Author: kingson

[The Glory Unveiled]

Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” ( Mark 14:44 )

In a world where romantic love is just a “thing”, one would agree that a lot of emotional chaos go on in many relationships. You just cannot trust emotions too often. A kiss is supposed to symbolise love, affection, care, concern and gratitude or greetings in other cultures and situations. But who would think that a kiss could also be a signal for betrayal? We do not want to concentrate on the betrayal as much as the kiss, in this devotion. A kiss connotes a warm acceptance and reception of a person, so to use that as a hocus-pocus tool couldn’t have been anticipated. Imagine the shock and bitterness to have discovered later that what you received as a warm greeting or expression of love or care was actually betrayal. There are many people around the world with the Judas Iscariot spirit who go about in a cloak of a friend, lover, partner, brother or sister, who are actually hypocritical liars. They come with a kiss on their lips and a lie on their tongue. They smile to you with their face but frown with their hearts. Fortunately, with discernment and revelation, like Jesus, we can smoke such pretenders out. Beware, some kisses are meant to betray you.

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for opening my eyes to the possibility of man’s deceptions. I pray for the spirit of discernment and revelation.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. [ Hebrews 12:1 ]

The scripture above didn’t say “since we ‘may’ be surrounded…” The statement made is more emphatic, “…we are…” This goes to reason that, unarguably, we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses who are watching us at all times like in the case of Gehazi when he was with his master Elisha (2 Kings 6:17). And like him, we are surrounded by a cloud of saints who are witnesses of the things we do daily even if we don’t see them like Gehazi. If we are conscious of the fact that a group of people were watching us, we would not undress before them. And if a thief were watched by someone else he/she would not steal. So let us throw off the sins that easily entangle us. We need the consciousness of this reality to guard ourselves against our flesh and carnal desires. An athlete like any other person aiming to receive a prize is very intentional in all their dealings in the racetrack. They become very conscious of both the spectators and the inspectors (referees and coaches). These people are the figurative cloud of witnesses to the athlete because they actually influence the overall performance of the athlete. Let us bear this in mind that our own cloud of witnesses continue to look down from heaven upon us, even in the darkest places. Be intentional.

Prayer_Bead: Thank you Jesus for opening my eyes to the existence and ministry of the cloud of witness. Help me to lay aside anything that easily ensnare me.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

One day the evil spirit answered them [the sons of Sceva], “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” ( Acts 19:15 )

[In the above chapter, Seven sons of Sceva were trying to exorcise a demon possessed girl in the name of Jesus, thinking it was just a matter of speaking the words.] Power is not a work of art or an experience of a dramatic display. Spiritual power is the evidence of interaction and relationship with the Spirit of God. It is an expression of dimensions of God by fellowship with Him. Anyone who operates in the domains of power is one who actually has his/her identification authenticated in the power hub of heaven. They are recognised citizens of the realms of principalities. Power in the intangible world is exercised on the grounds of understanding and encounters with such supernatural entities. Such encounters register us in the archives of heaven’s corridor of power, so that even demonic entities can recognise us each time we speak. So, for the unfortunate unbeliever or the believer who has no dealings with the Spirit of God, an attempt to demonstrate the power of God is a venture into catastrophe. We must earn the right to the power of God by consciously trading in the realities of God in faith.

Prayer_Bead: Father of Glory, the mystery of mysteries, the sustainer of all things who Himself is sustained by none, demonstrate your Kingdom through me, with power.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

“At least there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail. ( Job 14:7 )

Forget the former things. Let go of the losses, the pain, the hurts and disappointments. Let them go. Forgive those who cut in on you, dumpened your ambitions. Those who abused you and accused you. Those who cheated you and broke your trust. Forgive then for their ignorance and wickedness. Because until you let go of the past ills, the healing of the future will be hindered. If there is hope for a tree that is cut, then there is more hope for us, no matter what we’ve been through or are going through. Sometimes, the gap between a new beginning and the old is the ability of the mind to let go of the past pains and losses. Do you feel like a tree that is cut down? Are you broken and crushed within? There is hope for you because Christ will not leave you nor forsake you in the middle of a battle or at the centre of the road. He cares too much to abandon you. But will you abandon yourself in self pity and mediocrity? Will you let the cuts from the past cut off your future? Your new shoots are ready to sprout if you let go of the old tree that is now wood. Look to Jesus, forgive the past, embrace the hope of a better future.

Prayer_Bead: My Lord and redeemer, my future and my hope, I surrender my past to you. Heal and restore my present. Thank you for my undistorted future.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled ]

The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: ( Luke 4 :17 )

The purpose of a thing is the reason for its creation. Everything was created with and for a purpose. Our assignment is to uncover that reason which necessitated our creation; that one thing which was set in us for the exhibition of God’s glory. Nobody creates their purpose, they only discover it. The Lord Jesus at the foot of His destiny had to discover His purpose. The scripture says he “found” it, to mean he discovered it. Jesus did not write that portion of the scroll to mean in any way that he ‘created’ what he found. Purpose is not a gamble to be stumbled upon. Its intentionally discovered when we commit to finding it. But until one discovers their purpose—reason for existence—they will just roll on hopelessly in the earth until their scene rolls out. Many who have gone down the path of destiny look back to discover that without purpose, nothing is worth doing or living for. This is the force that demands that we discover what we had been predestined to do. We must unroll our talents and passions to discover that thing or place where we are purposed to glorify God.

