Quote for the Day 01Mar2010

In this month of March, march on to your divine blessings, victory, favour, progress and successes in Jesus name. Amen. Happy new month! - Bayo Afolaranmi

"WHO IS BOLU?"

Dearly Beloved,

“WHO IS BOLU?”

“‘A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?’ says the LORD Almighty” (Malachi 1:6 NIV).

A drama usually repeats itself in my home recently. Because of valued respect that is in the Yoruba culture, my ten-year-old son, Boluwatife, wants his younger sister and the other two younger cousins living with us to be respecting him by calling him “Brother Bolu.” That is very normal in a family setting that still values the Yoruba culture. Whenever any of his siblings calls him “Bolu” without the respected title “brother,” he would angrily ask, “Who is Bolu?” The sibling would quickly (or even at times reluctantly) correct him/herself.

A similar scenario occurred in the history of the people of Israel. After the people returned from the Exile, they lost their love and respect for God. The Lord through Prophet Malachi then accused the people, especially the priests of not giving Him the respect due Him. The word “respect” here can also mean “reverential fear.” In the Mosaic Law, especially the Ten Commandment, disrespecting one’s parents is a grave sin (see Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16; 21:18-21). Disrespecting God, their heavenly Father would then be a greater sin.

Many people today also have lost their respect for God. They do not regard Him as God. Some will even say there is no God! Interestingly, these people continue to enjoy the goodness of God. Are such people waiting for the time He will demonstrate who He is really is to them before they acknowledge Him and give Him the respect due to Him?

What is your relationship with God? Do you really give Him the respect due to Him? Are you not too familiar with Him that He has lost your respect? Your relation to God, as your Father and Master or Lord (if you really believe that), strongly obliges you to fear and honour Him. One of the ways to do this is to obey Him and do His wills (see Luke 6:46; John 13:13-17; 15:14). Are you doing this?

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 27Feb2010

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God!
- R. Kelso Carter

Quote for the Day 26Feb2010

One step forward in obedience is worth years of study about it. - Oswald Chambers

Quote for the Day 25Feb2010

Success is not measured by heights attained but by obstacles overcome. We are going to pass through many obstacles in our lives: good days, bad days. But the successful person will overcome those obstacles and constantly move forward. - Bruce Jenner

Quote for the Day 24Feb2010

Ask God to help you never to pressurize Him to the point of giving you something below His best. Anytime your desire is below God's provision, ask to receive a 'No' for an answer. - EA Adeboye

Quote for the Day 23Feb2010

Accept who you are - completely; the good and the bad - and make changes as YOU see fit - not because you think someone else wants you to be different. - Stacey Charter

Quote for the Day 23Feb2010

Accept who you are - completely; the good and the bad - and make changes as YOU see fit - not because you think someone else wants you to be different. - Stacey Charter

DILIGENCE, IT IS!

Dearly Beloved,
DILIGENCE, IT IS!
“Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made everything the LORD commanded Moses; with him was Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan -- a craftsman and designer, and an embroiderer in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen” (Exodus 38:22-23 NIV).
“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2 NIV).
Many people would not want to serve in a place where they would not be noticed. They would prefer prominent positions where other people would see them and praise them for what they are doing. However, God, on many occasions, prefers to use people in seemingly obscured positions to accomplish His divine purposes and rewards them in His own way. What He requires of such people is diligence and faithfulness.
Bezalel and Oholiab are names that one rarely remembers when one is recounting the exodus of the people of Israel from the land of Egypt to the Promised Land. However, they played a prominent role in the religious experience of the people. They were the ones that led in building the tabernacle (otherwise known as “the Tent of Meeting”) and making of all the furnishing materials in and outside of it. They both led others in building these structures according to specifications as God commanded Moses. They were diligent and faithful in their service. No wonder, God “filled [them] with [His] Spirit..., with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts” (Exodus 31:3 NIV).
What has God committed into your hands? Are you an employer or an employee? Be faithful! Diligence, it is! Diligence is putting your possible best in whatever you do. You may not be noticed. But God notices you. He says, "Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life" (Revelation 2:10 NIV).
Yes! We are serving a faithful God! Great is His faithfulness. He may not reward your success, but He will certainly reward your faithfulness.
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
NB
PRAISE THE LORD, MY INTERNET MINISTRY IS SEVEN!
I give all glory, honour and majesty to God for making my Internet ministry exactly seven years old last Thursday February 18, 2010. Visit http://thewordthruthenet.blogspot.com/2010/02/praise-lord-my-internet-ministry-is.html to read my anniversary message.
God bless you!

