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Actions and Words

[The Glory Unveiled]

Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? [ Luke 6:46 NIV ]

In God’s hierarchy, obedience is more valuable than making sacrifices. God isn’t deceived by mere words or lip service; He discerns the heart of every individual, making it impossible to deceive or confuse Him. It is a fruitless labour to attempt deceiving God with our words when our motives and actions communicate something different from our words. The word, “Lord” means master and owner, indicating that acknowledging Jesus as our Lord means recognizing Him as our master and owner. If He indeed holds authority over us, why do we not obey Him? Failure to obey God, demonstrates that He isn’t truly our master. Many of us resemble the individuals Jesus questioned in the text above, loudly proclaiming Jesus as our Lord in public yet disobeying Him in private. We disregard His instructions, choosing our own paths as if we were our own masters. Jesus isn’t swayed by empty words; He sees our hearts. We may deceive those who judge by appearances temporarily, but we cannot fool God. If we claim God as master, we must make clear commitments in submission to Him. Our actions must align with our words; otherwise, our words hold no meaning. Jesus is more concerned with our actions than our spoken words. Let your actions bring glory and honour to the Lord.

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, I submit to you as my Lord in all my actions. Help me to bring you honour and glory. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Words that disagree with a person’s actions are empty.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Keep guard over yourself

[The Glory Unveiled]

”So, little children, guard yourselves from worshiping anything but him.“ [ 1 John‬ ‭5‬:‭21‬ ‭TPT‬‬ ]

Our world today has erected many idols. The ordinary person is forced to bow to one of the many modern gods—anything that seeks to take the place of God in our lives. The scripture above suggests that “little children” are prone to the temptation to submit to anything but God. “Little children” are those whose walk with God is new and growing. They may be old in age but young in their relationship with God. Children are usually vulnerable and susceptible to deceit. The apostle, through the scriptures, teaches us to guard ourselves as children from the influence of those things that turn our attention away from God. The responsibility lies with us to guard ourselves. A guard stands at their post to defend and ensure that nothing intrudes. To guard ourselves as children of God, we need the word of God as a barricade and guide. Dwelling in the word of God helps break the influence of the world over us. The believer in God is the target of the distractions and gods of this world. The laws that were made and, by extension, the gods that were created in the day of Daniel were targeted at Daniel, a believer in God. They didn’t really care about those already on the side of their system. Therefore, as children of God, we must arm ourselves with the knowledge that the enemy is aiming at our souls. Keep away from anything that takes the place of God in your life, including the innocent ones. There are certain things that seem harmless, but they are the bait that drags us into the arms of the devil. We must be aware of them; creating a system and a culture for ourselves that inhibits us from indulging in the things of the world. But rather submit to God in all things.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Father, thank you for your jealous love over us. Help us to guard ourselves against the deceit of Satan through your word and Spirit. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: The word of God is the believer’s guarding guide.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Open your mouth

[The Glory Unveiled]

Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, [ Isaiah 38:2 NIV ]

A closed mouth is indeed a closed destiny. Many lives are lost, destroyed, or robbed because mouths were closed when they should be opened. There is so much power in words; God made it so. He Himself is our example. When He faced a chaotic world without order, Genesis 1 records that He spoke. God did not keep quiet over the situation; He spoke order into it and called out what He wanted to see. Hezekiah, the man spoken about in the text above, was given a death sentence by a prophet of God. But he didn’t keep quiet and accept it as his fate. Instead, faith rose within him, and he opened his mouth in prayer to change the verdict. It was when he opened his mouth that fifteen good years were added to his life. Imagine what would have happened if he had kept quiet; his silence would have endorsed the sentence. Everyone is either being destroyed or built by their mouth. What happens in our lives is determined by the things we confess. Your mouth is a gateway; you decide and design your future and present circumstances with it. Don’t keep quiet; keep talking and confessing your convictions and desires. Bend the arm of circumstances to favour God’s purpose for your life. Some things are dying because no word is being spoken over them. The early church lost James because they didn’t speak on his behalf. When Peter was later imprisoned, they prayed earnestly for him (Acts 12:5), and he was saved. You will lose whatever you don’t protect with your mouth. Your destiny depends on your words; don’t shut your mouth.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for the power you have given me to order the circumstances of my life. Let your name be glorified in my life.