Prayer_Bead: Father in Heaven, thank you for my purpose and calling. Help me to discover it as you lead me through the scriptures.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Then they asked him [the man who had been miraculously healed by Jesus], “What did he [Jesus] do to you? How did He open your eyes?” [ John 9:26 ]

Often we miss the move of God in pursuit of the nitty-gritties that belong to God. The scripture above is an excerpt from a long interaction between the Pharisees and a young man who was born blind but was miraculously healed by Jesus. The Pharisees wanted to know the how of the miracle instead of believing in the who [performer] of it. At times, we try to do the maths, to see how feasible it will be to be blessed of God or healed from an illness. We try to imploy our carnal thinking and philosophies to justify what we want. The reality is that, the secret things belong to God, only the revealed is for us (Deuteronomy 29:29). So that God asked Job whether he knew who marked the earth’s dimensions? (Job 38:5). There are certain realities we cannot comprehend while in this covering of flesh and we must come to terms with such truth. Going the way of the Pharisees in today’s verse of scripture is not wise and humbling. It is a manifestation of pride in the covering of mental acuteness. The “how” belongs to God, we only need to do the “what” while believing in the “who”. This is the reality of faith.

Prayer_Bead: Creator and Sustainer of the world and everything within, increase my faith in you. Teach me to obediently trust you and your processes.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. (1John 3:3 )

There is an awakening of a spiritual hope in us when we learn in an inward way that we shall be like Christ when He appears. There is a hope that impresses upon us a need to purify ourselves with the word of God. Because as He is, so are we [to be] in this world. He is the word of God personified so we must be the word of God personified. If there is anyone in our vicinity who cannot read the word of God for themselves, they should be able to see our lifestyle and see the life of Christ. They should hear us speak and hear the clear voice of Christ. We must purify ourselves with the word of God such that, we cannot be differentiated from the person of Christ. What will draw us to Christ at His appearing is our resemblance of Him–it is our bridal garment of His nature. As long as we remain in the earth, by all means, as long as it depends on us, we must purify ourselves with the pure word of God even as Christ washes the Church by the word. Let the world see a refined you that is in the same nature as Christ. Keep the hope of being like Christ in you.

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, purify me with your word and keep my hope of being one with you alive. Teach me in an inward way to resemble you.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Always carrying about in the body the liability and exposure to the same putting to death that the Lord Jesus suffered, so that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be shown forth by and in our bodies. ( 2 Corinthians 4:10 )

The death of Christ on the cross was an open shame, Galatians 3:13 calls it a curse. It was brutally shameful and painful for our Lord and God to take that position. But unless there was a death, there wasn’t going to be a multiplication of spiritual sons and daughters. When we turn to ourselves in that light, unless we die with Christ and carry about in our bodies, on a daily basis His death, we cannot reflect His life too. Our new life came from His death even as a new corn emerges from the death of another. The glorified life of Jesus is only permitted to be revealed through a vessel that has had dealings with Christ; such dealings in the manner of death. Because without coming to terms with the liability of the flesh and the exposure of the sufferings of Christ in an experiential way, we cannot rise with the illuminating life of Salvation and redemption. We did not only become one with Christ in resurrection but first in His death; a death to sin and ourselves. This daily conscious death to our natural man makes room for the life of the Spirit man to be expressed.

Prayer_Bead: My Father and Lord, let the world see your glory in and through me as I subscribe to daily carrying the dying Jesus in my body.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Because of faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encompassed for seven days [by the Israelites] [ Hebrews 11:30 ]

Contrary to popular opinions, the wall of Jericho did not fall down to the ground because of the “religious” ritual of going round it for seven days. God was able to pull down the wall even if the wall was not encompassed for seven days. The force that pushed down that great wall was incubated in the loins of faith. The faith of the Israelites were born out of obedience–adherence–to the revealed word of God. The verse of scripture is introduced as “Because of faith….” to mean that the result that was actualized did not come but by and through faith. Faith is the substance of the things we hope to achieve and the evidence we have of what is yet to be. But the Israelites, due to the weakness of their faith were instructed to connect their faith to (put their faith in the acts) what they did. But in the new covenant, we discover that, the real substance was and is in Christ. Everything we desire to have and would have is closed up in Christ. And we reach it by the hand of faith which is given through the knowledge of Christ. Pull down your own version of any Jericho wall with the potent force of faith.

Prayer_Bead: Father Lord, activate my faith receptacles. Help me by the Holy Spirit to trust you beyond the acts and the arts.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God

[The Glory Unveiled]

Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. ( Matthew 22:29)

Accurate knowledge of the scriptures cannot be overemphasised nor undermined because ignorance of the scriptures is dire. In the famous scripture above, we see Jesus tell the Sadducees that they were in error because they did not know the scriptures. Ignorance of the word of God is the underlying reason for failure in a believer’s faith walk. And this goes on to affect other aspects of the believer’s life. The gospel is the power of God (Romans 1 :16). And so ignorance of the gospel means ignorance of the power of God. The absence of God’s power is a carte blanche for error and captivity. Where there is ignorance, darkness is permitted to express itself because ignorance is the breeding place of destruction, corruption and chaos. When Jesus met the Sadducees in the scripture above, their ignorance of the scripture showed Jesus that they were in error and anything else could go wrong with them. Anytime the foundation of God’s word is not properly laid, there is room for error. And errors make room for ineffectiveness and demonic invasion. Study the word of God with the revelation of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer_Bead: Spirit of Truth and revelation, guide me into the truth that liberates. Open my eyes to the mysteries of Christ.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.