Quote for the Day 20Feb2010

The majority of men meet with failure because of their lack of persistence in creating new plans to take the place of those which fail. - Napoleon Hill

Quote for the Day 18Feb2010

While there is great comfort in sharing our difficulties with a friend, we miss the greatest help if we fail to bring them to the Lord. - David C. McCasland

PRAISE THE LORD, MY INTERNET MINISTRY IS SEVEN!

Dearly Beloved,

PRAISE THE LORD, MY INTERNET MINISTRY IS SEVEN!

I give all glory, honour and majesty to God for making my Internet ministry exactly seven years old today. The ministry started as an email ministry to less than fifty people on February 18, 2003. Today, the email ministry has metamorphosed to an Internet ministry with many aspects ministering to thousands of people every day (visit http://www.thewordthruthenet.org/abouttheministry.php to know more about the ministry). Many people have been blessed by the ministry, and God has used many people to bless me through the ministry.

I appreciate all the people that God has blessed and that God is using to be a blessing through and in the ministry. The Lord will continue to bless you immeasurably in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Last year, as I celebrated the sixth anniversary of the ministry, I disclosed that I wanted to achieve two major goals before the last quarter of the year. The goals were having a brand new laptop for the ministry and publishing a book on the ministry. An individual singlehandedly provided the brand new laptop (that I am still using presently). People in the ministry contributed almost eighty percent of the cost of the production of the book on Internet ministry I published before the last quarter of the year (visit http://ministeringthroughtheinternet.blogspot.com/ to see the overview of the book). I am so grateful.

This year, I have three goals. One, a pastor friend in Uganda, East Africa that I met through this Internet ministry is planning to invite to his country for a ministry-related visit. From my preliminary findings, I will need at least one hundred and sixty thousand naira (N160,000.00) for the return ticket apart from other expenses before and during the visit. The proposed visit will be in the month of June, but I want to have everything for the visit by the end of April. Can you be of help in any way? Obviously, you may not be able to singlehandedly pay all the expenses, but your widow’s mite will go a long way.

Two, I need a Blackberry for the ministry. It is evident that having the device is not as difficult as maintaining it. I want a person (or group of persons) that will provide this device and be ready to be maintaining it for me. It will really ease my activities in the Internet ministry.

Three, I desire to reach out to more people especially through SMS ministry. This aspect is the most expensive out of all the aspects of the Internet ministry. Honestly, some people are doing their best in providing recharge numbers and other monetary resources for this ministry. I want more regular assistance from more people.

If you are led to be a part of any of these goals, contact me or visit http://www.thewordthruthenet.org/support.php to see ways you can send your assistance. Accept my wholehearted appreciation in advance.

As I normally do every year, here is the first message of the ministry:

Bayo Afolaranmi wrote:

Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2003 00:19:05 -0800 (PST)

From: Bayo Afolaranmi

Subject: WHAT DO YOU SEE?

To:

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

"We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them" (Number 13:33, NIV).

"The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good…. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them" (Numbers 14:7, 9, NIV).

These were the views of two groups that went to explore the land of Canaan. Undoubtedly, the two groups were saying the absolute things about what they saw in the land. The former is the carnal sight that did not see beyond the ordinary, while the latter is the spiritual sight that saw the extraordinary.

What do see in your situation? Is it the ordinary or the extraordinary? If you see only your situation, you are seeing only the ordinary, but if you believe, you will see beyond the situation. Jesus told Martha, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" (John 11:40, NIV). And Paul testified, "We know these things are true by believing, not by seeing [the ordinary]" (2 Corinthians 5:7, TLB).

See beyond the ordinary by believing in the Lord that He will help you, and He will be glorified in your life.

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 17Feb2010

Anyone who is angry with God is merely wasting his time. No matter how bad things appear, never get angry at the only One who can help you. - EA Adeboye

Quote for the Day 16Feb2010

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

Quote for the Day 15Feb2010

“Love is never glad when others go wrong. Love finds no pleasure in injustice, but rejoices in the truth. Love is always slow to expose, it knows how to be silent. Love is always eager to believe the best about a person. Love is full of hope, full of patient endurance; love never fails.” – Paraphrased from 1 Corinthians 13:6-8 by Eric Liddell

THE REAL VALENTINE

Dearly Beloved,

THE REAL VALENTINE

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers” (1 John 3:16 NIV).

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13 NIV).

