OUR PRAYERS FOR YOU IN THE YEAR 2012

Dearly Beloved,
OUR PRAYERS FOR YOU IN THE YEAR 2012
Praise the Lord for witnessing another year 2012!
As usual, Opeyemi (my wife) and our children (Boluwatife, IfeOluwa, Michael and Abraham) are joining me to welcome you into the New Year with these prophetic prayers adapted from Psalm 126 (BBE):
- The Lord will change your story for the better this year;
- He will fill your mouth with laughter, and your tongue with a glad cry;
- You will labour and eat the fruits of your labour;
- You will testify among the people this year that the Lord has done great things for you;
- People will indeed rejoice with you this year in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Happy and prosperous New Year!
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor),
Baptist Building, Oke Bola,
PMB 5113, Ibadan 200001, Nigeria.
+234 805 515 9591
+234 816 304 5450
BBPIN:27C6552C
http://www.thewordthruthenet.org/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spiritualdigest2003/
http://www.facebook.com/afolabayo
http://www.twitter.com/spiritualdigest/
http://inspirationaldailyquotes.blogspot.com/
http://smspastorbayo.blogspot.com/

NB
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Quote for the Day 31Dec2011

As you reflect on the events over the last year, remember, the storms you have encountered have only made you stronger. You are wiser, you are more alive, and you are headed for victory. Your brightest days are right out in front of you! Always remember that with God on your side, nothing can hold you back! - Victor Akerele

Quote for the Day 30Dec2011

When you take your burden to God, there is an assurance that He will lift them but you need patience to wait because God will never tell you when He will do so. This is where many lose out as they expect a fast food solution. - Bayo Oladeji

Quote for the Day 29Dec2011

Church leaders have a big responsibility to watch over our souls, for one day they will give an account to the Lord for their work among us. Let’s bring them joy now by responding to their faithful, godly leadership with obedience and submission. - Marvin Williams

Quote for the Day 28Dec2011

Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are. - Malcom Forbes

Quote for the Day 27Dec2011

By Gods grace, you will make it to the Promise Land. You will not die in the wilderness. The Lord will make a way for you so that you can see and taste the goodness of the land in Jesus’ name. Amen. - Bayo Afolaranmi

Quote for the Day 26Dec2011

Only those who have placed their faith in Christ are prepared to meet their Maker. – Author Unknown

Quote for the Day 25Dec2011

On that first Christmas night, the shepherds abided in their duty post on the field when the heavenly messenger appeared to them and brought them good tidings of great joy (see Luke 2:8-10). This Christmas season, as you also abide in your assigned duty post, the Lord will bring unto you good tidings that will give you great joy. You will share these with other people, and they will rejoice with you for the goodness of God in your life in Jesus’ name. Amen. Be lifted up. Be refreshed. Be inspired and empowered to make a different this Christmas. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year (2012) in advance. - Supo Ayokunle

GOD IS STILL FAITHFUL!

Dearly Beloved,
GOD IS STILL FAITHFUL!
“It is because of the Lord’s mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great and abundant is your stability and faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23 AMP).
“But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not ‘Yes’ and ‘No’” (2 Corinthians 1:18 NIV).
Apostle Paul planned to visit the church at Corinth, but some circumstances beyond his control hindered him from doing so. It seemed the church doubted his sincerity. His adversaries there sought all occasions to blemish his character, and reflect upon his conduct; and, it seemed, they took hold of this to reproach his person and discredit his ministry. In emphasising his commitment to what he planned to do for the Corinthians in his second epistle to them, he used the faithfulness of God as example. When God promises to do anything, He will do it. He is not the type of person that is not consistent with His words. In fact, Jeremiah exclaimed, “It is because of the Lord’s mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great and abundant is your stability and faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23 AMP).
God is indeed faithful to His promises for His children. His words are “yes” and “Amen.” He will certainly do what He promised that He will do, because “the one who calls you is faithful and he will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24 NIV. See also Hebrews 10:23).
Has God promised to do something for you this year? Have you lost hope in Him or are you doubting Him? He is faithful, and He will do it. Continue to rely on Him because as late as the year is, God can still surprise you. The Yorubas have this saying: “Oorun ti o ku ni oke yii si to aso i gbe.” Literally meaning “the sun that remains in the sky can still dry a wet cloth.” In other words, there is still hope in a seemingly hopeless situation! The fulfilment of the promise of God may tarry, but it will surely come. No matter the case, God is still faithful! Do you believe this? If you have faith, you will see the glory of God (cf. John 11:40).
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 24Dec2011

I know by faith in whom I have believed,
I know that God’s free gift I have received,
I know that He will keep me to the end,
My Savior, my Redeemer, and my Friend.
- Anon

Quote for the Day 23Dec2011

God can use what little we have, when surrendered to Him, to do great things. God is not looking for people with great abilities, but for those who are dedicated to following and obeying Him. - Albert Lee

Quote for the Day 22Dec2011

Our life and blessing is to bring God glory. Delay is not denial. When our blessings are delayed by God it is to bring greater glory to Him. - EA Adeboye

Quote for the Day 21Dec2011

Come on. Stop hiding from success because you are afraid to fail. Failure means you are a learner, not a loser. Stop fearing risk! Take God's hand, step out and fulfil His purpose for your life. - Bob Gass

Quote for the Day 20Dec2011

Not I but Christ be honored, loved, exalted;
Not I but Christ be seen, be known, be heard;
Not I but Christ in every look and action;
Not I but Christ in every thought and word.
- Whiddington

Quote for the Day 19Dec2011

Celebrating a right Christmas requires that you make Jesus the Object of worship and love Him with all your heart, mind and strength. Let this Christmas be a season of your true worship of God. - Victor Akerele

THE MYSTERY OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST

Dearly Beloved,
THE MYSTERY OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6 NIV).
We are in another Christmas season! It is a season set apart to commemorate the birth of our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ over two thousand years ago. The season is one of the most celebrated seasons throughout the world. There have been many arguments for and against the season. Some say that the season has a pagan origin. Others rightly observe that December 25 could not be the birthday of Jesus Christ. Most people that celebrate it devote the season to the birth of Jesus Christ. However, no matter your position about the season, have you ever pondered on the mystery of the birth of Jesus Christ? What was special in His birth?
The Child that was born in Bethlehem by the Virgin Mary is the King of kings. The Son that was given to us is the Creator of the heavens and earth. As the Mighty God, He is so powerful that He did not need any help to carry the government of this world on His shoulders. He was born as an ordinary new-born baby, but He is the Everlasting Father. He is the Wonderful Counsellor and the Prince of Peace.
The birth of this special Child has brought light, peace and joy to the lives of many people, especially people that put their total trust in Him. He is ruling and reigning in their lives now. But He will rule and reign over the whole universe one day when His kingdom will have no end.
It does not matter whether you believe in the celebration of Christmas, the supposed birthday of Jesus Christ, or not. What matter is: have you experienced the light, peace and joy that Jesus Christ brought to the world? Do you have His inner peace and joy? Are you sharing these light, peace and joy with other people? Are you shining His light to the darkness of the world? Will you rule and reign with Him when He finally establishes His eternal kingdom over the universe?
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year (2012) in advance!
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 17Dec2011

Your doubt cannot change your situation. What will change your situation is your faith. – Supo Ayokunle

Quote for the Day 16Dec2011

The Lord my Shepherd guards me well,
And all my wants are fed:
Amid green pastures made to lie,
Beside still waters led.
My care-worn soul grows strong and whole
When God’s true path I tread.
Though I should walk in darkest ways
Through valleys like the grave,
No evil shall I ever fear;
Your presence makes me brave.
On my behalf Your rod and staff
Assure me You will save.
(© Hope Publishing Co.)

Quote for the Day 15Dec2011

The wise men gave Jesus choice gifts. You are celebrating right Christmas when you give good gifts to people that are less privileged. Do not give gifts to only those who can give back to you. - Victor Akerele

Quote for the Day 14Dec2011

God knows you intimately! He knows your address. He knows your password and PIN numbers. He has your particulars and your details. All because He loves and cares for you. Yes you! - EA Adeboye

Quote for the Day 13Dec2011

When you find yourself in the storm of life, you have to build up your faith in such a way that it will not waver. – Supo Ayokunle

Quote for the Day 12Dec2011

Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent. - Marilyn vos Savant

THEY RISKED THEIR LIVES

Dear Beloved,

THEY RISKED THEIR LIVES

"Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them" (Romans 16:3-4 NIV).

A foreign missionary had an intimate friend. They had been together for quite a long time. The missionary really relied on this friend who was a native of the land. It happened that a persecution arose against the missionary because of a disagreement between him and the ruler of the land.
The persecution was so great that the life of the missionary was at stake. The native friend risked his life to rescue his missionary friend from this persecution by breaking all the protocol to see the ruler and appease him.

Aquila and Priscilla were good friends and co-workers with Paul, both in their trade of tent making and in the proclamation of the gospel. This really encouraged Paul as he continued to spread the good news. Not only this, they also risked their lives in identifying with Paul in his troubled times. They did not consider the danger of such action, but preferred to continue as co-workers with Paul. Their action attracted the gratitude of not only Paul, but also of the "churches of the Gentiles."

Epaphroditus (another co-worker of Paul) also received such commendation for "risking his life to make up for the help…" Philippians 2:30, NIV).

The Bible says, "…we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren" (1 John 3:16, NASB). In what way can you also risk your life for other people? A friend in need is a friend indeed.

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

NB
This message was first sent out on August 1, 2004.

