Quote for the Day 31Mar2010

Thank God for His faithfulness in this past three months in the year 2010. The Lord will continue to glorify Himself in your life as you enter the second quarter of the year. He is faithful, and He will do it in your life in Jesus’ name. Amen. - Bayo Afolaranmi

Quote for the Day 30Mar2010

Do not try to buy your child’s affection. You will only end up paying later. God corrects His children; you need to correct yours! - Bob Gass

Quote for the Day 29Mar2010

When you face your fear, most of the time you will discover that it was not really such a big threat after all. We all need some form of deeply rooted, powerful motivation - it empowers us to overcome obstacles so we can live our dreams. - Les Brown

YOUR ENEMIES WILL NOT DIE

Dearly Beloved,

YOUR ENEMIES WILL NOT DIE

“As King David approached Bahurim, ...Shimei son of Gera... cursed as he came out. He pelted David and all the king's officials with stones” (2 Samuel 16:5-6 NIV).

“When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell prostrate before the king” (2 Samuel 19:18b NIV).

There is a notorious trend among some Christians and Christian denominations: cursing one’s perceived enemies and wishing them dead. However, this trend is unscriptural and it is making one to revenge instead of leaving revenge to God who has promised to do so accordingly (see Romans 12:17-21; Leviticus 19:8; Hebrews 10:30; Matthew 5:43-48; Luke 6:32-36). Apart from this, many instances from the Bible and history have shown that it is better for the enemies to live long and not only see one’s betterment, but even come and enjoy part of that betterment at the mercy of the person they have hated with passion.

Shimei son of Gera from the tribe of Benjamin was apologist of Saul’s reign during the reign of David as the king of Israel. An opportunity came for him to openly insult David when Absalom, one of David’s sons tried to overthrow him. As David and the men that were loyal to him were running for their lives, Shimei came and to curse David and accuse him of the fall of Saul. He even “pelted David and all [his] officials with stones.” Abishai, one of David’s warriors wanted to go and kill Shimei, but David did not allow him. David rather allowed God to vindicate him. Shimei did his worst that day. He probably later joined the armed forces of Absalom that fought the men of David. Although there were many casualties in the camp of Absalom before the death of Absalom and victory of the men of David, Shimei was alive to witness the return of David to the throne. Shimei later came to apologize to David, and his continued living was at the mercy of David.

The story of Joseph and his brothers is a classic one. If the bothers who were obvious enemies of Joseph had died before his elevation in Egypt, and if their continued living was not at the mercy of Joseph, the story would not be instructive enough.

You do not need to pray for the death or misfortune of your enemies. Rather, pray that God should elevate you above your enemies. Your enemies will not die! They will live to see the goodness of God in your life, and they will come to apologize to you for their hatred. The Lord will indeed glorify Himself in your life in Jesus’ name. Amen.

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor)

Quote for the Day 27Mar2010

The Lord has given man His Word,

His will He has made known;

Let man not try to change that Word

With words that are his own.

- D. De Haan

Quote for the Day 26Mar2010

Make up your mind to let no one stand in the way of doing what God has called you to do. Your first calling is to please the Lord, not others. - Bob Gass

Quote for the Day 24Mar2010

Not to the strong is the battle, not to the swift is the race; Yet to the true and the faithful victory is promised through grace! - S. Martin

NO CURSE, BUT...

Dearly Beloved,

NO CURSE, BUT...

“No misfortune is seen in Jacob, no misery observed in Israel. The LORD their God is with them.... There is no sorcery against Jacob, no divination against Israel” (Number 23:21-23 NIV).

“While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate and bowed down before these gods. So Israel joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor. And the LORD's anger burned against them” (Numbers 25:1-3 NIV).

As the Israelites were about to enter the Promised Land after forty years of wandering in the wilderness in their exodus from the land of slavery, Balak, the king of Moab hired Balaam, a diviner, to come and curse the Israelites so that he, Balak, could wage war against the Israelites and defeat them. However, Balaam knew that the Israelites were blessed people of God and that they could not be cursed. He reluctantly came to do the evil assignment, though on the condition that if he was allowed by God to curse the Israelites. It was evident from his four oracles that the people of Israel could not be cursed. In fact, he blessed them on each occasion that Balak wanted him to curse them to the displeasure of Balak. He categorically said in one of his oracles that there was no curse against the Israelites because their God was with them. However, he knew another way that the Lord could turn against His blessed people: sin! He taught Balak to make the Moabite women entice the Israelites into sexual immorality and idolatry (see Numbers 25:1-3; 31:16; Revelation 2:4). This made God to be angry with His people, and 24,000 people died among the Israelites on a single day. What a curse could not do, sin easily did!

There is no curse, sorcery, divination or any kind of evil planned or invoked against any true child of God that will come to pass (see Isaiah 54:17). However, in spite of the fact that sin does not bring every calamity, it can bring a devastating havoc on any errant child of God. Satan knows that God builds a fortified edge round His beloved ones, but he also knows that he can wreak his havoc on any wayward Christian.

Are you wayward in your relationship with God? You are giving the devil an opportunity to operate in your life. Beware that YOU will not loosen the fortified edge that God has built round you. No curse, but....

