Spiritual Digest for the Day 01Sep2019

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19 NKJV). ****************** QUOTE FOR THE DAY Your body being the temple of God should be cherished and handled with care. You should not use it as you want or allow anyone to use it as they want. - Bayo Afolaranmi ******************** PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray that you will be mindful of how you use your body as the temple of God.

A TEMPLE INDEED!

Dearly Beloved, A TEMPLE INDEED! “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19 NKJV). As I was waiting for my breakfast to be served one morning, I saw a news flash on my phone that reads, "If my body is a temple of God, who am I to stop people from entering the house of the Lord?” I clicked on the link and discovered that the statement was made by a so-called pretty lady in one of her tweets on Twitter. She based her argument on the above verse! Interestingly, thousands of people have retweeted and liked the tweet. I would not know if these people agree or not with the lady. However, the lady and all her followers miss it! They are one of those people that interpret and apply the words of God to suite their selfish interests. This verse is applicable only to those who have accepted Jesus Christ their personal Saviour and Lord. Your body being the temple of the Holy Spirit means the Holy Spirit is living in you. Apostle Paul had earlier categorically said, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16 NKJV). Ordinarily, a temple is a building used for the worship of a god or gods. It is a sacred standout place that is restricted to certain people who usually have consecrated themselves before entering it for worship of the god. It is not a place that anybody can enter. In fact, it is the abode of the gods. Referring to 1 Corinthians 6:19, apostle Paul was referring to each Corintian Christian and by extension every other Christian as the dwelling place of God on earth. The body of a person does not belong to the person that carries it. The person is just the carrier. Every Christian is expected to consecrate him/herself as a dedicated vessel of his/her Creator. Apostle Paul put it in another words in Romans 12:1: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (NKJV). He/She should not see him/herself as ordinary person, and should not allow anybody to misuse him/her. He/She is peculiar. Apostle Peter used four words – chosen, royal, holy, and special – to describe such a person (see 1 Peter 2:9). So, your body being the temple of God should be cherished and handled with care. You should not use it as you want or allow anyone to use it as they want. You will give account on how you use your body or allow other people to use it (see 1 Corinthians 3:17). You are a temple indeed! In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Pray that you will be mindful of how you use your body as the temple of God.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 31Aug2019

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “[Jesus Christ said] ‘I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing’” (John 15:5 NKJV). ****************** QUOTE FOR THE DAY Stay connected to your Source. The most important way to remain alive, fresh and active for days and years to come is to stay connected to your Source. - Dapo Akinlotan ******************** PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray that you will always be connected to your Source – God.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 30Aug2019

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever” (Psalm 136:1 NKJV). ****************** QUOTE FOR THE DAY In our daily lives we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful but gratefulness that makes us happy. There is always something to be thankful for! - Author Unknown ******************** PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray that you will always be thankful in spite of any circumstance you find yourself.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 29Aug2019

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1 NKJV). ****************** QUOTE FOR THE DAY To become the person God wants you to become, you must let go of some stuff along the way. - Rick Warren ******************** PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray that you will be able to let go of things that are hindering you from running the heavenly race effectively.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 28Aug2019

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY "What we see now is like a dim image in a mirror; then we shall see face-to-face. What I know now is only partial; then it will be complete — as complete as God's knowledge of me" (1 Corinthians 13:12 TEV). ****************** QUOTE FOR THE DAY After pain and anguish, after toil and care, we shall see the King some day; through the endless ages joy and blessing share, we shall see the King some day. - Lewis E. Jones ******************** PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray for the patience to wait till when you will see God the King someday in spite of what you are passing through now.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 27Aug2019

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “I praise you because you made me in such a wonderful way. I know how amazing that was!” (Psalm 139:14 ERV). ****************** QUOTE FOR THE DAY Develop your style. If you do what others are doing, your difference will not be noticed and you will be missing in the crowd. Whoever you may be and whatever you are doing, let your style be unique and live your own life in a special way. - Femi Emmanuel ******************** PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Help me, O Lord, to be myself as You have uniquely created me.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 23Aug2019

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY "It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality" (1 Thessalonians 4:3 NIV). ****************** QUOTE FOR THE DAY When lustful thoughts assail your mind to play with immorality, remember that God’s will for you is holiness and purity. - Dave Sper ******************** PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray against every lustful thought in your life.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 22Aug2019

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19 NKJV). ****************** QUOTE FOR THE DAY Grace frees us to choose. We can decide to walk with God and draw strength from Him to face whatever life throws at us. Or we can decide to walk away from God and face the inescapable consequences. - Chuck Swindoll ******************** PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Help me, O Lord, to choose life in deliberately walking with You.