Valentine’s Day is an annual celebration held on February 14 to commemorate love and affection between intimate companions. It is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting gifts like flowers, and other gifts, sending greeting cards and love text messages (SMS) and even love phone calls. There are many traditions about the origin and widespread acceptance of this celebration. From these traditions, there were some people that were coincidentally named Valentine between third and fourth centuries AD that were killed because of their love-related actions.

As this celebration is observed every year, how many of the people that believe in it and celebrate it are ready to lay down their lives for their so-called loved ones? Many people are preoccupied with the material or financial gifts they will give or get during the celebration. Many have even turned the celebration to a time of satisfying their sexual and lustful desires. The men bearing the name Valentine in the olden days that made us to be celebrating the Valentine’s Day annually were known for their sacrificial love. They had a love that cost them even their lives for their loved ones.

There is Somebody who sacrificially loves. He is the supreme Valentine of all time. He is the Lord Jesus Christ who because of His love for mankind “did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:6-8 NIV).

Anyone that would want to celebrate the Valentine’s Day must be ready to do anything, even death, for his/her loved one. The celebration must be with a sacrificial love. That is the real Valentine. Happy Valentine’s Day!

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 13Feb2010

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 12Feb2010

O for a love that knows no end,

A love that is strong and pure,

Reaching afar to both foe and friend,

So deep it will always endure.

- R. De Haan

Quote for the Day 11Feb2010

Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver. – Barbara De Angelis

Quote for the Day 10Feb2010

I am convinced that the greatest act of love we can ever perform for people is to tell them about God's love for them in Christ. - Billy Graham

Quote for the Day 09Feb2010

If you cannot love and respect yourself - no one else will be able to make that happen. - Stacey Charter

Quote for the Day 08Feb2010

Fear less, hope more. Eat less, chew more. Whine less, breathe more. Talk less, say more. Love more and all good things will be yours. - Swedish Proverb

AN INTERRUPTING BLESSING

Dear Beloved,

AN INTERRUPTING BLESSING

"While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. `Your daughter is dead,' they said. `Why bother the teacher any more?' Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, `Don't be afraid; just believe'" (Mark 5:35-36, NIV).

The story of the raising of Jairus' daughter from the dead as recorded by two of the Gospel writers (Mark 5 and Luke 8) is a fascinating one. Jesus had just crossed over the lake from where he was rejected because He healed a demon-possessed man when a large crowd of people gathered around Him. Among these people was a synagogue ruler who came to beg Jesus to come and heal his dying daughter. The man had faith that Jesus could rescue his daughter from the looming death. Jesus did not hesitate in following him to go and save the daughter. The other aimless crowd also followed them.

As they were going, there was an interruption: a woman with a flow of blood intercepted Jesus and received her healing from the twelve-year- long problem. The dialogue that followed made Jesus to wait more before He could go to where He intended to go and rescue the dying child.

Alas, as they were there discussing about the faith of the healed woman, somebody came from Jairus' house to disclose the sad news: the child had died. There was no need to bother Jesus. The news bearer reasoned. What would have been the reaction of Jairus? Probably, if there was no interruption, Jesus would have reached the house and rescued the child before she died. However, Jesus encouraged him to have faith.

In spite of the unbelief and ridicule of the people, Jesus still went to the house and raised the child from the dead. The seemingly interruption turned out to be a blessing both to the interrupting woman and Jairus.

Have you also called on God to do something for you? Does it seem that He is delaying in answering you? Do not lose hope! He is on His way. Who knows, He might have been "interrupted" by another person. However, the "interruption" will turn out to be a blessing for you. Probably you want God to rescue you from a small problem. He may allow it to become bigger, even without hope, before He acts, so that His name will be glorified. Remember Lazarus' story. Jesus deliberately waited for more two more days to bring glory to God. Your "interruption" will also be a blessing to you, and glory to God. Just wait and believe.

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

NB

This message was first posted on June 12, 2005.

Quote for the Day 06Feb2010

The future belongs to the risk takers, not the security seekers. The more you seek security, the less of it you will have and the more you pursue opportunity, the more security you will achieve. - Brian Tracy

Quote for the Day 05Feb2010

The world of religion, economics and politics is in utter confusion. The need of the hour is men from God with a message from God. Anything else is secondary. Only such men can take the world back to God! Will you accept this challenge? - from StanleyOnBible.com

Quote for the Day 04Feb2010

When you refuse to worry, but choose to rest in the finished work of Christ, you will see the manifestation of your blessing. You will see your miracle! - Joseph Prince

Quote for the Day 03Feb2010

When I study God’s Word, my first question should not be, “What am I going to say about this?” but “What am I going to do about this?” - David C. McCasland