Posts

Posted on

The Holy Spirit and your gift

[The Glory Unveiled]

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. [ 2 Timothy 1:6 NIV ]

Every fire that is left unattended smothers and quenches. Even if it does not quench, a fire left unattended cannot cook anything. The gift of God, though in us, must be fanned into flames like fire. It is possible for a coal of fire to grow so dim that one could literally carry it in their palm and not feel much heat. But when that same dying coal is fanned into flames, it can burn up anything it comes into contact with. It is the same with the gifts of God in us. It may feel like there is nothing in us when it is in a dormant state, but when fanned into flames, we can set cities on fire for God. But the question then is, how do we fan our gifts into flame? What do we need to do? Two things are necessary to fan our gifts into flames. Simply put, we need the Holy Spirit and practical activities. We need to be constantly in touch with the Holy Spirit to maintain the fire in the gift He gives. The apostle Paul goes on in verse 14 to advise young Timothy to guard the deposit of the gift in him by the help of the Holy Spirit: “Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” The role of the Holy Spirit is unavoidable. Additionally, we need to keep practicing or putting our gifts to use. That way they are stirred and made ever vibrant like flames. It is in the practice of putting the gift to use that it stays awake. Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot guard what is in us, and without demonstrating love with the gift, we cannot fan it into flames.

Prayer_Bead: Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift you gave me by Your Spirit. Help me to fan my gifts into flames so that I can serve my world with them.

Wisdom_Quote: Gestures of love is the fan with which we turn up the flames of our gifts.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

Posted on

The realm of the Spirit.

[The Glory Unveiled]

Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. [ Romans 8:8 NIV]

As believers, although we live in the physical realm, we can transact business in the realm of the spirit. Faith gives us this access into the realm of the supernatural. No wonder Jesus said a time was coming when we would worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). In spirit means in faith, as faith is the gateway into the spirit realm. Worshiping in truth, on the other hand, means worshiping by the word of God. It means pledging our allegiance to God’s word. Now, if living in the realm of the spirit means living by faith, then the realm of the flesh is the realm of living without faith. Our anchor text says those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. If those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God, then those in the realm of the flesh are those who are without faith in God—without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). We cannot deceive God; our position and posture in relation to God are revealed by the absence or presence of faith. God is looking for worshippers who will worship in spirit and in truth. And even though we may fake our worship before men, God sees our faith and our allegiance to the truth we have encountered. When situations and circumstances arise, are we able to still defend what we believe? It is not enough to profess our allegiance and devotion to God. It is the challenging times that reveal where our hearts lie. The realm of the flesh is the place of unbelief, the place of disagreeing with God’s purposes. May we not be caught in the realm of the flesh, displeasing our Father in heaven. But rather trust in the Lord and in His word.

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for the grace to walk with you in spirit. Help me to still choose you when the wind of the flesh blows. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Wisdom_Quote: The realm of the spirit is the realm of faith.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

Posted on

The perfect guide

[The Glory Unveiled]

Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” [ John 21:18 NIV ]

Whenever we are led by someone, our destinations are defined and determined by the guide or leader. In the scripture above, the Lord Jesus was teaching the apostle Peter about the responsibility of his new status in God. The Lord Jesus was explaining the demands of that status, which include the responsibility to lead his colleagues and the church. And as one who was to lead others, he was to be led. The Lord Jesus touched on the nature of the Holy Spirit and His leadership. He taught that the Holy Spirit will lead where He wills and not where Peter or anyone else might want. As young believers, we may go wherever we want and behave however we like, but a time comes when the Holy Spirit dresses us with the fruit of the spirit and leads us by the word of God. That time is the time of growth and maturity in the Lord. [For the believer, our willingness and commitment to the leading of the Holy Spirit is our journey into growth, and not the number of years we have been believing]. In our growth experience, the Holy Spirit dresses us with the identity of the Son and leads us in the way of the Word. In John 3, the Lord Jesus associates the Holy Spirit with the wind, saying, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8) Hence, we are to make up our minds to submit to the wind-like ministry of the Holy Spirit. Allowing ourselves to be led wherever the Holy Spirit wills—a call to an unpredictable life. Would you let the Holy Spirit dress and lead you?

Prayer_Bead: Father, thank you for the leadership of your Spirit. I submit to You, lead me on this glorious journey of life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Wisdom_Quote: The Holy Spirit is the matured believer’s guide.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

Posted on

Beyond the here and now

[The Glory Unveiled]

The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. [ Matthew 25:4 NIV ]

