2023 THE YEAR OF GRACE & GLORY

– OUR SEASON OF DIVINE FELLOWSHIP

 

Motto: God, show me your glory!

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Psalm 84:11-12 (KJV)  For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.. 12 O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

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The Lord is our Sun

Sun represents God’s grace extended to the whole world. (He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matt. 5:45.)

This scripture shows God as the source of our salvation. God unconditionally loves mankind (that are created in His image, and he makes sure all mankind can be saved except those who decide not to take the offer of salvation freely made available to all. (John 3:16))

God’s unconditional love makes provision for the salvation of the entire mankind.

 

The Lord is also our Shield

Shield represents God’s coverage of favor upon the righteous. (Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield (Psalm 5:12).

Favour is about being shielded and protected from the evils that you deserve. For committing to righteous living, God hides you in Jesus Christ, from various attacks. His will is to bless your obedience (Isa 1:19). Sin is going out of alignment with God. And every sin has its consequences. You are exposed to the attack of the opposition when you are out of alignment. (Eccl 10:8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.)

 

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God’s Prophetic Agenda for the end time

 

Isaiah 2;2-3 (NIV) In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. 3 Many peoples will come and say,  “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,     to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

 

John 11:40 “Did I not say, if you BELIEVE, you would SEE the glory of God?” 

 

The Lord’s prophetic agenda for the last day church is gracious and glorious.

You however still need to believe the prophecy for yourself for it to manifest. Believing God’s promises frees us from fear, despair, and negative emotions (Psalm 27:13) and causes the invisible promise to become visible in our lives (Hebrews 11:6).

2023 is our prophetic year of “Grace and Glory” that comes with God’s ultimate promise of grace, goodness, and glory.  We live in the end time with all the evils of the day more vivid. 

Even if we Are not at the end of the world, we are surely at the world of the end. In spite of, end time is a shining time for the body of Christ.

 

​1. It is our Year of Grace

 

Romans 5:20 b But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound,

 

May the ever-available grace of God disgrace all the plans and programs of the enemy against you.

Grace is a gift of God to all believers to enjoy all time victory in spite of the enemy. "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2:8-9.)

This dispensation of grace we live in is church age for church has been chosen as God’s deterrent against the man of lawlessness and the evil of the world. Ecclesia (the called-out people) is God’s final solution to Babylonian system of the world. The New Testament Church witnessed the power of Grace in the ministry of Jesus disciples as documented in the Acts of Apostles. The remnants God is calling out of Babylon, in this generation, will continue the acts of the Holy Spirit.

The season of grace is presided by the Holy Spirit in the Body of Christ. What we need today are more men sold out for God than ever before. Men who are led by the Holy Spirit to do exploits for the Lord.

The Dispensation of Grace is the Church hours of Grace through the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

2. It is our Year of Glory

 

While Adam and Eve walked with God, they were covered with glory. They only lost that glory after sinning and falling out of fellowship with God. They lost paradise when they lost intimacy with God.

Jesus Christ has restored believers back to Paradise and all believers need to remain clothed in glory is to commit to walking with the Lord. Moses got that revelation and implemented a glorious relationship with God, we can do the same by following his example.

 

a) Show me your way. Are you hungry to follow God’s way?

The path of glory begins with the way of God. Grace is made available to those who choose to follow God’s way. In essence, following God’s way attracts His grace.

To enjoy grace, spend more time with the Lord. Invest most time with Jesus Christ, praying without season. Be discipled by The Holy Spirit- teacher and comforter.

The person you spend most time with will be the person you act like.

Following God’s way demands walking uprightly

No believer should walk circumspectly for the days are evil.

To enjoy God’s Grace, Goodness, and Glory, the covenant requirement is to prioritize walking uprightly with the Lord! Sin has made us come short of 'the glory of God' (Romans 3:23). 

No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11b). Receive a fresh grace to walk uprightly before God in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.)

 

​b) Show me your glory. Are you hungry for God’s glory?

The church age we live in is a glorious era that will witness the Church of God overcoming the devil.

The latter-day Church will bring glory to God through ultimate defeat of Satan (Isa. 2:2; Micah 4:1-2)

We must understand that God has elected to use His Church to defeat Satan. God first demonstrated his manifold wisdom two thousand years ago at the cross of Calvary when Jesus Christ defeated the enemy on the cross. He would demonstrate same victory through the corporate body of His Son. God again will be glorified by His Church on earth through the process of the Church defeating Satan by the wisdom of the cross.

 

When Adam and Eve were worshipping God intimately daily, they lived in His glory. The glory only shifted after they fell into sin after been manipulated by the Serpent. Even in the Old Testament, every time the shekinah glory is lifted, temple is destroyed. No matter how precious a possession or position can be, the glory of this world is inferior to the glory of God. Wealth, fame, material acquisition, influence, etc. are inferior and temporary compared to what God offers.

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3. It’s our year of enjoying God’s Goodness

 

Psalm 27:13 (NIV) I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

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Every believer is destined to enjoy God’s goodness in the Land of the living. It is your covenant right!

Knowing it consciously motivates you to secure it by taking necessary steps.

Making God your Sun and Shield qualifies you for His grace and glory.

 

a) God’s grace is like a sun

 

Matthew 5:45-47 (ESV) So that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

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Who is qualified for God's grace?

Every sinner willing to renounce sin. Sin is a disqualifier of grace. (Isaiah 59:1-2 Behold the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear; But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you that he will not hear. )

Just like sun, ever available. You can still refuse to be exposed to it by hiding self away from its ray.

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​b) God’s glory is like a shield

 

Psalm 5:12 Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

 

Who is qualified for God's shield (protection)?

A believer  (the righteous) who chooses to walk with God.

God's glory  is available for those who align their nature to that of their saviour. God does not favour or bless disobedience and sin even though He loves you.

Only an evil Father will compensate evil. The righteous God does not favour evil.

He loves you so much to bless your disobedience, which has come to destroy you.

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IT IS A MATTER  OF WALKING RIGHTLY WITH GOD

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Psalm 84:11b No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.

 

Enjoying God's goodness is a matter of walking rightly with Him.

2023 Our Year of Grace and Glory is a prophetic season to walk uprightly with God!

 

You need to commit to walking with God to be part of the glorious train of grace.

However, take note of the order. Grace comes before glory.

You need, foremost to experience God’s grace before you can enjoy His glory.

God does not compensate evil with good or sin with glory. That is why grace comes before glory.

Nobody can witness God’s glory before experiencing grace. It is by grace we are saved through faith (Ephesians 2:8). His grace offers us salvation, peace, joy and victory over the enemy.

God’s perfect will for man is more than all those temporary solution to the earthly problems of Satan, sin and death.  Whatever you get out of this world is temporary. Even if you get the best of this world, it is for a while. Eternity has no end. God’s wants us to spend eternity in His presence.

 

Conclusion:

Position yourself to enjoy God's Grace and Glory this year. Let him be your sun and your shield!

I see His goodness and mercy following you, all the days of your life in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.

Amen

 

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About our Pastor

Solomon Osoko is the Senior Pastor of Christ International Church. In addition to his theological training, Pastor Solomon  is also a graduate of political science (BSc. Administration) and double masters’ degree holder in MSc. Multicultural Management and  MBA (Business Administration).
Pastor Solomon is happily married to Lady Pastor Silvia (nee Felix) and together they have two sons,

Timi and Dani and a daughter, Joanna.

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