Category: Gospel

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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.

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Encounter Jesus Christianity

[The Glory Unveiled]

Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. [ Acts 26:16 NIV ]

Your Christian life is a reflection of your encounters with Christ. In other words, your walk with God is a testimony of your encounters with Christ. You can differentiate between two believers: one who has had an encounter with God and another who has never had such encounters. The true Christian life begins on the strength of our encounters. No matter how or what we do for God or in the name of God, without an encounter, that gesture is a waste of our purpose. The Apostle Paul, before his encounter that redefined his relationship with God, pursued believers in the name of God, thinking he was eliminating God’s enemies. However, he was actually persecuting the church, the body of Christ. Then, he encountered Jesus. All this time, he was a believer in God, but until he encountered Jesus, his walk with God didn’t bring glory to God. The same goes for many believers, including those who claim or think they are walking with Jesus, without any real encounters with Him. The strength of our walk with God is sourced from encounters. What exposure have you received from God’s word? Has the Lord Jesus revealed Himself to you through His word and person? If you have not truly met Jesus in His word, then your journey and walk with Him may just be a walk in the park. What you have seen and witnessed of God is the platform on which your true walk with Him is staged. Encounters are the landmarks that guide us back into the loving arms of God when we stray. May God orchestrate an encounter for the next phase of your walk with Him.

Prayer_Bead: Mighty God, thank you for the encounters You have given me. Help me to remain in a loving relationship with you. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Encounters are spiritual landmarks.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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The testimony

[The Glory Unveiled]

”And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.“ [ I John‬ ‭5‬:‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ ]

God has given a unique gift to the world, and this gift is universally available: eternal life, a life separate and distinct from condemnation and damnation, characterized by perpetual existence with God in joy and glory. Eternal life is essentially the life of God. However, God did not merely bestow this gift upon the world; rather, He concealed it within a package—the personality of His Son, Jesus Christ. The solution to our transient life and the consequences of our actions through Adam and Eve is found in the life of Jesus. Embracing the life of God, which terminates this challenging yet temporary existence, necessitates embracing Jesus. We cannot possess the life of God except through Him. Essentially, to attain the solution God offers—eternal life—we must first have the Son. And this is our testimony: whoever possesses the Son possesses life; conversely, those who do not possess the Son lack life (1 John 5:12). God has concealed His life within His Son and dispenses it through Him. Anyone desiring the life of the Father must encounter and possess the Son; this is non-negotiable. It is impossible to sidestep Christ and still attain the life of God. Any human endeavor outside of Christ is ultimately futile, leading only to further struggle and destruction. Therefore, rather than pursuing life through other people, tokens, or signs, pursue Jesus, for He embodies the life of God.

Prayer_Bead: Heavenly Father, thank you for the package of eternal life. Thank you for your Son Jesus.

Wisdom_Quote: Whoever has the Son has life.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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The journey of consecration

[The Glory Unveiled]

“Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” [ II Corinthians‬ ‭7‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ ]

In the previous chapter, the Lord made a promise that He would dwell in us and live among us; He would be our God, and we would be His people. This was the promise God made as He called us the temple of the Living God (2 Corinthians 6:16). Now, the writer continues to emphasize that as a result of these promises, we have an obligation to fulfill. God is particular about where He dwells or is represented. In the Old Testament manifestation of these principles, He instructed the Israelites to always wash themselves before coming into His presence. While they washed themselves with water, we are supposed to cleanse ourselves with the word of God. As New Testament practitioners, we are to continually cleanse ourselves with the word of God until we are refined like silver and ready to be used as fine jewelry. To complete our consecration, we need to cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit. God instructed the priests to inform the Israelites that they were to stay away from unclean things, but if anyone contaminated themselves, they were supposed to wash themselves. The same principle applies to us. We are to stay away from things that contaminate us, namely disobedience to God’s holy instructions, so that through obedience, we may become more like God. The promises await the fulfillment of our part.

Prayer_Bead: Father in Heaven, thank you for the call to consecration. Help me to always obey your holy laws. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: The promise of God has an obligatory factor.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Our Help Source

[The Glory Unveiled]

My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. [ Psalms 121:2 NIV ]

It has become increasingly difficult to receive help from others in today’s world. This challenge is not solely the fault of those who possess the resources and capacity to provide assistance. Often, individuals in need seek help from the wrong sources. It’s rather disheartening that many people view individuals as their sole source of aid, when in reality, they are merely conduits through which help manifests. Unbeknownst to us, the direction of our focus determines the extent and nature of the assistance we receive. When we acknowledge God as our ultimate source of help, the aid we receive reflects that mindset and faith. Conversely, when we view other people as our primary source of help, our provisions are limited to human capabilities, which are inherently restricted. God, as the creator of heaven and earth and all that dwells within them, possesses everything we could possibly need. This grants Him the authority to provide for anyone as He sees fit. Hence, He is humanity’s ultimate source of help. In reality, God often aids people through the actions of others; however, these individuals are not the source but rather the means through which assistance is delivered. Without God’s intervention, these channels would have nothing to offer. Therefore, regardless of the intermediary, it is ultimately God who provides help. By keeping our focus and expectations fixed on Him, He will supply all that we need for life and godliness.

Prayer_Bead: Maker of heaven and the earth, the source of my help, thank you for releasing help to me through men. I look to you always for my every need. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Wisdom_Quote: Everything is sustained by its source.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Make way for Jesus

[The Glory Unveiled]

Do not quench the Spirit.[ 1 Thessalonians 5:19 NIV ]

There are many ways we stand in the way of God, but none of those ways equals the one that is most common: unbelief. Choosing not to believe what God says He can and will do, not only hinders us but also undermines the power of God. The scripture says we should not quench the Spirit. To quench the Spirit is to walk in unbelief, hindering the operation of the Holy Spirit because faith is the natural space that allows the Holy Spirit to act on our behalf. Without faith, no matter how much we yearn for something or think about it, we cannot have it. “He (Jesus) could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them” (Mark 6:5). The Lord Jesus himself could not perform miracles in His hometown because the people thought they knew him too well. As such, they didn’t believe Him to be who He is. In fact, the next verse says Jesus was amazed at their lack of faith. This means their lack of faith is the reason Jesus couldn’t perform any miracles. Unbelief is a system that undoes the work of God. Has God made a promise to you? He will honour it no matter how long. Regardless of opposition, He will do what He says He will do. But you can stand in the way of the fulfillment of that promise through doubt and unbelief. You have a role to play—to allow or not to allow God to do what He wants to do in your life. Will you quench the Spirit, or will you allow Him to operate?

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for the grace to believe Your every word. Help me to submit to your promises. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Faith is the factory where the Holy Spirit acts on our behalf.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Lovers of God

[The Glory Unveiled]

“But as the Scriptures say, “No one has ever seen, no one has ever heard, no one has ever imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” [ 1 Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬ ‭ERV‬‬ ]

It is evident that God loves us, as showcased through His actions. The Psalmist pondered, “Who is man that you’re mindful of him? You have made him a little lower than elohim and have crowned him with dominion” (Psalms 8:4-6), recognizing God’s particular attention to our creation. God’s constant concern for us is reflected in the biblical teaching to love our neighbours as ourselves, mirroring God’s love for us as His image bearers. The concept of the reciprocation of love is beautifully expressed by the apostle John: “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). We are compelled to love God because He first loved us and gave Himself for us. This demonstration of love by God is the reason we love Him back. Yet, in addition to the natural reciprocal gesture, God has special blessings and packages for those who love Him back. He has made provisions for His lovers, He has prepared ahead of their needs before the needs ever come. He made provisions and keeps those provisions ready for those who love Him; those who hold Him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed [AMPC‬‬]. To love God basically means to promptly obey Him above all else. Consequently, what God will do in your life and through your life will beat the imagination of everybody.

Prayer_Bead: Heavenly Father, thank you for helping me to love you because you first loved me. Let your name be glorified through my life.

Wisdom_Quote: In your walk with God, your prompt obedience tells your love story.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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A life of faith in the Son

[The Glory Unveiled ]

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” [ Galatians‬ ‭2‬:‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ ]

The believer, though saved, continues to live in the flesh. Being saved does not prevent us from living in the flesh; it only means living above the things that lead the flesh to disobey God. Our natural way of life is living in the flesh because we are flesh and blood. However, the result of the life we live in the flesh, our natural life, should be a life lived by faith in Jesus after we have been crucified with Him. That is what a regenerated life is — a life that is lived with absolute trust in Jesus, a life that is lived to please God, a life that is lived under the influence of the Holy Spirit. A believer is not someone who stops living or isolates themselves from people because they are afraid to sin, but rather someone who, in spite of the tendency to sin, chooses to live for Jesus. One who understands that they owe Jesus love. While we live in the flesh, we must not allow the law of sin and death to govern our day-to-day affairs. We must live our lives under the influence of another law — the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus. Then, our lives will seem as if the law of sin and death does not exist around us. We must live every aspect of our lives by faith in the Son of God, just as the law of aerodynamics overpowers gravity and makes it seem like gravity does not exist in the air where airplanes fly. Our being crucified with Christ wouldn’t seem true unless, the natural life we live in the flesh, is lived by faith in Jesus, making faith in the Son of God our new ecosystem.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for sending your Son to die for me and giving me opportunity to live by faith in Him. Let your name be glorified through me.

Wisdom_Quote: Faith in the son of God is the believer’s ecosystem.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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The shadow of sin

[The Glory Unveiled]

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. [ Genesis 3:6 NIV ]

Our emphasis on the scripture above is the B portion of the text: “she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.” Eve did not disobey a direct command from God; she disobeyed a command given to her through Adam. However, Adam, with open eyes, disobeyed a direct command from God. He was there when the serpent deceived Eve but remained silent because he himself had similar desires as Eve. Apostle Arome Osayi remarked, “intentional sinning is the reason crowns fall off people’s heads.” Adam’s crown, and by extension, the crown of all humanity, fell off our heads because Adam sinned intentionally. He was not unaware of the consequences of his actions, as God had forewarned him about the outcome of disobeying the command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Even though Eve was moved to eat the fruit by what she saw, Adam was motivated by a desire for what could be outside of his immediate experience. He wanted to experience more than what was adequate for his walk with God. The prodigal son also desired more than he was ready for and returned years later wretched and beaten. Are you beginning to see what God does not approve of as having a possibility of good? If yes, sin is at your doorstep. Adam and Eve, King Saul, Samson, Judas Iscariot, Ananias, and Sapphire, among others, serve as a vivid description of the end of such lives. Every instruction from God is for our safety and protection. Hold unto them.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for showing me the shadows of sin and supplying the grace to flee from its disguise.

Wisdom_Quote: Intentional sin is the reason crowns fall off people’s heads.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.