Quote for the Day 28Feb2009

Often people attempt to live their lives backwards: they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want so they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then, do what you need to do, in order to have what you want. - Margaret Young

Quote for the Day 27Feb2009

Fellowship with other Christians
Strengthens us when we are weak,
Reprimands when we are sinning,
Helps us when God’s will we seek. —Sper

Quote for the Day 26Feb2009

Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing. – Mother Teresa

Quote for the Day 25Feb2009

The fact that somebody else went ahead of you does not necessarily mean that the fellow will stay ahead. The truth is, if you will walk diligently with the God of recovery, you can be assured that those who have gone ahead of you, will soon join the list of those you have overtaken. - EA Adeboye

Quote for the Day 24Feb2009

To distinguish ourselves as Jesus’ people, we need to show kindness even to those who wish us harm (Luke 6:32-34). Only then will we reflect the heart of the One who, while we were still His enemies, paid the ultimate price to come to our rescue. - Mart De Haan

Quote for the Day 23Feb2009

If you cannot be a Christian where you are now, you cannot be a Christian anywhere. - Anonymous.

DOES HE DESERVE YOUR PRAISES?

Dearly Beloved,

DOES HE DESERVE YOUR PRAISES?

“Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:1-2 NIV).

My family was having its lunch when the children were jokingly asking each other whether each of them remembered to pray before starting eating or not and the contents of their prayers. From there discussion, they mentioned God and mummy as people worthy of praises for the provision of the food. One of them inquired whether they should include daddy in the list or not. The other objected because it was not daddy that cooked the food. Mummy, who was following their discussion, reminded them that it was daddy that provided the resources for the food before she could cook it for them, therefore, daddy also deserves to be praised. The children agreed and continued their eating.

Daddy did not join the discussion, but he was rather reflecting on it. He did provide the resources for the cooked food, but the children did not know. To them, mummy was the originator and provider of the food. Daddy has no place in its provision. Sometimes, we do the same thing to God. This is applicable mostly to most people in the developed world where there is virtually everything provided compared to people in the under-developed world where poverty and suffering are reigning. The former people tend to forget God in the provision of what they enjoy, hence, the apathy to spirituality there. The latter people have to look unto God for almost everything, hence, the love for religiosity in the part of the world. However, the part of the world in which some people live does not determine their appreciation of God. Such people do not appreciate God for who He is and for what He is doing in their lives. They do not praise Him for their lives and everything that is happening in their lives. They cannot see the hands of God in their daily activities.

Regardless of where you live, whether in the developed world or in the under-developed world, do you appreciate God for who He is and for what He is doing in your life? Do you recognize His goodness over you? Does He deserve your praises? The psalmist said, “Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (103:1-2 NIV). Do not forget or downplay all His goodness over your life!

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

NB
Praise the Lord! My internet ministry “The Word through the Internet” (popularly known as “Spiritual Digest”) is exactly six years old last Wednesday! Visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spiritualdigest2003/message/339 to view the full message to commemorate the anniversary. God bless you!

Quote for the Day 21Feb2009

Open my eyes, Lord, to people around me,
Help me to see them as You do above;
Give me the wisdom and strength to take action
So others may see the depth of Your love. —K. De Haan

Quote for the Day 20Feb2009

The number one enemy of change is the hard-core, self-sustained sin nature within you. Like a spoiled child it's been gratified and indulged for years, so it won't give up without a temper tantrum. The flesh dies a slow, bitter, bloody death – kicking and struggling all the way. Lasting change takes place in first gear, not overdrive. So expect occasional setbacks, and don't let them derail you. When you feel like throwing in the towel, get down on your knees and ask God to help you get back on track. He'll do it. - Chuck Swindol

Quote for the Day 19Feb2009

There is no piece of the whole armour of God for the back, because God himself is watching your back - therefore a backslider is fully armed and going back is ready to fight God - no one can fight God and win, not even Satan. - Baba Isiaka

Quote for the Day 18Feb2009

Whether we like it or not, asking is the rule of the Kingdom. If you may have everything by asking in His Name, and nothing without asking, I beg you to see how absolutely vital prayer is. - C. H. Spurgeon

NB
The internet ministry “The Word through the Internet” (popularly known as “Spiritual Digest”) is exactly six years old today! Visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spiritualdigest2003/message/339 to view the full message to commemorate the anniversary. God bless you!

