Category: Gospel

[The Glory Unveiled]

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. ( Acts 12:5 )

The book of Acts is filled with the “acts of the gospel”. One of such common acts is prayer. And then in the book of Acts we see the power of this act on display. Peter in our anchor verse, was arrested and kept in prison, to be brought for trial the following day. But the church, [body of Believers] gathered together to earnestly pray for him. The result of that earnest prayer was that Peter was supernaturally released from prison even without the knowledge of the prison guards. In Acts 14:8-18, the Apostles Paul and Barnabas had caused an uproar by the healing of a lame man. Some Jews came to persuade the crowd to murder apostle Paul. They stoned him until he was unconscious and dragged him outside the city to die (verse 19). But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe ( Acts 14:20). Here again we see the power of cooperate prayer. The disciples gathered around him to pray for him and he was fine; fine enough to even travel. There is so much the body of Christ can do through cooperate prayers if we are united in heart. We need to carry the burdens of one another as if they were ours. You are responsible for the other Believer and they are responsible for you. Pray earnestly for someone today.

Prayer_Bead: Heavenly Father, Omnipresent Lord, thank you for attending to cooperate prayers. Burden me with the burdens of another, so that I may pray for them. Thank you for answering my prayers for them by meeting their needs.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her. ( Acts 16:18 )

Sometimes we tend to put up with discomfort for so long that it begins to feel like a new normal. The verse of scripture above is an excerpt from an account that starred apostles Paul and Silas, a slave girl and her masters. This slave girl was filled with evil spirit who spoke through her. Now, these spirits in the slave girl followed the Apostles on their missionary journey, proclaiming that “they were servants of the Most high and that they were telling the way to be saved”. Interestingly, what she said was a fact about the Apostles but the channel of expression is ungodly. As a result, she was drawing attention to herself, thus bringing glory to the evil spirits in her. She sounded like she was working with the missionaries but her source was contrary to theirs. The Apostles had tolerated her for a long time until they decided it was enough. The fact that this slave girl said what was the fact didn’t mean she was of God. Sometimes we tolerate and entertain certain things and people because we assume they are of God simply because they sound or act “spiritual”. Whereas in reality, their effect are detrimental to our growth and our becoming like Christ. We need to put away with such evil phenomena and not compromise. We are the fragrance of Christ and that fragrance must not be fouled by demonic atmosphere. Sanitize your sphere by the Spirit of Revelation.

Prayer_Bead: Heavenly Father, thank you for the awakening and consciousness of Your presence with me. I denounce the influence of contrary spirits in Jesus name.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. ( Luke 11:33 )

A lamp does not cease to be a lamp just because it is hidden beneath a bowl. In the verse of scripture above, the state of the lamp or its purpose is not debated. It is rather its location that is being discussed, thus where it is placed verses where it should be placed. Also Jesus, in addressing His audience with this verse, did not say that “so that people may see and not walk in darkness when they come into the house”. Instead, He said, “so that those who come in (to the house) may see the light”. So we will agree that the goal is to make the light visible and not necessarily the lamp. Therefore, it wouldn’t matter where the lamp is located, once it’s light can be seen. We have been called as Believers to reflect light to a dark world. Jesus said in another place that we are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). The reason why a lamppost or lamp stand will be necessary is not for the lamp but for the light to reach distant places. The lamp stand to us may be people and institutions or opportunities that may help us to reach to many more people with the light we carry in us. Our light, (virtues) and attributes of God mirrored through us will reach distant people when the right opportunities are mounted. You are the light of a dark world. Don’t hide your rays. Let the world see because you are here.

