Ignore the Faith Fads

Friends,

It seems that everyday, a "bold new ministry" makes its claim for our attention. We see churches incorporating the ways of the world in order to appear "relevant" and "in touch." We see celebrity preachers touting their latest book meant to improve your family, your job or your diet. Or someone else wants us to watch their DVD that explains how to fast, how to pray, how to worship, or how to serve.

We need to learn from those who have been anointed to teach the Body about sound doctrine and appropriate actions. And no one can legitimately claim to have figured it all out. And we know that the Lord is revealing Himself anew each day. Yet, we are wise to return to Scripture, in order to keep all of this in perspective:

Hebrews 13:9 [NKJV]
Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.

Remember that part of the enemy's plan is to distract the Christian from paying attention to the Lord. In so doing, Satan disrupts and hinders the growth of our relationship with God, which slows our transformation into His perfect image. Since we are commanded to resist the devil -- even unto blood -- then vigorously testing the doctrine of the day must be a key element in our battle plan.

Hold up every instruction to the shining light of God's Word. By the Holy Spirit, you will see what is deception and what is truth. And then you can put the truth into action, and experience the freedom and peace that is beyond understanding.

Be encouraged, Jose

Keeping it together

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:23-25 (NKJV)

Sometimes the toll of waiting and the expansivity of the human will reaches it’s limit and breaking point that a self-dependent believer begins the crumbling process and begins to cage in to the adversary’s antics, devices and schemes. This is an appropriate time for the body to cling together in oneness and lifting each other up in the continuous struggles and challenges of life. Our hope is sure and that in itself is comforting and assuring and that provides a basis to us to not waver on the promises of God.

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
2 Corinthians 1:20 (NKJV)

When the going gets tough, it’s not an excuse to succumb to compromise, temptation or the antics and dubious schemes of our common enemy, instead let us lift each other up by considering one another for the purpose of edification of the entire body of Christ. We must not waver, we must not falter, we must not retreat and neither must we surrender our confessed hope of glory.

Be Encouraged,

Afolabi

Podcast Update - The Fourth Commandment

Hello!
We released a new podcast today, the latest in our series exploring the Ten Commandments. In it, we study the fourth commandment in some depth. We hope it blesses you immensely.

Be encouraged, Jose

Finding Me

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NKJV)

The Lord's assurance to captives through Jeremiah was gentle, firm yet assuring. For a generation that have lived in captivity for a long time, the news of hope and deliverance is usually taken with a grain of salt. But to a hopeful generation, the living word is a reminder of the Lord's faithfulness and mercies. One which though and sometimes may tarry but never fails.

In this letter to them in captivity, the process was stated out clearly... You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with 'all your heart'. This means our search must be diligent, sustained and be genuine. We must not seek Him solely for the toys, and not what just we want, but we must offer ourselves as living sacrifices holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. Anything short of this will be hypocrisy and deceitful which is not acceptable to our Creator.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Start with the heart

Friends,

Our words have great power. We know how our words can impact one another. A wrong word from a father can devastate a child. Words spoken in anger can cause enduring damage to a marriage. And yet, their power cannot go beyond the bounds of what is in our hearts.

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.
-- Christ Jesus, as recorded in Matthew 15:18

Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.
See how great a forest a little fire kindles!
-- James 3:5 [NKJV]

Are you searching for a way to control your tongue?
Then the place to start is the heart. Search for the word heart in the Bible. You will see that it appears over 950 times in scripture. It is central to our faith and to our relationship with Christ. It is also central to our relationships with one another.

Sisters and brothers, take prayer time today to lay your heart before the Lord. Beseech Him to stand guard over it, to protect it, and to heal it. He has promised to create in us a new heart, and as He does so, we will find our words will edify, encourage, and strengthen. They will become powerful forces for the advancement of Christ's Kingdom.

Be encouraged, Jose

An expansive view of all

Friends,

If you're like me, then the following verse brings you great comfort whenever difficult circumstances come to the forefront:

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28 [NKJV]

During Bible study this past week, our teacher reminded us that, although we most often use this familiar verse on its own, it exists within the context of an amazing set of verses. For instance, it is directly connected to the anguish and mental gymnastics of the end of Romans 7:

I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
Romans 7:18 [NIV]

It is also linked to our election and adoption into the Royal and Heavenly Family that Paul describes in the early verses of Chapter 8:

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."
Romans 8:15 [NKJV]

Take some time this weekend to review these two chapters, keeping in mind that "all things" encompasses the entirety of what our brother Paul describes in them. It will change how you praise the Father. It will intensify your gratitude for Christ's work at Calvary. And you will find even greater courage and comfort in the sovereignty of the LORD.

