To be in His image

Friends,

Here in the United States, we have set aside this day - the last Monday in May - to recall and honor those who gave their lives for the great privileges we enjoy as citizens. On a daily basis, we honor their actions by exercising responsible citizenship.

Of course, Christ Jesus paid the ultimate price. Not only did He die, but He took on the full and unrestrained wrath of Almighty God. It was so steep a price that the Father enveloped the earth in darkness lest our frail eyes be forever scarred by the sight. Remembering these events helps to put into perspective the unimaginable value of the gift Christ has given to every believer.

Knowing that He has given us such a gift, what are we to do with it?

2 Peter 3:17-18
You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. [NKJV, emphasis added]

Among the most important traits of Jesus' gift to His people is the knowledge of Him. That knowledge is pathway to deep intimacy with Christ Jesus. As His bride, we must pursue intimacy with Jesus, our bridegroom, at every opportunity. It is the key to our becoming fully restored into the image of our God and Father.

Be encouraged, Jose

New Bible Studies published

Friends,

Visit Bible Study Audio for the latest Bible study sessions. Last week, the Tuesday night group began the study of Mark's gospel, and the introduction and early verses are presented. Also, the continuation of the study of Paul's letter to the Romans, chapter 1, is up on the site.

As always, I pray that you are blessed by these studies and welcome your comments.

Be encouraged, Jose

Who He is

Friends,

Lots of people believe in Jesus. Lots of people believe lots of different things about Jesus. If you've been a regular church goer over the past 10 years or so, you've no doubt seen regular folks say outlandish things about who they believe this Jesus is.

Of course, the born-again believer knows more deeply, and with complete certainty, who Christ Jesus is.

Romans 1:3-4
... concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. [NKJV - emphasis added]

He is our redeemer ... the only One qualified to forgive sins and impute holiness.
He is the only One to accurately and completely fulfill every prophecy concerning the Messiah.

He is worthy of praise. And He is worthy of the respect due the Son of the Living God!

Be encouraged, Jose

Hope

No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain hope for safety; Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength. Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy
Psalm 33:16-18 (NKJV)


It is amazing how mere mortal men slack on historical lessons of life. The affluent, rich, connected, powerful soon forget how transient and finite their strength and resources are. Nations and the mighty will be in for a rude shock if they total reliance is on their resources, armies and weapons of warfare. History have shown repeatedly how vain it is to rely on our tangible and intangible resources for strength, security and future assurance. How wrong and disappointed will one be with this!

Unless we surrender our all to Him and quit the "I am in charge" mentality, our pursuits and rigors will continually be punctured and confounded by the foolish things of the world. We must fear and revere Him and our total hope must be in Him at all times. Then will we experience peace, security, and assurance that's without limits.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Giving Attention

Friends,

What were you paying attention to earlier this morning? As you were preparing for work, what was on your mind?
Was it the list of tasks?
Was it the conversation you had with your spouse last night?
Was it the worry over paying next month's bills?
Was it the ball game that kept you up until late?

1 Timothy 4:13 - Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. [NKJV]

Perhaps, dear brothers and sisters, there is something better for you and I to be thinking about.

Be encouraged, Jose

Childlike

Friends,

Among the greatest wonders and joys of childhood is the recurring thrill of discovery. Spend an afternoon with a four year old child and you will frequently be reminded of things around you ... things that have blended into the background for you, but are fresh and new to the eyes of a child.

Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” -- Luke 18:17 [NKJV]

These 23 words harken us back to that time of amazement and wonder. We came upon something new and exciting. And we couldn't wait to share it with someone. We could watch it for hours, examining it from every side and marveling at every nuance.

Our Lord is calling us to see the Kingdom in that same way. To trust in its genuineness. To be in awe of the grace and forgiveness that Christ has bestowed upon us. To once again be amazed.

Be encouraged, Jose

Are you prepared?

Friends,

Most people like to live in peace. Most people don't go looking for a fight. As Christians, though, we must realize that a fight is always looking for us.

Proclaim this among the nations:
“Prepare for war!
Wake up the mighty men,
Let all the men of war draw near,
Let them come up.
Beat your plowshares into swords
And your pruning hooks into spears;
Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’”
-- Joel 3:9-10 [NKJV]

Unfortunately, most Christians don't have a clue that evil truly is lurking about, seeking whom it might devour. Most Christians go through life blissfully unaware of the pitched battle that is going on all around us.

