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A different war game

[The Glory Unveiled]

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. [ 2 Corinthians 10:3 NIV ]

The kind of weapons used in a battle defines the type of battle or fight it is. A fight is called a “knife-fight” because knives are used as weapons. Likewise, it will be referred to as a gun fight where guns are being used. But for the believer, even though we live in the world, we use weapons from another world, hence redefining the battle as well. Our weaponry is from above and the believer needs to recognize this fact. That although we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. So, if you’re facing a challenging situation but the solution seems not to be forthcoming, it maybe that you are using the wrong weapon that’s why the expected results are far. From the verse of the Bible above, we learnt that the believer is not excused from battles. Being a believer does not exempt us from war. But it gives us an advantage of victory before the war begins and saves us from unnecessary weariness. In reality, our victory is not ours, we glory in the victory of Jesus. This is why we do not wage war as the world does. The world does the fighting but we do the “victory claims,” Jesus did all the hard work for us. All we need to do is to remain in Him through our unwavering faith. The weapons of our warfare are indeed not carnal but they are mighty through God for pulling down strong holds (verse 4). And then by the power of Jesus’ name, we can glory in His victory and triumph through the weaponry of faith.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for showing me that, as a kingdom citizen, I do not wage war as the people in the world. I put my trust in Jesus and I glory in His victory.

Wisdom_Quote: The world does the fighting but we do the victory claims.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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What did God say?

[The Glory Unveiled]

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’? ” [ Genesis 3:1 NIV ]

The most dangerous thing that could happen to a believer is being ignorant of the word of God. The word of God creates the believer’s world. So ignorance of the word means a destruction of their world. No wonder the world of Adam and Eve was destroyed when they [Eve] could not defend her knowledge of the word. She misquoted God’s very word. And so, the new word, her own gospel, could not hold her world together. And they lost paradise in the process. The believer has only one business, being in the word of God, and only one constitution, the word of God. The word of God is the blueprint for the life we ought to live. We have been adopted into the family of God. And the only way we could know the family business is through the scriptures. The Lord Jesus, the first of many brethren is our pattern for imitation. God wants to reproduce heaven on earth through Jesus Christ—His word, and our transformation through the word is His means of colonization. The word of God is essential for our survival here on earth and here after. When the devil tempted Jesus, He went for one thing, the word. The temptation was an attack on his world, and so Jesus went straight for the word, our defense system. The Word of God as the way, truth and life was His only way out. Anytime, you hear, or feel “did God really say, mean, imply so and so……” your world is under an attack. Psalms 119:9, shows us the only way to stay free from the impurities of the world and the enemy; by staying in the word of God. Is your word life under threat? Get a new dose of the word. The word is the solution for our private world and the public world. So, let us study to show ourselves approved unto God.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Father, thank you for the assurance of your word. Help me to ever dwell in your word so that my world will not crush. In Jesus’ name.

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

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Suffering and Glory

[The Glory Unveiled]

“I am convinced that any suffering we endure is less than nothing compared to the magnitude of glory that is about to be unveiled within us.” [ Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭18‬ ‭TPT‬‬ ]

In life, we all take some form of risks, but the kind of risk a person is willing to take is usually influenced by what is important to the person. Also in life, everything has an alternative and a price tag to it. If you’re willing to pay the price, you’ll have what it offers. So, what price are you willing to pay without bargaining? Because the path each person takes even in the face of fierce challenges is influenced by their willingness or conviction. As believers, are we convinced about the scriptures? Are we willing to obey its truth? Because if we obey the scriptures and suffer for it, that suffering will be unveiled within us as glory, according to the word of God. So, for the believer, just as the athlete, there is suffering and glory. But suffering always precedes glory. There is no glory without suffering. This is why suffering can be the indices of a future glory. When we face suffering for the sake of Jesus, we should not be discouraged. It is a sign that sooner we will enjoy the due glory. The beauty is that, the glory does not match symmetrically with the sufferings; the glory far outweighs the suffering. The apostle Paul could endure all the sufferings he endured in his ministry for the sake of Jesus because of his conviction. He came to that point where he was fully persuaded that his sufferings will pay off in the currency of glory. Whatever you’re going through cannot be compared to the manner of glory it will bring. After all is said and done, what are your convictions? What drives your actions, what informs your decisions and beliefs?

Prayer_Bead: Father, we will praise you forever for your marvelous words and truth. Help us to suffer joyfully for your name sake.

Wisdom_Quote: Suffering for Christ is the indices of a future glory.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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What does the Scriptures say?