Praise God and Be encouraged!
Jose

Saying the right things

Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.
Psalms 141:3 (NKJV)

Are you spontaneous in your response to stimuli? Do you just react verbally to just about everything without restraint? The wise usually spend time analyzing, filtering and sifting their words before speaking them out. Words are powerful, a creative force and one that can take a soul of its own. Speaking well and saying the right things is also at the core of our ability to navigate through life's challenges.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14 (NKJV)

Guard the gates of your heart and mind for from there comes the cares of life. Speak life into your life.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Who is our Helper?

So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Hebrews 13:6 [KJV]

In our moments of being discouraged, we forget that the Lord is our helper.  He is the guiding force in our lives and He directs our paths.  We must always remember that God is our helper.  I recall a popular gospel song that is very simple. It is my daughter's favorite song, and it is Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.  Throughout the song, people are asking why would we just invoke the name of Jesus instead of calling on those earthly organizations that provide help.  The singer reminds us that those organizations would not exist without Jesus.  We wouldn't exist without Jesus.  Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. He is a very present help in the time of trouble.  

Remember that the next time you are down and despair that Jesus can lift us out of any situation has an overall plan for our lives.  We can turn to our helper without fear of Him not being there.  Darkness may endure for a night, but Joy comes in the morning.

Be Encouraged.

Martin

Here for what?

Where there is no vision, the people perish:
Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

The poorest in our midst may not be the brother or sister without a cent. It may not be that which the world have marked as poor based on worldly standards. The poor in our midst is he/she who lacks a vision and dream. When men lose their dream or fail to identify and connect with it, they lose their purpose and when purpose is lost, hopelessness sets in and our existence becomes a target to be tossed by the elements. No child of God is born without a purpose, we must diligently find this out personally and pray for strength, wisdom and longevity to fulfill it. To be without a vision is to wander aimlessly in life, becoming a wandering generality and an object being tossed to and fro with every circumstance of life.

Then the LORD answered me and said: “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.
Habakkuk 2:2 (NKJV)

What is life all about? what is the purpose of our life for? For all the labor, struggles, pursuits, achievements and accomplishments, what do these amount to? What are we here for? May we find, pursue and fulfill our purpose in Him that created us, Amen.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Fear cannot stop us

Friends,

Among the many facets of the battles we encounter throughout our lives is one focused on the area of worship. It is a battle principally because the devil wants nothing more than to interrupt and disrupt our relationship with the Almighty. And of course, Satan will use all of his weapons to do so. Our response is to recognize his tactics and be resolved to worship the LORD no matter what.

Ezra 2:3
Though fear had come upon them because of the people of those countries, they set the altar on its bases; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both the morning and evening burnt offerings. [NKJV]

Our forebears knew that a genuine worship of God would aggravate and irritate their neighbors. And those neighbors were already hostile, and were most certainly armed. Hence their fear was not irrational.

But fear did not stop them.

And fear must not stop you and me. The world will never give us permission to worship our LORD, and to wait for it is senseless. There will be consequences for obeying God, and it is understandable to be concerned about them. But we must not succumb to our fear of those consequences.

Remain steadfast in our worship of God. He is our strength and courage. And He is our victory.

Be encouraged, Jose

Not quite finished yet

Friends,

Each one of us looks in the mirror and sees an incomplete picture. We are not yet finished. We are works in progress.

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
1 John 3:2 [NKJV]

Now each one of us knows that a house is not beautiful until the walls have been painted, the flooring has been installed and the lawn and garden have blossomed. And we know that even the finest sirloin steak is inedible until it has been properly cooked (medium-rare for me, thank you very much). And no one wants to use a computer program until all of the bugs have been worked out (Microsoft take note).

So, look on yourself with grace and compassion. Look on your neighbor with forgiveness and mercy. We have not yet become what we are meant to be. The Potter is working with each one of us individually, painstakingly, and lovingly. He is molding each one of us into something unique and specific. He is faithful to complete that work, according to His perfect design.