Be unaware no longer, brothers and sisters. Prepare yourself for war. Take up the full armor of God. Sharpen your knowledge of God's word. Protect your thoughts by keeping them occupied with Kingdom business. Guard your heart from the desires of the flesh.

Prepare for war!
Victory is at hand!

Be encouraged, Jose

Wait on the Lord

Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “ The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,“ Therefore I hope in Him!”
Lamentations 3:22-24 (NKJV)

The vicissitudes of life can be overwhelming. In a constantly changing and challenging world, believers must contend with realities and legitimate concerns of life yet with the mandate to uphold the presence of Him in us. A hostile world wants a blended world and will throw anything at God's children to make them blend. The unrelenting and uncompromising souls are attacked, frustrated and marked for destruction. In these does God's mercies manifest wholly in us, else we would have been swallowed up by the schemes of the adversary. At work, home, society and just everywhere we confront a relentless foe with a willing ally in our flesh, but we must continually arrest the arrester in our vessels and keep it where it belongs. The idea of free speech and rights of the flesh in the tripartite is invalid. Give the flesh free speech and a right and it will soon consume the entire body. Hence we must learn to contain our flesh while we wait patiently and quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
Lamentations 3:25-26 (NKJV)

Waiting on the Lord gives us clearer insight, vision, direction and perspective. There are no misses, strays, wastes, or near-misses. With the Lord, you are always on time and on target.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Worth writing about

Friends,

Your life and times are being recorded. The record may be explicit in a journal, or captured in a news story. Or it may be implicit, stored in the hearts and minds of loved ones, associates, acquaintances and passers-by. In both forms, it is your story.

Psalm 102:18 [NKJV]
This will be written for the generation to come,
That a people yet to be created may praise the LORD.

What will be the response of those who read your story? Will it cause people to celebrate the achievement of great expectations, or will it cause them to mourn the loss of unfulfilled potential? Will they see what the LORD has done and sing praises, or will they wonder why you never gave glory to the One who gave you everything?

Today, make your story one that will give a generation that hasn't yet lived an amazing gift ... a reason to praise the King of kings!

Be encouraged, Jose

Bold holiness

Friends,

Surely, you did not wake up this morning and fix your mind to do evil. Most likely, your plan today was to accomplish something worthwhile. To knock a few things off the to-do list. To be productive and valuable.

But what was your position towards evil?
Perhaps you didn't give it much thought.
Perhaps you decided that wanting to do the right thing was enough.

But why not be BOLD!

Psalm 101:3-4
I will set nothing wicked before my eyes;
I hate the work of those who fall away;
It shall not cling to me.
A perverse heart shall depart from me;
I will not know wickedness. - [NKJV]

King David makes a stunning proclamation in these verses. You and I both know that he was far from perfect, as he surely knew as well. Yet, here he is. Boldly declaring that he will have nothing wicked in his presence!

This is a terrific example for you and for me. Why not make a strong and courageous statement? Why not stand up and stand out? Today, I say to you that I will set nothing wicked before my eyes. I say that I shall not know wickedness in my heart.

You can say the same!

Be encouraged, Jose

The Latest Bible Studies

Friends,

The lessons from the last few weeks are now available for your edification. Listen to the conclusion of the book of Numbers, as well as the introduction to the book of Romans at Bible Study Audio. I'm certain the Lord will bless you as you hear from His word.

Be encouraged, Jose

To greater wisdom

Friends,

Wisdom is a most precious thing. Only with real wisdom can a man truly understand and appreciate the peace of grace and repentance. Only the wisdom given from the Lord will open up the scriptures to reveal the true character of Christ.

Proverbs 9:9
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. [NKJV]

A man might have great worldly wisdom, but that will not give him the ability to discern Jesus' voice. When someone lacks real wisdom, then the teachings of Christ will have no lasting impact, except to make them all the more accountable for their disobedience.

However, when they possess true, godly wisdom, then when Christ reveals Himself, it leads to even greater understanding. The teachings of our Lord then have lasting, edifying impact. The scriptures yield insight upon insight into the heart of Almighty God.