YOU CAN FALL VICTIM!

Dearly Beloved, YOU CAN FALL VICTIM! “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12 NKJV). “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8 NKJV). Although I was once duped through an Internet fraudster some twelve years ago, yet my almost two decades of experience as a computer and Internet expert had made me to be boasting that I can no longer fall victim of Internet frauds. I was proved wrong some weeks ago when I fell easily to another Internet fraudster and one of my Facebook personal pages was hacked. It took me over twenty-four hours of efforts to regain the total control of my Facebook account from the impostor. Some of the people that heard about the incident were surprised that such could happen to me. Samson was one of the judges in the pre-monarchical era of the people of Israel. He was a powerful man that could kill a lion with bare hands (see Judges 14:5-6), catch three hundred foxes and tie them tail to tail in pairs (see Judges 15:4), kill a thousand men with a fresh jawbone of a donkey (see Judges 15:15), and take hold of two pillars of a city gate and carry them to the top of a hill (see Judges 16:3). However, he fell easily to the hands of his enemies – the Philistines – through carelessness on the lap of a woman (see Judges 16:4-22). One would wonder how such a mighty man could fall like that. David was a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). He killed the giant Goliath at a tender age (see 1 Samuel 17). He fought and won many wars. In fact, hardly is there any record of battle that he lost in his lifetime. However, he could not win the battle of sin of adultery and murder (see 2 Samuel 11). This sin remains like a scar in his history (1 Kings 15:5). Here is another surprise of the fall of another notable man! Simon Peter was an outspoken and courageous disciple of Jesus Christ. He was one of the “inner circle” of Jesus Christ (see Matthew 17:1; Mark 5:37; 14:33). When Jesus Christ predicted the denial of the disciples as He was about to go to the Cross, Peter boasted that he would die with Jesus Christ if need be (see Mark 14:30-31). He even tried to defend Jesus Christ as He was about to be arrested by cutting off the ear of one of the people that came to arrest Him (see John 18:10). However, Peter fell as he denied Jesus Christ three times after the arrest of Jesus Christ (see John 18:15-18, 25-27). Any person can fall into error or sin especially if the person does not take care. No amount of experience, power, affluence or education can prevent falling victim of error or to people that want to take advantage of any careless person. No wonder, Apostles Paul and Peter admonished, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” and “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Corinthians 10:12; 1 Peter 5:8 NKJV). Beware, you can fall victim! In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Pray that you will always be careful so that you will not fall victim of any error or sin.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 17Aug2019

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “Each man should give as much as he can. He should decide how much to give by thinking about how much the Lord has given him” (Deuteronomy 16:17 ERV). ****************** QUOTE FOR THE DAY If you struggle in giving your best offerings to God, pause and reflect on what God sacrificed for you. Trust Him and give Him the best that you have because you love Him with all your heart. - Henry Blackaby ******************** PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray that you will always give your best offering to God in appreciation of what He is doing for you everyday.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 16Aug2019

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “Don’t fool yourselves. Bad friends will destroy you” (1 Corinthians 15:33 CEV). ****************** QUOTE FOR THE DAY Be careful the friends you choose - for you will become like them. - W. Clement Stone ******************** PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray that you will always be mindful of the friends you keep so that they will not negatively influence you.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 15Aug2019

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death” (2 Corinthians 7:10 NKJV). ****************** QUOTE FOR THE DAY Repentance is not complete until sin is forsaken and sinful living is replaced by godly living. - Gbile Akanni ******************** PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray that your repentance will really lead to godly living.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 14Aug2019

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “Caring for the poor is lending to the Lord, and you will be well repaid” (Proverbs 19:17 CEV). ****************** QUOTE FOR THE DAY God calls us to lovingly attend to the needs of others. Our kindness to others is kindness to Him. - James Banks ******************** PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray that you will always care for the poor and needy around you.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 13Aug2019

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “Your way [in delivering Your people] was through the sea, and Your paths through the great waters...” (Psalm 77:19 AMP). ****************** QUOTE FOR THE DAY God can create roads where we see only obstacles. When the way ahead of us seems uncertain, it’s good to remember what God has done in the past. He specializes in pathways in any circumstance - pathways that point us to His love and power. - David McCasland ******************** PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Create a way for me, O Lord, where there seems no way!

