Evangelist Joshua Orekhie Ministries

 

EJOM DAILY DEVOTIONAL:

November 2, 2026

 

REMOVE THE MASK

 

OPENING SCRIPTURES

Luke 12:2 (KJV): “For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.”

Proverbs 28:13 (KJV): “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

Psalm 51:6 (KJV): “Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.”

Isaiah 25:7 (KJV) “And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.”

 

MEMORY VERSE

1 Samuel 16:7 (KJV): “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”

 

PRAISE AND WORSHIP

Sing any of your favourite songs.

 

Remove The Mask – EJOM DAILY DEVOTIONAL: November 1, 2026

A mask is anything we use to hide who we really are or what we are really going through. Some masks are worn to hide sin. Some are worn to hide pain. Some are worn to impress people. Some are worn out of fear of rejection. And some are worn to deceive and exploit others.

Today, the Holy Ghost is asking you the same question: Why are you pretending to be another? Whatever mask you are wearing, whether it is the mask of strength, happiness, holiness or success, God already sees through it.

And He is calling you to remove it, not to shame you, but to heal you, free you and transform you. For it is only “with open face” that we are “changed into the same image from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

There are masks that people wear before God, pretending to be what they are not. There are masks that the enemy wears, disguising himself as a friend, a helper, a lover, or even an angel of light.

And there are spiritual veils and coverings that the powers of darkness cast over people’s lives, so that their glory is hidden and their destiny cannot be seen.

When the wife of King Jeroboam went to the prophet Ahijah, she disguised herself so that he would not recognise her. But Ahijah was old and blind, and he could not see her with his natural eyes. Yet God had already told him she was coming.

Before she could speak, he said, “Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam; why feignest thou thyself to be another?” (1 Kings 14:6). Her disguise worked on people, but it did not work on God.

Beloved, the story of Jeroboam’s wife teaches us something very important. Her husband had led Israel into idolatry.

When their son fell sick, Jeroboam did not want to go to the prophet openly, because he knew he had departed from God. So he told his wife, “Arise, I pray thee, and disguise thyself, that thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam” (1 Kings 14:2).

She changed her appearance and went to Ahijah. In the natural, the plan should have worked perfectly, because the prophet was blind. But the God who sees everything had already revealed her identity. The moment Ahijah heard the sound of her feet at the door, he called her by her real name.

Beloved, you can disguise yourself before people, but you cannot disguise yourself before God. The Bible says, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13).

Your mask may fool your pastor, your spouse, your colleagues and your followers, but it does not fool God. Before you even open your mouth, He knows who you are, what you have done and what you are carrying.

Today, the Holy Ghost is asking you the same question: Why are you pretending to be another? Whatever mask you are wearing, whether it is the mask of strength, happiness, holiness or success, God already sees through it.

And He is calling you to remove it, not to shame you, but to heal you, free you and transform you. For it is only “with open face” that we are “changed into the same image from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Jesus warned His disciples, “first of all,” to beware of hypocrisy, and then He gave a divine law: “For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.” Every mask has an expiry date. Every disguise will be exposed. Every veil over your life will be torn.

Beloved, when God says, “Remove the mask,” some people immediately start looking around. They say, “Yes o! Let my pastor remove his own mask first. Let my husband remove his mask.

Let my in-laws remove their mask. Let that sister in the choir remove her own mask.” They are busy looking at every face except their own.

But God did not say, “Remove their mask.” He said, “Remove your own mask.” Deliverance is personal, not gossip. Confession is personal, not condemnation. Repentance is personal, not licence to sin more. You cannot be delivered by exposing another person’s sin.

There is a spirit that loves to uncover other people. It enjoys gossip. It feeds on scandal and blackmail. It cannot wait to post someone’s fall on social media. It goes from house to house saying, “Have you heard what that man did?” That spirit is not the Holy Spirit. That is the spirit of the accuser.

Jesus called such a person by name in our text: “Thou hypocrite.” Why? Because the one trying to remove another man’s mask is often wearing the biggest mask of all.

That is what happens when people focus on the sins of others while ignoring their own. They see the speck clearly, but they cannot see the log. They notice the smallest fault in others, but they excuse the biggest sin in themselves.

Jesus did not say you must never help your brother. He said, “first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly.” The order matters. First you, then your brother. First your mask, then you can help another person with theirs, in love.

Romans 2:1 puts it plainly: “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.”

Many times, the sin you are quickest to expose in others is the same sin you are hiding in yourself.

Somebody will ask, “Evangelist, should we then keep quiet when people are doing wrong?” No. The Bible does not tell us to celebrate sin or pretend it is not there. But it shows us the godly way.

