[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.
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.
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.
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.
Faith Through The Roof
[The Glory Unveiled]
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven. ( Mark 2:5 NIV )
Four men came to Jesus, carrying their paralyzed friend on a mat, hoping Jesus would touch and heal him. However, they couldn’t reach Jesus because of the crowd. Undeterred, they tore the roof off the building and lowered their friend down, determined to bring him before Jesus. These four friends went the extra mile to ensure their paralyzed friend could meet Him. When obstacles arose, they didn’t give up but found another way to make it happen. They had a clear goal in mind: to reach Jesus. With that goal, they took the necessary steps to bring their friend to Him. Because they were resolved to meet Jesus, when people stood in their way, they literally rose above the crowd. Their attitude toward their friend’s healing demonstrates the lengths we need to go to obtain answers at all costs. When Jesus saw the effort and sacrifices they made to bring their friend to Him, He commended their faith. But one might ask: where was the faith? On the surface, it seemed like just four determined people bringing their friend to Jesus. However, this shows that without action, faith is meaningless because faith is expressed through action. As James says, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:20, 26). Activate your faith with resolute action. Can someone look at your actions and say you deserve what you are praying for? If not, then you haven’t yet earned what you are pursuing.
Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for showing me that faith without works is dead. I animate my faith by intentional actions.
Wisdom_Quote: Action is the voice of faith.
#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.
The Spirit in us.
[The Glory Unveiled]
Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? [ James 4:5 NIV ]
Our Heavenly Father, the lover of our souls, longs for us deeply. In the account of the Garden of Eden, He consistently came to the man and the woman in the cool of the day. God could have remained distant, relating to humanity from afar, but He chose to come close. From the beginning, God has desired to dwell within us. Even when we sinned, He still pursued us in love. This reveals the heart of God toward us. You truly understand the position and state of someone’s heart when you are at their mercy. Yet, even when we sinned against Him and deserved death, Christ came after us in love, seeking to restore us to the state He originally created us for. This is because we carry within us an aspect of God that He will never abandon: His Spirit. God deposited His Spirit in us as a tracker, a mark of His identity upon us. He fashioned us in His image and likeness, and because of this, we carry a part of Him within us. For this reason, He will not leave us in destruction or doom. He jealously guards us, just as He jealously longs for His Spirit within us. The Lord has caused His Spirit to dwell in us, and He will go to the lengths of time and eternity to redeem us. No wonder the Scriptures declare that if we, being evil, know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more will our Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him? Once His Spirit is given, we become His property. And as His treasured possession, He is committed to caring for us jealously. We cannot fully comprehend the depth, width, and extent of God’s love for us. We must simply believe and trust in Him.
Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for the deposit of your Spirit in me. I am your property, as you purchased me by your blood. Lead me in your love.
Wisdom_Quote: The Spirit of God is God’s tag on us.
#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.
Receive Jesus
[The Glory Unveiled]
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: [ John 1:12 KJV ]
Gifts may be freely given, but whether or not they are received depends solely on the recipient. The saving power of Christ is available to the world but is accessible only to those who receive the Lordship of Christ. Our faith in the Son of God is the system that gives us access to the life of God in Him. And because this faith must be rooted in Christ, only those who have heard and believed in the Son can possess it. Receiving Him means believing in His name and His authority. The power of sonship, which grants access to the family of God, does not automatically come because we go to church or engage in religious activities. The privilege of sonship is given when we believe in Christ as the fullness of God with whom we can have a relationship. However, all this is impossible without faith. Faith is the means by which the life of God in Christ is imputed to humanity. The power that makes us joint heirs with Christ does not discriminate between people. Whoever we are, and whatever tribe or group we belong to, if we come to believe in Jesus, the power of sonship extends the privilege of belonging to God. We become identified in Christ as members of His body. We receive the gift of God by believing in Christ. This gift is Jesus, the only begotten of the Father. Do you believe in His name? Do you believe in His authority and power?
Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God and you died for me. I accept you as my Saviour and Lord.
Wisdom_Quote: Salvation is in no other name except the name, Jesus.
#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.
Press on
[The Glory Unveiled]
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ( Philippians 3:12 NIV )
The difference between the living and the dead is activity. The living are constantly engaged in some form of activity. Even when they are sleeping, their body parts and organs perform essential life functions. The dead, on the other hand, do nothing. The apostle Paul said he had not yet achieved his goal, but he pressed on to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of him. Every calling has its markings, and our success is tied to pressing on toward the mark of the call. At the time Paul made this statement, he was not a lazy or idle person. He had already achieved significant things and could have rested on the laurels of his past successes. The glory of his past accomplishments might have lasted him for a while. However, if he had done so, he would have “died” in a figurative sense. His relevance and purpose would have been lost in his own time. We cease to truly live when we stop striving and fail to press on to the next item on our agenda. Life is a continuous march forward toward a set goal. The apostle Paul never claimed he had achieved enough to stop pressing on. Despite all he had already accomplished, he continued to move forward with determination. We must also recognize that there is a force that drives us forward toward achieving our goals. For Paul, this force—this magnet—was the reason Christ took hold of him. The value we place on what lies ahead of us has the power to draw us toward it. If the target we set before us is truly important, we will make every necessary effort to strive toward it. Remember, the world recognizes only the living—those striving to leave a mark. Be one of those.
Prayer_Bead: Lord, thank you for the vision you have placed in my heart to pursue. Help me not to relent. In Jesus name.
Wisdom_Quote: Press on towards the mark of your calling.
#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.
When change is unnecessary
[The Glory Unveiled]
Do not move the ancient landmark
that your fathers have set. ( Proverbs 22:28 ESV)
It is a popular saying that change is the only constant. However, there comes a time when change is unnecessary. Even though change is something we will always encounter, it often arrives when we least want it. Change is like our shadows—we cannot banish them from following us. Even when we wish to escape them, they remain with us. Similarly, change is unavoidable. As a result, we have become so accustomed to change that we often resist keeping things the same for too long. Yet, there are moments when we must avoid change—times when we must consistently pursue a singular course of action. The author of Proverbs, in our anchor Scripture, advises the current generation not to move the ancient landmarks set by their forefathers. Landmarks are established to guide and serve as reference points for navigation. Removing or altering them in the name of change can cause significant problems and misdirection. When generational landmarks are removed, future generations may lose their way in matters of history. There are instances when change is unnecessary, especially in matters that extend beyond our immediate existence and livelihood. In such times, we must disregard fleeting sentiments and unnecessary customs. When change is unwarranted, it is essential not to embrace it. If there is something God wants you to keep at consistently, don’t let go. Don’t change it even if half the world is doing something new. Be a statue if you must but remain insistent on your assignment of giving direction to others. And God will be pleased with you.
Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for the landmarks in my life. Help me not to move them against your will or distort your plans for my life and those around me.
Wisdom_Quote: When change is unnecessary don’t fight it.
#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.