Be a blessing

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Philippians 2:3-4 (NKJV)

We live in an overly materialistic world, a world where the pursuit of personal ambition and interests is so strong that we are caught up in the unending pursuits cycle while relegating the call to serve the Lord (serve here meaning, reaching out to our brothers and sisters that may not be as fortunate as we are). The Lord Jesus Christ poured Himself for us an offering (and as an example), He emptied Himself in His entirety that we may be filled and satisfied. There must then be something about service, no matter the mode, magnitude and form.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…
Philippians 2:5 (NKJV)

Our pursuits must bring edification to the body of Christ. In humility and lowliness let us reach out to someone today; as we pour ourselves as an offering, His grace which is above all will continue to abound with us.

Be Encouraged,

Afolabi

Look hard at your life

Friends,

The Lord has been patient with you and me. Thankfully, He continues to be so. But it is a tragedy when we mistake His patience and longsuffering for approval and acceptance.

1 Timothy 5:24-25 [NKJV]
Some men's sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.

Sometimes, the consequences of our actions do not come immediately. But they will come. Brothers and sisters, do not simply assume that God approves of your choices just because everything seems to be going well. Don't assume a pastor is obedient to the Lord just because he has a big congregation and a nice car. The same applies to our own personal lives, as well.

It is critical to examine each day. Ask the Lord to reveal to you where you are disobedient so that you can repent. You will find the genuine peace that comes from being confident in your obedience.

Be encouraged, Jose

Bible studies - Isaiah and Mark

Friends,

The most recent Bible study lessons have been published for you to enjoy and learn from. You'll be edified by the teaching from the 15th chapter of Mark's gospel, where we bear witness to Christ's death. And you'll be strengthened by the continued learning from the first chapter of Isaiah's remarkable prophecy.

Find both at Bible Study Audio today.

Be encouraged, Jose

The cycle of sin

Friends,

The cycle of violence is well-documented in our world. Abusive people abuse their children, who grow up to abuse their children, who in turn become abusive people themselves. Recently, my wife and I met a mother and daughter who fit this profile tragically well. Mother is a substance abuser. Daughter is a substance abuser. Mother emotionally abandoned her daughter. Daughter has abandoned her son.

It is heartbreaking, but not new:

In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria six months. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as his fathers had done; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin.
2 Kings 15:8-9, NKJV

I suspect that most of the readers of this blog are not violent people, are not substance abusers, and are not thieves or murderers. Yet, what sins are we committing - even those in the name of God - and teaching our children to commit? Are we celebrating man-made holidays that lead us away from Christ? Are we tolerating behaviors and lifestyles that are unequivocally prohibited by Scripture?

These are hard questions, and true repentance is difficult for the flesh. But the consequences of letting them continue to the next generation are truly horrible. Instead, let us show our children that we truly love them by being truly obedient.

Be encouraged, Jose

What to get

34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. 35 For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the LORD; 36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate me love death.
Proverb 8:34-36 (NKJV)

The words of scripture are life, power to the weak, strength to the feeble, direction to the clueless, and breadth to the lifeless. Do you feel tired and worn out so often? Do you wallow in a space of confusion or at the mercy of world media? Then change what your listen to, watch and wait on. The above scripture says it all.

10 Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold;11 For wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.
Proverb 8:10-11 (NKJV)

Therefore seek, pursue, get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Go To The Finish

For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. II Timothy 4:6-8 [KJV]

As Paul states at the end of the letter, he ran his life's race to the very end. He stayed strong in the faith. His reward in heaven was a crown of righteousness. For his reward on earth, he was able to see the progress of his ministry. He did not get to see the completion, but knew that he did not have to watch the ministry grow to completion. His job was to start the plant off with water and seed planting.

How about us? Are we going to the finish, or are we standing around watching the seeds we planted, waiting for them to sprout and grow? That part is not our job. Our job is to plant or water or both and move on. We have to continue the race. We cannot get stuck watching and waiting for some ministry we started to get to full maturity. We can trust as Paul did, that if we give our all and do our best, God will handle the rest.

Be Encouraged and remember that "today is the first day of the rest of your life", a quote that my wife likes to remind me of often.

Martin

How to do the impossible

Friends,

In our mortal, un-glorified state, it is quite impossible for us to maintain a perfectly holy walk. Nonetheless, we are commanded to strive for that goal. We cannot do it using our own abilities - it can only be done by the power of Christ Jesus.

But how does one access that power?

Galatians 5:16 [NKJV]
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Fulfilling the desires of the flesh is the greatest obstacle to our ability to being holy, as Jesus is holy. But the key to a holy walk is somewhat counter-intuitive. Our focus should not be on flesh avoidance ... because then our focus is on the flesh. Rather, the focus should be on living, thinking, speaking, and acting according to the spirit of God.

We listen for guidance from Jesus, and we'll be unable to hear the voice of the flesh.
We focus all of our energy on doing the will of the Father, and there will be no energy left to doing the will of the world.

There will be only one result: we will be obedient.

Be encouraged, Jose

A simple directive

Friends,

Have you ever been so overwhelmed with life's circumstances that you just can't figure out what to do?
Have you so desired to serve God, but you have no idea where to start?
Have you ever been paralyzed with the fear of disobeying the Lord because obedience seems so complicated?

Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Rebuke the oppressor;
Defend the fatherless,
Plead for the widow. [NKJV]

Simple.

Impossible to do without the grace of God.

Simple.

Be encouraged, Jose

For good works

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:4-10 (NKJV)

His available grace has been bestowed on all that all may come to the knowledge of His love and nature. His acts teach us unconditional love, love not driven for self gain and gratification but with a sacrificial intent not demanding a kickback or favor.

As specially crafted people destined and designed for good works in Christ Jesus, let us walk and work in this path and role with our all so as to fulfill our purpose in Him that has called us.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

The declaration's response

Friends,

Is it possible for a man to be blameless? In our limited judgment, we can only say no. Yet how does Almighty God, the maker and keeper of covenants, come to say this ...

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.”
Genesis 17:1-2 [NKJV]

In our awkward logic, we read the translated passage and assume that Jehovah is giving Abram two interrelated commands: to walk before God and, while he is doing so, to behave in a way that brings no blame or judgment upon himself.

But that is not exactly what is going on here.
The LORD is giving Abram one command: to walk before Him. As He does so, the LORD will render a judicial judgment: that Abram is blameless. God is making a declaration. A decision. God has extended His grace upon Abram. It is not in response to Abram's walk. Abram's walk in is response to God's grace.

This is the same transaction that occurs between the LORD and all of His people ... including you and me. So let us walk before Him, for He has declared us blameless. Not because of what we did or did not do, but because He has declared it be so.

Be encouraged, Jose

Driven by these

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
Phillipians 4:8 (NKJV)

As we get about business in the new year, we are reminded to be driven by purpose and causes worthy of bringing our Father all glory. Our talk must reflect these, our walk must mirror these.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

The latest from the Gospel of Mark

Friends,

Our study group has continued learning from the Gospel of Mark. After a few weeks of dead batteries and forgetting to press "record", we pick up in chapter 15, with our Lord and Savior on the cross. You'll find this latest session at Bible Study Audio.

Be encouraged, Jose

New Bible studies posted

Friends,

You'll find the latest lesson from the book of Isaiah published at Bible Study Audio. I pray you are edified by it.

Be encouraged, Jose

Be a contrast

Friends,

This world is growing ever louder. The sensational and outlandish dominate the news. It seems we've convinced ourselves that one who is the loudest must be telling the truth. And the ones who are the loudest seem to be the ones complaining about their circumstances.

Philippians 2:14-15
Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world. [NKJV]

When we go about our business without complaint, we are setting a powerful example. We set a standard for this crooked and perverse generation.

So we must listen to ourselves today. Are we complaining about our spouse, our boss, or our pay? Do our words betray dissatisfaction and discontentment with what the Lord has provided? Be different. Be shockingly different. Do all things without complaining.

Be encouraged, Jose

The book of Isaiah

Friends,

One of our Bible study groups recently began studying the amazing prophecy of Isaiah. The first session has been published to Bible Study Audio. Please listen and follow this critical study. You will be tremendously blessed by it.

Be encouraged, Jose

Starting the New Year off right

Friends,

On New Year's Day, our Bible study group gathers for fellowship and to hear what God has to say about the coming year. The focus of the session was Jesus' teaching on the last days on His return. It is an important lesson, and you can listen to it in its entirety at Bible Study Audio.

Be prepared for what is to come.

Be encouraged, Jose

Good Model

1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
Ephesians 5:1-2 (NKJV)

It is not uncommon for us to seek out some inspiration for our daily walk. We must be driven by a higher purpose to a cause bigger than ourselves. The Lord demonstrated sacrificial living, edifying others while giving up self in the process.

This is love (God) at His best. If anything at all, let us imitate this.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Doing good

34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him..... 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
Acts 10:34,35,38 (NKJV)

When the Lord came to his world, the bible recorded of Him as someone whose part of His job description and mission was doing good. He went from coast to coat, city to city, place to place doing the will of Jehovah God the Father and leaving people better off than they initially were. His deeds are recorded till this day.

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Galatians 6:9-10 (NKJV)

In this fresh new year, let us not grow weary in doing good, let it be a deliberate goal for our walk in 2011, plus an aggressive pursuit of righteousness in our lives for this is the will of the Lord for us all.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Leaving time behind

Friends,

It's pretty common to have a special awareness of the passage of time around annual milestones. Birthdays, anniversaries, and the turning of the calendar. They all remind us that time marches on relentlessly. And quickly.

Now my days are swifter than a runner;
They flee away, they see no good.
They pass by like swift ships,
Like an eagle swooping on its prey.
Job 9:25-26 (NKJV)

The LORD recognizes that coming to grips with the passage of time and our corresponding mortality is no easy thing. The answer is to focus on Him ... the timeless One.

Almighty God is not subject to the limitations of time. He is not restricted to act only in our present time, for acts upon all time at all times. By the way, every time I attempt to understand this, I end up with a headache. But that is because I'm attempting to understand the wrong thing.

The more you and I focus on the Lord, and pursue intimacy and connectedness with Him, the less effect the passage of time has on us. Yes, our physical bodies will deteriorate, and we'll still sometimes forget why we walked into a room.

But our spiritual capacity will grow and strengthen. And we will be far better prepared to live in His eternal presence.

Be encouraged, Jose