Quote for the Day 30Sept2010

Whatever you are doing today, cultivate an attitude of praise. Let your joy in the Lord reverberate to others. You never know who you might encourage. - Cindy Hess Kasper

Quote for the Day 29Sept2010

We all know that once we spend money, it is gone from our control. Our life is like money in the sense that once we spend it, it leaves our control. - Dee Kilough

Quote for the Day 28Sept2010

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 27Sept2010

You will be tested by major challenges: delayed promises, impossible problems, unanswered prayer, undeserved criticism, and even senseless tragedies. - Rick Warren

THE TRUE INDEPENDENCE

Dearly Beloved,
THE TRUE INDEPENDENCE
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.... So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:32, 36 NIV).
By October 1, 2010 (this coming Friday), Nigeria will celebrate its fifty years of independence as a sovereign nation. Many activities will be done to celebrate this golden jubilee. It is a fact that on October 1, 1960, Britain declared Nigeria an independent state. Interestingly, many African countries also gained political independences in the year 1960. However, are Nigeria and these other African countries really independent? Politically, they are, but they are not in many ramifications. In fact, many people have been debating whether there is anything to celebrate on October 1, 2010. The thrust of this message is not to join the debate, but to highlight how Nigeria, the other countries, their citizens and any other person can have a true independence.
Many of the supposed leaders of these African countries enslave the people they are leading by their selfishness and anti-people activities. True independence will come when the leaders are people-centred and are ready to really serve the people they are leading. Rehoboam lost most part of his inherited kingdom of Israel when he refused to serve the people (see 1 Kings 12). An individual that wants to be truly independent and enjoy the goodness of God must be ready to put other people’s interest above his/her own (see Philippians 2:1-5) and be ready to serve them (Galatians 5:1, 13).
Many political, traditional, and even spiritual leaders have led their people astray. They are blind guides leading blind men, and “If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit” (Matthew 15:14 NIV. See also Isaiah 9:16; Luke 6:39). To have true independence, our political leaders must be cured of their blindness and lead the people rightly. Likewise, an individual that wants true independence in his/her life should open his/her spiritual eyes to see where his/her Creator is leading him/her.
True independence can be found only in Jesus Christ. When the Jews were proving to be independent, He declared to them, “...you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32 NIV). He is the truth (see John 14:6), no wonder, He added, “So if the Son [Jesus Christ] sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8: 36 NIV). There is no true independence like the freedom that Jesus Christ gives (see also Luke 4:18-19; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Romans 8:1-2). Do you have this freedom?
Wishing Nigerians happy golden jubilee of Nigeria’s independence! Many happy returns of the day.
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 21Sept2010

If we make holiness our goal, we will attain happiness; if we make happiness our goal, we will search a life time and never find it. - Dennis De Haan

Quote for the Day 20Sept2010

Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps, if you are not willing to move your feet. - Author Unknown

THE KING COULD NOT SLEEP

Dear Beloved,
THE KING COULD NOT SLEEP
"That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him" (Esther 6:1, NIV).
Let me wish you this: "Your benefactor will not be able to sleep! He who will help you will not have rest!" Can you say Amen to it? Please do emphatically. Is this a good wish? Yes, it is. However, the wish has to be modified to remove any form of doubt from it. "Your benefactor will not be able to sleep or rest until he/she really helps you!" Amen and Amen.
The above passage rekindles this wish in me. Mordecai was a Jewish captive in the city of Susa. He was one of the gatemen in the palace of King Xerxes of Persia. He had uncovered a conspiracy that two of the king's servants were planning against the king. This was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king (see Esther 2:21-23). Nevertheless, he was not rewarded in anyway for this. When Haman, an enemy of the Jews was planning to destroy the Jews because of Mordecai, the king could not sleep that night. The inability to sleep of the king made him to order his servants to bring the book of the record of his reign to him. As they were reading the records, the action of Mordecai was mentioned. The king inquired about the reward that Mordecai received for it. When he realized that he has not been rewarded, he ordered Haman to honor him accordingly. The inability to sleep of the king brought honor and recognition to Mordecai.
There was a similar incidence when Samuel went to anoint one of the sons of Jesse as the next king of Israel. Jesse had forgotten David, his youngest son taking care of the sheep in the field. When Samuel got to know that there still remained one more son of Jesse, he said, "Send for him; WE WILL NOT SIT DOWN until he arrives" (1 Samuel 16:11, NIV). Samuel and others did not sit down until David came, and was anointed king of Israel.
Can you deduce anything from the two incidents? The benefactors could not rest until they actually did what they suppose to do. Your benefactors will not be able to rest until they have actually help you!
If God is putting it in your mind to be a benefactor to any one, have you actually done what God wants you to do to that person? If you also want rest, you have to do it today! Remember, the king could not sleep….
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

NB
This message was first sent out on November 7, 2004.

