GNews

[The Glory Unveiled]

Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. [ John 16:24 NIV ]

Many Christians are caught in the Pharisee’s art. We say so many things in the place of prayer, most of which are not meant for God nor does it reach Him. We fantasize with the thought that because we pray, God always hears us or that we are actually asking. 1 John 5:14, says that the confidence we have in approaching God is that God hears us when we ask anything according to His will. And this is where the challenge is; asking according to the will of God. To ask according to the will of God, one must know the will of God. And to know the will of God, we must know the Word of God who is the Son of God, and have access to His name. But for most of us, our stories are like the man at the Pool in John chapter 5. When Jesus asked him whether he wanted to get well [an invitation to prayer], he started talking about all the things that prevented him from getting well, instead. And that’s exactly how many of us act in prayer. Instead of boldly asking God for what we need, we end up complaining about everything else, ranting and accusing others even, thinking we are actually praying fervently. It seems that our being used to the theatrics of this modern day’s style of praying, has drowned us in the presumption that God hears us merely because we claim to be praying in His name. This is probably why we have so little results in the place of prayer. But if we want to see real results and get our prayers automatically answered, we must find the will of God—the fuel for our confidence—first. And then, with confidence in our hearts, we are able to ask according to God’s will rather than complain or accuse others.

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for showing me how to ask and receive. Help me to apply these truth as I ought to.

Wisdom_Quote: Presumption is the thief of manifestation.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. [ Matthew 25:24 NIV ]

The world is full of many people who think they’ve got God figured out, from Atheists to Christians. Unfortunately, we tend to define God by our individual experiences of God. But He is not defined by or confined to what we think of Him. Such experience based definition of God has made us respond to Him in ways that rob us of His true identity and goodness. This skewed attitude has deceived some people into being certain that God cannot help them, and so lean towards every other thing but God for the solution only God can give. They try out every other option available to them except God, even when they are stranded. May you not join that group of people. Instead of ruling God out because of our prejudices, let us trust His word for every promise because He is faithful. The problem with those who think they are right and God is wrong is that, they expect God to act a certain way and if He does not, then they feel and conclude He does not deserve their trust. Whereas, as humans, we can only see a tiny fragment of the whole plan. And many times, we see through a faulty lens coloured by our hatred and bitterness. The man who had received one bag of gold from our scripture text, said that his master was a hard man, who harvested where he did not sow. This ungrateful man, felt his action [hiding the master’s gold, instead of investing it] was justified because of his perception of the master. But when the time of accountability came, his excuses were not admitted. The same thing will play out for us soon. We cannot excuse ourselves from the reality of God’s justice and impartiality because we think God is not fair, or because we think He doesn’t exist (to those who may think so). We cannot change God with our skewed views of Him, which have become like chains around our necks. We must humble ourselves to be changed instead by submitting to His word and His ways.

Prayer_Bead: Almighty God, we thank You because there is none like you. Please change us to conform to your ways.

Wisdom_Quote: God is not changed by our chains.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. [ James 1:12 KJV ]

The love of God is an overwhelming reality that is also a mystery, even to the rulers and authorities in heavenly realms. In our experience, it is this love that compels us to endure or fight temptations. The Lord promises a crown of life for those who love Him, the same people who endure temptation. We endure whatever the world and the devil hurl at us because we love God. Joseph overcame the temptation to sleep with Mrs. Potiphar because he loved God. In his reply to the temptation of Potiphar’s wife, he said, “how could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God”(Genesis 39:9). He was concerned about what God thought about his actions. And this could only be because He cared about God and God’s opinion about him. Sometimes the love of God puts us in fire but our love for God will keep us there until His glory is revealed. Our love for God is the secret sauce to overcoming the temptations that the enemy throws at us. “They conquered him completely through the blood of the Lamb and the powerful word of his testimony. They triumphed because they did not love and cling to their own lives, even when faced with death.” (Revelation‬ ‭12‬:‭11‬ ‭TPT‬‬). They overcame because they did not love their own lives, but rather they loved God. The world will be a better place if we can love God and demonstrate our love for God through our relationship with others. Our love for God will render every temptation useless before us and crown us with life as promised by God.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for your love that is shared in our hearts. I resist temptations and the devil because I love you.

Wisdom_Quote: The secret sauce to overcoming temptations is the love of God.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

“Though we experience every kind of pressure, we’re not crushed. At times we don’t know what to do, but quitting is not an option.” [ 2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‭TPT‬‬ ]

Everyday, we are pressured by the world’s systems and we have learned quickly that the world is not on our side, as believers. Many times, we wonder what we ought to do or not do as the line between the ways of the world and the Word are very thin. So thin that we cannot tell where the difference lies. But in the midst of all these challenges and confusion, we know one thing—no quitting. We cannot quit for any reasons, personal or corporate. You might have been so overwhelmed by the frustrations and pressure of the world to such an extent you want to give up on everything you believed and stood for. But the word of God for us today is not to give up. We are encouraged by the Spirit of God to stand firm, to hope in God, to trust the surety of God’s word, His faithfulness. In every line of work, there is a code of conduct. In our walk with God, our code of conduct is that quitting is not an option. The Lord Jesus portrayed this truth with His life. He came face to face with sin and death; the punishment for our sins. The burden of sin which was the weight of our disobedience and the guilt of our iniquities hanged on him like a dress. In the garden of Gethsemane, he prayed to the Father, to let the cup of suffering pass over Him. But even in the heat of that pressure, He added, not my will but thine be done (Matthew 26:39). He wasn’t giving up on humanity. He wasn’t letting go of His commitment and love for humanity. And so, even with His last breath, He dragged Himself to Golgotha—the transaction place for our redemption. And He did not give up the ghost until He saw to it that the divine Justice was fully met. Jesus did not quit on us. He left us a legacy; a template. That we should not quit no matter the pressure of the world. Even when we don’t know what to do, we will learn, if we don’t quit that God is guiding us all the way until we come into the center of His will for us.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for your compassion and love. Thank you for not giving up on me. Let your name be glorified.