1. Deal with yourself first. Matthew 7:5: “first cast out the beam out of thine own eye.”

2. Go privately, not publicly. Jesus said in Matthew 18:15, “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.” Not on Facebook. Not in the WhatsApp group. Between you and him alone.

3. Go to restore, not to destroy. Galatians 6:1 says, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” Notice “considering thyself.” The same thing that caught him can catch you.

4. Let God do the exposing when it is necessary. When David sinned with Bathsheba, God sent Nathan the prophet. Nathan did not go to the market to announce it. He went to David privately with a parable, and when David saw himself in the story, Nathan said, “Thou art the man” (2 Samuel 12:7). The purpose was repentance, and David repented. That is godly exposure: sent by God, done with wisdom, aimed at restoration.

5. Pray for the person. James 5:16 says, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.” The goal is healing, not humiliation.

Today, God is calling you to three things: remove your own mask before Him, receive grace to see through the masks of the enemy, and command every evil veil over your destiny to be destroyed. Get ready, because this is a day of unmasking.

Beloved, there are many kinds of masks, and some of them are very subtle.

There is the mask of holiness. This is worn by people who look very spiritual in public but live differently in private. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for this: “But all their works they do for to be seen of men” (Matthew 23:5).

They prayed long prayers, gave publicly and fasted with sad faces so that people would admire their devotion.

Jesus said, “Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward” (Matthew 6:16). Their reward was the applause of men, and that was all they received.

There is the mask of happiness. Solomon observed, “Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness” (Proverbs 14:13). Many people are laughing outside but bleeding inside.

They post smiling pictures, crack jokes and appear carefree, but at night they cry alone. They wear the mask because they think nobody would understand, or because they have been taught that a Christian must never show pain.

There is the mask of strength. Some people believe they must always appear strong. They never admit weakness, never ask for help and never show that they are struggling. They are carrying burdens that are crushing them, but they keep saying, “I am fine.”

They forget that even the apostle Paul said, “For when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).

There is the mask of success and wealth. Solomon wrote, “There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches” (Proverbs 13:7).

In this age of social media, many people are making themselves look rich while they have nothing. They borrow to impress, they display what they cannot afford and they live a lifestyle that is crushing them in debt, all to maintain an image. Behind the mask of success is often anxiety, pressure and fear of exposure.

There is the mask of agreement. This is worn by people pleasers who never say what they really think because they want to be liked. They agree with everyone, even when they know it is wrong.

Paul said, “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10).

There is the mask of false humility. Paul warned about people who have “a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility” (Colossians 2:23). Some people pretend to be humble while they are actually proud. They speak lowly words while seeking attention and praise.

And there is the mask of love. Paul said, “Let love be without dissimulation” (Romans 12:9). Some people pretend to love others while hating them in their hearts. They hug you, greet you and smile at you, but their love is only a costume.

Removing the mask is the light. It is one of the very first steps of deliverance. When you remove your mask, you are exposing everything. You are bringing what was hidden into the open. You are confessing your sin before God. And the moment you do that, the light of God enters, and darkness begins to lose its grip.

The devil is a creature of darkness. He works in secret. He hides in covered places. He builds his strongholds in the areas of your life that nobody is allowed to see.

As long as that area stays covered, he stays comfortable. But when you remove the mask, you are switching on the light in his hiding place, and no darkness can remain where light has entered.

John 1:5 says, “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” Darkness cannot overpower light. Darkness cannot argue with light. When light comes, darkness simply has to go.

Removing the mask means confessing your sin. Confession is not just saying sorry; it is agreeing with God about what you have done. It is bringing your sin out of the darkness and laying it before the light of His presence.

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). Notice the contrast. Covering leads to failure.

Confessing leads to mercy. The mask is a covering. Confession is the removal of that covering.

David knew this. When he covered his sin, his bones grew old and God’s hand was heavy upon him day and night. But when he removed the mask and said, “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid,” the result was immediate: “and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin” (Psalm 32:5).

John promises, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Look at the condition: “if we walk in the light.” The blood cleanses what is brought into the light.

Many people are pleading the blood of Jesus over sins they are still hiding. But the blood flows where the light shines. When you remove the mask and walk in the light, the blood of Jesus washes you clean.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

When John the Baptist preached repentance, the people came to be baptised in the Jordan “confessing their sins” (Matthew 3:6). Their new beginning started with confession. It is the same today. Every true deliverance begins with honest confession.

Beloved, removing the mask means bringing out every hidden thing. It means confessing every secret involvement with darkness. It means renouncing every covenant, every charm, every ungodly relationship and every practice that opened a door to the enemy.

Paul said, “But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness” (2 Corinthians 4:2). Renounce the hidden things, and the enemy loses his legal ground.

Beloved, removing the mask is not only about confessing sin. It is also about exposing pain. Many people are wearing masks over wounds: trauma they experienced, abuse they suffered, rejection they carried, grief they never processed and fears they never admitted. These wounds, when hidden, can become strongholds the enemy uses to torment them.

