Quote for the Day 31Mar2014

The will of God will never take you, where the grace of God cannot keep you, where the arms of God cannot support you, where the riches of God cannot supply your needs, and where the power of God cannot endow you. - Author Unknown

Quote for the Day 30Mar2014

What is your attitude when God reveals His absolute will for you and that will is not "good"? Would you also reject the absolute will of God and request for His permissive will? Are you ready to accept God's "negative" response to your heart desire? - Bayo Afolaranmi

WOULD YOU ALSO REJECT HIS WILL?

Dearly Beloved, WOULD YOU ALSO REJECT HIS WILL? "`This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.' Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, `Remember, O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.' And Hezekiah wept bitterly" (2 Kings 20:1-3 NIV). King Hezekiah of Judah was unique out of the other kings of Judah. While most of the other kings did not have good records in their relationship with God, he did "what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God" (2 Chronicles 31:20 NIV). God in turn gave him success over many powerful kings of his time. When it was an appropriate time for him to leave the stage, he was terribly ill to the point of death. At this God sent prophet Isaiah to him to announce his impending death. That was the absolute will of God for him. God wanted him to leave the stage when the ovation was loudest. However, he rejected the absolute will of God. He prayed to God for His permissive will, and God added another fifteen years to his life. Unfortunately, the added years became his peril. The Bible says, "But Hezekiah's heart was proud and he did not respond to the kindness shown him; therefore the LORD's wrath was on him and on Judah and Jerusalem" (2 Chronicles 32:25 NIV). Part of his pride was the demonstration of his strength to the visiting envoys of a Babylonian king – an act that God intensely condemned (2 Kings 20:16-18; 2 Chronicles 32:31). Even the birth of his wicked son and successor, Manasseh, took place during these added years. Hezekiah would have had a clean record if he had accepted the absolute will of God for his life. Jesus Christ also nearly fell into this trap of permissive will of God when He faced His suffering and death. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 22:42 NIV). He accepted the absolute will of God. He even cried on the cross to demonstrate the agony of that will of God (Mark 15: 34). However, the absolute will of God for Jesus, and His (i.e. 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. What is your attitude when God reveals His absolute will for you and that will is not "good"? Would you also reject the absolute will of God and request for His permissive will? Are you ready to accept God's "negative" response to your heart desire? Remember, "...God causes ALL things [even death] 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 This message was first sent out on April 24, 2006.

Quote for the Day 29Mar2014

Prayer is more than having fellowship and dialogue with God. It means enjoying the presence of God. - Nelson Tunde Akinola

Quote for the Day 28Mar2014

The happiness which brings enduring worth to life is not the superficial happiness that is dependent on circumstances. It is the happiness and contentment that fills the soul even in the midst of most distressing of circumstances and the most adverse environment. - Billy Graham

Quote for the Day 27Mar2014

Knowing that heaven is our real home makes it easier to pass through the tough times here on earth. - Charles Spurgeon

Quote for the Day 26Mar2014

Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect. - Mark Twain

Quote for the Day 25Mar2014

Are you in a position where all self-sufficiency is gone? As you turn your eyes on the Lord and put your hope in Him, you have God's reassuring promise that you need nothing more. - Joanie Yoder

Quote for the Day 24Mar2014

Sometimes our plans are not the plans of God. Hence, it is pertinent every time to structure our steps in alliance with God's plans. – Anonymous

Quote for the Day 23Mar2014

Anyone who is in any position of leadership will be held accountable for the misery of the people he/she is leading. - Bayo Afolaranmi

YOU WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE

Dearly Beloved, YOU WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? ...I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them” (Ezekiel 34:2, 10 NIV). Tragedy occurred last week in many centres where the Nigerian Immigrations Service was recruiting new officers as almost twenty (20) people died and many other people were seriously injured in stampedes as millions of unemployed youth struggled to participate in the recruiting exercise. This was after each of these unemployed youth had been made to pay one thousand naira. Here is an exercise that is meant to recruit less than five thousand (5000) people and it is certain that in a corrupt country like Nigeria, the influential people in and out of government have known their own people that would be eventually recruited. Ironically, a member of the so-called national conference that was handpicked and inaugurated recently will be paid four (4) million naira each per month for three months in a country that finds it difficult to pay eighteen thousand naira (N18,000) as minimum wage to its workers and most people are living in abject poverty. Most, if not all, of the members of this confab are already established well-to-do personalities. So, the rich in the country are getting richer while the poor are getting poorer. Unfortunately, most of the people in government are encouraging and even greatly involved in these corrupt practices. Being in government has become a way of enriching oneself. It is a pity that the people that God graciously entrusts the care of the Nigerian people are the same one that are ravaging them. The people of Israel in the Bible also had similar experiences. Their leaders, referred to in many instances as shepherds, exploited them to the extent that God pronounced woes on these leaders and held them accountable for their callous acts against the people they were leading (see Isaiah 56:11; Jeremiah 10:21; 12:10; 23:1-4; 25:34-36; 50:6; Ezekiel 34:1-10; Zechariah 10:3). One may be blaming the people at the helm of affairs of corrupt nations like Nigeria for the rottenness in the system of governance. They are indeed to be blamed, and God will hold them accountable for the suffering of the masses in spite of the surplus of most of these nations. However, anyone who is in any position of leadership will be held accountable for the misery of the people he/she is leading. Those people in government will be held accountable. You also in your little corner of leadership will be held accountable. In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 22Mar2014

