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[The Glory Unveiled]

Then they asked him [the man who had been miraculously healed by Jesus], “What did he [Jesus] do to you? How did He open your eyes?” [ John 9:26 ]

Often we miss the move of God in pursuit of the nitty-gritties that belong to God. The scripture above is an excerpt from a long interaction between the Pharisees and a young man who was born blind but was miraculously healed by Jesus. The Pharisees wanted to know the how of the miracle instead of believing in the who [performer] of it. At times, we try to do the maths, to see how feasible it will be to be blessed of God or healed from an illness. We try to imploy our carnal thinking and philosophies to justify what we want. The reality is that, the secret things belong to God, only the revealed is for us (Deuteronomy 29:29). So that God asked Job whether he knew who marked the earth’s dimensions? (Job 38:5). There are certain realities we cannot comprehend while in this covering of flesh and we must come to terms with such truth. Going the way of the Pharisees in today’s verse of scripture is not wise and humbling. It is a manifestation of pride in the covering of mental acuteness. The “how” belongs to God, we only need to do the “what” while believing in the “who”. This is the reality of faith.

Prayer_Bead: Creator and Sustainer of the world and everything within, increase my faith in you. Teach me to obediently trust you and your processes.

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[The Glory Unveiled]

Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. (1John 3:3 )

There is an awakening of a spiritual hope in us when we learn in an inward way that we shall be like Christ when He appears. There is a hope that impresses upon us a need to purify ourselves with the word of God. Because as He is, so are we [to be] in this world. He is the word of God personified so we must be the word of God personified. If there is anyone in our vicinity who cannot read the word of God for themselves, they should be able to see our lifestyle and see the life of Christ. They should hear us speak and hear the clear voice of Christ. We must purify ourselves with the word of God such that, we cannot be differentiated from the person of Christ. What will draw us to Christ at His appearing is our resemblance of Him–it is our bridal garment of His nature. As long as we remain in the earth, by all means, as long as it depends on us, we must purify ourselves with the pure word of God even as Christ washes the Church by the word. Let the world see a refined you that is in the same nature as Christ. Keep the hope of being like Christ in you.

Prayer_Bead: Lord Jesus, purify me with your word and keep my hope of being one with you alive. Teach me in an inward way to resemble you.

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[The Glory Unveiled]

Always carrying about in the body the liability and exposure to the same putting to death that the Lord Jesus suffered, so that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be shown forth by and in our bodies. ( 2 Corinthians 4:10 )

The death of Christ on the cross was an open shame, Galatians 3:13 calls it a curse. It was brutally shameful and painful for our Lord and God to take that position. But unless there was a death, there wasn’t going to be a multiplication of spiritual sons and daughters. When we turn to ourselves in that light, unless we die with Christ and carry about in our bodies, on a daily basis His death, we cannot reflect His life too. Our new life came from His death even as a new corn emerges from the death of another. The glorified life of Jesus is only permitted to be revealed through a vessel that has had dealings with Christ; such dealings in the manner of death. Because without coming to terms with the liability of the flesh and the exposure of the sufferings of Christ in an experiential way, we cannot rise with the illuminating life of Salvation and redemption. We did not only become one with Christ in resurrection but first in His death; a death to sin and ourselves. This daily conscious death to our natural man makes room for the life of the Spirit man to be expressed.

Prayer_Bead: My Father and Lord, let the world see your glory in and through me as I subscribe to daily carrying the dying Jesus in my body.

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[The Glory Unveiled]

Because of faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encompassed for seven days [by the Israelites] [ Hebrews 11:30 ]

Contrary to popular opinions, the wall of Jericho did not fall down to the ground because of the “religious” ritual of going round it for seven days. God was able to pull down the wall even if the wall was not encompassed for seven days. The force that pushed down that great wall was incubated in the loins of faith. The faith of the Israelites were born out of obedience–adherence–to the revealed word of God. The verse of scripture is introduced as “Because of faith….” to mean that the result that was actualized did not come but by and through faith. Faith is the substance of the things we hope to achieve and the evidence we have of what is yet to be. But the Israelites, due to the weakness of their faith were instructed to connect their faith to (put their faith in the acts) what they did. But in the new covenant, we discover that, the real substance was and is in Christ. Everything we desire to have and would have is closed up in Christ. And we reach it by the hand of faith which is given through the knowledge of Christ. Pull down your own version of any Jericho wall with the potent force of faith.

Prayer_Bead: Father Lord, activate my faith receptacles. Help me by the Holy Spirit to trust you beyond the acts and the arts.

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[The Glory Unveiled]

Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. ( Matthew 22:29)

Accurate knowledge of the scriptures cannot be overemphasised nor undermined because ignorance of the scriptures is dire. In the famous scripture above, we see Jesus tell the Sadducees that they were in error because they did not know the scriptures. Ignorance of the word of God is the underlying reason for failure in a believer’s faith walk. And this goes on to affect other aspects of the believer’s life. The gospel is the power of God (Romans 1 :16). And so ignorance of the gospel means ignorance of the power of God. The absence of God’s power is a carte blanche for error and captivity. Where there is ignorance, darkness is permitted to express itself because ignorance is the breeding place of destruction, corruption and chaos. When Jesus met the Sadducees in the scripture above, their ignorance of the scripture showed Jesus that they were in error and anything else could go wrong with them. Anytime the foundation of God’s word is not properly laid, there is room for error. And errors make room for ineffectiveness and demonic invasion. Study the word of God with the revelation of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer_Bead: Spirit of Truth and revelation, guide me into the truth that liberates. Open my eyes to the mysteries of Christ.

