[The Glory Unveiled]
“Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel? ( Amos 5:25 NIV )
There is a hefty price for everything under the sun. Sacrifices and offerings began in the Old Testament as instructions from God and as a principle that makes things happen even when they seem impossible. Different kingdoms, including the kingdom of darkness, operate through sacrifices. For something new to happen, something must be sacrificed—something must be given. When a grain of wheat is placed in the ground, it breaks down and dies. Yet, it is from that place of death that new life emerges, and it multiplies. For God to have many sons and daughters, He had to sacrifice His only begotten Son. Even God had to make a sacrifice to gain many in return. Sacrifices are essential for anything meaningful to happen. Often, when people do good, it comes from a position of sacrifice. It is easy to do wrong or withhold good from others, but helping others often requires sacrifice. You have to let go of alternatives to meet a need—that is sacrifice. God said that in the wilderness, the Israelites did not bring Him sacrifices or offerings. Yet, in reality, they lived at the expense of someone or something. They may have thought it was free, but someone always paid the price. Moses often stood in the gap for them, interceding on their behalf without their knowledge. Through his sacrifices, God showed mercy to the nation. Everything comes at the cost of a sacrifice. What are you willing to sacrifice for the glorious life awaiting you? Unless the price is paid in full, the delivery cannot be made.
Prayer_Bead: Mighty God, thank you for the privilege to experience a new life by the sacrifice of Jesus. Help me to also sacrifice for the new things waiting for me.
Wisdom_Quote: Sacrifice is the price for the new thing.
#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.
Inner Identity
[The Glory Unveiled]
As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man. (Proverbs 27:19 KJV )
In the world of your mind, who are you? The mind is a realm of an alternate reality that shapes our physical reality. It serves as the backend of the coding of our lives, while the frontend is how we live and interact in the world. What happens behind the scenes in our hearts drives what happens on the frontend—the stage of our lives. Therefore, we cannot change what happens on the stage without first adjusting the settings that create those outcomes. Often, we focus on addressing people’s actions, attempting to change their behaviour, rather than addressing the root cause—the underlying factors that drive their actions. In reality, people are merely expressing who they are in the world of their minds. Unless they redefine their identity within their mental world, they cannot transform who they are in the physical world. This side of reality acts as a mirror, reflecting what exists on the other side. The scripture says that just as water reflects the face of the person staring into it, so a man’s heart reflects who he truly is. If you don’t like the face you see in the mirror, don’t get angry at the mirror or attempt to alter the reflection itself. The mirror only reveals what is placed before it. Instead, deal with what stands before the mirror. Similarly, if you don’t like who you or someone else is, focus on changing the posture of the heart, and the external reality will follow suit. A person moves in the direction their heart leads. Guide your heart, and your life will be guided accordingly.
Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for the world of my heart. Help me to submit to you in all things. Amen.
Wisdom_Quote: A man is not different from the identity they have in their hearts.
#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.
Sin’s antidote
[The Glory Unveiled]
I consider your Word to be my greatest treasure, and I treasure it in my heart to keep me from committing sin’s treason against you. (Psalms 119:11 TPT)
The Word of God is the antidote to sin. From the very beginning, in the Garden of Eden, the provision for sin was the Word of God—Christ Jesus. When sin struck humanity in the Garden, God provided a cure: His only begotten Son. No one can overcome sin without the help of Christ. He is God’s righteousness and the ultimate answer to sin. The Psalmist also discovered that the solution to sin’s rebellion is a heart that treasures the Word of God. He chose to value God’s Word above everything else in his life. Notably, he didn’t store it anywhere else but in his heart. The Bible teaches that the heart is the driver of a person’s life; it dictates the direction one’s life takes. As it says, “Out of the heart are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). Recognizing this, the Psalmist hid God’s Word—the antidote to sin—in his heart to avoid sinning. He attacked sin at its root: the heart. The world and everything in it aim to drag us into sin and keep us there. However, the Spirit that resides in us is a Spirit of righteousness. This Spirit is made alive and powerful through the Word of God. For this reason, believers live above sin only by immersing themselves in God’s Word. When the Word of God becomes the believer’s ecosystem, sin becomes extinct. What is your greatest treasure? Does the Word of God guide your life, or do the world and its pleasures?
Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for the power of your Word. Help me to live in it perpetually. In Jesus’ name.
Wisdom_Quote: The Word of God is a world against sin.
#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.
