Category: Gospel

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Provisions for the Flesh

[The Glory Unveiled]

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. [ Romans 13:14 KJV ]

When the Bible verse above says we should make no provisions for the flesh to fulfill its lusts, it is an instruction that requires intentionality and action. Before a visitor comes to a place, provisions are usually made for them. Often, reservations are made to accommodate their every need. Anytime reservations are made, there is always expectation of some guests. Reservations are coded invitations to guests. Likewise, it is possible to make provisions [reservations] for the flesh to fully carry out its lusts. [That provision is refusing to put on the Lord Jesus Christ as our covering and identity; that’s to say refusing to live in Him and by His words.] There’s a popular saying that “deciding not to make a decision is a decision.” Sometimes our failures to take actions are costly decisions we make in ignorance. When we refuse to decide or act on something, we have actually decided or chosen an alternative, unknown to us. Our scripture shows us how not to make provisions for the flesh to carry out its lusts. The secret is to put on the identity of Jesus at all times. Which means deciding not to put on the identity of Jesus at anytime is a [subtle, unintentional] counter decision of making provision for the flesh to sin through lust. This is why we cannot be passive in our relationship and walk with God. The believer needs to be proactive. The believer takes actions that are consistent with the word of God at all times. Our failure to do so, is an expensive choice we should not afford. Every choice made for us by ignorance costs more that the knowledge of it would have cost us. In other words, what we lose because we are ignorant of a divine truth always far exceeds the cost of the knowledge that could have saved us from the negative consequences. And so, let us intentionally put on the image [identity] of Jesus at all times, as we bear the mark of His suffering and life. And then, sin cannot carry out its enterprise in us through the avenue of lust.

Prayer_Bead: Our Daddy in heaven, thank you for the provisions you have made in your Son for us to live in holiness and righteousness. Help us to put on His identity at all times. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Whatever we make provisions for, we are ready to accommodate.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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God is Not Late

[The Glory Unveiled]

So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, [ John 11:6 NIV ]

It would seem that God is late sometimes, in attending to the most pressing needs of our lives. But let’s analyze the timing of God by using the story of Lazarus as a case study. Was Jesus late to attend to Lazarus? Jesus’ friend, Lazarus, was sick and Jesus was sent for. Now, Jesus who heard of Lazarus’ illness stayed two more days at where he was. Unimaginable, right?Considering that it is recorded that Jesus loved Lazarus (John 11:3). One would ask, is that how you treat someone you love when they are in need of your help? Lazarus needed Jesus when He was sick but Jesus stayed two more days until Lazarus died. And then after Lazarus had died, He now came around. Many times God seem to come around only when it seems too late as in the case of Lazarus. But then just like in the case of Lazarus, God comes in the fullness of His timing, when He will get the glory. And so, even though Lazarus had died and in that moment he couldn’t pray to God or send for Jesus [the solution] by himself, Jesus came anyway. And he who was dead came back to life to the glory of God. In the timing of man, it may seem late but in God’s reality, it is not. Our human timing does not change or stop the power of God nor hinder the expression of His sovereignty. God is not late even when people think or say He is. God is not constrained by our calendar. He does not exist within the boundaries of time as we are and so, time obeys Him. Whatever seems like it’s late is actually on time on God’s calendar. Our expectations can delay and the timing may seem to have elapsed but it is not late; God is not late. He is on time to the glory of His name.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord, thank you for always being on time concerning every issue of our lives. Let your name be glorified.

Wisdom_Quote: Delay in our expectations is not an expiration of God’s provision and power.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Placing value on the price

[The Glory Unveiled]

You were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your bodies. [ 1 Corinthians 6:20 NIV ]

The price at which humanity was bought is the blood of Jesus; the life of God’s beloved son. And because we were bought, we owe an obligation to the one who bought us, to honour Him. The scriptures guide us as to how or what to honour God with; our bodies are the most appropriate for honouring God for His redemptive love. Jesus’ body was given in death to secure a body for us in God. And so, we place value on the price that was paid for our redemption when we honour God with our bodies. Honour is a reciprocation of the worth or value of something. When we honour God with our bodies, it is a worship that says we are grateful for the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf. But when we fail to honour God with our bodies, it’s a loud announcement that we do not appreciate the sacrifice of Jesus. The price Jesus paid for our redemption was charged to His flesh, His body. He endured suffering in His flesh for us. And so, we must with our bodies honour God for the kindness of His love displayed in the sacrifice of His son. It is not a mere thing that God did when His son went to the Cross. He gave His best to give the rest of humanity a chance to have the life of His Son. If God was so kind to lose His Son on our account, what manner of people ought we to be? The answer is in the verse of scripture for our meditation. We ought to honour God with our bodies as a token of our gratitude for the glorious things He has done for us. May we through the grace of our Lord Jesus, present ourselves without blemish to the Father on account of the price for our salvation.

