Spiritual Digest for the Day 30Nov2020

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY "I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love" (Revelation 2:2-4 NIV). *********** QUOTE FOR THE DAY Do not be afraid of any opposition or persecution in the ministry God has called you into. When persecution comes, remember that God knows how He will deliver you from such persecution. Therefore, stand fast. He depends on you, and He will not let you down. - Bayo Afolaranmi ************ PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Help me, O Lord, to be able to endure hardship to the end.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 29Nov2020

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “[Jesus] said to them, ‘Then give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God’” (Luke 20:25 ERV). *********** QUOTE FOR THE DAY If one can give one’s life totally to God, it would not be difficult to give to the world and its rulers what belong to them and even use that thing that belongs to the world to glorify God. - Bayo Afolaranmi ************ PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray that you will be able to give your life totally to God and as you give to the world what belong to it you will be able do so and use them to His glory.

WHAT BELONGS TO CAESAR?

Dearly Beloved, WHAT BELONGS TO CAESAR? “[Jesus] said to them, ‘Then give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God’” (Luke 20:25 ERV). We were in a Sunday School class recently when a participant privately told me that we can sin at times since Jesus Christ said that we should give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. He further said that giving to God what belongs to God is when we come to church to worship Him. I immediately refuted his opinion and explained that Jesus was not talking about sin in that reference, but mainly about our civic responsibility to the government and the society. He reluctantly nodded his head in agreement. This wrong allusion to what belongs to Caesar made me think more about what really belongs to Caesar and what really belongs to God. If one has a close look at the passage (and other parallel passages - Matthew 22:15-22; Mark 12:13-17), one will have more understanding on this. The Pharisees and the Herodians colluded together and sent some of their disciples to Jesus to trap Him. They asked, "Tell us, is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" (Luke 20:22 ERV). If Jesus approved paying taxes to Caesar, He would offend the Jews, and this might discredit His ministry among them. If He disapproved paying of taxes to Caesar, the religious leaders would readily have a proof to accuse Him before the ruling Roman powers. However, being omniscient, He knew their antics. So, He asked them to give Him a coin. Having provided the coin, He asked about the image on the coin. They told Him that the image was that of Caesar. He thereby told them to give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God. The coin and other materials used as monetary values have the images of this world and its rulers, and they belong to this world and the rulers of this world. They should be given back to the world. Other things including rules and regulations created by the world should be strictly adhered to if they are not contrary to the rules and laws of God (see Acts 4:19; 5:29). However, people that use the money are created in the image of God and belong to God. So, they should give their lives that carry the image of God to God. Apostle Paul put it this way: “So I beg you, brothers and sisters, because of the great mercy God has shown us, offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him—an offering that is only for God and pleasing to him. Considering what he has done, it is only right that you should worship him in this way” (Romans 12:1 ERV). If one can give one’s life totally to God, it would not be difficult to give to the world and its rulers what belong to them and even use that thing that belongs to the world to glorify God. The person that has given his life totally to God will find it difficult to violate the rules and laws of the world (when they are not contrary to the rules and laws of God), and he will willingly obey the rules and laws of God. In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Pray that you will be able to give your life totally to God and as you give to the world what belong to it you will be able do so and use them to His glory.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 26Nov2020

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name." (Psalm 100:4 NKJV). *********** QUOTE FOR THE DAY Reflect on every person for whom you are grateful and for what you are grateful. Your thanksgiving blessing will become a treasured legacy. - Sylvia Gunter ************ PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY O God, I am thankful to You for everything You are in my life. Let me be thankful to everyone You are using also to bless me.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 25Nov2020

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY "I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart" (Psalm 40:8 NKJV). *********** QUOTE FOR THE DAY The purpose of prayer is not to conform God to our will but to adjust our will to God. We must learn to trust God so that if He says no, we accept that His will is best. - Henry Blackaby ************ PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Help me, Lord, to delight myself in doing Your will all the time.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 23Nov2020

