23RD SEPTEMBER, 2021
PASTOR OLUBI JOHNSON
ARISE AND SHINE
Mark 4:20-23 NKJV
But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty and some a hundredfold.” And He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
God wants us to bear fruit a hundred-fold and so become light to our world and generation. God wants His glory to shine in this hour through the Church.
The day and hour of the fulfillment of these scriptures is upon us, but how do we experience it?
By bringing forth fruit a hundred-fold: by perfecting the love of God in our lives since love is the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22; 1Cor. 13:4-8).
The gross darkness of terrorism, immorality, violent crime, natural disasters and open sexual perversion that is presently assailing our generation can only be dispelled and overcome by the supernatural shining of the glory of God through a Church that has perfected the love of God!
The glory of God is the manifest Presence and power of God that even unregenerate men can see: like the cloud of glory and pillar of fire that led Israel in the wilderness (Ex. 40:38); like the fourth man in the fire with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Dan. 3:24-30); or the tongues of fire that sat on the disciples on the day of Pentecost (Act. 2:2-4); the glory manifested when Jesus turned water to wine (Jn. 2:11) and greater works than these as Jesus promised (Jn. 14:12)!
It is this type of manifestation that will shut the mouths of skeptics and cause heathen kings to honour our God and so allow the gospel of the Kingdom to be preached in all nations (Mt. 24:14).
Now, the way of the Lord is the way of love, since God is Love (1Jn. 4:8). It is through this way of love that the glory will be manifested, for it is the most excellent way of manifesting the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1Cor. 12:31-14:1).
1Corinthians 14:1 NIV Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
So the challenge of the hour now is to “Arise and shine,” by perfecting the love of God by the Blood, the Word and the Spirit.
Isaiah 60:1-3 NKJV
Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
For more on today’s study visit:
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