The shadow of sin

[The Glory Unveiled]

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. [ Genesis 3:6 NIV ]

Our emphasis on the scripture above is the B portion of the text: “she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.” Eve did not disobey a direct command from God; she disobeyed a command given to her through Adam. However, Adam, with open eyes, disobeyed a direct command from God. He was there when the serpent deceived Eve but remained silent because he himself had similar desires as Eve. Apostle Arome Osayi remarked, “intentional sinning is the reason crowns fall off people’s heads.” Adam’s crown, and by extension, the crown of all humanity, fell off our heads because Adam sinned intentionally. He was not unaware of the consequences of his actions, as God had forewarned him about the outcome of disobeying the command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Even though Eve was moved to eat the fruit by what she saw, Adam was motivated by a desire for what could be outside of his immediate experience. He wanted to experience more than what was adequate for his walk with God. The prodigal son also desired more than he was ready for and returned years later wretched and beaten. Are you beginning to see what God does not approve of as having a possibility of good? If yes, sin is at your doorstep. Adam and Eve, King Saul, Samson, Judas Iscariot, Ananias, and Sapphire, among others, serve as a vivid description of the end of such lives. Every instruction from God is for our safety and protection. Hold unto them.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for showing me the shadows of sin and supplying the grace to flee from its disguise.

Wisdom_Quote: Intentional sin is the reason crowns fall off people’s heads.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

Are you an Orphan?

[The Glory Unveiled]

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. [ John 14:18 NIV ]

Adam and Eve abandoned humanity to the care of the devil. However, God, out of His abundant love, adopted us into His family. Psalm 27:10 states, “Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.” God has received us into His family and will not forsake us. When Jesus executed our adoption transaction through His life and death, He had to return to the Father. In John 14, He reassures us that He will not leave us as orphans and promises to come to us. Subsequently, He sends a different personality—the Holy Spirit. This implies that the Holy Spirit is Jesus coming to us, our Parent on earth. Recognizing the Holy Spirit’s ministry and role in our lives actualizes His parenting reality. Regrettably, there are many orphaned Christians among us, living without acknowledging the Holy Spirit’s influence. You don’t have to be an orphan anymore. Free yourself from wandering and making life choices on your own. Let the Holy Spirit help, guide and direct you, as is His ministry. Jesus is coming to you through the Holy Spirit; embrace Him and allow His influence in every sphere of your life. Let Him assist you—aren’t you tired of navigating life alone, tired of the struggles and stress? Let the Holy Spirit lead and parent you henceforth.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for Your presence in my life through the minsitry of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for helping me.

Wisdom_Quote: The Holy Spirit is the believer’s parent.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

Deep and hidden things

[The Glory Unveiled]

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. [ 1 Corinthians 2:10 KJV ]

Humans are limited in many ways. This limitation is supposed to be a blessing in disguise, providing us the opportunity to trust the one who is limitless—God. A blind person can walk on a narrow bridge without falling into the water underneath if they follow the lead of someone who sees. The seeing person becomes their eyes, allowing them to navigate the bridge without challenges. The same analogy applies to our relationship with God. It is possible to know all things, see the end from the beginning, and plan for events months and years in advance when we trust the all-knowing One. He becomes our guide, enabling us to walk in faith without needing to see or accomplish the impossible on our own. As God takes action, we experience it by following and obeying Him. Our anchor text begins with a statement of fact: “Eyes have not seen, ears have not heard, neither has the heart conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.” Then, it continues, almost contradicting the earlier statement, by saying that God has revealed these things to us by His Spirit. Here, we find a crack in the initial statement that believers can exploit. No one can know what God has prepared for themselves or others, nor the deep things of God. The only entity aware of it all is the Spirit of God. Because we have the Spirit of God and maintain a living relationship with Him, we can glimpse into the mind of God. This exception is reserved for the Spirit of God and those who submit to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. If you aim to transcend the natural limitations of life, submit to the Holy Spirit and follow His lead.

Prayer_Bead: Heavenly Father, thank you for Your Spirit in me. I live a supernatural life as I align with His leading and guidance.

