Quote for the Day 31May2011

Nothing in this world can quench thirst for more and satisfy our need except in the Lord Jesus Christ, as we drink from His living water daily we will be refreshed and satisfied. - Akintoye Akintunde

DO YOU HAVE A STORY?

Dearly Beloved,
DO YOU HAVE A STORY?
“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9 NIV).
Fanny Crosby was undoubtedly one of the most prolific Christian hymn writers in history. She had many popular inspiring hymns to her credit. Interestingly, she was blind for the most part of her life! In spite of her physical disability, she had a story to tell. She told the story in one of her popular hymns, “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!” that she composed to a tune played by her dear friend, Phoebe Knapp.
To Fanny Crosby, Jesus Christ was a blessed assurance because she has the foretaste of glory divine! She knew that she was an heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of His Spirit, and washed in His blood. She perfectly submitted to the will of God for her life and she had perfect delight in it. In spite of her blindness, she had the visions of rapture that burst on her sight. In these visions, she saw angels descending and bringing echoes of mercy and whispers of love from above. In her perfect submission, she was at rest in all things. She was happy and blessed in her Saviour. She was filled with the Saviour’s goodness and lost in His love as she was watching and waiting, looking above to her Saviour. It was indeed her story and it turned out to become her song and the song of thousands of people who believed, and are still believing, this blessed assurance in Jesus Christ.
Fanny Crosby had a story. What is your story? In spite of what you are passing through presently, can you sing joyfully like this woman? She like Apostle Paul could boast in her weakness because she knew that God’s grace was sufficient for her and His power was made perfect in her weakness. Both of them could boast in their disabilities because they did not focus on their respective weaknesses, but on God who is greater than any disability or weakness.
“This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior, all the day long; This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior, all the day long.” Do you have a story?
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 26May2011

The power in words can build up or tear down—
Create a big smile or produce a sad frown;
So in all your contacts with people each day,
Be sure to encourage in all that you say.
- Fitzhugh

Quote for the Day 25May2011

Persistent people begin their success where others end in failure. - Edward Eggleston

Quote for the Day 24May2011

When we have trouble believing God for the solution to a problem, we can enter the classroom of creation and observe the wonders of nature. Doing so strengthens our faith in the promises found in our textbook, the Bible. - Dennis De Haan

Quote for the Day 23May2011

Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace. - Anonymous

“EVERYTHING IS PERMISSIBLE”

Dearly Beloved,
“EVERYTHING IS PERMISSIBLE”
“‘Everything is permissible for me’ — but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible for me’ — but I will not be mastered by anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12 NIV).
“‘Everything is permissible’ — but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible’ — but not everything is constructive” (1 Corinthians 10:23 NIV).
One of the problems that the controversial Corinthian church faced in the first century was the fact that they thought that they could do anything. It seems there was a popular slogan in the town to justify that. Twice, Paul addressed the issue in his first epistle to the church. It is a fact that everything and anything may be permissible or lawful, but not everything is beneficial and constructive.
Recently, I learnt this lesson in the aspect of daily quotes of my online ministry in two ways. One, I used to use any “good” quotation from anybody until one day I used a quotation of a renown unbeliever whose views are totally against the teachings of the Bible. Interestingly, I could get a Bible verse to support that quotation in the corresponding “Bible verse for the Day” aspect of the ministry. Many people that read the quotation that day wondered why a pastor would be quoting an unbeliever. Two, that incident made me to be more conscious of what I will use as my daily quotes. I, especially, now take more care in using the verses of the Bible to support any quotation. My extra care made me discovered that not every quotation no matter how good it may seem has a corresponding Bible verse. Most of these quotations are wishful thinking of the originators with no scriptural backing. This exposes the danger that the current motivation speakers pose for their unsuspecting audience. While I do not condemn these motivation speakers, one has to verify what they are saying and see whether they are in line with the word of God.
This is applicable to other areas of life. What are you doing presently? No matter how good that thing may be, can you substantiate it with undiluted word of God? How beneficial and constructive is that thing to you and others around you? “Everything is permissible.” However, beware that your “good” acts or words are beneficial, constructive and supported by the word of God.
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
NB
Let me use this medium to invite you to join my Yahoo group created purposely for daily quotes http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spiritualdigestdaily/ or give me your full email address to be added to the group. If you are not checking your mails regularly, please ignore this because I send quotes daily to people in this group by email. You may visit http://inspirationaldailyquotes.blogspot.com/ and bookmark it for the daily quotes. Also visit http://bibleverseofthedaybypastorbayo.blogspot.com/ for corresponding daily edifying Bible verses. Bookmark or save it and be visiting it every day. God bless you!

Quote for the Day 21May2011

Your job will not take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch. - Anonymous

Quote for the Day 20May2011

He cannot fail, your faithful God,
He will guard you with His mighty power;
Then fear no ill though troubles rise,
His help is sure from hour to hour.
- Bosch

Quote for the Day 19May2011

Acting with grace and kindness toward others is one of the best ways to point people to God. - Dave Branon

Quote for the Day 18May2011

God’s unseen presence comforts me,
I know He’s always near;
And when life’s storms besiege my soul,
He says, “My child, don’t fear.”
- D. De Haan

Quote for the Day 17May2011

Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Quote for the Day 16May2011

Lord, set a guard upon my lips,
My tongue control today;
Help me evaluate each thought
And watch each word I say.
- Hess

WOULD YOU ALSO DOUBT HIM?

