Category: Gospel

[The Glory of Unveiled]

Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God ( Hebrews 6:1 )

Our knowledge of God is progressive. There are many layers of revelation that is opened to us when we journey with the Spirit of God into the word. As such it will depend on us to remain with one strand of revelation or move on into another layer; a deeper depth of truth. The truth cannot be a lie but one truth can be deeper than the previous or former. This is why we need to move beyond the basic teachings of the logos and then we will be taken into the deeper truth; maturity. We are not taken into the deeper truth unless we move away from the last layer of revelation we have. And then when we begin to make the move, we will be taken by the Spirit of God into a beautiful place of insight and light. The many layers of truth do not answer to how many scriptures we can read or have seen, but how long we stay with the Spirit of the word. Acts that lead to death are the things that seek to keep us stagnant in our knowledge of the Lord. These acts will keep us hooked to the need to have a good foundation of repentance which will mean that we remain with the elementary teachings. So, let’s stay away from the acts of the flesh [acts that lead to death] by the grace of God available to us and the Spirit of God will take us into those deeper layers of revelation.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord, by the help of your Spirit, I walk away from the elementary teachings and move towards the deeper truth in your word. By the Spirit of revelation, open my eyes to see what you will show me. Amen.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

“Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past. [ Isaiah 43:18 ]

It is thought that, if one loans their present to their past, their future will be terminally injured. It is also true that one of the most difficult things to do is to forget the things that should be forgotten. We are not ignoring the fact that there are certain things in our past that shouldn’t be forgotten. For example, God told the Israelites not to forget His deliverance which He wrought for them. But then, there are certain landmarks of the past that should be forgotten otherwise they form an impenetrable layer of defeat for us. In the verse that follows our anchor verse, we read that God is asking the people to forget the former things because He wants to do a new thing. God will not build a new thing on an old [wrong] foundation. And also, unless the former is removed from view, the new thing cannot be in view. The old will constrict the new unless it is removed. God is about doing a new thing in our day and time but there is the need to let go of the past and embrace the torrent of the future. The past will take as much of our present and subsequently, our future if we keep dwelling in our past. We cannot perceive a glorious future until we stop dwelling in the shadow of the past. The question therefore is, how badly do you want to see the new thing being prepared for you?

Prayer_Bead: Mighty God, Creator of all things, thank you for what you did in the past and what you are yet to do. Please give me the attitude that will attract the glorious future in store for me. Help me to forget the former things and look to the new.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

This is what the LORD says:
“Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.
But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ ( Jeremiah 6:16 )

There are times when action speaks louder than the loudest words. Many of us have no rest for our minds and hearts. We are set on edge at every time and every moment. We have occupied ourselves with a lot of activities, trying to keep everything together until we come to the crossroads. The crossroads is not a place for taking actions but for looking out for the good way. Whenever we find ourselves at the crossroads, the best thing to do is not to start acting and occupying ourselves with activities. Crossroads are for sober reflections and looking out for the tried and tested routes—ancient paths— to find rest for our souls. At that point, we need to seek for the path that had been taken by those who had gone ahead of us in the same direction of our calling. Rest for our souls is only guaranteed at the shores of our calling and purpose. Until we find the path that will lead us to the place of our true calling, everything that is supposed to bring peace of mind and comfort to our lives will actually seem like they are draining our live force. For some of us, we have found that ancient path but we don’t want to walk in it because of fear. But make no room for fear, whether you have found the way or not [yet] because it steals away opportunities.

Prayer_Bead: Father in heaven, thank you for bringing me to the crossroads. Show me the good way so that I may find rest for my soul. May I not be distracted by fear or foes but keep me on the path of my calling for the benefit of others.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”( Luke 5:5 )

The best time to fish according to expert fishermen is at night. Maybe because at night the temperature of the water and the quietness helps the creatures in the water much. And so, to have a great catch, a fisherman must study the water and also consider the time of day. In Luke 5, Peter had toiled all night with his companions but they caught no fishes. Now, we established that, the night was a better time to have a catch but at this point, they couldn’t catch anything even at the most convenient time—night. It seem that the window of opportunity had closed on them. Nothing could be done because it was already day and they may have to go home empty handed and hope to come back the next evening—at the next opportunity. But Jesus will ask Peter to go fishing at the time of the day when it was almost impossible to find any fishes out there. I believe He chose that time of day so that Peter will see the impossible of catching a fish and if he did, he will not depend on his expertise. God is the custodian of all opportunities (doors), He permits them to come our way or go from us. He leads those He would to the right opportunities even when it seems too late for anything substantive. This is why with God, we cannot lose what He intends to make available to us even if it seem delayed. So, hold on, trust in His word, and He will drive the fishes to your net.

Prayer_Bead: Master Jesus, Saviour and Redeemer, thank you for the wonderful opportunities available to me through your word. Please restore to me whatever I lost trusting in my strength. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Pharaoh said, “I will let you go to offer sacrifices to the LORD your God in the wilderness, but you must not go very far. Now pray for me.”( Exodus 8:28 )

The enemy has an ancient skill of being crafty and cunning. And most of his dealings right down from the garden temptation to the next person he will tempt. His offers at first sight seem good and very convenient. Sometimes it seems like there is nothing to lose in trading with him. But whatever the offer is, do not transact business with the enemy because even his best offer is a trap. We know very well the story of how the Israelites had been in slavery in Egypt and how difficult it was for them to attain independence. After four devastating plagues, the architect of their bondage decided to “give in” and yet still be in control as the devil always does. He will make you feel you are free and in charge but it is only a tethering. And he will keep you within His boundaries. He will permit you to go only as far as he wants and not as you should. The solution is not to accept his offer. Make your demands clear to him and that you will take nothing less than what you want. Moses didn’t accept Pharaoh’s offer to not go very far to pray to their God. What is apportioned to us in Christ is ours legally, but sometimes we must contend with the enemy based on our knowledge of that reality. Stand in the place of pray and say I accept nothing less than what is rightfully mine.