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[The Glory Unveiled]

He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant–not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. ( 2 Corinthians 3:6 )

We are fit, able, competent and sufficient to administer our priesthood duties–ministration of the gospel–like the priests of the olden temples because of the new covenant. Without sufficient knowledge and inner brokenness, the ministers of the old covenant could not perform their duties. They were not competent because in their administration, the instructions given to them could cause their death if not carried out as stated. But the new covenant brought into effect by the blood of Jesus, makes us confident and fit to share the gospel of salvation without any ambiguity or condemnation. In reading and studying the word of God, we need a discerning spirit in order to catch the spirit of the message. So that we will not be mislead or afflicted by ignorance. The Holy Spirit of God gives life to every word of God. So that without the Spirit of God, every word is just like a loaded gun without the trigger. The same word that did not benefit the people of old because it was not mixed with faith is what brings us life by faith in Christ. Share the gospel of Christ with confidence because you are made a competent minister by Christ.

Prayer_Bead: Father in Heaven, thank you for making me an Ambassador of your kingdom.

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[The Glory Unveiled]

Then God said [to Abraham], “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” ( Genesis 22 :2 )

Isaac was an extention of Abraham. So for God to request of Abraham to sacrifice Isaac to Him meant Abraham was actually going to sacrifice Himself [alive] to God; he was supposed to be made a type of living sacrifice. The apostle Paul admonishes us to present ourselves as living sacrifices unto the Lord (Romans 12:1). There is the need for sacrificial giving before there is a multiple manifestation of God’s promises. We are tested before we are given testimonies. Even though this moment was probably the hardest for Abraham, it was also a necessary stage for him if he must go beyond being a man who was promised to be father of many nations to actually becoming the father of many nations. It doesn’t really matter what the promises and the prophecies concerning our lives may be. There is a role we need to play in the realization of our true calling and purpose. And if we will go beyond the promise into the manifestations, then we must go beyond making declarations to living the realities of what it means to make sacrifices.

Prayer_Bead: Father in Heaven, help me to freely give to you any and everything you have bestowed to me as a custodian. Make the realities of your promises experiential in my life.

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[The Glory Unveiled]

After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them [Jesus’ disciples], for your accent gives you away.” ( Matthew 26:73 )

[This is a record of when Peter denied Jesus three times]. The statement made by the bystanders in this verse of scripture is very profound. The people in that community could actually tell that Peter had a distinctive manner of expression which was identical to that of Christ. For a person to have their accent changed as a result of associating with someone else meant that such a person is a great influence on them. Our Christian life is actually supposed to be a replica of what played out in this verse. Our accents must introduce us as belonging to Christ wherever we find ourselves. We wouldn’t have to preach any sermons to be identified as Christians if our lives truly mirror the life of Christ. People must see us and know our anchor without having to pull out our church membership card. Until our manner of verbal and attitudinal expressions reflect Christ, we have not truly begun to learn Christ. His admission criteria is for us to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him in submission (Luke9:23). And whenever we obey this instruction, we discover that the nature of Christ is mirrored through us to the world. Let your words be seasoned with salt—Let your words heal, let it empower and encourage. Be a balm to someone.

Prayer_Bead: Dear Lord Jesus, help me to deny myself and take up my cross daily in submission to your Lordship and power. Let my accent and manner of life expose you to the world.

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[The Glory Unveiled]

And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting. ( Mark 9:29 )

Everything in this life and the realms yonder, answer to organised systems of operations. Nothing happens haphazardly in an intentional world like ours. There is always a cause and effect at play at all times. All circumstances in our lives also follow in this pattern. There are certain situations that do not seem to conform to norm, in spite of the predictability of events. Like the one in today’s scripture where the disciples couldn’t exorcise a little boy [and then they had to ask Jesus why they couldn’t]. It takes more than just knowing the Lord to handle certain situations. And it takes discernment to know which situation to handle with what mechanism. Life’s drama does not always follow the script of our expectations. Things may just go on autopilot and then there is nothing you can humanly do to change the course of events. In such, circumstances we need to remember the lessons in this scripture which teaches that prayer and fasting are effective when dealing with certain degree of everyday challenges. There is a kind of situation that needs a strategic counter measure to subdue it. And that measure is fasting and prayers.

Prayer_Bead: Merciful Father, help me to discern when to do what and what mechanisms to use to that effect. Awaken my prayer life, Lord.

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[The Glory Unveiled]

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” ( Esther 4:14 )

Our positions in life are intended to serve as a platform for the benefit of others. But when in position, it is very common to have one’s opinions skewed as a result of that position. The statement in the scripture above was made by Mordecai, Esther’s Uncle. The Jewish tribe was under attack and Esther who was then occupying an “influential” position was called upon to help them. Mordecai explained that she [Esther] was probably in that position at the time because of their predicament but even if Esther refused to help, God could still save them through another person. No one is placed in any position just to occupy those positions; just to be silent and watch the wrong things happen. You are where you are to serve a purpose. And that purpose is to serve others. But when we refuse to carry out the mandate we are positioned to fulfill, God will choose another person to carry it out. Queen Vashti lost her royal position and Esther became Queen. That means anyone could be removed from their positions no matter how highly exalted they may seem. Guard your position by fulfilling your purpose because the only way to guard our positions is by fulfilling our responsibilities.

Prayer_Bead: Father in the name of Jesus, help me to responsibly fulfil my purpose. Teach me to honour my position and show me the needs around me to serve.

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