Spiritual Digest for the Day 12Aug2019

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “Your desire grows inside you until it results in sin. Then the sin grows bigger and bigger and finally ends in death” (James 1:15 ERV). ****************** QUOTE FOR THE DAY Once a person steps into sin, the stagnating power of sin becomes activated in the person's life. - Enoch A. Adeboye ******************** PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray that you will not destroy yourself with any form of sin.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 11Aug2019

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “And when her mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord” (2 Samuel 11:27 NKJV). ****************** QUOTE FOR THE DAY Anyone who wants to be in vogue with the actions of the world will fall into displeasure of God. Before indulging yourself in any action, first ask yourself: will it not displease the Lord? - Bayo Afolaranmi ******************** PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray that you will not indulge yourself in any action that will displease God.

WILL IT NOT DISPLEASE THE LORD?

Dearly Beloved, WILL IT NOT DISPLEASE THE LORD? “And when her mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord” (2 Samuel 11:27 NKJV). King David, a man after God’s own heart, did something that displeased the Lord! He ought to be at the warfront, but he chose to be at home enjoying himself. In his leisure walk on the wall, he saw a beautiful woman bathing. He summoned the woman and satisfied his lustful passion with her. The action resulted in pregnancy, and to cover it up, he schemed the death of the husband of the woman after all efforts to impose the pregnancy on him (the husband) were unsuccessful. He later added the woman to the fleet of wives in his palace (see 2 Samuel 11). As the king, David had authority over everything and everyone in his domain. So, ordinarily, he has not done anything uncommon with powerful kings. However, the action displeased God. A literal translation of the word “displeasure” here is “evil in the eyes of”. Remember, God and Samuel had forewarned the people of Israel about this (see Deuteronomy 17:17; 1 Samuel 8:10-8). There are some actions nowadays that have been considered normal. They are acceptable to the society. They are actions in vogue. Nonetheless, in the real sense, they are displeasing to God. Some of such actions are now referred to as “professional sins”. Generally, there is nothing wrong with them since they are associated with particular professions and/or positions. People may even encourage one to engage in such actions to boost one’s profession and/or position. Anyone who is not ready to be indulged in such actions is considered as “old school” or outdated. Nevertheless, most of such actions displease the Lord. Daniel and his three other Hebrew colleagues knew this secret when they decided not to defile themselves with the royal food and wine in the palace of the pagan king of Babylon (see Daniel 1:3-16). Ordinarily, there was nothing wrong with the royal food and wine. After all, that was what other young men in king’s service were eating, and the special royal food and wine were to make the young men healthier and better nourished. However, the question that might likely be ringing in the minds of the four Hebrew young men was: “Would eating such food and drinking such wine that have been offered to idols before being served to them not displease the Lord?” What are the common and acceptable actions that people are doing nowadays that may be displeasing to God? Have you taken note of such actions? Anyone who wants to be in vogue with the actions of the world will fall into displeasure of God. “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4 NKJV). Before indulging yourself in any action, first ask yourself: will it not displease the Lord? In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Pray that you will not indulge yourself in any action that will displease God.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 10Aug2019

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “For You, O God, have tested us; you have refined us as silver is refined. You brought us into the net; you laid affliction on our backs. You have caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; but You brought us out to rich fulfillment” (Psalm 66:10-12 NKJV). ****************** QUOTE FOR THE DAY God may be allowing a mess in order to ensure a fruitful harvest in your life. Learn from Him so that you might experience the fulfillment of His purposes for you in these times. - Os Hillman ******************** PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Enable me, O Lord, to able to learn from You whenever You are taking me through any mess in life.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 09Aug2019

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “My dear brothers and sisters, always be more willing to listen than to speak. Keep control of your anger. Anger does not help you live the way God wants” (James 1:19-20 ERV). ****************** QUOTE FOR THE DAY Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset. - Saint Francis de Sales ******************** PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray that you will always be able to control yourself no matter the situation.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 08Aug2019

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “Whenever a piece of pottery turned out imperfect, he would take the clay and make it into something else. Then the Lord said to me, ‘Don't I have the right to do with you people of Israel what the potter did with the clay? You are in my hands just like clay in the potter's hands’” (Jeremiah 18:4-6 TEV). ****************** QUOTE FOR THE DAY We are never too badly broken for God to reshape. He loves us in spite of our imperfections and past mistakes, and He desires to make us beautiful. - Cindy Hess Kasper ******************** PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY No matter my brokenness, reshape me as You want, O Lord.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 07Aug2019

