Spiritual Digest for the Day 07Sep2022

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “The fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; he will not be visited with evil” (Proverbs 19:23 NKJV). *********** QUOTE FOR THE DAY The remarkable thing about God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else. - Oswald Chambers ************ PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray for the grace to always fear God in everything you are doing.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 06Sep2022

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day.... the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said” (Joshua 14:10-12 NKJV). *********** QUOTE FOR THE DAY You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. - C. S. Lewis ************ PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray for new vision to conquer mountains.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 05Sep2022

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me” (Philippians 3:12 NKJV). *********** QUOTE FOR THE DAY Do not remain “you” but build up yourself. Learn to add value to your life at all times. Allow God to turn your challenges to channels of blessings; and stumbling blocks to stepping stones for you. - Joshua Sunday IbukunOluwa ************ PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Help me, Lord, to learn how to add values to my life at all times.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 04Sep2022

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps” (1 Peter 2:21 NKJV). *********** QUOTE FOR THE DAY If you are suffering because you are a Christian and you are doing the will of God, rejoice, for you will also share in Christ’s glory at His coming. For a Christian to follow in Christ’s step, Christian suffering is indeed inevitable. - Bayo Afolaranmi ************ PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY O Lord, help me to endure any suffering I am having now because of Your name.

SUFFERING IS INEVITABLE

Dearly Beloved, SUFFERING IS INEVITABLE “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps” (1 Peter 2:21 NKJV). After having a personal Bible study on the first epistle of Peter some time ago, I was led to base one of my weekly devotional messages on the main theme of the epistle: Christian suffering. Such a theme is not a popular theme. I did struggle with the theme before yielding myself to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Peter also initially did not want to be associated with it, and he rebuked Jesus Christ for predicting His own suffering, though Jesus rebuked him and let him and other disciples realize that suffering is inevitable in the Christian life (see Matthew 16:21-25). Having gone to the “school” of suffering many times in his Christian life, Peter understood the concept of Christian suffering, and he could boldly write his first epistle to Christians to encourage them to face suffering so that the true grace of Jesus Christ would be evidenced in them. He made them realize that suffering for being a Christian is following the steps of Christ who also suffered in His body for our sins (see 1 Peter 2:21, 24; 3:18; 4:1). In fact, Peter wanted his recipients to rejoice that they were partaking in Christian suffering (1 Peter 4:13). Interestingly, the original recipients of Peter were passing through many suffering when he wrote this epistle. Apostle Paul also had a similar understanding when he prayed in Philippians 3:10: “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (NKJV). He had earlier pointed it out that suffering is included in our faith in Christ (see Philippians 1:29 and 2 Timothy 3:12). Another fact about Christian suffering is that it sharpens Christian faith and brings the best out of Christians. Peter likened it to the relationship of fire and gold. As fire purifies and refines gold to make it valuable, Christian suffering also makes the Christian faith of greater worth than gold (see 1 Peter 1:6-7). As Peter emphasized, Christian suffering is not one that is a result of wrongdoing (see 1 Peter 4:15). It is sharing in the “suffering of Christ” which brings salvation to humankind and glory in the future. No wonder Peter said that we should rejoice in it. What kind of suffering are you passing through presently? Is it for wrongdoing? Repent and ask for God’s forgiveness. However, if it is Christian suffering, that is, because you are a Christian and you are doing the will of God, rejoice, for you will also share in Christ’s glory at His coming. For a Christian to follow in Christ’s step, Christian suffering is indeed inevitable. In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Lord, help me to endure any suffering I am having now because of Your name.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 03Sep2022

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31 NKJV). *********** QUOTE FOR THE DAY Do not let your problems intimidate you. No matter how big the enemy may seem to be, remember that you have God's power on your side - and if you are a Christian, God, Himself, lives inside you! And He is greater than any enemy you will face. - Author Unknown ************ PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray that you will not let any problem or enemy intimidate you as you rely on God's power.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 02Sep2022

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “All I want is to know Christ and the power that raised him from death. I want to share in his sufferings and be like him even in his death” (Philippians 3:10 ERV). *********** QUOTE FOR THE DAY The most important thing in life is to know God—not to know about Him, but to know Him personally. - Rick Warren ************ PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray that you really know God, and not just about Him.