Quote for the Day 10Dec2011

You cannot fail because you are precious and honourable to God. – Supo Ayokunle

Quote for the Day 09Dec2011

Life’s challenges sometimes seem impossible. Do you feel you are too weak to fight the battle? Do not give up! Keep your heart loyal to God, for He constantly watches over you, and He desires to demonstrate His strength in your life. - Henry Blackaby

Quote for the Day 08Dec2011

Appreciate again and again, freshly and naively, the basic goods of life, with awe, pleasure, wonder and even ecstasy, however stale these experiences may have become to others. - Abraham Maslow

Quote for the Day 07Dec2011

Not everything that happens is good, but God is able to work His plan despite everything that seems to be against it. God alone knows how to bring triumph out of disaster and joy out of pain. And He is doing this all the time for every believer. - Paul Adams

Quote for the Day 07Dec2011

Not everything that happens is good, but God is able to work His plan despite everything that seems to be against it. God alone knows how to bring triumph out of disaster and joy out of pain. And He is doing this all the time for every believer. - Paul Adams

Quote for the Day 06Dec2011

As you prepare to celebrate Christmas this season, do you have a place for Jesus Christ in your life? - Gold Anie

Quote for the Day 05Dec2011

We are never, never so much in danger of being proud as when we think we are humble. - C.H. Spurgeon

CONDUCT, NOT CONDOM (resent)

Dearly Beloved,
On December 3, 2006, I first sent out the message below to commemorate that year's World AIDS Day. There were many reactions both for and against the message. On Decemeber 5, 2009, I decided to resend it again to commemorate the year's World AIDS Day. Inasmuch as the situation of AIDS is still almost the same, I decide to send it out again to commemorate the year's World AIDS Day. Here is it:
CONDUCT, NOT CONDOM
"It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable" (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 NIV).
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), a clinical syndrome (a group of various illnesses that together characterize a disease) resulting from damage to the immune system caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), has been on the rampage since early 1980s. The unfortunate thing about it is that no cure has been found for it. Therefore, there have been many campaigns to prevent it and to manage it in the lives of those that it has infected or affected.
Because it is contacted mainly by sexual intercourse, the use of condom has been one of the ways advocated by many people to prevent the spread of this deadly disease. This has made many people to be more promiscuous. It even seems that people are promoting the use of condom to the detriment of being faithful to one's spouse, or total abstinence from sexual intercourse till marriage, which is the original will and purpose of God. However, research has shown that the use of condom is not totally safe to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. This new discovery has vindicated some religious organizations that preach total abstinence for unmarried people or faithfulness to one's spouse for married people as one of the ways to prevent the spread of the virus.
Recently, I was in a gathering where some representatives of an organization came to enlighten us more about the prevention and management of HIV/AIDS. These people were the first non-religious people to say it openly to my hearing that they do not advocate condom but conduct as a way of preventing the spread of the virus. To them, since condom is not totally safe, it is better to switch from condom to conduct - a manner in which an unmarried person will totally abstain from sexual intercourse, and where a married person will be faithful to his/her spouse.
Yes! Conduct is better than condom because apart from preventing you from that deadly virus and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), it will make you to do according to the will and purpose of God (Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 18:20; 20:10; Proverbs 6:24-35; Matthew 5:27-28; 1 Corinthians 6:9; Ephesians 5:3-5; Colossians 3:5-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; Hebrews 12:16; 13:4).
HIV/AIDS is real! Conduct yourself in godly ways and take note of other prevention of its spread so that you will not be infected by it.
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 03Dec2011

Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals. - Henry Ford

Quote for the Day 02Dec2011

There is one thing, and one thing only, that we can do for God: OBEY HIM! - Diann L. White

Prayer for the Day 01Dec2011

Before the end of this year, your breakthroughs that have been delayed will be speedily manifested and people will rejoice with you in Jesus’ name. Amen. - Bayo Afolaranmi

Quote for the Day 30Nov2011

It is not about knowing; it is about doing.
It is not about judging others; it is about ME judging myself.
It is not about teaching others; it is about ME doing and living what I teach.
- Femi Okunlola

Quote for the Day 29Nov2011

Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset. - Saint Francis de Sales

Quote for the Day 28Nov2011

Let your faith overcome your fear, and God will turn your worry into worship. - Author Unknown

FROM OBSCURITY TO LIMELIGHT

Dearly Beloved,
FROM OBSCURITY TO LIMELIGHT
“You have changed my sadness into a joyful dance; you have taken away my sorrow and surrounded me with joy” (Psalm 30:11 TEV).
“He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord” (Psalm 40:2-3 NIV).
Do you know that God can move you from obscurity to limelight? Do you know that He can turn your hopeless situation to a hopeful one? Yes! He can do it. He has done it before. He has been doing it now, and He will continue to do it.
God did it in the life of Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan, son of King Saul of Israel. After the death of Saul and Jonathan in battle, David became the king of Israel. Mephibosheth was not born lame, circumstance of the death of his father and grandfather made him lame at age 5 when his nurse was trying to save him (see 2 Samuel 4:4). He was left in obscurity in a town not popularly known (see 2 Samuel 9:3-4). An heir apparent became a fugitive in a strange land. An ordinary servant of his father was controlling his property. However, when God remembered him through King David, he was relocated to Jerusalem, the capital city of Israel; he started dining with the king, and all his property was restored to him fully (see 2 Samuel 9). He was taken from obscurity to limelight!
Many prominent men and women in history had been taken from obscurity to limelight. Even, presently, some of the most influential men and women are taken from obscurity to limelight. President Barak Obama of the United States was born to an unknown Kenyan immigrant. Today, he is the president of the most influential and most powerful nation in the world. President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria was of obscured background before he became the deputy governor of a state. Today, he is the president of the most populous black nation in the world.
You also can be brought from obscurity to limelight. No matter where you are now or what is happening to you, God can change your situation overnight. He will change your sadness into a joyful dance. He will take away your sorrow and surround you with joy. People will see and they will rejoice with you in Jesus’ name. Amen.
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 26Nov2011

No matter what kind of sorrow we experience, there is only one real comfort: the mercy of God. Only in it can we find comfort for our pain and peace for our troubled hearts. - Bill Crowder

Quote for the Day 25Nov2011

God can use inconveniences in our lives if we look at them as divine appointments. -Dave Branon

Quote for the Day 24Nov2011

The real measure of our wealth is how much we'd be worth if we lost all our money. - Benjamin Jowett

Quote for the Day 23Nov2011

The Lord does not depend on your pocket to bless you. He depends on your faith. - Victor Adebiyi

Quote for the Day 22Nov2011

What can you do right now to begin to turn your life around? The very first thing is to start making a list of things to be grateful for. - Joe Vitale

Quote for the Day 21Nov2011

We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude. - Cynthia Ozick

WHAT ARE YOU LIVING FOR?

Dearly Beloved,
WHAT ARE YOU LIVING FOR?
“I expect and hope that I will not fail Christ in anything but that I will have the courage now, as always, to show the greatness of Christ in my life here on earth, whether I live or die. To me the only important thing about living is Christ, and dying would be profit for me” (Philippians 1:20-21 NCV).
It has always been my desire to live for Christ and be a channel of His blessings to the humanity. This has been my driving force in everything I do, especially in every aspect of my Internet ministry. When I recently joined the BlackBerry network, I got connected with as many people as possible, and I have been using that network to fulfil my aspiration in life. However, it baffled me one day to see one of my BlackBerry contacts using the network to do a nefarious and unedifying act. It came to my notice also that some people have been using the network to harm other people.
Nefarious acts and atrocities are not limited to the use of BlackBerry devices. People are doing nefarious acts and perpetrating atrocities through other technological devices and means and even in other various ways. A typical example is what some people are posting on their Facebook pages, needless to mention numerous scam emails that some people send out every day to unsuspecting recipients. Such people are simply demonstrating what they are living for.
Apostle Paul categorically said it times without number in his epistles that his living was to advance the kingdom of God on earth and the well being of people with whom he came in contact. He was even ready to die for the Gospel!
What are you living for? What is paramount in your life? Are you living to be a channel of God’s blessings to people? Are you a source of joy and encouragement to them? Or are you living to be a source of the downfall of, or sorrow to other people? Your words, actions, and even, at times, inactions will determine what you are living for!
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21 NIV).
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
NB
If you are in the BlackBerry network, and you are not one of my BlackBerry contacts, you can invite me to be one, or send your BBPIN to me to invite you. Here is my BBPIN:27C6552C. You will be blessed that you did!

Quote for the Day 19Nov2011

Have the courage to say no. Have the courage to face the truth. Do the right thing because it is right. These are the magic keys to living your life with integrity. - W. Clement Stone

Quote for the Day 18Nov2011

Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm. - Winston Churchill

Quote for the Day 18Nov2011

Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm. - Winston Churchill

Quote for the Day 17Nov2011

Approach each day’s labour - whether at a job or doing another activity to help our family - with an awareness of the dignity and nobility God granted it in creation. - Randy Kilgore

Quote for the Day 16Nov2011

How different our lives are when we really know what is deeply important to us, and keeping that picture in mind, we manage ourselves each day to be and to do what really matters most - Stephen Covey

Quote for the Day 15Nov2011

To blatantly disregard God’s Word is to reject life itself. To obey God’s Word is the surest way to experience all that God has in store for us. - Henry Blackaby

Quote for the Day 14Nov2011

Even when our situation looks difficult, we can trust that God is leading. He already knows what we will need when we get there. - Dave Branon

SODOMY: THERE IS NO OTHER WORD FOR IT

Dearly Beloved,
SODOMY: THERE IS NO OTHER WORD FOR IT
“Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.” (Romans 1:26-28 NIV).
The Yorubas have a saying, “Ohun ti ko dara ko ni oruko meji. Ohun ti ko dara ko dara ni.” Literally, this means, “What is not good has no other name. What is not good is not good.” For a right thinking person throughout the world, the trend of same-sex marriage is detestable and an aberration of nature. However, the trend is gaining more ground every day. The supporters of this trend are of the opinion that there is nothing wrong in the fact that two grown-up people of the same sex agree to live together as “husband and wife”! Many countries of the world have legalized or recognized this. The United Nations has even passed a resolution in its support. The debate is still going on in many countries for and against the trend.
Interestingly, the trend is not new. It has been in existence for centuries. The word “sodomy” came from the homosexual act of the people of the city of Sodom in Genesis 19:5. The act was one of the reasons why God destroyed the city. Unfortunately, this did not serve as a warning to other people. In spite of God’s expressed laws against such act (see Leviticus 20:13; 18:22), even some of the people of Israel engaged in the act (Judges 19:22)! It is even unheard of that there are gay bishops now in some Christian denominations! Because people that perpetrate and support such act have closed their minds to right thinking, Apostle Paul, while addressing this issue, said thrice that “God gave them over to” their depraved minds.
It is of no use to dissuade the perpetrators and supporters of same-sex marriage from the act. A normal person would not think of such a thing, not to talk of doing or supporting it! Prophet Micah said, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you...” (6:8 NKJV). However, a note of warning should be sounded here: one who engages in sexual act with another person of the same sex and/or people who support such act will probably one day engage in and/or support other worse sexual perversions like incest and bestiality. There is no other word for it. “What is not good has no other name. What is not good is not good!”
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 12Nov2011

