"I DO NOT KNOW HIM!"

Dear Beloved,

"I DO NOT KNOW HIM!"

"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death" (Philippians 3:10 NIV).

One evening, a drama was acted in my family. My four-year-old son wanted to go to a dark room. His mother gave him a searchlight. However, he was reluctant to go. Then, this conversation ensued between them:
"Mommy, I cannot go there. I am afraid."
"Say, 'Fear, go away in Jesus' name.'"
"Fear, go away in Jesus' name." (Yet, he was still reluctant to enter the room.)
"Ask Jesus to follow you."
"Jesus, follow me"
"Stretch out your hand for Jesus to hold you." (He stretched out his hand.)
"Mommy, I cannot go."
"Is Jesus not with you? Don't you know Jesus again?"
"Mommy, I don't know Him!"

We all laughed about the last words of the boy. Nevertheless, many people are like him. They have been hearing about Jesus Christ for a long time. Probably they have been "worshipping" Him for a long time, but they have not known Jesus Christ. Such people only know Him factually; they have not known Him experientially. They have not had personal encounter with Him. They have not had such a deep relationship with Him that can make them trust Him in difficult moment.

Experiential knowledge of Jesus Christ is both momentous and continuous. It is the saving power that flows from the blood of Jesus Christ. It is His nature, His character, His work, and with the salvation which He has worked out.

It is surprising that the disciples of Jesus Christ spent over three years with Him, yet they did not have this knowledge. No wonder He confronted one of them with this question, "Don't you know me…even after I have been among you such a long time?" (John 14:9, NIV). Paul realized this and prayed thus: "that I may know Him…" (Philippians 3:10, NKJV).

How many years have you been in faith? Do you also know Him? Have you come to His saving knowledge? He is beside you in any dark moment. Invite Him today into your life and your life will never remain the same.

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).


NB
This message was first sent out on Sunday May 16, 2004.

Quote for the Day 30Apr2011

Cling to the Bible! - This jewel and treasure
Brings life eternal, and saves fallen man;
Surely its value no mortal can measure:
Seek for its blessing, O soul, while you can!
- M.J. Smith

Quote for the Day 29Apr2011

The key to happiness is inner peace. The greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions such as anger, attachment, fear and suspicion, while love and compassion and a sense of universal responsibility are the sources of peace and happiness. - Dalai Lama

Quote for the Day 28Apr2011

Do all the good you can, by all the means you can,
In all the ways you can, in all the places you can,
At all times you can, to all the people you can,
As long as you can!
- John Wesley

Quote for the Day 27Apr2011

We cannot undo yesterday, but we can act today to influence tomorrow. - David McCasland

Quote for the Day 26Apr2011

Do not be just another member of society, be a living example of your dreams and goals. - Author Unknown

Quote for the Day 25Apr2011

Discipline is tough - and something we may try to avoid. But in sports and in life, short-term pain is often the only path to long-term gain. - Bill Crowder

WHAT IS THE WORTH OF JESUS CHRIST?

Dearly Beloved,
WHAT IS THE WORTH OF JESUS CHRIST?
“Then one of the Twelve - the one called Judas Iscariot - went to the chief priests and asked, ‘What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?’ So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over” (Matthew 26:14-16 NIV).
Judas Iscariot is known for his nefarious act of betraying Jesus Christ to Jewish leaders for the sum of thirty silver coins only. That was the worth of Jesus Christ to him. He later regretted his action, returned the money to the leaders and went to hang himself.
The worth of Jesus Christ varied to the other disciples and followers of Jesus Christ. Joseph of Arimathea valued even the corpse of Jesus Christ that he “wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock” (Matthew 27:59-60 NIV). He gave to Jesus was special to him because he valued Him greatly. Mary Magdalene and the other women that had been serving Him before His death were still loyal to Him even after His death. They brought spices and perfume to anoint His body. Paul’s statement about the worth of Jesus Christ is classic: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21 NIV). Jesus Christ worth the whole life to Paul. No wonder, he later said, “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8 NIV). Simon Peter had earlier said similar thing: “We have left everything to follow you!” (Mark 10:28 NIV).
Jesus Christ does not worth a dime to many people. Like Judas, such people do not care about what happen to Jesus Christ and the cause of the Gospel. Such people may even be so-called Christians. Inasmuch as their interest is not affected, they can sell Jesus Christ for any amount. On the other hand, Jesus Christ is all the world to some people. Like Paul and other faithful followers of Jesus Christ in the Bible, such people are ready to give everything to Jesus Christ and the cause of the Gospel.
What is the worth of Jesus Christ to you? Does He worth anything to you? What can you give up or give away because of Jesus Christ? Like Will L. Thomp­son (1847-1909), I have the courage to say, “Jesus is all the world to me, and true to Him I’ll be; O how could I this Friend deny, when He’s so true to me? Following Him I know I’m right, He watches o’er me day and night; Following Him by day and night, He’s my Friend.”
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 23Apr2011

Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
Thy Father both thee and thy load will upbear.
- Annie Johnson Flint

Quote for the Day 22Apr2011

The enemies conspired against Jesus and crucified Him yet he rose again. God's glory on our lives will definitely make us triumph over conspiracies. Our God is greater than all our enemies combined. - Author Unknown

Quote for the Day 21Apr2011

There is nowhere you can go that you will not find Christ waiting for you to join Him. Even when you face death, you can be assured that He has gone before you in triumph. - Henry Blackaby

Quote for the Day 20Apr2011

False friends are like our shadow, keeping close to us while we walk in the sunshine, but leaving us the instant we cross into the shade. - Christian N. Bovee

Quote for the Day 19Apr2011

When life is going well, we tend to ignore warnings that we need to turn around and change our sinful ways. It is important to remember that we may be wrong even though life is good. - Julie Ackerman Link

Quote for the Day 18Apr2011

When we put our problems in God’s hands, He puts His peace in our hearts. - Our Daily Bread

HOW EFFICIENT IS YOUR BRAKE?

Dearly Beloved,
HOW EFFICIENT IS YOUR BRAKE?
“Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:13 NIV).
“[God’s] grace instructs us to give up ungodly living and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this world” (Titus 2:12 TEV).
A brake is a device for arresting or preventing the motion of a mechanism usually by means of friction. It is a very important device in a vehicle. The brake system in a vehicle consists of handbrake, brake pedal, brake pad, and brake fluid container among other things. Anyone who will drive a vehicle must make sure that the brake system of the vehicle is functioning well. Brake failure can be very dangerous especially when it occurs unexpectedly on motion. Interestingly, applying brake abruptly and without tactics on motion can be more dangerous.
Every normal human being must also have a brake system that he or she would be using to control him/herself. Such system is called self control or temperance. It is an act of controlling or mastering one’s actions, emotions, desires and passions, especially one’s sensual appetites. The Bible teaches that self-control is a virtue that every Christian should imbibe (Proverbs 23:1-3; 25:16; Daniel 1:8, 12-16; 1 Corinthians 7:9; 9:25; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8; 1 Timothy 3:2-3, 8; Titus 1:8; 2:2-3, 12; 1 Peter 1:13; 2 Peter 1:6). Only those who allow God a space in their lives and make His grace their brake fluid will have efficient brake called self control or temperance.
It is unfortunate that some people do not have this important virtue. They do not know how to control or comport themselves when it matters most. No wonder, such people do things anyhow to their detriment. Their lack of self control has caused, and is still causing, avoidable havoc to their reputation.
Do you have brake in your life? How efficient is your brake? How are you controlling yourself, your actions, emotions, desires and passions, especially your sensual appetites? Do you have effective control over yourself and these things? Pray that the Lord will help you to always take care of the brake of your life and be using it effectively.
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 16Apr2011

May our choices today not result in regret, but rather be wise and God-honoring. - Bill Crowder

Quote for the Day 15Apr2011

You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view. - Harper Lee

Quote for the Day 14Apr2011

It is good to have money and the things that money can buy, but it is good too, to check up once in a while and make sure you have not lost the things money cannot buy. - George Lorimer

Quote for the Day 13Apr2011

Responding gently and carefully to angry people can promote unity, for God’s glory. - Jennifer Benson Schuldt

Quote for the Day 12Apr2011

God has the power to make His favour so real in your life to the end of making your supposed enemies seek audience with you and seek your favour. - Emmanuel Arotile

Quote for the Day 11Apr2011

We all live under the same sky, but we do not all have the same horizon. Choose your height and go for it. - Nelson Tunde Akinola

“ROCK OF AGES”

