Over in a few

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven:
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV)

Its that time of the year for stock-taking. Time to be thankful and grateful for making it to the end of another year. Many started the year together full of hope and energy and great dreams, but are no more today. Many lay indisposed, sick and incarcerated. One thing everyone with the breath of life can do is to be thankful and grateful for the gift of life, for with the breath of life, anything is still possible.

To as many that have struggled and surged through the storm of 2009, I congratulate you, to those not so fortunate, I say thank God all the same, for as the scripture above says, there is a time for every purpose and season under heaven. Let us keep the faith, thank God for His goodness and faithfulness in all things. The world system may fail and malfunction, but the God of all creation never fails. Whenever we lose grasp or understanding of the present circumstance, lets release and let go, let God

As we bid 2009 farewell in a few, lets thank God for His blessings, victories, grace and favor. Let us be thankful for finishing power in 2009 and pray for starting, sustaining and finishing power for 2010. Remember it's got to be power for something purposeful.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

The Father's Business

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
Matthew 11:12 (NKJV)

The above scripture resonates with the ferocity, fierceness and urgency of now in today's world. The kingdom of heaven suffers violence and is not taken by timidity, nor with a siddon-look (Sit down and look) approach. Rather it is taken with force. Our world is hounded on all sides with old and recycled failed gimmicks and lies, kingdoms are re-positioning themselves and aggressively pursuing their agenda with passion and commitment. Can the believer stay aloof and stand akimbo thinking the Kingdom of heaven will reign here without raising a finger? Far from it.

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. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12-14 (NKJV)

The alternative kingdoms will not let down and are relentless. Believers like Apostle Paul did, ought not opt for slumber nor sleep. As we count down to the end of the year and usher in the new year, we must be about our Father's business.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

More than mere gifts

Friends,

It occurred to me the other day that I have been diligently praying for God's gifts. That doesn't sound like a bad thing to pray for, does it? We know that every good gift comes from our Lord, and He certainly desires to bless His people.

Nevertheless, I came to conviction after reading a passage from Matthew Henry's commentary regarding inheritance. He referred to this verse from Paul's letter to the church at Rome:

and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
Romans 8:17 [NKJV]

Almighty God gives provision and gifts to all creation. He makes the rain to fall on the believers and the unbelievers. Generally speaking, Christians and heathen enjoy health, wealth and prosperity to largely the same degree across the world. Of course, there are exceptions, but to focus on God's gifts misses a larger and more important issue.

The Father reserves His inheritance for His children. When we die, my wife and I will leave our modest estate to our children and grandchildren, not to our friends, our co-workers or the next-door neighbor. In the same way, the great blessing of His Kingdom is left not to the world to inherit, but to the family of God. And that is my new prayer.

Heavenly Father, cause Your people to desire the inheritance which You have ordained for us. Grant to us the vision of Your Kingdom, that it will advance across this world and be established according to Your perfect will.
Amen and amen.

Be encouraged, Jose

Beyond addition into multiplication

Friends and fellow pilgrims,

When you multiply anything times zero, the result is zero. This is a mathematical truism. Keep that in mind as you read the opening verses of Peter's first letter to the believing church that had been scattered throughout the world.

1 Peter 1:1b-2 [NKJV]
To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

I have taken the liberty of emphasizing that last line to illuminate a critical truth. The true believer need not pray for grace and peace, for both have been given to us. They are part and parcel of the unmerited favor that Almighty God has bestowed upon His sons and daughters.

Let it be our prayer today that these gifts be multiplied. That the grace and peace that reside in us with Christ become an outpouring of grace and peace to our brothers and sisters. That this overflow would cause the world to stop in awe and wonder. And that, in so doing, we would give proper honor and worship to Christ our Savior and King.

Be encouraged, Jose

The Right Focus

Friends,

If you find that your attention has been focused on the things of this world, then please listen to the newly posted lessons at Bible Study Audio. I confess that I have allowed myself to be distracted by what others might think of me, instead of what God has declared of me. These lessons were extraordinary in their conviction. I pray that you, as well, are blessed by them.

Be encouraged, Jose

Treasure place

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Mathew 6:19-20 (NKJV)

Its simply human to cherish and secure our most priced possessions. The above scripture used that simple truth to advise us to lay up our treasures in the heavenly places. A place that is void of a cycling economy, unpredictable stock market, slumping house market, Equity (one that disappears from ones investments overnight), 401Ks, IRAs, etc. This place is also immune against the elements of the world that can corrode, rust, melt or even steal away our assets.

It is a smart idea to lay up our treasures in a place void of 'up today, disappear tomorrow'. Where are you laying your treasures?

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Chasing God

Friends,

During one of the many eras that God's people had gone astray, the prophet Hosea brought forth the word of the LORD. God describes how His people will look for the what their false gods had offered them, and what the result of their search will be ...