The Holy Ghost does not come upon methods, but upon men. He does not anoint machinery, but men. He does not work through organizations, but through men. He does not dwell in buildings, but men. He indwells the Body of Christ, directs its activities, distributes its forces, empowers its members. - Samuel Chadwick

Quote for the Day 11Nov2011

On this eleventh day of the eleventh month of the eleventh year in this millennium, the Lord will elevate you to a higher ground beyond your imagination in Jesus’ name. - Bayo Afolaranmi

Quote for the Day 10Nov2011

A careless word may kindle strife,
A cruel word may wreck a life,
A bitter word may hate instill,
A brutal word may smite and kill.
A gracious word may smooth the way;
A joyous word may light the day.
A timely word may lesson stress;
A loving word may heal and bless.
Words carry power.
Choose to use your wisely!
- Author Unknown

Quote for the Day 09Nov2011

Be not weary in your serving;
Do your best for those in need;
Kindnesses will be rewarded
By the Lord who prompts the deed.
- Anon

Quote for the Day 08Nov2011

Stealing is stealing no matter how and where you steal. Either from your mother, your family, your church or government, the act of stealing makes you a thief and it will attract a curse. - David Oyedepo

Quote for the Day 07Nov2011

Think of your resources: talent, time, knowledge. These are temporal and limited. But if you invest them with an eye toward eternity, these temporary things can have enduring impact. What is your focus? Now or forever? Invest in the future. It will not only have an eternal impact, but it will also change the way you view life each day. - Bill Crowder

NOW THANK WE ALL OUR GOD

Dearly Beloved,
NOW THANK WE ALL OUR GOD
“Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name” (1 Chronicles 29:13 NIV).
“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15 NIV).
A typical Yoruba Baptist cannot so easily forget the hymn, “A F’Ope F’Olorun.” The hymn is one of the most popular hymns among the Yoruba Baptists especially during a naming ceremony. It is sung to thank God for the new-born baby. However, the hymn – originally written in German by Martin Rinkart (1586–1649) titled “Nun dank­et al­le Gott“ and translated to English by Catherine Winkworth (1827–1878) before it was translated to Yoruba – is more than a naming ceremony hymn. It is a hymn that was testifying to the goodness of God especially in the time of a war. The lyrics of the hymn attest to this.
Stanza One is full of appreciation to God “with heart and hands and voices.” The reason is that God has done wondrous things in blessing us with countless gifts of love from our mothers’ arms till this moment. In Stanza Two, the composer of the hymn wanted this bounteous God to be near us through all our lives by keeping us in His grace, guiding us when we are perplexed, and saving us from all evils in this world. Meanwhile, Stanza Three continues to eulogize God. It gives a profound concept about God as the one eternal God who manifests Himself as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He is the one that the earth and the heavens will continue to adore both now and evermore. Amen.
In spite of the circumstance that led to the composition of this hymn, the hymn is full of praises of and thanksgiving to God. What is your circumstance presently? Learn to praise God for who He is, and thank Him for what He is doing in your life. Paul advised the Thessalonians, “...give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV). We can indeed thank God even during our most trying times. Thanks be to God!
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 05Nov2011

Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough. - Oprah Winfrey

Quote for the Day 04Nov2011

We must be ready to learn from one another, not claiming that we alone possess all truth and that somehow we have a corner on God. - Desmond Tutu

Quote for the Day 03Nov2011

If you have men who will only come if they know there is a good road, I don't want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all. - David Livingstone

Quote for the Day 02Nov2011

Just as the body grows in strength
With exercise each day,
Our spirit grows in godliness
By living life God’s way.
- D. De Haan

Quote for the Day 02Nov2011

Just as the body grows in strength
With exercise each day,
Our spirit grows in godliness
By living life God’s way.
- D. De Haan

Quote for the Day 02Nov2011

Just as the body grows in strength
With exercise each day,
Our spirit grows in godliness
By living life God’s way.
- D. De Haan

Quote for the Day 01Nov2011

Welcome to the month of thanksgiving. The Lord will indeed give you causes to thank Him before the end of the year in Jesus’ name. Amen. - Bayo Afolaranmi

Quote for the Day 31Oct2011

If we are to represent the Prince of Peace in our world, believers need to stop fighting with one another and practice peace. - Bill Crowder

THE EIGHTY-SIXTH PSALM

Dearly Beloved,
THE EIGHTY-SIXTH PSALM
“Hear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.... Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my cry for mercy” (Psalm 86:1, 6 NIV).
Psalm 86 was supposedly written by King David, though its placement among the psalms ascribed to “the Sons of Korah” made some people to doubt its Davidic authorship. However, its contents and layout resemble most of the psalms that are ascribed to David without any controversy. The writer of this psalm was undoubtedly in a danger, and he called on God to deliver him from his enemies.
The psalmist considered himself as somebody who is “poor and needy,” therefore, he prayed that God should hear and answer his prayers (verse 1). There are at least five different kinds of prayers in this psalm:
One, prayer of protection: because the psalmist was being attacked by people he regarded as “the arrogant” and “a band of ruthless men” in verse 14, his first prayer point was that God should guard his life (verse 2). He could attest to the fact that he was devoted to and trust in God, hence, this prayer.
Two, prayer for mercy: thrice in this psalm, the psalmist cried out to God for mercy (verses 3, 6, 16). He knew that only God could grant him mercy.
Three, prayer of forgiveness: the psalmist regarded God as a forgiving God who is good and abounding in love. By implication, he was asking God to forgive him as he was crying to Him.
Four, prayer of worship: in spite of his predicament, the psalmist worshipped God for who He is (verses 8-10).
Five, prayer of praises: closely related to the previous prayer is this. The psalmist praised God for what He is doing (verses 10, 12, 13). His predicament did not blindfold him to who God is and what His had done in his life.
There are other prayers for joy (verse 4), instruction (verse 11), and the goodness of God (verse 17) also in this psalm. The eighty-sixth psalm is indeed worthy of meditation.
What is your predicament presently? Are you also ready to cry to God? He has promised, “...call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me” (Psalm 50:15 NIV). Cry unto Him, and He is ready to answer you.
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
NB
If you have a BlackBerry device, let me know your BBPIN so as to be connected with you through the BlackBerry network. Or, you can invite me. My BBPIN is 27C6552C. God bless you!

Quote for the Day 29Oct2011

Difficult circumstances can reveal much about a person. A smooth road reveals very little of our character, but when successive potholes mar our otherwise gentle pathway, we begin to get a look at the underside of our lives. - Michael Youssef

Quote for the Day 28Oct2011

If we pursue mere earthly gain,
We choose a path that ends in pain;
But joy remains within the soul
When we pursue a heavenly goal.
- D. De Haan

Quote for the Day 27Oct2011

Live life with no regrets and no resentments. Whatever happened in the past, forgive yourself and others. Choose love. - Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Quote for the Day 26Oct2011

When you face opposition but know you are doing what God has asked, have confidence that He will accomplish everything that He desires. - Henry Blackaby

Quote for the Day 25Oct2011

Tone of voice can be effective
If our spirit’s calm and meek;
Let us watch our words and actions,
Always careful how we speak.
- Hess

Quote for the Day 24Oct2011

Majesty, worship His Majesty,
Unto Jesus be all glory, power and praise;
Majesty, Kingdom, Authority,
Flows from His Throne unto His own,
His anthem raise!
- Jack Hayford

“THE HIGH PLACES”

Dearly Beloved,
“THE HIGH PLACES”
“Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him. The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there” (2 Kings 12:2-3 NIV).
“[Hezekiah] did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done. He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles” (2 Kings 18:3-4, NIV).
The story of the kings of Israel and Judah is interesting especially when one sees how the chroniclers recounted the life and time of one king after another. While nearly all the kings of Israel were bad, there were some good ones among the kings of Judah. Some of these “good” kings of Judah had flaws - “the high places, however, were not removed” (1 Kings 22:43; 2 Kings 12:3; 14:4; 15:4, 35).
What are “high places”? They were elevated or hilltop sites dedicated to worship of pagan gods. Most references to high places in the Old Testament indicate a form of pagan worship forbidden to the Israelites.
Solomon worshipped the gods of his foreign wives at the latter part of his kingdom in these high places (1 Kings 11:7-8). Jeroboam gave them prominent position right from the beginning of his reign (1 Kings 12:31-32). The other kings of Judah either worshiped the pagan gods on these high places or remain indifferent to the practice. However, Hezekiah and Josiah stood out of the kings of Judah. They totally wiped out such practice during their reigns (2 Kings 18:3-4; 23:3-9). No wonder, they found favor in the sight of the Lord.
What are the “high places” in your own life? What are the “idols” that are competing with God in your life? Do you realize that they are diverting your attention from things of God? As you are trying to serve God, do you take note of such things? What are the sins that are kept in your life unabated? Solomon pictured them as, “…the little foxes that ruin the vineyards…” (Song of Solomon 2:15, NIV). Have you caught them?
Thus says the Lord, "I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols” (Isaiah 42:8, NIV).
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
NB
This message was first sent out on June 6, 2004.