Quote for the Day 17Feb2009

The acid test of Christian character is our ability to celebrate another's success, or share their burden as though it were our own. There is no better way to serve and encourage others. - Bob Gass

Quote for the Day 16Feb2009

What the Church needs to-day is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use - men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men-men of prayer. - E.M. Bounds

Quote for the Day 15Feb2009

God proved His love on the Cross – when Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, "I love you." – Billy Graham

"I LOVE YOU"

Dear Beloved,

My message for next week (both in English and in Esperanto languages) is ready for dissemination. However, as people are celebrating the Valentine's Day today February 14, I am led to keep that message until another week and resend this that I have twice sent out in the past. 

"I LOVE YOU"

"Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good" (Romans 12:9 NASB).

The sentence "I love you" is common among people, especially people of opposite sex, either married or single. The sentence is so common that most people have lost or misinterpreted the real meaning of the most important word in it - love. To some, "I love you," means I want to get something from you. To others, love is the glorified word for lust. The intention of "I love you" of others is to gratify their selfish desire. No wonder, love has become one of the most common words in any language.

What does love means to you? How are you demonstrating it? Do you really mean it when you tell somebody, "I love you"? Paul described what love is and what it is not in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails" (NIV). So it means that when I say "I love you," what I am saying in essence is that: I will be patient with you; I will be kind with you; I will not envy you; I will not elevate myself higher than you; I will not be self-centered; I will not be easily provoked by you; I will keep no record of any wrong you do to me; I will not have hidden agenda against you; I will be truthful to you; I will protect you; I will trust you; I will have hope in you; I will persevere with you; and my love is not temporary. Anything short of these is hypocrisy.

The love between Jonathan and David is a good example of a love without hypocrisy. Jonathan demonstrated all those attributes of love described above to David (see 1 Samuel 18:3-4; 20:1-42; 23:18).

I love you. Do I?

In His service, 

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 14Feb2009

God’s Valentine gift of love to us was not a bunch of flowers; it was not candy, or a book to while away the hours. His gift was to become a man, so He could freely give His sacrificial love for us, so you and I could live. He gave us sweet salvation, and Instruction, good and true--to love our friends and enemies and love our Savior, too. So as we give our Valentines, let us thank our Lord and King; the reason we have love to give is that He gave everything. Have a nice day and remember our hearts belongs to Jesus! - Debra C.

Quote for the Day 13Feb2009

The greatest possession we have costs nothing, it is known as love. A personal greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated. - Brian Jett

Quote for the Day 12Feb2009

The sun raises every day, and every night the star shine. If today was a disappointment, remember that the cycle of life goes on. Tomorrow will be a new start. Do not give up. You were not created to be a sluggard nor a failure. - Baba Isiaka

Quote for the Day 11Feb2009

What the world sees as progress is what Heaven sees as retrogression. It takes a look through the eyes of God to define progress correctly. - EA Adeboye

Quote for the Day 10Feb2009

There is no riding to heaven in a chariot; the rough way must be trodden; mountains must be climbed, rivers must be forded, dragons must be fought, giants must be slain, difficulties must be overcome, and great trials must be borne. - Anonymous

Quote for the Day 09Feb2009

Let us not boast in what we have done or are able to do, but boast in God’s grace for us -- that He is our strength, health, favor, prosperity, wisdom, hope, salvation and glory. That is how we will see ourselves enjoying our inheritance of abundant life! - Joseph Prince

ARE YOU A PEDDLER OF THE WORD OF GOD?

Dearly Beloved,

ARE YOU A PEDDLER OF THE WORD OF GOD?

“Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God” (2 Corinthians 2:17, NIV).

“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Timothy 4:3, NIV).

Proliferation of churches, ministries and “ministers” of God is so common today that it is difficult to know genuine churches and those really called by God to be His messengers. Many so-called ministers of the gospel now peddle the word of God for personal aggrandizement. They do not have the expansion of the kingdom of God on earth as their aim, but their aim is how preaching the gospel message will profit them financially and materially. Some do so unconsciously while some do so deliberately. This trend has made many unbelievers not to see any good thing in the word of God and the genuine ministers of God.

Interestingly, such fake ministers of God who peddled the word of God for personal profit abound during the time of the Apostle Paul. These fake ministers were referred to in many places in the Bible as “false prophets” or “false teachers” (see Matthew 7: 15; 24:11, 24; 2 Corinthians 11:13; 2 Peter 2:1; 1 John 4:1). They corrupted and adulterated the word of God for selfish purposes. A Bible commentator described the situation thus: “...by making merchandise of it; they huckstered the word of God, made gain of it, sought merely their own worldly interest and advantage in it, and so mixed it with their own vain philosophy, to please the carnal ears and hearts of men; they blended law and Gospel, grace and works, in the business of salvation; they did, as peddling merchants do, mix good and bad commodities together, and then vend them for sound ware; or as vintners, who mix their wine with water, and sell it for neat wine.”

