Category: Faith

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The conditions

[The Glory Unveiled ]

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. [ 2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV ]

God does not hear us, forgive us, or heal us just because we are His people. God is guided by His word and influenced by our actions, which reflect our heart posture. In this verse of scripture, God says He will only listen to His people and forgive them on the condition that they humble themselves and seek Him, turning from their wicked ways. Some people flaunt their sonship like a magic wand before God. They think that belonging to the family of God means they have God at their beck and call. But God cannot be leashed to our ego and ignorance. How God relates to us is dependent on certain conditions. When those conditions are met, certain dimensions and attributes of God are dispensed. Thus, it is not necessarily about theatrics but about meeting the right protocols. The first course for a life recognized by heaven is humility. Humility is the foundation upon which other divine possibilities are expressed. It creates the avenue for growth, as we cannot achieve or receive anything worthwhile from God except through humility. This is why He gives grace to the humble but opposes the proud (James 4:6). In the place of prayer, the only attitude that is admitted and yields wonderful possibilities is humility. So, before we pray for God to hear us and heal our land, we need to humble ourselves and pray. A lack of a prayer life is arrogance. Having a consistent prayer life is a sign of humility, a sign that we trust God to help us. On the contrary, not praying means we feel self-sufficient, which is the blueprint of arrogance. God is willing to hear us, but are we willing to humble ourselves under His mighty power?

Prayer_Bead: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your patience and love. Help me to humble myself under your mighty power. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Humility is the door that ushers in the help of God.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Our perfect 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. [ Hebrews 12:2 KJV ]

Many times, to succeed in various endeavors, we need to look to or imitate those who are successful in those areas. In our walk with God, there is no better example for us to look to than Jesus. His life demonstrated faith as He lived to show us what faith means. Through Him, we could understand what it means to have faith. This is why He is the author of faith. But He is not only the beginning or foundation of faith; He is also the embodiment of it. He is the fullness of it—the finisher. Another thing we learn from Jesus is that He endured the cross. The cross is a symbol of suffering and pain, but Jesus kept His eyes beyond the cross. He was looking at the joy that the cross would bring to the world, converting sinful men to righteous souls before God. This joy of turning hearts to God urged Him on to the death of the cross. To endure the cross, He made deliberate efforts; He despised the shame of the cross. He regarded it as negligible and saw it as worthless in comparison to what was at the end of that suffering. Our perfect example has shown us the way to the throne of God, revealing that the reward system of God is a journey through the highway of the cross. Anyone who would sit with God must first bear the sufferings of the cross, a suffering for the sake of Jesus. In the times we find ourselves, we need to look to Jesus now more than ever before. We need to see Jesus’ pattern to follow, so that we can find green pasture for our souls.

Prayer_Bead: Father, we thank you for giving us a complete example of faith. Help our faith to grow into the stature of Jesus’.

Wisdom_Quote: Jesus is the complete example and fullness of faith.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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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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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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Fish and Bread.

[The Glory Unveiled]

When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. [ John 21:9 NIV ]

After the death of Jesus, the disciples returned to their old ways. One day, Peter told the rest that he was going out to fish, and they followed him. They went out in search of fish, but they caught none. After toiling all night and feeling despair, the Lord Jesus, who had just overpowered death, came to their rescue. He directed them on how to catch the fish. Here again, he taught Peter a second time how to catch fish. The lesson is that you don’t catch fish because you are a fisherman or experienced in fishing; you catch fish with direction and discernment. Jesus wasn’t a fisherman, but he knew where the fish were in the water at a particular time. Meanwhile, a man who had been fishing all his life couldn’t tell. Fish are not attracted to nets; they are attracted to the directives of God. On the other hand, what the disciples had spent all night toiling for was already with Jesus. Not only that, but it had already been prepared and was ready for consumption. Many of our life struggles and toils are unnecessary. We struggle because we try to do life without Jesus, or because we feel certain things in our lives are exclusive to Jesus. Meanwhile, Jesus wants to help us in every area of our lives. Make Him Lord over everything in your life. When the disciples landed from the boat, bread and fish were already with Jesus, awaiting their return. Instead of going out to the tempestuous sea of life for answers, go to Jesus because He holds the answers waiting for your invitation. There is absolutely nothing impossible for God. All things were made by Him and for Him. Your fish and bread are ready in the presence of the master. Get out of your boat and go to Him.

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for your care and provisions for me. Help me to trust you enough to depend on you solely for my livelihood. Amen.

