Unity to succeed

8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
1 Peter 3:8-9 (NKJV)

We must not be naive about the end game of our common adversary. A relentless campaign to change mindsets of a generation, one person at a time. They bombard our individual minds and our environments and spheres of influence to alter how we respond and interpret God's truth and how we are guided by them in the world. The truth cannot and must not be compromised. We must be our brothers keeper. We need each other to succeed and establish God's kingdom here on earth.

10 For “He who would love life And see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
11 Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
1 Peter 3:10-12 (NKJV)

Our mission is aligned with bringing more into God's kingdom. Our pursuit of love, peace and righteousness must be relentless. For this reason He came and the goal is clear, we must not deviate from it.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Who we are is what we receive

Friends,

Life, in all is glory and misery, happens to all people. We all experience sickness, health, joy, grief, loss and gain. The difference is in how we experience these events. The difference is based on our position before God.

Proverbs 3:3 [NKJV]
The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked,
But He blesses the home of the just.

The justified woman recognizes that the everyday of life is a gift from a kind and loving Father. The carnal man sees the everyday of life as monotonous drudgery.

As believers, we have access to the vision of the abundant life in Christ. Take hold of that vision today.

Be encouraged, Jose

When you need a reason

Friends,

It seems self-evident that we ought not to require a reason to love our brothers and sisters in Christ. But there are days, aren't there? Given that no man is perfect, it follows that no man loves perfectly ... and that every man will - at times - need to search for a reason to love his brother.

Here is your reason:

1 John 4:11
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.[NKJV]

Christ Jesus died for you and me before we acknowledged Him as Lord, Savior and Redeemer. He did so well before we had the opportunity to show Him our love through our obedience. We no longer need any proof of His love. It is there at Calvary.

As He has proven His love for you and me, let us demonstrate our love for each other. By dying to ourselves daily. By serving others ahead of ourselves. By loving the least of these.

Be encouraged, Jose

Not Business as usual

3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
1 Thessalonians 5:3-6 (NKJV)

We have hear and read the phrase description of the the day of the Lord. Yes the scripture makes it so clear that the day of the Lord will be like a thief in the night. The thief is not usually expected. The uninsured is overtaken and caught unawares when an accident occurs. For every believer, this must never be the case.

7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
1 Thessalonians 5:7-10 (NKJV)

We must never sleep like the world, but we must remain vigilant in our daily walk and thoughts lest we get caught unawares like a thief in the night. Our appointment and portion isn't for wrath but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Be Sober and vigilant and ...

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Inside ... then Outside

Friends,

It is so easy to make a good show of Christianity. But that is not what God commands or desires. The Lord is after your heart. That is what He pursues.

Proverbs 6:21 [NKJV]
Bind them continually upon your heart;
Tie them around your neck.

The Word of God must reside ... must live ... in the heart. Then and only then will the outward appearance reflect the true character of the Lord. 

Be encouraged, Jose

Strength in Fellowship

17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, 18 that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
Daniel 2:17-19 (NKJV)

The solution to the world's problem doesn't lie in one ideology, theory or practice. It lies in the ability of mere mortal men to be humble enough to acknowledge their vulnerability and need to seek a Higher being who has answers to our gridlock and challenges. Death came staring Daniel in the face but he looked up to the real source and solutions to the challenges of his day.

Daniel demonstrated the power and efficacy of fellowship with the saints. They agreed and sought the Lord for a solution and the Lord answered their prayers. Are there challenges in your day and life? Never underestimate the power of the the brethren coming together on a specific issue.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Is this any way to choose a leader?

Friends,

Whether we like it or not, our leaders are a reflection of ourselves. If we choose to ignore the laws of God, then our leaders will defy them as well. If our desires are for material wealth and power, then we will follow those men whose ambitions are for material wealth and power.

Isaiah 3:6 [NKJV]
When a man takes hold of his brother
In the house of his father, saying,
"You have clothing;
You be our ruler,
And let these ruins be under your power,"

Brothers and sisters, let us follow only those who follow Christ. Let us pursue righteousness, so that we will seek out the men who seek righteousness to be our leaders.

Be encouraged, Jose