Quote for the Day 28Feb2014

Do not build up obstacles in your imagination. Difficulties must be studied and dealt with, but they must not be magnified by fear. - Norman Vincent Peale

Quote for the Day 27Feb2014

If you cannot be a Christian where you are now, you cannot be a Christian anywhere. - Anonymous.

Quote for the Day 26Feb2014

You can look forward with hope, because one day there will be no more separation, no more scars, and no more suffering in My Father’s House. - Anne Graham Lotz

Quote for the Day 25Feb2014

It may be that a simple word offered in love, guided by the wisdom of God, and borne aloft on the wings of the Spirit will have eternal consequences in someone’s life. - Author Unknown

Quote for the Day 24Feb2014

Those who reach out by faith will not shrink back from impossibilities. Faith is the link that connects our weakness to God’s strength. - Amos O. Tella

Quote for the Day 23Feb2014

Why are you going to religious places? Are you really seeking God there or you are just performing religious activities probably because of what you can get from God? Genuinely seek God if you want Him to really bless you. - Bayo Afolaranmi

SEEK THE LORD NOT RELIGIOUS PLACES

Dearly Beloved, SEEK THE LORD NOT RELIGIOUS PLACES “This is what the Lord says to the house of Israel: ‘Seek me and live; do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba. For Gilgal will surely go into exile, and Bethel will be reduced to nothing.’ Seek the Lord and live, or he will sweep through the house of Joseph like a fire; it will devour, and Bethel will have no one to quench it” (Amos 5: 4-6 NIV). The Israelites loved religious activities. They had many places consecrated for religious services (places like Bethel, Gilgal, Beersheba, not to talk of Jerusalem), and they were ready to travel many kilometers to these places to perform religious activities in these consecrated places. However, they were not ready to be in right standing with God. They were not really seeking Him. Therefore, God warned them not to rely on their religious activities or religious places, but that they should rather seek Him if they want to live. He promised to destroy all the religious places and even send them to exile if they do not repent. It is interesting that there are many religious places today – prayer mountains, camp grounds, churches, mosques, and the likes. These places of worship are full to the brim on Sundays and other worship times with many so-called men of God leading them, but the religious activities of most of these people do not correspond to their right standing with God they claim they are serving. Many of these people are just paying lip service to God. They are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. They are only going to these religious places for their ulterior selfish motives. In fact, our society is getting worse every day. While the Samaritan woman was trying to argue about the right religious place with Jesus Christ, He declared, “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.... Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:21-24 NIV). Why are you going to religious places? Are you really seeking God there or you are just performing religious activities probably because of what you can get from God? Genuinely seek God if you want Him to really bless you. In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Lord, help me to genuinely seek you, and not religious places.

Quote for the Day 22Feb2014

We must trust as if it all depended on God and work as if it all depended on us. - Charles H. Spurgeon

Quote for the Day 21Feb2014

Worry is the senseless process of cluttering up tomorrows opportunities with leftover problems from today. - Barbara Johnson

Quote for the Day 20Feb2014

We are all faced with a series of great opportunities, brilliantly disguised as unsolvable problems. Unsolvable without God's wisdom, that is. - Charles Swindoll

Quote for the Day 19Feb2014

Never limit your God because He is too mighty to be doubted. - Supo Ayokunle

MY INTERNET MINISTRY @11. PRAISE THE LORD!

It is exactly another year today – the ELEVENTH year of my Internet ministry. Glory be to God! I really appreciate all of you that are partners in this ministry in one way or the other. To support the ministry, visit http://www.thewordthruthenet.org/support.php. You also will be celebrated in Jesus' name. Amen.

