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[The Glory Unveiled].

Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” [ Matthew 4:19

The deceitfulness of the world and its vain culture has programmed us for fishing before taking a fishing class with Jesus. It was not so when the Master taught the first disciples. The initial principle was to first follow! Following preceded the practice of fishing. In fact, following is the practice of the art of fishing. It was in following the Lord Jesus that the early disciples learnt to fish for men. Unfortunately, the schemes and gimmicks of the world and corporate life has bullied many of us into believing that we have to create strategic means to lure people to Jesus. In the end, these people are brought in, not because they had seen the real Jesus and fell in love with Him. They are dragged in by their lustful appetite for what the fishermen advertised about their church or denominations. In the end, when their appetite change or when that appetite is satiated, there are no advents. All these schemes do not survive under the weight of the burden and need of the human soul. The real formula for success in the ministry of souls is first following the Lord Jesus Christ in absolute obedience. And then later, we will realize that lost souls are drawn to the message in our mouth that holds like hook. Salvation is by no other and in no other name than in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Genuine souls [fishes] will gather because of the Lord and not really because of anything else. Instead of going fishing first, let’s go to Jesus first, and then the fishes will be drawn to us.

Prayer_Bead: Lord of the Harvest, Author and Finisher of our faith, thank you showing me that I must come to you first. Help me to submit to this formula.

Wisdom_Quote: Follow Jesus, fishes will find you.

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[The Glory Unveiled]

“But while Peter was still speaking, a bright radiant cloud spread over them, enveloping them all. And God’s voice suddenly spoke from the cloud, saying, “This is my dearly loved Son, the constant focus of my delight. Listen to him!”” [ Matthew‬ ‭17‬: 5 TPT‬‬ ]

The Lord Jesus is the constant focus of God’s delight. In every generation; yesterday, today and tomorrow, the Lord Jesus remains the constant focus of God’s delight. On this auspicious occasion, [recorded in our text] God demonstrated that Jesus is always His focus. In that meeting, other personalities were in attendance but God had eyes for just One. This reinforces the truth that nothing can get God’s attention by going around Christ. No one can have anything that God offers without passing through Christ. While Peter was still speaking, the Father cut in. He will not let another share His glory;—Peter was talking about dividing the glory among the three personalities, Moses, Elijah and the Lord Jesus. And so the father came in to clarify things. The Father spoke and said, the Son is the constant focus of His delight. In other words, the only person who perfectly catches His attention is the Son. This is why we cannot please God by ourselves apart from Christ. And the reason why we are only saved when we hide in the Lord Jesus by faith. Nothing else brings delight to the father like the Son. We can only please the father in the Son. When we present ourselves to God through faith in His Son, then we too become His delight but apart from that, we cannot please Him. Nothing else replaces the Son to the father and so we cannot put anything or anyone else in place of the Son for our salvation and redemption. Not Moses, not Elijah and certainly not our pastor or prophet. If ever we want to be the delight of God, we must hide in the constant focus of His delight, His Son.

Prayer_Bead: Dear heavenly King, thank you for making me the focus of your delight because of your son.

Wisdom_Quote: Christ is the constant focus of God’s attention.

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[The Glory Unveiled]

Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. [ Matthew 1:19 NIV]

Many times, when faced with challenges and situations of life, we usually, out of desperation look for shortcuts and exits rather than true solutions. We tend to avoid making careful decisions by thinking through our options to make good decisions. Just like every other person usually does, Joseph, Mary’s husband to be came to that point where he had to make a very important decision of his life. Unfortunately, out of desperation and the limitations of his options as he thought, he could only come up with two options. Now, he was engaged to be married to Mary but before they could finish the processes involved, he discovered that his wife to be was pregnant. And in their culture, the woman must not be with child before her proper marriage rituals. At this point, after Joseph discovered that Mary was pregnant, he thought he could either inform the authorities for Mary to be publicly disgraced and humiliated or he would divorce her secretly—his two options. But because he loved Mary, he wouldn’t side with his first option but rather fall on the second one. As he contemplated on what to do, the messenger of God came with a third option. And the third option was for him to go ahead and marry Mary. There’s always a third option in every seemingly two way situation. The third option is always with God. So, instead of whining and complaining, let’s consult God from the beginning for His options and opinion on every stressful matter.