Defy impossibilities
[The Glory Unveiled]
He turned the rock into a pool of water; yes, a spring of water flowed from solid rock. ( Psalms 114:8 NLT )
God always goes above and beyond in everything. He sets the standard so high that no one can reach it except Himself. The Israelites had been experiencing the power and wonders of God from the moment they left the walls of Egypt through their time in the wilderness. Every step of the way, God proved Himself to be unlike the gods of other nations—greater than all of them combined. Yet, somehow, the Israelites found it difficult to believe in the same God who had performed all these wondrous deeds. During their journey, they reached a place called Meribah, where the people tested the Lord and questioned among themselves whether He was truly among them, despite all He had done for them (Exodus 17:7). They quarreled and asked such questions because they struggled to believe that God was present and actively working on their behalf. In response, God once again proved Himself by bringing water out of a rock. He made the impossible possible—water flowed from a solid rock. There is water in every rock, but it will only come forth at the word of God. The water flowed because Moses obeyed God’s command. When we obey God’s instructions, He makes the impossible possible. When Peter obeyed Jesus’ instruction to come, he walked on water. The impossible will happen in your life and around you when you trust and obey God’s word.
Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for the things you do in and around my life. Help me to trust you in every situation.
Wisdom_Quote: There is water in every rock.
#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.
Creation is Listening
[The Glory Unveiled]
Through him [the Word] all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:3 NIV )
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). God began the world with His Word. In Genesis chapter 1, we see how God spoke things into being. The chapter is filled with phrases like, “God said, and God said…” His Word was embedded in creation so that creation became the offspring of God’s Word. Hence, everything created by God has the Word of God embedded within it, for without it, nothing was made that was made. Because creation came from God’s Word, it obeys the spoken Word of God. For example, Jesus sent His disciple Peter to the lake, instructing him to cast a hook, and the first fish caught would have a coin in its mouth. True to His Word, the fish had the coin in its mouth (Matthew 17:27). In another instance, Jesus spoke to a tree to wither, and it did (Matthew 21:19-20). The Word of God is hidden in creation, and creation responds to it. Anything in our lives that has its roots in creation will only respond to the Word of God. Instead of complaining and whining about your situation, speak God’s Word to it. The change you desire is only triggered in creation through the Word of God. Creation obeys those who carry the Word of God on their lips. Men like Moses, Joshua, Elijah, Peter, and Paul spoke to creation, and it obeyed them because they carried the Word of God. The voice (Word) of God in creation is waiting for the sons of God, who speak by the voice of God, to give the command so creation can respond (Romans 8:19). Do not remain silent—speak to that situation. Turn it around by the Word of God.
Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord, thank you for the power of your Word on my lips. I change the circumstances of my life and destiny in Jesus’ name.
Wisdom_Quote: Creation is on tiptoes, waiting to hear the voice of God on the lips of a human.
#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.
The Spirit of Life.
[The Glory Unveiled]
Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.( Genesis 2:7 NIV )
The creation of man was a beautiful collaboration between earth and heaven. Part of what was used to create man came from the earth, and the other came from above. The dust was from the earth, but the breath of God came from God, who is above. The remarkable thing about the breath of God, or anything that comes from Him, is that it possesses the life of God—His divine nature. Jesus came from the Father and carried the attributes and nature of the Father. When the Spirit of God visits the land of the dead, it becomes the land of the living because the Spirit of God is the Spirit of life. When Jesus, the embodiment of God’s Spirit, went to the land of the dead, the Spirit of God transformed that place into the land of the living. Scripture records that people resurrected from the dead and tombs were emptied when Jesus released His Spirit on the cross (see Matthew 27:52). Wherever the presence of God is, there is life. No wonder Jesus said He is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the life of the believer. The Spirit of God is a quickening Spirit, bringing vitality to those who believe in Jesus. Through faith in Him, the presence of the Spirit of God brings life where there is no life and light where there is darkness. Remember, whenever heaven meets earth, life is released into the earth. If there is anything dying or dead in your life, what you need is the Spirit of God. Invite the Spirit of God into the situations of your life and watch amazing transformations take place.
Prayer_Bead: Heavenly Father, thank you for your Spirit in me. Vitalise anything that is dying in me and give life to the dead.
Wisdom_Quote: The Spirit of God is a life giving Spirit.
#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.
Busy about nothing
[The Glory Unveiled]
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. ( 2 Thessalonians 3:6 NIV )
The easiest way the devil keeps you from getting close to your life’s assignment and calling is by keeping you idle and disruptive. And that’s just another word for being a busybody. He deceives you into thinking you’re doing something important. You spend all your time and energy on something that has no future, yet you fail to realize it. Primarily, what he does is kill your ability to see. Once you cannot see, you cannot move forward. He doesn’t have to worry about where you’re going because, ultimately, you won’t go anywhere. The devil has succeeded in keeping many people trapped in this cycle of life. They are always busy with something but have no results to show for all their hustle and movement. The apostle Paul commands us, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and who does not live according to the teachings received from God through His Word. Although these individuals may be “believers,” the apostle teaches that we should keep away from them in the name of our Lord Jesus. That is something very serious. The devil specializes in keeping people idle yet busy. Martha was preoccupied when Jesus visited their home, but her busyness was unnecessary. She was distracted and missed the opportunity to benefit from the word of life that Jesus had brought to her home (see Luke 10:40). For many of us, the devil uses the same strategy to distract us. The way out is to stay rooted in the Word of God. Practice the Word of God at all times and in every situation. And be intentional about what preoccupies your time.
Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for showing me the strategy of the enemy to keep me busy doing nothing. Help me to walk intentionally with you in doing what you called me to do.
Wisdom_Quote: The devil kills people’s ability to see and then he leaves them to kill themselves.
#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.
Humility; a timely shield
[The Glory Unveiled]
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. [ Proverbs 11:2 NIV ]
Faith moves mountains, patience triumphs, and humility and wisdom shield against disgrace. Principles always yield the same results, no matter the variables. If a principle works in London, it should work in Ghana. God’s word does not return to Him void unless it accomplishes the purpose for which it was sent. This is why God’s word never fails. He is not a man to fail. Our anchor text says, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” This means wisdom moves with humility. Where pride and arrogance enter a room, wisdom departs because pride walks with disgrace. God exalts us when we depend on Him. Often, we tend to rely on God only when we reach our wits’ end—when all we know how to do fails us. But the one who truly depends on God is not someone who turns to Him only in times of crisis but also in moments of peace and stability. Humility enables us to trust God through every situation, even when His ways don’t seem to make sense to us. When humility leads our approach to anything, wisdom accompanies our outcome. The Lord Jesus came in the spirit of humility; therefore, anything that comes from Him and through Him must also embody humility. He humbled Himself, even to the point of death on the cross, and by that example, He called us into our inheritance. Without humility, whatever we claim to have will only bring disgrace in the long run.
Prayer_Bead: Lord, thank you for showing me the template of heaven concerning my inheritance. Help me to walk in humility. In Jesus’ name.
Wisdom_Quote: Humility is a shield against disgrace.
#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.
What are you spreading?
[The Glory Unveiled]
Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere. ( Mark 1:45 NIV )
God instructed Adam to eat from every tree in the Garden of Eden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When Adam and his wife, Eve, disobeyed God, it did not only directly affect them but also the entire human race and God Himself. The human race suffered from their disobedience because the punishment for breaking that instruction came upon every human being after them. It also affected God because, having created us in His image and likeness, He was responsible for us. He had to address our problem to redeem His image. So, God did what He needn’t have done—being slain for our sake. In our anchor scripture, we read about a young man healed by Jesus of leprosy. Jesus explicitly told him not to tell anyone about it. However, as soon as he left Jesus’ presence, he went about spreading what he was asked not to spread, directly disregarding Jesus’ instruction. The consequence of his action was that Jesus could no longer openly enter any city where He was known. Disobedience always carries serious consequences. Because of one man’s disobedience, Jesus couldn’t go out publicly to heal other sick people. His actions hindered others from benefitting from the power of God. Just as by one man—Adam’s disobedience—sin entered the world (Romans 5:19), don’t allow your personal and private disobedience to become a burden on the necks of many innocent people. Achan’s private sin became a public punishment for the nation of Israel (see Joshua 7). Walk in total obedience, for both your sake and the sake of those around you.
Prayer_Bead: Heavenly Father, thank you for the grace to walk in obedience to your word. Forgive me for all my previous disobedience. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Wisdom_Quote: Private sin has public consequences.
#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.
The audacity of Faith.
[The Glory Unveiled]
Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” ( Luke 7:50 NIV )
What is it that rolls back the dark shadows of death and sends the glorious light of the resurrection in all its brilliant beauty to the sorrowing heart? What is it that lifts burdens too heavy to bear? What is it that brings cleansing to the sin-sick soul? What is it that cools the fevered brow, eases torturous pain, and heals the afflicted and diseased? The answer is faith. These words were written in the early pages of a piece attributed to Kathryn Kuhlman, titled The Lord’s Healing Touch. Faith, the answer to the questions above, is the reason for the lifestyle of the believer. In the Gospels, we come across dozens of statements or fragments of statements that reflect our anchor verse. In many places, we see Jesus declare, “Your faith has made you well,” “Your faith has healed you,” or “Your faith has delivered you.” These statements reveal that the miracles which followed were the result of the power of faith. Faith is a system that offers the believer an opportunity to appropriate divine inheritance. It is the vehicle through which the heavenly becomes earthly, and the earthly ascends heavenward. The verdict is clear: “Without faith, it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6). Anything done outside of faith does not meet the standards of the supernatural. The change you desire is at the mercy of your faith. The freedom experienced by the woman in our text for instance was tied directly to her faith. Some of us are waiting on someone or something, while heaven is waiting on our faith to make provision available. Do you believe in the power of God? Do you believe it so deeply that you are willing to act upon it?
Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for the privilege to believe in you. Help my unbelief concerning any area of my life. In Jesus name.
Wisdom_Quote: Faith animates the blessings and promises of God.
#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.