Month: May 2024

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Don’t withdraw, go deeper

[The Glory Unveiled]

Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. [ Luke 5:4 KJV ]

Peter had always been fishing at a particular spot in the lake and had always caught fish. He was so familiar with that part of the lake that he was sure he would always find fish at that spot. But then, the Lord Jesus’ instructions suggested that He knew where the fish were at all times, not because He had prior experience with their whereabouts. Many of us have built altars around certain experiences and encounters and have religiously stayed with them, not wanting to let go so that God could bring us into newer experiences. Peter, at the mountain of transfiguration, after he had seen Moses and Elijah, suggested they should build tents in their honor. He didn’t want a progressive experience; he wanted to freeze the moment and keep returning to it, just as he had been doing with his fishing. God’s intention is for us to grow into the stature of the image of Jesus (Ephesians 4:13). This becoming is the result of not camping on one mountain of experience but using previous encounters and experiences as the stage for newer ones. Peter and the other disciples had wanted to withdraw after toiling all night, but Jesus came with a new revelation: to go deeper into the depths of the lake. He was used to shallow waters, but the thing about shallow waters is that they soon run dry of fish. As believers, we must move from the elementary principles and teachings toward the deeper waters. Let’s not give up, regardless of the pressure mounted on us by the world. Let us launch deep into the heart of our walk with God. There we will be set up for a great draught. Make intentional efforts to know Christ better than you presently know Him.

Prayer_Bead: Heavenly Father, thank you for your interest in the affairs of my life. Help me to launch into deep waters with you. In Jesus name.

Wisdom_Quote: Your fishes have moved to the deeper depths of the lake launch deeper.

# GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Gouge it out

[The Glory Unveiled]

And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell. [ Matthew 18:9 NIV ]

The Lord Jesus advises His listeners to value the safety of their souls even more than the members of their bodies. His advice, though not meant to be taken literally, should not be ignored. Unfortunately, this is the kind of message that is less preached; the message about what we ought to do. Instead of teaching us to put away anything that leads us into disobedience, no matter what they may be, we are given shades to hide them. We have devised means to manage the things that make us fall easily into sin, instead of getting rid of them. The world and its systems have made it comfortable to live with our members that make us stumble. Whatever causes us to stumble is dangerous to our inheritance of the things that are promised to us. We must lose the things that hinder our eternal blessings and reward. Of course, it would be painful to gouge out one’s eyes, but compared to the pain of losing eternal life, losing one’s eyes, leg, or any member of the body is far less painful. The pain Jesus spoke about is figuratively describing the pain of parting with the things we love. Our willingness to part with the things that stagnate our progress is the key to guaranteed success. Eternal life is more valuable than having all the members of our body intact and yet losing the life of God. Many have kept their eyes and hands but lost the life of God in them. For some of us, our eyes or hands are symbolic of the appetites, habits, or desires that lead us away from the path of truth. Samson died because he didn’t cut off his vulnerability towards Delilah. Don’t pamper the things that weaken your resolve for the things of God. Expose them and let them lose their grip over your soul.

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, have mercy upon us. Give us the power to put away the things that make us stumble in our walk with you. In Jesus name. Amen.

Wisdom_Quote: If your legs are leading you to hell, cut them off.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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A worthy example

[The Glory Unveiled]

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. [ John 15:12 KJV ]

The Lord Jesus always taught His disciples, and by extension us, by example. He would only command us to do what He had first demonstrated. By showing us what He asks us to do, we are empowered to follow His commands. He does not require anything of us that He is not willing to do or give Himself. Before God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, God had sacrificed His only begotten Son [Jesus was slain before the foundation of the earth]. God gave to humanity before He required humanity to give. A parable is told of a king who forgave one of his servants who owed him a huge debt. That servant then went and imprisoned another servant who owed him a small debt. When the king heard about his cruel dealings with his fellow servant, he called him, rebuked him, and handed him over to the jailers to be tortured as well (Matthew 18:23-35). This parable illustrates how God wants us to relate to our neighbours. Just as He treats us, God expects us to treat our neighbours, just like the king did with the servant who owed him. If we are forgiven, it is so that we can extend the same kindness to others. If we are loved, it is so that we can love others. Before the Lord Jesus ascended into glory, He gave His disciples a commandment to love one another as He had loved them. This is why it is a commandment; He knows we are able to carry it out, which is why He commanded it. Hence, we cannot afford to disobey, as disobedience would not be due to inability but to wickedness or rebellion.

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for giving me the ability to love my neighbours as you love me. Help me to practice this culture of love, thereby honouring your commandment.