Wisdom_Quote: A closed mouth is a closed destiny.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Add to the promises

[The Glory Unveiled]

”For this very reason, adding your diligence [to the divine promises], employ every effort in exercising your faith to develop virtue (excellence, resolution, Christian energy), and in [exercising] virtue [develop] knowledge (intelligence),“ [ 2 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬ ‭AMPC‬‬ ]

Our anchor scripture begins, thus, “for this very reason…” hence we need to inquire into what the very reason is. In the verse 4, we see the reason being, so that we may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruptiom in the world. Therefore, all the things verse 5 encourages us to add to the promise are to the end that we may escape the corruption in our world and participate experientially in the divine nature. A careful read of the verse 5, in the AMPC version opens our eyes to truth many people are ignorant about. The very ignorance that has denied them so many goodies. You see, many believers think that because of the divine promises that God made to them, they could just fold their arms and wait for everything to unfold at their own time. But a careful examination of this scripture teaches us otherwise. In fact, it teaches us to add diligence to the promises. This means that after hearing the promise, we must begin to work diligently for their manifestation. Paul told Timothy to work diligently because of the prophecies that had gone ahead of him (1 Timothy 1:18). Timothy was not encouraged to sleep because of prophecies were uttered over him. The apostle Peter goes on to say that in addition to adding diligence to the promises, we should develop virtue by employing every effort in exercising our faith. And then to virtue, we should add knowledge. One thing must be added to another, layer upon layer, precepts upon precepts, until we are built into the full stature of Christ. So, having a divine promise is not an excuse to abandon diligent work. Add to the promises.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for all the things you accomplished for me. Help me to appropriate them through diligent work.

Wisdom_Quote: Add diligence to every divine promise.

GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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The power that brings salvation

[The Glory Unveiled]

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. [ Romans 1:16 NIV ]

Salvation is always conveyed through the conduit of the gospel. Without the gospel, salvation cannot be made available; in other words, it will not exist. The reason is that salvation must be transmitted by power, and the gospel happens to be the power channel that transmits salvation to people who believe. Salvation does not just come to people; it is administered to people by power. This power is not the result of man’s oratory skills or communicative ability and craftiness. It is solely through the good news of Christ. This is why, regardless of the amount of good things a person does, their good deeds do not make them righteous. So, good deeds do not have the power to offer salvation; it is only through faith in Jesus by the gospel. The key element that ushers in salvation is the gospel, which is why the devil tries to change the message that makes up the gospel, just as he did with Eve. Today, we hear different kinds of messages in the name of the “gospel.” As a result, many people are being swayed and taken far away from the path of salvation, since no other message carries the power that brings salvation except the gospel. With this understanding, we must be bold to share the gospel with our world, confidently telling them about the love of God and His gift to humanity. You are a power distributor; let the world come into contact with the power that brings salvation because of you.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for your love and the power available to bring me and the world, salvation. Let Jesus be glorified.

Wisdom_Quote: The gospel is the power of God that gives salvation.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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The voice of faith

[The Glory Unveiled ]

She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” [ Matthew 9:21 NIV ]

The woman with the issue of blood had tried every available solution, every prescription known in her day to no avail. Finally, she reckoned that only Jesus could help her out of her condition. After all was said and done, she realized that only Jesus could help her. And so, she came to that place of decision and she said the words of our anchor verse of scripture to herself. Her reasoning was strange but it gives us an insight into her faith. This was a woman who had been trying alternate medicine and who sought healing from anywhere she could find it, even diabolical sources. And so, before she came to Jesus, she must have done her homework, finding out all the things that Jesus was capable of and had done. She investigated the power of Jesus and was convinced that if only she touched Jesus’ garment, she will be healed. This was why she said emphatically, “I will be healed” even before there was anything to collaborate her faith and confession. We could clearly perceive her attitude from her conviction and confession. Attitude is the expression of one’s mental and physical convictions that influence their actions. We noticed that, she didn’t wait for another person’s confession nor moved because someone else said anything. She moved because she was convinced herself. A lot of the things we seek are hiding from us because we are making our moves based on the convictions of others and not our convictions. Our convictions give a voice to our faith. So, before you make your move, what is your conviction saying?

Prayer_Bead: Dear heavenly father, thank you for the privilege to believe in your Son Jesus. Do in my life what only you can do. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Conviction is the voice of faith.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Multi-coloured grace

[The Glory Unveiled]

”Every believer has received grace gifts, so use them to serve one another as faithful stewards of the many-colored tapestry of God’s grace.“ [ 1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬ ‭TPT‬‬ ]

Our anchor verse asserts that every believer has a grace gift; not some believers but every believer. All who have been brought into the fold of God have been divinely endowed with a spiritual talent. These talents manifest in different ways, reflecting the many-coloured tapestry of God’s grace. The multifaceted expressions of God’s grace are manifested through believers in Jesus, who embody this grace of God. How do people see this grace in expression? They see it by the way we bring glory to God in doing whatever we have grace for. The grace of God in you enables you for a particular task; do it to the best of your ability, giving praise to God. The apostle Peter shows us with examples in verse 11 how to express the gift of God’s grace in us and how to bring glory to God. “For example, if you have a speaking gift, speak as though God were speaking his words through you. If you have the gift of serving, do it passionately with the strength God gives you, so that in everything God alone will be glorified through Jesus Christ. For to him belong the power and the glory forever throughout all ages! Amen.” (1 Peter 4:11 TPT). Whatever gifts we have, we must use them as if God were the one using them. We are supposed to allow ourselves to be conduits through which God does His things. When we allow God to live through us, we allow the multifaceted grace of God to be on full display. So, use your gift to serve others because that is what Jesus would do.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord, thank you for expressing the nature of the Father through me. Let God be glorified in Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: We are the body of Christ because God will do everything on earth through us.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Strategies and Workers