Prayer_Bead: Gracious Lord, Aba Father, thank you for giving me the opportunity to mirror your light to a dark world. Position me with the right people and places so that I could reach many people with your illumination.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. ( Genesis 21:12 )

In this life, we are confronted with so many choices, most of which do not count as far as eternal matters are concerned. But unfortunately, these irrelevant options seem to catch our attention more than those that matter. Jesus told Martha, that only one thing matters and Mary was preoccupied with that one (see Luke 10:41-42). Abraham, our father in the Lord was also at one point confronted with choices that would leave ripple effects in his future and his entire generation. In other words, he was confronted with a destiny defining choice. The promise of God was going to be activated through his son Isaac. But he had another son (another option) who was not the child of promise. And his offsprings (lineage) was not going to be reckoned through this other child, Ishmael. That not withstanding, Abraham couldn’t let go. The same challenge remains till today. We are held by things and circumstances that are not consequential in matters of destiny even though they may be important. Truth is, few things matter when it comes to making real impact. Let us listen to the voice of the Spirit when He whispers destiny changing ideas to us.

Prayer_Bead: Father, Omnipotent Lord, thank you for the preordained path you have set for me. Guide me through my daily decisions and choices to remain on this path of destiny. Thank you, in Jesus name.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” ( Mark 7:8 )

We are defined by what we cling to. The apostle Paul in addressing the Galatian church in the third chapter of the book, asked them in verse 3, why they would continue in the flesh what they started in the Spirit? In other words, why will they cling to the flesh after they had held on to the things of the Spirit from the beginning? We resemble the things we hold on to. So that, a spiritual person becomes carnal when they cling to carnal things. The same was true of the people being addressed in our anchor verse of scripture. The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. And so they wanted Jesus’ disciples to follow the same tradition. These disciples had cleaved to Jesus and His culture. They were beginning to look like Jesus when the Pharisees wanted them to let go of the Jesus culture, to hold on to human traditions. Our lives are influenced by what we hold on to. Our world literally reflects the things we cling to. So the question is not about the result we see but what caused that result? We must not let go of the Jesus culture if we want to see and experience the Jesus life.

Prayer_Bead: My Father and My Lord, thank you for the influence of the Holy Spirit in my life. Thank you for colonizing me with the culture of Jesus to the praise of your name.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ( Luke 2:19 )

Joseph of the Old Testament was shown a picture of his future in a dream. Upon waking up, he told his siblings about it, thinking it was a news they needed to know about. The rest of what happened to him is inscribed in the sand of history. In Luke chapter 1, it is recorded that Mary, was visited by an Angel who told her who she was carrying in her womb. And then in this chapter, she got the opportunity to hear again [emphasizing the unchanging nature of what she was told] the glory of her son. But Mary did not go about broadcasting this news of her son’s glory and uniqueness. There are times when we must keep quiet over certain inspired words; brooding over them until the word begins to live itself. Whenever God sends His word, it will perform, but the trajectory of its revelation and confirmation is sometimes dependent on the one to whom the word is sent. Let us learn to keep our mouth shut over the things that are meant to shock the world at their appointed time to the glory of God. Even though there may be the tendency or rather the temptation to want to share with loved ones and sometimes even people who do not seem to like us, so that they will be disappointed, it is wiser to keep quiet [sometimes] until God’s word announces us. Glory!

Prayer_Bead: Omnipotent Father of Mercy and Grace, thank you for the word you sent to me. Thank you for there is a performance of those words. I will keep quiet and watch to see what you will do. Hallelujah!

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. ( Romans 6:14 )

Through the forbearance of God, we were all brought under the law. The scripture says, let God be true and all men liars. The devil lied to man and the law was given an opportunity to prove to us that we became slaves to sin when we disobeyed God in Adam. And so under the governance of the law, sin was our master so that our consciences could be awakened by reason of our weakness and inability to live according to the demands of God. But then this verse of Scripture also opens our eyes to another strand of revelation. Sin was only our master when we were under the law. As long as we or anyone remains under the law, they are slaves to sin. Sin is a reflection of our positions and not necessarily the acts that result from that position. So, we are already in sin when our hearts are positioned under meeting the demands of the law by ourselves. But on the other hand, sin cannot be our master under grace. Grace means we have come under the governance of Christ and into His life. Grace came by Christ and we enter into Christ by faith. Once we find ourselves in that position, sin is not an issue. For instance when the sinner on the cross changed his position to the side of grace [faith in Christ and His life] sin and death could not claim him. The question is, are you under grace or the law. Where is your trust? In yourself (like the other sinner on the cross) or in Christ like the earlier who said Jesus should remember him? Our positions determine who or what our master is. The grace of God is available. It is not far away. It starts with recognition. Acknowledge that He is Lord and that He took your position so that we can have a place in Him. And then sin cannot have dominion over you because that act puts an injunction on sin. Glory!