If you do not repent of your sin, you cannot receive fresh fire from God. If you trust and obey God, you will daily experience His fresh fire. - Supo Ayokunle

Quote for the Day 21Mar2014

Fault finders are never reliable fact finders because they look for the worst, so, they are blind to the best. - Amos O. Tella

Quote for the Day 20Mar2014

Life's most urgent question is: what are you doing for others? - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Quote for the Day 19Mar2014

For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Quote for the Day 18Mar2014

Look at yourself and you will be depressed. Look at circumstances and you'll be distressed. Look at the Lord and you'll be blessed! - Author Unknown

Quote for the Day 17Mar2014

When Christians are at peace with one another, the world can more clearly see the Prince of Peace. - Author Unknown

Quote for the Day 16Mar2014

While you may find it difficult or cautious to trust a friend, put your total trust in Jesus Christ. You will never regret you did. - Bayo Afolaranmi

BEWARE OF YOUR FRIENDS

Dearly Beloved, BEWARE OF YOUR FRIENDS "Beware of your friends; do not trust your brothers. For every brother is a deceiver, and every friend a slanderer. Friend deceives friend, and no-one speaks the truth. They have taught their tongues to lie; they weary themselves with sinning" (Jeremiah 9:4-5 NIV). The life of an average Jew in the time of Jeremiah was so deteriorated and corrupted that it was difficult to trust a fellow Jew. Each one was doing what seemed right in his eyes. The political leaders had abandoned the living God for worthless gods. Even the religious leaders were not trustworthy as they were misleading the people with false prophecies. Isaiah depicted this dishonest situation thus, "So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice" (Isaiah 59:14-15 NIV). This situation made Jeremiah to warn the people to beware of their friends and not to trust any brother (Jeremiah 9:4-5). Prophet Micah, who lived sometime before prophet Jeremiah, also had a similar warning. Hear him, "Do not trust a neighbour; put no confidence in a friend. Even with her who lies in your embrace be careful of your words. For a son dishonours his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law - a man's enemies are the members of his own household" (Micah 7:5-6 NIV). Are these warnings relevant today to us as they were to the people of Judah? Have honesty, truth and righteousness not been relegated to oblivion? Can we trust our friends, neighbors, co-workers, siblings and even our spouses today? Can my friends, siblings, neighbors, co-workers, as well as my spouse trust me? These are thought-provoking questions in our present-day society that have deteriorated morally with all sorts of atrocities in the name of civilization, rationalization and liberalization. However, "there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24 NIV). This Friend can be trusted at all time even when all others have disappointed you. The friend is Jesus Christ (see John 15:13-15). While you may find it difficult or cautious to trust a friend, put your total trust in Jesus Christ. You will never regret you did. In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). NB This message was first sent out on August 14, 2005.

Quote for the Day 15Mar2014

People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. - Maya Angelou

Quote for the Day 14Mar2014

We honor God and make things better for our church when we give honor to those He has appointed as our leaders. - Dave Branon

Quote for the Day 13Mar2014

Sometimes it takes something like an injury or a sickness to remind us of the masterful design that we carry around in our bodies. - Joe Stowell

Quote for the Day 12Mar2014

Far greater than any natural spring is the refreshment we have been offered in Christ Himself. We can be satisfied, for Jesus alone, the Water of Life, can quench our thirst. - Bill Crowder

Quote for the Day 11Mar2014

The truest measure of God’s love is that He loves without measure! — Bernard of Clairvaux

Quote for the Day 10Mar2014

Safety is not found in the absence of danger, but in the presence of God. - Author Unknown

Quote for the Day 09Mar2014

Have you called on God to do something for you? Does it seem that He is delaying in answering you? Do not lose hope! He is on His way. Who knows, He might have been "interrupted" by another person. The "interruption" will be a blessing to you, and glory to God. Just wait and believe. - Bayo Afolaranmi