Be encouraged, Jose

A better option

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They have bowed down and fallen; But we have risen and stand upright.
Psalm 20:7-8 (NKJV)

It is convenient to easily trust in what you see and have, i.e. Our physical and natural abilities, our properties, our various tools and other objects of power, influence and strength. Some can trust in their colleagues, friends, social circles, groups, etc. At the end these things don't stand the test of time and life's pressure. They crumble and fade away and become inadequate to our various challenges and issues of life. What other option is available to us? King David understood this best and described it clearly as thus:

It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
Psalm 118:8-9 (NKJV)

Revoke your confidence from man, princes, chariots and horses, but put your trust in the Lord God your Creator. When the chips fall and settle, you will be risen and standing upright and not fallen and crumbled.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Weight Loss

Friends,

One of the most insidious side effects of sin is the weight that it brings. Guilt. Condemnation. Self-recrimination. They are crippling. They are an unseen burden that can eventually bring to an end all progress and growth, leaving us paralyzed even as we walk through the motions of life. We go to work. We fellowship with the church. We read our Bible everyday. But they are empty motions, taking us from place to place but never actually going anywhere.

Luke 5:24 [NKJV]
But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins — He said to the man who was paralyzed, I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.

Just as Christ was making a point to the religious leaders of that time in this passage, He is making a point to you and me. The weight of unforgiven sin had paralyzed that man. He blended in with the world around him. On the outside, his situation was bad, but on the inside it was debilitating ... and no one seemed to care.

Well ... One cared.

Jesus, who sees past all of our acts of kindness and acts of cruelty, sees past this man's paralysis. He sees the broken heart. He sees the scars left by years of sin. He sees the elected creation, crying out for forgiveness.

The Lord is speaking today to you and to me.
He says, Arise!
Your sins are forgiven you.
No more shall you be crippled by sin.
By My grace, you shall be holy ... as I am holy. .

Be encouraged, Jose

When your friends are suffering

Friends,

The Lord uses many arms to comfort us when we are struggling. He comes to us, of course, in prayer. He speaks to us through His word. And, at times, He sends one of His children to be the bearer of strength and the provider of edification.

Unfortunately, when we are sent to represent the strong arms of Christ, our thoughts and words are vulnerable to being infiltrated by the enemy. And instead of being a source of comfort in times of trouble, we turn into the foot that kicks a brother when he's down. Our brother Job experienced this firsthand.

Job 6:15 [NKJV]
But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams,
as the streams that overflow

Now, the "brothers" he was describing weren't really brothers -- or even friends -- at all ... and they certainly weren't there to represent God. They accused Job relentlessly, peppering him with insult after bitter insult. Nevertheless they serve as a cautionary example for those of us who are God's ambassadors on this earth.

Ephesians 5:19 [NKJV]
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord

These words from Paul should be at the forefront of our heart when we go to offer comfort to one who is suffering and struggling. Instead of harsh accusations, we are to bring the word of God. That is truly the only genuine source of peace, strength and joy for the heart that is hurting.

Be encouraged, Jose

Our Life's Mission

O God, You have taught me from my youth; And to this day I declare Your wondrous works. Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.
Psalm 71:17-18 (NKJV)

He was a shepherd boy with a heart for God, he pursued his calling with zeal, he took chances at life, enjoying sometimes with reckless abandon, yet his heart never strayed away completely from the Shepherd of his soul. He was never fuzzy or beclouded about his vision and mission.... "Declaring the strength of His Maker to his generation and His power to everyone who is to come".

In these words, I find deep revelation and connection to a calling. A calling every believer must latch steadfastly too. In the fulfillment of this is our sure testimony. Long when we are gone, the strength of our Maker and His power must continue to speak and manifest through our works, our lives and deeds. Let's make every moment of our days count for Him. That is the main mission we must never forget.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Calling for help

Friends,

Life's daily battles often lead us to look for help, for allies. We determine that these struggles can be overcome with "a little help from our friends." But is that the right path?

Psalm 124:2-3
If it had not been the LORD who was on our side,
When men rose up against us,
Then they would have swallowed us alive,
When their wrath was kindled against us;

It is critical that, when we seek out allies, that we realize that there is truly only one Ally that can be effective. Worldly friends might make us feel better for a time, but the help that comes from Christ will bring everlasting results.

When you are tempted to cry out to your natural family or to your circle of friends, remember that it is the LORD that we should be calling upon. Get on His side and find safety in His Name.

Be encouraged, Jose

New Bible Studies On-line

Friends,

There are four new Bible study sessions posted on Bible Study Audio. The Monday morning group has begun the book of Jonah, and the first two sessions, covering chapters 1 and 2, are now on-line. And the continuation of the Tuesday evening study of Numbers is now available.

As always I pray you are blessed by these studies.

Be encouraged, Jose