When the woman with the issue of blood touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, she was healed immediately. But Jesus did not let her slip away quietly. He turned and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” (Mark 5:30).

The woman, who had been hiding in the crowd, “came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth” (Mark 5:33). And then Jesus said to her, “Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague” (Mark 5:34).

Notice that her body was healed when she touched Him, but her full restoration, her peace and her new identity as “Daughter,” came when she stopped hiding and told Him all the truth.

For twelve years, she had been unclean, hidden and ashamed. When she removed the mask, Jesus did not shame her; He honoured her.

When Jesus commissioned Paul, He described the purpose of his ministry: “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me” (Acts 26:18).

Look at the sequence. First, their eyes are opened. Then they are turned from darkness to light. And in the same movement, they are turned from the power of Satan unto God. Moving from darkness to light is moving from Satan’s power to God’s power. And the result is forgiveness and inheritance.

Beloved, this is exactly what happens when you remove your mask. Your eyes are opened to your true condition. You step out of darkness into the light. And as you step into the light, you step out of the power of Satan into the power of God. You receive forgiveness, and you begin to walk into your inheritance.

Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Freedom comes through truth. Lies and masks keep people bound; truth sets them free.

When you tell the truth about your condition, the truth about your sin and the truth about your pain, you open yourself to the freedom that only Christ can give.

Many people are afraid of the truth because they think it will destroy them. But the truth that God reveals is not meant to destroy you; it is meant to deliver you. The light that exposes is the same light that heals. The God who uncovers is the same God who covers with His blood.

Beloved, God wants to heal not only your sin but your wounds. Bring them into the light. Tell Him all the truth. And where necessary, share them with a trusted minister or counsellor who can walk with you towards healing.

Beloved, let me speak with wisdom. Removing the mask and confessing your sins begins first and foremost before God. He is the One you have sinned against, and He is the One who forgives. You can go to Him directly, at any time, through Jesus Christ.

The Bible also instructs us, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed” (James 5:16).

There are times when confessing to a trusted, mature believer or minister is an important part of your deliverance, especially when you need someone to pray with you, hold you accountable or help you break a stronghold. But choose carefully.

Confess to people who are spiritually mature, trustworthy and able to keep a confidence. “A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter” (Proverbs 11:13).

And to ministers: when people remove their masks before you, treat what they share with honour and confidentiality. Do not expose them, shame them or use their confession against them. A minister who betrays a confession becomes a reason why people put their masks back on.

You do not need to broadcast your sins to the whole world. Removing the mask does not mean posting everything on social media or confessing publicly what only God and a few people need to know. The goal is freedom, not exposure for its own sake.

And once you have confessed, do not go back into condemnation. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

Confession is the door to freedom, not the door to shame. When God forgives, He forgives completely.

Removing the mask is the first step, but you must also keep walking in the light. After deliverance, do not put the mask back on. Do not go back into secrecy. Keep your life open before God. Stay accountable. Deal with sin quickly when it comes. Keep short accounts with God and with people.

Why do people wear masks? Some wear them because of fear. They are afraid that if people see who they really are, they will be rejected, judged or abandoned.

Some wear them because of shame. They have done things they are not proud of, and they cannot bear for anyone to know. Some wear them because of pride. They want to protect their reputation and image.

Some wear them because of past hurt. They opened up to someone before, and that person used it against them, so they decided never to be vulnerable again.

Some wear them because they crave approval and want people to admire them. And some wear masks deliberately to deceive, manipulate and exploit others.

Jacob wore a mask to get a blessing. When his father Isaac was old and blind, Rebekah dressed Jacob in Esau’s clothes and covered his hands and neck with goat skins, so that Isaac would think he was Esau (Genesis 27:15–16).

Isaac felt his hands and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau” (Genesis 27:22). The disguise worked, and Jacob received the blessing. But that mask cost him twenty years of exile, fear and hardship.

He had to flee from his brother, and he spent years being deceived by Laban, just as he had deceived his father. What he gained through a mask, he paid for with years of pain.

Beloved, whatever you gain by wearing a mask, you will lose more by keeping it on.

Wearing a mask is exhausting. You must always remember what you said, to whom you said it and how you presented yourself. You must always be on guard in case someone discovers the truth. You can never fully relax, because you are always performing.

Wearing a mask is lonely. When people love the mask, they are not really loving you. They are loving the image you created. So even when you are surrounded by people, you feel alone, because nobody truly knows you.

Wearing a mask blocks healing. A doctor cannot treat a wound you refuse to show him. If you keep hiding your pain, your sin or your struggle, you cannot receive the help you need.

James says, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed” (James 5:16). Healing comes through openness.