Dear Beloved,
WOULD YOU ALSO DOUBT HIM?
“Jesus asked the boy's father, ‘How long has he been like this?’ ‘From childhood,’ he answered. ‘It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.’ ‘“If you can”?’ said Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for him who believes.’ Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’” (Mark 9:21-24 NIV).
While Jesus Christ and three of His disciples were away on the Mount of Transfiguration, a drama was unfolding between the other disciples and the teachers of the law. What was the drama? A possessed boy was brought to the disciples for deliverance, but they could not deliver him. Then, the teachers of the law were arguing with the disciple (Mark 9:14-15). The argument might be on the ability of Jesus to do the deliverance.
Jesus Christ arrived during the moment. He asked them the cause of the argument. He was told. Jesus denounced both His disciples' incompetence and the unbelief of the people. More importantly, He wanted to heal the boy, but the response of his father to Jesus' question was an expression of doubt about Jesus' ability to perform the miracle: "If you can do anything…." Why did Jesus re-echo this clause again? It showed His surprise about the father's unbelief. It perplexed Him about their hollow faith in Him. Yet He added that if anyone could believe in Him, there would be no problem that the person cannot confront. Think about the man's response. Immediately he asked Jesus for help to overcome his unbelief. Then his son was eventually delivered from the evil spirit.
You also might have been asking God to do something for you, but at times, doubt casts shadow on your faith. It seems that the problem is becoming more critical than before. Perhaps some people might have told you that there is no way out of the problem. Whose words would you believe? Would you also doubt God? Think of Jesus' word to doubtful Martha, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" (John 11:40 NIV).
What people or your circumstances dictate may seem sensible, but may not be God's words. Do not doubt God about your situation. Believe that He will do it. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
NB
This message was first sent out on November 2, 2003.

Quote for the Day 14May2011

Courage is doing what you are afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you are scared. - Eddie Rickenbacker

Quote for the Day 13May2011

Accept everything about yourself - I mean everything. You are you and that is the beginning and the end - no apologies, no regrets. - Henry Kissinger

WHERE DO YOU PUT YOUR FAITH?

Dearly Beloved,
WHERE DO YOU PUT YOUR FAITH?
“When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, ‘Why did the LORD bring defeat upon us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the LORD's covenant from Shiloh, so that it may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies’” (1 Samuel 4:3 NIV).
The Ark of the Covenant was a sacred portable container which was the most important sacred object of the Israelites during the wilderness period. It was also known as the ark of the Lord (Joshua 6:11), the ark of God (1 Samuel 3:3), and the ark of the Testimony (Exodus 25:22). It served as the presence of the LORD among the Israelites. At times, it led them on their journey in the wilderness (Numbers 10:33) and it was instrumental in the crossing of River Jordan as the waters of the river ceased to continue flowing as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the ark entered the water, and that it stood still above until these priests, after the people of Israel had crossed over (see Joshua 3:11-17; 4:7, 11, 18). No wonder, when the Israelites were losing a battle against the Philistines, they trusted the seemingly “magic power” of the ark rather than God, and took the ark into battle. They thought that the ark would rescue them from their enemies. Unfortunately, they suffered a crushing defeat and the sacred ark was even captured by the enemies! (1 Samuel 4:1-11).
Nowadays, it is amazing to see how many Christians and even some Christian denominations are placing so much emphasis and trust in some seemingly sacred objects rather than the Almighty God that created such objects for man’s use. The objects may be anointing oil, “sanctified” apron, mantle or handkerchief, “holy” water, “sanctified” candle, soap, sponge, and the likes. Interestingly, many people have been disappointed in spite of the use of such objects.
Where do you put your faith? Is it in created things or the Creator? No matter how sacred or “sanctified” they may be, created objects may aid your belief in God, but it is far better to put your faith directly in God than relying on these sacred or “sanctified” objects before you can get anything from God. The Psalmist said, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” (20:7 NIV).
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 07May2011

Better to trust in the God who lavishes care on the whole earth than to spend our lives worrying about money and possessions. - Philip Yancey

Quote for the Day 06May2011

Jesus is willing to forgive our failures and call us into His service. After all, if only perfect people qualified to serve Him, He would not have anyone to choose from! - Joe Stowell

Quote for the Day 05May2011

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear. - Ambrose Redmoon

Quote for the Day 04May2011

The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for enough good men to do nothing. - Edmund Burke

Quote for the Day 03May2011

In spite of unseasonable wind, snow and unexpected weather of all sorts, a gardener still plants and tends what he has planted believing that Spring will come. - Mary Anne Radmacher

Quote for the Day 02May2011

How many years have you been in faith? Do you really know Jesus Christ? 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. - Bayo Afolaranmi