Wisdom_Quote: Quitting is not an option in our walk with God.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

“We are like common clay jars that carry this glorious treasure within, so that this immeasurable power will be seen as God’s, not ours.” [ 2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬ ‭TPT‬‬ ]

Many times, we judge things from an outward perspective, an unreliable angle. But the things that make the difference are not always visible from the exterior view. One of such mysteries to the angelic realm and the rulers and authorities in the world beyond our world is humanity. Angels are fascinated with God’s mercy shown us. They long to peer into the mystery of God’s grace. The angelic realm has always been mystified by God’s special creation—us (see Ephesians 3:10; 1 Peter 1:12). But unfortunately, many of us do not know who we really are; a precious jewel that does not know its value and worth. As a result, some of us, like the prodigal son have sold ourselves out to the basal things of this world. Stories are told of how, the people in the then Gold Coast exchanged gold for mirrors, sugar, cigarettes, and other items that did not measure up to the worth of the gold they gave. At the time, they didn’t know the worth of the mineral [gold] they had. Today, the case is not the same. Nobody, even outside their right minds will exchange gold for cigarettes or sugar, irrespective of the size of the gold. Now, they know the worth of the gold and will trade it for what it’s worth. As believers, our true worth is not on the outside. It is hidden within us—a glorious treasure. This treasure is also the foundation of our confidence. We are as bold as a lion because we know what we carry on the inside. We know the immeasurable power of who we have in us. Hence, the results of our lives have no attributions to ourselves. Everything we are, is because of the glorious treasure in us. What we are made of on the outside (clay) does not define who we are. So, don’t look on the outside, look to the inside and release God’s glorious power!

Prayer_Bead: Almighty God, thank you for putting your glorious treasure in me. Help me to display your power and glory.

Wisdom_Quote: Your true identity is beyond the camouflage of your clay-self.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. [ 1 John 3:20 KJV ]

Condemnation is a very powerful nation with a tyrant who oppresses its victims and rules perpetually over those caught in its boundaries. The spirit of condemnation has kept half the world in prison and the other half wondering whether they are in prison or not. It pitches its tent in the hearts of its victims and spreads its cancer through the soul. But there is a higher courtroom for the human heart: it is where grace is enthroned. The very worst that is in us is known by God and He still showers mercy, love, and acceptance upon us—as if our worst was deleted or swallowed up by another person. This is the greatness of God’s grace. He sees beyond the sin of a moment and sees the holy affections of love in those who refuse to turn away from Him. God through His Son has made it possible for us to come into a time when we are set free from the dungeon of condemnation. In Romans 8:1, the Bible says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Freedom from the tyranny of condemnation is possible only when we walk after the leading of the Holy Spirt. Yes, we begin to live in a state of no condemnation when we come into Christ by surrendering to His lordship and submitting to the leading of His Spirit. And then, even if our hearts condemn us, God who knows all things and is greater than our hearts helps us by giving us boldness to speak to God. So, let’s break free from condemnation. Let’s not walk any longer in the patterns of the flesh as we used to. Instead, let us walk in the path of the Spirit of God.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord, thank you for the freedom from the bondage of condemnation. Help me to walk in step with your Spirit.

Wisdom_Quote: There is no condemnation for those who are in the new nation called Christ.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

[The Glory Unveiled]

If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. [ Proverbs 24:10 KJV ]

There is a day of adversity that visits everyone, one way or the other. Adversities are not always the signposts of curses or punishment from God. Adversities sometimes come just to test our ability and strength. The human world is a place full of different kinds of currencies, among which is strength. But just as all currencies can be spent, strength is exhaustive too. Currencies are spent when there is a need; they are meant to meet our needs. But if a need arises and a particular currency couldn’t meet it, then it means we don’t have enough of the currency needed to meet that need. Strength is developed when we remain faithful under pressure and spent or needed in times of adversity. But when we faint where we should be strong, it means we are bankrupt of strength. Adversity is an indicative need for strength, even when that adversity is not knocking at our own doors but that of others. There’s a saying that if you fail to help others in their time of need, you will grow too weak to help yourself. Helping people is not a burden, it’s an opportunity. It offers the privilege to grow strong from practicing with other people’s challenges. So that when our own challenges arise, we already know how to handle them. While strength is spent on adversities, it is replenished when we remain faithful under pressure. The daily challenges and confrontations we face refine and define us. You see, confrontations are not bad, they are the raw materials that make us who we ought to be. Everyday, the world throws challenges at us. But strength, forged from resilience and remaining faithful under pressure is the key that frees our souls from weary.

Prayer_Bead: Almighty Father, thank you for the strength to help others and to stand through adversity. May your name be glorified through my life. Amen.

Wisdom_Quote: Helping people is not a burden, it’s a privilege.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.