Wearing a mask blocks growth. You cannot grow out of something you will not admit you have. Paul said that it is “with open face” that we are “changed into the same image from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18). A covered face cannot be transformed.

And wearing a mask cannot protect you from consequences. King Ahab disguised himself before going into battle, so that the enemy would not recognise him as the king.

But the Bible says, “And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness” (1 Kings 22:34). Ahab died that day. His disguise did not stop the arrow.

Saul disguised himself to visit the witch of Endor, but his disguise did not change his end (1 Samuel 28:8). Beloved, a mask cannot stop the consequences of sin. Only repentance can.

Beloved, it is sad that some of the greatest masks are worn in the church today. Some people become experts at religious performance. They know the right words, the right songs, the right posture and the right expressions, but their hearts are far from God.

Even great leaders can fall into this. When Peter was in Antioch, he ate freely with Gentile believers. But when certain Jews came from Jerusalem, Peter withdrew and separated himself, fearing what they would think.

Paul said, “And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation” (Galatians 2:13). Peter put on a mask to please a certain group, and his mask influenced even Barnabas. Paul had to confront him publicly.

Jesus said to the church in Sardis, “I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead” (Revelation 3:1). They had a reputation for being alive, but behind the mask of reputation, they were spiritually dead.

Beloved, the church should be a place where people can remove their masks and find true healing, not a stage where everyone performs. Let us build a culture of honesty, grace and love, where people can confess their struggles without being destroyed, and where truth is spoken in love.

The devil is the original mask wearer. He came to Eve not as a roaring lion but as a smooth talking serpent. 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 warns us: “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

Jesus also warned in Matthew 7:15: “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

The enemy wears many masks:

• The mask of a friend: like Judas, who betrayed Jesus with a kiss (Luke 22:48).
• The mask of a lover: spirit husbands and spirit wives who appear in dreams as familiar faces, and human relationships that come to destroy destinies.
• The mask of a helper: people who come with gifts and offers, but are carriers of evil agenda.
• The mask of a family member: household enemies who smile in your face but fight you in the spirit. Micah 7:6 says, “a man’s enemies are the men of his own house.”
• The mask of a prophet: false ministers who use spiritual language to manipulate, exploit, and initiate.
• The mask of a familiar face in the dream: many people are attacked in their dreams by spirits wearing the faces of their mothers, fathers, or relatives.

 

The Gibeonites disguised themselves with worn-out clothes and mouldy bread to deceive Joshua into making a covenant with them (Joshua 9).

Many evil things come into people’s lives wearing a beautiful mask: a relationship that looks like love but is a trap, an opportunity that looks like a blessing but is a snare, a teaching that sounds spiritual but leads to error.

This is why we need the Holy Spirit to remove the masks of the enemy as well. Just as God revealed the identity of Jeroboam’s wife to a blind prophet, He can reveal the true identity of every disguised enemy in your life. Pray for discernment, and ask God to unmask everything that has come into your life under a false identity.

Isaiah 25:7 reveals another dimension: “And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.”

There are coverings cast over people’s lives by the powers of darkness. These are spiritual veils that hide a person’s glory, beauty, and potential. When such a veil is on a person:

• People look at them and see nothing special, even though they are greatly gifted.
• Helpers pass by without noticing them.
• Opportunities are given to less qualified people while they are overlooked.
• Their marriage proposals do not come, or they come and scatter.
• They work very hard, but nobody recognises their effort.

 

Such a person is like a diamond covered with mud. The value is there, but the covering hides it.

For example, in Nigerian culture, we understand masquerades work. A masquerade covers itself completely so that nobody can see who is truly inside.

Many people are living under the influence of masquerade spirits from their foundations, spirits that hide their true identity and replace it with a mask of shame, poverty, and rejection.

But the good news is this: God has promised to destroy “the face of the covering.” 2 Corinthians 3:16 declares, “Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.” When you turn to the Lord, every veil must go!

Beloved, let me be balanced. Removing your mask does not mean you must tell everyone everything about your life. There is a difference between pretence and privacy.

Jesus Himself “did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men” (John 2:24). He did not share everything with everyone, yet He never pretended to be someone He was not.

Wisdom means you choose carefully whom you open up to. Not everyone deserves access to your private struggles. Open your heart fully to God, and open it to a few trusted, mature and godly people who can pray with you and help you.

You do not need to broadcast your sins or your pain to the whole world. Also, removing your mask does not mean you should use “being real” as an excuse for bad behaviour.

Some people say, “This is just who I am,” to justify rudeness, anger or sin. But being authentic is not an excuse to stay unchanged. The goal of removing the mask is not to celebrate our flaws but to bring them to God so that He can transform us.

When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, Lazarus came out of the tomb “bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go” (John 11:44).