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 20Mar2010

You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore. - Christopher Columbus

Quote for the Day 19Mar2010

Those who live worry free are those who keep casting their burdens on the Lord until it becomes as natural to them as breathing! - Bob Gass

Quote for the Day 18Mar2010

You need not be afraid because God, who neither slumbers nor sleeps, is watching over you 24 hours a day! - Joseph Prince

Quote for the Day 17Mar2010

Can you say you agree with many facts in the written Word but you have not said yes to Christ, the Living Word? Then do it now, and Jesus will turn your head knowledge into a life-changing heart knowledge. - Joanie Yoder

Quote for the Day 15Mar2010

The LORD does not delight in serving Him as much as in obeying Him because to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. - Prophet Samuel (adapted from 1 Samuel 15:22)

Quote for the Day 14Mar2010

Listening to Jesus entails total obedience to His commands and wills for one’s life especially in one’s day-to-day activities. - Bayo Afolaranmi

“LISTEN TO HIM!”

Dearly Beloved,

“LISTEN TO HIM!”  

“Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters-one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!’” (Matthew 17:4-5 NIV).

Many people nowadays enjoy being in the presence of God (in churches, prayer mountains, camps, religious conferences and seminars, and the like) serving Him and most especially praying (and possibly fasting) to Him for one thing or the other. However, most of these people are not ready to listen to and obey Jesus Christ in that presence of God and in their day-to-day activities. 

This was the error about which God corrected Peter and the other two disciples when Jesus Christ was transfigured in their presence on a mountain. They were so overwhelmed with the experience that Peter suggested that they should remain there. However, God reaffirmed His declaration that Jesus Christ is His beloved Son in whom He is well pleased, and that they should listen to Him. Listening to Jesus entails total obedience to His commands and wills for one’s life especially in one’s day-to-day activities. No wonder, He led the disciples to where they could really listen to Him.

It is good to be in the presence of God and worship Him. It is good to serve Him in any way we can. However, it is better to listen to Him and obey Him in our day-to-day activities. Going to churches, prayer mountains, camps, religious conferences and the likes to worship God without listening to Him and obeying His commands is like wasting one’s precious time. Samuel candidly told Saul: Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams (1 Samuel 15:22 NIV). Jesus Christ also said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command” (John 14:15 NIV). Note that He did not say, “You will serve me,” though serving Him is also good, but listening to Him and obeying His commands are more paramount.

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 13Mar2010

When trials overwhelm our souls

And tempt us to despair,

We need to reach out to the Lord

And trust His tender care.

- Sper

Quote for the Day 12Mar2010

You cannot change the people around you...but you can change the people you are around! Ask God for wisdom and discernment and choose wisely the people who sit in the FRONT ROW of your life. - Baba Isiaka

Quote for the Day 11Mar2010

Lord, by Your Spirit grant that we
May live with such integrity
That when we simply give our word
No one will doubt what has been heard.
- D. De Haan

Quote for the Day 10Mar2010

Do not measure a man’s success by how high he climbs but how high he bounces when he hits bottom. - George S. Patton

Quote for the Day 08Mar2010

Many things in life are expensive and costly, but words are cheap. They cost nothing except learning when and how to use them. - Dee Kilough

Quote for the Day 07Mar2010

What has happened to you before, and what is happening to you presently that make it seems as if everything is against you? Have you allowed those events to weigh you down? Have you lost all hope because of all these events? God is at work in everything that happens to you. Everything is indeed working for you! - Bayo Afolaranmi

IS EVERYTHING AGAINST YOU?

Dear Beloved,

IS EVERYTHING AGAINST YOU?

"Their father Jacob said to them, 'You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!'" (Genesis 42:36, NIV).

Jacob had lost his dearest wife, Rachel, when she was giving birth to her second son, Benjamin (see Genesis 35:16-19; 48:7). The other half-brothers of her first son, Joseph, who had been very dear to Jacob, sold Joseph into slavery and deceived their father that a wild animal killed him (i.e. Joseph). They even came with a convincing evidence of bloodstained cloth of Joseph (see Genesis 37:31-35). Undoubtedly, Jacob was still mourning the demise of his dear son when another tragedy struck - Simeon was imprisoned in Egypt for no reason. To compound his distress, the other sons wanted to take Benjamin, the only source of joy for Jacob, as they were about to go back to Egypt, otherwise, they all would die of hunger because of famine. Jacob voiced out in agony: Everything is against me!

Indeed, one would agree with Jacob that everything was against him. However, was everything really against him? Absolutely no! God was working behind the scene to make everything works for him. Joseph confirmed this when his brothers came to beg him for the evil they had done him. Hear him: "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives" (Genesis 50:20, NIV). As a matter of fact, Jacob realized later on the working of God in all these events. He alluded to this in his discussion with Joseph (see Genesis 48).

What has happened to you before, and what is happening to you presently that make it seems as if everything is against you? Have you allowed those events to weigh you down? Have you lost all hope because of all these events? Paul has this to say: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28, NIV).

God is at work in everything that happens to you. Everything is indeed working for you!

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

NB

This message was first sent on February 20, 2005.

Quote for the Day 06Mar2010

Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it does not happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice. - Author Unknown

Quote for the Day 05Mar2010

There is a difference between simply being alive and living. We make a living by what we gain or get, but we make a life by what we give. - Author Unknown

Quote for the Day 04Mar2010

The Lord will bless you and watch over you. The Lord will smile on you and be kind to you. The Lord will look on you with favor and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26)

Quote for the Day 03Mar2010

The Lord of all creation has ordained that he would do His work through us. Our seeing the Spirit’s guidance and obeying what He wants us to do and say is the way He works to bless the world. - Lloyd Ogilvie

Quote for the Day 02Mar2010

The difference between extraordinary people and ordinary people is a simple as the difference between the two words. Extraordinary people are committed to doing the extra things that ordinary people will not. - Christine Kinney