Category: Gospel

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Trim your Lamp

[The Glory Unveiled]

Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. [ Matthew 25:7‬ NIV‬‬ ]

The above scripture speaks about the wise and foolish virgins who had gone to meet the bridegroom. When the bridegroom delayed in coming, they became drowsy and fell asleep. Our anchor text says the virgins woke up because they had all been sleeping. And they had been sleeping because they waited for the Bridegroom until they became tired and drowsy. Just like those virgins, many of us are becoming drowsy and falling asleep. And this is as a result of the pull and push motions of this secular world and the pressure from our fallen and broken world. The world is out against the believer and what will keep us through the dark ages is the oil in our Lamp. The oil is the minsitry of the Holy Spirit in us. The doze of the word of God that we have in us is what keeps us in hibernation mode, through the dark. So that in due time, we can trim our lamps and have enough light to see the Bridegroom. But then, we can only trim our lamp when we have oil in our lamp. Now, that the bridegroom is not here, is the best time to get oil into our lamp. Let us study the word of God to show ourselves approved unto God. The time to get oil and the time to trim our lamps is now. We are in a very sensitive moment. We have been sleeping for long, tossed to and fro by the doctrines and teachings of the world. The time has come for us to trim our lamp and go meet our Bridegroom.

Prayer_Bead: Heavenly Father, thank you for the oil in my lamp. Help me to guard it with wisdom until your coming. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Oil in your lamp gives opportunity to trim it.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Jesus, our example

[The Glory Unveiled ]

Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. [ Hebrews‬ ‭12‬‬:‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ ]

The Bible says the Lord Jesus is the first Son among many brothers (Romans 8:29), meaning that He is the template for our conduct and lifestyle. We are supposed to learn from our senior brother, Jesus, and God. Usually, when you want to learn a dance step, you need to keep your eyes on the instructor to get everything right; otherwise, you will miss everything. In the case of our faith pattern, the Lord Jesus is our guide, the author, and the one who completes it. Therefore, we cannot have faith or continue to live and grow in faith without Jesus. With that clear understanding, let us carefully examine the Lord Jesus’ style. The scripture says, He was motivated by the joy that was set before Him: the joy a shepherd experiences when he finds his missing sheep, the joy of bringing us back to God. The weight of the joy, which is the reward of his sacrifice, made Him endure the cross with its shame and pain. His gaze was fixed on one thing alone: the joy. And because He didn’t have divided attention, He obtained what He pursued. The same will happen in our lives if we look to Jesus alone and nothing else, and despise the shame and hateful words of people. We will also endure our crosses and have the reward of being with the Father. No matter how difficult it seems, if we can keep our gaze on Jesus, our faith will produce the desired results.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord, thank you for being the author and finisher of my faith. Help me to endure the things I need to endure, so help me God.

Wisdom_Quote: The direction of your gaze determines your level of distractions.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Kill your doubts

[The Glory Unveiled]

If God can clothe the fields and meadows with grass and flowers, can he not clothe you as well, O struggling one with so many doubts? (‭‭‭ Luke‬ ‭12‬‬:‭28‬ ‭TPT‬‬)

The presence of our needs does not indicate the absence of God’s ability to provide. The absence of what we wish to experience only confirms a deficiency on our part. Many times in the Bible, we are compared to other categories of people or things to strike a balance between our current experiences and what we ought to experience. When God compares the kind of faith that grants unrestricted access to heaven, He mentions children. This suggests there is wisdom to be gained from observing the attitude of children. The Bible also directs the lazy man to learn wisdom from the ant, another lesson we can derive from comparison. Now, we are posed with a comparative question: If God can clothe the fields and meadows with grass and flowers, can He not also clothe us? Certainly, He can, because by every standard, we are more dear to God than grass and flowers. However, the reason we may not be experiencing this provision is doubt. Faith and fear are instruments that grant permission to celestial beings. Faith permits God and His kingdom, while fear creates room for the devil’s influence. Doubt also signifies a lack of full knowledge or information about something. It is this gap in awareness that undermines our experiences. God is capable of exceeding more than we could ask or think. Yet, doubt can be the one thing that stops Him. Not believing that God is able to provide for our every need, no matter how small, is an insult to His power and thus yields a corresponding result. Don’t wrestle with God’s promises; He is able to fulfill everything He says He will do.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord, thank you for your provisions. I believe that you are able to do exceeding, abundantly and far above what I ask, think or imagine.