Notice that Lazarus was alive, but his face was still covered. He had received new life, but he still had the coverings of the grave on him. Jesus commanded those around him to remove the napkin from his face and the graveclothes from his body.

Beloved, many believers are like Lazarus. They have received new life in Christ, but they are still wearing graveclothes and face coverings from their old life. They are alive, but they cannot see clearly, move freely or be fully known.

Jesus is saying today, “Loose him, and let him go.” Remove the napkin from your face. Take off the coverings of shame, fear, pretence and religious performance. Walk out of the tomb with an open face.

When Moses came down from the mountain, his face shone with the glory of God, but he put a veil over it. Paul explains that Moses veiled his face so that the people would not see the glory fading away (2 Corinthians 3:13).

But Paul says that in Christ, the veil is taken away. “Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away” (2 Corinthians 3:16). And “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Corinthians 3:17).

Beloved, one of the reasons we wear masks is that we do not feel acceptable as we are. But the Bible says that in Christ, you are “accepted in the beloved” (Ephesians 1:6). God’s acceptance of you does not depend on your performance. He knows everything about you, and He has still chosen you.

Jesus declared a law of the kingdom: “For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known” (Luke 12:2).

This law works in two directions.

First, it is a warning. If you are hiding sin behind a mask, it will be exposed. Numbers 32:23 says, “be sure your sin will find you out.” Ananias and Sapphira wore the mask of generosity while lying about their offering, and they fell dead before the apostles (Acts 5:1-10).

Gehazi wore the mask of a faithful servant while secretly collecting money from Naaman, and he received the leprosy of Naaman (2 Kings 5:20-27). Proverbs 28:13 says, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

Second, it is a promise. Every secret plan of the enemy against your life will be exposed. Every hidden altar will be revealed. Every masked attacker will be unmasked. Daniel 2:22 says, “He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.”

Ephesians 5:13 says, “But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.” When the light of God shines, every mask falls, every darkness flees, and every hidden thing comes to the surface.

When Zacchaeus climbed a tree to see Jesus, he was hiding among the branches. He was a chief tax collector, hated by the people, and perhaps ashamed of himself.

But Jesus stopped under the tree, looked up and called him by name: “Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house” (Luke 19:5). Jesus saw him in his hiding place and invited him to come down. And when Zacchaeus came down and met Jesus face to face, his life was transformed.

When Adam sinned, the first thing he did was hide. Genesis 3:8 says, “and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.” Then they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. That was the first mask.

But God did not leave them in their fig leaves. Genesis 3:21 says, “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.”

An animal had to die, and blood had to be shed for their covering. This pointed to Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, whose blood now covers our sins.

Here is the difference: man covers himself with masks and fig leaves, but God covers us with the Blood. Man hides from God; God calls man to come out of hiding.

David understood this. Psalm 51:6 says, “Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts.” And in Psalm 139:23-24, he prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

2 Corinthians 3:18 gives the reward of removing the mask: “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory.” Transformation happens with an open face. You cannot claim to be a changed person while you are still hiding. When the mask comes off, the glory comes on!

Beloved, Jesus is calling you to come down from your hiding place. You do not need the mask anymore. You are loved, accepted and chosen. Let your identity come from Him, not from the image you have built.

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IN CONCLUSION (THE WAY OUT)

Beloved, God sees through every mask. Like the wife of Jeroboam, you may disguise yourself before people, but God already knows your real name and your real condition. There is no point pretending before Him.

The way out begins with honesty. Identify the masks you have been wearing, whether the mask of holiness, happiness, strength, success, agreement, false humility or false love.

Ask yourself why you wear them, whether out of fear, shame, pride, past hurt or the desire for approval. And recognise the cost: exhaustion, loneliness, blocked healing, stunted growth and consequences that no disguise can prevent.

Bring your real self to God with an open face. Confess what needs to be confessed, and let Him heal what needs to be healed. Open up to a few trusted, godly people who can pray with you.

Ask the Holy Spirit to unmask every disguised enemy in your life. But walk in wisdom: privacy is not pretence, and authenticity is not an excuse to stay unchanged.

 

 

IN CONCLUSION (THE WAY OUT)

Beloved, God sees through every mask. Like the wife of Jeroboam, you may disguise yourself before people, but God already knows your real name and your real condition. There is no point pretending before Him.

The way out begins with honesty. Identify the masks you have been wearing, whether the mask of holiness, happiness, strength, success, agreement, false humility or false love.

Ask yourself why you wear them, whether out of fear, shame, pride, past hurt or the desire for approval. And recognise the cost: exhaustion, loneliness, blocked healing, stunted growth and consequences that no disguise can prevent.

Bring your real self to God with an open face. Confess what needs to be confessed, and let Him heal what needs to be healed. Open up to a few trusted, godly people who can pray with you.

