Month: March 2024

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Prove it

[The Glory Unveiled]

”By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,” [ Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭17‬ NKJV‬‬ ]

It is not enough to say that we have faith. The presence of faith is not known by confession but by the things we do. It is possible to claim one thing but live a life that contradicts that claim. In scripture, God said now he knows that Abraham believed him or trusts Him. This affirms the fact that our faith in God is only valid by our actions and not merely by our confessions. And so, rather than make a lot of noise about what we believe, our actions convey the true story of faith. . Therefore, the proof that a person believes is evident in their willing obedience. The proof that Abraham believed in the promise of God is evident in his willingness to do whatever God asked him to do, even to the point of sacrificing his only son. Scripture states that Abraham offered Isaac by faith because at the time of offering his son, there was nothing to encourage him to believe that his son would not truly die. By faith, he saw his son as already dead and thus was able to let go of him. Consider that he was promised a son, and now that he had the son, he was asked to sacrifice him. Some may claim they believe in God but would not let go of their son. In such cases, God would say He doesn’t know whether they truly trust Him or not. The proof lies in our willingness to obey God regardless of the requests made. Do a self assessment and see whether you truly believe God or it is just a mouth offering?

Prayer_Bead: Faithful God, thank you for your continuous love for me. Help me to prove by my obedience, that I believe in you. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Let your obedience validate your confessions.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Trim your Lamp

[The Glory Unveiled]

Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. [ Matthew 25:7‬ NIV‬‬ ]

The above scripture speaks about the wise and foolish virgins who had gone to meet the bridegroom. When the bridegroom delayed in coming, they became drowsy and fell asleep. Our anchor text says the virgins woke up because they had all been sleeping. And they had been sleeping because they waited for the Bridegroom until they became tired and drowsy. Just like those virgins, many of us are becoming drowsy and falling asleep. And this is as a result of the pull and push motions of this secular world and the pressure from our fallen and broken world. The world is out against the believer and what will keep us through the dark ages is the oil in our Lamp. The oil is the minsitry of the Holy Spirit in us. The doze of the word of God that we have in us is what keeps us in hibernation mode, through the dark. So that in due time, we can trim our lamps and have enough light to see the Bridegroom. But then, we can only trim our lamp when we have oil in our lamp. Now, that the bridegroom is not here, is the best time to get oil into our lamp. Let us study the word of God to show ourselves approved unto God. The time to get oil and the time to trim our lamps is now. We are in a very sensitive moment. We have been sleeping for long, tossed to and fro by the doctrines and teachings of the world. The time has come for us to trim our lamp and go meet our Bridegroom.

Prayer_Bead: Heavenly Father, thank you for the oil in my lamp. Help me to guard it with wisdom until your coming. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Oil in your lamp gives opportunity to trim it.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Knolwedge and Life

[The Glory Unveiled]

”My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” [ Hosea 4:6‬ NKJV‬‬ ]

The destruction of Adam and Eve and all of humanity began from a deficiency in knowledge. Adam was given the instruction that contained the antidote for the woes and challenges mangled in humanity’s makeup. So that as long as that knowledge is preserved and the instruction adhered to, man was going to be okay eternally in the presence of God. But then, Eve was not properly equipped with the knowledge responsible for the sustenance and upkeep of humanity. When the serpent came to test her knowledge of truth, it was discovered that she did not study to show herself approved unto God. And so, the devil exploited her ignorance. And took advantage of that lack of knowledge to invite destruction (death). Our anchor scripture says God’s people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Even though they are God’s people, they are destroyed when knowledge is absent. The surprising thing about the absence of this knowledge is that, it was rejected. Just as Eve rejected knowledge. She rejected knowledge because she could have called her lord and husband, when the serpent was trying to confuse her. But instead, she tried to prove herself to have had adequate knowledge. Our anchor scripture goes on to say, “because you have forgotten the law of God…” This was also apparent in Eve’s response when the serpent asked if God said they should not eat of any tree? In quoting what God had said, she added a phrase that was not in the original statement (Genesis 3:3). This probably means she had forgotten the intial statement God gave them (Genesis 2:17). Knowledge is key to longevity and preservation. This is why we need to equip ourselves with the knowledge of God; rightly dividing the word of truth, necessary for our livelihood and godliness.

Prayer_Bead: Omniscient Lord, thank you for all the things you have made available for my learning and growth.

