Quote for the Day 31Jul2012

We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty. - Mother Teresa

Quote for the Day 30Jul2012

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
- Georg Friedrich Handel

REPENTED, BUT...

Dearly Beloved,
REPENTED, BUT...
"In [Manasseh's] distress he sought the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. And when he prayed to him, the LORD was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God" (2 Chronicles 33:12-13 NIV).
"I will make them abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth because of what Manasseh son of Hezekiah king of Judah did in Jerusalem" (Jeremiah 15:4 NIV).
Our God is compassionate and forgiving (Daniel 9:9). Yet one has to be very careful in relating with Him especially in keeping His commandments. The reason is that if one sins against Him and later on repents, one would still face the consequence of one's sins (Proverbs 11:21; 16:5).
The story of Manasseh attests to this. Manasseh was one of the worst kings in Israel. He was the direct opposite of his godly father, Hezekiah. He did many detestable things to provoke the Lord. Tradition has it that he was the one that killed prophet Isaiah. After God had warned him and his people, and they did not heed to God's warning, God made him a prisoner in the court of another powerful king. However, in his distress, he repented and asked for God's forgiveness. The compassionate and forgiving God heard his prayers and restored him back to his kingdom. He later spent his life doing good things (see 2 Chronicles 33). Nevertheless, his people faced the consequence of his atrocities (see Jeremiah 15). The Lord promised to make them suffer because of what he did.
One should not view this as injustice on the part of God. The people also had their own share of the blame, but that is not the emphasis here. The emphasis is a particular repented and forgiven person was made as a reference point for the impending judgment. This indicates that though God forgave Manasseh, the punishment of his sins were still there.
The punishment of Manasseh's sins might not be directly on him, but the cases of David and Paul were different. David committed the sins of adultery and murder. When confronted by prophet Nathan, he repented and said the prayer found in Psalm 51. Undoubtedly, his sins were forgiven, but he paid dearly for them (2 Samuel 12:13-14; 13-21). Paul (formerly Saul) persecuted the disciples of Jesus Christ. When he had an encounter with God, God promised, "I will show him how much he must suffer for my name" (Acts 9:16 NIV). He did suffer.
What are you doing now? Is it good or bad? You may be thinking of later repentance. However, hear the words of Solomon: "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 NIV).
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
NB
This message was first sent out on November 14, 2004.

Quote for the Day 28Jul2012

We hurt people by being too busy. Too busy to notice their needs. Too busy to drop that note of comfort or encouragement or assurance of love. Too busy to listen when someone needs to talk. Too busy to care. - Billy Graham

Quote for the Day 27Jul2012

The faithfulness of God provides a sure anchor of hope and comfort for the true believer - an anchor that remains steadfast amidst the uncertainties and vicissitudes of life. - WF Kumuyi

Quote for the Day 26Jul2012

It is essential that we use our words with great wisdom and care. Consider carefully the words you choose. Will they be seasoned with the balm of grace or with the poison of anger? - Bill Crowder

Quote for the Day 25Jul2012

It is in the redemption of Christ alone that we can have peace. If we take Christ into our boats on the stormy sea, we will ride on in safety through earth's difficulties to heaven's shore. - James R. Miller

Quote for the Day 24Jul2012

We need to come to a place in life where God and not circumstances or dissatisfaction with the existing system dictate the direction of our lives. - Rotimi Oluwaseyitan

Quote for the Day 23Jul2012

People who waste your time by offering unsolicited gossips should be tactfully shown the way out. - Femi Okunlola

ARE YOU ON THE LIST?

Dear Beloved,
ARE YOU ON THE LIST?
"These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. The governor ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food…" (Ezra 2:62-63a NIV).
"If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:15 NIV).
The school bus was ready to convey some students in a class for an excursion. Every member of the class wanted to go, but the criteria for going was that one must have his name in the prepared list of the class teacher. None of them knew the actual people that were on this list. As they all assembled by the bus, the teacher started calling them one after another. The funny thing there was that there was still space in the bus when the teacher finished calling the names on his list. The other students implored him to admit them into the bus, but he refused because their names were not on his list.
A similar event happened as the Jews came back from exile. The priests had re-established the worship and sacrifices to God as prescribed by the Mosaic Law. However, to minister as a priest, one has to establish his genealogy as Levite - the only tribe that can perform priestly duties. Then came some people from certain towns who could not prove that they were even Israelites not to talk of being Levites. These people searched for their family records, but they could not find them, so they had to be excluded from the priesthood.
Everybody on earth is enjoying God's universal goodness. God does not discriminate in blessing many people on earth (Psalm 145:9; Matthew 5:45; Acts 14:17). In fact, it seems as if God is blessing the ungodly more than the godly. Nevertheless, a day is coming when God will turn against some people - those that their names are not in His Book of Life. They will be excluded from being in the presence of God forever. The reason would be the absence of their names in "the Book of Life" (Revelation 20:15).
For you to have your name written in the Book of Life, you have to genuinely accept Jesus Christ - the only Way to God (John 10:7,9; 14:6; Acts 4:12) - as your personal Saviour and Lord (John 1:12-13; Acts 16:31). Are you on the list in the Book of Life?
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
NB
This message was first sent out on June 27, 2004.

Quote for the Day 21Jul2012

The Lord as the Potter who moulded you and placed you where you are has a purpose for your life and He will finish His work in your life if you allow Him to do so. - Supo Ayokunle

Quote for the Day 20Jul2012

I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish he didn't trust me so much. - Mother Teresa

Quote for the Day 19Jul2012

If I were to say, "God, why me?" about the bad things, then I should have said, "God, why me?" about the good things that happened in my life. - Arthur Ashe

Quote for the Day 18Jul2012

Our daily battles may tire us, but one day we will have eternal rest and peace in heaven. Satan will experience his final defeat. - Michael Youssef

Quote for the Day 17Jul2012

You are addressed by your dressing. If you are clothed with pride, disgraceful situation will attend to you. If with humility, honourable and uplifting situations will be your guests. – EA Adeboye

Quote for the Day 16Jul2012

We have to acknowledge the progress we have made, but understand that we still have a long way to go. That things are better, but still not good enough. - Barack Obama

I HAVE FOUND A FRIEND IN JESUS

Dearly Beloved,
I HAVE FOUND A FRIEND IN JESUS
"I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you" (John 15:15 NIV).
The hymn "I have found a friend in Jesus" also known as "The Lily of the Valley" is one of my favourite hymns. Little is known about the history of the hymn apart from the fact that it was composed by William Charles Fry (1837–1882) in Lincoln, England, while working with the Salvation Army. Fry declared that he had found a friend in Jesus because He is everything to him. He compared Jesus to the lily of the valley, the "Beloved" in the Song of Songs' love characters (Song of Songs 2:1). Undoubtedly, this lily of the valley symbolizes the sweetness, purity, fruitfulness, humility, and healing qualities of Jesus Christ. Fry could see only in Jesus all he needed to be cleansed and be made fully whole. He declared that Jesus was his comfort in sorrow and in trouble because Jesus has told him to roll every care on Him for He cares. Jesus is indeed "the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star, He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul."
Apart from William Charles Fry's declaration in that hymn, Jesus Christ Himself chose everyone who accepts Him as friend and He did not only promise to do many things for His friends, He did lay down His life as a ransom for His friends (see John 15:13; Ephesians 5:2; Romans 5:6-8; 1 Timothy 2:6). As a friend of Jesus, anyone who accepts Him as his Saviour and Lord will learn many things from Him (John 15:15), in fact, Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, will reveal many mysteries to him (Ephesians 1:9; 3:5; Colossians 1:26). Such a friend will have direct access to the throne of grace to approach God without any intermediary except Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:14-16; 8:6; 9:15; 12:24; 1 John 2:1). In fact, He "...is a friend who sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24 NIV).
Fry continued in his hymn to testify more about this great Friend who has taken his grief, borne all his sorrows, and has become his strong and mighty tower in temptation. He declared that though all the world forsakes him, and Satan painfully tempts him, he would safely reach the heavenly goal through Jesus. Therefore, he forsook all from his heart for Him. He also testified that Jesus will never, never leave him, nor yet forsake him here, that as he lived by faith and did the will of Jesus, Jesus would be a wall of fire around him. So, he would have nothing to fear, for from Jesus' manna He shall fill his hungry soul. Indeed, he found a great Friend in Jesus!
Have you found such a Friend in Jesus Christ? Can you confess like William Charles Fry that Jesus Christ is everything to you? Invite Him into your life today and allow Him to take total control of your life. You will really enjoy Him!
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 14Jul2012

You don’t have to see the entire staircase to take the first step. - Martin Luther King Jr.