Hosea 2:7
She will chase her lovers,
But not overtake them;
Yes, she will seek them, but not find them.
Then she will say,

'I will go and return to my first husband,
For then it was better for me than now.' -- [NKJV]

The people of God had mistakenly attributed their abundance to the idols of their own making. In our day, we do the same thing. We believe that our provision is the result of our own hard work, our own ingenuity, and our own diligence. Because we believe that our efforts are the source of our abundance, we work harder and harder and harder to attain and maintain what we have. We chase after worldly success, but we will not find it. So we chase harder. And and we have to show for it is exhaustion.

Sisters and brothers, it is the LORD, and Him alone, that is the source and reason for every blessing we have. It is not enough to simply give Him credit ... though surely He deserve every ounce and breath of praise and gratitude. He calls us to pursue Him, to chase after Him. He calls us to desire Him.

By seeking the LORD and His Kingdom and His righteousness, we will gain the most wondrous and everlasting blessings.

Be encouraged, Jose

New Bible studies posted

Friends,

Check out the Bible studies at Bible Study Audio. The Monday morning group began the book of Hosea a few weeks ago and the first three lessons have been posted.

I pray that you are blessed by these teachings.

Jose

The Commandments shall overcome

Friends,

We are blessed that the Body of Christ is bound by the love of our Lord Christ Jesus. The non-believers have a great emptiness where this blessing might reside. And even though were are surrounded by a multitude of brothers and sisters in the Lord, there are enemies lurking. And those enemies want to shame you and me, make us feel foolish for following a God who would humble Himself to live among us and endure a death on a cross.

But we are wiser than those enemies ...

Psalm 119:98
You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies;
For they are ever with me. [NKJV]

Our enemies are always with us. They live in our neighborhoods. Their children sit beside our children at school. Our Lord makes the rain to fall upon them just as He provides it for you and me.

But we have something more.

We have His word. And His spirit abides in us to reveal His mysteries to us. And in that privilege is held more wisdom than all of the scholars, and all of the doubters, and all of the cynics, and all of the well-intentioned.

Seek His wisdom in His word.

Be encouraged, Jose

Not lost

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 (NKJV)

We miss loved ones, members of the body of Christ and family members and the world mourns, but we ought not mourn like the world who have no hope. We must rejoice in Him for the hope of glory and the assurance of resurrection at the coming of the Lord. Not even the grave, fire, sea, deep, etc will be able to hold on to them that have slept in the Lord. Likewise as we remain embedded in Him, our hope must remain firm, credible and sure and we ought to comfort each other with these words.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Finishing power

And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Hebrews 6:11-12 (NKJV)

Abraham became the father of nations, Joshua led the nation of Israel into the promise land, Sarah bore a son at an unimaginable age and time of her life, Hannah's tears and sorrow was turned to joy, the three Hebrew boys got the last laugh, the widow of Zarepath endured through her season, the list goes on and on. One thing common to these men and women was that they were never sluggish at the Lord's promises in their lives, they never lost hope nor slumber off of their waiting season. They held on to the end. They through faith and patience finished their course and inherited their promises.

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. The strength to make it to the morning is the finishing power. A power that the spirit of God in us can give. May you never lack the finishing power in your life, Amen.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Affliction is no match for Delight

Friends,

As believers, we know our place at God's right hand is assured for all eternity. Yet we must live through this world, according to the laws of time, space and gravity. We travel this life according to the promises made to us by Christ Jesus. And in His word, He promises affliction. While none of us necessarily enjoy and look forward to affliction, we have a surefire means to experience them without despair or fear ...

Psalm 119:92
Unless Your law had been my delight,
I would then have perished in my affliction. [NKJV]

When God's law ... His very word ... is our delight, then affliction cannot have any lasting effect. It might temporarily distract us, inconvenience us, or even cause us great pain and distress. However, it cannot defeat us.

By focusing on the Word of God -- by taking advantage of every opportunity to study His word, search His word, and obey His word -- we will enjoy daily victory over the daily afflictions that are part of this life.

Sisters and brothers, delight in God's law.

Be encouraged, Jose

Power in the word

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)


The word of God is alive, active and life; it is power to the believer for continuous use. To declaring those things that are not as though they are, speaking over every situation and circumstances in our lives, prophesying on every turn and move of our life, speaking life into dry bones, proclaiming liberty to the captives, and furthering the cause of the kingdom of God in His power.

Can a warrior be oblivious of the tools at his disposal? Know the word, learn the word, use the word – it won’t come back to you void but will accomplish that which is according to His will for you.

Be Encouraged,

Afolabi

Celebrate The Season

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:4-5 [KJV]

If you were to find out that all our debts are forgiven and we did not owe any creditor anything, how would you feel? What would you do with a complete reset of your finances? Would you go out and buy more stuff, would you give away more money, would you save everything and amass more wealth or something else completely.