Quote for the Day 22Oct2011

Take time to laugh.
It is the music of the soul.
Take time to think.
It is the source of power.
Take time to play.
It is the source of perpetual youth.
Take time to read.
It is the fountain of wisdom.
Take time to pray.
It is the greatest power on Earth.
Take time to love and be loved.
It is a God-given privilege.
Take time to be friendly.
It is the road to happiness.
Take time to give.
It is too short a day to be selfish.
Take time to work.
It is the price of success.
- Anonymous

Quote for the Day 21Oct2011

God has placed each of us in a specific environment that will best allow us to shine with His light. Don’t be like a burned-out streetlight. Shine on! - Cindy Hess Kasper

Quote for the Day 20Oct2011

There is only one time that is important - NOW! It is the most important time because it is the only time that we have any power. - Leo Tolstoy

Quote for the Day 19Oct2011

What matters more than length of life is where you will spend eternity. If you have placed your faith in Christ, then heaven’s glory you will see. - Sper

Quote for the Day 18Oct2011

The tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. - Benjamin Mays

Quote for the Day 17Oct2011

Do we recognize that all our service is for God, and so do our best at all times—even when no human authority is watching? — Dave Branon

WISDOM IS BETTER THAN STRENGTH

Dearly Beloved,
WISDOM IS BETTER THAN STRENGTH
“So I said, ‘Wisdom is better than strength.’ But the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded. The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good” (Ecclesiastes 9:16-18 NIV).
Recently, Nigerian senior male football team (the Super Eagles) failed to qualify for the African Cup of Nations. The team and many patriotic Nigerians had thought that a win in the last match of the qualification matches will make the team to qualify for the bi-annual tournament. The team had some seeming “strength” over the opposing team. It is star-studded with an experienced coach. Above all, the fact that the last match would be played on home soil with many home supporters was another seeming advantage. However, the opposing team needed just a draw to qualify for the continental tournament. Expectedly, the opposing team applied wisdom in its approach to the match and it got the desired result in spite of the “strength” of the home team.
As the writer of the book of Ecclesiastes put it, wisdom is indeed better than strength. No matter the strength of any man, a man full of wisdom is better than such man. A wise man will achieve more than what a strong man can. However, somebody with godly wisdom will achieve far better. This kind of wisdom is “...pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17 NIV). It is not “...earthly, unspiritual, of the devil” (James 3:15 NIV). It is not shrewdness, cunning, craftiness, nor slyness. Anyone who has godly wisdom will be of great benefit to himself, others around him and even God. It will be difficult for anyone who does not have such wisdom to succeed at all or have a good success.
What is your seeming “strength”? Is it experience, education, knowledge, riches, position, or what? Godly wisdom is indeed better than any worldly strength. The Bible says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5 NIV).
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 15Oct2011

Sometimes life can seem like an arid desert. But God can quench our spiritual thirst in the most unlikely circumstances. When by faith we believe the promises of God’s Word, we can experience rivers of living water and grace for our daily needs. - Dennis Fisher

Quote for the Day 14Oct2011

Never lose hope, no matter the size of the mountain confronting you. Your mountain will move as long as you retain your hope in God, because He knows the foundation of every mountain, and can easily uproot them. That mountain in your life will move this season in Jesus' name. - EA Adeboye

Quote for the Day 13Oct2011

When we are tempted to feel hopeless, He comes to us as our strong and mighty advocate, proclaiming His care and plan for our lives. - Michael Youssef

Quote for the Day 12Oct2011

I do not ask for easy paths along life’s winding roads, but for the promised grace and strength to carry all its loads. - Meadows

Quote for the Day 11Oct2011

The greatest lesson in life is to know that sometimes even fools are right. - Winston Churchill

Quote for the Day 10Oct2011

Focusing on what is wrong can cause us to miss everything that is good. - Julie Ackerman Link

THE WEALTH OF THE WICKED

Dear Beloved,
THE WEALTH OF THE WICKED
"Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes" (Psalm 37:7, NIV).
Have you ever thought that God prospers the unbelievers more than the true believers in Him? Then, you think that God is not worthy of your worship because after all, why do ungodly prosper and the righteous are in penury?
In this way, some Israelites in Malachi's days became discouraged about their service to God, because to them, only the wicked prospered while the faithful were in abject poverty (Malachi 3:13-15). Was God partial? Their depression became an accusation of God's seemingly insensitivity to their deepest need. But can they measure God's rewards with momentary riches? What are true riches? Does that mean that some Christians are serving God because of what they would get in return, or because of who God is? Is amassing wealth through fraud, rituals, cultism, and all other dubious means true riches, or having inner peace with God? Jesus' words in John 4:23-24 are relevant here, "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth" (NIV). The fact that fraudulent people "prosper" should not make us to emulate them, or accuse God. It should not make us to worship the gifts rather than the Giver of all good gifts. The Psalmist had warned against such (Psalm 37:1ff).
Nevertheless, not all Israelites in Malachi's days were anxious to get rich through ungodly means. There were some who knew that the Lord was good (Malachi 3:16-17). One of them was Malachi. He was contented. He testified that God still remembered those who relied on Him as the source of true wealth. What are the lessons for us? Testimonies about God and His reassurance are reliable and comforting even when we are in needs. God never abandons us, "…because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you'" (Hebrews 13:5, NIV).
Read Malachi 3:18-4:3, a clear distinction was made between the righteous and wicked people. Both of them have destinies. For the wicked, it will be eternal destruction with their riches! This is not annihilation, but total banishment from the very presence of God (see Matthew 25:46). What about the righteous? The righteous people will be healed, honored and renewed eternally. If this will happen, how would temporal "attractive" wealth of the wicked be compared with everlasting riches of the righteous? It is enduring, permanent and never devalued! Indeed, the righteous will indeed inherit the world (Psalm 37:9, 11, 22, 34, Isaiah 60:21).
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
NB
This message was first sent out on October 26, 2003.

Quote for the Day 08Oct2011

When you come to the Lord with your needs, believe that He is God, and that He is a rewarder. God has pleasure in this kind of faith. He wants to be the rewarder of your faith in Him! - Joseph Prince

Quote for the Day 07Oct2011

God has a purpose for your life,
So what you have to do
Is follow Him, believing that
He’ll keep directing you.
- Sper

Quote for the Day 06Oct2011

There are nine requisites for contented living:
HEALTH enough to make work a pleasure;
WEALTH enough to support your needs;
STRENGTH enough to battle with difficulties and forsake them;
GRACE enough to confess your sins and overcome them;
PATIENCE enough to toil until some good is accomplished;
CHARITY enough to see some good in your neighbour;
LOVE enough to move you to be useful and helpful to others;
FAITH enough to make real the things of God;
HOPE enough to remove all anxious fears concerning the future.
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Quote for the Day 05Oct2011

I rest in the light of forgiveness. I forgive myself and others for that which is done (and better left undone) and also that which is not done (and better if done). I give myself permission to enjoy this moment without guilt. I freely release all uncertainty, regret, and fear. - Mary Anne Radmacher

Quote for the Day 04Oct2011

You can hold on to hope - no matter what happens because there is God who is holding on to you. He will stop at nothing and do anything to make sure you have everything you need. - Holley Gerth

Quote for the Day 03Oct2011

Many people cannot achieve the success of their dreams because they will not leave their past behind. They will not tear down the monuments they have built to their old hurts and problems. - Vic Johnson

“WILL YOU STAY WITH ME?”

Dearly Beloved,
“WILL YOU STAY WITH ME?”
“Don't panic. I'm with you. There's no need to fear for I'm your God. I'll give you strength. I'll help you. I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you” (Isaiah 41:10 The Message).
Recently, my eleven-year-old son was ill. I took him to the hospital for treatment. The doctor advised that he should be admitted for proper monitoring of the treatment. He was led to one of the wards of the hospital. As he was given the initial treatment on admission, he asked me, “Daddy, will you stay with me?” My answer was not definite as I was at that time thinking on how his mother and I will be alternating our staying with him and at the same time the care of his siblings at home. I later asked him whether he was afraid, and he said he was not. I stayed with him for about an hour before I left for his mother to take over from me.
The concern of my son is indisputable. Every one of us needs the company of a loved one especially when we are facing or about to face a challenge. Undoubtedly, it is not possible for one to be with one’s loved ones all the time, not to talk of being of help to the loved ones when they need it most. However, God, as the omnipresent Being, is not only there for one, but also there to be of help. The psalmist put it this way, “God is our harbour and our strength, a very present help in trouble” (46:1 BBE). Anyone who puts his/her trust in Him needs not be afraid of what he/she will encounter because of the ever presence of God. In another place, the psalmist said, “Even if I go through the deepest darkness, I will not be afraid, Lord, for you are with me. Your shepherd's rod and staff protect me” (23:4 TEV). Therefore, wherever one is, God is there to keep one’s company and to help one in whatever challenge one is facing.
What are you passing through now or about to pass through? You need not fear for God will stay with you! “...because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5 NIV).
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 01Oct2011

As Nigeria celebrates her 51st independence anniversary today, I declare that the month of October will be your month of a great turn around for good, great achievement and breakthrough in Jesus' name. Amen. - Bayo Afolaranmi

Quote for the Day 30Sep2011

The devil may throw obstacles and evil circumstances at you, but God will turn those evil schemes around for your greater blessing because He is for you! - Joseph Prince

Quote for the Day 29Sep2011

Many today have unprecedented access to God’s Word. Let’s renew our commitment to “find” it every day and by our lives show its prominence. - Marvin Williams

Quote for the Day 28Sep2011

When wealth is gone, little is lost; when health is gone, something is lost; but when character is gone, all is lost! - Author Unknown

Quote for the Day 27Sep2011

Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction. - John F. Kennedy

Quote for the Day 26Sep2011

"No king achieves a victory with a large army. No warrior rescues himself by his own great strength. Horses are not a guarantee for victory. Their great strength cannot help someone escape. The LORD'S eyes are on those who fear him, on those who wait with hope for his mercy" (Psalm 33:16-18 GW).