Wisdom_Quote: Imitators of Jesus are co-heirs of Jesus.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Our entry point

[The Glory Unveiled]

Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. [ 2 Peter 1:4 NIV ]

Our participation in the divine nature hinges on promises. These promises are given through our knowledge of the Son of God—they are in Christ, revealed to us through our intimacy with Him. Hence, our knowledge of the Lord is the bait with which we draw the divine nature. All the blessings and opportunities in God are locked up in our knowledge of Jesus, tied to His promises. The divine nature is so close but only accessible to those who have the promises. Abraham lived such a supernatural life; the divine nature was at work in him because his life was a portrait of the promises of God. His life detailed the purposes of God through the promises made to him and the role he played in it. He was a man who lived by covenants and promises. His entire life revolved around the promises of God. So much so that, at every point, God had a word for him, unlike Lot. The difference between Abraham and Lot was clear. Abraham, as a result of the knowledge he had of God, escaped the corruption of his time caused by evil desires. But Lot, on the other hand, made a choice based on his desires. In the end, he found himself in the heart of ungodliness, tormenting the divine nature in him. The divine nature is a life we can participate in or a life we could wish for. It boils down to accessing knowledge. And whenever that knowledge is gained, the promises made to us translate into the life that God has for us. God is not partial; He is faithful to His every word. And anyone who applies them receives their due reward.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for the promises you have given me through Christ Jesus. I participate actively in them by my knowledge of Him. Amen.

Wisdom_Quote: The divine nature is hidden in Christ.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Above all

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. [ 1 Peter 4:8 NIV ]

The phrase “love covers a multitude of sins,” as used by the apostle Peter, describes turning a sinner from their error unto God in the book of James. Remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins (Jude 5:20). The sacrifice and demonstration of love for the sinner is the covering you make for their sins—it is the demonstration of our love for them that covers their sins, just as the demonstration of Jesus’ love for humanity covered our multitude of sins. His love became a canopy that shielded us from the painful scorching of sin’s wages—death. When we love those who seem not to deserve love, we cover their sins through our love for them, and God is gracious toward them. In another sense, when we turn a sinner from their evil ways, we have covered (ended) numerous other sins they would have committed if they were not helped. And so, whichever way we look at it, demonstrated love indeed covers a multitude of sins. As you go out today, let someone feel you care about them. Our anchor verse is connected to the earlier verse (7), which speaks about the preparations we need to make for praying as the world draws to an end. But above those preparations, we need to love each other. So, let us drop the theatrics and show genuine love.

Prayer_Bead: Merciful Father, thank you for the love you showed me through your Son. Help me to show the same love to my world through Him. Amen.

Wisdom_Quote: Love covers multitude of sins.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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The Holy Spirit and your gift

[The Glory Unveiled]

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. [ 2 Timothy 1:6 NIV ]

Every fire that is left unattended smothers and quenches. Even if it does not quench, a fire left unattended cannot cook anything. The gift of God, though in us, must be fanned into flames like fire. It is possible for a coal of fire to grow so dim that one could literally carry it in their palm and not feel much heat. But when that same dying coal is fanned into flames, it can burn up anything it comes into contact with. It is the same with the gifts of God in us. It may feel like there is nothing in us when it is in a dormant state, but when fanned into flames, we can set cities on fire for God. But the question then is, how do we fan our gifts into flame? What do we need to do? Two things are necessary to fan our gifts into flames. Simply put, we need the Holy Spirit and practical activities. We need to be constantly in touch with the Holy Spirit to maintain the fire in the gift He gives. The apostle Paul goes on in verse 14 to advise young Timothy to guard the deposit of the gift in him by the help of the Holy Spirit: “Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” The role of the Holy Spirit is unavoidable. Additionally, we need to keep practicing or putting our gifts to use. That way they are stirred and made ever vibrant like flames. It is in the practice of putting the gift to use that it stays awake. Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot guard what is in us, and without demonstrating love with the gift, we cannot fan it into flames.

Prayer_Bead: Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift you gave me by Your Spirit. Help me to fan my gifts into flames so that I can serve my world with them.

Wisdom_Quote: Gestures of love is the fan with which we turn up the flames of our gifts.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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The realm of the Spirit.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. [ Romans 8:8 NIV]

As believers, although we live in the physical realm, we can transact business in the realm of the spirit. Faith gives us this access into the realm of the supernatural. No wonder Jesus said a time was coming when we would worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). In spirit means in faith, as faith is the gateway into the spirit realm. Worshiping in truth, on the other hand, means worshiping by the word of God. It means pledging our allegiance to God’s word. Now, if living in the realm of the spirit means living by faith, then the realm of the flesh is the realm of living without faith. Our anchor text says those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. If those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God, then those in the realm of the flesh are those who are without faith in God—without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). We cannot deceive God; our position and posture in relation to God are revealed by the absence or presence of faith. God is looking for worshippers who will worship in spirit and in truth. And even though we may fake our worship before men, God sees our faith and our allegiance to the truth we have encountered. When situations and circumstances arise, are we able to still defend what we believe? It is not enough to profess our allegiance and devotion to God. It is the challenging times that reveal where our hearts lie. The realm of the flesh is the place of unbelief, the place of disagreeing with God’s purposes. May we not be caught in the realm of the flesh, displeasing our Father in heaven. But rather trust in the Lord and in His word.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for the grace to walk with you in spirit. Help me to still choose you when the wind of the flesh blows. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Wisdom_Quote: The realm of the spirit is the realm of faith.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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The perfect guide

