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