[The Glory Unveiled]

“Once again Jesus said to him, “The Scriptures say: You must never put the Lord your God to a test.” [ Matthew‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬ ‭TPT‬‬ ]

The scriptures have adequate solution for everything under the sun. But unless we know what is written and engage its provisions, life will just be ordinary. Many of the battles we fight in the natural life and in the spiritual realm are battles that would have been won if we had the right weapons. Families, marriages and institutions are breaking because we keep using the wrong weapons for the right battles. We try to change or “improve” upon our weapons and battle strategies because we feel we are in a new era, while the battles are still the same. When we study the accounts in Matthew and Luke chapter 4 carefully, we will discover that Jesus, who was God in flesh did not use his “own” words or opinions when he was on the battle field [tempted]. For all the missiles that the enemy threw at Him, He always used the scriptures. In fact, our verse for meditation begins, thus “once again, Jesus said to him, the Scriptures say”. He didn’t stop using the word of God. He kept using the word until the enemy fled. The victory is in the Word, not in our opinions or smartness. Unfortunately, for many of us, we do not have the word of God in us, so we are unable to use it in the face of challenges and battles. Imagine if Jesus had to go around looking for a scroll to find the right scriptures to quote to the devil. It would have been too late. Jesus was living in the word of God, and so must we. He could speak the word in season and out of season, victoriously. Likewise, if we become students of God’s word, we will live consistently in victory. Let’s make it a habit to study the scriptures and to commit them to heart.

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for loving your life as an example for us to imitate. Help us by the power of your word to stay in line.

Wisdom_Quote: The Word of God is all you need to have all your needs met.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Where are you investing?

[The Glory Unveiled]

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. [ 1 Timothy 4:8 NIV ]

Physical training is good. But some people invest everything into physical training as if it would save them from all their troubles. There are those who have made physical fitness the sole purpose of their livelihood. They want to be in shape either for themselves or [mostly] others. Now we will be quick to admit that physical exercise is not a bad thing. It has its many benefits too. But the point is that, godliness [righteousness] has value for all things. So that we are given promises of both the present life and the life to come. Physical training can only meet the needs of our present life but not the needs of the life after this earthly one. If two different banks promise profit on your investment with them but one says they will pay you twice as much as the first bank is offering, with every other conditions the same. You will undoubtedly invest with the bank that promise twice the amount on investment. Now, spiritual exercise is promising us more than twice. Spiritual exercise has to do with commitment to and the practice of righteousness. It is the practice of imitating God, becoming His student and looking steadily into His word until we are changed into His image and our lives shining with the brilliance of God’s glory. And if spiritual exercise profits unto all things would we rather not give more of our attention and time to that? In our commitment to exercising spiritually, we become workmen who have no fear nor shame, rightly dividing the word of truth. May we passionately pursue spiritual training but not ignoring the physical.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord, thank you for showing us the benefits of spiritual exercise and why we need to invest more there. Help us to be committed to this discipline.

Wisdom_Quote: The purpose of every investment is profit.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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A God encounter

[The Glory Unveiled]

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD. [ Exodus 34:29 NIV ]

Nobody ever encountered God and remained the same. Everyman who had encountered the Lord took away a piece of God that made them different from who they were. Moses was with God in the mountain and then the Shekinah glory rubbed off on him. He began to radiate the glory [nature] of God. Whenever we come into contact with God, His nature and glory rubs on us. This was why a blind person meets Jesus and they turn to leave seeing, a lame man met him and he walked, the deaf saw him and they began to hear. Paul and Jacob met God and were changed into new men, in fact, Jacob became a nation. God gives us His presence so that we can represent Him. In the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were in the presence of God, fellowshipping and absorbing His glory. And so, just by being in the presence of God they were becoming like God in expression. But the devil lied to them that they needed the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil to express God (Genesis 3:5). While in fact, the solution was just a matter of communion—continuous fellowship with God. God visited them frequently, so that they could become so in-tuned with Him that they would reflect His majestic glory. When we stay in close proximity with God or His word, we become like the word or the attribute of God that rubs on us. Every encounter with God brings to bear a tangible expression of an attribute of God. Interestingly, sometimes we may not notice the change when we encounter the Lord, but its effect on our world cannot be ignored. In the end, the world will only see Jesus in and through us when we stay with God in His word. Nothing else will suffice; an instant remedy, namely the fruit didn’t work in the garden and it wouldn’t work outside the garden, today.

Prayer_Bead: Heavenly Father, thank you for your wonderful presence and glory. Let the world see the radiant beauty of Jesus.

Wisdom_Quote: Real change happens when we encounter God.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Triumphing in Jesus

[The Glory Unveiled]

Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. [ 2 Corinthians 2:14 KJV ]

There is a simple truth that seems to offset every anchor truth of the believer’s new realities. This truth is that, Jesus encompasses everything we will ever need, be or give. Apart from Christ, we can do nothing, except Jesus is Lord, we can own nothing, we will be nothing except Jesus is something and we will have nothing except Jesus has something. And when we fully grasp this truth, we will live our lives in constant thanksgiving because our lives will manifest constant triumph even when we have nothing triumphing over. His victory becomes our victory. So, we celebrate in His victory by being the fragrance of Jesus on earth. God through us makes manifest the fragrance of the knowledge of Jesus in every place. Whatever Jesus is, to principalities is made known to the world through us. We have become like mirrors, revealing the glory of God in our participation of His triumph. God is daily displaying the triumphant parade of Jesus through us by our submission to His will. And so, we must be thankful for the kindness of God, His intentionality and His superabundant provisions. The believer always triumphs in Christ because Jesus triumphed and is reliving that victory in every generation through us. And so, it has becomes our duty to show the generations to come the victory of Jesus by diffusing the fragrance of His knowledge. Can the world smell Jesus a mile away because of us?