[The Glory Unveiled]

”If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.“ [ John‬ ‭13‬:‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ ]

Systems, institutions, societies and other organizations function well where there are good strategies. But then, the real reason why they function well is not just the presence of a strategy but the right people to implement those strategies. Many times, we blame the lack of progress on the lack of strategy and structure. Particularly, for the African continent, it would seem that is the heart of their problem. But then, a careful analysis will show that, a lack of structure is just the beginning of their challenges. The meat of the problem is unavailability of suitable human resources. Unless the strategies are executed by the right people, we cannot have the results we desire. The Lord Jesus drew the pattern (strategy, system, template) of spreading the gospel to other places. But He knew that drawing the structure is not enough. And so, He demonstrated it to them. He did not just talk about it. He demonstrated it to them with His own life. So that they were without excuse. The second thing is that, He committed the responsibility of the structure to reliable men. “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Timothy 2:2). The apostle Paul showed Timothy the structure for entrusting the gospel to others and he also mentions reliable people. It is not enough to get a good structure in place. Find the right people to deliver it. More than that, be a reliable person (worker) in God’s vineyard.

Prayer_Bead: Author and Finisher of our faith, thank you for the patterns and structure for dominion. Help me to be a reliable worker.

Wisdom_Quote: Reliable people make structures and systems important and effective.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Identified with God

[The Glory Unveiled]

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? [ Matthew 6:25 NIV ]

Life transcends mere material possessions such as clothing, food, and drink, despite the natural inclinations towards these necessities. In Genesis, God’s intention in creating humanity was for them to exercise dominion and authority, crafting them in His own image and likeness. Thus, our destiny and essence are shaped by this divine blueprint—whatever our lives will command or become is the result of our likeness and the image after which we have been crafted. Human existence was imparted with understanding through God’s breath, signaling that life encompasses more than physical sustenance. To illustrate this, God decided to test them with food. The consequence of disobeying being separation from Him. Separation from God because we had the image and likeness of God and it is this identity that made us one with God. And so, to live a life contrary to the identity of God means we are unlike Him, hence separation. The Lord Jesus Christ admonishes against fretting over material needs, what we wear, eat or drink, as such concerns can sever our spiritual connection with God, contradicting our divine nature. Our lives are more than these things; our lives are worth the identity of God. We are the image of God, this is why Christ, the image of God had to die as a ransom for us. We are worth the life of God. Embracing this truth, let us daily dwell in the awareness of our divine identity..

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for showing me that my life is worth more than the things I chase after. Help me to seek you and your righteousness instead. Amen.

Wisdom_Quote: Life is more than food and drinks.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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The purpose of His accomplishments

[The Glory Unveiled]

”Through our union with him we have experienced circumcision of heart. All of the guilt and power of sin has been cut away and is now extinct because of what Christ, the Anointed One, has accomplished for us.“ [ Colossians‬ ‭2‬:‭11‬ TPT‬‬ ]

Whatever the Lord Jesus did, He did for a particular purpose. Everything Jesus suffered for us is to the end that our hearts be severed from guilt and power of sin. The life we enjoy in Christ is the result of a price that was paid. This life was impossible without the accomplishment of Christ. Our hearts were steeped in unrighteousness through disobedience—alienated from God—changing it from how it originally had to be. Now, through the sacrifice of Christ, an opportunity is given to us to cut away the attachments of our hearts that keep us away from God. But this cutting away, also known as circumcision is experienced through our union with Christ. And then, the consequences of our attachment to unrighteousness namely guilt and power of sin becomes extinct. All these victories come from what Christ accomplished for us. This is why the emphasis is always Christ. Without Christ, we cannot have the things talked about here, freedom from the guilt and power of sin. We must be educated and equipped with the knowledge of what Christ did for us. He paid a price we could not dare pay for ourselves. He made a sacrifice that became the bridge back to God. The Lord Jesus is the reason we can come boldly to God. We must remember therefore that without Christ, the center of our existence and walk with God cannot hold. Your union with Christ is precious, it is most valuable, so keep it well.

Prayer_Bead: Father and God, thank you for the sacrifice of Christ and the privilege to be your son. Help me to remain in Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Wisdom_Quote: The bridge between God and the world is the sacrifice of Christ.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.