Prayer_Bead: Father of all things, Lord of all souls, thank you for making a way for me to you through Christ. Thank you for grace. Sin is no longer my master.

#GNews: Unveiling hearts to Christ.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ( 1 Peter 4:10 )

The wisdom of God and His love is expressed in all His creations. No wonder the scripture says we are without excuse, we who may say we have not heard the good news. The invisible attributes of God are displayed by the visible creation (Romans 1:20). God has given us two hands but interestingly each exists for the other. Your right hand/arm does not wash itself, it washes the left hand/arm and vice versa. In today’s verse of scripture, the apostle says we should serve others with whatever gift we have. Now, he makes mention of “faithful stewards of God’s grace”. Whatever gifts we have received from God came by grace and not by our efforts and person. And so in using that gift, we must always remember that we are not owners of those gifts but mere stewards. And as stewards of the Kingdom, we must be faithful. Service is the apex of all we could do in the Kingdom. Jesus said to his disciples that whoever wants to be first in the kingdom, must be servant of all ( Matthew 20:27). Service announces people in God’s kingdom more than some of the things we may be busy about for our own selves. You may ask, what if I don’t have any gift? That’s not true. Everyone has at least one gift, be it spiritual or not. But whatever that gift is, we can serve other people in a way that will lead them to the Father. You could start with distributing #GNews to your friends and contacts or just an individual if you still can’t figure yours out. Serve because we shall all give accounts soon.

Prayer_Bead: Faithful Father, thank you for the gift of life. And thank you for trusting me with your gift. Help me to be a faithful steward of that gift/s to the praise of your name. Amen.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, ( Genesis 2:5 )

Our God is a strategist. He does not act haphazardly, in disorder and chaos. Speaking about the beginnings, the Scripture says God did not allow rain to fall on the earth because there was no one to till the land. The Lord did not permit the resources that will cause an increase on the earth; namely rain, because there was no man to work the ground. The earth would have been disorganized and weedy. Before God would allow the shrubs and the plants to grow as a result of giving rain, He would have created a man to take charge of the management of the earth. Likewise God is not allowing increase in certain places because though there may be people, there is no one to manage the resources available. So you’d see that there is no “rain” for increase in such places and institutions. This comes down to individuals. There is no growth, around and in them because they will not manage the little resources entrusted to their care. God does not encourage mismanagement and misuse. Before we pray for “rains” of increase, we must be ready with a management mentality and attitude. So, don’t even pray for the rains, be a manager, and the rain and increase will come.

Prayer_Bead: Lord of the harvest, the giver of increase, thank you for showing me the secret for increase in your kingdom. I receive the spirit of management. I will manage the little entrusted to my care. So help me, Father.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ( James 1:17 )

The world has strategically positioned certain events and occasions for acts of kindness and giving of gifts. Likewise, spiritually, there are gifts that are given to men in their seasons and times. But because the devil will want to corrupt them, an identity tag was put in place to identify which is from God and which is not. And so here in this text of scripture, we are shown how to tell if the gift are from God or not. By this pattern of assessment, we can tell the source of the gift. God gives good and perfect gifts to His children. Goodness is an attribute of God that touches anything He does and releases. So if it’s from God, it must be good. Now, “good” is not necessarily convenient, appropriate, or proper but it is the needful in the sight of God. We are also exposed to another nature of God, His “unchangingness”. God does not change like men do. He is faithful and true to His words. Even though every light casts some form of darkness [shifting shadows], God will not change. We can trust the word of God and His promises and the goodness of His gifts. Hallelujah!

Prayer_Bead:Gracious Father of the heavenly lights, thank you for your consistency. Thank you for the good and perfect gifts. Glory be to your name.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.