Month: September 2023

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The right of salvation

[The Glory Unveiled]

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God —[ John 1:12 NIV ]

The world is filled with visible and invisible things, mysteries and facts, free things and things that have price tags on them. God made provision for everything there is need for. But only few people get access to the provisions that are freely made. This truth is exemplified in the parable of the wedding banquet recorded in Matthew 22. The king had prepared a banquet and invited everyone to come and celebrate with him. Food and drinks were available, to be eaten for free. And yet, nobody was forced to come and eat. You would agree that there were many hungry people in that town who didn’t take advantage of the opportunity. The invitation was given to anyone who would accept it. And as many as accepted it, were given the opportunity to enjoy the provisions of the king. The same thing applies to the provisions made for our salvation and inclusion into the family of God. The right of salvation is given to anyone who will believe in Jesus and receive Him as their Saviour. Grace has made provision for the need of the human soul through the sacrificial work of Jesus on the cross. God took care of our problems before the foundation of the earth so that we will not become eternal enemies of God. He made a way for us to discontinue with the path of unrighteousness and sin through the bloodline of His Son. So that by faith, we can have what we could not have paid for—the price tag of our salvation was the son of God. We could not have met that standard, hence we couldn’t have paid the price by ourselves. The mercy of God came to our rescue, towing us into the family of God by our faith in the son. But, unless we take advantage of the provision that is made for us, our needs will remain.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord, thank you for the provision of grace and thank you for the gift of salvation through your Son.

Wisdom_Quote: The provision of grace is available to all who will accept it.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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They are humans too

[The Glory Unveiled]

Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. [ James 5:17 NIV ]

It is often forgotten that all the men of God we admire and revere are human beings too, with human frailties just like us. Unfortunately, many people think that the man of God or a minister is not human and should not display any human attributes or tendencies. Many people have this unreasonable expectation of the minister and do not expect them to exhibit any human weaknesses. This expectation has forced many ministers into the “ministry” of pretense. So many ministers pretend to be who they are not to please the people they are leading. “Elijah was an ordinary human but he prayed and received supernatural answers. He actually shut the heavens over the land so there would be no rain for three and a half years!” Elijah, who shut the heavens so that it won’t rain for three and half years, was referred to as a human being like us. This means that the minister’s anointing, grace or calling doesn’t make them non humans. They are still humans, regardless of their anointing. And as much as we respect and honour the anointing upon their head, let us not ignore the fact that they are humans. This recognition and appreciation of the humanity of the men and ministers of God helps not to have unrealistic expectations of the ministers. To the child of God or the minister, don’t be deceived by your gifts and callings to think that you are more than human or above humans. Don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of us. (Romans 12:3).

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord, thank you for reminding me that I am human. Help me to remain humble everyday of my life.

Wisdom_Quote: Anointing does not take away human frailties.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

*#GNews:* _Unveiling the glory of God._

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Thanksgiving power

[The Glory Unveiled]

Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. [ John 11:41 ]

One notable thing about Jesus’ ministry is honour. Many times, it was displayed through thanksgiving. Jesus gave thanks over everything, from the 5 loaves of bread to the last meal with his disciples. At the tomb of Lazarus, after Jesus instructed the people to roll away the stone that was placed at the entrance of the tomb, he lifted up His eyes and began to thank the Father for hearing Him. This was before the expected miracle happened. Jesus expressed gratitude for what was yet to come—an expression of faith. Thanksgiving is an indication of many positive things to the believer. It guarantees that we are heard whenever we come to the Father in prayer. Also, thanksgiving is a spiritual shortcut that opens the door to supernatural possibilities. The situation of Lazarus had deteriorated beyond normal expectations and so, there was the urgency for swift answers. So, Jesus decided to employ the spiritual shortcut tool of thanksgiving. There is so much power in thanksgiving but it is often ignored and missed by many because we are used to working ourselves out for results. Hence, thanksgiving is perceived to be too easy to bring about the results we desire. While in fact, it is the fastest route to the most complex breakthroughs. Thanksgiving also, activates resurrection power. Thanksgiving has a way of awakening anything that is dying or dead and brings it back to life [multiplication]. After the stone [blockade] is taken away by the word of God, as it happened at the tomb of Lazarus, thanksgiving is the next thing that is expected to bring about the change you seek. Go ahead. Thank God.

Prayer_Bead: Thank you Father, we appreciate you for the things you have done for us today and everyday. Let your name be glorified in us.

Wisdom_Quote: Thanksgiving is the fastest route to the most complicated breakthroughs.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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The King’s witnesses

[The Glory Unveiled]

“We saw him with our very own eyes. We gazed upon him and heard him speak. Our hands actually touched him, the one who was from the beginning, the Living Expression of God.” [ 1 John‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬ TPT‬‬ ]

The disciples and apostles had so much influence on the people they spoke to about Jesus. They affected the lives of so many people in tangible ways because of their convictions in what they had seen, heard and experienced. John was confident to talk about “this Jesus,” as the Jesus he knew personally and intimately. From his epistle, we could see that the man knew Jesus. The testimony of a man or woman who has seen and experienced something is uniquely distinct from another who didn’t have that experience. The words of a reliable witness is filled with compelling truth and trustworthy evidence. Therefore, the man or woman who encounters Jesus speaks about Him in a compelling way that repairs the confusion in the hearts of people. It is difficult, impossible even, to witness about who you do not know. Nobody can bring anyone into an intimate relationship with Jesus if they do not know and have an intimate relationship with Him themselves. This is the reason why the testimonies of many people are not affecting lives; the witnesses didn’t meet the Jesus they testify about. You cannot be a witness unless you witness something. What are you telling others about Jesus? Do you know the Jesus you speak about or are you reporting for someone else? Anybody can experience Jesus through the word of God, if they are intentional about it. We don’t need to go back in time to the days of Jesus to have an encounter with Him. Hence, we do not have any excuse to dish out a shallow, devoid of practical experience testimony to people, and expect them to look like Jesus. It only works when we first encounter what we are advertising.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the privilege to encounter you in the word of God so that I can be a reliable witness of your Kingdom.

Wisdom_Quote: A kingdom witness must first have a personal and intimate encounter with the King.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Ask with confidence

[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 ]

Many Christians are caught in the Pharisee’s art. We say so many things in the place of prayer, most of which are not meant for God nor does it reach Him. We fantasize with the thought that because we pray, God always hears us or that we are actually asking. 1 John 5:14, says that the confidence we have in approaching God is that God hears us when we ask anything according to His will. And this is where the challenge is; asking according to the will of God. To ask according to the will of God, one must know the will of God. And to know the will of God, we must know the Word of God who is the Son of God, and have access to His name. But for most of us, our stories are like the man at the Pool in John chapter 5. When Jesus asked him whether he wanted to get well [an invitation to prayer], he started talking about all the things that prevented him from getting well, instead. And that’s exactly how many of us act in prayer. Instead of boldly asking God for what we need, we end up complaining about everything else, ranting and accusing others even, thinking we are actually praying fervently. It seems that our being used to the theatrics of this modern day’s style of praying, has drowned us in the presumption that God hears us merely because we claim to be praying in His name. This is probably why we have so little results in the place of prayer. But if we want to see real results and get our prayers automatically answered, we must find the will of God—the fuel for our confidence—first. And then, with confidence in our hearts, we are able to ask according to God’s will rather than complain or accuse others.

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for showing me how to ask and receive. Help me to apply these truth as I ought to.

Wisdom_Quote: Presumption is the thief of manifestation.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.