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Be careful and guard against all kinds of greed. People do not get life from the many things they own’” (Luke 12:15 ERV). ****************** QUOTE FOR THE DAY In God’s grace, we can find a healthy perspective on the things we possess — so they do not become the things that have us. - Bill Crowder ******************** PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray that you will always have a healthy and godly perspective on the things you possess.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 06Aug2019

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “Through our faith, Christ has brought us into that blessing of God’s grace that we now enjoy. And we are very happy because of the hope we have of sharing God’s glory” (Romans 5:2 ERV). ****************** QUOTE FOR THE DAY The more we learn to stand in the grace of God, the more we will discover that this grace is inexhaustible. It is all that we need to access all of heaven's resources while we are here on earth. - ObalOluwa Osuolale ******************** PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray that you will always recognize that you stand only by the grace of God.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 05Aug2019

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY "And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them" (Deuteronomy 28:13 NKJV). ****************** QUOTE FOR THE DAY When you do not set your heart to seek the Lord, calamity is the inevitable result. The surest way to prosper in your endeavors is to diligently pursue the will of God. - Henry Blackaby ******************** PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray that you will earnestly seek to obey God all the days of your life.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 04Aug2019

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1 NKJV). ****************** QUOTE FOR THE DAY Shed any excess luggage in terms of things (or even people) now before they hinder you from reaching your divinely appointed goal in life. Be mindful of excess luggage! - Bayo Afolaranmi ******************** PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray that you will always be mindful of things or people that may serve as excess luggage in your life journey, and be able to do away with them.

BE MINDFUL OF EXCESS LUGGAGE!

Dearly Beloved, BE MINDFUL OF EXCESS LUGGAGE! “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1 NKJV). One of the unforgettable experiences I had when I was in the United Kingdom for a postgraduate study was what happened to my wife at Heathrow as she was returning to Nigeria after her two-week visit to me. There was a misunderstanding of the information about luggage found on the website of the airline that would convey her back to Nigeria. As she was about to check in her luggage, it was discovered that she had excess luggage! As a rule, she either had to pay for the excess luggage or reduce the contents of her luggage to the approved weight. She was not ready to pay, so we started sorting out what she could remove to make her luggage conform to the approved weight. The time we used to do this made her to almost miss her flight. Many people in life are likewise living with excess luggage that is hindering them to move forward in their God-giving purpose in life. They are like Abram (later known as Abraham) in the Holy Bible that left his people with an excess luggage in person of Lot for Canaan to fulfill the divine call (Genesis 12:4). As long as Lot was with Abram, he (Abram) could not hear directly from God. Lot was a clog in the progress of Abram. There was no peace for the servants of Abram till Lot and his servants separated from Abram and his servants (see Genesis 13). Even when Lot left to take the better part of the land that was meant for Abram, Abram still needed to care for Lot by rescuing him from some rampaging kings (see Genesis 14). It is interesting to note that it was after Abram did away with his excess luggage (that is, Lot) that God spoke with Abram and even made a covenant with him (see Genesis 15). Like Abram, the excess luggage in the lives of some people is other people. The excess luggage may be sin. On many occasions, it is desires for mundane things that may not be sins in themselves. Nonetheless, these mundane things are weighing people down. The writer of the book to the Hebrews admonished us to be mindful of excess luggage in order to be able to run the heavenly race that is set before us. This is so because many heavenly witnesses (faithful people that have lived before us) are watching us. What are the things (or even people) that may be regarded as excess luggage in your life? Shed such luggage now before they hinder you from reaching your divinely appointed goal in life. Be mindful of excess luggage! In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Pray that you will always be mindful of things or people that may serve as excess luggage in your life journey, and be able to do away with them.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 03Aug2019

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31 NKJV). ****************** QUOTE FOR THE DAY The storms do not have to overcome us. We can allow God's power to lift us above them. Remember, it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down, it is how we handle them. - Author Unknown ******************** PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray that you always handle your burdens by committing them to God.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 02Aug2019

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34 ESV). ****************** QUOTE FOR THE DAY Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith. - Henry Ward Beecher ******************** PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray that you always handle your tomorrow with the handle of faith, not the handle of fear.