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain” (Psalm 48:1 NIV). *********** QUOTE FOR THE DAY We have to acknowledge the greatness of God in our lives by worshiping Him for who He is and by thanking Him for what He is doing for us. - Bayo Afolaranmi ************ PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray that you will be able to appreciate the greatness of God in your life

Spiritual Digest for the Day 22Nov2020

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot” (Proverbs 10:7 NKJV). *********** QUOTE FOR THE DAY Beware of what you are doing today. You will become a reference point tomorrow either for good or for evil. - Bayo Afolaranmi ************ PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray that you will be mindful of what you are doing today so that your remembrance will be a blessing, and not a curse, to you and your descendants.

YOU WILL BECOME A REFERENCE POINT TOMORROW!

Dearly Beloved, YOU WILL BECOME A REFERENCE POINT TOMORROW! “The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot” (Proverbs 10:7 NKJV). Proverbs 10:7 (quoted above) is widely quoted mostly when remembering the dead. However, many good people can be remembered while they are still living, and their memory will be a blessing. Conversely, the memory of many people who are still living is a curse! An incident that happened recently confirms this. One of my old secondary school mates posted a funny cartoon of a teacher beating a student with a long cane on the WhatsApp group page of our old classmates. He then asked members of the group a question to identify who among our former teachers that the teacher in the cartoon represents. Many of us started mentioning some of our former teachers when we were in school in the 1980s that we believed were notorious for disciplining students with cane. As each of us was mentioning a teacher, the other old school mates would pass a funny comment about the teacher, and the others would attest to it with other hilarious comments. This continued until one of the old school mates asked about the whereabouts of a particular former teacher. The discussion changed immediately from jesting to praise singing as the old classmates started talking about the good character of this particular teacher and how they could not forget him for the positive impacts he has made in their lives even after thirty years. I was greatly moved with these good reports about somebody who had diligently and unwittingly done his duty over thirty years ago, and people can still be remembering him for his good deeds years after. Fortunately, the teacher is still living and I did not hesitate to share the discussion on the group chat with him. The memory of the righteous is indeed blessed. What would people say about you if your name is mentioned in their hearing? What would you be remembered for even now that you are still living? Would you be glad if people start to recount what you have done many years ago? This reminds me of a Yoruba axiom: “Arise ni arika; arika ni baba iregun. Ohun ti a ba se ni oni, oro itan ni bi o ba di ola” [literally: “What one did or does is what people will recount; what people will recount about one is the father of reference point. What one does today will definitely become history tomorrow”]. Beware of what you are doing today. You will become a reference point tomorrow either for good or for evil. Here is another Yoruba axiom: “Iyan ogun odun a maa jo ni ni owo” [literally, one can still feel the warmth of the pounded yam of twenty years, that is, one will still have repercussions for what one did many years ago]. Will your memory by other people be a blessing or a curse, even while you are still living? In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Pray that you will be mindful of what you are doing today so that your remembrance will be a blessing, and not a curse, to you and your descendants.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 19Nov2020

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36 NKJV). *********** QUOTE FOR THE DAY Life is a glorious opportunity if it is used to condition us for eternity. If we fail in this, though we succeed in everything else, our life will have been a failure. - Billy Graham ************ PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray that your success in life will not make you lose your soul in eternity.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 18Nov2020

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking” (Ephesians 4:17 NIV). *********** QUOTE FOR THE DAY God is looking for people that will distinguish themselves in this perverse world by walking with Him. He wants people that will determine to live in His fear and will, live in all His commandments and ordinances, live by faith and total trust in Him, live uprightly and sincerely, and live in intimate communion with Him. - Bayo Afolaranmi ************ PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Help me, O Lord, to be distinct to Your glory wherever I find myself.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 17Nov2020

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 AMP). *********** QUOTE FOR THE DAY God is in full control. Nothing is outside the scope of His divine radar screen, as He guides us safely home. - Charles R. Swindoll ************ PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Thank God for His working in your life, though you may not notice His handiwork.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 16Nov2020