THE RACE IS NOT TO THE SWIFT

Dear Beloved,
THE RACE IS NOT TO THE SWIFT
"I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all" (Ecclesiastes 9:11, NASU).
My family members have gone to bed. I had not slept. I was watching my favorite football team playing with another team in a continental competition on the telecast. It was certain that my team would win. One, they were playing at home. Two, they had many talented and professional players. However, I went to sleep disappointed. My darling team was defeated convincingly before their teeming supporters.
I was lying on my bed, at the same time reflecting on the match: Why did they lose? Why did they not score a single goal, even when they had the opportunity of a penalty kick? What happened to all their goal scorers? Did they not prepare well for the match? Many unanswered questions came to my mind until the above Bible passage came into view and revealed the mystery of life, "…the race is not to the swift…."
At times we have all what it takes to succeed, but the result is disappointing. Perhaps, it is God's way of showing us an important lesson: every success depends on Him, not on our intelligence. He is the omnipotent and sovereign God. He gives true success to anyone that pleases Him. Your strength, knowledge, experience, wisdom, power, and position are good, but they cannot compete with God's wisdom. Never!
Remember, "No king achieves a victory with a large army. No warrior rescues himself by his own great strength. Horses are not a guarantee for victory. Their great strength cannot help someone escape. The LORD'S eyes are on those who fear him, on those who wait with hope for his mercy" (Psalm 33:16-18 GW).
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
NB
This message was first sent out on October 19, 2003.

Quote for the Day 24Sep2011

None of us is defined by our circumstances, nor are we defined by how other people perceive us. It is up to each one of us to define ourselves, and that is a life's work. - Stedman Graham

Quote for the Day 23Sep2011

The definition of a millionaire is someone who has affected a million lives. - David Oyedepo

Quote for the Day 22Sep2011

What is the difference between an obstacle and an opportunity? Our attitude toward it. Every opportunity has a difficulty, and every difficulty has an opportunity. - J. Sidlow Baxter

Quote for the Day 21Sep2011

When God’s Word takes priority in your daily life, not only will your finances be blessed, your ministry and family life will also be blessed! - Joseph Prince

Quote for the Day 20Sep2011

Eagles never run away from the storm, rather it faces the storm and overrides it. When hard time comes, do not run but face it armed with the word of God and victory is sure. - Author Unknown

Quote for the Day 19Sep2011

Whatever trouble may assail,

Of this we can be sure:

God’s promises can never fail,

They always will endure.

- Hess

GIFTS FOR EQUIPPING OTHERS

Dear Beloved,
GIFTS FOR EQUIPPING OTHERS
"[God gave spiritual gifts] to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12-13 NIV).
"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen (1 Peter 4:10-11 NIV).
God endows people with different kinds of talents, ability, and spiritual gifts. Why does He give these different kinds of spiritual gifts? Are they primarily for selfish interest? Are they for cheap popularity of the particular local church or the person that has them?
Ephesians 4:12-13 gives five main purposes for spiritual gifts:
1. To prepare God's people for service;
2. To make the body of Christ (i.e. the saints) grow;
3. To unify them in the faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ;
4. To make them mature in Him; and
5. To make them attain the whole measure of Christ's fullness.
Other Bible passages enumerate other reasons:
1. For the common good of the saints (1 Corinthians 12: 7);
2. To serve others (1 Peter 4: 10); and
3. To give praises to God (1 Peter 4: 10-11).
For what purpose are you using the gifts of God in you? Though we often become fulfilled when we use our God-given gifts, God, the Giver, ultimately should take the credit. We should thank Him for making us channels of blessings to others.
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
NB
This message was first sent out on January 11, 2004.

Quote for the Day 17Sep2011

Praise God through the storms, because He is there with you. He brought you to the storm, through the storm, and out of the storm! - Teresa Taylor

Quote for the Day 16Sep2011

God made us the way He wants us to be. Believe it. There could never be a more beautiful you. - Dave Branon

Quote for the Day 15Sep2011

Wait in prayer, call on God and spread your case before him. Express your unstaggering confidence in Him. Wait in faith, for unfaithful and untrusting waiting is but an insult to the Lord. - Charles Spurgeon

Quote for the Day 14Sep2011

Many secrets are freely given to enemies in the process of complaining. But if you cultivate the habit of reporting to God, your secrets will remain secret, and you will have your miracle. Stop complaining, start reporting to God! - EA Adeboye

Quote for the Day 13Sep2011

If you have a tendency to move too quickly or to operate in your own strength and skill, pray for a red light in your spirit. Ask God to let you know when you are moving in your own will rather than in His. It will save you untold heartache! - Bob Gass

Quote for the Day 12Sep2011

You will succeed beyond your wildest imagination if you will take your mind off yourself and focus it on others. - Sam Adeyemi

DO NOT BE LIKE THE RICH FOOL!

Dearly Beloved,
DO NOT BE LIKE THE RICH FOOL!
“But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich towards God” (Luke 12:20-21 NIV).
“Fools say to themselves, ‘There is no God.’” (Psalm 14:1 NETB).
I had an online chat with somebody recently. The person was asking me to prove to her why she needs God after all she has. According to her, “Right now without God as my refuge I am doing great, I know how to sail through life smoothly.... if I am comfortable why do I need God? What is going to be different?”
This lady is like the rich fool in a parable in Luke 12 who because of his so-called sufficiency forgot to acknowledge his God. The rich fool thought he could do without God. How wrong he was! He was taught the lesson of his life as he lost everything he had by first losing his life.
Many people feel that they do not need God because of their so-called sufficiency like wealth, position, security, affluence, and the likes. Some of such people even deny the existence of God. How foolish they are! The fact that they are self-sufficient does not mean they have control over their lives. No matter how rich, affluent, powerful or secured they are, they do not know when they will die, where they will die, what kind of death they will have or what will happen to them after death. They cannot even predict successfully what will happen to them in the next second! Anyone who knows these things can say that he does not need God.
In what way are you also behaving like that rich fool? Do you think you can sail through life smoothly without God in spite of how great you are doing? Jesus Christ said, “...apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5 NIV). Only a fool will forget his source (see Psalm 14:1).
You may acknowledge God and declare that you need Him. However, do you give Him the right place in your life? No matter who you are, God must be your first priority. Do not be like the rich fool!
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 10Sep2011

None are more unjust in their judgments of others than those who have a high opinion of themselves. - Charles Spurgeon

Quote for the Day 09Sep2011

Waste your money and you are only out of money, but waste your time and you have lost a part of your life. - Michael Leboeuf

Quote for the Day 08Sep2011

Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith. - Henry Ward Beecher

Quote for the Day 07Sep2011

It is easy to get discouraged when things are going bad. But we should not lose heart, because GOD is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering. - Author Unknown

Quote for the Day 06Sep2011

In a world of uncertainty, our trust is in a faithful God who will always keep His promises. - Julie Ackerman Link

Quote for the Day 05Sep2011

Anything you love more than God is an idol that can destroy your relationship with your God. What or who is your object of devotion or worship? - Baba Isiaka

IDOLS OF THE HEART

Dear Beloved,
IDOLS OF THE HEART
"You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God…” (Exodus 20:4-5 NIV)
"Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces” (Ezekiel 14:3 NIV).
The primitive Africa was full of idolatry. The more I like the African culture, the more I hate its connection with idolatry. I thank God that I have been saved from all these ancestral idols. In Christ, I can be a true African without being idolatrous. However, while I have done away with all the physical idols, what of the unseen idols of the heart? Am I free from them?
God accused the exiled Israelites of idolatry of the heart. Though they were sent into exile because of this sin, they continued in it in the exile. Interestingly, these people still wanted to hear from God, which meant that they probably did not realize that they had set up idols in their hearts against God’s will.
I doubt if you still have any physical idol that you are worshipping. Nevertheless, what are the idols in your heart? What are the things that have taken the place of God in your heart? Is it money, occupation, time, sports, pleasure, reputation, position, your children, your spouse, or even your life? Anything you like or love more than God is an idol of your heart. Remove them now and put God in His right position in your heart.
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
NB
This message was first sent out on September 28, 2003.

Quote for the Day 03Sep2011

Nothing will ever be attempted, if all possible objections must first be overcome. - Samuel Johnson

Quote for the Day 02Sep2011

The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand. - Vince Lombardi

Quote for the Day 01Sep2011

Welcome to the month of September. This month, the Lord will increase the harvest of your field and give you reasons to celebrate in Jesus’ name. Amen. - Bayo Afolaranmi

Quote for the Day 31Aug2011

What we need is faith and vision - the ability to see that God wants us to be His instruments, and that He will supply what we need. - Randy Kilgore

Quote for the Day 30Aug2011

When we simply cannot understand why God allows circumstances that threaten to overwhelm us, it is good to remember that He has our good and His glory in mind. — David McCasland

Quote for the Day 29Aug2011

Be thankful to God for your limitations, because they give you opportunities for improvements. - Author Unknown

WILL YOU NOT PRAISE HIM?