Wisdom_Quote: The Holy Spirit is the believer’s guide.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

The complete toolkit

[The Glory Unveiled]

“That is why you need to get God’s full armour. Then on the day of evil, you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing.” [ Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭13‬ ‭ERV‬‬ ]

An armour is meant to protect the bearer. However, poorly worn armour can lead to the bearer’s downfall. When David faced Goliath in battle, Saul offered his personal armour for David to use. Unfortunately, David couldn’t even move in it (1 Samuel 17:39). This means that the armour, intended to protect him, became an impediment to his movement and battle skills. Goliath met his demise because he lacked head armour thinking he was the best fighter and no soldier could get to his head. But he was wrong. Every battle requires specific armour tailored to its type. While each crisis demands unique strategies, there’s a universal solution for all crises: “the whole armor of God.” Regrettably, some believers don’t wear the complete armour of God. Instead, they wear select pieces, convinced they understand the situation and only need those specific pieces. The full armour is designed for all-around protection; omitting any piece leaves us vulnerable in the area it was meant to protect. It’s akin to having a toolkit but not using or lacking the skills to use the tools. Your inability to use the tools is not a condemnation of the tools but of yourself. This is the reason we are encouraged to put on the full armour of God through our obedience and alignment with the word of God. So that we can stand on the evil day—the day of tears, pains, challenges and temptations.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for crafting an armour for my complete safety and peace. I put it on daily through my obedience to your word. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Put on the whole armour of God.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

Our super-intercessor

[The Glory Unveiled]

“And in a similar way, the Holy Spirit takes hold of us in our human frailty to empower us in our weakness. For example, at times we don’t even know how to pray, or know the best things to ask for. But the Holy Spirit rises up within us to super-intercede on our behalf, pleading to God with emotional sighs too deep for words.” [ Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭26 ‭TPT‬‬ ]

If there is one common trait among all humans, it is human frailty. Despite our outward strength, beneath the surface lies a burden of weakness. God intentionally instilled this need in us so that we may yearn for His assistance. Whatever we lack, God is abundant in—especially strength. When we turn to Him for help, His empowerment transforms our weaknesses into apparent strength. Consider Adam and Eve; their symbolic nakedness, representing weakness, is covered by God’s glory, making them appear strong. However, when they chose disobedience, relying on themselves, they realized their nakedness (utter weakness). It is God’s strength that conceals our weaknesses, as illustrated in the preceding text. At times, our human weaknesses may leave us unsure of what to pray for. In such moments, the Holy Spirit rises within us to super-intercede, overriding our feeble words and presenting His own to the Father on our behalf. Just imagine the remarkable results when God prays for you. Would you not prefer to rejoice in the intercessions of the Holy Spirit and embrace your weaknesses as they create opportunities? The apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians 12:9, expresses his willingness to glory in his infirmities, allowing the power of Christ to rest upon him. Though you may be weak, your vulnerabilities can serve as occasions for the glory of God to rest upon you.

Prayer_Bead: Heavenly Father, thank you for how much you love me. Thank you for Your Holy Spirit in me and His ministry.

Wisdom_Quote: Your weakness can be a package of opportunity or a baggage of death.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

God is calling out

[The Glory Unveiled]

Again the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” [ 1 Samuel 3:6 NIV ]

God is always calling on us, one way or the other. Our inability to hear Him is not an issue of God’s refusal to call to us. It is a matter of not being able to recognize the voice of God when He calls. If not for the guidance of Eli, Samuel would have thought that God never spoke to him or called out to him. It is the same with many of us who feel God does not talk to us. Samuel didn’t know the voice of God and so, he would think that God never spoke to him. God usually speaks in His house. Samuel was in the house of God when God called out to him. And we are the house of God, Bethel, the conduit of God to earth. We are Heaven’s medium of communication and relationship with the earth. As a result of who we are to heaven, we need not only to learn to hear from God but to position ourselves well for the communication to take place. Samuel was positioned right but he didn’t know the voice of God. Both requirements are important for heaven to communicate and for us to hear and respond. Could it be that God is calling out to you, maybe to initiate a relationship but you’re unable to recognize His voice? Could it be that you are not familiar with the beckoning of God? And that you might be going to the wrong people instead of God? God is drawing our attention to Himself today, be still and know that He is God.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord, thank you for calling out to me and creating opportunities for me to commune with you.

Wisdom_Quote: God is calling out to you.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

The seed of Favour

[The Glory Unveiled]

But Noah found favour in the eyes of the LORD. [ Genesis 6:8 NIV ]

The seed of favour is intentionally planted. Many times, it may seem like favour chooses people randomly, but the reality is that favour operates with a selection system guiding its choices. Favour doesn’t just pick anyone, as you would agree; otherwise, everyone should be favoured, right? However, that’s not the case. Favour follows a traceable agenda. While it may appear that we play no role in receiving God’s favour, our posture and attitude silently influence the process. Take Noah, for instance—why was he chosen from among many in his day? Was God being partial or selective? No, because the Bible states that God does not show partiality (Acts 10:34). This implies that Noah must have done something to merit the favour he received. This leads us to the question: who was Noah? Where was he? How did he live? Genesis 6:9 provides the answers, revealing that Noah was a man set apart and distinct from the people of his day. He walked with God and consistently obeyed Him. Due to his attitude toward God, when God desired to show favour, Noah would be at the top of His list. So, even though Noah didn’t overtly do anything, his just and righteous behaviour caught God’s attention. The seed of favour is diligence in everything we do. This is why the scripture affirms with a question, “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men” (Proverbs 22:29). Diligence leads us to people and places we may not qualify for. Be diligent in all you do; sow the seed of favour today.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Father, thank you for the privilege and the knowledge you have given me through your words. Help me to sow the seed of favour.

