Category: Gospel

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The place of rest

[The Glory Unveiled]

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [ Matthew 11:28 KJV ]

The cares, pressures and demands of this world put so much strain on our souls. In our attempt to ease the burden and lessen the pains and frustration cooked by our daily toils, we end up worsening the situation. We end up adding more straw to the camel’s back. In our text for meditation today, we will discover that the solution, the rest we seek from this burdensome life is no where and with no one but Jesus. This is the truth that must be settled in our minds and hearts to save us from fruitless searching. Unless we come to terms with the reality that what we are looking for can only be found in Jesus, all our efforts and search will be futile. The solution we seek cannot be found in the places we usually seek them. Some of us are searching for rest in beer bottles, others from sexual immorality, drugs, gambling, addictions to pornography and wild living. But the conclusion of the matter is that, only Jesus is the place of rest. Every other advertisement is a scam, aimed at adding more weight to the burden we already carry. The reality of life is that, while we are in this body, we will labour, and along our labouring, we will be burdened with more than we can carry. Moses, in his earthly days was burdened too. He was weary and unsure of certain things that weighed on him. And so, he also came to the solution and this was what the Lord said to him, “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.” (Exodus 33:14) This scripture emphasizes the truth that, rest cannot be found apart from God. The presence of God with us through the turmoil and the chaos is the assurance of rest we have. So, let us go to Jesus [through fellowship with His Spirit and His word] and receive rest for our weary and burdened souls. Let us approach with the assurance of faith that He gives because the solution is with Jesus.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord, thank you for giving rest to my soul from the burdens and weariness of this world. I surrender all to you.

Wisdom_Quote: Rest is a place in Jesus.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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The Pillar of all things

[The Glory Unveiled]

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [ John 1:1 KJV ]

Building engineers and masons begin their building from the trench. This trench holds the foundation, which is also the beginning of the building. It is upon this foundation that the structure sits. The beginning (foundation) in many instances define the whole structure. The beginning gives a direction and a perspective to the rest of the building. In the beginning of everything, there was the Word. John helps us to understand that this Word is God. Genesis 1:1 affirms it by saying, “In the beginning, God…” The only personality that is attributed to the beginning is God. And just as the foundation gives insight into the future of a building, God being the beginning gives us an idea about how impossible it is for the rest of creation to be sustained without God. God is the pillar that sustains creation. When we take God out of the framework we have a collapsed world. Every generation that wanted to do it their way without God inadvertently experienced destruction. An attempt to take God out of what He alone can sustain and is the pillar of, is a declaration of destruction. The question for us though, is? What did we begin with? What is in our beginning? What is the pillar upon which we are building whatever we are building? What we build upon determines what our building will look like. We can hide the material with which we lay our foundation with, but the structure will eventually expose the elements that make up the foundation. So, it’s better we start with the right material, God. May He help us to consider Him from the beginning.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Jesus, thank you for being my beginning and the foundation of my life. Let your name be glorified.

Wisdom_Quote: Your foundation feeds your definition.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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The way of escape

[The Glory Unveiled]

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. [ Matthew 26:41 KJV ]

Watching [being alert] goes hand in hand with praying. Either is insufficient to deal with temptations that aim at our humanity. Whenever temptation or tests come our way, we should not depend only on either prayer alone or watching alone. Dwelling on just either of these for help in times of temptation will only end in surprising disappointment. There are very prayerful believers who fall every time into the arms of temptations, sometimes immediately after prayers. Did you realize that Jesus was tempted immediately after His 40 days of fasting and prayers. His prayers didn’t stop the temptation, but what gave Him victory was both prayers and his ability to watch (discern). Watching is a spiritual skill of looking through the eyes of Scripture to judge or interpret our world and experiences. Watching without praying means that we can recognize/identify the temptation but still fall in it as the capacity to escape it is unavailable. Yet praying without watching is just like being blindfolded but having a very sharp machete. No matter how skillfully you brandish it, you will mostly miss the target. This is why they go together and Jesus being aware of this instructed the disciples who were with Him to watch and pray. This recipe is particularly because of the weaknesses of our humanity. Jesus said that the spirits of the disciples were willing but their flesh were weak. Hence, watching and praying helps our spirit to superimpose the flesh. And with temptations all around us, sensitivity through the word of God and prayer is a necessity.

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for showing me the way out of temptation. Help me to always watch and pray.