Wisdom_Quote: Your boat does not hold the answers you seek.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Remember Lot’s wife

[The Glory Unveiled ]

But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. [ Genesis 19:26 NIV ]

In Luke 17:32, the Lord Jesus instructed His listeners to recall Lot’s wife. In the subsequent verse, He stated, “Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.” In this context, Jesus illustrates that Lot’s wife acted in unbelief by attempting to save her life, including her belongings and possessions. She couldn’t part with her possessions, so she turned into a pillar of salt, clinging to the things she cherished. The Bible teaches that our lives are not defined by our possessions (Luke 12:15), but by our faith (2 Corinthians 5:7), which is essentially obedience to God’s word. Whenever we act in accordance with God’s word, we demonstrate faith. For instance, when Peter asked Jesus if he could walk on water, it wasn’t faith, but when Peter obeyed Jesus’ command to come and began moving towards Him, that was faith. Once again, faith is adherence to God’s word. In Lot’s case, God, through the Angels, instructed him and his household not to look back at what they were leaving behind in judgment. However, Lot’s wife chose to glance back, revealing her reluctance to let go of what she had—a lack of trust in God’s word. Jesus urges us to remember Lot’s wife so that we won’t lose what is most precious to us by clinging to them in disregard for God’s word. Disobedience to God’s word is unbelief, which can stagnate us and lead us into spiritual death. Therefore, let’s heed the lesson of Lot’s wife.

Prayer_Bead: Father in Heaven, thank you for reminding me of Lot’s wife so that I will not follow her ways. Help me to be obedient to you in all things. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Wisdom_Quote: Disobedience to the word of God is unbelief.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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The Jesus credit card

[The Glory Unveiled]

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. [ Mark 11:24 NIV ]

In the world, we only receive things by sight, then we are sure we have received them. But when it comes to receiving from God, we need to receive them first by faith before we receive them by sight. It will not enter your hands until it first enters your heart. Many times, believers want to have them in their hands first before they believe in their hearts that they actually have them. But the opposite is what makes our requests available. God said His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9). God’s method is the opposite of the world’s method. While the world says you need to have them in your hands to believe, God says we need to have them (believe) in our hearts to have them in our hands. This is why many believers chase after their needs but never catch up to them. Whatever we desire as believers, when we go to the marketplace of prayer—the currency for purchasing is faith—we need to believe that we already have what we need. So, in the faith market, you take whatever you want on credit by believing—to be charged to Christ’s account, before it is actually credited to you physically. Faith is your credit card; you can buy whatever you want on account of Christ. And then, it is physically delivered to you. What you want or need will be yours after you have made it yours by faith. So, don’t pursue it with your eyes first; pursue it with your faith. Lay hold of it by faith, and your hands will handle it later.

Prayer_Bead: Father in heaven, thank you for the revelation from your word. I receive whatever I ask for in prayer by faith. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: The believer receives by faith before they receive by sight.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Open your mouth

[The Glory Unveiled]

Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, [ Isaiah 38:2 NIV ]

A closed mouth is indeed a closed destiny. Many lives are lost, destroyed, or robbed because mouths were closed when they should be opened. There is so much power in words; God made it so. He Himself is our example. When He faced a chaotic world without order, Genesis 1 records that He spoke. God did not keep quiet over the situation; He spoke order into it and called out what He wanted to see. Hezekiah, the man spoken about in the text above, was given a death sentence by a prophet of God. But he didn’t keep quiet and accept it as his fate. Instead, faith rose within him, and he opened his mouth in prayer to change the verdict. It was when he opened his mouth that fifteen good years were added to his life. Imagine what would have happened if he had kept quiet; his silence would have endorsed the sentence. Everyone is either being destroyed or built by their mouth. What happens in our lives is determined by the things we confess. Your mouth is a gateway; you decide and design your future and present circumstances with it. Don’t keep quiet; keep talking and confessing your convictions and desires. Bend the arm of circumstances to favour God’s purpose for your life. Some things are dying because no word is being spoken over them. The early church lost James because they didn’t speak on his behalf. When Peter was later imprisoned, they prayed earnestly for him (Acts 12:5), and he was saved. You will lose whatever you don’t protect with your mouth. Your destiny depends on your words; don’t shut your mouth.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for the power you have given me to order the circumstances of my life. Let your name be glorified in my life.

Wisdom_Quote: A closed mouth is a closed destiny.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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The power that brings salvation

[The Glory Unveiled]

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. [ Romans 1:16 NIV ]

Salvation is always conveyed through the conduit of the gospel. Without the gospel, salvation cannot be made available; in other words, it will not exist. The reason is that salvation must be transmitted by power, and the gospel happens to be the power channel that transmits salvation to people who believe. Salvation does not just come to people; it is administered to people by power. This power is not the result of man’s oratory skills or communicative ability and craftiness. It is solely through the good news of Christ. This is why, regardless of the amount of good things a person does, their good deeds do not make them righteous. So, good deeds do not have the power to offer salvation; it is only through faith in Jesus by the gospel. The key element that ushers in salvation is the gospel, which is why the devil tries to change the message that makes up the gospel, just as he did with Eve. Today, we hear different kinds of messages in the name of the “gospel.” As a result, many people are being swayed and taken far away from the path of salvation, since no other message carries the power that brings salvation except the gospel. With this understanding, we must be bold to share the gospel with our world, confidently telling them about the love of God and His gift to humanity. You are a power distributor; let the world come into contact with the power that brings salvation because of you.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for your love and the power available to bring me and the world, salvation. Let Jesus be glorified.

Wisdom_Quote: The gospel is the power of God that gives salvation.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.