For our life, Christ came to reset our debt with God. His arrival, life, teaching and death took on all our sins and allowed us to have a clear path to God. As we are starting to get into the spirit of the season, let us remember that Christ came to free us from the debt of sin. The reason for the season is that we have been forgiven and given a new start. Let us celebrate the fact that God has cleared our slate and let us share that good news with others.

Be Encouraged,

Martin

Stand for something

And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.”
Acts 5:38-39 (NKJV)

For many prophets and self proclaimed messiahs have come and gone. They go the way of all mortal being and their sects are left in disarray. Gamaliel the Pharisee and a teacher of the law in those days said of men and women of God in his days. If the work of the gospel is of men, the end result remains consistent throughout the ages, but if it is of God, it remains irrepressible and unmovable. Every doctrine, culture, way of life, powers, influence, deceit, lies, campaign, etc that confronts it will surely fail and be wasted away. Do you connive or unconsciously repress the cause and growth of God's kingdom? What side of the Kingdom are you and what cause do you uphold?

Peter and the Apostles stood for something in their day even when it wasn't cool and politically correct. What will you and I stand for? We will either stand for something or fall for everything. Stand for something sure and eternal.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Darkness has met its match

Friends,

The days are quite short during this time of year, with less than 8½ hours of daylight today. It can seem as though everything is happening in the dark. We wake up and it is dark. We drive to work, and it is dark. We drive home again in the dark. We look outside during supper and it is dark.

But we know that in just a few weeks, the sun will begin to rise a little earlier each morning, and set just a few minutes later each evening. And gradually, more and more life takes place in the sunshine. For me, it is a hopeful prospect.

But this world continues to be dark, despite the best efforts of the sun. Sickness, deceit, murder, hatred, adultery, thievery, and strife run rampant across every nation. And, just as the sun shines just a little less each day, the world seems to get worse with every passing night.

And we have the same expectation. Yes, these days are dark and getting darker. But one day, that darkness will be defeated by the Light.

There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. -- Revelation 22:5 [NKJV]

Be encouraged, Jose

Responding to Repentance

Friends,

Every act of true and genuine repentance is a great victory. It means that the Spirit has overcome the flesh, that Kingdom of God is advancing against the forces of Hell. No wonder Christ describes the scene in Heaven as a great celebration ...

Luke 15:10
Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. [NKJV]

As we discussed earlier, Jesus is both describing Heaven's response and commanding it. And this command applies to you and me in the here and now.

When we are saved, we are given a specific place in the heavenlies. We are seated there, wrapped in Christ. We are no longer citizens of the kingdom of darkness. We are now made citizens of the Kingdom of God.

So, when Christ says, "There is joy in the presence of angesls", He is commanding you and me to rejoice in the repentance of those around us. This may be difficult, since our flesh will remind us of that person's imperfections and mistakes. But we know that the enemy is a liar. And we know that the old things have passed away; and that the Lord has created a new heart in that person ... just as He has in you and me.

Let us rejoice on this day. Someone has come to repentance. And even more, let us seek true repentance on this day for our own sins and stumbles. And then let us rejoice again.

Be encouraged, Jose

No place for pride

Are not the Abanah[a] and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.
2 Kings 5:12 (NKJV)

It was the preceding narrative of Naaman's encounter with the servant of God. He was a very influential man in Israel and always got whatever he so desired. On this day, he was shocked to noted that while he came to visit the man of God with all his toys and chariots and materials of influence, the man of God didn't even see him in person, he only gave the word through his servant... 'Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean'. Naaman struggled with this initially in his mind, wondering why couldn't this man of God come out to me, (doesn't he know who I am?) he was angry but eventually complied. He overcame pride, followed through with the prophet's instruction and his healing was perfected.

For those desirous of an intimate relationship with the Lord, pride has no place.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

God Loves You

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. Hebrews 12:6 [KJV]

Have you wondered why the punishment was coming your way? God loves us with correction. I am truly not a fan in the short vision of being punished, but when I realize that the reason God is correcting me is because He truly loves me, I start to ask Him these questions:

1. What did I did? (Normally, I already know, but a refresher is good for me.)
2. How can I correct this behavior?
3. How can I better honor You?
4. Will You forgive me?
5. Will the person that I offended forgive me? (Including me)
6. Do You still love me?
7. Can You still guide me?

You may have your own questions, but I want to make sure that God is keeping me in His Plan. I know that He is, but I like to hear the confirmation.

Be Encouraged,

Martin

Peace in His plan

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD , plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV)

A building is built according to its architectural plan, for the plan itemizes every step of the builder’s intent and activity. We as God's children are His work in progress too. While the work on us continues, seasons will come that we may find it difficult understanding certain events and happenings in our lives. Our moments of vulnerability and weakness should not be times for anxiety, panic or distress; they should be moments of peace anchored on our trust in Him and His divine plan for us.

When you understand the Master's plan for you, engaging Him in praise and worship at all times with a peace that defies human understanding is what you will always do because.

Be Encouraged,

Afolabi