And when He has finished with us, His chosen and beloved, it will be glorious!

Be encouraged, Jose

Our spoken words

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
James 1:19 (NJKV)

The times are treacherous and many seem to be on survival mode. It is a moment of tension, a season of anxiety for many, but for them that believe and trust the Lord, it is a season of calm and peace even in the midst of pandemonium and panic. The ignorant speaks carelessly and unrestrained, bringing damnation, curses, and negatives on themselves usually unconsciously and unknowingly.

A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel
Proverbs 1:5 (NKJV)

Wisdom at all times must never be lacking with all of God's children. With it we can navigate life without getting caught up with the vicissitudes of it and acting ignorantly like the ignorant. As time permits, be swift to hear, gain more understanding and be slow and cautious to make pronouncements. Our words are life in themselves, we must release them wisely.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Help Me!

But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. Matthew 14:30 [KJV]

In the last two writings, we were talking about addictions and fallout results.  Now for the people involved, there is an opportunity to break free.  How do we all do that?  Good question and for the answer, we will look to Peter and his request to Christ when he was walking on the water.  

Peter's prayer was a call for help.  Sometimes we have to lose our pride and just ask God for help.  We can keep our pride and drown in it or we can resolve today to just reach out to Christ and ask Him to help us in any situation that we are in.  Our faith tells us that Christ can deliver us from any situation according to His Grace and Mercy.  Our part is to believe that the prayer is true and that He will save us and deliver us.  Peter's faith was that he truly believed that Christ could save and deliver.  Do you?  Do I?  The answer to that question lies within.

Be Encouraged,

Martin

Not always convenient

Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.
Acts 16:16-19 (NKJV)

The walk of ministry demands a touch of gentleness, caring and understanding. It also demands decisiveness and fierceness in the face of hypocrisy and deceitfulness operating under the guise of holiness. These demons of deceit and hypocrisy must be confronted and brought under subjection both in our lives and in our work of ministry. Paul never spared the profit making and fortune-telling spirit in the girl that followed them. She followed them for the wrong reason, not to be saved but to align deceitfully with the men of God with the aim to increase her clientele and access to the body of Christ for personal gain and not Kingdom gain. If that activity we partake in will not bring increase to God's Kingdom, sincerely we need to re-evaluate things.

Paul and Silas placed Kingdom interest above others. Certainly not always convenient, but an example and principle of Kingdom walk that we must follow.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Podcast - The Third Commandment

Friends,

The next podcast in our study series on the Ten Commandments has been published. This time we're studying The 3^rd Commandment. I pray that you are blessed by it.

Be encouraged, Jose

Prayers for truth

Friends,

Perhaps you've been questioning recently whether prayer really works. maybe that situation, that you've targeted with your prayers, hasn't improved. For me, I've been praying for a job. Maybe you are, too. Or maybe you've been praying for health, or for strength in resisting one sin or another. Maybe it's time to take a hard look at the truth of our prayers ...

Hear a just cause, O LORD,
Attend to my cry;
Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips.
Psalm 17:1 [NKJV]

There is a brother in the Lord who ministers to men in my hometown. At the root of the problem for most of the guys is an inability to be (in his words), "Who we really are before who God really is." That simple phrase aligns beautifully with what David is writing in the opening of Psalm 17. He is declaring before God that his prayers are honest and true... that they do not come from "deceitful lips."

Sisters and brothers, this is the first and most important condition for the praying believer. Our prayers must not be manipulated to sound holy, or to be what we think God wants to hear. Our prayers must be honest and true. There is no room for lies or deception before the Lord ... who sees right through them, anyway. There is no need for eloquence or rhymes or soaring rhetoric.

All that is needed is for you and I to be who we really are before who God really is. Admit to being scared, worried, exhausted, or just plain ticked off. Admit to being joyful, relieved, or full of energy. Be authentic. Be real. And from that authenticity, our amazing and generous Lord will bring blessing and strength.

He will answer our prayers.

Be encouraged, Jose

The hour to remember

Friends,

This is what everyone among those who are numbered shall give: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (a shekel is twenty gerahs). The half-shekel shall be an offering to the LORD.
Exodus 30:13 [NKJV] (emphasis added)

There will be times when we've done something hurtful, shameful and awful. In that hour, we will be tempted to believe that we have gone beyond what God will tolerate... even beyond what He can possibly forgive.