Quote for the Day 18Feb2014

What do you see in your situation? Is it the ordinary or the extraordinary? If you see only your situation, you are seeing only the ordinary, but if you believe, you will see beyond the situation. See beyond the ordinary by believing in the Lord that He will help you, and He will be glorified in your life. - Bayo Afolaranmi

Quote for the Day 17Feb2014

The acid test of Christian character is our ability to celebrate another's success, or share their burden as though it were our own. There is no better way to serve and encourage others. - Bob Gass

Quote for the Day 16Feb2014

Of the themes that men have known, One supremely stands alone; Through the ages it has shown, ’Tis His wonderful, wonderful love. Love is the theme, love is supreme; Sweeter it grows, glory bestows; Bright as the sun ever it glows! Love is the theme, eternal theme! - Albert C. Fisher

LOVE IS THE THEME

Dearly Beloved, LOVE IS THE THEME “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1 NKJV). Apart from serving for a decade as a general evangelist for the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, USA in the 1910s and being a military chaplain in World War I, little was known about Albert C. Fisher (1886-1946), the hymn writer of the hymn titled “LOVE IS THE THEME.” However, his hymn is one of the inspiring hymns that talk about the love of God to humanity. In this hymn, Albert C. Fisher pointed out that out of the themes that men have known, the wonderful love of God supremely stands out and it has been proven through the ages. Therefore, love is supreme, and it is the eternal theme! It indeed grows sweeter and bestows glory as it ever glows as bright as the sun! The bells of Heaven should ring, the saints should bring their tribute, and the world should sing true praises for this wonderful love. Pardon, peace and joy are found in this wonderful love. Albert C. Fisher concluded his hymn by enjoining people, especially sinners to come to the blessed Master, call upon His Name and trust this wonderful love. The wonderful love of God indeed is the greatest theme. Having highlighted the characteristics of what he tagged “a more excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:31 NKJV), Apostle Paul identified love as the greatest (see 1 Corinthians 13:13). Apostle John reiterated this great theme in his first general epistle. In fact, the major theme of the epistle is love. He had earlier written in his gospel about the love of God to the world that made Him “gave His only begotten Son [Jesus Christ to die for the ungodly world], that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 NKJV). This love is so wonderful that such persons who believe in Jesus Christ are called children of God (see John 1:12; Galatians 3:26; 1 John 3:1). The wonderful love of God indeed is the greatest theme. If you claim to be a child of God, this wonderful love should reflect in you. It is not selfish love or lust that many people have used to replace love nowadays, but genuine and sacrificial love. Love is the theme. Do you really have it? In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Pray that you will be able to reflect genuine and sacrificial love to other people.

Quote for the Day 15Feb2014

Love is a force more formidable than any other. It is invisible - it cannot be seen or measured, yet it is powerful enough to transform you in a moment, and offer you more joy than any material possession could. - Barbara de Angelis

Quote for the Day 14Feb2014

You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving. - Robert Louis Stevenson

Quote for the Day 13Feb2014

We waste time looking for the perfect lover, instead of creating the perfect love. - Tom Robbins

Quote for the Day 12Feb2014

Love is when the other person's happiness is more important than your own. - H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Quote for the Day 11Feb2014

Immature love says: “I love you because I need you.” Mature love says “I need you because I love you.” - Erich Fromm

Quote for the Day 10Feb2014

I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear. - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Quote for the Day 09Feb2014

As the world is planning to observe Valentine celebration this year, how many people are ready to lay down their lives for their so-called loved ones? Real love is sacrificial love. How many people are ready to demonstrate it this Valentine season? - Bayo Afolaranmi

WHAT IS REAL LOVE?