Wisdom_Quote: The seed of favour is diligence.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

Look away from the wind

[The Glory Unveiled]

But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” [ Matthew 14:30 NIV ]

The Lord Jesus walked on the sea towards the disciples in a boat. When Peter saw Him, he asked Jesus to bid him come. He began walking on the sea after Jesus gave him permission. After a while, he got distracted by the wind and started to sink. The shocking discovery is that, the wind was always there, but it didn’t affect him when he wasn’t paying attention to it. Only when he focused on the wind did fear embrace him, and the water stopped supporting his feet. Keep your gaze on the one who bid you come. Your sustenance is connected to the one who initiated your journey. The scripture says, “When he saw…” suggesting the passing of time; a momentary event. Peter was walking fine until he saw. Eve fell into temptation and away from God’s glory when she saw that the fruit was good for food. Job tormented his righteous soul by seeing and hearing the lawless deeds of the people around him. What we see is powerful enough to displace and replace us. Peter was walking on the water, but after seeing the wind, he began to go under. The same water that supported him fought against him when he shifted his attention. Stop giving your attention to anything other than the one who bid you come. Stay on the path you’ve been called to, and don’t stray for any reason or distraction. And then, in the most unstable situations of life, you will still stay afloat.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for bidding me come and sustaining me in the most unstable situations. Let your name be glorified in Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Keep your gaze on Jesus, and you’ll walk on water.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

Revealing His glory

[The Glory Unveiled]

When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The LORD—he is God! The LORD—he is God!” [ 1 Kings 18:39 NIV ]

Elijah called for a contest between his God and the gods of the prophets of Baal, settling the controversy about whose Lord was truly God. On the day of the contest, people gathered to witness the power of the gods. Remarkably, they came not to see the prophets but to witness the power of the gods represented by the prophets. Similarly, the world seeks God through us; they come to us to see our God, and we must represent Him well. Sometimes, we get distracted, thinking people come to us because of ourselves, not realizing it’s our God they seek. When the people saw Elijah’s deeds, they didn’t praise him but witnessed his God in action. They recognized the manifestation of God’s power and exalted Him. God desires to reveal Himself to the world through vessels like us. Will you be that individual? To display God’s glory, we need to be submitted and well-connected to Him. He won’t reveal His glory through someone not connected to Him. This is why we need to have a personal relationship with Him through Jesus, as He is our only means of connection to God. As we walk with Him, the world begins to see Jesus in us and around us. Now, the reality is that, you might be the reason why people are not seeing God, so correct that and represent Him well.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord, thank you for your willingness to reveal yourself to my world through me. Glory be to Your name.

Wisdom_Quote: Jesus is our umbilical cord to God.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

Priesthood of believers III

[The Glory Unveiled]

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. [ Revelation 5:10 KJV ]

When we fulfill our duties as kings and priests unto God, the result is a life of dominion and power. We reign on earth when we exercise the power of our positions in Christ. Our position has both a kingly element and a priestly role. When we operate as kings, we exert the authority of God over the earth. However, this is only made possible when we first exercise our priestly responsibility. As priests, we connect with heaven to download the will of God for ourselves and our communities. The priestly office gives us the opportunity to interact with our heavenly Father on a moment-by-moment basis. That’s why nothing happens without our permission as priests. “Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants, the prophets” (Amos 3:7). We receive readings of events and seasons in our office as king priests. God will show us what is yet to happen when we position ourselves in our places of responsibility. With that knowledge, we rule and reign in our world. Nothing takes us by surprise as we are equipped with ancient wisdom—knowledge from another realm. The believer reigns when they occupy their office as kings and priests unto God. Then, our lives begin to mirror our priesthood. As our priesthood is, so are our lives. If you want a better outcome for your life, improve on your intimacy and waiting in the presence of God because as He is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17). As we are in our priesthood offices before God, so will our earthly lives be.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for my priesthood through Jesus. I reign in my world as king. Glory!

Wisdom_Quote: The king-priest believer rules and reigns on earth as Jesus in heaven.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.