusing who truly has the Lord Jesus as their Lord. This is why the Lord Jesus says on that day, many will call Him Lord, Lord but He will tell them to go away from Him, for He does not know them. (Matthew 7:22; Luke 13:25). Lot and Peter, seem to have one thing in common; their inability to firmly take a stance; they are both not assertive. We could tell from Lot’s inability to take a firm position against the homosexuals of Sodom (see Genesis 19:7-8) and Peter’s inability to side with the Gentiles in the face of his fellow Jews (see Galatians 2:11-13). And then, they also have the “Not so, Lord” statement in common.(Genesis 19:18 for Lot and Acts 10:14 for Peter). Anyone who accepts Jesus as their Lord must submit to Him in all things. If Jesus is not Lord of all things in our lives, then He is not our Lord at all. “Not so, Lord” is not a language a person who has Jesus as their Lord speaks. The only language a person who has the Lord Jesus as their Saviour and Lord speaks is, “Yes Lord.”

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for being my Lord. Help me to always say “yes” to you. Change my language and change my attitude towards you, in Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Jesus is Lord of all things or He is not Lord at all.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Remember Lot’s wife! [ Luke 17:32 NIV ]

Our anchor text says we should remember Lot’s wife. But to remember Lot’s wife, we need to journey back to the first book of the Old Testament, where we can find in Genesis 19:26 what the Bible says we should remember about Mrs Lot. In that account, we see that the Angel of the Lord instructed the family of Lot to leave Sodom and not look back (Genesis 19:17). Where looking back means a desire to want what you’re supposed to leave behind or lose. Letting go of the past is quite a difficult thing to do, but change and transition happens on the spike of turning one’s back to the past. The family of Lot were well aware that they didn’t have to look back at what they had left because looking back means a desire to participate in what you’ve left. The Israelites left Egypt, instructed by God never to return back there. But the people became so used to the Egyptian life they couldn’t wean them off. (Numbers 14:3-4). In our walk with God, looking back is not an option. In Luke 9:62, Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God requires commitment in our service to God. Turning our backs to those commitments is a sign that says we have lost our saltiness and are good for nothing (Matthew 5:13). Instability and inconsistencies invalidate our commitment to God’s kingdom. The disobedience of Lot’s wife is an example of what happens when we disobey God to chase after what God detests. Once we have decided to journey with God, we must not turn our back even when our past keeps calling out. We must remember Lot’s wife more often in our day as the world’s grip on people seem firmer by the day. Don’t go back to the world you left, keep going towards God everyday.

Prayer_Bead: Faithful God, thank you for your faithfulness and grace. As I remember Lot’s wife, please help me not to act like her, in Jesus name.

Wisdom_Quote: Change and transition happen when we let go of the past.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. [ 1 Corinthians 9:25 NIV ]

Our Christian walk is likened to a race in which prizes are awarded. But like every other race, the prize is given only after complying to all the rules and coming out in first place. There are standards and expectations that the athlete must meet to be recognized as victorious. But to even obey those standards, the athlete must be disciplined—put themselves under subjection to a higher authority. Discipline means being discipled (submitted to, trained) by an authority stronger or more experienced than we are. And this is why every athlete has a mentor, a goal; someone or something they look up to, that empowers them to keep moving forward. The mentor or motivation could be a person or an idea. And for many people, the trophy or prize is their motivation. They tailor their everyday activities and dreams to these goals. Those who compete in races discipline themselves so that they could win trophies that do not last yet they put so much effort into such competitions. If we are racing for a trophy that will last forever, shouldn’t we put in more work? The desires of the body must come in second place to the desires of the Spirit. The body will only obey the voice and agenda of the Spirit when it is put under subjection to God; the body will obey the teachings of Christ and follow His examples when it is intentionally subjected to the word of God. Athletes are intentional about their diet and exercise accordingly. The believer in Christ must be intentional about their spiritual diet and exercise accordingly too, if they aim for the crown that lasts forever.

Prayer_Bead: Gracious Father, thank you for the opportunity to discipline my body and subject it to your word. Let my life glorify your name.

Wisdom_Quote: Discipline directs an athlete towards the trophy by giving them goals.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.