Dearly Beloved,
“ROCK OF AGES”
“For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock” (Psalm 27:5 NIV).
The hymn "Rock of Ages" is one of the best known and best loved hymns. Augustus M. Toplady (1740-1778), an Anglican Church clergyman, composed it. The hymn’s strong declaration of Jesus Christ and His work on the cross as the only hope of salvation for man from the judgment that his sin deserves earns it a place of honour among hymns of grace. The analogy of Jesus Christ to a rock has its roots in the Scriptures. In fact, the word “rock” is often used figuratively in the Bible to speak of God and Jesus Christ. As Rock, God is the Creator (Deuteronomy 32:18), His people’s strength (Deuteronomy 32:4), His people’s defence and refuge (Psalm 31:2-3; 94:22), and His people’s salvation (Deuteronomy 32:15; Psalm 89:26). In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is the Rock from whom the Spirit of life flows (John 4:13-14; 1 Corinthians 10:4), the foundation of the church (Matthew 16:18) and its cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20). Alluding to the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings, Paul wrote, “...for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:4 NIV). Paul was apparently referring to the event recorded in Exodus 17:6. Moses, at God’s command, struck the rock in Horeb, miraculously bringing forth a needed supply of water for God’s people. The physical rock is a picture of Jesus Christ being struck to provide the “water” needed to satisfy sinful man’s spiritual need. In addition, there are numerous Old Testament references to the Lord as a “Rock” or “Rock of salvation.”
The specific picture of Jesus Christ as a rock split open (cleft) to provide a place of spiritual refuge for sinful people is surely drawn from Moses’ experience recorded in Exodus 33:20-23. Because Moses, a fallen man, could not see God’s face and live, God Himself protected Moses by placing him in the cleft of a rock as He passed by. In like manner, by being hidden in Jesus Christ, the Rock cleft on his behalf at the cross, the believer is sheltered from the eternal death he would face when he stands before a holy, righteous God.
This hymn indeed reiterates the clear scriptural teaching regarding man’s utter inability to, in any way, offer God anything to earn or merit salvation. Paul told Titus, “... [Jesus Christ] saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy…” (Titus 3:5a NIV. See also Romans 3:20, 28; 4:5; 11:6; Galatians 2:16; 3:16-21; Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Timothy 1:9).
Are you in the cleft of this Rock, or are you still depending on your efforts to be saved? Hide yourself in Him, and you will never regret you did!
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 09Apr2011

Forgiveness is not always easy. At times, it feels more painful than the wound we suffered, to forgive the one that inflicted it. And yet, there is no peace without forgiveness. - Marianne Williamson

Quote for the Day 08Apr2011

There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies. - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Quote for the Day 07Apr2011

Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation. - Brian Tracy

Quote for the Day 06Apr2011

If you are going through a difficult or confusing time, know that your Lord has gone before you and He is present with you. He is fully aware of what you are facing, and He is actively responding to your need. - Henry Blackaby

Quote for the Day 06Apr2011

If you are going through a difficult or confusing time, know that your Lord has gone before you and He is present with you. He is fully aware of what you are facing, and He is actively responding to your need. - Henry Blackaby

Quote for the Day 06Apr2011

If you are going through a difficult or confusing time, know that your Lord has gone before you and He is present with you. He is fully aware of what you are facing, and He is actively responding to your need. - Henry Blackaby

Quote for the Day 05Apr2011

When you plead the blood of Jesus, the destroyer cannot come near. When he sees the blood, he must respect the blood. He cannot touch what is covered by the blood. The blood of Jesus truly protects and sets you free! - Joseph Prince

Quote for the Day 04Apr2011

When we set aside our own interests and accomplishments to recognize that it is better to care for the interests of others, we see God’s name glorified. - Dave Branon

DO IT AGAIN!

Dearly Beloved,
DO IT AGAIN!
“But Simon answered and said to Him, ‘Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net’” (Luke 5:5 NKJV).
Simon Peter and his colleagues were professional fishermen who knew all what it took to catch fish successfully in the familiar Lake of Gennesaret. They worked all night to catch fish but they could not. At daybreak, Simon Peter had given up hope of catching any fish that day as he was preparing to go back home empty handed. However, his boat became a preaching platform for Jesus Christ. After His ministration, Jesus told Peter to let down his net into the deep of the lake. Ordinarily, Peter would have argue with Jesus that that time was not the right time to carry out such an action, after all, he and his colleagues did it at the best time in night without success. However, because Jesus said so, Peter was ready to obey. He let down his net into the lake and he had a great catch of fish.
Many people have been making efforts to succeed in many endeavours. They have applied their professional know-how without success. Many of such people are contemplating of giving up or have even given up on such endeavours. However, more efforts and commitment will make them have success, especially if they can put their faith in God who can turn the impossibility to possibility.
What have you done or are still doing that is without desired result? Are you contemplating abandoning the project? Do not give up on it! Do it again especially with faith in God. "Everything is possible for him who believes" (Mark 9:23 NIV).
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 02Apr2011

Turning the soil and pulling the weeds
Helps garden flowers to grow,
And if we’re to see growth in our lives
Trials and testings we’ll know.
- Sper

Quote for the Day 01Apr2011

Welcome to the second quarter of the year. The Lord that saw you through the first quarter of this year will continue to keep you. He will continue to bless you and make His face shine on you in Jesus’ name. Amen. – Bayo Afolaranmi