AN INTERRUPTING BLESSING

Dearly Beloved, AN INTERRUPTING BLESSING "While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. `Your daughter is dead,' they said. `Why bother the teacher any more?' Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, `Don't be afraid; just believe'" (Mark 5:35-36 NIV). The story of the raising of Jairus' daughter from the dead as recorded by two of the Gospel writers (Mark 5 and Luke 8) is a fascinating one. Jesus had just crossed over the lake from where he was rejected because He healed a demon-possessed man when a large crowd of people gathered around Him. Among these people was a synagogue ruler who came to beg Jesus to come and heal his dying daughter. The man had faith that Jesus could rescue his daughter from the looming death. Jesus did not hesitate in following him to go and save the daughter. The other aimless crowd also followed them. As they were going, there was an interruption: a woman with a flow of blood intercepted Jesus and received her healing from the twelve-year- long problem. The dialogue that followed made Jesus to wait more before He could go to where He intended to go and rescue the dying child. Alas, as they were there discussing about the faith of the healed woman, somebody came from Jairus' house to disclose the sad news: the child had died. There was no need to bother Jesus. The news bearer reasoned. What would have been the reaction of Jairus? Probably, if there was no interruption, Jesus would have reached the house and rescued the child before she died. However, Jesus encouraged him to have faith. In spite of the unbelief and ridicule of the people, Jesus still went to the house and raised the child from the dead. The seemingly interruption turned out to be a blessing both to the interrupting woman and Jairus. Have you also called on God to do something for you? Does it seem that He is delaying in answering you? Do not lose hope! He is on His way. Who knows, He might have been "interrupted" by another person. However, the "interruption" will turn out to be a blessing for you. Probably you want God to rescue you from a small problem. He may allow it to become bigger, even without hope, before He acts, so that His name will be glorified. Remember Lazarus' story. Jesus deliberately waited for two more days to bring glory to God. Your "interruption" will also be a blessing to you, and glory to God. Just wait and believe. In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). NB This message was first posted on June 12, 2005.

Quote for the Day 08Mar2014

Whatever you can do, or dream you can, Begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it, Begin it now. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Quote for the Day 07Mar2014

What have you done with pride, laziness, excessive anger, greed, envy and lust? We must not be content until all these are brought under obedience to Christ. - Supo Ayokunle

Quote for the Day 06Mar2014

Most people give up just when they are about to achieve success. They quit on the one-yard line. They give up at the last minute of the game one-foot from a winning touchdown. - Ross Perot

Quote for the Day 05Mar2014

Are you weary, are you heavy hearted? Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus. Are you grieving over joys departed? Tell it to Jesus alone. - Edmund S. Lorenz

Quote for the Day 04Mar2014

Transformation in the world happens when people are healed and start investing in other people. - Michael W. Smith

Quote for the Day 03Mar2014

Do you feel like your prayers are not getting the job done? Double up. Bring in reinforcements! Find somebody who will agree with you. – Bob Gass

Quote for the Day 02Mar2014

How many of our religious/spiritual leaders today (not to talk of political leaders/appointees) are living above board? If an investigative panel is constituted today to investigate you, will you not be found wanting? Nobody on earth is perfect. Nevertheless, do everything in your capacity to live above board. - Bayo Afolaranmi

LIVE ABOVE BOARD

Dearly Beloved, LIVE ABOVE BOARD “Here I stand. Testify against me in the presence of the Lord and his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe to make me shut my eyes? If I have done any of these, I will make it right” (1 Samuel 12:3 NIV). It really saddens me to hear the news about the conviction of David Yonggi Cho, the founder of Yoido Full Gospel Church, Seoul, South Korea (that is considered as the world's largest megachurch). Cho was convicted of embezzling $12 million in church funds. He was sentenced to three years in prison and was also fined $5 million. This message is not intended to ridicule the more the revered man of God, neither is it an avenue for antagonists of Christianity to oppose it. Rather, it is intended to serve as a warning to every Christian (and even non-Christian) to do everything in his/her capacity to live above board wherever he/she finds him/herself. Samuel (in the Bible) could boldly challenge the people of Israel to mention if in any way he had done anything wrongly against anyone. The people testified that he had lived above board when he was discharging his duties as a priest, prophet and the judge of Israel (see 1 Samuel 12:1-5). Samuel had the privilege of misusing his position to his own advantage, but he did not do so. Daniel as a captive was privileged to find himself in a place of authority in a foreign land. The Bible records about him that he “...distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, ‘We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God’” (Daniel 6:3-5 NIV). Samuel was a religious leader while Daniel was a political appointee. Both of them lived above board. How many of our religious/spiritual leaders today (not to talk of political leaders/appointees) are living above board? If an investigative panel is constituted today to investigate you, will you not be found wanting? Before you raise an accusing finger at David Yonggi Cho or anybody for any wrong doing, firstly examine yourself. Nobody on earth is perfect. Nevertheless, do everything in your capacity to live above board. In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Pray that you will be able to live above board in all your endeavours.

Quote for the Day 01Mar2014

We must live in all kinds of days, both high days and low days, in simple dependence upon Christ as the branch on the vine. This is the supreme experience. - Vance Havner