This is a challenge to all ministers of the gospel: are you a peddler of the word of God, or its preacher? Why do you preach the word of God? Do you peddle it for personal profit or for the expansion of the kingdom of God on earth? Can you say like Paul, “...in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God”? Hear Paul again: “...we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God” (2 Corinthians 4:2, NIV).

It is also a challenge to hearers of the word of God: what do you want to hear from ministers of God? Do you really want them to preach the undiluted word of God or that which will suit you? Do not let the prophecy of 2 Timothy 4:3 be fulfilled in your life. Do not encourage peddling of the word of God.

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 07Feb2009

If you are angry with a loved one, hug that person. And mean it. You may not want to hug - which is all the more reason to do so. It is hard to stay angry when someone shows he or she loves you, and that is precisely what happens when we hug each other. - Walter Anderson

Quote for the Day 06Feb2009

Perhaps your world has crashed around you. It may be a deeply personal loss, a tragedy in your family, or some other great trial. Jesus’ resurrection proved that He is greater than the greatest obstacles. He can rebuild your life—as He did with His disciples—starting today. — C. P. Hia

Quote for the Day 05Feb2009

If Christ were to take His five wise virgins now, would you go with Him? If you are not sure, list the things that could hinder you. Deal with them now. – EA Adeboye

Quote for the Day 04Feb2009

To every a Christian heading towards the land of Canaan stands the Red Sea, the Jordan River and the wilderness. To avoid the three is to keep away from the destination - Promise Land. - Bayo Oladeji

Quote for the Day 03Feb2009

When life suddenly changes and you're fighting just to get through another day, remind yourself that Satan hasn't snatched the steering wheel from God. No, God is aware of what you're going through and He still has a plan for your life. Be encouraged. You gain through your pain. Victory is born out of struggle. Hold on to His hand; He will bring you through this! - Bob Gass

Quote for the Day 02Feb2009

The only sure way of escape you have in the day of your adversity is your integrity. Maintain in your integrity no matter how long the storm last. - Simeon Idachaba

WHEN EVIL IS THOUGHT AGAINST YOU

Dearly Beloved,

WHEN EVIL IS THOUGHT AGAINST YOU

“As for you, you thought evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring about that many people should be kept alive, as they are this day” (Genesis 50:20, AMP).

The Bible in many places states that the hearts of men are evil (see Genesis 6:5; 8:21; Job 15:14-16; Psalm 51:5; 53:1-3; Ecclesiastes 9:3; Jeremiah 17:9; Matthew 15:19). With cause or without cause, evil thoughts are planned against other people. People have suffered, and are still suffering, from such evil thoughts perpetrated in the hearts of men. However, most of these evil thoughts and suffering are for the good of those that love God. On most occasions, God permits those evil thoughts to happen against His loved ones to bring out His best in them. This has been one of the problems of evil on earth. The antagonists of the Bible, and even of God, are ready to point out this.

Nevertheless, the life history of Joseph gives a clue to this. The elder brothers of Joseph hated him because of the love of their father for him and because of his dreams. When they had the opportunity, they planned to kill him so that his dreams would not be fulfilled. They later changed their minds and sold him into slavery in Egypt. In Egypt, Joseph was imprisoned because of the evil thoughts of the wife of his master. Even when the opportunity came for him to be freed from the prison, the person that ought to help him did not remember him. However, at God’s appointed time, he rose to prominence. His brothers became his subjects. In spite of the fact that Joseph had forgiven them, their consciences did not. They needed the assurance of Joseph’s forgiveness. So, in their deceit, they sent a message to Joseph to remind him of their father’s plea on their behalf. Joseph was sad that his brothers had not forgiven themselves. In response, he explained to them that their evil thoughts against him were actually God’s good plan for his life and the relief of many souls.

Are you suffering because of the evil thoughts of some people? Endure the suffering. God is working through the suffering to bring out the best out of you. When Joseph was passing through all his hardships, he did not know that it was for his good, but later, he knew. Apostle Paul assured, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28, NASB). Therefore, when evil is thought against you, or even when evil happens to you, God wants to bring something better out of it. That best thing will soon happen in your life in Jesus’ name. Amen.

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).