Ask the Holy Spirit to unmask every disguised enemy in your life. But walk in wisdom: privacy is not pretence, and authenticity is not an excuse to stay unchanged.

 

WISDOM FOR TODAY

The mask may protect your image, but it cannot protect your soul. What you hide cannot be healed, and what you pretend cannot be transformed. Come to God with an open face.

 

PERSONAL CHALLENGE

Beloved, today I challenge you to be honest about your masks. Find a quiet place and ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you have been pretending, whether before God, your family, friends, your church or online. Write down each mask He reveals and what you think you have been hiding behind it.

Bring each one to God in prayer, and ask Him to heal what is underneath. Then choose one trusted, mature believer and share one thing you have been carrying alone or hiding, and ask them to pray with you.

Finally, look at your social media and your lifestyle, and remove anything you are using to project an image that is not true. Begin to live this week as the real you, accepted in Christ and being transformed by Him.

 

 

EVANGELISM CHALLENGE

Many people around you are wearing masks because they do not know that God loves them as they are. Reach out to one person today, show genuine care and share with them that Jesus sees them, knows them and still invites them to come to Him.

Tell them about Zacchaeus, who came down from his hiding place and found a new life. Invite them to receive Jesus as Lord and Saviour, and let them know that in Christ they do not have to pretend anymore.

 

 

FURTHER STUDY

📖 Genesis 27:15–23; Exodus 34:29–35; Joshua 9:3–15; 1 Samuel 28:7–8; 1 Kings 14:1–6; 1 Kings 22:29–35; Psalm 51:6; Psalm 139:1–12; Proverbs 13:7; Proverbs 14:13; Proverbs 26:24–26; Matthew 6:1–6, 16–18; Matthew 23:5, 25–28; Luke 12:1–3; Luke 19:1–10; John 2:23–25; John 11:43–44; Romans 12:9; 2 Corinthians 3:12–18; 2 Corinthians 4:2; 2 Corinthians 11:13–15; 2 Corinthians 12:9–10; Galatians 1:10; Galatians 2:11–14; Ephesians 1:3–6; Ephesians 4:25; Colossians 2:18–23; Hebrews 4:13; James 5:16; 1 Peter 2:1; Revelation 3:1

 

 