Wisdom_Quote: Doubt or faith is the gap between your experience and your expectations.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Seeking and Saving

[The Glory Unveiled]

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” [ Luke 19:10 NIV ]

Jesus tells a story of how a shepherd will leave ninety-nine sheep to go after just one that was lost (Luke 15:4-6). The reason why the shepherd will risk the ninety-nine for the one is because the ninety-nine were already safe. The Lord Jesus is that shepherd. The Psalmist affirms this in Psalms 23 when he said that the Lord is his shepherd. In our anchor verse of scripture, the Lord Jesus shares the purpose of his coming—to seek and save the lost. We can then say that the sole purpose for his coming is to seek and save. No wonder during his earthly ministry, the Lord Jesus was mostly spotted with sinners and the lost. And every time He left them, they were different people. The Lord Jesus made this statement when He came to the house of Zacchaeus, a corrupt tax collector. Even though it seems that Zacchaeus was living the good life, his soul was lost. And though some people tried to discourage Jesus from going to the house of such a person, He did not listen to them. The Lord Jesus is still on that mission of seeking and saving. What are you doing about His beckoning? He said we should not harden our hearts when we hear His voice. Zacchaeus actually climbed a tree to be noticed. What are you doing about the words you have been hearing concerning the love of God? Will you surrender to His lordship?

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, come into my heart and be my Lord and Saviour. I renounce my old life and embrace a new life with you because of your love. Amen.

Wisdom_Quote: Jesus is seeking out your heart for a love relationship.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Treasured assets

[The Glory Unveiled]

”Guard well this incomparable treasure by the Spirit of Holiness living within you.“ [ 2 Timothy‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬ ‭TPT‬‬ ]

National reserves, gold, and diamond mines are heavily guarded at all times. Such intentional security is provided because of the value of what lies in those premises. The human spirit is like a gold reserve, a place where incomparable treasures are kept. And just like natural reserves, we need to guard the treasure within us. The Bible says that a farmer went out to sow, and some seeds fell by the wayside, and birds came to pick them up (Matthew 13:3-4). In another place, it says, when an unclean spirit is cast out of its host, it goes to wander and then returns to find the place without guards, and it inhabits it (Matthew 12:43-44). All these allude to the fact that any treasure of worth must be guarded; otherwise, it can be lost. The unguarded seed is taken up by birds; the unguarded human spirit can be possessed. Now, we have been given a good deposit of Truth; this truth has been kept hidden from ages and generations but has now been revealed in us. We have this precious treasure within us; what shall we do to guard it? “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” (2 Corinthians 4:7). But we are not equipped to guard what we have within us; hence, we need the help of someone else—the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is able to guard and keep what He has committed to us. So, let’s guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit. Implore Him to guard what you have by living in harmony and union with Him.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for your precious treasure deposit in me. Help me to guard it by your Spirit, in Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Protection signifies value.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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An end time necessity

[The Glory Unveiled]

”Since we are approaching the end of all things, be intentional, purposeful, and self-controlled so that you can be given to prayer.“ [ 1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬ ‭TPT‬‬ ]

Different times demand different strategies. The same approach to doing something will not always work, and certainly not in the future. The times in which we find ourselves sometimes dictate what we should be busy with. The emphasis of a particular time determines what we should focus on. Here in our text for today, the Lord, through the apostle Peter, tells us what to do in the times nearing the end of all things. First of all, he implies that nearing the end times, we will find it difficult to pray. “So that you can be given to prayer” means you are not given to prayer, and something extra had to be done to make it possible. The difficulty many people face, for which they will not pray, has to do with the systems of this world and technology. The world system is structured in such a way that we will find ourselves busy with many things like Martha, so busy that we cannot fellowship with the Lord and Master of our souls. On the technology front, advancement in technology has blinded many to think that what they should be praying about is already made available by technology. But scripture foresaw all these things and still made this provision for us. This means that all these are meant to keep us from intimacy with the Father. Prayer is the believer’s lifeline, and anything that threatens it threatens his/her life itself. We are given three keys to stick to: intentionality, purpose, and self-control. We must be very intentional; we must not allow life to just happen to us; we must have careful intentions for our actions that align with God’s word. Closely related to being intentional is living by the purpose for which we have been brought into the world. The changes in the world should not drive us off the target of our purpose. And more than anything else, we need self-control in a world that offers sin for free. So that can be given to prayer when these things are in order. Your prayer life requires intentionality, purpose, and self-control as the end of all things draws near.

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for the keys to help my prayer life in these end times.

Wisdom_Quote: Your prayer life is your lifeline.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Building on our most holy faith

[The Glory Unveiled]

”But you, my delightfully loved friends, constantly and progressively build yourselves up on the foundation of your most holy faith by praying every moment in the Spirit.“ [ ‭‭Jude 1‬:‭20‬ ‭TPT‬‬ ]

The believer’s relationship with God is like an edifice under construction, a continuous and progressive endeavor. Our journey with the Lord aims to transform us into the image of Christ. In 2 Corinthians 3:18, we learn how to enter into union with Jesus: “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” Our experiences and growth are meant to be ever-increasing. We are instructed to build ourselves up on our most holy faith, which encompasses our sacred beliefs—the truths that form the foundation of our faith. The integrity of whatever we build is determined by our most holy faith. Especially now, we need to strengthen ourselves with strong Christian convictions and truths. Fortunately, we are shown how to build on these solid beliefs: by praying in the Holy Spirit. Praying with revelation and in the attitude and power of the Holy Spirit helps preserve our faith. Speaking in the language of the Spirit is a practice that should be maintained at all times. A believer doesn’t pray in the Holy Spirit when they are led; they pray whenever they want to, and they should want to at all times. The apostle stated in 1 Corinthians 14:15 that he would pray with understanding and also in the Spirit, indicating it was a choice he made. Similarly, we can and should make the same choice.