Wisdom_Quote: Praying and watching go hand in hand for the way of escape to manifest.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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The seeker’s signpost

[The Glory Unveiled]

You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, [ John 5:39 NIV ]

There is a deception in our world that makes people think that because they have access to the Bible, they can get whatever they want out of it. And because of that, everyone seem to have their own opinions of what the Bible says based on what they may be looking for. The solution however, is not in the text but in whom the text speaks about. The scriptures are like a signpost that point to someone, Jesus. And so, if we want to have what the Scriptures promise but don’t want to see Jesus or meet Him, then we would be running a lost race. No matter the seriousness or diligence we involve in our search, it would yield no results. This is why people of other faith, can take the Bible and read it, analyze it, and yet, not see Jesus, who the scriptures point to. They read and argue out the scriptures but cannot see the only person in the text. Some of these people are convinced that they will find eternal life because they know a lot. But truth is, salvation is not in what you know but who you know; namely Christ Jesus. May we not be caught in the habit of always analyzing the scriptures but not following it’s directions thinking that eternal life comes from the texts themselves, when we should be pursuing a relationship with the person about whom the Scriptures testify—Jesus. If we can see the testimony of the scriptures and believe them, salvation will be guaranteed. The texts by themselves kill but the Spirit of the text, the testimony of it, gives life (2 Corinthians 3:6). So, instead of trying to impress our flesh by analyzing the texts to prove anything apart from the deity of Christ, we should rather humble ourselves to come to Jesus for life.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Jesus, thank you for the scriptures that point to you. Help me by your Spirit to see you alone every time I study the scriptures.

Wisdom_Quote: Scripture is the signpost that points us to Jesus.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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What’s your business about?

[The Glory Unveiled]

And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? [ Luke 2:49 KJV ]

Almost everyone is busy with something these days. Many of us have become so busy about every other thing but the important things. Like Martha, who was busy with the unessentials when Jesus visited them. Many of us have become used to being so preoccupied with activities and we confuse being busy with being productive. In our anchor text, the Lord Jesus was taken to Jerusalem for the Passover festival at age twelve. At this event, Mary and Joseph lost him because they assumed he was somewhere among their entourage. They were busy with the festival while their Son was busy about the real business of the day; the father’s business. At that ceremony, it would seem that those who were busy with the Passover celebration were the most hardworking or most busy. But their busyness was towards the wrong thing for that season. Jesus was busy about the need on the Father’s heart in that season. And so, He was almost surprised when they were looking for Him. The question now is, what are you busy about? The world has preoccupied us with so many nothings. Jesus asks a question here expecting an answer? It’s a question about purpose recognition. We need to discern our purpose and the seasons allotted to its execution. And if we are able to do that, our busyness will be meaningful and productive in the face of God, even if the world does not see its relevance. Because our aim is to please our commanding Officer, the Lord Jesus Christ and not the world. Let’s get busy about the Father’s business.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord, thank you for your precious word. Give me the urgency of purpose and help me to be busy about your business alone.

Wisdom_Quote: Real busyness is being busy about the Father’s business.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Feelings, desires and the Word

[The Glory Unveiled]

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. [ Genesis 3:6 NIV ]

When our feelings and desires take the lead from God’s word, sin begins. Our feelings and desires are not authorities over us, God’s word is. But when we allow our feelings to dictate what is right, then sin becomes our culture. When Moses left the Israelites in the wilderness for a brief moment to go and seek the face of God, they could not wait patiently for the word of God. And so, they gave room to their feelings and emotions to become authority. And then sin began to reign in their camp. They made idols for themselves and did every other thing God was not in support of. If Eve had trusted God’s word as the only authority in her life, she would not have invited sin and death into the human race. Reading our anchor text, we will notice that after Eve saw (recognized) that the fruit was pleasing to the eyes, she acted impulsively—she took some and ate. Whereas she should have gone back to the word of God as the basis and reference point of her existence and livelihood. The Israelites in the wilderness did same. They didn’t return to the manual, the reference point, which was God’s word for them. Instead, they acted impulsively on what they felt and desired. Our generation and the generations before us, were trapped and are still being trapped into this old algorithm of the flesh. But we can break the algorithm with the word of God. Whenever we see what God’s word says is not there, it’s a warning and a sign that our veil is broken; our spiritual lens is destroyed and we must return quickly to the word of Life. Desires and feelings are not bad in themselves as they were put in us by God. But when they draw us away from the word of God then they are being manipulated by the devil to mislead us, and we must quickly go for the word.

Prayer_Bead: Our eternal true Love, thank you for showing us that we should not allow our feelings to have authority over us when God’s word should rather be Lord. Help us to submit to your word everyday.

Wisdom_Quote: Sin begins where feelings and emotions become authority.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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A different war game

[The Glory Unveiled]

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. [ 2 Corinthians 10:3 NIV ]

The kind of weapons used in a battle defines the type of battle or fight it is. A fight is called a “knife-fight” because knives are used as weapons. Likewise, it will be referred to as a gun fight where guns are being used. But for the believer, even though we live in the world, we use weapons from another world, hence redefining the battle as well. Our weaponry is from above and the believer needs to recognize this fact. That although we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. So, if you’re facing a challenging situation but the solution seems not to be forthcoming, it maybe that you are using the wrong weapon that’s why the expected results are far. From the verse of the Bible above, we learnt that the believer is not excused from battles. Being a believer does not exempt us from war. But it gives us an advantage of victory before the war begins and saves us from unnecessary weariness. In reality, our victory is not ours, we glory in the victory of Jesus. This is why we do not wage war as the world does. The world does the fighting but we do the “victory claims,” Jesus did all the hard work for us. All we need to do is to remain in Him through our unwavering faith. The weapons of our warfare are indeed not carnal but they are mighty through God for pulling down strong holds (verse 4). And then by the power of Jesus’ name, we can glory in His victory and triumph through the weaponry of faith.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for showing me that, as a kingdom citizen, I do not wage war as the people in the world. I put my trust in Jesus and I glory in His victory.