PRAYER ASSIGNMENT – MORNING

Thanksgiving

1. Father, I thank You because You see me as I truly am and still love me.

2. Lord, forgive me for every mask I have worn before You and before people.

3. Father, forgive me for every time I pretended to be someone I am not.

4. Lord, forgive me for performing religion instead of walking in relationship with You.

5.  Father, forgive me for every time I sought the applause of men more than Your approval.

6. Lord, forgive me for every image I created to deceive or impress others.

7. Lord, I remove every mask from my face today; I come before You with an open face.

8. Every mask of false holiness on my life, be removed, in the name of Jesus.

9.  Every mask of false happiness covering my pain, be removed, and let healing come, in Jesus’ name.

10. Every mask of false strength hiding my weakness, be removed, and let God’s strength be made perfect in me.

11. Every mask of false success and wealth, be removed, and let me live in truth, in the name of Jesus.

12. Every mask of people-pleasing, be removed; let me seek to please God alone, in Jesus’ name.

13. Every mask of false humility, be removed, in the name of Jesus.

14. Every mask of false love, be removed; let my love be without dissimulation, in Jesus’ name.

15. Every fear of rejection that makes me wear masks, be cast out by the perfect love of God, in Jesus’ name.

16. Every shame that keeps me hiding, be removed by the blood of Jesus.

17. Every pride that wants to protect my image, be broken, in the name of Jesus.

18. Every past hurt that made me close up, be healed by the balm of Gilead.

19. Every craving for human approval in my heart, be uprooted, in Jesus’ name.

20. Lord, as I remove my mask, heal every wound underneath.

21. Father, change me into Your image from glory to glory.

22. Lord, loose me from every graveclothes of my old life, and let me go free.

23. Lord, let me find my identity in You, not in the image I created.

24. Father, help me to believe that I am loved and accepted as Your child.

25. Lord, deliver me from comparing myself with the masks others wear.

26. Father, let me be comfortable being who You created me to be.

27. Every disguised enemy in my life, be unmasked by the power of God, in Jesus’ name.

28. Every evil that came into my life wearing a beautiful mask, be exposed, in the name of Jesus.

29. Every Gibeonite in disguise seeking covenant with me, be revealed before I agree, in Jesus’ name.

30. Every minister of darkness disguised as a minister of light around me, be exposed, in the name of Jesus.

31. Every relationship that came disguised as love but is a trap, be revealed, in Jesus’ name.

32. Every opportunity disguised as a blessing but carrying a snare, be exposed, in the name of Jesus.

33. Lord, as You revealed the wife of Jeroboam to a blind prophet, reveal every hidden identity around my life.

34. Lord, give me wisdom to know whom to open up to and whom to keep at a distance.

35. Father, send me trusted, godly people with whom I can be honest.

36. Lord, remove every mask in my marriage; let my spouse and I relate in truth and love.

37. Father, remove every mask in my family; let us love without pretence.

38. Lord, let my church be a place where people can remove their masks and find healing.

39. Father, deliver Your church from religious performance and restore true worship.

40. Every enemy fighting me in disguise, be unmasked by fire, in Jesus’ name.

41. Every household enemy wearing the mask of love, be exposed, in Jesus’ name.

42. Every agent of darkness wearing the face of a helper in my life, be exposed and removed, in Jesus’ name.

43. Every serpent disguised as an angel of light around me, be revealed, in Jesus’ name.

44.  Every hidden plan of the enemy against my life, be brought to the light, in Jesus’ name.

45. Father, reveal every secret meeting where evil is planned against me.

46. Lord, You reveal deep and secret things; reveal every secret behind my struggles, in Jesus’ name.

47. Every hidden altar speaking against me, be exposed and destroyed, in Jesus’ name.

48. Father, thank You because I no longer need to wear a mask.

49.  Lord, thank You because I am being transformed with an open face.

50. I thank You for answered prayers, in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.

 

 

PRAYER ASSIGNMENT – NIGHT

(Pray aggressively, preferably between 12 midnight and 3 a.m.)