Prayer_Bead: Father Almighty, Redeemer and Saviour, I take full advantage of what is mine in Christ and I refuse to take anything less than that. In Jesus’ name.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Because you [Saul] did not obey the voice of the Lord or execute His fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. [ 1 Samuel 28:18 ]

Humans are to God as gloves are to the hands [fingers]. The gloves cannot do anything by itself except what the hand bids it to. The gloves takes the shape and form of the hands so that it can be filled with the hands to perform as if the hand were doing it directly. We were created after the image and likeness of God so that we can do everything on earth as if God were doing the deeds Himself. Saul as the King of Israel at one time was supposed to be a representation of the desires, mood and emotions of God. So that a people could tell much about God by looking at the king. Saul was called into that office of being a container through whom God could let out His identity and person; His glory. At a time, God was angry with the Amalekites and He wanted to express His wrath towards them through Saul because he was called out to represent the interests of God. But Saul decided, contrary to the emotions of God to spare the King of the Amalekites and some animals and the things he thought were worth saving. Whereas God had instructed him to kill everything; man or animal. And because Saul disobeyed, God took from him, the privilege of representing God and being used to demonstrate His moods. Just as a glove is only useful when it is filled with a hand, humans are only useful when filled with God. Unless we are in the service of God and being used for His pleasures and purposes, then we are not yet living. On Hence, we must let God fill us up with His Spirit so that we can represent Him.

Prayer_Bead: Omnipotent Father, Omniscient Lord, thank you for the privilege to be used for your glorious purposes. Touch my heart and let it beat for you. Amen.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

And the Philistine said to David, Am I a dog, that you should come to me with sticks? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. ( 1 Samuel 17:43 )

The weapons we don’t see are the most deadly ones. The attack that is not anticipated is most likely to destroy the attacked. The Israelites and Philistines had been fighting for years until a Philistine champion, Goliath at one time suggested that instead of the whole army of Philistia and the army of Israel drawing out their swords in battle, each side should select a champion who represents the army. If that champion wins, the side of the battle they belong to, wins automatically. Goliath represented the Philistine army while it took Israel over 40 days to find their presentative who was “unfortunately” not a champion on the battlefield. He came at Goliath with a staff in one hand and a sling in the other. But Goliath had only seen the staff because he didn’t make much of what was in the other hand, and so he thought David was coming at him only with the staff [which he called a stick]. And because he was distracted by the staff, he didn’t see the real weapon that will bring him down. Hence, Goliath died by what he didn’t see David carrying. In fact, he was killed by the invisible God of Israel, that was why he couldn’t see the weapon of David. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4). Our weapons of warfare are not carnal. And so, our dependence on the invisible power of God is what will bring down the strongholds of our lives._

Prayer_Bead: Almighty God, mighty in battle, fearful in praise, doing wonders by the finger of His hand, thank you for showing us the invisible weapons of our warfare. As we bring the battle to the gates of the enemy, we glory in your victory.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

So tell them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you the very thing I heard you say: ( Numbers 14:28 )

Often, when we are surrounded by crisis and problems, we tend to tell people more frequently about it than talk to God about it. Sometimes we do this knowing very well that these people have no practical solutions to our needs but we still trust them with the burdens that weigh on us. On the other hand, there are those who would attempt to tell the Lord about their problems but in the long run, their approach does not yield any meaningful results because they don’t seem to tell God what they want but rather they just retell God what they are facing. You see, it is one thing to complain about something and another to request or ask for something. God is always attentive to us, to hear our requests and heart desires (Ephesians 3:20). But rather too often, when we go to God in prayer, we complain more than we make requests. During Job’s famous trials, it was very clear that Job complained more than prayed. More than two thirds of the chapters that covered his predicament were spent complaining about what had happened rather than telling God what solutions were needed. It was at the later parts of the book, when Job prayed for his friends that the solutions returned to him. God says in today’s scripture verse that He would do the very thing we say to him. So then, if we don’t have what we need, then it means we didn’t say to the hearing of God what we needed; maybe we said it to our friends and google but not to God. Maybe we only complained to God.

Prayer_Bead: Prayer answering Lord, thank you for being attentive to my needs. Take away resentment and bitterness from my heart so that I can speak to you as to my Father. Give me more of you, Lord. In Jesus’ name.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

This is what the LORD says:
“Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.
But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ ( Jeremiah 6:16 )

There are times when action speaks louder than the loudest words. Many of us have no rest for our minds and hearts. We are set on edge at every time and every moment. We have occupied ourselves with a lot of activities, trying to keep everything together until we come to the crossroads. The crossroads is not a place for taking actions but for looking out for the good way. Whenever we find ourselves at the crossroads, the best thing to do is not to start acting and occupying ourselves with activities. Crossroads are for sober reflections and looking out for the tried and tested routes—ancient paths— to find rest for our souls. At that point, we need to seek for the path that had been taken by those who had gone ahead of us in the same direction of our calling. Rest for our souls is only guaranteed at the shores of our calling and purpose. Until we find the path that will lead us to the place of our true calling, everything that is supposed to bring peace of mind and comfort to our lives will actually seem like they are draining our live force. For some of us, we have found that ancient path but we don’t want to walk in it because of fear. But make no room for fear, whether you have found the way or not [yet] because it steals away opportunities.

Prayer_Bead: Father in heaven, thank you for bringing me to the crossroads. Show me the good way so that I may find rest for my soul. May I not be distracted by fear or foes but keep me on the path of my calling for the benefit of others.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.