Power within

6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NKJV)

God of all creation made everyone for a specific purpose and mission. Whether the creature identifies and fulfills that mission and purpose is another thing. One thing stands for sure though, the gifts and 'ability to do' is embedded inside each and everyone of us. Sometimes, it will take an uncomfortable situation or condition to shake things up, or some stirring, nudging, jolting, and trials, etc. When faced with a trying or difficult situation, we respond in an uncommon way. That uncommon way and ability have always been inside of us.

We are given the spirit of power and love plus a disciplined mind. Nothing must ever intimidate the God in us, because He that is in us created everything.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

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

Wrong mission

Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’” Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.
Mathew 24:12-14 (NKJV)

He was kind, merciful and generous. Forgiving and giving everyone a chance even when they messed up. His level of tolerance was beyond human comprehension. He had the incredible ability of connecting with any mortal being irrespective of their status, intellect, social class, orientation and just any one. He never spoke harshly but on this one occassion, He kicked some behind!!!! He tossed over the kiosks and tables of them that turned the Church into a casino and investment place. Those that turn the pulpit into an auctioneer podium... He upstaged and exposed the leadership of the church who have lost their mission and mandate.

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Hebrews 10:31 (NKJV)

The house of the Lord will be a house of prayer, a house of worship, a mountain where spirit, soul and body connect with their Maker. Anything short of these will incur the wrath of the Lord. When men get on the wrong side of a merciful King, who will spare or show mercy? In the body of believers and our world, we must never forget our mission and who we are working for.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

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

Sleeping on the mission

All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep.
Jonah 1:5 (NKJV)

When we take a back seat and go on vacation on Kingdom work, we not only do ourselves a great disservice, but we also put folks around us in jeopardy,unnecessary hardship and confusion. The called cannot and must not act like the 'uncalled'. The mission for everyone is different likewise we must come head-on with our purpose mission for every call in life has a timing dimension to it.

Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
1 Thessalonian 5:6 (NKJV)

Let us awake from scheduling kingdom work and mission according to our timing. We will spare innocent souls around us pain and anguish if we get about our mission in Him. Our life is a life redeemed for dedication to God’s work and glory; let’s pray for strength to fulfill our calling and mission. Sleeping on the mission is dangerous, the stakes for our lives are high, let’s awake to His righteousness and be about kingdom business.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

A poke in the side

Friends,

Over the past year or so, many of us have been jarred from positions that seemed safe, secure and comfortable. We trusted in the company, the contract or the market. And the Lord has removed those obstacles. We thought they were supporting us, but in fact they had been blocking us from trusting in the Lord.

Acts 12:7
Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. -- [NKJV]

In this passage, our brother Peter was not in a place of comfort or safety, but he was secure. He had been arrested by the reigning tyrant, Herod, and bound in chains, guarded by four squads of experienced soldiers. It seems to me that he had resigned himself to being executed by Herod for preaching the Gospel. So much so that and angel, sent by Almighty God, had to give ole Pete a good whack to get him to step out in faith. It probably hurt, and it wasn't the first time that the crusty old fisherman had to prodded into looking beyond the present circumstance so that he could see that the Lord is still working in his life.

So how does this apply to you and me? Does it feel as though you've been kicked by a mule? Have you been trusting in the world's systems and institutions for your security? Has your vision been obscured by the present circumstances? If so, then perhaps that mule wasn't a mule, but an angel of the Lord telling you to arise, to walk away from the bondage of the world, and refocus your attention on the One who declared it His mission to ...

set the captives
(that would be you and me)
free!

Be encouraged, Jose

Friendships

Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NKJV)

We have been made alive by his grace for specific purposes and mission. Particularly to a recalcitrant and suspicious world, and to engage the world to bringing all souls to the knowledge of the truth and salvation. Our Lord taught and acted as a role model. His strategy was a no-brainer (simple but full of heavenly wisdom). To cultivate friendship, you must be friendly, friendly for Kingdom purposes, friendly for the right reasons. Because we are the light of the world and the salt of the earth.

No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
John 15:14-16 (NKJV)

It is part of our mandate, we must build life-changing, character-forming, and Kingdom focused and purposeful relationships and friendships. It is in the Kingdom's interest that we do that always.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

He must increase

For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.
Mathew 25:29 (NKJV)

The associates as we will call them today in today's corporate world were given a specified amount of resource(s) to go into the markets (world) to bring increase. Some doubled their resources while others neither increased nor decreased. The Lord took from them that didn't increase and added to them that increased. Our gifts and resources are mandates to us to bring increase and not decrease to the kingdom.

We must show ourselves as good stewards of our resources and working for the increase of the Kingdom while we are here. We must never forget our mission. Everyday is another unique opportunity to make a difference and showcase God's kingdom and love to a hostile and rebellious world.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi