Spreading Joy

Friends,

A truly joyful person brings joy to those around them. Regardless of whether that individual is happy, sad, tired, energetic, quiet and thoughtful, or boisterous and talkative. Joy is more than a fleeting emotion. It fills a person ... and overflows.

Genesis 21:6
And Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me.”

Among the many benefits of walking in the Spirit of God is the fruit of Joy. It cannot help but be shared.

So walk after the Spirit this day and be filled with joy. And fill those around you with the Joy of the Lord!

Be encouraged, Jose

Bible studies from this week

Friends,

This week's Bible studies have been posted for you to enjoy and learn from. At Bible Study Audio, you'll find the continuation of the study of Mark, chapter 10, along with more from the 15th chapter of Paul's letter to the Romans. I pray you are blessed by these studies and that you recommend them to others.

Be encouraged, Jose

The preachers' message

Friends,

The themes of modern sermons range from moral living to family relationships to physical health to financial prosperity to emotional well-being to politics to ... I think you get the idea. When Jesus sent out His twelve disciples, though, they went with a simple, straightforward message.

So they went out and preached that people should repent.
Mark 6:12 [NKJV]

Is this so complicated?
Is it so difficult to stay "on message"?

During the disciples' travels, other great blessings were evidenced: the sick were healed, demons were cast out. But the message was simple: Repent. We've drifted away from this for reasons too numerous to list here. But we can stop drifting, can't we? We can refocus our words and our actions to preach a simple, clear message to a world that desperately needs to hear it.

Christ has sent you and me out to give this message. Will you do as He commanded?

Be encouraged, Jose

Towards perfection

Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) and He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Ephesians 4:9-16 (NKJV)

Your stand must not be a wishy washy one, neither must you be sorry for what you believe in. The plans of men are dubiously cunning. They will shade the truth and embellish lies and deceit, and re-package it as the truth. The purposes and mission of God are clear and simple. To grow, strengthen and empower the body of believers and their influence while here. But the Lord is also quick to give us a heads up about the schemes and trickery of men. Hence in a continuously hostile world, he that stands must stand firm lest he be tossed around like chaff by the influences of the world.

Abilities and talents for the work of ministry, edifying the body of Christ, coming to the fullness of knowledge of Him and that level of perfection must be our driving motivation. When we are driven by these, we are anchored to God's purpose and will never be a victim of the adversary's schemes and device to steal, kill and destroy us and our treasures.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi