Category: Gospel

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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.

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Are you an Orphan?

[The Glory Unveiled]

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. [ John 14:18 NIV ]

Adam and Eve abandoned humanity to the care of the devil. However, God, out of His abundant love, adopted us into His family. Psalm 27:10 states, “Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.” God has received us into His family and will not forsake us. When Jesus executed our adoption transaction through His life and death, He had to return to the Father. In John 14, He reassures us that He will not leave us as orphans and promises to come to us. Subsequently, He sends a different personality—the Holy Spirit. This implies that the Holy Spirit is Jesus coming to us, our Parent on earth. Recognizing the Holy Spirit’s ministry and role in our lives actualizes His parenting reality. Regrettably, there are many orphaned Christians among us, living without acknowledging the Holy Spirit’s influence. You don’t have to be an orphan anymore. Free yourself from wandering and making life choices on your own. Let the Holy Spirit help, guide and direct you, as is His ministry. Jesus is coming to you through the Holy Spirit; embrace Him and allow His influence in every sphere of your life. Let Him assist you—aren’t you tired of navigating life alone, tired of the struggles and stress? Let the Holy Spirit lead and parent you henceforth.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for Your presence in my life through the minsitry of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for helping me.

Wisdom_Quote: The Holy Spirit is the believer’s parent.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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The complete toolkit

[The Glory Unveiled]

“That is why you need to get God’s full armour. Then on the day of evil, you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing.” [ Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭13‬ ‭ERV‬‬ ]

An armour is meant to protect the bearer. However, poorly worn armour can lead to the bearer’s downfall. When David faced Goliath in battle, Saul offered his personal armour for David to use. Unfortunately, David couldn’t even move in it (1 Samuel 17:39). This means that the armour, intended to protect him, became an impediment to his movement and battle skills. Goliath met his demise because he lacked head armour thinking he was the best fighter and no soldier could get to his head. But he was wrong. Every battle requires specific armour tailored to its type. While each crisis demands unique strategies, there’s a universal solution for all crises: “the whole armor of God.” Regrettably, some believers don’t wear the complete armour of God. Instead, they wear select pieces, convinced they understand the situation and only need those specific pieces. The full armour is designed for all-around protection; omitting any piece leaves us vulnerable in the area it was meant to protect. It’s akin to having a toolkit but not using or lacking the skills to use the tools. Your inability to use the tools is not a condemnation of the tools but of yourself. This is the reason we are encouraged to put on the full armour of God through our obedience and alignment with the word of God. So that we can stand on the evil day—the day of tears, pains, challenges and temptations.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for crafting an armour for my complete safety and peace. I put it on daily through my obedience to your word. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Put on the whole armour of God.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.