Wisdom_Quote: Knowledge is the ledger that connects us to life.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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The logic of faith

[The Glory Unveiled]

”Abraham’s faith made it logical to him that God could raise Isaac from the dead, and symbolically, that’s exactly what happened.“ [ Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭19‬ ‭TPT‬‬ ]

Faith is not the abandonment of logic to embrace fantasy and wishes, but the firm acknowledgment and embrace of logic derived from an understanding of the person of God. Hence, true faith brings about an understanding that becomes the anchor upon which corresponding action is hinged. The scripture above tells us that Abraham’s faith made it logical for him. Now, a few verses before this verse, verse 3, records that by faith, we understand that the world was formed at the command of God. This means faith brings a certain understanding that only faith can release. No wonder the apostle also teaches that the unspiritual, the man without faith, cannot discern or know things of the Spirit because such things are spiritually discerned (from a place of understanding) (1 Corinthians 2:14). So, Abraham came to trust God so much not to withhold his son from God because he got an understanding from his faith that God was able to raise his son from the dead. Faith helps us to see from the perspective of God, which is the logical side of faith. This is why without faith, it wouldn’t have made sense to Abraham how God who promised him a child now wants that child from him. It would seem to the carnal man as illogical. But then, true faith furnishes us with an understanding that helps us to stand by God through every test and challenge. God is faithful, and He will keep every promise He made to us.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for the understanding and logic that my faith brings. Help me to trust you all the way. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Faith embraces logic.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Jesus, our example

[The Glory Unveiled ]

Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. [ Hebrews‬ ‭12‬‬:‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ ]

The Bible says the Lord Jesus is the first Son among many brothers (Romans 8:29), meaning that He is the template for our conduct and lifestyle. We are supposed to learn from our senior brother, Jesus, and God. Usually, when you want to learn a dance step, you need to keep your eyes on the instructor to get everything right; otherwise, you will miss everything. In the case of our faith pattern, the Lord Jesus is our guide, the author, and the one who completes it. Therefore, we cannot have faith or continue to live and grow in faith without Jesus. With that clear understanding, let us carefully examine the Lord Jesus’ style. The scripture says, He was motivated by the joy that was set before Him: the joy a shepherd experiences when he finds his missing sheep, the joy of bringing us back to God. The weight of the joy, which is the reward of his sacrifice, made Him endure the cross with its shame and pain. His gaze was fixed on one thing alone: the joy. And because He didn’t have divided attention, He obtained what He pursued. The same will happen in our lives if we look to Jesus alone and nothing else, and despise the shame and hateful words of people. We will also endure our crosses and have the reward of being with the Father. No matter how difficult it seems, if we can keep our gaze on Jesus, our faith will produce the desired results.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord, thank you for being the author and finisher of my faith. Help me to endure the things I need to endure, so help me God.

Wisdom_Quote: The direction of your gaze determines your level of distractions.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Ready and proven help

[The Glory Unveiled]

”God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.“ [ Psalms‬ ‭46‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ ]

God is many things to many people, usually manifesting as such to those who believe in Him. For those who see God as their Provider, He proves Himself as such. To those who believe in Him as their Savior, He manifests as their Savior. Similarly, for those who recognize Him as their refuge and strength, He manifests accordingly. However, God may not be perceived as all these things by some individuals, despite having the capacity to be so. The hindrance lies not with God, but with those individuals themselves. The psalmist also refers to God as his help. However, the timing and relevance of help are crucial. Help may be available but not necessarily relevant due to its timing. The psalmist has experienced the timely help of God, which has proven its reliability over time. When faced with trouble, he remains unperturbed, knowing that God is faithful and His help is ever-present. While help may come in various forms from different sources, the help from the Lord is reliable and consistently available when needed. There are those who put their trust in man and look to them for help. But the reality is that true help comes from God and may be dispensed through men. But those men are not the source of it. Therefore, let us turn to the help of God, as He is our present help in times of trouble and turmoil._

Prayer_Bead: Father God, thank you for being my proven and present help in times of trouble. I trust you to come through for me in all my troubles. Let your name be glorified in me.

Wisdom_Quote: The relevance of help is determined by it’s timeliness.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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The brightness of your light

[The Glory Unveiled]

”The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.“ [ Isaiah‬ ‭60‬:‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ ]

Butterflies are attracted to flowers, sunny and open areas, while bees are drawn to brightly colored flowers with strong fragrances. What attracts a person or thing to another differs from one individual to another. Attraction is orchestrated by value. What you carry determines what you attract or what is attracted to you. The kinds of things you are attracted to are signs of what you carry. Flies are attracted to sugary foods. Wherever flies are found, we can conclude that something sugary must be in that vicinity. Gentiles shall come to your light, but kings will only be attracted to the brightness of the rising light. Light symbolizes your gift and calling, but the brightness of that light has to do with its refinement. When we improve upon our gifts and refine our skills, we attract a special class of people than we used to attract. The reason is that certain people can only be reached with a certain class of gifts. We, therefore, decide who we attract by the nature and value of the things we carry. When Joseph’s gifts rose in prison, the king sent for him. Joseph’s gift rose through continuous practice as he interpreted dreams for his fellow prisoners. Continuous use of our gifts sharpens them and draws kings to us. Don’t give up on your skills and abilities; kings will soon come to your dwelling.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord, thank you for the gift of your light upon me. Help me to refine the gifts you have deposited in me so that kings will be drawn to your glory in me. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Ordinary people are drawn to ordinary things and extraordinary people are drawn to extraordinary things.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Kill your doubts