There will also be times when we hold up another brother or sister as being more deserving of God's favor, as being more holy or more righteous... and that we cannot measure up. And in that hour, we will be tempted to believe that our own cause is lost, that we're simply not worth anything.

That hour.
It is the most critical moment to return to what is true. And the truth of this matter is that every man needs redemption, and that the redemption price for every man is the same. Christ's work at Calvary is indeed sufficient to atone for your sin and mine, no matter how grave or trivial. Do not allow the enemy to distort what is true. Remember that His Word is true.

Be encouraged, Jose

Understanding is gold

…Take heed, that no one deceives you.
Matthew 24:4 (NKJV)

Seeking the mind and will of God is very important in the life of a believer. When we are focused on the Master’s grand plan, we won’t be distracted by the side distractions and attractions of the world. Even as the world continues to launch comprehensive attacks on the word, making a mockery of God’s word and sometimes playing the role of healer and messiah to a confused generation and world, we must not fall for the grand deception of the world's system.

For there shall arise false christs , and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Matthew 24:24 (NKJV)

Let us seek the truth in earnest, for when we know the truth, then the knowledge and application of the truth of God’s word to our lives will set us free from the pranks and deceit of the adversary and his cohorts.

He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who cherishes understanding prospers.
Proverbs 19:8 (NKJV)

In all your ways seek God’s wisdom and understanding.

Be Encouraged,

Afolabi

Following the Path

But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress. Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, thou shouldest not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity; Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress.  For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head. Obadiah 1:12-15

Last week, I wrote about addiction and my thoughts around what we should do.  Today, I bring you the follow-up.  In Obadiah, God let's us know that we should not just ridicule or think too harshly about the condition that someone else is in. He wants us to develop that compassionate heart to care for our brother. As we can see from the passage above, we are taken back to the prayer in Matthew 6, where if we forgive others, we will be forgiven.  If we don't, then we can fall into the same trouble that we are ridiculing others about.  

We want to be sure that we are following the path of Christ and helping our fellow man.  Not just watching them fall.  We can all look into our lives and see where we have done well and fallen short.  Let us hope that when the opportunity presents itself, we will be strong in the Lord and the power of His Might and help our brothers and sisters.  Think about when you speak with a saint in distress, how when their faith shines through, you feel better and your spirit is lifted.  

Be Encouraged,

Martin

Look up

I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
Psalm 121:1-4 (NKJV)

When the disciples took the trip to the other side with Jesus Christ (Mark 4:35-39), the wind was boisterous, the firmament was raging and wild, reality clouds any other judgment that may be within, but the stillness and calmness of the one inside takes charge. We can control the outside from the inside, if the one inside is the Creator of the inside and the outside and all that dwell both in and out. King David, a man after God's heart knew quite well the futility and senselessness of seeking help somewhere else or in just worrying about tomorrow and failing to capture and enjoy the blessings of the moment. He chose to look up to His Maker who is more than enough in all situations.

The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.
Psalm 121:5-8 (NKJV)

Let these words bring comfort to your souls. It is God's word, and in your individual situation, He will not deny it.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

No need for fables

Friends,

Over the past five or ten years, a trend has emerged in American Christianity. There seems to be a tendency to "explain" the Gospel, to attempt to bring it down to the level of the world. Human logic agrees with this approach, and rationalizes it by saying, "Jesus met people where they were," or something along those lines. But a careful reading of scripture reveals that this is not how God expects us to spread the Gospel:

For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
2 Peter 1:16 [NKJV]

Here Peter tells the readers of his epistle that his words were not brilliantly conceived out of a man's imagination. They were not meant to awe the fleshly mind. Rather, his words came directly out of his experience of Christ's majesty.

You and I are witnesses to Christ's majesty, as well. Therefore, there is no need for us to embellish the Gospel, or to water it down under the guise of ministry catchwords like "relevance" and "real-life."

We have the Gospel of Jesus Christ! We must simply give it (for that's all we owe the world) as is. God will either awaken His spirit inside of the hearer or not. But for our part, we will be representing God as He truly is... in all of His power, glory and majesty.

Be encouraged, Jose