Prayer_Bead: Almighty God, thank you for the privilege of being your son because you gave your beloved begotten Son for me. Help me to honour you in my body.

Wisdom_Quote: Honour is the reciprocation of the value of something to someone.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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When the enemy goes to work

[The Glory Unveiled]

But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. [ Matthew 13:25 NIV ]

Timing is important to work as the time we choose to work influences the output of our work. This was why Jesus said in John 9:4, that we should work while it was day for the night comes when no man can work. In our anchor verse, we learn that even though no man can “work” [be occupied upon] during the night, the enemy operates when men are not at work. And so, while everyone was asleep, the enemy came to work. There is always a time when everyone will sleep because it is supposed to be the time for sleep. But the time for sleep can also be for defining destinies. It is usually at night that destinies are altered and traded. The wheat in the field got corrupted with weeds because it was night. It is important that some men stay awake to watch over the work that was done during the day, when all men sleep at night. The watchers have a responsibility to preserve the wholeness of what was done during the day. Of what use is our toil during the day, if it is not protected from the enemy at night? From the beginning of creation, work was fashioned into humanity. God instructed Adam, the template of humanity, to work and keep the garden (Genesis 2:15). When gardens are left unattended to, they become forests. And so, God asked man to dress and keep the garden in order to maintain it. But he was not only to keep weeds out of it but also the enemy of their future; Satan. Unfortunately, while Adam “slept“ (was insensitive to his surrounding) the enemy came to invade his ecosystem. The enemy comes to work when the workers are asleep. But if the watcher is at post, the enemy will not come to sow weeds. Hence, let us keep watch in prayer against the evil seeds of the enemy. Lets guard the garden of our souls.

Prayer_Bead: Omniscient God, thank you for showing me when the enemy goes to work. Help me to keep watch over the garden entrusted to me. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: The output of work is influenced by its timing.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Vineyards in bloom

[The Glory Unveiled]

Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes
that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom. [ Song of Songs 2:15 NIV ]

Many times, big problems come from little events; big fires are started as sparks. The things that destroy great men are usually little things. Yet, we tend to pay little or no attention to the little things in our lives. The kind of foxes that ruin the vineyards in bloom are little. But they destroy beautiful vineyards anyway. The “foxes” are the compromises that are hidden deep in our hearts. These are areas of our lives where we have not yet allowed the victory of Christ to shine into. The foxes keep the fruit of the Spirit from growing within us. These little foxes hinder our relationship with the Lord. We must note that anything that keeps us from growing the fruit of the Spirit is also choking our relationship with God. The thing about these foxes is that, they attack at strategic moments of our lives. They come during the seasons of bloom; new beginnings. At these seasons, areas of our lives that are not submitted to God, are usually what pulls us down [while we are close to new heights]. So, whenever we are at the threshold of a new beginning, we must be prepared to deal with little foxes. We must arm ourselves to catch foxes that are ready to destroy our vineyards in bloom. The dawn of a new beginning, is a sign that the enemy may have resources in place, around and within us to prevent those new beginnings from happening. Unfortunately, many times, we are carried away by the excitement of what is about to happen and we forget to keep watch to prevent evil interferences and assaults. The internal resources the enemy uses are mainly our lack of the fruit of the Spirit because the stability of every new beginning is tested on the backdrop of the fruit of the Spirit. Our stability and longevity is tied to the fruit of the Spirit that we are actively growing in and living out. So, catch every little fox that wants to ruin your vineyard in bloom.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for showing me what to do in the season of my new beginning. Help me to deal with compromises that are incongruous with Your word.

Wisdom_Quote: The stability of a new beginning is predicated upon the presence of the fruit of the Spirit.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.