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10 NIV). *********** QUOTE FOR THE DAY With God behind you and His arms beneath you, you can face whatever lies ahead of you. - Author Unknown ************ PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Help me, O Lord, not to fear, but put my total trust in You who is taking care of me.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 15Nov2020

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “When one of them saw that he was healed, he came back, praising God in a loud voice” (Luke 17:15 TEV). *********** QUOTE FOR THE DAY Do not be ungrateful to God for what He has done for you. Remember to come back to thank God, and He will bless you the more. - Bayo Afolaranmi ************ PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray that you will not be ungrateful to God and other benefactors, but that you will always remember to come back to express your appreciation.

ARE YOU REMEMBERING TO COME BACK?

Dearly Beloved, ARE YOU REMEMBERING TO COME BACK? “When one of them saw that he was healed, he came back, praising God in a loud voice” (Luke 17:15 TEV). Many people are only serving God for what they can get from Him. They can do anything possible in praying for His blessings. However, it has been difficult for them to really worship God for who He is. No wonder, they usually do not remember to thank Him for the goodness He has done, or is doing, in their lives. What an ungrateful set of people! Such people are like nine out of ten men who were suffering from a dreaded skin disease that met Jesus Christ on His way to Jerusalem (Luke 17:12-19). These men beseeched Him to heal them from their disease. Jesus told them to go and show themselves to the priests in anticipation that they would be healed before getting there. These men went in faith, and on their way, they were cured of their dreaded disease! Out of these ten men, only one counted it worthy to come back to Jesus Christ to praise God for what He has done. The other nine men went away ungrateful. Jesus Christ commended this grateful man and confirmed his faith that made him well. The man apparently received spiritual healing as well. His healing was total! There are many reasons that make many people to hardly remember to come back to God to praise Him for the goodness He has done for them. Some people do not know that they should come back to God to thank Him. To some, it is not necessary to return all the glory to God. To some, the goodness is by chance. After all, God is blessing those people that do not ask for it. Nevertheless, such people are depriving themselves of more blessings from God. Interestingly, the proportion of people that remember to come back to thank God is almost one to nine like those ten cured men. Are you like one of those nine ungrateful men or the one grateful man? Are you remembering to come back to God to express your gratitude for the goodness He has done for you? Are you serving Him for what you can get from Him, or worshipping Him for who He is? Remember to come back to thank God, and He will bless you the more. The Psalmist says, “Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (103:1-2 NIV). In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Pray that you will not be ungrateful to God and other benefactors, but that you will always remember to come back to express your appreciation.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 11Nov2020

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “The Lord cares for his nation, just as shepherds care for their flocks. He carries the lambs in his arms, while gently leading the mother sheep” (Exodus 20:3 CEV). *********** QUOTE FOR THE DAY Just when we cannot take much more stress or bear another burden, God opens His arms and takes us in and lets us know that our burdens are shared. - Ginger Nielson ************ PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Thank God for His care over you since the day of your conception.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 10Nov2020

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “[God commanded] You must not worship any other gods except Me” (Exodus 20:3 ERV). *********** QUOTE FOR THE DAY We may think ourselves too smart to fall into the trap of worshipping the sun, or a statue, but there are many other things that can divert our attention away from serving God. - Becky Brooks ************ PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray that nothing and nobody will divert your attention away from worshipping God wholeheartedly.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 08Nov2020

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY "Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.... For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations" (Psalm 100:1, 5 NIV). *********** QUOTE FOR THE DAY Those who rejoice in their unpleasant situation are convinced of God’s love which never abandons anyone that hopes in Him. Feed your soul with the hundredth psalm and you will see that the Lord is indeed good! - Bayo Afolaranmi ************ PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray that you will always have reasons to shout for joy in praises of God all the time.

