We are the Praise of His Glory

That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. Ephesians 1:10-12

God is a glorious being, every aspect of his character and nature is glorious; His glory and splendor is in all creation, in the organization of everything that exists, and in the wisdom, knowledge, and intellect displayed by humanity. The Psalmist in Psalms 19:1-9 asserts “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork: Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge: There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard”. Every aspect of this life and the life to come, originates from God, he is the very source of life; everything in this life including plants, animals, planets, and even human beings came from and are maintained by Christ. In our opening scripture,  

Paul in his letter to the church in Ephesus, shows that with the advent of Jesus Christ, the fullness of time had come, and our heavenly Father chose to reveal the fullness of His glory, majesty, splendor, and power in Christ Jesus; Paul while writing to the church in Coles eludes to this fact, stating, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him; And he is before all things, and by him all things consist” Colossians 1: 14-17.

When you receive salvation, you are born again, born of the spirit, and the pulsating life of God is deposited in your spirit; Christ comes to live in you, who is the fullness of God, meaning the fullness of the glory of God dewless in you in Christ Jesus. The body of Christians as the church, we are one with and in Christ, because Jesus is the head and we are the body; therefore, we are the manifold wisdom of God, and as such, we must manifest the glory, majesty, splendor, and power of our Heavenly Father, which is in us in Christ Jesus. In the second part of our opening scripture, Paul shows us that we were chosen by God according to the counsel of his own will, to fulfill his divine purpose, which is in us in Christ Jesus; God chose us to be the praise of His glory; he chose to manifest through us, the savor of His knowledge in every place.

Confession

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you that I am the praise of your glory, thank you that your manifold wisdom is emanating out of my spirit and I’m displaying your glory, majesty, splendor, and power; Father, as I mediate on your word, manifest through me the savor of your knowledge in everyplace, in Jesus, Name, Amen.

Further Reading: Ephesians 1: 13-15, 1 Chronicles 29:10-13, Psalm 19:1-6, Ephesians 3

The Word of God is your Life

And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law. For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it Deuteronomy 32:46-47

As believers, one must be conscious of the realty that the word of God is everything; all things were made by him, all things are before him, all things consists of him, and  all things are maintained by the word. Many Christians thing the bible is just a set of rules and regulations given to man by God to keep; to a measure, it is true, because 2^nd Timothy 3:16 states “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Nonetheless, it goes beyond just giving instructions, corrections, or reproof, addressed to the carnal mind. The bible was written by the inspiration of God and therefore, it is in spiritual construction and cannot be fully understood by the canal mind. The writers of the bible were filled with the Holy Spirit, who inspired them to write the different books; therefore, the purpose of the word is to give a believer the mind of Christ that was in the different writers.

When one is born again, they receive the Holy Spirit, who comes to live in them, with them, and all around them; therefore, when a believer meditates on the word, it opens up their understanding to things of God, empowers them to acquire spiritual understanding, develops their mind to be receptive to the voice of God, and enables their spirit to have fellowship with the Holy Spirit. The word of God holds center place in the kingdom of and is key to unlocking both the power and wisdom of God; Paul in his first letter to the church in Corinth eludes to this fact, stating”but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” 1^st Corinthians 1:24. For every believer, the word of God should be everything, it should be their life; just as our opening scripture asserts, it should not just be a set of instructions that govern their lives because it is the essential ingredient required for empowering their spirits to manifest both the power and wisdom of God   

Confession

Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of salvation and the presence of the Holy Spirit working in my spirit; Father, as I mediate on your word, let Him enlighten my understanding, stir up my spirit to be conscious of the presence of the Holy Spirit, and empower me to manifest your power and  wisdom, in Jesus Name Amen

Further reading: Ephesians 1:15-23, 1 Peter 2:2-4, Isaiah 28:9-12

There is More to Life than Money

For wisdom is a defense, and money is a defense: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it. Ecclesiastes 7:12

According to the system of this world, money is an essential aspect of daily life and to a degree, it is true; money enables one to acquire the best things this life has to offer; it can afford you a good education, a secure home, a lavish lifestyle, or even high quality healthcare. Our opening scripture clearly points this out, Solomon in his wisdom shows us, money is a defense against the many challenges that one can encounter in life; nonetheless, just as money is a defense, knowledge is also a defense, but essentially, knowledge has the power to give life, whereas money does not.

Jesus while teaching his disciples at the synagogue in Capernaum, stated a profaned truth “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh conveys no benefit [it is of no account]. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life [providing eternal life]” John 6:63; it is amazing how much power, the knowledge that comes from the spirit of God carries, it has the power to give life; Jesus eluded to this fact, while speaking to his disciples in parables. All things were made by the word of God, all things are before him, and all things are maintained by the word; the wisdom of the Holy Spirit carries divine life and has the spiritual potency to give life to any situation. As believers, we must be awake to this level of consciousness and realize there is more to life than money; the wisdom of God has the power to give one all the material wealth they desire, but fundamentally, it has spiritual potency, beyond the physical realm; it gives life to every aspect of life, including things which money cannot buy.

 Believers must develop a veracious appetite for the word of God; they should thirst to hear and receive from the spirit of God because, the excellency of this knowledge, is that, wisdom gives life to them that have it, and all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ (Colossians 2:3)

Confession

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for eternal life that is working in my spirit though the presence of the Holy Spirit; Father as I mediate on your word let your divine life saturate my spirit and bring life to everything I come into contact with; let the power of the Holy Spirit, give life to every aspect of my life, in Jesus Name Amen.   

Further Reading: Isaiah 40:14 John 1:1-13, John 6:60-63, Colossians 1:17

  

Ye are children of the light

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) Ephesians 5:8-9 NIV

As believers, we ought to function as the light that guides our family, friends, and others around us, to Jesus Christ; Paul in his letter to Colossians  states, you are translated from the kingdom of darkness into his marvel light, meaning once an individual is born again, he or she is born of the light of God. (John 1:4) states, in him was life; and the life was the light of men and John 1:9 asserts “that was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” Christ is the light that lights every person and this light is the life of God, which is deposited in our spirits once we receive salvation.

            Our opening scripture shows we are not just in the kingdom of light but we have become the light of the kingdom of God and as such, we should reflect the goodness, the righteousness, and the truths of the kingdom of God, which are in us in Christ Jesus. As Christians, we have the responsibility to ensure the light of God, which is the power and wisdom of God, shines out of us to enlighten and enrich our lives and the lives of others and introduce them to the unsearchable riches of Christ. According to Psalms 119:130, the entrance of the thy word brings light it, brings understanding to the simple; as the light of God and through the working of his word, let the wisdom and power coming out of your spirit make people around you awaken to and understand the love and saving power of Christ.

Confession

Dear heavenly Father, thank you that I am a living epistle and your marvel light is shining out of my spirit; I am the light in the lord and carry the eternal life of God in my spirit. Thank you blessed Father for enlightening my spirit and my understanding; as I meditate on and share your word, let my light shine before men so that you can receive all the glory, in Jesus Name. Amen.

Further Reading: Palms 119:105, Ephesians 4: 17-24, Ephesians 5:8-14, John 1:1-9