Not Business as usual

And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.” So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”
Exodus 3:2-4 (NKJV)

Moses was right in the thick of things taking care of everyday normal business, tending the flock of his in-law on this fateful day. One of the unique things was that he led these flocks to the outskirts of town (like we will call it in today's lingo). In the outskirts there is less distraction, but for some, distraction isn't just about the physical environment, its about the complex cluster of thoughts in our mind. When God appeared to Moses, the conversation never began until Moses acknowledged the 'unusual' in this present circumstance and he instantly created attention and time out of none in his busy schedules to that strange visual encounter at Mt Horeb. Many times, God appears to us in various forms and ways, but some never even acknowledge the presence, talk less of even responding with the required attention.

Moses' response marked the beginning of the emancipation of an entire nation. Today it can't be business as usual. A heart glued on to God will be attentive, receptive and connected to the signals of the spirit. God wants to speak strategy with you, are you ready to receive? For that new thing to happen, that critical first step of a receptive heart must be brought forth. It can't be business as usual.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Marriage as a Study

Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. Matthew 19:6 [KJV]

Let's remember that marriage is a prayer promise to God about being committed to one spouse. God uses this institution to simulate the relationship that we have with Christ. We are the bride and Christ is the groom. He always gives Himself for us. When we join the family of Christ, we become one with Him. When we committed to our faith, Christ committed Himself to us. As we look at marriage, we see that folks are together through the good and bad times, the happy and sad times, the easy and hard times. The commitment shows a great example of not taking the easy way out. We can all leave, quit or abandon any task that we consider hard and that will be OK with society. However, would we want God to treat us the same way. Absolutely not!!! We want God to stick with us through all good and bad times. Let's use the true commitment of marriage as an example for sticking with our faith for all times.

Be Encouraged,

Martin

No Hiding

And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”
Genesis 1:8-9 (NKJV)

When we derail and become mis-aligned with our Maker, we naturally become hiding creatures. We suddenly yoke up tightly with secrecy and detest the light for fear of being exposed. Because its our natural instinct to just cover-up our spills, shortcomings and disobedience, we even try to cover-up before the omniscient and all-seeing God. What a dumb and wrong move for man to embark on! Adam and Eve displayed this instinct before a loving God that offered continuous fellowship to them.

What can turn us into hiding before the Lord our Maker? Rebellion, Disobedience, Sin, etc? Bring it all to Him, lay it out before Him and receive His grace and gift of forgiveness so that His fellowship may be restored to you. To be out of His fellowship is to live like a fugitive and vagabond. Let's give up hiding and walk back into His peace and fellowship.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Who we are

Friends,

Every man and woman experiences a time in their life when they feel just a little bit lost. This is true for the believer and the non-believer, and it is a consequence of the limitations of this world. We have far fewer answers than we have questions.

And some of those questions run deep:

Who am I?

For we are the circumcision,
who worship God in the Spirit,
rejoice in Christ Jesus, and
have no confidence in the flesh
Philippians 3:3 [NKJV]

I have taken the liberty to break up that verse into four distinct parts. Each is a statement that gives the believer and identity. Each can be used to answer the question, "Who am I?"

Who am I? I am a man whose total confidence is in Christ and Christ alone. Not in my flesh or in anything that proceeds from the flesh.

Can you see how liberating and clarifying this one simple verse can be? Do you recognize, dear brothers and sisters, the authority and power of these words?

Who are we? We are the circumcision, sanctified and set apart for God's perfect will. We are the ones who worship God in the Spirit according to His law. We rejoice always in Jesus, the author and finisher of our salvation! We trust Jesus, the only One who is truly trustworthy!

That is who we are.

Be encouraged, Jose

Catching up on Bible Studies

Friends,

Bible Study Audio has been updated this week with four recent lessons. Our study of the minor prophets continues with two more chapters from the book of Zechariah. And two more sessions from our study of Numbers have been added, as well.

I pray you are blessed by these studies. Please feel free to add your comments on them!

In Christ, Jose

He moves with purpose

Friends,

The Lord does nothing by accident. Every step He takes. Every word He speaks. Every action is done with a purpose. Jesus, being God, conducted His earthly ministry in exactly the same way. The well-known event in Jesus' ministry wherein He commanded demons to leave a man and enter into a herd of swine demonstrates this fact ...

Mark 4:35 - On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, Let us cross over to the other side.
Mark 9:2 - And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit
Mark 9:17-18 - Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region. And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him.
NKJV

In this event, Christ got into a boat and crossed a storm-swept sea for one purpose... to free a man possessed by demons. He did not cross on a whim. It was not coincidental that a demon-possessed man was there to meet him when He arrived. Christ knew the man was there. He knew that it was His Father's will that the man be freed from those demons. And He knew that He had arrived at the precise moment in history when this release was to be fulfilled.

There are so many lessons to be drawn from this fact, brothers and sisters. But let us begin with a simple one:

You and I are here by divine appointment.
Our Father does nothing by accident.
He has a perfect plan for this time and this people.
Seek Him and His will for your life today.

Be encouraged, Jose

God of Integrity

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6 (NKJV)

I have seen men and women of various caliber and status fall short on promises, covenants, contracts and various obligations. It just so happens naturally and while this creates a trust and dependency crises, it creates a thick cloud of suspicion which in turn leads to many things... resentment, anger, envy, killing, war, and the list goes on. The enemy knows this critical component of relationships, both between men and God and between man to man/woman and all relationships combined and he goes about sowing the seed of discord and mistrust. Having seen men fall short many times, in our government, national and local stages and even in our families, its not impossible to have this unconscious natural condition to respond to God with suspicion borne out of our human encounters and experiences. Will God lie?

God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
Numbers 23:19 (NKJV)

Every word God spoke reflected His character.... step out, cast your nets, pursue, overtake, sow a seed, start it, build, etc. Everyone that have taken that first step of responding in the affirmative to God soon discovers the faithfulness, trustworthiness and dependability of God. He is a God of integrity. When you come to Him, erase any reference(s) to built up suspicion caused by our past encounters and experiences with men. God is not man, He is trustworthy and forever faithful.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi