Quote for the Day 31Jan2014

God never promised you a rose garden but He will stand with you on your battlefield, take you through your storm and turn your seasons of adversity into seasons of growth. - Bob Gass

Quote for the Day 30Jan2014

He who sees the truth, let him proclaim it, without asking who is for it or who is against it. - Henry George

Quote for the Day 29Jan2014

We must mirror God's love in the midst of a world full of hatred. We are the mirrors of God's love, so we may show Jesus by our lives. - Corrie ten Boom

Quote for the Day 28Jan2014

You cannot hang out with negative people and expect to live a positive life. - Joel Osteen

Quote for the Day 27Jan2014

God created me - and you - to live with a single, all-embracing, all-transforming passion - namely, a passion to glorify God by enjoying and displaying his supreme excellence in all the spheres of life. - John Piper

Quote for the Day 26Jan2014

Does your life portray the existence of God? Fools may say that there is no God, but is your life demonstrating that there is God? Do not be a fool! - Bayo Afolaranmi

DO NOT BE A FOOL!

Dearly Beloved, DO NOT BE A FOOL! “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good” (Psalm 14:1 NKJV). There are some people who do not believe in the existence of God. They say there is no God. They are called atheists. The psalmist simply called such people fools. However, the psalmist’s explanation reveals that not only self-proclaimed atheists are making such claim that there is no God, even people that believe in the existence of God, but who are evildoers are as fools as atheists. These second set of people are “practical atheists” who live their lives as if there is no God. They are morally corrupt and they do not glorify God with their lives. The Lord observes from heaven that almost all the human race is in this category (see verses 2-3). It is unfortunate that many professed Christians today are worse than these atheists and unbelievers. The words and actions of these professed Christians do not portray them as children of God. They do not reflect the light of God to the dark and corrupt world. This has made many people to doubt their Christianity and the existence of God they claim they are representing. One may wonder who are more foolish: the people that openly admit that there is no God or professed Christians that are not glorifying God through their words and actions. They can only fool themselves and other people. They cannot fool God. Apostle Paul said, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life” (Galatians 6:7-8 NKJV). Are you such a Christian? Can God depend on you? Does your life portray the existence of God? Fools may say that there is no God, but is your life demonstrating that there is God? The hymn writer, B.B. McKinney, admonished, “Let others see Jesus in you, Let others see Jesus in you; Keep telling the story, be faithful and true, Let others see Jesus in you.” Do not be a fool! In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 25Jan2014

When God places His mandate on you, He has put His abilities in you. - Supo Ayokunle

Quote for the Day 24Jan2014

With the Shepherd leading us, we have nothing to fear—not the disappointments of life, the dark days, not even death itself. Whatever valley we go through, God is leading us to higher ground. - Michael Youssef

Quote for the Day 23Jan2014

Sometimes, God chooses to take us through a long distance when we are on our way to the promise land. He does so to protect, train, test, and promote us. - Victor Akerele

Quote for the Day 22Jan2014

Live for God and not for self or others. The one you live for takes responsibility for what happens to your life. - Abel Asubiaro

Quote for the Day 21Jan2014

The true test of relationship is not only how loyal we are when friends fail, but how trilled we are when they succeed. - John C. Maxwell

Quote for the Day 20Jan2014

God’s moral standards are absolute. It is only when we see sin as something abhorrent to the Lord that we will be motivated to make right moral judgments. Calling sin by a softer name will change neither its offensiveness to God nor its cost to us. - C. P. Hia

Quote for the Day 19Jan2014

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! - Bayo Afolaranmi

SODOMY: THERE IS NO OTHER WORD FOR IT

Dearly Beloved, I had it in mind to base my message for this week on a particular theme, but the recent outcry against Nigerian government over the signing into law of anti-gay bill made me decide to resend the message below firstly sent out on November 12, 2011. 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). NB In addition to the above note of warning, let me say here that fundamental human right must never be used to cover sin or any perversion whatsoever. As good as fundamental human right may be, in Apostle Paul’s words, “My brothers and sisters, God chose you to be free. But don't use your freedom as an excuse to do what pleases your sinful selves. Instead, serve each other with love” (Galatians 5:13 ERV). A word is enough for the wise.

Quote for the Day 18Jan2014

Keep on the right path to eternity, no matter how many are running the wrong way to eternal death. - Amos O. Tella

Quote for the Day 17Jan2014

When life is at its lowest ebb, we are not without hope because of the wonderful grace of God. - David McCasland

Quote for the Day 16Jan2014

Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word happy would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness. It is far better to take things as they come along with patience and equanimity. – Carl Jung

Quote for the Day 15Jan2014

Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. - Martin Luther King Jr.

Quote for the Day 14Jan2014

There are no hopeless situations; there are only men who have grown hopeless about them. - Clare Boothe Luce

Quote for the Day 13Jan2014

Our mind towards God's work must be renewed by living a holy a life and presenting our body as a living sacrifice. - Stephen Adeyemi Adekunle

Quote for the Day 12Jan2014

God will indeed bring His fierce judgment against all those that are doing contrary to His will. Do not sadden God this year by your actions. - Bayo Afolaranmi

DO NOT SADDEN GOD!

Dearly Beloved, DO NOT SADDEN GOD! “Behold, I am pressed under you and I will press you down in your place as a cart presses that is full of sheaves” (Amos 2:13 AMP). Historically, God was so gracious to the people of Israel. A handful of people that went down to sojourn in Egypt became a great threatening nation to their hosts. God raised leaders in Moses, Aaron, Miriam and other prophets for the Israelites and brought them out of Egypt with many signs and wonders against the Egyptians. He led them in the wilderness for forty years providing for them and protecting them from all dangers. He drove powerful nations out of Canaan so that the Israelites could inherit the Promised Land. He settled them down in that land flowing with milk and honey. In spite of these, the Israelites were not grateful. They did all kinds of wrong things against God. They insulted the prophets sent to them by God. In fact, they abandoned their God for other gods. God was so depressed by their actions that He promised to depress them by their enemies (see Amos 2:6-16). The sin of the world during the time of Noah had also made God to be sad that He destroyed the then world (see Genesis 6:6-7). Today, many people are like the ungrateful Israelites. In spite of God’s goodness to them, they continue to wallow in sins that make God sad. Most of such people are only religious, they are not spiritual. In spite of the teachings of the Bible to live rightly with God and other people, they prefer to live sinfully. They, indeed, sadden God by their behaviours. If these people refuse to repent, God will not hesitate to bring His judgment on them, but “He is patient with [them], not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9 NIV). Are you like those ungrateful Israelites? Do you do things that sadden God? Repent now before it too late. God will indeed bring His fierce judgment against all those that are doing contrary to His will. Do not sadden God this year by your actions. In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Pray that you will not do things that will sadden God this year.

Quote for the Day 11Jan2014

God, sometimes, denies us of our good and withdraws our better so that He can give us His very best. So, see beyond your disappointment. There is a divine appointment in every disappointment. - Chris Tayo Orodiji

Quote for the Day 10Jan2014

Because He is God Almighty and present everywhere, He can protect, promote, and provide for you when it seems no one else can help. - Jennifer Benson Schuldt

Quote for the Day 09Jan2014

Nobody ever outgrows Scripture; the Book widens and deepens with our years! - Charles H. Spurgeon

Quote for the Day 08Jan2014

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

Quote for the Day 08Jan2014

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

Quote for the Day 07Jan2014

God is still in the process of dispensing gifts, and He uses ordinary individuals like us to develop those gifts in other people. - Howard Hendricks

Quote for the Day 06Jan2014

In our times of discouragement, let us remember that God loves us and desires to lead us to a place of a renewed vision of Himself! - Marvin Williams

Quote for the Day 05Jan2014

Do you want to be the blessed one of the Lord that He will prosper this year? Do not be associated with evil and evil people. Delight yourself in obeying the will of God. - Bayo Afolaranmi

THE BLESSED ONE OF THE LORD

Dearly Beloved, THE BLESSED ONE OF THE LORD “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers” (Psalm 1:1-3 NIV). This year, as new year prayer, I was led to use Psalm 1:3 to pray for people in my Internet ministry. The four-fold prayer has to do with prosperity of the blessed one of the Lord: he/she will be firmly established by the Lord and be made like a tree planted by the streams of water; he/she will be made fruitful in his/her endeavours; he/she shall not fade or wither in his/her undertakings; and everything he/she lay his/her hands on shall prosper. As good and desirous this prayer is, it is only for the blessed one of the Lord. Verses one and two describe such blessed one of the Lord. He/she is a man/woman that does not in any way allow the wicked, sinners and scorners of this world to influence him/her. He/she does not casually go according to the way of bad people, stay with them or even abide by what they are doing. In other words, he/she does not follow wrong counsel, stand with the wrong companions or sit with people who are wilfully and persistently doing evil. Instead, he/she is influenced by the words of God and his/her delight is in doing the will of God. No wonder, the Lord will prosper him/her in all his/her endeavours. He/she will be made lively, beautiful, fruitful, useful, and enduring in all his/her undertakings. Do you want to be the blessed one of the Lord that He will prosper this year? Do not be associated with evil and evil people. Delight yourself in obeying the will of God. The Bible says, “Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds” (Isaiah 3:10 NIV). In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Pray that you will delight yourself in the words of God and obey Him this year so as to enjoy His prosperity.

Quote for the Day 04Jan2014

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. - Jaumece A. Ghant

Quote for the Day 03Jan2014

The fact that the Lord has many promises for you this year does not negate the challenges that you will face in the year. However, victory is sure for those that put their total trust in God. - Bayo Afolaranmi

Quote for the Day 02Jan2014

The Lord has many promises for you this year, only if you will trust and obey Him. - Bayo Afolaranmi