Everything worthwhile is achieved and sustained by purposeful planning. As believers, we need a clear vision of our destination. A conscious understanding of what lies on the other side and what is required to get there keeps us in check for the life beyond death. Eternal life has a code of conduct, and the believer must adhere to its prescriptions. In the Matthew 25 account of the five wise and five foolish virgins, the wise virgins understood what it would take to get them where they were going. They knew what they were aiming for, and so they prepared adequately. The foolish ones, on the other hand, didn’t have a clear picture of what it would take to see the bridegroom they so desperately wanted to meet. The fact that you desperately want something doesn’t mean you will have it without adequate knowledge. Like those foolish virgins, many believers claim they want the God-life, a supernatural life, but they do not live according to the demands of the kingdom that sponsors that life. God is sovereign, and He will not compromise His essence, attributes, or nature for anything other. Everything else must meet His standards and purpose. The wise virgins knew they needed extra oil. In our day, we too need extra oil to end our Christian experience well. But this oil does not come accidentally; it is the result of conscious planning and yielding to the one who gives the oil. In our journey to meet our bridegroom, let us look beyond the present. And be intentional about our walk.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord, thank you for the revelation from your word. Give me oil in my lamp and help me to take my walk with you more seriously. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Wisdom_Quote: Eternal life has a code of conduct.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

Posted on

Tag of forces

[The Glory Unveiled]

For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. [ Galatians 5:17 NIV ]

The flesh lives in a domain that focuses on feelings, desires, and emotions—outward, earthly nature—while the spirit focuses on what God approves. We are always torn between doing what the spirit sponsors and what the flesh sponsors. We are at the mercy of whichever of the two entities prevails over the other. Your spirit is constantly in conflict with your flesh, and your flesh with your spirit. With this understanding, we must think carefully before taking any actions. It gets easier when we desire to be led by the dictates of the spirit rather than the flesh. Unbeknownst to us, some of the things we do without considering the consequences are actually sponsored by the flesh. The enemy and anything he represents have an agenda: to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). This applies to anything he sponsors or influences. When we get carried away by our lusts and desires that are unsanctioned by the word of God, we are likely driven by the devil’s agenda. Unfortunately, one can be led by their flesh without realizing it. It may feel like they are led by the Spirit of God if they are not careful to discern who is in the driver’s seat. Knowing that there are two forces within us that inform our decisions and choices, let us allow the word of God to saturate our souls so that out of the abundance of what we are full of, we can live out His will. May the leadership of God’s Spirit in us always prevail over the desires of our flesh. And may we freely follow the dictates of God’s word.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for saving my soul. Guide me through your word to be fully yielded to you. Amen.

Wisdom_Quote: Your choices are made for you by either of two forces; the spirit or the flesh.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

Posted on

God Without Boarders

[The Glory Unveiled]

Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” [ Matthew 17:4 NIV ]

The nature and attributes of God put Him in a class where He cannot be limited by any environment or ideology. He transcends time and space, matter and energy, heaven and earth. He is God without boundaries or borders. By His majesty and sovereignty, God is not to be constrained by anything or anyone. No ideologies, concepts, or institutions can constrain the knowledge and person of God. Rather, He constrains us and confines us to His revealed will and identity. Many have tried to cast God, like gold or aluminum, into a predefined shape. They have tried to make Him the product of their imagination, like an idol cast in stone. Peter, the disciple, once tried to do that when he suggested at the mount of transfiguration that they build shelters for the memories of Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. God is far beyond and far above our revelation of Him. What we know of and about God, compared to who He truly is, shows a vast difference. This is why it would be a horrible mistake to freeze our understanding of God; He is not a statue. Unfreeze any fixed notions you have of God and dismantle the tents of memory you have erected. We grow in the knowledge of God when we allow the fluidity of His personality to flow within us. This is why only the Holy Spirit can teach us and provide the true picture of God. He reveals the multifaceted nature of God to each of us according to what we can handle. May we be flexible enough to allow for the revelation of God within us.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord, thank you for teaching me not to make a statue of you. Help me to remain in a living fellowship with you always. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: God cannot be hemmed in by boarders and boundaries.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

Posted on

Police your heart

[The Glory Unveiled]

”So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.“ [ Proverbs‬ ‭4‬:‭23‬ ‭TPT‬‬ ]

Institutions have welfare schemes in place to ensure the well-being of their employees and members. A welfare system is designed to anticipate and provide for needs before they arise so that when such needs do arise, they can be easily addressed. If such care is taken to ensure the well-being of people in institutions, then it is indeed appropriate when the Bible emphasizes the need to pay attention to the well-being of our innermost selves. From our innermost selves flows the course of our lives. The outcomes of our lives are determined by the inputs or investments we make in our innermost selves—the education of our souls. We must guard against every form of undue attachment to things. Anything to which we are excessively attached, and reluctant to relinquish, becomes a god in our lives. These attachments, or idols as they are, will in turn influence every aspect of who we are. This is precisely why we need to establish personal welfare schemes for our souls. We must carefully anticipate and guard against anything that could hinder our relationship with God. Be deliberate in choosing the people you associate with and the friends you spend time with, as they have an impact on your heart. Over time, our hearts can become callous. Instead of associating with those opposed to the teachings of Christ, let us cultivate deep fellowship with the Father through His word. If Eve had remained in the company of Adam or God alone, she likely wouldn’t have succumbed to the temptation she faced. No wonder the scriptures teach that we are tempted when we are lured and enticed by our own desires (James 1:14). Resist the temptation to indulge unguarded emotions.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for showing me that my life consist in the things I allow to influence my inner most being. Help me to guard my heart with your word. Amen.