THE HUNDREDTH PSALM

Dearly Beloved, THE HUNDREDTH PSALM "Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations" (Psalm 100 NIV). Psalm 100 is one of the most popular psalms. Many people have memorized it. In fact I have learnt it since my primary school days. Why is the five-verse psalm popular? The reason is that it is a thanksgiving psalm. Recently, the beauty of this praise poem stirs my heart. Verses 1 to 2 invite us to reverence God with gladness. How often I forget to ponder on the reasons why we should do this. Verses 3 and 5 give five reasons. First Reason: we serve THE God, the one and only God. All other gods are not gods. They are sheer idols. They cannot be compared with Him (cf. Deuteronomy 4:35, 39; 1 Kings 19:39; Psalms 86:8; 89:6; 95:3; 96:4-5; 97:9; Exodus 15:11; Isaiah 40:18; Jeremiah 10:10-16). Second Reason: the Lord created us. Before He created us, He created everything we need so that we will lack nothing (Genesis 1; Job 10:8-13; Psalms 139:13-24). Third Reason: we belong to Him, so He takes care of us; He sustains us; He protects us; He provides for us, etc (Psalms 74:1-2; 78:52; 95:7; Isaiah 40:9-11; Ezekiel 34:11, 30-31; John 10:14-16, 26-28). We belong to Someone who cares! (Psalm 34:15; Matthew 6:26; Luke 12:30; 1 Peter 5:7). Fourth Reason: the Lord is good and He does good things (see Psalms 86:5; 106:1; 107:1, 8, 15, 32; 119:68; Jeremiah 33:11). The Bible presents it this way: "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him" (Acts 10:38, NIV). Is He still doing good till today? Yes, indeed! Think about your own life. Fifth Reason: the love, mercy, and faithfulness of God are permanent (Exodus 34:6-7; Deuteronomy 7:9; Psalms 36:5; 103:17; 119:90-91; Lamentations 3:22-23; Luke 1:50). The above reasons made the psalmist to rejoice and advise us to always worship God with thanksgiving and praise in verse 4. Nevertheless, why do we need to adore, glorify and bless Him when, at times, we do not receive answer to our prayers? The hundredth psalm counsels us to simply serve God for who He is, and what He is doing for us, not because of what we get from Him. He is more than what we need. Those who rejoice in their unpleasant situation are convinced of God’s love which never abandons anyone that hopes in Him. Feed your soul with the hundredth psalm and you will see that the Lord is indeed good! In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Pray that you will always have reasons to shout for joy in praises of God all the time. NB Please find time to read and meditate on each of the Bible references above. I extensively referred to them for your further studies. God bless you as you do so!

Spiritual Digest for the Day 07Nov2020

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV). *********** QUOTE FOR THE DAY We tend to use prayer as a last resort, but God wants it to be our first line of defense. We pray when there’s nothing else we can do, but God wants us to pray before we do anything at all. - Oswald Chambers ************ PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Help me, O Lord, to always make You my first line of defense in any struggle of life I face.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 06Nov2020

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5 NKJV). *********** QUOTE FOR THE DAY Seek God first every morning. Seek his guidance all through the day. Trust His power when you need it. - James C. Denison ************ PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY O Lord, let me always seek You and trust in Your power and Your wisdom every day.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 05Nov2020

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “I have avoided every path that leads to evil so that I could obey your word” (Psalm 119:101 ERV). *********** QUOTE FOR THE DAY To enjoy the full benefits of God, you must demonstrate obedience to His precepts. And to keep His precepts, you must first sanctify yourself – that is keeping away from all forms of evil in every conceivable way. - Author Unknown ************ PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray for the grace to always keep away from all forms of evil in order to enjoy the full benefits of God.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 04Nov2020

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “Make sure that no one misses out on God’s wonderful kindness. Don’t let anyone become bitter and cause trouble for the rest of you” (Hebrews 12:15 CEV). *********** QUOTE FOR THE DAY When a root of bitterness is allowed to be planted and grown, it not only affects that person, but it also affects all others who are involved. - Os Hillman ************ PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray that you will not allow any form of bitterness to affect you and other people around you.