Quote for the Day 13Jul2012

What matters most is the legacy you leave in each event of life. And each event of life is a score card through which the value you add to life will be measured. - Oyesoji Aremu

Quote for the Day 12Jul2012

Nothing in the world can be achieved without passion, it makes all the difference if your heart is in what you do. Do not do what you do not like or enjoy and do not be involved in what you do not believe in. – Femi Emmanuel

Quote for the Day 11Jul2012

The deepest level of worship is praising God in spite of pain, thanking God during a trial, trusting Him when tempted, surrendering while suffering, loving Him when He seems distant. – Rick Warren

Quote for the Day 10Jul2012

We strive to do the will of God
And struggle to succeed;
But we may fail to recognize
God's strength is what we need.
- D. De Haan

Quote for the Day 09Jul2012

When you spend time in God's waiting room, He is developing qualities in you that simply cannot be developed any other way. When He is finished you will come out stronger and wiser. And you will have the maturity to handle what He has in mind for you. So do not let the enemy rattle you or engineer circumstances that put you into overdrive. – Bob Gass

WILL GOD ANSWER MY PRAYERS? (Part 2)

Dearly Beloved,
WILL GOD ANSWER MY PRAYERS? (Part 2)
"...God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28 NASB).
Last week, I sent out a message on the above subject and emphasized it that God will answer our prayers ACCORDING TO HIS WILL in His own way and His own time. Expectedly, some people disagreed with that position. To them, God will answer whatsoever we ask from Him. Well, let me adapt a message I sent out some years ago titled, "When God Says NO."
I pointed it out last week that examples of what I propound abound in the Bible, and I gave a classic one in the case of David when he wanted to build a temple for God (see 2 Samuel 7). King David was a unique man - a man after God's heart (see Acts 13:22). He was such a king that would not do anything without first enquired from God. God in turn made him successful in his entire endeavour, but only in one that God said NO. One may wonder why God said no to such a good heart desire of David.
How would you react to such an answer from God? Would you be like that pastor that told his congregation that, "When God says NO, say YES"? How did David react? He reacted by praising God in counting his blessings (see 2 Samuel 7:18-29). The "NO" answer made him to praise God! It made him to draw closer to God. It made him to claim God's promises (verses 28-29).
David accepted the will of God to his desire, and God fulfilled His plan for him. Solomon - his son - eventually built the temple to David's credit (see 2 Kings 8). Hezekiah was a different man. God told him that he would die (2 Kings 20:1). Instead of him to accept the will of God for him, he prayed against it. God, in His permissive will, added fifteen years to his life. Unfortunately, those added years were the dismay of his life (see 2 Kings 20:12ff).
Jesus Christ accepted the will of God when He prayed that God should take the cup of the cross from Him (Luke 22:44). He even cried on the cross to demonstrate the agony of the "negative" answer He received from God(Mark 15: 34). However, the NO answer of God to Jesus, and His (that is, Jesus') acceptance of it gave Him a name above every other name(Philippians 2:10-11). This singular action of Jesus Christ has also given every Christian the hope that is beyond any other hope that if we die today, we are going to reign with Him.
Paul prayed thrice that God should take away a "thorn in his flesh" but God told him that His grace is sufficient for him (see 2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Instead of refusing the absolute will of God in this unpleasant situation, Paul rather boasted in his weakness and allowed God to be glorified in it.
God will certainly not answer all our prayers the way we want Him to do so. However, it is certain that God will answer our prayers according to His will. Are you ready to accept God's perfect answer to your prayers in His own way and His own time? Remember, "...God causes ALL things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28 NASB).
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
NB
You can get the full message comprising the two parts and the previous message on request at . God bless you!

Quote for the Day 07Jul2012

On this 7th day of the 7th month of the year, the Lord will perfect that which concerns you; because His mercy endures forever He will not forsake you in Jesus' name. Amen. - Bayo Afolaranmi

Quote for the Day 06Jul2012

The fact that God knows where you are and that He is very much aware of the difficult situation you are in provides the confidence and strength needed to live for His glory. So be encouraged. Remember God’s words of comfort. Help is on the way! — Joe Stowell

Quote for the Day 05Jul2012

I am only one, But still I am one. I cannot do everything, But still I can do something; And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. - Edward Everett Hale

Quote for the Day 04Jul2012

Every day is a new day - a day for new beginnings, new dreams, new action - a day for challenge, adventure, and discovery. TODAY, what is your goal? What is your dream? What action are you taking to further your goals and dreams? - Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Quote for the Day 03Jul2012

Being in God’s will is the secret to fulfilment and success in life and ministry. God is interested in guiding every of your step in life. Do not run your life on assumptions or presumptions. Learn to always obtain clearance from God before taking any “minor” or “major” decision. - Segun Adeleke

Quote for the Day 02Jul2012

Procrastination is the bad habit of putting off until the day after tomorrow what should have been done the day before yesterday. - Napoleon Hill