Dearly Beloved,
WILL YOU NOT PRAISE HIM?
“I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live” (Psalm 146:2 NIV).
Recently I was invited to be a facilitator of an aspect of the annual leadership training session a deaf organization. That would be my first interaction with people that were mainly deaf and dumb. I could see the enthusiasm of serving God and the humanity in these special people. What fascinated me most was the way they were “singing” with their sign language and dancing to demonstrate the goodness of God in their lives. I did not understand the sign language, but the person assigned to me for interpretation did a good job as she interpreted every lyric of their songs to me. I had to join them in praising God.
That experience is still making me to think of how appreciative I am to God. I can speak and I can hear people when they speak. I have no physical disability. Here are people with some physical disability, yet they are praising and serving God enthusiastically. Why will I not do more?
Most of the people that are reading this message have no physical disability, yet, they find it difficult to wholeheartedly praise the Lord. They would not think of what they have. They would rather be thinking of what they do not have. They would not think of what God has done for them. They would rather be thinking of what God has not done for them. It is a pity that some people do not even acknowledge the existence of God because of their so-called self sufficiency!
If the deaf can be praising God wholeheartedly regardless of their predicament, will you not praise Him? Forget what you do not have or what God has not done for you. Praise Him for who is and for what He has done for you. At least, you are still alive.
The psalmist declared, “I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High” (Psalm 9:1-2 NIV), and “The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any of those who descend into the silence of death. But we will praise the Lord now and forevermore. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 115:17-18 NETB).
Will you not praise Him?
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 27Aug2011

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Quote for the Day 26Aug2011

Let us not think of ourselves as totally independent - because we are not. The Lord sustains us day by day. In many ways, we are as needy as a newborn baby. - Anne Cetas

Quote for the Day 25Aug2011

The motivation for showing kindness to others should not be what we might get in return. Instead, the kindness we receive from the Lord compels us to be kind to others. - Michael Youssef

Quote for the Day 24Aug2011

Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great. - Mark Twain

Quote for the Day 23Aug2011

No man can exalt us to a place God has not designed for us; nor can anyone bring us down from where God has placed us. - from StanleyOnBible.com

Quote for the Day 22Aug2011

When God guides us, He works in ways we cannot predict. He can use even our inconveniences to bring honour to His name. - Dave Branon

GOOD, BETTER, BEST

Dear Beloved,
GOOD, BETTER, BEST
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14 NIV).
One of the songs I liked when I was in the primary school is: “Good, Better, Best/ I shall never rest,/ Until my good is better,/ And my better’s best.” The song was meaningless to me then until I became grown-up. It is what inspires me to strive higher. Yes, what I am doing may be good, but until it becomes better, and the better becomes best, I will not stop.
Paul knew this secret. I am not surprised that he wrote the above passage to the Philippians towards the end of his ministry. Although he became an acclaimed preacher of the gospel because he worked harder than the rest of the apostles (1 Corithians 15:10; 2 Corintians 11:23-30). He improved on his achievements every day. He did not allow his “better” – the past successes – to deter him from getting the best, even when he was in prison.
Why should I be contented with my “good”? Why should I not be satisfied with my achievements? Should one not be contented with what one has? Nevertheless, contentment is different from aspiration. Aspiration learns from the past in order to become the best, but contentment gladly accepts whatever happens as designed by God to achieve His good purpose for us. Therefore you can aspire for greatness, but be contented with what God gives you.
Have you been doing something good? Make it better. If yours is better than others, do not rest on your oars, until your good becomes better, and your better is best!
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
NB
This message was first sent out on August 18, 2003.

Quote for the Day 20Aug2011

Competition has been shown to be useful up to a certain point and no further, but cooperation, which is the thing we must strive for today, begins where competition leaves off. - Franklin D. Roosevelt

Quote for the Day 19Aug2011

When defeat or delay overtakes a man, the easiest and most logical thing to do is to quit. But when you refuse to give up, victory is certain at last. - Chris E. Kwakpovwe

Quote for the Day 18Aug2011

Your fears are not walls, but hurdles. Courage is not the absence of fear, but the conquering of it. - Dan Millman

Quote for the Day 17Aug2011

When we face a seeming nuisance in our day, perhaps we should look not just for what we think we want but also for what God has for us that day. - Dave Branon

Quote for the Day 16Aug2011

If you struggle in giving your best offerings to God, pause and reflect on what God sacrificed for you. Trust Him and give Him the best that you have because you love Him with all your heart. - Henry Blackaby

Quote for the Day 15Aug2011

Your tomorrow is ok. Please do not allow your environment or what you are passing through determine your future. Your destiny is in the Lord’s hand. - EA Adeboye

Dearly Beloved,
WHERE IS YOUR DWELLING PLACE?
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalms 91:1 NIV).
Psalm 91 is one of the most popular psalms. It is popular especially because it is a psalm of assurance of the protection and security of God. However, there is a striking truth in the opening verse of the psalm: the divine protection and security are only for those who live a life of communion with God. People that can apply this psalm to themselves are the people that totally trust in God. They are the people that are living by His standards because only such people can abide in the presence of the holy God without any fear of His holy wrath. “The secret place of the Most High” in verse one (KJV) was probably in reference to the Holy of holies. Under the Old Testament law, only the high priest who entered legitimately there would be covered with the cloud of God’s glory (the protection of the all-sufficient God), but under the new covenant, all believers in Christ have boldness to enter into the invisible holiest place by the blood of Jesus and those who thus enter are safe from every evil. No wonder, the writer of the Proverbs said, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe” (18:10 NIV).
The writer of this psalm enumerated how the people that “dwell in the secret place of the Most High” would be protected: (a) by being delivered from dangerous attempts against their lives (verse 3a; cf. Psalm 124:7); (b) by being under divine safety and comfort (verse 4a; cf. Psalm 17:8; 36:7); and (c) by enjoying divine faithful protection with the “covering of His feathers and wings” (verse 4b; cf. Psalm 57:1; 61:4; 63:7). These will result in the absence of fear in spite of prevailing danger (verses 5-8; cf. Psalm 3:6; 27:1-3; 46:2; 112:7; Proverbs 28:1). Because of the fact that these people have made God their “dwelling place,” angels will be their invisible bodyguards that will be taking care of them (verses 9-13; cf. Psalm 34:7). Interestingly, the devil misapplied this when he was tempting Jesus Christ (Matthew 4:6).
In verses 14-16, the psalmist wrote as if God Himself was confirming the psalmist’s faith. The Lord promises anyone that is abiding in Him: (a) deliverance from danger, (b) protection from harm, (c) divine presence in trouble, (d) honour, and (e) long life.
“If you make the Most High your dwelling -- even the Lord, who is my refuge” (verse 9), all kinds of danger mentioned in this psalm are ineffective against you. In fact, you will be confident of the divine security. There is no confidence or rest in any other place. Where is your dwelling place?
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 13Aug2011

We all have our past, whether positive or negative, whether pleasant or unpleasant. But one thing I do is to forget what is behind and look forward to Christ the Author and the Finisher of our faith. - Akintoye Akintunde

Quote for the Day 12Aug2011

Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass. It is about learning how to dance in the rain. - Vivian Greene

Quote for the Day 11Aug2011

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. - Thomas A. Edison

Quote for the Day 10Aug2011

Hanging onto resentment is letting someone you despise live rent-free in your head. - Ann Landers

Quote for the Day 09Aug2011

Are you in a crisis? Hold to the promises of your Lord! He will not forget His promises to you. - Henry Blackaby

Quote for the Day 08Aug2011

To live is to choose. But to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there. - Kofi Annan

YOUR REAR MIRROR

Dearly Beloved,
YOUR REAR MIRROR
“Do not [earnestly] remember the former things; neither consider the things of old” (Isaiah 43:18 AMP).
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14 NIV).
Recently while I was driving to my office, I was trying to go through a by-pass to beat the notorious traffic jam from my home to my office. From my vehicle rear mirror, I discovered that some other vehicles were also avoiding the traffic jam. I was losing focus on my driving as I concentrated on the rear mirror, then it dawned on me that the rear mirror was not designed for long concentration. Indeed, anyone who concentrates on the rear mirror of his/her vehicle while driving is heading for an accident.
Many people are also concentrating on the “rear mirror” of their life: their past experiences. It does not matter whether these experiences were good or bad. Such people allow those experiences to deprive them of the enjoyment of the present and the prospect of the future. Such people would find it difficult to face the challenges that accompany the enjoyment of the present and the prospect of the future.
God, through Prophet Isaiah, told His people not to remember the former things nor consider the things of old, their “rear mirror” (see Isaiah 43:18). The reason was that God was preparing to do a new thing in their lives so great and wonderful that it shall surpass the former things that God had done in their lives. In Philippians 3:12-14, Paul said categorically that he would forget the former things and press on toward the greater thing he was aiming at. He knew that concentrating on the former things could be disastrous.
What is your own “rear mirror”? What is the former thing that is catching your attention? Are you still concentrating on it? No matter how good or bad the thing may be, do not concentrate your attention on it. Forget it and aim for a better thing. The Lord will do new thing in your life, but do not let the old thing deprive you of enjoying the new thing. Stop concentrating on your “rear mirror”!
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 06Aug2011

Instead of using whispers and gossip that can cause hurt and pain while serving no good purpose, we would do better to restrain ourselves and practice silence. - Bill Crowder

Quote for the Day 05Aug2011

Think not your work of no account
Although it may be small;
The Lord marks well your faithfulness
When you give Him your all.
- D. De Haan

Quote for the Day 04Aug2011

When your heart is thankful toward God, you position yourself for even greater blessings! - Joseph Prince

Quote for the Day 03Aug2011

For every hectic work day there is a quiet rest...
For every painful experience there is a healing touch...
For every negative feeling there is an abiding joy...
For every disappointment there is a certain hope...
For every turbulent storm there is a sure foundation...
For every doubting thought there is a calm assurance...
For every hurtful action there is a forgiving love.
- Roy Lessin

Quote for the Day 02Aug2011

Have you experienced extreme sorrow? There is the promise of future joy amid your tears as you lean upon our loving Lord. - Dennis Fisher

Quote for the Day 01Aug2011

This new month, the Lord will touch your life with His wonderful hands of Blessing, Breakthrough, Divine Intervention, Favour, Goodness, Mercy, Peace, Progress, Promotion, Prosperity, Success, and Victory in Jesus’ name. Amen.