Prayer_Bead: Heavenly father, thank you for the grace to build myself up on the truth I have received. Help me to pray in the Holy Ghost.

Wisdom_Quote: Praying in the Holy Ghost is the mason of our most holy faith.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

*#GNews:* _Unveiling the glory of God._

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Multiplicity of Grace

[The Glory Unveiled]

”Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord“ [ 2 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬ NKJV‬‬ ]

Speaking of grace, the apostle Paul asks if we should continue to sin so that grace may increase, since grace increases where sin abounds (Romans 6:1). Grace is the unmerited provision of God that sustains man in spite of every tangible reason to deny him that provision. The apostle Paul teaches that when we were under the influence of sin, grace increased for us to come to the knowledge of God. But that same grace made us dead to sin because it brought us through the baptism of death with Jesus (Romans 6:3). And so, the apostle Paul reasons that if we died with Christ, we cannot continue to sin (Romans 6:2). There are some believers who think that they need to sin once in a while to increase grace upon their lives. Unfortunately, the grace that is made available because of sin brings you through death so it is no longer available. The grace that is available to the believer is the grace that comes through the knowledge of Jesus Christ. As grace increases for the sinner to come to the cross, grace is multiplied to the believer who has the knowledge of Christ and not from sinning. While we were in the world in our ignorance, sin made grace available to us. But now, grace will be made available and multiplied through the knowledge of the Son of God. It will take knowledge to get more grace and not ignorance and sin. What you know about Jesus is the room that heaven makes for your peace and comfort. How much do you know of Jesus?

Prayer_Bead: Father in heaven, thank you for the provision of grace. Help me to grow in the knowledge of your son Jesus. So that grace may be multiplied to me. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Grace may increase where sin abounds but it is multiplied where the knowledge of Jesus is.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Jesus, the gate

[The Glory Unveiled]

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. [ John 10:9 NIV ]

Gates, doorways, and pathways always lead to something—places and things. The Lord Jesus says He is the gate, which means He must lead to something. Anytime the Lord Jesus speaks about Himself, He uses absolutes, in most cases as is here, expressed with the definitive article, “the”. He does not claim to be one of something but a particular person or attribute—different and apart from others. So in this text, what gate is He? He tells us in the same verse, He is the gate that leads to salvation and pasture. He creates an analogy of all people being like sheep in the wild, a world of sin and its consequences. Yet in that same wild, there is a good shepherd and a pen that offers pasture, protection, and salvation from the wildlings of the world. The gate through which any sheep that desires salvation and pasture must pass is Jesus. And so, the Lord Jesus is the bridge between a wild and dangerous world and a world of safety and abundance. But there is a choice to be made, “whoever enters.” The Lord does not force anyone to enter; they must enter—believing that Jesus is Lord and Saviour—by their own free will, having considered what the Lord did for them. The Lord Jesus is able to offer what He claims to offer because He earned the right to, through His sacrificial payment on the cross. Therefore, only He can lead to the kind of saving and pasture our souls need. Outside the gate of Christ Jesus, nothing can satisfy. Every other thing may seem to satisfy, but they lead to more want. Jesus as our good shepherd delivers us from wants as He leads us into green pastures. Will you go through the gate, which is the Lord Jesus?

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for your saving grace. I believe you are my Saviour and Lord. Thank you for the pasture for my soul.

Wisdom_Quote: Jesus is the gate to your soul’s needs.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Unique Possession

[The Glory Unveiled]

Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, [ Exodus 19:5 NIV]

It is possible to have a favourite among many things of the same kind. Though they may appear equal on the surface, there is often something extra, sometimes infinitesimal, that sets one apart from the rest. Many people will look at the full picture and not recognize the unique attribute that distinguishes this one. The distinguishing characteristic is only unique to the one for whom that particular attribute is important or a favourite. Even among children born of the same parents, some parents have their favourites among them. They seem to be more attached to and caring for their favourite. And many times, the object of that affection or love is known only to the lover. In our anchor Scripture, the Lord shows us how an individual or a nation can become His treasured possession. He gives just one criterion for becoming His unique possession: to fully obey God and keep His covenant. There are those who are in the habit of obeying God partially and partly. But if anyone wants to be God’s treasured possession, they must obey God fully, regardless of other alternatives or reasonable interventions. Yes, you are a child of God, but are you His treasured possession? Do you obey God fully? Do you keep His covenants with you as a person? God loves us, but there is a dimension of intimacy that we ascend to by our choices and actions. Out of the lot, may God single you out for honor through your intentional obedience.

Prayer_Bead: My Father and King, thank you for making me a treasured possession through my obedience. Let your name be glorified in Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Full obedience gives full access to God’s heart.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.