Quote for the Day 16Sept2010

You will not be able to flee successfully from sexual immorality if you are not pursuing righteousness diligently. - Gbile Akanni

Quote for the Day 15Sept2010

No matter how hot the conflict, the Lord is ready to intervene at the right moment. He is always standing by to provide a way to escape. - Paul Van Gorder

Quote for the Day 13Sept2010

You will not be able to walk closely with God unless you see sin as He sees it. Darkness and light cannot coexist. Run from the darkness to the light! - Henry Blackaby

YOUR SILENT YEARS

Dearly Beloved,
YOUR SILENT YEARS
“And Jesus increased in wisdom (in broad and full understanding) and in stature and years, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52 AMP).
The writers of the Gospels did not write much about the early years of Jesus Christ on earth. Apart from His birth narratives (Matthew 1:18—2:23; Luke 1:26-38; 2:1-39) and an incident when He was twelve years old (see Luke 2:42-52), nothing is known about Him from the Bible until He was about thirty years old (see Luke 3:23). Some Bible scholars have referred to these unknown years as the silent years of Jesus Christ on earth. Luke used just a verse to describe these silent years (see Luke 2:52). Almost all other Bible characters had their silent years. Much is not known about the early years of most of these people. These silent years were years when God was preparing each of these great men and women. Most of them did not have the best of time like Jesus in their silent years, but after God had prepared them in various ways secretly, He launched them into their public missions.
Undoubtedly, each one of us nowadays also has our own silent years when no one knew about us before now that we become known. In fact, many people are even still in their silent years. They are not renowned. God is still preparing them for the manifestation of His glory in their lives. Such people are still like caterpillars in their cocoons. They are waiting for the mature time to rip open the cocoons and become beautiful butterflies. Any attempt to open the cocoons prematurely will cause a very adverse effect on the growing butterflies.
Are you still in your silent years? God is preparing you for the manifestation of His glory in your life. The preparation may not be pleasant now. However, wait till when God is done with you. Do not be in a hurry. You will indeed shine for His glory, and people will celebrate you.
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
NB
MY TWO-WEEK MINISTRY-RELATED VISIT TO MOZAMBIQUE
I thank God for my two-week ministry-related visit to Mozambique. I mainly interacted with students and staff of an evangelical theological seminary and some Christian youth in the capital city of the country. My focus of interaction was the introduction of practical ways of using the Internet in Christian ministries. It was a time of refreshing and blessings of God to the people I met in Mozambique and even to me and my ministry. (If you are on Facebook, visit http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=213674&id=504257534 to view some of the moments in pictures.)
I am very grateful for the people that provided the resources I used for the visit, and people that prayed with/for me before, during and after the visit. Thank you very much.
I am looking forward for more of such refreshing experiences in the near future.
God bless you!

Quote for the Day 07Sept2010

Repentance is not only for hardened sinners but also for deeply sensitive saints who want nothing to come between them and their Lord. - Dennis De Haan

IF GOD DOES NOT ANSWER YOUR PRAYERS...

Dearly Beloved,
IF GOD DOES NOT ANSWER YOUR PRAYERS...
“Why won't God give me what I ask? Why won't he answer my prayer? If only he would go ahead and kill me! If I knew he would, I would leap for joy...” (Job 6:8-10 TEV).
It is evident from the Bible and life experiences that God does not answer all prayers, even those of His righteous ones! Job was a righteous man. God, Himself, testified to this when Satan tried to accuse Job (see Job 1:8; 2:3). However, God allowed Satan to tempt Job by destroying everything Job had, including his children. Satan even “inflicted loathsome sores on Job from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head” (Job 2:7 NRSV). In his agony, Job prayed that God should kill him, at least to save him from all these suffering (see Job 6:8-10). God did not answer the prayer. To add insult to Job’s injury, his friends were accusing him and his dead children of wrongdoing against God. In spite of Job’s travail and the seeming silence of God to his plight, Job remained steadfast in his faith in God. He could still declared, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him” and “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth” (Job 13:15; 19:25 NIV). It was as if he knew about this God’s promise: “For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome” (Jeremiah 29:11 AMP). God did bless Job in multiple folds at the end of the day. Instead of doing what seemed better to Job, God did His best for him!
On many occasions, God has deliberately refused to answer the prayers of His righteous ones. These people would be bitter that God does not do what they seem good for them. It takes spiritual maturity to accept the refusal of God for one’s request especially when one is passing through unpleasant life challenges. One may think that one’s request is the best while God has a better plan than one’s best request.
If God does not answer your prayers, what would you do? Would you still remain steadfast in your faith in Him? Are you ready to take His refusal for your request in anticipation for His better plan for you?
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).