[The Glory Unveiled]

If God can clothe the fields and meadows with grass and flowers, can he not clothe you as well, O struggling one with so many doubts? (‭‭‭ Luke‬ ‭12‬‬:‭28‬ ‭TPT‬‬)

The presence of our needs does not indicate the absence of God’s ability to provide. The absence of what we wish to experience only confirms a deficiency on our part. Many times in the Bible, we are compared to other categories of people or things to strike a balance between our current experiences and what we ought to experience. When God compares the kind of faith that grants unrestricted access to heaven, He mentions children. This suggests there is wisdom to be gained from observing the attitude of children. The Bible also directs the lazy man to learn wisdom from the ant, another lesson we can derive from comparison. Now, we are posed with a comparative question: If God can clothe the fields and meadows with grass and flowers, can He not also clothe us? Certainly, He can, because by every standard, we are more dear to God than grass and flowers. However, the reason we may not be experiencing this provision is doubt. Faith and fear are instruments that grant permission to celestial beings. Faith permits God and His kingdom, while fear creates room for the devil’s influence. Doubt also signifies a lack of full knowledge or information about something. It is this gap in awareness that undermines our experiences. God is capable of exceeding more than we could ask or think. Yet, doubt can be the one thing that stops Him. Not believing that God is able to provide for our every need, no matter how small, is an insult to His power and thus yields a corresponding result. Don’t wrestle with God’s promises; He is able to fulfill everything He says He will do.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord, thank you for your provisions. I believe that you are able to do exceeding, abundantly and far above what I ask, think or imagine.

Wisdom_Quote: Doubt or faith is the gap between your experience and your expectations.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Seeking and Saving

[The Glory Unveiled]

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” [ Luke 19:10 NIV ]

Jesus tells a story of how a shepherd will leave ninety-nine sheep to go after just one that was lost (Luke 15:4-6). The reason why the shepherd will risk the ninety-nine for the one is because the ninety-nine were already safe. The Lord Jesus is that shepherd. The Psalmist affirms this in Psalms 23 when he said that the Lord is his shepherd. In our anchor verse of scripture, the Lord Jesus shares the purpose of his coming—to seek and save the lost. We can then say that the sole purpose for his coming is to seek and save. No wonder during his earthly ministry, the Lord Jesus was mostly spotted with sinners and the lost. And every time He left them, they were different people. The Lord Jesus made this statement when He came to the house of Zacchaeus, a corrupt tax collector. Even though it seems that Zacchaeus was living the good life, his soul was lost. And though some people tried to discourage Jesus from going to the house of such a person, He did not listen to them. The Lord Jesus is still on that mission of seeking and saving. What are you doing about His beckoning? He said we should not harden our hearts when we hear His voice. Zacchaeus actually climbed a tree to be noticed. What are you doing about the words you have been hearing concerning the love of God? Will you surrender to His lordship?

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, come into my heart and be my Lord and Saviour. I renounce my old life and embrace a new life with you because of your love. Amen.

Wisdom_Quote: Jesus is seeking out your heart for a love relationship.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Who is God to you?

[The Glory Unveiled ]

But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. [ Psalms 3:3 KJV ]

The preceding verse of scripture provides an understanding of why this verse begins with “but.” This chapter of Psalms was written when David fled from his son Absalom. In the verse before our anchor verse, he wrote, “many are those who say there is no help for me in God.” And then he quickly adds in this verse, the truth about his situation for which those who think there is no help for him in God are unaware. Here, he ignores the people who rose up against him and focuses on God. David understands that with God alone on his side it wouldn’t matter how many people rise against him. He switches so swiftly implying that the comments of his enemies are irrelevant. He calls God his shield; his shield against the skims of the enemies. He said in verse 6 that he will not be afraid of ten thousand people that stand up against him because of this same understanding. He also calls God his glory because Absalom had wanted to take away his father’s glory. But David knew that his glory is not the material things he owned or the legacy he built. God was his covering and glory. As a result, God was the lifter up of his head. Eventually, God lifted his head over that of his son. God made David known and influential. So, rather than focusing on people and your environment, focus on your God. What is your relationship with God? Is God your shield? Is He your glory and the lifter up of your head? This is what really counts and not the people and situations that seem to choke you. So, turn your attention to God.

Prayer_Bead: Our shield and the lifter up of our heads, thank you for what you have done for us and continue to do for us.

Wisdom_Quote: Your life is the result of your perspective.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.