Wisdom_Quote: The affections of the heart affect one’s life.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

Posted on

Fish and Bread.

[The Glory Unveiled]

When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. [ John 21:9 NIV ]

After the death of Jesus, the disciples returned to their old ways. One day, Peter told the rest that he was going out to fish, and they followed him. They went out in search of fish, but they caught none. After toiling all night and feeling despair, the Lord Jesus, who had just overpowered death, came to their rescue. He directed them on how to catch the fish. Here again, he taught Peter a second time how to catch fish. The lesson is that you don’t catch fish because you are a fisherman or experienced in fishing; you catch fish with direction and discernment. Jesus wasn’t a fisherman, but he knew where the fish were in the water at a particular time. Meanwhile, a man who had been fishing all his life couldn’t tell. Fish are not attracted to nets; they are attracted to the directives of God. On the other hand, what the disciples had spent all night toiling for was already with Jesus. Not only that, but it had already been prepared and was ready for consumption. Many of our life struggles and toils are unnecessary. We struggle because we try to do life without Jesus, or because we feel certain things in our lives are exclusive to Jesus. Meanwhile, Jesus wants to help us in every area of our lives. Make Him Lord over everything in your life. When the disciples landed from the boat, bread and fish were already with Jesus, awaiting their return. Instead of going out to the tempestuous sea of life for answers, go to Jesus because He holds the answers waiting for your invitation. There is absolutely nothing impossible for God. All things were made by Him and for Him. Your fish and bread are ready in the presence of the master. Get out of your boat and go to Him.

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, thank you for your care and provisions for me. Help me to trust you enough to depend on you solely for my livelihood. Amen.

Wisdom_Quote: Your boat does not hold the answers you seek.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

Posted on

A civilization of light

[The Glory Unveiled]

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. [ 1 John 1:7 NIV]

People who gather in a well-lit room are able to see each other and are more likely to connect and bond. But a group of people in a dark room are most certainly going to bump into each other. Having a common environment gives us a shared experience. The light that provides us with the opportunity and platform to walk without stumbling is the light of the life of God. This is why for the believer, walking in the light means participating in the life of God. And then we can be called a fellowship because we are fellows in identifying with the life of God. We are a civilization of light and we live in the life of God. In this civilization, provision is made for everything that seeks to put blemishes on us. The blood of Jesus takes care of our struggles against disobedience and the laws that try to lead us back to what we turned our backs on in Christ. Walking in the light should therefore be the believer’s default position. Walking outside the corridors of light, for a believer, is a death warrant. But sharing in the life of God with one another keeps us in an impenetrable place where the darts of sin cannot reach. One can choose to walk in the light or not, and that is how we live out the truth or not. There are those who are believers and are committed to the truth, but that does not automatically translate into living out the truth, we each have the choice to live out the truth or not. Yet how we live out the truth tells whether we share in the life of God and have fellowship with Him and with one another or not. May we have the desire to walk in the light of God as He is in the light.

Prayer_Bead: Father Lord, thank you for the provision of the blood of your son Jesus. Help me to walk in the light as you are. In Jesus’ name.

Wisdom_Quote: The believer’s civilization is light.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

Posted on

Remember Lot’s wife

[The Glory Unveiled ]

But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. [ Genesis 19:26 NIV ]

In Luke 17:32, the Lord Jesus instructed His listeners to recall Lot’s wife. In the subsequent verse, He stated, “Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.” In this context, Jesus illustrates that Lot’s wife acted in unbelief by attempting to save her life, including her belongings and possessions. She couldn’t part with her possessions, so she turned into a pillar of salt, clinging to the things she cherished. The Bible teaches that our lives are not defined by our possessions (Luke 12:15), but by our faith (2 Corinthians 5:7), which is essentially obedience to God’s word. Whenever we act in accordance with God’s word, we demonstrate faith. For instance, when Peter asked Jesus if he could walk on water, it wasn’t faith, but when Peter obeyed Jesus’ command to come and began moving towards Him, that was faith. Once again, faith is adherence to God’s word. In Lot’s case, God, through the Angels, instructed him and his household not to look back at what they were leaving behind in judgment. However, Lot’s wife chose to glance back, revealing her reluctance to let go of what she had—a lack of trust in God’s word. Jesus urges us to remember Lot’s wife so that we won’t lose what is most precious to us by clinging to them in disregard for God’s word. Disobedience to God’s word is unbelief, which can stagnate us and lead us into spiritual death. Therefore, let’s heed the lesson of Lot’s wife.

Prayer_Bead: Father in Heaven, thank you for reminding me of Lot’s wife so that I will not follow her ways. Help me to be obedient to you in all things. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Wisdom_Quote: Disobedience to the word of God is unbelief.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.