WAIT PATIENTLY FOR THE LORD

Dearly Beloved,
WAIT PATIENTLY FOR THE LORD
“I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry” (Psalm 40:1 NIV).
After God rejected Saul as king of Israel and sent Samuel to anoint David as the next king (1 Samuel 15-16), David faced a lot of hostilities and troubles even from his brothers. He became a fugitive in his own country. He had to relocate his parents to a foreign country for safety (see 1 Samuel 22:3-4). He twice sought refuge with the enemies of his nation (see 1 Samuel 21:10-15; 27:1-12). In spite of all his predicaments, he patiently waited for the LORD, even after the death of Saul. The LORD did not let him down. He turned to him and lifted him out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire. The LORD set his feet on a rock and gave him a firm place to stand in Israel and among other nations. The LORD put a new song in his mouth, a hymn of praise. Many indeed saw these and feared and put their trust in the LORD during the lifetime of David. No wonder, David could write Psalm 40 to testify to the goodness of God.
Life is full of ups and downs. Every person has his/her own dilemma to confront. However, only those who patiently wait for the LORD will successfully overcome these dilemmas and sing song of praises like David. They are the ones that “will find their strength renewed. They will rise on wings like eagles; they will run and not get weary; they will walk and not grow weak” (Isaiah 40:31 TEV).
What are you facing presently? Wait patiently for the LORD! He will bring you out of the predicament. He will lift you up out of the mud of life. He will set your feet on a rock and gave him a firm place to stand among your contemporaries. He will put a new song in your mouth, a hymn of praise to His holy name. Many people will indeed see it and praise God with you. They will fear and trust God for what He will do in your life.
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all” (Psalm 34:19 NKJV).
Wait patiently for the LORD!
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 30Jul2011

Do not ever make the mistake of wasting a moment of your day trying to impress people. Do all for the Glory of God. - Daniel Mejias

Quote for the Day 29Jul2011

Darkness and light cannot coexist. Run from the darkness to the light! - Henry Blackaby

Quote for the Day 29Jul2011

Darkness and light cannot coexist. Run from the darkness to the light! - Henry Blackaby

Quote for the Day 28Jul2011

First impressions can mislead us
For we do not know the heart;
We can often be mistaken
Since we only know in part.
- Fitzhugh

Quote for the Day 27Jul2011

Whatever valley you are in today, do not be afraid. God is there with you strengthening and upholding you. Just sing of His love for you and let Him fight your battles for you! - Joseph Prince

Quote for the Day 26Jul2011

We may doubt our own abilities and potential. But let us never doubt what God can do with us when we trust and obey Him. - Albert Lee

Quote for the Day 25Jul2011

Integrity means doing the same thing whether people are with you or whether you are alone. - Ed Anderson

"FIRE FOR FIRE"

Dear Beloved,
"FIRE FOR FIRE"
"God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you" (2 Thessalonians 1:6 NIV).
The Nigerian Police used to have an anti-crime outfit named "Operation Fire for Fire." Their approach to crime used to be brutal and used to appear revengeful. At times, many Christians adopt the same approach against their perceived enemies. "An eye for an eye" (Exodus 21:23-25; Leviticus 24:19-20) is the popular adage they use to justify their actions.
Indeed, it is not easy to hold one's anger against adversaries. But revengeful actions negate what the Bible teaches (see Matthew 5:38-42; Luke 6:27-28, 35; Romans 12:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; 1 Peter 3:9). However, when I look at the above quoted passage (i.e. 2 Thessalonians 1:6) and a similar promise given to Abraham when God called him: "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse…" (Genesis 12:3 NIV), I ponder: Is God encouraging revengeful actions?
Beloved, God hates injustice. Yet He does not want us to pay back to our enemies the evil they have done to us. They are not fighting us but our God. We should allow Him to fight our battles. He will not let the evil doers go unpunished. He will repay them accordingly IN HIS OWN WAY, not our own way (Romans 12:19) - trouble for trouble (2 Thessalonians 1:6).
Are you an evil doer? The Bible does not even advice evil doers to desist from evil, but warns about the inevitability of the day of reckoning, for God "will give to everyone according to what he has done" (Revelation 22:11-12 NIV). Are you a victim of evil doers? You may not be able to defend yourself, but God defends and comforts the afflicted and pays back the evil doers - "fire for fire."
"God will bring to judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time for every deed" (Ecclesiastics 3:17 NIV).
"For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil" (Ecclesiastics 12:14 NIV).
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
NB
This message was first sent out on December 14, 2003.

Quote for the Day 23Jul2011

Complaining only makes you miserable. Either plan and take effective action, or gracefully accept the circumstances you are called upon to bear. - Author Unknown

Quote for the Day 22Jul2011

Faith looks beyond this transient life with hope for all eternity - not with some vague and wistful hope, but with firm trust and certainty. - D. De Haan

Quote for the Day 21Jul2011

Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them to become what they are capable of being. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Quote for the Day 20Jul2011

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together. - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Quote for the Day 19Jul2011

God wants you to be free. He has paid the price for your freedom. But you have to show you truly want to be free. Are you holding a grudge against anyone? Release the fellow today! - EA Adeboye

Quote for the Day 18Jul2011

Is God testing you? If He is, what are you learning? Is the experience making you bitter, or making you better by causing you to draw closer to Him? - Bob Gass

WICKEDNESS FOR GOODNESS

Dear Beloved,
WICKEDNESS FOR GOODNESS
"But as soon as Jeremiah finished telling all the people everything the LORD had commanded him to say, the priests, the prophets and all the people seized him and said, "You must die! Why do you prophesy in the LORD's name that this house will be like Shiloh and this city will be desolate and deserted?" And all the people crowded around Jeremiah in the house of the LORD" (Jeremiah 26:8-9 NIV).
I was in a busstop waiting for a bus when I overheard some students cursing some of their teachers and the external invigilator that came to invigilate the final external examinations that the students were doing. What was the sin of these teachers and the invigilator? They did not allow the students to engage in examination malpractices. These students were furious about the action of the teachers and the invigilator. One of them even proposed that they should organize an ambush where they will assault the teachers and the external invigilator.
I was wondering within me the gravity of the "sin" of the teachers and the invigilator. Were they not trying to mould the lives of these students? Would they help the future of the students if they allow them to perpetrate their unlawful act? Did the students realize the consequence of their action if they are caught? Many questions came to my mind that I could not even call them and advise them against their plans before I boarded the next bus to my destination.
Jeremiah found himself in similar situation. God sent him to the people of Judah to warn them of the imminent danger that will befall them because of their waywardness. Instead of them to appreciate him and repent of their sin, they – even including their religious leaders – were plotting to kill him. However, the Lord did not abandon him. He, as promised earlier, made him victorious over all these oppositions, though he was alone (Jeremiah 1: 19; 26:24; 33:1- 3; 36:26).
Are people paying back to you wickedness for the goodness you are doing to them? Are they persecuting you because of your kindness, godliness, righteousness or integrity? Does it seem that you are not loved because you do not approve of the wickedness, injustice, dishonesty, or corruption that the people of the world are known for? Be faithful. Remember, "The [Lord] who calls you is faithful and He will do it" (1 Thessalonians 5:24, NIV). "…He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one" (2 Thessalonians 3:3, NIV).
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
NB
This message was first sent out on May 29, 2005.

Quote for the Day 16Jul2011

Play with life, laugh with life, dance lightly with life, and smile at the riddles of life, knowing that life’s only true lessons are writ small in the margin. - Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Quote for the Day 15Jul2011

May we all look closely to see the person inside, for everyone is made in the image of God and can become a new creation in Christ. - David McCasland

Quote for the Day 14Jul2011

In a world of distractions, it’s vital for the child of God to stay focused, and there is no better point of focus in the universe than Jesus Christ Himself. Is He what matters most to you? - Bill Crowder

Quote for the Day 13Jul2011

Press on in your service for Jesus,
Spurred on by your love for the Lord;
He promised that if you are faithful,
One day you’ll receive your reward. - Fasick

Quote for the Day 12Jul2011

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 11Jul2011

Don’t worry for your future needs,
It will only bring you sorrow;
But give them to the Lord instead -
He’ll take care of your tomorrow.
- Sper

TO GOD BE THE GLORY

Dearly Beloved,
TO GOD BE THE GLORY
“To the only wise God be glory for ever through Jesus Christ! Amen” (Romans 16:27 NIV).
The hymn “To God Be the Glory” is well-recognized as a wonderful hymn of praise and adoration of God. It was composed by that famous hymn composer, Fanny Jane Crosby (1820-1915). The hymn is sung mostly in the atmosphere of praises, but its content is more than praises. It speaks volumes about the grace of God. From the beginning, it is clear that Fanny Crosby ascribed all glory to God for His work with no role for man’s efforts in God’s great plan of salvation. In the first stanza, it is Jesus alone who opens the “the lifegate” of salvation, so that everyone has the opportunity to be saved. This is a clear message of grace, in contrast to the idea that man must prove his worth before eternal life is granted. In the second stanza, Crosby set forth the conditions for entrance through this gate: faith, and faith alone. She rightly noted that redemption is promised to "every believer" (see John 3:16), and that regardless of the enormity of one’s sins, even "the vilest offender" who puts his or her faith in Christ, for example the criminal crucified with Christ (Luke 23:43) or Saul of Tarsus (1 Timothy 1:15), will immediately receive pardon from Jesus. The third stanza and chorus continue to bring this point of grace home, proclaiming that it is God who has done great things, and the One to whom praise and adoration belong.
It is good to sing this song whenever we want to praise God for any material thing He has done. However, it is far better to think of the spiritual things He has done (that is, the giving of His Son, the forgiveness of our sins, the atonement for our sins, our redemption) and what He will do: “our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see!”
The hymn “To God Be the Glory” is a marvelous expression of praise to God for His wondrous works. However, have you experienced the outcome of these works: the salvation that is provided as a gift from God to everyone who places his or her faith in Christ, regardless of his or her sins before or after conversion? It is then you can join Crosby to sing, “Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Let the earth hear His voice! Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Let the people rejoice! O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son, And give Him the glory, great things He hath done!”
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 09Jul2011

Situations may not always seem pleasant while we are in them, but the promise of God is clear. If we love him and live our lives according to his precepts, even that which seems to be bleak and hopeless will be turned by God for His glory and our benefit. - Author Unknown

Quote for the Day 08Jul2011

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
- John H. Sammis

Quote for the Day 07Jul2011

Be careful the environment you choose for it will shape you; be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them. - W. Clement Stone

Quote for the Day 07Jul2011

Be careful the environment you choose for it will shape you; be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them. - W. Clement Stone

Quote for the Day 06Jul2011

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Quote for the Day 06Jul2011

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Quote for the Day 06Jul2011

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Quote for the Day 05Jul2011

Never underestimate your own intelligence and never overestimate the intelligence of others. You have something others do not have, discover it and use it. - Nelson Tunde Akinola

Quote for the Day 04Jul2011

Public opinion can help answer certain questions, but not the one question that will determine your eternity: Who do you say that Jesus is? If you agree with Scripture, and place your trust in Christ, you will have eternal life. - Bill Crowder

Quote for the Day 04Jul2011

Public opinion can help answer certain questions, but not the one question that will determine your eternity: Who do you say that Jesus is? If you agree with Scripture, and place your trust in Christ, you will have eternal life. - Bill Crowder

HE KNOWS WHAT HE WOULD DO!

