TOPIC: LIVING IN GLORY 2

GLORY is a shame terminator. Wherever the glory of God is present, shame will never be found there. Hence, anything that is shameful, embarrassing or humiliating – such as sickness, poverty, a sinful lifestyle, backsliding, bondage, and failure, should not be identified with children of God. Poverty is closely associated with hunger, nakedness, homelessness, begging for alms, and wandering. Indeed, poverty is evil, and it has a way of dehumanising people. However, being a child or attending Church services or programmes does automatically cast away poverty.

To be free from poverty, you must be completely obedient to God. In today’s Bible reading, Isaac was determined to pursue greener pastures in Egypt in order to escape the terrible famine in the land. The Lord however warned him not to take that step, then showed him where he should dwell. Isaac obeyed and God blessed him greatly, as we see in Genesis 26:12-14: Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him. And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.

In essence, the Bible is saying that Isaac reaped the fruit of the Bible is saying that Isaac reaped the fruit of obedience. Furthermore, to be free from poverty, one must be diligent in business. Despite God’s promise of abundant blessings in Genesis 26:3, Isaac did not fold his hands, waiting for the miracle. He cultivated, sowed, and laboured hard in the field, then the Lord fulfilled His promise by blessing his labour.

Also, we must persevere in the face of obstacles on our way to achieving true success. There is always an interval between sowing and reaping. It is usually a period when obstacles and challenges come at you from every angle; perseverance is highly required to overcome. Finally, you must not be a robber of God’s tithes, first fruit and offerings. Obedience in all these things is needed to live a glorious life free of poverty, shame, and all sorts of evil put together.

PRAYER POINT: Father, please let Your glory fill me and set me free from poverty, in Jesus’ name.

1. To God be the glory, great things He hath done,

So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,

Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,

And open’d the life gate that all may go in.

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

Let the earth hear His voice!

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

Let the people rejoice!

O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son;

And give Him the glory! great things, He hath done!

2. O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,

To every believer the promise of God;

The vilest offender who truly believes

That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

3. Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done,

And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;

But purer, and higher, and greater will be,

Our wonder, our triumph when Jesus we see.