Prayer_Bead: Abba Father, thank you for making the knowledge of the Lord Jesus manifest wherever we go in your name. Thank you Jesus.

Wisdom_Quote: You’re the fragrance of Jesus, so let the world smell Jesus.

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A marvelous love

[The Glory Unveiled]

“Look with wonder at the depth of the Father’s marvelous love that he has lavished on us! He has called us and made us his very own beloved children. The reason the world doesn’t recognize who we are is that they didn’t recognize him.” [ 1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭TPT‬‬ ]

Love is the gift and nature of God. Without love we cannot understand what God is giving us, neither can we receive it. Love is the lens through which God-reality makes sense to us. God is so God that whatever He does cannot make sense to a mortal except that it happens through the sieve of love. Love is the only way the justice and mercy of God does not break us. We are so fragile that only His love can handle us in one piece. So, the apostle John tells us to look with wonder at the manner and depth of God’s love for us. He did not only call us out of the mess we made through sin, but He has also made us His very own beloved children even after that. Now, this is what makes it marvelous! He called us out of our state of alienation and separation from Him and He made us through the adoption by the blood of His Son, His beloved children. And so, He sees us like we had never broken His heart, never sinned, never offended Him. In what world, what reality can this happen, if not with God? The depth of God’s marvelous love for us—we had gone so far from God that it would cost the life of His Son to bridge the gap but God didn’t mind losing His Son for us. And now, we have been made one with the Son. This is why the world treats us as they had treated Jesus and does not recognize us because they did not recognize the Lord Jesus incarnated in human form. And so, we must be equipped with the mindset that whatever He experienced [persecution and glory], we will experience it too because we are one with Him. Then, we will not be alarmed when the world treats us unmannerly, because our focus would be on enjoying the marvelous love of the Father.

Prayer_Bead: Father of Love, thank you for the marvelous love you lavish on us and now we bear your name. Thank you.

Wisdom_Quote: Love is the gift and nature of God.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Jesus; our commanding officer

[The Glory Unveiled]

No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. [ 2 Timothy 2:4 NIV ]

Along our Christian journey, we sometimes get sidetracked by many things that are actually outside our jurisdiction. A soldier lives a regulated, disciplined life because their safety is secured in their discipline. They become subjected to their commanding officers. In the statement made by the Centurion in Matthew 8:9, we learn that soldiers are very submissive to their superiors. And so, we can infer that indeed a soldier’s aim wouldn’t be meddling in civilian affairs. A true soldier will have no business with civilian affairs. When we transfer all of these to our kingdom reality typology, we are the “soldiers” and the “civilians” are “the world and its pleasures”. We have a goal to please but one person; the Father and king of our kingdom. We cannot afford to divert our attention to something that looks like but is not. We cannot waste on riotous living like the prodigal son. The prodigal son, was pleasing his father until he got himself entangled in “civilian” affairs outside the boundaries of his father’s love and care. And then, that was the beginning of his troubles. The interesting thing about pleasing the Lord is that, it is to our advantage and for our comfort. When the prodigal son lived to please his father by staying within boundaries, he didn’t suffer any harm, but immediately he left [got entangled in “civilian affairs-the world”] he began to suffer. The soldiers who try to please their commanding officer, first of all protect themselves. So, let’s look unto Jesus our commanding officer and try to please Him alone; all day, everyday!

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, our Commanding Officer, thank you for the grace to please you alone in my daily life. To you be all the glory in Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Jesus is our Commanding and Comforting Officer.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

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Prophecies for direction

[The Glory Unveiled]

This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; [ 1 Timothy 1:18 KJV ]

In 1 Corinthians 13:8a, the Bible says, “charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; It means prophecies can fail. The fact that a prophetic word has been spoken does not automatically make them come to pass. Many times, people receive prophetic utterances and they go to bed in hope that it will come to pass by it self. The reality is that no prophecy comes to pass when nobody invites it into being. In the Old Testament book of Isaiah, chapter 38, a prophetic word was sent to Hezekiah that he should put his house in order for he was going to die. But instead of putting his house in order and wait for his death, he went on his knees to pray to God to change the verdict. And God sent the prophet back to declare a new word. You see, whatever prophecy that is spoken to us, we have a role to play to make it come to pass or not. If Hezekiah had kept quiet and just cried or complained, nothing would have changed. When Daniel read from the prophetic scrolls written by Jeremiah that they were supposed to be in captivity for only 70years, it gave him the boldness to begin prayers. We would again note that the 70years had passed and they were still in captivity. Someone needed to invite the word into fruition. And so, Daniel began to do that (see Daniel 9:2-3). In our focal verse, the apostle Paul advise Timothy to wage a good warfare based on the prophetic utterance that had gone ahead of him. It is now obvious that prophecy is supposed to serve as a guide for our warfare and prayer. Prophecy is supposed to make us confident when we pray and not reluctant. Don’t wait for your prophecies to come to pass, pray it into being.

Prayer_Bead: Mighty God, I bless your name. Thank you for your sure word. As I pray with them, I thank you for answers. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: Prophecies do fail.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.