1. Father, I thank You because darkness and light are both alike to You.

2. I cover myself, my family, and my home with the Blood of Jesus tonight.

3. I surround my dwelling with the fire of the Holy Ghost, in Jesus’ name.

4. Every spirit that appears in my dreams wearing familiar faces, be unmasked, in Jesus’ name.

5. Every evil spirit wearing the face of my father in the dream, I bind you, in Jesus’ name.

6. Every evil spirit wearing the face of my mother in the dream, I bind you, in Jesus’ name.

7. Every spirit spouse wearing the face of a lover in my dreams, be exposed and cast out, in Jesus’ name.

8. Every masked attacker in my dreams, receive the arrows of God, in Jesus’ name.

9. Every spiritual masquerade pursuing me in the dream, fall down and die, in Jesus’ name.

10. Every evil power that disguised itself to enter my life, be exposed and expelled, in Jesus’ name.

11. Every evil transfer received through masks, costumes, and dark celebrations, be reversed by the Blood of Jesus.

12. Every spirit that entered my children through Halloween masks or dark festivities, be cast out, in Jesus’ name.

13. Every evil mask I wore in ignorance, I renounce its power over my life, in Jesus’ name.

14. Every covenant made with masquerade spirits in my family line, be broken by the Blood of Jesus.

15. Every ancestral mask keeping my family in bondage, catch fire, in Jesus’ name.

16. Every evil veil placed over my eyes to blind me from the truth, be removed, in Jesus’ name.

17. Every veil placed over my understanding to hinder my spiritual growth, be torn, in Jesus’ name.

18. Every satanic covering placed upon my business, catch fire, in Jesus’ name.

19. Every evil cloud covering my sun, be scattered by the wind of God, in Jesus’ name.

20. Every witchcraft mirror used to monitor me through disguise, shatter, in Jesus’ name.

21. Every coven where agents disguise themselves to attack me, scatter by thunder, in Jesus’ name.

22. Every agent of darkness pretending to be my friend, let your evil return to you, in Jesus’ name.

23. Every Haman disguised as a friend of the king around me, be exposed, in Jesus’ name.

24. Every secret enemy who has refused to be known, Lord, expose them by fire.

25. Every hidden arrow fired at me from behind a mask, return to sender, in Jesus’ name.

26. Every lie spoken against me in secret, be exposed and cancelled, in Jesus’ name.

27. Every plot hidden in darkness against my destiny, be brought to the light, in Jesus’ name.

28. Father, as nothing covered shall remain hidden, uncover every plan against my life.

29. Lord, destroy the face of the covering cast over my family, in Jesus’ name.

30. Every evil garment of shame upon my family, be replaced with the garment of praise, in Jesus’ name.

31. I receive the garment of salvation and the robe of righteousness, in Jesus’ name.

32. My glory, arise and shine; every covering is removed, in Jesus’ name.

33. Angels of God, guard my life and expose every intruder in disguise.

34. Holy Spirit, keep me in the light and let me never hide from God again.

35. I seal my life and destiny with the Blood of Jesus.

36. Every spirit of hypocrisy trying to hold on to my life, be cast out tonight, in the name of Jesus.

37. Every spirit of pretence in my family line, be broken by the blood of Jesus.

38. Every evil covering placed over my face in the spirit, be removed by fire, in Jesus’ name.

39. Every veil of darkness covering my eyes from seeing the truth, be torn, in the name of Jesus.

40. Every mask the enemy placed on me to make people misjudge me, be removed, in Jesus’ name.

41. Every evil identity imposed on me in the dream, I reject it by the blood of Jesus.

42. Every dream where I wear strange clothes, masks or disguises, be cancelled, in the name of Jesus.

43. Every masquerade appearing in my dreams, be roasted by fire, in Jesus’ name.

44. Every disguised enemy visiting me at night, be exposed and arrested, in the name of Jesus.

45. Every familiar face used by the enemy to deceive me, the spirit behind it is unmasked, in Jesus’ name.

46. Every evil agenda hiding behind friendly faces around me, be revealed tonight, in the name of Jesus.

47. Every hidden plan against my life, be exposed by the light of God, in Jesus’ name.

48. Every secret of darkness in my foundation, be brought to light and destroyed, in the name of Jesus.

49. Lord, heal every pain I have been hiding behind my smile.

50. Father, let me sleep tonight in the freedom of being known and loved by You.

51. Holy Spirit, minister to my heart as I sleep and remove every remaining mask.

52. Lord, reveal to me in my dreams any hidden area I need to bring to You.

53. Father, let me wake up tomorrow as the real me, confident in Your love.

54. Lord, give me courage to live honestly before You and before people.

55. Father, let my children grow up without masks, knowing they are loved by You.

56. Lord, deliver my home from pretence and fill it with truth and love.

57. Angels of the living God, encamp round about me and my household tonight.

58. Fire of the Holy Ghost, guard my heart and my home all through this night.

59. I shall wake up free, transformed and walking in the liberty of the Spirit, in the name of Jesus.

60. Father, thank You because You neither slumber nor sleep.

61. Thank You, Lord, for answered prayers, in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.

62. Every spirit of hypocrisy in my life, I renounce you and cast you out, in Jesus’ name.

63. Every religious mask I have been wearing, I remove it today by the power of the Holy Ghost.

64. Lord, let my inside match my outside; give me truth in the inward parts.

65. Every secret sin I have been covering, I confess it and forsake it today, in Jesus’ name.

66. Blood of Jesus, cleanse every hidden corner of my heart.

67. Father, deliver me from the leaven of the Pharisees, in Jesus’ name.

68. Lord, make me a genuine Christian, not a whitewashed tomb.

69. Holy Spirit, open my eyes to see through every disguise around me, in Jesus’ name.

70. Father, give me the gift of discerning of spirits.

71. Every wolf in sheep’s clothing in my life, be exposed today, in Jesus’ name.

72. Every Judas around me, smiling at me but planning my downfall, be unmasked, in Jesus’ name.

73. Every Gibeonite covenant I entered without seeking God, Lord, deliver me from its consequences.

74. Father, never let me make a major decision without counsel from Your mouth.

75. Every false friend in my life, Lord, separate them from me, in Jesus’ name.

76. Every false prophet and false minister assigned to deceive me, be exposed, in Jesus’ name.

77. Father, let my glory be seen, and let my star shine, in Jesus’ name.

78. Lord, let people see Christ in me and be drawn to Him.

79. Father, change me from glory to glory by Your Spirit, in Jesus’ name.

80. Let the light of God shine upon my face and my ways, in Jesus’ name.

81.  I receive an open face and a clean heart before God, in Jesus’ name.

82. From today, I shall walk in truth, in light, and in integrity, in Jesus’ name.

83. Thank You, Father, for unmasking me, cleansing me, and revealing Your glory in me, in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen!

 

 

AFRICAN PROVERB

“No matter how long a log stays in the water, it does not become a crocodile.”

Meaning: A log may float among crocodiles and look like one from a distance, but it never becomes one. Pretending does not change what something truly is. In the same way, wearing a mask does not change who you are inside; only God can truly transform a person. Stop trying to look like what you are not, and let the Spirit of God make you who you are meant to be.

 

CLOSING REFLECTION

Beloved, God is asking you today the same question the prophet asked Jeroboam’s wife: “Why feignest thou thyself to be another?” You do not need to pretend before Him. He already knows you, and He still loves you.

So remove the mask. Take off the costume of false holiness, false happiness, false strength and false success. Let the napkin be loosed from your face like Lazarus. Come down from your hiding place like Zacchaeus. Bring your real self to God, open your heart to trusted people, and walk in wisdom and truth.

It is with an open face that you will be changed from glory to glory. The real you, surrendered to Jesus, is far more beautiful than any mask you could ever wear. Stay blessed, stay real, and stay on fire!

Evangelist Joshua Orekhie Ministries (EJOM)