Dearly Beloved, WHAT IS REAL LOVE? “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers” (1 John 3:16 NIV). Valentine’s Day (the annual celebration held on February 14 to commemorate love and affection between intimate companions) is around the corner. Traditionally, it is a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting gifts like flowers, and other gifts, sending greeting cards and love text messages (SMS) and love phone calls. Some lovers will take each other out to enjoy the special day in special ways. Many have even turned the celebration to a time of satisfying their sexual and lustful desires. All these are done in the name of expressing love to someone special. However, what really is love that people devote this day to? To answer this, there are many traditions about the origin and widespread acceptance of the celebration of Valentine’s Day. From these traditions, there were some people that were coincidentally named Valentine between third and fourth centuries AD. According to history, these people were killed because of their love-related actions. Their kind of love is sacrificial love. That is real love. There is Somebody who ultimately demonstrated sacrificial love. He is the Lord Jesus Christ who because of His love for mankind "did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:6-8 NIV). He laid down His life for humankind (see Romans 5:6-8; 1 John 3:16). That is real love. As the world is planning to observe Valentine celebration this year, how many people are ready to lay down their lives for their so-called loved ones? Real love is sacrificial love. How many people are ready to demonstrate it this Valentine season? In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Pray that you will be able to demonstrate sacrificial love to people around you.

Quote for the Day 08Feb2014

A good life is not measured in material goods. There is no quicker path to misery than coveting your neighbors' stuff. - Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Quote for the Day 07Feb2014

Never lose hope, no matter the size of the mountain confronting you. Your mountain will move as long as you retain your hope in God, because He knows the foundation of every mountain, and can easily uproot them. - EA Adeboye

Quote for the Day 06Feb2014

No matter what problems you are facing right now, you can rest in God’s love for you. There is no problem that is too insignificant for Him to handle. He is not just God Almighty, He is also your heavenly Father who loves you! - Joseph Prince

Quote for the Day 05Feb2014

God is admonishing us to show proper respect to everyone. When you respect people irrespective of their age, you will also earn respect. Do not ever look down on anyone. - Victor Akerele

Quote for the Day 04Feb2014

If Christ were to take His five wise virgins now, would you go with Him? If you are not sure, list the things that could hinder you. Deal with them now. - EA Adeboye

Quote for the Day 03Feb2014

Our primary purpose in life is to embrace the transcendent God by faith and to worship Him in purity and service. - Joseph M. Stowell

Quote for the Day 02Feb2014

Where is your God? Do you realize that He is with you and that you can commune with or worship Him anywhere? God is everywhere and He desires that people relate with Him anywhere they are. - Bayo Afolaranmi

WHERE IS YOUR GOD?

Dearly Beloved, WHERE IS YOUR GOD? “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24 NKJV). Ordinarily, a simple answer to the question “Where is God?” is God is in heaven. The psalmist confirmed this: “our God is in heaven” (Ps 115:3 NKJV. See also Psalm 2:4; 14:2; 18:13; 20:6; 33:13; 123:1). However, God is omnipresent and everywhere. This was what Jacob discovered on his way to Panda Aran when he was running away from Esau, his brother (see Genesis 28:16). The psalmist also confirmed this elaborately in Psalm 139. Other Bible references that attest to the omnipresence of God are Deuteronomy 4:39; 10:14; Proverbs 15:3; Isaiah 66:1; Jeremiah 23:23-24; Amos 9:2. The doctrine of omnipresence of God is both comforting and frightening. It is comforting because it assures the believer that God is at hand to save His people anywhere from any danger or foe (see Isaiah 43:2). No wonder, the psalmist could say, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; FOR YOU ARE WITH ME; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4 NKJV emphasis mine). However, it is frightening because no one has any hiding place from the presence of God and nothing is secret to Him. The psalmist emphasized this in Psalm 139. Another fact that many people have not understood is that the omnipresence of God connotes that the actual nearness of God and a real communion with Him may be enjoyed everywhere, even apart from the places hallowed for such purpose. So, one does not need to get to a particular place before one commune with or worship God. The Samaritan woman in John 4 did not understand this, and she was arguing with Jesus Christ about where one should worship God. Jesus’ response corrects the erroneous belief of the woman and many other people nowadays that think that they cannot commune with or worship God until they get to a particular location. Where is your God? Do you realize that He is with you and that you can commune with or worship Him anywhere? God is everywhere and He desires that people relate with Him anywhere they are. In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 01Feb2014

When you refuse to worry, but choose to rest in the finished work of Christ, you will see the manifestation of your blessing. You will see your miracle! - Joseph Prince