Dearly Beloved,
HE KNOWS WHAT HE WOULD DO!
“Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, ‘Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?’ But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do” (John 6:5-6 NKJV).
At times, it seems as if God does not know what we are passing through, or that He knows but He does not know what to do to rescue us from our predicaments. In fact, many people have concluded that God is either powerless or is not existing because of their seemingly terrible situations. However, no situation meets Him unaware or unprepared. In fact, He does know what He would do in every situation.
A great crowd followed Jesus Christ to a lonely place. They were with Him till late in the afternoon. Having fed these people with spiritual food, Jesus asked Philip, one of His disciples, about how the people would be fed with physical food also. Philip could not imagine what would satisfy this great multitude, but Jesus Himself knew what He would do, and He eventually did what He had in mind: miraculously providing food for the thousands of people.
No matter your situation, God knows what He would do and He will eventually do it in His own time and in His own way. Just rely on Him. A Yoruba singer says, “Olorun mo ohun ti yo se; Jesu mi mo ohun ti yo se; Emi Mimo mo ohun ti yo se o t’aye mi yo fi dara.” [God knows what He would do; My Jesus knows what He would do; the Holy Spirit knows what He would do to make my life better.] Jesus Christ told His disciples, “For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8 NKJV).
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 02Jul2011

Lord, help us to obey Your Word,
To heed Your still small voice;
And may we not be swayed by men,
But make Your will our choice.
- D. De Haan

Quote for the Day 01Jul2011

Welcome to the second half of the year. The Lord will continue to prosper your life, bless the work of your hand, and comfort you on every side in Jesus name. Amen. - Bayo Afolaranmi

Quote for the Day 30Jun2011

Is God blessing you materially? It may be He is developing a “supply depot” in your life through which He can provide for others. - Henry Blackaby

Quote for the Day 29Jun2011

Be thankful for what you have; you will end up having more. If you concentrate on what you do not have, you will never, ever have enough. - Oprah Winfrey

Quote for the Day 29Jun2011

Be thankful for what you have; you will end up having more. If you concentrate on what you do not have, you will never, ever have enough. - Oprah Winfrey

Quote for the Day 28Jun2011

Focusing on the character of God helps us to take our eyes off our circumstances. - Our Daily Bread

Quote for the Day 27Jun2011

God makes miracles out of what seems insignificant: fragile faith, a little kindness, and ordinary people. - Julie Ackerman Link

IS THE LORD'S ARM TOO SHORT?

Dear Beloved,
IS THE LORD'S ARM TOO SHORT?
"The LORD answered Moses, 'Is the LORD's arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you'" (Numbers 11:23, NIV).
The Lord had been leading the people of Israel out of Egypt to the Promised Land for over two years with many signs and wonders. However, it seemed the people were not ready to accept God for who He is - the ever-caring God. They were fond of complaint and rebellion whenever they were in hardship. They even tried to set up another god for themselves when it seemed Moses, the man God was using among them, was nowhere to found (see Exodus 32)! In spite of all the ways God was using to bring them back to their senses, they were still grumbling for what God did not do for them. It came to a point that Moses was tired of bearing their burden. He wanted to die (Numbers 11:10-15).
Nevertheless, in this state of hopelessness, God rose to reduce the burden of Moses by selecting other seventy elders in Israel to be helping him. As for the cause of the Israelites' complaint - meat to eat - God promised, "You will not eat it for just one day, or two days, or five, ten or twenty days, but for a whole month…" (Numbers 11:19-20a, NIV). What a wonderful God! Moses could not understand this. How would God feed over six hundred thousand men with meat not to talk of the women and the children? "Would they have enough if flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?" (Numbers 11:22, NIV), he questioned God. Responding, God said, "Is the LORD's arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you" (Numbers 11:23, NIV). God did provide the meat, even in excess! However, the meat became a snare to the people because of their unbelief (Numbers 11:31-34).
In what way are you also complaining against God? Do you think that He cannot provide for you? Do you also doubt the ability of God to act in your situation? Let me ask you as God asked Moses: "Is the LORD's arm too short?"
"Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear" (Isaiah 59:1 NIV).
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

NB
This message was first sent out on February 27, 2005.

IS THE LORD'S ARM TOO SHORT?

Dear Beloved,
IS THE LORD'S ARM TOO SHORT?
"The LORD answered Moses, 'Is the LORD's arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you'" (Numbers 11:23, NIV).
The Lord had been leading the people of Israel out of Egypt to the Promised Land for over two years with many signs and wonders. However, it seemed the people were not ready to accept God for who He is - the ever-caring God. They were fond of complaint and rebellion whenever they were in hardship. They even tried to set up another god for themselves when it seemed Moses, the man God was using among them, was nowhere to found (see Exodus 32)! In spite of all the ways God was using to bring them back to their senses, they were still grumbling for what God did not do for them. It came to a point that Moses was tired of bearing their burden. He wanted to die (Numbers 11:10-15).
Nevertheless, in this state of hopelessness, God rose to reduce the burden of Moses by selecting other seventy elders in Israel to be helping him. As for the cause of the Israelites' complaint - meat to eat - God promised, "You will not eat it for just one day, or two days, or five, ten or twenty days, but for a whole month…" (Numbers 11:19-20a, NIV). What a wonderful God! Moses could not understand this. How would God feed over six hundred thousand men with meat not to talk of the women and the children? "Would they have enough if flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?" (Numbers 11:22, NIV), he questioned God. Responding, God said, "Is the LORD's arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you" (Numbers 11:23, NIV). God did provide the meat, even in excess! However, the meat became a snare to the people because of their unbelief (Numbers 11:31-34).
In what way are you also complaining against God? Do you think that He cannot provide for you? Do you also doubt the ability of God to act in your situation? Let me ask you as God asked Moses: "Is the LORD's arm too short?"
"Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear" (Isaiah 59:1 NIV).
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

NB
This message was first sent out on February 27, 2005.

Quote for the Day 25Jun2011

In all the setbacks of your life as a believer, God is plotting for your joy. - John Piper

Quote for the Day 24Jun2011

Use today wisely because it will soon go and you lose the opportunity it brought. God has given us each day like an asset to be invested. He expects that value would be added to whatever our endeavours each day. - Samuel Oladimeji

Quote for the Day 23Jun2011

Never let people blow your present challenge beyond proportion. If you do, rather appreciate God over the situation and trusting God to see the opportunity that lies within it, you will just be complaining and blaming people unnecessarily for your predicament. - Femi Emmanuel

Quote for the Day 22Jun2011

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found; was blind, but now I see. - John Newton

Quote for the Day 21Jun2011

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope or confidence. - Helen Keller

Quote for the Day 20Jun2011

Fatherhood is a 24-hour task with so much responsibilities and no salary; much expectation and lots of bills to pay; no day off and most often unappreciated, yet resignation impossible! Happy Father's Day! - Ekundayo Olajide

OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN

Dearly Beloved,
OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN
“Pray then like this: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name” (Matthew 6:9 RSV).
Jesus Christ was teaching His disciples how not to pray. It was likely that this led to the disciples’ quest for how to pray as Luke recorded it in his Gospel (see Luke 11:1). In response, Jesus taught them a model prayer that is popularly known as “The Lord’s Prayer.” This model prayer both in Matthew and Luke’s accounts started with a staggering revelation: the target of the prayer who is “Our Father who art in heaven.” Jesus did not refer to God as God as many other people in other world religions would do. He referred to God as “Father.” This is not the only place where Jesus referred to God as Father. He referred to God as “Father” in many places.
This reference was not strange to the Jews because God had revealed Himself to them and had been dealing with them as a father. In fact, the position and authority of the father as the head of the family are endorsed and clearly understood in the Scriptures, as a likeness of that of the Almighty God over His creatures. The word “father” is applied in the Bible to any ancestor (Deuteronomy 1:11; 1 Kings 15:11; Matthew 3:9; 23:30). It is used as a title of respect to a chief, ruler, or elder (Judges 17:10; 18:19; 1 Samuel 10:12; 2 Kings 2:12; Matthew 23:9). It can be used for the author or beginner of anything (Genesis 4:20, 21; Job 38:28). It is also applied to God (Exodus 4:22; Deuteronomy 32:6; 2 Samuel 7:14; Psalms 89:27, 28). It denotes His covenant relation to the Jews (Jeremiah 31:9; Isaiah 63:16; 64:8; John 8:41), and by extension to Christians. So, believers are called God’s “sons” (John 1:12; Romans 8:16; Matthew 6:4, 8, 15, 18; 10:20, 29). They also call Him “Father” (Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:4). God’s fatherhood is the ground and pattern for human fatherhood.
As the Father of all His creation, especially man, are you relating with God as a son or daughter? Are you given Him the honour that is due to Him? God asks, “If I am a father, where is the honour due to me?” (Malachi 1:6 NIV).
As a father, can your biological children relate freely with you as their father? Have you done enough for them to deserve their honour? If you still have a living father, how are you taking care of him?
Happy Father’s Day!
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 18Jun2011

A great blessing of gentleness is that it removes from us the burden of self-defense and self-promotion. - Michael Youssef

Quote for the Day 17Jun2011

How often have we misjudged people and torn them to shreds with harsh words and even with physical assault before we have had time to evaluate the situation? A little patience can drastically reduce major lifelong errors. - Author Unknown

Quote for the Day 16Jun2011

If only the people who worry about their liabilities would think about the riches they do possess, they would stop worrying. - Dale Carnegie