Wisdom_Quote: The world does the fighting but we do the victory claims.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Suffering and Glory

[The Glory Unveiled]

“I am convinced that any suffering we endure is less than nothing compared to the magnitude of glory that is about to be unveiled within us.” [ Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭18‬ ‭TPT‬‬ ]

In life, we all take some form of risks, but the kind of risk a person is willing to take is usually influenced by what is important to the person. Also in life, everything has an alternative and a price tag to it. If you’re willing to pay the price, you’ll have what it offers. So, what price are you willing to pay without bargaining? Because the path each person takes even in the face of fierce challenges is influenced by their willingness or conviction. As believers, are we convinced about the scriptures? Are we willing to obey its truth? Because if we obey the scriptures and suffer for it, that suffering will be unveiled within us as glory, according to the word of God. So, for the believer, just as the athlete, there is suffering and glory. But suffering always precedes glory. There is no glory without suffering. This is why suffering can be the indices of a future glory. When we face suffering for the sake of Jesus, we should not be discouraged. It is a sign that sooner we will enjoy the due glory. The beauty is that, the glory does not match symmetrically with the sufferings; the glory far outweighs the suffering. The apostle Paul could endure all the sufferings he endured in his ministry for the sake of Jesus because of his conviction. He came to that point where he was fully persuaded that his sufferings will pay off in the currency of glory. Whatever you’re going through cannot be compared to the manner of glory it will bring. After all is said and done, what are your convictions? What drives your actions, what informs your decisions and beliefs?

Prayer_Bead: Father, we will praise you forever for your marvelous words and truth. Help us to suffer joyfully for your name sake.

Wisdom_Quote: Suffering for Christ is the indices of a future glory.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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What does the Scriptures say?

[The Glory Unveiled]

“Once again Jesus said to him, “The Scriptures say: You must never put the Lord your God to a test.” [ Matthew‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬ ‭TPT‬‬ ]

The scriptures have adequate solution for everything under the sun. But unless we know what is written and engage its provisions, life will just be ordinary. Many of the battles we fight in the natural life and in the spiritual realm are battles that would have been won if we had the right weapons. Families, marriages and institutions are breaking because we keep using the wrong weapons for the right battles. We try to change or “improve” upon our weapons and battle strategies because we feel we are in a new era, while the battles are still the same. When we study the accounts in Matthew and Luke chapter 4 carefully, we will discover that Jesus, who was God in flesh did not use his “own” words or opinions when he was on the battle field [tempted]. For all the missiles that the enemy threw at Him, He always used the scriptures. In fact, our verse for meditation begins, thus “once again, Jesus said to him, the Scriptures say”. He didn’t stop using the word of God. He kept using the word until the enemy fled. The victory is in the Word, not in our opinions or smartness. Unfortunately, for many of us, we do not have the word of God in us, so we are unable to use it in the face of challenges and battles. Imagine if Jesus had to go around looking for a scroll to find the right scriptures to quote to the devil. It would have been too late. Jesus was living in the word of God, and so must we. He could speak the word in season and out of season, victoriously. Likewise, if we become students of God’s word, we will live consistently in victory. Let’s make it a habit to study the scriptures and to commit them to heart.

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for loving your life as an example for us to imitate. Help us by the power of your word to stay in line.

Wisdom_Quote: The Word of God is all you need to have all your needs met.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Triumphing in Jesus

[The Glory Unveiled]

Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. [ 2 Corinthians 2:14 KJV ]

There is a simple truth that seems to offset every anchor truth of the believer’s new realities. This truth is that, Jesus encompasses everything we will ever need, be or give. Apart from Christ, we can do nothing, except Jesus is Lord, we can own nothing, we will be nothing except Jesus is something and we will have nothing except Jesus has something. And when we fully grasp this truth, we will live our lives in constant thanksgiving because our lives will manifest constant triumph even when we have nothing triumphing over. His victory becomes our victory. So, we celebrate in His victory by being the fragrance of Jesus on earth. God through us makes manifest the fragrance of the knowledge of Jesus in every place. Whatever Jesus is, to principalities is made known to the world through us. We have become like mirrors, revealing the glory of God in our participation of His triumph. God is daily displaying the triumphant parade of Jesus through us by our submission to His will. And so, we must be thankful for the kindness of God, His intentionality and His superabundant provisions. The believer always triumphs in Christ because Jesus triumphed and is reliving that victory in every generation through us. And so, it has becomes our duty to show the generations to come the victory of Jesus by diffusing the fragrance of His knowledge. Can the world smell Jesus a mile away because of us?

Prayer_Bead: Abba Father, thank you for making the knowledge of the Lord Jesus manifest wherever we go in your name. Thank you Jesus.

Wisdom_Quote: You’re the fragrance of Jesus, so let the world smell Jesus.