[The Glory Unveiled]

Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” [ John 21:18 NIV ]

Whenever we are led by someone, our destinations are defined and determined by the guide or leader. In the scripture above, the Lord Jesus was teaching the apostle Peter about the responsibility of his new status in God. The Lord Jesus was explaining the demands of that status, which include the responsibility to lead his colleagues and the church. And as one who was to lead others, he was to be led. The Lord Jesus touched on the nature of the Holy Spirit and His leadership. He taught that the Holy Spirit will lead where He wills and not where Peter or anyone else might want. As young believers, we may go wherever we want and behave however we like, but a time comes when the Holy Spirit dresses us with the fruit of the spirit and leads us by the word of God. That time is the time of growth and maturity in the Lord. [For the believer, our willingness and commitment to the leading of the Holy Spirit is our journey into growth, and not the number of years we have been believing]. In our growth experience, the Holy Spirit dresses us with the identity of the Son and leads us in the way of the Word. In John 3, the Lord Jesus associates the Holy Spirit with the wind, saying, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8) Hence, we are to make up our minds to submit to the wind-like ministry of the Holy Spirit. Allowing ourselves to be led wherever the Holy Spirit wills—a call to an unpredictable life. Would you let the Holy Spirit dress and lead you?

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for the leadership of your Spirit. I submit to You, lead me on this glorious journey of life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Beyond the here and now

[The Glory Unveiled]

The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. [ Matthew 25:4 NIV ]

Everything worthwhile is achieved and sustained by purposeful planning. As believers, we need a clear vision of our destination. A conscious understanding of what lies on the other side and what is required to get there keeps us in check for the life beyond death. Eternal life has a code of conduct, and the believer must adhere to its prescriptions. In the Matthew 25 account of the five wise and five foolish virgins, the wise virgins understood what it would take to get them where they were going. They knew what they were aiming for, and so they prepared adequately. The foolish ones, on the other hand, didn’t have a clear picture of what it would take to see the bridegroom they so desperately wanted to meet. The fact that you desperately want something doesn’t mean you will have it without adequate knowledge. Like those foolish virgins, many believers claim they want the God-life, a supernatural life, but they do not live according to the demands of the kingdom that sponsors that life. God is sovereign, and He will not compromise His essence, attributes, or nature for anything other. Everything else must meet His standards and purpose. The wise virgins knew they needed extra oil. In our day, we too need extra oil to end our Christian experience well. But this oil does not come accidentally; it is the result of conscious planning and yielding to the one who gives the oil. In our journey to meet our bridegroom, let us look beyond the present. And be intentional about our walk.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord, thank you for the revelation from your word. Give me oil in my lamp and help me to take my walk with you more seriously. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Wisdom_Quote: Eternal life has a code of conduct.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Tag of forces

[The Glory Unveiled]

For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. [ Galatians 5:17 NIV ]

The flesh lives in a domain that focuses on feelings, desires, and emotions—outward, earthly nature—while the spirit focuses on what God approves. We are always torn between doing what the spirit sponsors and what the flesh sponsors. We are at the mercy of whichever of the two entities prevails over the other. Your spirit is constantly in conflict with your flesh, and your flesh with your spirit. With this understanding, we must think carefully before taking any actions. It gets easier when we desire to be led by the dictates of the spirit rather than the flesh. Unbeknownst to us, some of the things we do without considering the consequences are actually sponsored by the flesh. The enemy and anything he represents have an agenda: to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). This applies to anything he sponsors or influences. When we get carried away by our lusts and desires that are unsanctioned by the word of God, we are likely driven by the devil’s agenda. Unfortunately, one can be led by their flesh without realizing it. It may feel like they are led by the Spirit of God if they are not careful to discern who is in the driver’s seat. Knowing that there are two forces within us that inform our decisions and choices, let us allow the word of God to saturate our souls so that out of the abundance of what we are full of, we can live out His will. May the leadership of God’s Spirit in us always prevail over the desires of our flesh. And may we freely follow the dictates of God’s word.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for saving my soul. Guide me through your word to be fully yielded to you. Amen.

Wisdom_Quote: Your choices are made for you by either of two forces; the spirit or the flesh.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.