Prayer_Bead: Omnipotent Father, Omniscient King, thank you for always making a way where there seem to be no way. Thank you for being my best option in the stress and troubles of life.

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[The Glory Unveiled]

But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. [ Acts 10:14 KJV]

A few verses down from our anchor verse are these words, “Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate” (Acts 10:17). Peter’s doubt of the vision was because he thought it was a test. He had just fasted. The sheets came thrice, and for three times he had denied the Lord; three times Jesus asked if he loved him. All these in the background of his mind, might have made him say “not so Lord”. Even though he acknowledged Him as Lord, he wasn’t ready to disappoint the Him again. He wouldn’t want to fail if it was a test. His actions, were as a result of his past but Jesus had forgiven His past. In fact, Jesus left his past in the past. This time, the Lord had need of him for a different purpose and assignment but Peter’s past will imprison him and interfere with his carrying out that mandate. Many times, in trying to avoid our past from repeating itself, we give it opportunity to hold us back from entering into our future. Peter allowed the past to pierce into his future and that voice of his past became louder in his conscience than the voice of His Lord. He could barely tell if what He saw was actually from the Lord, or whether it was a test or an instruction. But if the Lord is our Lord indeed, we must always say “yes” to Him. Once we are sure it is the Lord, our response should always be “yes, Lord!”

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for the great privilege to submit to you. Help me to discern your voice and your works in my life. And teach me to always say yes to you.

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[The Glory Unveiled]

I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. [ John 9:4 KJV]

Over two thousand years ago, Jesus walked the earth on an assignment to deliver a message to a lost and dying world. Somehow, throughout his ministration, he ministered as if he didn’t have enough time and indeed he didn’t. On several occasions, he would encourage his disciples to do something urgently (Mark 6:45). The statement at the center of it all is the one in our anchor verse of scripture. Jesus knew that there would come a time when we cannot do the work of the one who sent us and so while we have the time, it is wise to work. At one time, he had to forgo food just to minister to the woman at the well. And when his disciples asked him, he said he had food they didn’t know of—doing the will of the father ( John 4:32;34 ). In the epistles, the apostles carried on that need and urgency to be busy about the work of God because the time is far spent ( Romans 13:11). Have you been called to a work of God? Have you been sent to a group of people with a message? A time comes when you cannot carry out that assignment. Now is the best time to carry it out. Don’t waste another minute. The world is racing to hell, the word of God like a signpost is with you, why don’t you stand by the way to direct souls into the Ark of God instead of allowing them enter hell? It’s not too late, wake up and make good use of the time!

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, Lover of my soul and my soon coming King, thank you for your deliverance and my salvation. I embrace everything you did for me and I go out to share with others what you did for them. Help me make good use of the time and not waste it on frivolities.

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[The Glory Unveiled]

Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; [ Hebrews 5:7 KJV]

Any thudding sound from the house of a neighbour who likes pounding fufu can be mistaken for fufu even if it’s not. In the same manner, the scriptures can be made to say anything or imply things the original inspired authors did not intend to communicate. Usually this happens when we lift a scripture out of a book without consideration for the chapter or the theme and background of the scripture. Our anchor scripture can be easily misinterpreted if we swoop down on scriptures with no references or supporting scriptures. In order to reach the intended message the original author intended to communicate, we must locate the preset that is set upon another and the line of truth lying on another. There are those who interpret our anchor scripture to mean Jesus did not die because He prayed that he would not die and God answered his prayer. But if we look to another scripture, Acts 2:24, “But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” Looking at the anchor scripture, Hebrews 5:7 from the lens [angle of] Acts 2:24, we can understand that Jesus did not pray not to die but that God freed Him from the agony of death. That freedom from the agony of death came from the joy set before Him. “For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God”—Hebrews 12:2b. So Jesus died because He was raised from death according to the scriptures. And according to the scriptures, death could not keep its hold over the Resurrection and the Life. Our liberty is in the knowledge of the truth that Jesus dies and resurrected for us.

Prayer_Bead: Lord and Saviour Jesus, thank you for dying in my place and taking upon yourself the shame of death on the cross and giving me a place with you in glory.

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[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.

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[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.

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[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.

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[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!

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